I am fairly large, hence being here. My BMI is 34.1 (I'm 20 years old). I'm a student and really can't afford a gym membership just yet. It's what I'm currently saving for though!
Until then, I am pretty restricted to outdoor exercise, as I share a house and have a fairly small bedroom. I've always struggled with self-esteem problems, and I can't think of anything worse than going for a run outside where everyone can see me wobbling about and heaving for breath.
Fairly sure other people must have gone through this and broken through it and/or found alternatives and hopefully succeeded as a result.
Does anyone have any tips to share?
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cattycutie
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11 Replies
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Hi cattycutie,
I'd advise you to find ways of exercising and/or increasing your activity that doesn't embarass you. That could be as simple as going up some stairs instead of getting the lift or getting off a bus a stop or two early and walking the difference. A good brisk walk with arms swinging is a pretty good starting place.
But you know many ordinary tasks, like hoovering, cutting the grass, washing the car will help you to be more active, keep the flexibility up and burn a few calories.
And even if you're talking "sporty" activities, there are just loads and loads of them and many that don't involve a gym.
Try to wean yourself off of being inactive and towards being more active - even a bit of dancing around in the bedroom or while waiting for something to cook in the kitchen helps.
Really, it's about adopting a kind of physically active frame of mind. Once you start looking for opportunities in your day to day life to be a bit more physical, you'll find them all over the place.
There are a lot of reasons here why you describe yourself as large and unable to do anything about it. I'm overweight by about 2 stone and the first thing to tackling this is to own it. Usually students can negotiate a discounted gym membership, or you could go to your GP and ask for a 'Fit Prescription' - it might have another name in your part of the UK. This is a paper the GP can write to recommend you for 15 weeks gym membership at a very very low cost. You can attend as many classes as you like from a list specifically for people who need to get fit for medical reasons. There you will find some great company.
You shouldn't worry about exercising out of doors. I have a pair of leggings and a baggy t-shirt which is fine but there are a couple of investments to be made - a good fitting sports bra, and if you run try to buy a pair of running shoes that are customised by a specialist shop to fit your feet and running style.
Another thing you have at your disposal that many don't are housemates. Is there someone whose approach to food you admire. Tell them and ask if you could be food buddies for 4 weeks and you'll probably find you loose weight by emulating their good eating habits.
Having said all this, you might be like me and when push comes to shove I'm not so bothered about my weight that I'm motivated to do anything about it so I tend to moan about it but do little to address the problem.
As whippit says there are usually discounts for students at the brand name gyms. Have you thought about your local council gym? My gym membership also includes swimming or classes for around 1/2 the price of a branded gym. The cheapest way though is to join your uni's gym (if they have one) and if you live on campus would be a time saver.
Other than the gym you can try fitness/zumba/dancercise etc DVDs in your own home, or even try youtube. There are some basic cardio and strength exercises on the nhs website than be done in your own home: nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/...
And if you have a wii the wii fit is a great place to start from.
The couch to 5k programme is great though and is suitable for pretty much everybody. Don't worry about what you look like, people don't tend to look, and as its getting darker in the evenings nobody will be able to see you anyway!
The other side of things is the food and diet aspect. You could always manage your weight through your diet first until you feel a bit more comfortable in yourself and then take up some outdoor exercise.
Hi gym membership is expensive and stats show that people do not continue after a month or so. Exercise need not cost anything. you can start with a good pair of shoes and a well fitting bra and hide in baggy clothes. Open the front door and start walking, use an MP3 player to lighten the boredom and to give you a beat to walk to. Use a pedometer to challenge yourself to do more each week. Failing all this get an exercise DVD close the curtains and enjoy the privacy.
Remember if you haven't the will to open the door a gym pass will be a waste of money. Getting started is the hardest,
I know exactly how you feel. I'm roughly the same BMI. I want to start doing the couch to 5k and I even got new trainers and a sports bra to get going but right now I can't face starting it.
Instead I have been doing the NHS Strength and Flex. It involves walking with simple strength work using a bench and railings. It has been a great compromise for me because it still involves exercise outdoors and it has starting to give me confidence towards starting running.
Another compromise could be brisk walking doing the same route and then slowly converting that into running once you are used to the route and exercising with people around.
Lots of luck with it, I am sure you will find something that works for you.
Walking is one of the best exercises and costs nowt! With the Couch25K you start off walking and gradually build up to running. Once you get out there and do something you will be fine, its just a case of getting out of the door.
I'm a member of my local council gym (£20 a month) and as well as having use of the pool and gym, there are lots of different classes. People at the gym are all shapes and sizes and at different fitness levels. Good luck!
Walking seems to keep my ' snacky ' gremlins at bay. I feel happier about myself- those feel good endorphins I think, when I've had a half hour walk and am less inclined to munch mindlessly!
Roll on darker evenings though, don't appreciate being pipped by white van men as I swing em high; my arms I mean.
Keep trainers unlaced by the door, ready to pop on and don't give way to any excuses as to why you can't spare 30 mins. I've used them all and now to quote Nike, just do it.
I was obese and have (unrelated to weight) health problems affecting exercise capability (and short of money) I started NHS C25K wearing normal clothes (including rainjacket and my usual overfull day to day backpack) and walking boots and chose a quiet but pretty spot to start. I gradually worked up to sports bra, big firm control knickers (less wobble!) and running shoes, and I now wear leggings and t shirt (not fancy running kit - Sainsbury's cotton) which I put on the morning of a run day under other clothes. It took me weeks to achieve 3 completed Week 1 runs - but I graduated from the programme and I am still running. I am less bothered about being seen now but I still prefer to travel to somewhere to run, partly because I live on a steep hill and also because I prefer to protect my joints by avoiding running on hard roads/pavements.
I've now added in other exercise - NHS strength and flexibility, my local pool started a scheme for £1 swims and I do (beginner!) yoga using Ekhart Yoga/Yogatic clips on their website and YouTube. I also got a bike (fancy electric job for a big birthday - but you might get a bike through Freegle) and do Random Acts of Fitness.
You could start by just going for a brisk-ish 30 minute walk several times a week as a warm up to starting the programme - although I find running easier to sustain than a brisk walk, it is a more relaxed movement. Unfortunately unless you are quite fast running (or walking) - and you shouldn't be attempting that yet - really doesn't burn a great many calories in itself but can make you peckish until you adjust. But it has all-round positive effects - people *do* lose weight if they combine it with calorie control, you tone up and you can know that being active and overweight is less risky than being inactive and overweight. Exercising outside has lots of benefits. It's about doing what you *can* do.
Is there a student counselling service you could access at no/low cost to address the self-esteem issues head on?
Hi catty, You have been given so good advice by people in the same situation. Can I add to that, Have you asked your GP if he can refer you to a local gym.Most have classes for those of us who are less than fit. Everyone there is in the same situation,so embarrassment isn't an issue.You might even meet friends for after gym activities. Keep going girl,you will get there.x
I agree with all of the above but excersise alone won't shift the pounds you need to focus on your diet too! Good luck! Loads of us have been where you are and lots of us still have a way to go slow and steady keeps it off
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