Getting fit again help

[tinman0]

I have decided that after 5 years of doing nearly nothing to do with fitness apart from staggering to the pub and back, which i don't think counts, I have decided to do something about it.

Alcohol consumption has also been reduced dramatically before I get lectured on that

So, I've started running round the block twice a day. Its not a great distance, and before someone says "you need to do 20 minutes to make it count", lets just say thats not going to happen right now. But you have to start somewhere.

However, the problem I've encountered is absolute agony in my legs. So much so that after a few hours of pain yesterday I took painkillers. Today I'm in the same shape, and the pain is just as bad if not a bit worse.

Suggestions please?

Someone has suggested new running trainers rather than my old ones for instance. Many people have suggested a change to diet.

It sounds strange but I feel I could start pushing the range a bit more already, but its just the pain thats getting me now. What I don't understand is that the other night I went for the run and just sprang round my current course. Had a real pace, felt really good.

Today, I'm just crippled.

Edited by tinman0 on Tuesday 14th October 13:49

[sparks87]

I have been told cycling is just as good as running and rowing is even better.

[Get Karter]

Depends if the pain is just unfit muscles and tendons, or if you are really damaging your joints.

What do you weigh?

[milfordkong]

sparks87 said:

I have been told cycling is just as good as running and rowing is even better.

Possibly for improving your general fitness level, and both definitely have a much lower impact on joints etc - However if weight loss is your aim, this really isn't the case!

Edited by milfordkong on Tuesday 14th October 13:54

[anonymous-user]

Non impact training for you my son. If you go to the gym use a crosstrainer or rower and if not then go cycling. As long as you give your heart/lungs a good workout you'll be burning fat so although you burn more per hour running, you'll certainly burn it cycling.

[tinman0]

sparks87 said:

I have been told cycling is just as good as running and rowing is even better.

I bought a cheap rowing machine a couple of years ago, and I was absolutely bored. (Decided that buying was less embarrassing than watching a fat person in a public gym making a fool of themselves - and cheaper in the long run).

I could give it another whirl though. Somehow the old calorie counter was a major put off. After 20 minutes of sweating like a pig, it would say "you've burned 20 calories". which really didn't help the desperate craving for a sandwich or a pint of coke straight after.

[monthefish]

New trainers may well help.
Once your body gets used to running again, the day-after pains will soon stop.

Alternatively, swimming's good for fitness (and not too much stress on the ol' joints)

[sparks87]

milfordkong said:

sparks87 said:

I have been told cycling is just as good as running and rowing is even better.

Possibly for improving your general fitness level, but if weight loss is your aim, this really isn't the case!

I would assume a few hours a week on a rowing machine/bike combined with eating healthier would result in weight loss.

[tinman0]

Get Karter said:

Depends if the pain is just unfit muscles and tendons, or if you are really damaging your joints.

What do you weigh?

probably only 2-3 stone more than I should. so we're not talking desperately overweight, but enough for the scales to say "get off fat bloke" and then to humiliate you with the "You are overweight - but not obese. Yet" message.

[fido]

you live near Richmond Park? take a bike or jog round it on a Sunday morning.

or integrate some exercise into your daily routine - a brisk walk with a rucksack to the station or during lunch hours.

[wadgebeast]

Trainers that actually fit you how they should. Take your old ones to a proper running shop so that they can see how they wear out and they'll recommend something that fits your feet.

Secondly, don't just try and run for the sake of running. try walking the distance in between lamp posts and then run to the next one, walk to the next one, run to the next one. this has the advantage of being far better at fat burning than either running or walking at a constant pace. Let the distance or overall time build up before you start running the whole thing. don't worry too much about looking daft - those in the know will know exactly what you're doing and anybody else doesn't count, coz they're still stuck on their fat arse.

Finally, where is it hurting? Knees? Ankles? Shins? Hamstrings? Calves? Thighs? this all makes a difference. If it's shins, it's just unused muscles complaining (it's not shinsplints - this is a spiral fracture! Lots of people whinge that they've got shinsplints and it's purely because they don't run enough to get those thin muscles up to speed). If it's knees / ankles, then it's more serious and you might want to look at what you're doing viz terrain and those old trainers again. If it's hamstrings / calves, it's the unused muscle thing again. Don't stretch at the beginning of your runs; let your legs warm up a bit, then stretch them and then have a longer stretch off at the end of the run.

Standby for the deluge of advice from the rest of the PH fitties...

[ewenm]

Find a local running specialist shop and get them to fit you with a proper pair of running shoes. They can make a huge difference.

[V8mate]

My understanding is that any exercise is good if it raises your heartbeat to the 130-150 range and leaves you breathless.

After that, take your pick

[Shaw Tarse]

tinman is it joint or muscle pain?
I was told when joining a gym, after a few years break that there is "muscle memory" where the muscles you used to use, then let waste away, will hurt like fork when you use them again

[anonymous-user]

V8mate said:

My understanding is that any exercise is good if it raises your heartbeat to the 130-150 range and leaves you breathless.

After that, take your pick

You want around 70% of (220 minus your age) for max fat burning pulse!

[milfordkong]

sparks87 said:

I would assume a few hours a week on a rowing machine/bike combined with eating healthier would result in weight loss.

Of course it will, but compared to running the results you get against the hours you put in will be considerably less substantial.

[tinman0]

wadgebeast said:

Finally, where is it hurting? Knees? Ankles? Shins? Hamstrings? Calves? Thighs? this all makes a difference. If it's shins, it's just unused muscles complaining (it's not shinsplints - this is a spiral fracture! Lots of people whinge that they've got shinsplints and it's purely because they don't run enough to get those thin muscles up to speed). If it's knees / ankles, then it's more serious and you might want to look at what you're doing viz terrain and those old trainers again. If it's hamstrings / calves, it's the unused muscle thing again. Don't stretch at the beginning of your runs; let your legs warm up a bit, then stretch them and then have a longer stretch off at the end of the run.

yup, calves are killing me right now. been an hour since I went for the run.

[patmahe]

Are you warming up beforehand and down afterwards? Also a good hot bath will help sooth the pains away, they may not go completely but it will certainly help. I find deep heat helps too, just dont put on too much or get it anywhere is shouldn't go, its called deep heat for a reason.

Change of diet? well we'd have to know what you eat at the moment.

I also find running difficult (my lungs aren't able for it at the moment. So I'm doing cycling instead, probably getting less benefit than the same time spent running, but I'm able for it and I enjoy it more.

HTH

ETA: I used to row too, its fantastic excercise if you do it correctly but it might be a bit much for someone who is unfit.

ETAA: Also don't overdo it, if all your body is able for is a few gentle minutes of excercise then just do that, then extend it by a few minutes a week and before long you'll be surprised with how far you'll come.

Edited by patmahe on Tuesday 14th October 14:05

[elle]

garyhun said:

You want around 70% of (220 minus your age) for max fat burning pulse!

Are you a Personal trainer?

[sparks87]

sparks87 said:

milfordkong said:

sparks87 said:

I have been told cycling is just as good as running and rowing is even better.

Possibly for improving your general fitness level, but if weight loss is your aim, this really isn't the case!

I would assume a few hours a week on a rowing machine/bike combined with eating healthier would result in weight loss.

And also the fact that rowing is a pretty major work out on various parts of your body is another way of it helping you lose weight. If you don't eat right though excersise won't be that effective. I talked to a guy who lost 4 stone over 6 months using a rowing machine 4 days a week for 30 mins to an hour at a time at the gym, he listened to music in his headphones to make it a little less boring. He changed his diet somewhat as well.

Edited by sparks87 on Tuesday 14th October 14:06