Timely thread! I just started the NHS couch to 5k programme yesterday, it's a plan to get you from zero fitness to running 5k in nine weeks. I used to love treadmill at the gym but stopped going about xmas time as I was getting shin pain, and am now incredibly unfit. Partly because I'm asthmatic, but I used to smoke too which made the asthma really bad. I don't really smoke much now (a cig or two every month or two, none since the end of May at the moment and before that I think was one in April) so it's time to get back into shape (you can't be fit, asthmatic AND a smoker ).
Turns out running outside is wayyyyy harder than running in the gym, but I went for my first session last night just around the block, it was a five min warm up brisk walk, then intervals of 90 mins walking, 60 seconds running for twenty minutes, and a warm down for five minutes. I went for a jog the night before and was knackered within ten minutes from trying to just jog nonstop so I think this intervals stuff is really gonna work for me. I managed the workout fine, I was exhausted and sweaty but completed it so I reckon it's pitched just right for me to start.
Here's hoping I keep it up! I certainly plan to. Next session tomorrow night.
My wife and the neighborhood wives all did this program....she really liked the interval training as well. They all stuck to it and accomplished the 5k so good luck!!!
I did the second workout tonight. Same as last time. I actually enjoyed it and didn't need my inhaler at all.
I'm also trying to lose a tiny bit of weight... these are my starting stats:
5ft 9
144lbs
And I'd like to get down to about 138lbs if possible. I already lost 10lbs since February but progress has slowed down. I'm a healthy weight I just prefer being lighter. I'm using myfitnesspal too, I tend to aim for 1200 calories per day and then some days I can go over by a couple hundred (or eat back my exercise calories). I have off days (weekends especially) where I let loose a little but for now, weekdays at least, I wanna stick to 1200 calories. I lost a tonne of weight on the app before and am only 7lbs away from the lowest weight I was on there, but for me that's pretty unattainable to maintain long term, at my height. If I can maintain a solid 140lbs and get fit enough to jog, I'll be happy!
I think I have a relatively good diet already to be honest, I drink 3-4 litres of water per day and I've been vegan for a lot of years. Today for example I had musli with pumpkin seeds and soya milk, some maple syrup, a soy latte for breakfast, for lunch a half sandwich with hummus, sundried tomato paste, basil, cucumber and chili seeds and a bag of sundried tomato light crisps and an apple, afternoon snack I had some cherry tomatoes and some grapes, pre run snack I had a couple of oat cakes with vegetable pate and cherry tomatoes and post run snack, despite having run out of calories (boo) I really fancied some of the spag bol that was going so I just had a tinyyyyy portion in a cocktail glass haha.
Having said that, there've been days where it's been pain au chocolat or croissants for breakfast with a huge sugary soy latte, chips, a massive fatty coconut green or red thai curry with tofu and coconut rice, some cheesecake, a whole family sized bag of crisps, I could go on. For a woman my build who does as little physical activity as me, I really don't need all those calories! But when I eat out with friends I tend to just get whatever I want as it seems daft to be spending so much on a meal if I'm not getting max enjoyment haha.
My biggest weight loss tips are a) eat as many things with chopsticks as possible (slows you down and lets you appreciate the food more) and b) drink shitloads of water. Especially prior to a meal. I know I eat well, just need to stick at it because I have a massive tendency to eat HUGE portions, like seriously huge portions even my friends who lift weights sometimes haven't been able to finish in the past haha. It's mostly healthy, good stuff though.