just want to keep fit

A question about : just want to keep fit

I don't have a weight problem (9st 3lbs, 5'8), but I know I'm not as fit as I should be.

Are there any websites out there that could give me ideas as to how to improve my fitness? I've looked at my fitness pal, but it's very weight-loss oriented.

Best answers:

• Get a bike and download Strava.
• Eat correctly, don't drink too much, don't smoke.
  Try to walk as much as possible, take the stairs (daily).
  Do push ups, abs at home (daily).
  Ride a bike, or go jogging, or both (at least weekly).
  The key is to keep at it.
• What sort of activities (if any) do you currently do?
  Because you don't need to lose any weight the world is your fitness oyster really.
  Couch to 5k might be a good place to start as you will easily able to see your fitness levels improve.
• I'm not currently doing any 'real' fitness activities at all. I was doing Pilates once a week until about 4 months ago, but the instructor irritated me (perfectly sensible while we were a group of women, but when a man joined she got ridiculously silly, and spent all her time making sure he was doing it right and not paying any attention to the rest of us!!). I work from home, so not even the option of cycling to work! I feel stiff when I get out of bed, have a niggly back, I don't feel as energetic as I'd like to. Etc.
  However, we live in a 4-storey house, so plenty of running up and down stairs.
  I would like to improve my suppleness, my stamina, my strength and my overall fitness. When I was younger I was quite sporty, and loved running - I still enjoy it, but I suspect my knees don't.
  What I'm looking for I suppose is an online personal trainer - some sort of training program that will build me up from doing nothing, and keep me on track. Also a variety of ideas so that I can ring the changes depending on the weather, the time available, and to avoid boredom.
• If you work from home, you should allocate time daily to go out for a walk or cycle.
  When you go out to the supermarket or shops you could also walk/cycle there.
• couch25k could be an option - it would give you a goal to aim for and ease you back into running, if you build it up slowly your knees might be fine
• You could try https://www.mapmyfitness.com
  It also has an app that you can use to track cycling, walking running etc (uses GPS location but doesn't need your data on all the time).
  You can create and track your own goals or join "challenges". You can log activities like swimming manually or auto-log things like running.
  The basic version is free , although there is an ad-free paid version if you like the free version enough.
  If you ever do decide to use myfitnesspal you can link them so the exercise gets copied across automatically (this only seems to work mapmyfitness -> myfitnesspal, not the other way round).
• Runner's World website do some excellent running training programmes for free
• Many thanks. Will have a look at the websites suggested.
  I've found a Pilates class locally with a different instructor, so that'll get me back doing something every week (I find if I don't do Pilates or similar my back suffers). I've also started doing a few bends and stretches (basically Pilates again) every morning to get my body moving first thing.
  Will add to that as the evenings lengthen - we're not far from the canal and I enjoy walking there but not so easy when it's dark. I'd got into the routine of taking a 1/2 hour walk 2-3 times a week during the summer, but haven't done it for ages.
  I basically have to just get my finger out and go and do something, and I suspect it really doesn't matter too much what it is!!
• If you're sat working at home all day, why not buy a standing desk instead? I've had one for just over a year and feel a lot healthier, more alert, less sluggish, all day. I'm either writing or on the keyboard all day and find it fine. Sitting down isn't a natural posture for a human. I make sure I have a couple of walks daily too - I've devised a few round trips, varying from half a mile to 10 miles, depending on how long I have spare and the weather etc. I've been gradually losing weight doing this and my general fitness is improving, all without any real exertion.
• Another vote for Couch to 5k. 'A training program that will build me up from doing nothing' is exactly what it is. It only takes half an hour 3 times a week but you see really quick results.
  It'd go great with the pilates (or some yoga) too.
  If the dark's a problem, consider getting a headtorch.
• I'm liking the idea of a standing desk. I'm not in the office all day every day, but I'm sat at my desk for long enough to think it's too long!
• I've just looked at Couch to 5K - that's exactly what I'm looking for!! I'm sitting on the couch right now - I guess that's a good start!!
• I did couch to 5k last year with my sister and we found it excellent. it wasn't long before we were jogging for the full half hour.
• Yes, definitely like the Couch to 5K idea. So, my plan is to continue to do some Pilates at home every day, start the Couch to 5K on Monday, go to the new Pilates class on Tuesday, then continue with C25K etc.
  Many thanks - looking forward to getting started.
• - What do you enjoy doing?
  >>If you don't enjoy it, you won't stick with it.
  - What do you consider as 'being fit?'
  >>for me I consider a combination of strength, cardio, flexibility as being important.
  Cardio is pretty easy to fit in - running/walking/skipping/etc... I either run with a colleague in work or cycle in/out of work. If I've been on a break, I'll start to walk a lot before going back running.
  Flexibility takes a bit more work/effort - your pilates will go a long way, l also look at blogs like Kelly Starett - just to keep an eye on my body that I don't have injuries coming my way.
  Strength - if you garden/lift heavy stuff as part of your regular life you're covered. But at a personal level, this has been the biggest impact on how I feel. If you've suffered with your back building this strength up may help your back. I've certainly found that learning how to lift heavy things has been great for me all around.
  Just thinking, two you could try from home - Kettle bells and or suspension training (TRX). I got a suspension training kit reasonably cheap (not trx, but a cheaper replicate) - there are lots of online things you can follow. To be honest, I prefer lifting weights in a gym, but if this wasn't available to me, this would be my next preference. Kettle bells I would start with a trainer to ensure my form was good, but after that, get you're own and get stuck in.
  Finally mental fitness - but I think eating right stuff and moving more helps this no end.
  To keep me motivated, I sign up to runs and build fitness in to my social calendar - running with friends, I do voluntary work in a cycling shop, park runs.
  Starting 'fitness' is great, but keeping it up is more important.
• Good question - what do I consider 'fitness'?
  Well, I know that if I do nothing, my back is more likely to 'go', so that's the first thing. Secondly, I know I feel better/more energetic when I'm fitter. I also enjoy pushing myself, so working towards something like c25k sounds perfect.
  We live in a 4 storey house, so I get a fairly good cardio workout every time I run up and down the stairs. Also, we're renovating it at the moment (nearly finished), so strength is important - but I'm not convinced that just doing the renovation will make me strong enough to do the renovation, if that makes sense.
  Really quite excited about starting tomorrow. In fact, I went out today and did a 20 minute brisk walk, just for the hell of it. Fabulous day, blue sky, but so cold that the canal was frozen over. Looking forward to doing it for real tomorrow.
• Try and fit a couple of bodyweight exercises every other day. Press ups and squats especially can't be beaten. If you read up on them, you will see people raving about the benefits of doing a few sets of these per day. You'll need to make sure you squat with the correct form to avoid knee problems but both exercises can be done conveniently in a matter of seconds at home, at work, etc.