@Calmom- I think there seem to be all levels here on this thread. Some are really accomplished and I could never lift those kind of weights or run that way, but we all have to do our own thing. I’m building back up- but I’m not fast or anything and I mainly walk. I just want to do some longer stuff because it helps clear my head these days.
@calmom , I’ll be honest, other threads have been started - and indeed intended for beginners - but they don’t usually last. I say that as someone who was not on this thread (or the first thread just like this that was abruptly closed) for a long, long time.
I think we do have people of all levels here! And honestly I think a good majority of us started ground zero as an older adult.
The thing is, if only more intense exercisers post, then that is what the thread becomes. If people of ALL levels post - even those who just want to start doing something - then THAT is what the thread becomes.
I think I have others who would join me in saying it would be a DELIGHT to encourage and cheer on and also sympathize with a “beginner” - or an experienced person - who is struggling. If we are all 100% honest, we all ride the struggle bus sometimes!
The more people who post, the more variety we will have. I also think if you read the first few posts of this particular thread, our original poster, @MomofWildChild said this is for ALL who are interested in:
Fitness
Nutrition
Health
Because…paying attention to one is likely to positively affect the others!
Everyone, please don’t feel like this is a reporting post to just rack up your minutes or miles. Talk about struggles (I do think we do), nutrition, health wins or struggles - any of it.
@calmom , of course you should do what will satisfy you. I am no athlete. Never was and definitely am not. BUT I care about my health journey. It largely started right here on CC. One step at a time. I’m not a huge goal setter except to be consistent. I’ve always told myself, “this is my game to play”. And I own that.
If staying away from Netflix and your comfy bed for the day and walking 2000 steps around your house picking up clutter is a win for you today then we will celebrate that!
You’ll find that many here started running, swimming, hiking, lifting ==fill in the blank== late® in life.
Being a beginner or “light” or a novice is something many of us can clearly remember and can relate to.
I’ve only been barbell training for 16 months! I was sooooo uncomfortable walking into the powerlifting gym here in town to get some coaching on form. I definitely remember what it felt like to be a fish out of water, to feel overwhelmed and ignorant of a new activity. There is still so much I don’t know!
I’m probably the thread’s cardio-hater, and I really only want to do the minimum dose (of lifting) that will be effective.
slacker
No matter how “intense” anyone is, I think we can all agree that “doing the thing” or being consistent is super important and worth cheering on.
@HighTide2020 You may not want to, but you could totally lift heavy. What many people don’t realize is you start by, say, squatting the empty bar. Then, you add 5#. Then you add another 5#. Then another 5#. Now maybe 2.5#. And another 2.5#
Well, a year later, you’re squatting your bodyweight, or more. Small incremental steps will take you farther than you can imagine!
I’ve purposely backed off a bit from posting on this thread lately, but now I’ll stop posting altogether in this thread.
However, if I come across a good article, upcoming TV event, etc., once in a while, then I’ll post a message or link here. Or even answer a question, if one is posted where I can offer an opinion.
My apologies to anyone who’s intimidated by my posts, but I’ve been an athlete since I was a kid. I’m definitely not a beginner. I literally spend a couple hours in the gym at least 5 days a week. It’s my “Zen” time. In the gym, all I think about is the exercise.
It was never my intention to keep the less-intense exercisers from posting.
@sushiritto absolutely we need you here!!! While I can match your athletic prowess ;), I have come to love your humor - something we need more of daily anyway!!!
This thread can and should exist with all levels of people interested in fitness and health. That was the original intent and it’s how many of us got started - with a first step.
Tomorrow is a new day, new week. Everyone come as you are, share what you did, would like to do, one day at a time.
NOOO- @sushiritto I’m fascinated by your workouts and your energy. I love hearing about it. I think everyone is a contributor and there is value in everyone’s contributions. I’m not intimidated and I hope others can understand that they shouldn’t be. It’s like when Hamilton was first such a huge thing and my musical friends had so much more insight into it all than I did- but I loved hearing from them.
Don’t stop posting! I like hearing from you and Midwest because you do what I don’t. I want to be like you.
Please, @sushiritto - I don’t think that you should stop posting. This actually has nothing to do with your posts. It was a separate conversation.
Some people posted that they wanted to get started with weight training. Someone then posted the idea of a “weight challenge” with a list of online weight workouts, and a weekly share (like a “weights wednesday”) with people posting what they had done. At around the same time, I posted in response to someone else who wanted to “get started with dumbbells” but didn’t know what to do that there were a lot of instructional videos on YouTube that could help a beginner. And then a few posts after than, someone posted asking for specifics about what videos to follow. I don’t know if it was in response to my post or not. As is usual on CC sometimes there are more than one conversations going on at once and it’s hard to know exactly what posts are being referred to.
But my favorite YouTube videos don’t belong anywhere in a “weight challenge” no matter how modest the goals. Not everyone is trying to “work up” to anything. So that’s why I posted with the suggestion of a fitness-lite thread. It wasn’t tied to to your posts-- more that if there is going to be a “challenge” (no matter how modest) – I’m just not here for that. So that was the source of my comment about people having different goals. My personal goal is to take frequent short exercise breaks during the day so I really like to find videos that are between 5-10 minutes long with a different range of exercise options. (cardio, bodyweight training (like planks, etc.), some working with light weights or resistence bands. No goals, just trying to work some activity into my daily routine. So I’d be happy to share my favorite YouTube channels - but not in the context of any sort of challenge or attempt to compare notes.
Nobody has posted anything here that would make me feel unwanted, or anything that was rude. I don’t mind that other people might feel encouraged by comparing notes or supporting one another with the goals of working up to something bigger. But I’m not there. I’m just a person who is looking to try to establish and maintain moderate and regular daily exercise in the midst of a pandemic. Something that matches the CDC guidelines for people over age 65 at https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/index.htm
I think this thread is great and I don’t want anybody to change things. It’s just that I personally am not on a goal-oriented exercise path.
I did something completely different this morning - spent some time on a Shinrin-Yoku (Japanese forest bathing) outing led by my friend and yoga teacher. It is basically a slow amble in a wooded area with stops to meditate and observe the surroundings using all 5 senses. It is proven to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. It was a real change in pace for me and one I need right now for a number of reasons. I tend to spend time and focus on fitness goals (which has a positive side) but also need to work on wellness. This was a good start for me.
@calmom I think you have worked out a plan for you - and because it works for you - that’s a good one!
I think you sharing that info above is important - that might encourage someone else who feels like you to hop on the thread.
I would benefit from short videos too like you mention. I don’t have the patience to do any video more than 30 minutes - and I consider that LONG! I’d love to have you post your favorite short videos. I work from home 3 days a week and I’d very much enjoy taking breaks to do a short video. Because that is an ALTERNATIVE and that is what this thread is about - sharing what works for YOU!
The only bandwagon you need to be on is one that works for you and keeps you satisfied in your health and wellness journey.
I do think that part of that work is also not being worried or feeling like you have to measure up to other people - unless that’s something you want to do!
Rain due later and Monday is a WFH day so it allows me a little more flexibility to get outside with the later light in the morning. I got up, did some emails and then headed out when it wasn’t pitch black! 3 mile run for the morning.
My son picked up some pumpkin seeded bread (so not a quick bread) from Trader Joes for me so I’m looking forward to a slice of that with some blackberries and a small slice of leftover cheddar dutch baby I made yesterday for breakfast in a while.
I prefer a late breakfast after exercise. 
@calmom wrote…
“… But I’m not there. I’m just a person who is looking to try to establish and maintain moderate and regular daily exercise in the midst of a pandemic. …”
That strikes me as a worthy goal!
In 2016, before I was hiking or lifting, I decided I was going to go for a brisk walk each day after work & a big incentive was playing Pokemon Go!
That morphed into longer morning walks with the dog (which he cannot handle now) —- also playing Pokémon Go!
I found something I was willing to do. It’s important to meet yourself where you are. The plan can change later, if desired.
Recently, on a phone consult with a strength coach, our discussion turned to goals. I did not have numbers I’m chasing.
I did realize my goals are longevity (keep lifting, don’t quit the thing). Keep tracking my food/macros. Train in a way that minimizes risk of injuries.
@FallGirl The forest walk sounds lovely! I do not have a formal meditation practice, but I’ve read a lot about Buddhism & how the mind works. Ellen Langer (sp) has some good lectures about “noticing” & “paying attention” — good tips for daily life.
@sushiritto Ahem. Please keep posting and let us know if we need to yell at you again for hitting the bell with your feet. O.o
Have a great day everyone!
^^^ Let me tell you, the positivity on this thread like that by @Midwest67 above, is enough to keep me coming back for more.
@sushiritto Please don’t leave the thread! I enjoy your posts very much even though I. am not doing anything like what you are doing. Your posts give me a glimpse into a different experience. And you have also given me practical advice that has been very helpful as a beginner.
When this thread was started as a replacement for the earlier one, another poster encouraged me to participate to help shore up the “lite” contingent. I post much more on this thread than on any others, except back in the days when I was on the “parents of class of xxx” threads.
I also have read the old thread, I am working my way through it, I do like how people there followed routines in books like the new rules books, I would be open to buying a book with a set program as I need more direction than “just find some youtube videos” which I do, I think a program or challenge gives me structure.
And like @Midwest67 I still play pokemon go on my morning walks.
I had always heard the GoPokemom was instrumental in getting people outdoors - this thread is living proof!
I hope everyone keeps posting - I just joined this thread recently and I enjoy reading what everyone is doing, whether it is at a level that is attainable or desirable to me or not.
Well, part of my plan is to avoid getting bored, so except for dance exercise, I rarely do the same video twice. (For the dance, I will repeat the ones that are the most fun so I can get the steps right – but since I’m home alone with the goal of exercise, mis-steps don’t matter as long as I’m moving).
I subscribe to the channels I like and I have YouTube on my t.v., so as soon as I turn that on, YouTube usually offers me something new and if it looks good, I’ll just try whatever pops up. YouTube has a bunch of fancy computer algorithms so it kind of knows in advance what I might like.
Recently I’ve gotten into doing barre exercise – so here is what YouTube gave me today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wbNkkeX4Q&t=313s
So this is was a 10 minute workout with a focus on arm strength using 2 lb dumbbells.
So you can see that the weight is very light – so these are pulses which is a different way of using weights.
But the point is I’ll probably never do this particular video again – because there are so many other videos to choose from. This particular channel is from https://www.bodybarre.com/ – they have all sorts of free videos on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/BODYBARRE/videos – so I if I’m not happy with what pops up right away, I can browse for what I’m looking for.
My newest purchase of exercise equipment is a 9 inch exercise ball - like this - https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Exercise-Ball-Stability-Training/dp/B071G3HKT9 – I am quite suprised by the way the ball impacts the intensity of the exercises.
^^^ @calmom sounds like you have found that “new” = “more exciting” for you! It’s all about finding what works for you and gets the work done.
I’m going to try that one of the barre ones this week - thanks for sharing!
Just finished a 20 minute weight workout. I think I need to get some 8 pound weights to add to my collection. It’s one I’ve done many times before. I like it because it’s the right amount of time for me.
Inspired by this thread, I did some pullups and pushups on my H’s TRX straps. It’s a start! We also have a few dumbbells and a couple of kettlebells. I will try to reacquaint myself with them.