Can you break me out of my fitness rut?
December 25, 2014 6:24 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for creative suggestions on new fitness activities (and concrete suggestions on how to get started) that would play best to my body type. Blizzard inside.
Here's me:
1. Female, early 30s
2. 5'4 1/2", small frame but currently carrying about 30 extra pounds (155)
3. Puts on muscle quickly and easily, dreadful at cardio, so-so on flexibility
4. Current activities, rotated throughout the year: weight lifting, yoga, running, biking, home fitness programs (P90X, Insanity), hiking. Year-round I've managed to work in several miles of walking each day as just part of my normal routine.
5. I start to get bored after about six weeks of any one activity, basically when I start to see results. I think the exception to this is running, which I like more after I get better at it (I think because I find cardio so painful), but I still get bored with it after a few months.
6. My base level of fitness is pretty good. I enjoy physical activities but not straight exercise so much.
7. I can lose weight if I really try, but I have the appetite of a 300 pound man. I can easily pack away 5,000 calories in a day without even trying, and it's not uncommon for me to put on five pounds in a week. Consequently, I'm always struggling with my weight.
8. I have a serious problem with sweets.
9. I have some problems with fatigue, which is probably another reason I'm not a fan of cardio. I'm aware I'm the picture perfect example of someone who would benefit from a low-carb diet, but I've never been able to stick with it long enough to see if that's true (cravings, dizziness and mental confusion, increased fatigue). The one time I was on a running program at the same time I was trying low carb I nearly collapsed twice.
My goals, in order of priority:
1. Lose the extra 30
2. Feel better about my body (Appreciate what it can do and what it's capable of rather than being constantly at war with it because I'm not skinny)
3. Push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things
4. Meet new people
5. Learn something new
My limitations:
1. I can't swim. I've tried to learn multiple times and failed.
2. I can't bike to work.
3. I cannot sustain a blow to my face or teeth. I mean none of us really can, but I just spent three years, a hospitalization, and thousands of dollars getting mine fixed, so I really, really can't. I understand no activity is risk-free, but no boxing for me.
4. I have some mild anxiety around group fitness activities that stems from being a fat and unathletic kid who got made fun of in gym class. I've done plenty of yoga and exercise classes with no problem, but the idea of joining a kickball or volleyball team with a bunch of strangers sounds more awful than fun. I do want to push myself out of my comfort zone a bit, but I don't have that base of team sports in childhood or college that some people do. I don't even know the rules to most sports. (Wouldn't mind learning but would need a super supportive environment to play.)
5. I'd prefer not to spend much money, but I can spend some, but not a lot. (Think hundreds but not thousands.)
6. I live in NYC and can travel around Manhattan and Brooklyn.
So what are some interesting new activities I might try (whether fitness is the specific focus or just a side benefit)? How do I get started in them?
Thanks!
Here's me:
1. Female, early 30s
2. 5'4 1/2", small frame but currently carrying about 30 extra pounds (155)
3. Puts on muscle quickly and easily, dreadful at cardio, so-so on flexibility
4. Current activities, rotated throughout the year: weight lifting, yoga, running, biking, home fitness programs (P90X, Insanity), hiking. Year-round I've managed to work in several miles of walking each day as just part of my normal routine.
5. I start to get bored after about six weeks of any one activity, basically when I start to see results. I think the exception to this is running, which I like more after I get better at it (I think because I find cardio so painful), but I still get bored with it after a few months.
6. My base level of fitness is pretty good. I enjoy physical activities but not straight exercise so much.
7. I can lose weight if I really try, but I have the appetite of a 300 pound man. I can easily pack away 5,000 calories in a day without even trying, and it's not uncommon for me to put on five pounds in a week. Consequently, I'm always struggling with my weight.
8. I have a serious problem with sweets.
9. I have some problems with fatigue, which is probably another reason I'm not a fan of cardio. I'm aware I'm the picture perfect example of someone who would benefit from a low-carb diet, but I've never been able to stick with it long enough to see if that's true (cravings, dizziness and mental confusion, increased fatigue). The one time I was on a running program at the same time I was trying low carb I nearly collapsed twice.
My goals, in order of priority:
1. Lose the extra 30
2. Feel better about my body (Appreciate what it can do and what it's capable of rather than being constantly at war with it because I'm not skinny)
3. Push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things
4. Meet new people
5. Learn something new
My limitations:
1. I can't swim. I've tried to learn multiple times and failed.
2. I can't bike to work.
3. I cannot sustain a blow to my face or teeth. I mean none of us really can, but I just spent three years, a hospitalization, and thousands of dollars getting mine fixed, so I really, really can't. I understand no activity is risk-free, but no boxing for me.
4. I have some mild anxiety around group fitness activities that stems from being a fat and unathletic kid who got made fun of in gym class. I've done plenty of yoga and exercise classes with no problem, but the idea of joining a kickball or volleyball team with a bunch of strangers sounds more awful than fun. I do want to push myself out of my comfort zone a bit, but I don't have that base of team sports in childhood or college that some people do. I don't even know the rules to most sports. (Wouldn't mind learning but would need a super supportive environment to play.)
5. I'd prefer not to spend much money, but I can spend some, but not a lot. (Think hundreds but not thousands.)
6. I live in NYC and can travel around Manhattan and Brooklyn.
So what are some interesting new activities I might try (whether fitness is the specific focus or just a side benefit)? How do I get started in them?
Thanks!
We're pretty similar: I'm reasonably fit, put on muscle like nobody's business, and loathe cardio. For me, a combination of pilates (I prefer mat classes, but reformer classes are fun too) and barre (I like Xtend Barre, but there are a lot of great options out there) has done wonders. Barre has soooome cardio but it's not bad.
I think these types of exercise cover all five of your goals. You might need to hunt for the best studio for you in order to fulfill #4, but in my experience the folks in these classes are cheerful and friendly.
As for how to get started, I'd try to identify a couple of studios that look promising on Yelp. Take a couple of classes at each, see which one fits you best, and get into a routine. Good luck!
posted by schroedingersgirl at 6:37 PM on December 25, 2014
I think these types of exercise cover all five of your goals. You might need to hunt for the best studio for you in order to fulfill #4, but in my experience the folks in these classes are cheerful and friendly.
As for how to get started, I'd try to identify a couple of studios that look promising on Yelp. Take a couple of classes at each, see which one fits you best, and get into a routine. Good luck!
posted by schroedingersgirl at 6:37 PM on December 25, 2014
Rock climbing is pretty great. Most climbing gyms offer more or less formal intro classes. I think it's more fun to climb with a partner, but it's not a requirement. If you're already into lifting, yoga, and hiking you probably know someone who climbs or wants to learn.
posted by yarntheory at 6:45 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by yarntheory at 6:45 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is what stands out to me:
"7. I can lose weight if I really try, but I have the appetite of a 300 pound man. I can easily pack away 5,000 calories in a day without even trying, and it's not uncommon for me to put on five pounds in a week. Consequently, I'm always struggling with my weight."
You're to be commended for being active, but how you perform and enjoy certain sports has a lot to do with your weight. Weight would also address the first two points on your list of goals.
As for the last three goals, for someone small and muscular and not interested in cardio -- what about capoeira? Depending on the school, the vibe can be great, lots of singing and cheering, unlike many martial arts that I've done.
The movements are very gymnastic, which would be better on the muscle side than the cardio side. When you're "sparring" in the roda, the circle, you don't have to be in it very long, someone will usually relieve you when you're waning. And about your fear about getting hit in the face -- it's as much a dance as it is a martial art, about sustaining movement -- so it's not like boxing where you're absorbing blows.
posted by Borborygmus at 6:45 PM on December 25, 2014
"7. I can lose weight if I really try, but I have the appetite of a 300 pound man. I can easily pack away 5,000 calories in a day without even trying, and it's not uncommon for me to put on five pounds in a week. Consequently, I'm always struggling with my weight."
You're to be commended for being active, but how you perform and enjoy certain sports has a lot to do with your weight. Weight would also address the first two points on your list of goals.
As for the last three goals, for someone small and muscular and not interested in cardio -- what about capoeira? Depending on the school, the vibe can be great, lots of singing and cheering, unlike many martial arts that I've done.
The movements are very gymnastic, which would be better on the muscle side than the cardio side. When you're "sparring" in the roda, the circle, you don't have to be in it very long, someone will usually relieve you when you're waning. And about your fear about getting hit in the face -- it's as much a dance as it is a martial art, about sustaining movement -- so it's not like boxing where you're absorbing blows.
posted by Borborygmus at 6:45 PM on December 25, 2014
You might consider Pickleball. It may not be vigorous enough for you. It is really fun, has a large social component, and is a very fast growing sport. A lot of players are older, but there is a large population of younger people starting to play. Meets all of your considerations.
posted by jcworth at 6:47 PM on December 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by jcworth at 6:47 PM on December 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
You should play squash!
Losing the extra 30 will depend on what you eat/drink of course, but squash games are quite the workout. There's a sign in my gym that says it's 800 kcal per hour; not sure about that but I wouldn't be surprised that it's quite a bit. Matches are shorter though - can be 15-20 minutes. Squash is very social if you join a league or ladder, which you should after taking enough lessons to be able to serve and return consistently. The range of people who play is large in terms of age, background, etc and with it being a minority sport people are happy to see new learners. And it's just insanely fun and a big stressbuster - playing with angles, throwing yourself around the court, learning how to beat taller and stronger people, getting better at drills and so on. I am 5'3" so a shorty like you and lift weights a lot and hate "standard" cardio and find squash a good balance.
Don't know about courts in NY though. Here in Toronto beginners' classes cost about $100 for 4 group lessons although you can obviously hire a coach by the hour, "good enough" racquets can be had for 50 bucks and there are squash courts in several gyms.
posted by jamesonandwater at 6:50 PM on December 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Losing the extra 30 will depend on what you eat/drink of course, but squash games are quite the workout. There's a sign in my gym that says it's 800 kcal per hour; not sure about that but I wouldn't be surprised that it's quite a bit. Matches are shorter though - can be 15-20 minutes. Squash is very social if you join a league or ladder, which you should after taking enough lessons to be able to serve and return consistently. The range of people who play is large in terms of age, background, etc and with it being a minority sport people are happy to see new learners. And it's just insanely fun and a big stressbuster - playing with angles, throwing yourself around the court, learning how to beat taller and stronger people, getting better at drills and so on. I am 5'3" so a shorty like you and lift weights a lot and hate "standard" cardio and find squash a good balance.
Don't know about courts in NY though. Here in Toronto beginners' classes cost about $100 for 4 group lessons although you can obviously hire a coach by the hour, "good enough" racquets can be had for 50 bucks and there are squash courts in several gyms.
posted by jamesonandwater at 6:50 PM on December 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Do you like music and dancing? I like Zumba classes. You can go to an actual Zumba class or just look up Zumba videos on YouTube and do it at home. There's always people of different fitness abilities and body types in the classes, so no one is going to be staring or making fun of you or anything. The focus is on having fun and appreciating your body. I would recommend trying out a few different instructors because their teaching styles will all be slightly different.
posted by Lingasol at 7:13 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Lingasol at 7:13 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not a suggestion for a specific activity, but if you want to try a bunch of stuff with low commitment, check out ClassPass. It's $100 a month for a bunch of different studios, unlimited classes (though you can only do each studio 3x/month). I've been doing it in LA and have tried TRX, barre, aerial silks, spinning, and there's a bunch of other stuff. It started in NY and there are over 300 studios participating there.
posted by loulou718 at 7:16 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by loulou718 at 7:16 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would suggest a gym with a good variety you can rotate through, with fixed bikes (like a spinning class) a personal favorite with an audiobook on headphones.
Also if you can, carry around something filling to snack on that has little nutritional value, like celery.
posted by nickggully at 7:51 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also if you can, carry around something filling to snack on that has little nutritional value, like celery.
posted by nickggully at 7:51 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Seconding jamesonandwater. Never played it myself, but I have never seen anyone coming out of a squash game who was not a) cheerful AND b) sweating like nobody's business. That game is HARD WORK. I know someone who used to do 40 minutes squash followed by 2 hours' fencing, and I have absolutely no idea how she stayed upright afterwards, let alone how she had the energy to kick my ass on the piste.
posted by fearnothing at 8:15 PM on December 25, 2014
posted by fearnothing at 8:15 PM on December 25, 2014
You've heard the expression, "abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym"? Unfortunately it's going to be damn near impossible to run off a daily 3000 calorie excess - remember, 3500 calories = 1 lb gained. If your primary goal is weight loss you should really address your diet. I recommend intermittent fasting if you can't stick to low carb (I can't either and IMHO a life without key lime pie and chocolate kisses is not worth living.)
That said - have you tried following a training plan to run a race? It's easy to lose steam when you're just running for x miles y times a week with no goal in mind. It's much more fun to follow a plan and experience being able to run faster and longer week after week - like magic !
posted by pintapicasso at 8:54 PM on December 25, 2014
That said - have you tried following a training plan to run a race? It's easy to lose steam when you're just running for x miles y times a week with no goal in mind. It's much more fun to follow a plan and experience being able to run faster and longer week after week - like magic !
posted by pintapicasso at 8:54 PM on December 25, 2014
I'll second rock climbing! We sound really similar - I'm female, almost 30, 5'3", put on muscle fast, was the chubby/uncoordinated kid in gym class, and get bored by many types of exercise. I started rock climbing almost a year ago, and still really enjoy it - I go two or three times a week with friends or by myself.
Rock climbing keeps me interested because each climbing or bouldering route is a mental challenge as well as a physical one ("climbing" is going up to around 30 - 45 feet in a gym with a safety rope and a harness, "bouldering" is going 10 - 18 feet without a rope but with a big squishy pad under you). It's a physical workout, for sure, but there's also a lot of technique involved, as well as mental concentration as you figure out the smartest way to climb the route. You get a feeling of progression as you move up to routes with a higher difficulty, which is awesome, and the routes in the gym are always changing, which keeps things fresh.
In terms of your goals/limitations:
1. I've switched out fat for muscle while climbing, which hasn't led to a drop in weight but has changed my figure for the better. More muscle = more calories burnt while not working out, as I'm sure you know. I started with very little muscle; since you're weight-training regularly, you may not put on much muscle but still lose fat. It's a hard workout if you go at it!
2. It is awesome to climb something challenging and succeed. It's also awesome to keep working at a route for a few sessions in a row and finally complete it successfully. I've definitely gotten an appreciation of what my body is capable of while climbing. Bonus if you go climbing outside (with other experienced climbers!) in the spring, and climb up something big - that feels amazing when you get to the top and look down!
3. If you haven't climbed before, you'll feel outside your comfort zone! And if you keep at it, you'll start getting on routes that - while quite safe - feel scary. I've learned a lot about how I react to fear and how to push through that while climbing - and when to respect my fear and come off a route that is too challenging for me right now. (This has been mostly while lead climbing, which is yet another version of climbing that has more chance of falls and also a higher risk of injury - totally not necessary to do if you don't want to.)
4. Rock climbers are almost all great people, and it's super easy to meet folks in a rock climbing gym. If you climb with a rope you'll need a partner to belay you, which you can find by asking at the front desk, posting a note at your gym, or just chatting with folks. Bouldering you don't need a partner, but you'll often meet people who are working on the same routes as you are, and exchange friendly advice and suggestions as you all try to figure out the problem.
5. Yup! Lots of skills to learn!
Blows to the teeth or face - should not be an issue unless you try lead climbing (and then almost only if you or your belayer make a really stupid mistake), or unless you never learn how to safetly fall on a pad while bouldering. I've never heard of anyone getting injured to the face except while lead climbing, and I really can't imagine a situation that would allow that to happen on regular top-rope climbing or bouldering.
Climbers, especially women climbers in my experience, are a very supportive bunch! If you miss a move, you'll get another chance at the route, either by hanging on the rope while you rest and reconsider how you'll approach the move, or, in the case of bouldering, you'll (safely) fall off the wall, and then sit down and restudy the problem. Either way, you won't be letting anyone/the team down if you mess up. And you get lots of great friendly advice, and cheers from the folks you know when you finish a route that's been a challenge for you!
Money - you can start with a beginners class, rent shoes and a harness. If you like it, you'd need a gym membership (not sure of the price of the gyms in NYC, the gyms here in SF are about $65/month and include workout equipment and yoga/spin/boxing/etc. classes), and you'd want to buy your own shoes ($60 -$100 for a beginner pair), harness ($45), and chalk bag ($20).
posted by Jaclyn at 9:21 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Rock climbing keeps me interested because each climbing or bouldering route is a mental challenge as well as a physical one ("climbing" is going up to around 30 - 45 feet in a gym with a safety rope and a harness, "bouldering" is going 10 - 18 feet without a rope but with a big squishy pad under you). It's a physical workout, for sure, but there's also a lot of technique involved, as well as mental concentration as you figure out the smartest way to climb the route. You get a feeling of progression as you move up to routes with a higher difficulty, which is awesome, and the routes in the gym are always changing, which keeps things fresh.
In terms of your goals/limitations:
1. I've switched out fat for muscle while climbing, which hasn't led to a drop in weight but has changed my figure for the better. More muscle = more calories burnt while not working out, as I'm sure you know. I started with very little muscle; since you're weight-training regularly, you may not put on much muscle but still lose fat. It's a hard workout if you go at it!
2. It is awesome to climb something challenging and succeed. It's also awesome to keep working at a route for a few sessions in a row and finally complete it successfully. I've definitely gotten an appreciation of what my body is capable of while climbing. Bonus if you go climbing outside (with other experienced climbers!) in the spring, and climb up something big - that feels amazing when you get to the top and look down!
3. If you haven't climbed before, you'll feel outside your comfort zone! And if you keep at it, you'll start getting on routes that - while quite safe - feel scary. I've learned a lot about how I react to fear and how to push through that while climbing - and when to respect my fear and come off a route that is too challenging for me right now. (This has been mostly while lead climbing, which is yet another version of climbing that has more chance of falls and also a higher risk of injury - totally not necessary to do if you don't want to.)
4. Rock climbers are almost all great people, and it's super easy to meet folks in a rock climbing gym. If you climb with a rope you'll need a partner to belay you, which you can find by asking at the front desk, posting a note at your gym, or just chatting with folks. Bouldering you don't need a partner, but you'll often meet people who are working on the same routes as you are, and exchange friendly advice and suggestions as you all try to figure out the problem.
5. Yup! Lots of skills to learn!
Blows to the teeth or face - should not be an issue unless you try lead climbing (and then almost only if you or your belayer make a really stupid mistake), or unless you never learn how to safetly fall on a pad while bouldering. I've never heard of anyone getting injured to the face except while lead climbing, and I really can't imagine a situation that would allow that to happen on regular top-rope climbing or bouldering.
Climbers, especially women climbers in my experience, are a very supportive bunch! If you miss a move, you'll get another chance at the route, either by hanging on the rope while you rest and reconsider how you'll approach the move, or, in the case of bouldering, you'll (safely) fall off the wall, and then sit down and restudy the problem. Either way, you won't be letting anyone/the team down if you mess up. And you get lots of great friendly advice, and cheers from the folks you know when you finish a route that's been a challenge for you!
Money - you can start with a beginners class, rent shoes and a harness. If you like it, you'd need a gym membership (not sure of the price of the gyms in NYC, the gyms here in SF are about $65/month and include workout equipment and yoga/spin/boxing/etc. classes), and you'd want to buy your own shoes ($60 -$100 for a beginner pair), harness ($45), and chalk bag ($20).
posted by Jaclyn at 9:21 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Maybe rather than picking a new activity and just doing that you should rotate your activities constantly- like, work out 3 or 4 fines a week and switch up what you do each time- hopefully this would lessen the boredom? Also think about joining a running or cycling club- they're not just for elite athletes, a lot of them have people like you looking to get fit in a social way, and being part of a club adds a layer of accountability that might help you stick with it. good luck!
posted by emd3737 at 9:25 PM on December 25, 2014
posted by emd3737 at 9:25 PM on December 25, 2014
If you're interested in the climbing, Brooklyn Boulders is the name I keep hearing in NYC. A newer one is Steep Rock at 96th and Lexington. I unfortunately know nothing about bouldering, but I do know somebody about your age and height who really likes it and talks about her climbing gyms often.
If you're looking for a cycling club, NYCC is the one with the broadest range (A-rides average 22 mph on the flats, C-rides maybe 10 mph) and they lead a variety of rides, ranging from training laps in Central Park to destination rides into Westchester and New Jersey.
posted by d. z. wang at 9:58 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you're looking for a cycling club, NYCC is the one with the broadest range (A-rides average 22 mph on the flats, C-rides maybe 10 mph) and they lead a variety of rides, ranging from training laps in Central Park to destination rides into Westchester and New Jersey.
posted by d. z. wang at 9:58 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I know you mentioned a dislike for starting a team sport from scratch in your limitations, but not all team sport leagues are created equal. Are there any social leagues in your area in a sport you might be interested in, and any friends you might be able to encourage to join the team? It can make a difference if you have even one person on a team of strangers. Some centres might even have training nights where you learn the skills before ever entering a game.
Much like you, I dislike cardio, and enjoy weightlifting but can't get my act together to go consistently for months at a time. If it wasn't for my social indoor beach volleyball team (in the lowest division in the league), I would have been doing nothing at all. When I started, I knew nothing about volleyball. I couldn't even touch the ball, and when I did touch it, it would go wild. As a team, we were terrible, and it was a struggle. But you would be amazed how quickly we adapted. By the time I had to leave the team, we still weren't winners, but we had a lot of fun every week. Even on the nights I didn't feel like playing, I still had to, for the sake of the team. Even if I didn't feel like running for the ball, I still had to, for the sake of the team. It kept me accountable in a way that the Couch to 5k program never did.
If you are looking to learn new skills, a new appreciation for your body's ability, push yourself out of the comfort zone and meet new people, there is really nothing better than a social sport.
posted by roshy at 11:53 PM on December 25, 2014
Much like you, I dislike cardio, and enjoy weightlifting but can't get my act together to go consistently for months at a time. If it wasn't for my social indoor beach volleyball team (in the lowest division in the league), I would have been doing nothing at all. When I started, I knew nothing about volleyball. I couldn't even touch the ball, and when I did touch it, it would go wild. As a team, we were terrible, and it was a struggle. But you would be amazed how quickly we adapted. By the time I had to leave the team, we still weren't winners, but we had a lot of fun every week. Even on the nights I didn't feel like playing, I still had to, for the sake of the team. Even if I didn't feel like running for the ball, I still had to, for the sake of the team. It kept me accountable in a way that the Couch to 5k program never did.
If you are looking to learn new skills, a new appreciation for your body's ability, push yourself out of the comfort zone and meet new people, there is really nothing better than a social sport.
posted by roshy at 11:53 PM on December 25, 2014
I start to get bored after about six weeks of any one activity, basically when I start to see results.Your fitness rut is the state of always picking a new activity. Giving you yet another activity to pick up and then discard will not break the rut.
Instead, just pick an activity and stick with it. Not for one month, not for two, not even for six months. Decide to do it for a year, minimum, come what may. Your 2015 will be this thing.
Better than picking one would be to pick two: one strength practice (weightlifting is best, but CrossFit or yoga would be fine) and one sport or cardio activity (basically anything else). Two or three days a week lifting plus as much supplemental activity as you feel like doing is a great and sustainable balance. At the point where you start to not suck at whatever those activities are, set a new, harder goal for those same activities. You squatted 100 pounds? Great, now squat 200. You just ran a 5k? Great, now beat your personal best by two minutes. You finally learned the rules to [terrifying team sport]? Great, now you're going to become one of the seasoned veterans.
If losing 30 pounds of fat is actually your goal, then maybe you should look long and hard at the part of your question that says "[I quit] when I start to see results". I think that if you kept going at that point, turning the activity into something that's a permanent part of yourself, you might not only see progress but also start to feel better about yourself and your body. And just going down your list, going against the grain of repeated two-month trials would certainly push you out of your comfort zone and teach you things about yourself.
posted by daveliepmann at 1:57 AM on December 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
If you are conveniently located for it, skiing is pretty awesome. Cross country is great if you are worried about falling, as you can stick to fairly flat routes.also x country can be really cheap as you don't need to buy lift passes. I picked up a set of skis and poles second hand for about $100, and I snow camp for the free accommodation, so it costs me like $200 a season for waxing, petrol money, and national park passes.
It's great for your leg muscles plus a good cardio workout without being boring and you burn so many calories per hour that I literally cannot eat enough over a week's skiing to make up for it. Even when my diet is ninety percent cheese.
If you live near enough to snow to go for day trips regularly in the weekends when it's snow season, that would be ideal but even with a longer trip, if you can do it once or twice a year it would be good for you.
posted by lollusc at 2:03 AM on December 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's great for your leg muscles plus a good cardio workout without being boring and you burn so many calories per hour that I literally cannot eat enough over a week's skiing to make up for it. Even when my diet is ninety percent cheese.
If you live near enough to snow to go for day trips regularly in the weekends when it's snow season, that would be ideal but even with a longer trip, if you can do it once or twice a year it would be good for you.
posted by lollusc at 2:03 AM on December 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you're already into yoga and walk a lot, what about amping up your yoga (Vinyasa? Ashtanga? Power yoga?) and walking even more? If your main problem is that you are likely to quit a new activity, stick with the "old" activity and just do more of it, and more vigorously.
Also, maybe see your doctor for some lab work? Even the most vigorous workout is going to need a massive commitment to burn 5000 calories/day. Fatigue, high appetite, sweets craving, and quickly building muscle makes me wonder if there is something going on with your hormones. Maybe get your blood sugar, thyroid, and estrogen/testosterone levels checked. (PCOS tends to lead to difficulty losing weight, quick and easy muscle building, hypothyroid fatigue, and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes with carb and sweets craving .) I'm not trying to diagnose you over the internet or worry you, but doctors can be a great resource as you start to work on your health. You know all those warnings about "ask your doctor before starting this new exercise routine/diet/etc"? If you haven't had a physical recently, maybe make an appointment and get some of this fairly routine lab work done while you are at it.
posted by instamatic at 4:57 AM on December 26, 2014
Also, maybe see your doctor for some lab work? Even the most vigorous workout is going to need a massive commitment to burn 5000 calories/day. Fatigue, high appetite, sweets craving, and quickly building muscle makes me wonder if there is something going on with your hormones. Maybe get your blood sugar, thyroid, and estrogen/testosterone levels checked. (PCOS tends to lead to difficulty losing weight, quick and easy muscle building, hypothyroid fatigue, and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes with carb and sweets craving .) I'm not trying to diagnose you over the internet or worry you, but doctors can be a great resource as you start to work on your health. You know all those warnings about "ask your doctor before starting this new exercise routine/diet/etc"? If you haven't had a physical recently, maybe make an appointment and get some of this fairly routine lab work done while you are at it.
posted by instamatic at 4:57 AM on December 26, 2014
RE sweets: I do better cutting them out entirely than managing moderation. Having a clear rule without exceptions is easier for me than allowing myself reasonable quantities.
posted by metasarah at 6:53 AM on December 26, 2014
posted by metasarah at 6:53 AM on December 26, 2014
i love love water fitness - no swimming skills are required. you're in the pool with people (usually) older (and less fit) than you, so you feel like an athletic god. you're doing a lot of the same exercises you do out of water, but the resistance feels different than machines or free weights. your endurance increases, but the sweat factor is missing. i do pilates and cardio six days a week and it's made a real difference in my flexibility and stamina.
i repeat - no swimming skills are required.
posted by ovenmitt at 8:29 AM on December 26, 2014
i repeat - no swimming skills are required.
posted by ovenmitt at 8:29 AM on December 26, 2014
Absent a physical issue like thyroid, PCOS, etc, eating 5000 calories per day at your size and activity level is not a "big appetite." It may not be full on binging, but it is definitely some kind of disordered eating.
I don't believe a new fitness routine is what you need -- a fixation on finding the "right" exercise routine may be your way of avoiding addressing your issues with food. I'm not saying you need therapy, but something has to change.
posted by telegraph at 9:50 AM on December 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't believe a new fitness routine is what you need -- a fixation on finding the "right" exercise routine may be your way of avoiding addressing your issues with food. I'm not saying you need therapy, but something has to change.
posted by telegraph at 9:50 AM on December 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I could have asked this question two years ago. The only difference being that I grew up with sports.
For me, after trying pilates, couch-to-5k, home strengthening routines, various yoga DVDs from the library, I got nowhere. I saw some slight improvements in strength, stamina, and flexibility, but no real weight loss, and no fitness improvements that seemed to be commensurate with the time I was putting in.
And then I started intermittent fasting, and the weight has come off. I have a figure! Who knew? It has significantly helped my blood sugar issues and my body self-consciousness (it helps when you aren't carrying around the fat). Now that I've lost weight, strengthening exercises make a visual difference in muscle definition (oh, look - biceps and triceps! not just thick tree stalks!), and as a bonus I'm stronger.
As for exercise suggestions, you might try (if you have any geekiness/sci-fi/fantasy interests) the Nerd Fitness Academy. Very supportive community, and they have gamified fitness with "quests" - earn points by doing different fitness exercises/activities. You'll meet people, albeit virtually. You can get a better sense of the community on the Nerd Fitness website.
You might also consider Cross Fit. I know people similar to you who tried it and love it. Lots of variety, you'll meet new people, and definitely develop new skills. Just make sure to take it slow and work your way up.
(She says this as she researches rock climbing gyms to check out.)
posted by sazanka at 9:52 AM on December 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
For me, after trying pilates, couch-to-5k, home strengthening routines, various yoga DVDs from the library, I got nowhere. I saw some slight improvements in strength, stamina, and flexibility, but no real weight loss, and no fitness improvements that seemed to be commensurate with the time I was putting in.
And then I started intermittent fasting, and the weight has come off. I have a figure! Who knew? It has significantly helped my blood sugar issues and my body self-consciousness (it helps when you aren't carrying around the fat). Now that I've lost weight, strengthening exercises make a visual difference in muscle definition (oh, look - biceps and triceps! not just thick tree stalks!), and as a bonus I'm stronger.
As for exercise suggestions, you might try (if you have any geekiness/sci-fi/fantasy interests) the Nerd Fitness Academy. Very supportive community, and they have gamified fitness with "quests" - earn points by doing different fitness exercises/activities. You'll meet people, albeit virtually. You can get a better sense of the community on the Nerd Fitness website.
You might also consider Cross Fit. I know people similar to you who tried it and love it. Lots of variety, you'll meet new people, and definitely develop new skills. Just make sure to take it slow and work your way up.
(She says this as she researches rock climbing gyms to check out.)
posted by sazanka at 9:52 AM on December 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
If you get bored with your routine exercise, you might want to try classpass, which lets you take up to classes at any studio in the city. They cut you off after three classes at any studio, but I've found that the flexibility keeps me from getting bored.
posted by MFZ at 2:30 PM on December 26, 2014
posted by MFZ at 2:30 PM on December 26, 2014
Response by poster: These were some super creative suggestions, thank you! I have a lot of things to explore in the new year.
I also want to thank everyone who expressed concern over my physical and/or psychological health. I am well taken care of on both of those fronts.
posted by unannihilated at 10:17 AM on January 2, 2015
I also want to thank everyone who expressed concern over my physical and/or psychological health. I am well taken care of on both of those fronts.
posted by unannihilated at 10:17 AM on January 2, 2015
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I joined a co-ed team, and we had a ball. They have adult hockey camps, and I did that as an introduction. I learned stick handling, and skating and the rules and I met cool dudes (see what I did there) and awesome chicks.
You wear a helmet and a cage, so you won't be taking a puck to the face.
You can start off with used equipment from Play it Again Sports, and do an Adult Hockey lesson/camp thingy (I did Ken Yackel and it was pretty good.) Ice rinks can turn you onto their workshops.
You can spend a small fortune on equipment, but if your smallish, you can get away with kids stuff, I can still wear kids gloves. Also, check out Craigslist, especially for hockey skates. Buy them a size smaller than your shoe size, you want them good and tight. Get a skate key.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:35 PM on December 25, 2014 [1 favorite]