Fitness Journey - Advice?/ Things I wish I knew

[EmJen]

Hi everyone!

I realize we all begin somewhere on our fitness journeys, and even though I've been a member for a little while, I feel like I'm finally starting to get some traction on actually being committed to working out (while being more aware of what I'm eating - which seemed to take a bit longer than planned to get my mind around). 

I'm writing to ask for advice from other members here in regards to "Things You Wish You Knew When You Began Your Fitness Journey."

I'm currently away from home traveling, so I've been making sure to walk a lot, and do some yoga daily just to get things warmed up. 

One of my personal goals is to attend a Bikram Yoga class towards the end of the month. (First one in a few years. I've gained weight since that last time.)

Another goal of mine is to become more comfortable with running and strength training. For running, I've heard of the couch to 5K, and wanted to see if anyone has any reviews on here of the program. For strength training, I've always felt a bit silly even though I've read the many wonderful benefits it has. Does anyone here have any tips for getting started with that? 

Sorry if these questions seem a bit basic.. I feel like such a newbie with working out, and I would like to begin in a safe, manageable way so that I can continue to build upon it in the future. 

[Raviv]

My advice?

If you plan on using the C25K (Couch to 5K) app from Zen Labs, which is a really good one, and you think there's even a remote possibility you would want to run a 10K, just get the 10K version from the start.  Same price (free, or $1.99 for the ad-free version) and the first weeks are identical.  At 8 weeks, the 5K version just tells you to run a 5K and ends, but at 8 weeks the 10K version says "Now you can run a 5K!" and then keeps on going (6 weeks more I think?) to a 10K.  So you might as well get the one that does more, even if you don't use it to run a 10K.  But you might...

Weight fluctuates.  It just does.  And you will most likely see the results of all your workout sweat the day after your rest day, not the day after your workout.  So if you really push it on Monday, then rest on Tuesday, you will see the results on Wednesday morning, not Tuesday.  I know.  It's weird.

You actually can workout too much and/or eat too little, and it will absolutely stall any efforts to lose weight.  True fact.

Food quality is a huge deal.

You are stronger than you think you are.  

[Missyjx]

Im doing th couch to 5k myself, recently started, and it is really good, it eases to into running rather than throwing you in at the deep end. If youve not done running before and if it is possible try it both outdoors and on the treadmill, the treadmill will hopefully help you find your pace so that running outdoors becomes easier. You may also find you prefer on over the other, my friend who did the couch to 5k prefered the treadmill as she could see the numbers going up but her husband really enjoyed outdoors, its about finding what you enjoy.

The only thing i will mention about couch to 5k is you will have to find your pace, im still trying to do this myself especially outside (when it tells me to run i go into automatic sprint mode then struggle to do the rest) if i find any tips on running pace ill send them through to you. But most of all will all fitness have fun!

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@EmJen wrote:

Hi everyone!

I realize we all begin somewhere on our fitness journeys, and even though I've been a member for a little while, I feel like I'm finally starting to get some traction on actually being committed to working out (while being more aware of what I'm eating - which seemed to take a bit longer than planned to get my mind around). 

I'm writing to ask for advice from other members here in regards to "Things You Wish You Knew When You Began Your Fitness Journey."

I'm currently away from home traveling, so I've been making sure to walk a lot, and do some yoga daily just to get things warmed up. 

One of my personal goals is to attend a Bikram Yoga class towards the end of the month. (First one in a few years. I've gained weight since that last time.)

Another goal of mine is to become more comfortable with running and strength training. For running, I've heard of the couch to 5K, and wanted to see if anyone has any reviews on here of the program. For strength training, I've always felt a bit silly even though I've read the many wonderful benefits it has. Does anyone here have any tips for getting started with that? 

Sorry if these questions seem a bit basic.. I feel like such a newbie with working out, and I would like to begin in a safe, manageable way so that I can continue to build upon it in the future. 

---

Life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass its about learning to dance in the rain

[MRose · Accepted solution]

Hi @EmJen! Great topic!

Quick background: When I (re) started my fitness journey, I was 250 lb and, as a college student, ate a lot of pizza. I started consistently eating better, and that helped, but was always frustrated with the lack of progress. A friend and I were talking and she posed this question: "Do you just want to be skinny, or do you want to be healthy?" 

I choose (and try to daily choose) healthy. If you are striving to truly be healthy (because after all, "this is the only body you'll get in this lifetime"), then the weight just seems to drop off anyway. I do wish, though, that I had considered that when I began. Switching from regular soda to diet soda does not automatically make one healthy, but when it's 80 different little things we've changed and still see very little weight loss, it feels defeating.

Consider doing something like keeping a journal (www.fitbit.com/journal still works if you type it in and/or bookmark it). When I first started my fitness journey, I was huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs, but that's okay! I can do the full 10 flights to my office now and be good! But it's not necessarily something I would have recalled if, on occasion, I didn't flip back in my journal and see "walked 2 flights of stairs before switching to elevator" or "ran 0.10 mile. Better today!" switching to "All 10 flights down, today was the first day I didn't start breathing heavily" and "hit 1/4 mile..." "hit 1/2 mile..." 

As @Raviv said, you're stronger than you think! Just remind yourself and keep going!

Also... if you can, find a fitness buddy at a similar level as you. When you want to stay home because you're tired, they'll be waiting at the trail so you'll get up and go. When they're a bit sore and just not feeling it, you can encourage them and brag about your new workout playlist that they just have to see so they'll get moving too!

[Raviv]

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@Missyjx wrote:

The only thing i will mention about couch to 5k is you will have to find your pace, im still trying to do this myself especially outside (when it tells me to run i go into automatic sprint mode then struggle to do the rest) if i find any tips on running pace ill send them through to you. But most of all will all fitness have fun!

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This is SO true!

I could only run a little more than a minute max and my lungs just couldn't keep up.  I asked a bunch of runners, and they said to slow down.  I told them I was already running really slowly.  Nope, run even slower.  And they were right.

Now I can run about 12-15 minutes solid if I don't care how much I run the rest of the time, and about 8-10 minutes solid if I know I'm pacing myself so I can do it again in a few minutes.  It made a huge difference instantly!

Last week, I watched a documentary on Hulu called Running America.  In it, a couple of seasoned distance runners decide to run from San Francisco to New York City during the 2008 US election.  When I watched them run, I got all excited because they run like I do!

[EmJen]

Thank you, @MRose!  I had completed forgotten about the journal section on here! I will give that a try. 

I feel like our re-commitments began in similar places. I've just completed post-graduate school, and finally admitted to myself that I was amazing at stress eating (pizza, ice cream, fried foods, etc). 

I've definitely been trying to be more aware of what I'm eating and when. 

Also, @Raviv - It's the first time in months that I even had the courage to go to a Strength Training class. I was afraid I would be too far behind everyone else.. I got there early and spoke candidly with the teacher of the course. She was so understanding and helpful in reminding me to focus on form/technique first, and in turn, build my strength as a result. It felt exhilarating!  So far so good!