Improving fitness

[Tom94]

Hi group

Does anyone have any tips on how to improve someone’s fitness as I seen to have lost all my fitness over lockdown and get tired and out of breath walking short distances

Tom

[Pairofboots]

You are not alone in this. Not sure which effected which, lockdown effecting fitness, or fitness drop happened during lockdown. Answers on a postcard......

[Shalala72]

Little by little. Maybe a few short walks a few times a day so you don’t over do it

[Kirk5w7]

Something I’m trying to get the answer to also. Swimming is good but hate it this weather.😊J

[swedishblue11]

Here too, I haven't had the same stamina as before lockdown but I'm working on it. There are fitness Apps you can download. One recommended to me was 'Fit Coach' - features a variety of exercise programs. I'm aiming for pilates/yoga. Motivation is my weakest point, especially during the winter months. Having said that, the sun has just come out so I'm off to have my walk. Good Luck Tom!

[CallumR85]

Hi Tom, before my accident fitness was a major part of my life. I have continued to work with my PT throughout, more for the physio side of things, but I am now at the stage of trying to regain the fitness I had before. The best way to start this is steps. My personal aim in to get back to 100k + steps a week. Over this past 3 weeks I am back up to around 70k steps and honestly feel fantastic in mind and body. I go out at my peak energy times though so it doesn't make me to tired for anything else in the day. Best of luck to you and let us know how you're progressing.

[CallumR85 in reply to CallumR85]

Also, I found having ear phones in with music has helped a lot with blocking out distracting sounds and keeping me walking at a decent pace.

[cat3]

Walking is great exercise Tom second only to swimming (if you can brave it this time of year). Walking is free and available any time you're up to it, and if you can find a pleasant, peaceful area all the better. Like you I have balance issues, so need to avoid straying too far from home if I want to avoid the 'drunken' look on return.

It's good for general fitness but also affects mood, so if we look around and take note of new images and sounds, they can resonate positively too by displacing unhelpful thoughts.

I love cycling as it doesn't affect my balance like walking does, but the roads are a nightmare nowadays unless you're in a deeply rural area, so I don't ride as much as I'd like.

The sun's peeping through here after a dreary morning, so I'm off for a once-around-the-park whilst it's brighter ! Take care Tom... Cat x

[Beachlovingkiwi]

I found an Exercycle handy as could use when I was t to tired and didn’t rely on going outside. First after head injury tho short slow walks through a lovely bush track or along beach went a long way to getting motivation back. Also did a few workouts from you tube. Started my running again from walk/jog slowly like walk for 1 minute run for 1 minute until I built tolerance up again. Hope this helps 😀

[Teazymaid]

Hi my fitness and fatigue has been horrendous but I never stopped walking and then I joined the gym as I felt I could control it more and although I struggled on the bike as had very little strength to get the left leg to push down I just kept doing it and eventually it got easier . So got up to 10mins …. Cross trainer was told not to use as clavicle was still not joined …. I was only in there 30 minutes twice a week but it has helped , I just get boarded in there so thought I’d try a class the gym were happy for me to stay in the corner so I could hold onto the walls when needed and to do what I could do or modify what they were doing and I love it .. it’s Body balance I do which is done all over the country …. I have stumbled bask and hit the door behind me but stayed in my feet 😁 I have ached all over even the soles of my feet and palms but it is making a difference . I’m gob smacked that I am even in there , but I didn’t like where I was so pushed it … I’m no fitness freak … I hadn’t been to the classes or gym for 5 years I just wanted to improve the body that I woke up in because it wasn’t mine … please anyone try something it’s very slow progress and at times very depressing but 5 months in and it is being to work which is giving me hope for a more active life …

[Painting-girl]

Same here too Tom. Can't believe how much my fitness has gone downhill since this time last year. I've managed fatigue better generally since lockdown, and added in more social things like art classes, which driving again has helped me to get to - but I suspect I did a lot more walking when I had to go by bus all the time! Plus the strap broke in ny smart watch - so I think the step counting thing was a good visible reminder - I've got Google Fit on my phone but am not sure it's quite so useful. I tried yoga which I thought was excellent brain exercise, but was getting to tired fitting it into my week.

My promise to myself this week is just a walk everyday. And five minutes on the ( second hand) crosstrainer to start with . Then I'll try to increase the distance and time. I need to do something!

[Tanglewood77]

Start slow and easy and slowly build yourself back up little by little don't go to hard to soon you will burn out and get know where fast ! I'm just starting back after 2 and a half years following an accident slow and steady wins the race 👍

[David_Jack]

You can improve your health by doing all these exercise routines daily.

- Exercise Daily. Exercise daily for at least an hour.

- Eat the Right Foods and Portion Each Meal. No matter how bad your stomach is telling you to go for candy over healthy food, try to stay away from sweets.

- Keep Track of Calories and Food Intake Per Day.

- Be Sure to Get Sleep.

- Stay Motivated.

[timmothysmith01]

Choose a reason for becoming more active

Choose an activity that you enjoy

Set goals and chart your progress

Don’t punish yourself

Give yourself rewards

Try to do some activity on most days of the week

Starting your fitness habit

1. Short bouts count you can reach your 30 minutes per day goal, 10 minutes at a time

2. Choose activities that are right for you get advice from your GP

3. Spread your activities throughout the day and week

4. Add activities that increase muscular strength and endurance 2 to 3 days a week