Just a quick question about getting back in the saddle.

jerryseinfeld · 04-16-2007, 10:27 AM

so i used to be very, very fit, football, muay thai, cross country running you name it. anyway due to me growing up a bit and not having time to exercise that much due to my job its all gone to shit. well, its not that bad, i'm 5'10 and 86 kilos, which i'm not liking.

anyway my problem is, has anyone been in this sort of situation before, because by far my biggest problem, isn't motivation its just my body giving up on me. i'll go for a 3 mile run and my legs will be killing by the end and not be able to run for the next 2 days. anyway what i'm asking is seeing as i've never been in this position befor, how long does it take for this shit to stop hurting? are the in shape guys able to do 3 miles without any kind of pains for the next few days? i figure its my muscles being out of action for so long they need to get practice again, i can't be crocked at 24 can i?

jerryseinfeld · 04-16-2007, 10:29 AM

also can anyone recommend some low impact exercises that will get all the muscles working again?

**Sonny** · 04-16-2007, 10:33 AM

Yeah, if you've been sedentary for a while ANY exercise is going to kill you at first, just do what you can and build yourself up. If you need 2 days between running then take 2 days off, you don't really have a choice.

jerryseinfeld · 04-16-2007, 10:41 AM

its very, very frustrating really because i hate 'taking days off' as that leads to me getting a bit downbeat about the whole thing. i'm just trying to get rid of the beer elly and not be huffing and puffing after a mile of running.

i've read a few articles saying burpees/shadow boxing drill sa re good for this, as they really get the whole body working, and spread the strain over all your muscles instead of just the legs which is what i'm looking for. press ups and sit ups obviously as well. what kind of drills would you guys recommend for someone who's not completely out of shape but not exactly in shape either?

jordyfjg · 04-16-2007, 11:08 AM

You might better run 1 mile a day than 3 miles with a 2 day break. For getting back into shape push-ups and sit-ups always works good. Start with 20 a day, or ten a day if your really gone weak, 10 a day and than you raise it every week.

jerryseinfeld · 04-18-2007, 03:27 AM

so i'm doing a burpee routine. 30 seconds burpees, 30 seconds shadow boxing, 30 seconds burpees, 30 seconds burpees, a 1 minute rest and repeat 4 times, twice a day, as well as a 2 km run every day. anyone tell me how long they think it'll take for me to get in decent shape doing that? obviously i'm going to increase the sets/distance as i get better.

also anyone else find drinking is a huge problem for them? a lot of my job involves networking with other people and that invariably ends up happening in bars. clients kind of get offended if you don't take their offer of a drink in my line of work. anyone know just how much is a safe limit per week? obviously i'd like to cut it out altogether but thats going to cost my company money. this is the bullshit that got me so unfit in the first place.

pittfrog · 04-18-2007, 12:09 PM

I think rather than focus on how quickly or how long it will take to get yourself into shape, you should focus on sticking to *some* form of regular exercise, and listening to the cues your mind and body throw you. If you're a perfectionist, or holding on mentally to some level of fitness you've had in the past, it's very easy to have some days where you are sore, or just don't feel like doing some exercise routine, and for those days to become catalysts for "oh f**k it, why bother" periods of not training/slacking. Keep exercising, and to quote someone else here "let the work do the work."

**Standard** · 04-18-2007, 12:47 PM

Just take your time and plan it out, most people fail becuase they expect or try too much too quick. You didn't get out of shape in a week your not going to get in shape in one either.

Sit down and plan out several weeks of progression, say the first week only put 4 training sessions say a 2km run one day, burpees the next take a day off and repeat. Do that for a couple weeks then add another training session. This way your doing all you planed to do but your taking it one step at a time. Its not always what you can do, its what you should do to get in shape, rest is important.

For the drinking just keep it as low as you can, try to avoid the unhealthy bar food as thats probably doing more damage to your wasteline then a pint of beer.

Jubacat · 04-18-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standard

Just take your time and plan it out, most people fail becuase they expect or try too much too quick. You didn't get out of shape in a week your not going to get in shape in one either.

Sit down and plan out several weeks of progression, say the first week only put 4 training sessions say a 2km run one day, burpees the next take a day off and repeat. Do that for a couple weeks then add another training session. This way your doing all you planed to do but your taking it one step at a time. Its not always what you can do, its what you should do to get in shape, rest is important.

For the drinking just keep it as low as you can, try to avoid the unhealthy bar food as thats probably doing more damage to your wasteline then a pint of beer.

When I started trying to get back into shape, I kept failing because I would bite off more than I could chew.

When I started doing small amounts, and then working my way up, is when working out finally took.

jerryseinfeld · 04-19-2007, 12:52 AM

thanks for the recommendations, guys, all taken onboard.