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jeffrey_pdx

(222 posts)
Sat Jan 4, 2014, 03:03 AM Jan 2014

I want to start working out.

I was always athletic but I let myself go in the last few years. Plus I have bad knees (too much basketball). I like swimming, I hear its easier on the joints but joining somewhere with a pool sounds expensive. Any ideas?


PS: I hate jogging. Always have, always will. Plus its bad on knees

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I want to start working out. (Original Post) jeffrey_pdx Jan 2014 OP
I also hate jogging but have been walking alot. Today was a personal best. NYC_SKP Jan 2014 #1
Is there a YMCA in your area? LeftofObama Jan 2014 #2
Biking? wildeyed Jan 2014 #3
I second the walking suggestion. Raffi Ella Jan 2014 #4
Sorry walking is not as effective as jogging unfortunately - it's still far better than nothing MillennialDem Mar 2014 #13
Ok, but I just read that article- Raffi Ella Mar 2014 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author closeupready Jan 2014 #5
I work out at home with DVDs lizerdbits Jan 2014 #6
Here's a good basic set of exercises to start PNW_Dem Jan 2014 #7
Two exercises from that list jump out at me: the squats show a bad knee position. You Squinch Mar 2014 #12
Jut FYI, running, if done properly, is good for the knees. sir pball Jan 2014 #8
Walking, or biking. bitchkitty Feb 2014 #9
I have been walking more recently jeffrey_pdx Mar 2014 #10
Yoga is good. bitchkitty Mar 2014 #11
Swimming jim601 Mar 2014 #15
Post removed Post removed Jul 2014 #16
I don't know how to swim JeniferHuston Oct 2014 #17
Playing bretlee May 2015 #18
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. I also hate jogging but have been walking alot. Today was a personal best.
Sat Jan 4, 2014, 03:11 AM
Jan 2014

I walked 10.03 miles, according to a FitBit bracelet I won at a conference last month.

They gave out twenty of them and we've been having a friendly contest.

My typical day is two walks, 40 minutes/2 miles in the morning and a 20 minute mile in evening.

I take my iPhone and listen to the radio, often it's a NPR show or podcast or talk show.

I really like it. No cost at all.

LeftofObama

(4,243 posts)
2. Is there a YMCA in your area?
Sat Jan 4, 2014, 06:28 AM
Jan 2014

If so, many of them have an indoor pool and countless other activities to keep you moving. Memberships are usually less expensive this time of year too.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
3. Biking?
Sat Jan 4, 2014, 10:30 AM
Jan 2014

I have chronic ankle problems and had to take a break from my usual climbing/yoga/running routine when it flared up again recently. I started swimming (they have a pool at my gym) and biking as something to do while I healed. Swimming is harder to master so I took a couple of private lessons with the swim coach to get me started. I got a decent bike for Christmas, plus they have a really cool virtual reality bike program at my gym (did I mention I love my gym?) called Expresso. The Expresso bike offers a huge variety of different "trails" to ride, plus a great video-style game that invokes chasing and catching dragons for point. I also lift weights once or twice a week.

My ankle is much, much better, I can even run again. So I signed up for a sprint triathlon with a couple of my girl friends

Biking is fun, easier on the body than running and a great way to get outside. The swimming is more fun than I expected. I am committed to learning to do it better. It is easier on my semi-broken, aging jock body than anything else I have tried.

My feeling about my somewhat pricey gym membership is that it is only too expensive if I don't use it. Since my gym is quality (it is the local Jewish Community Center) and I use most of the amenities many times a week, including the pool, weight room and fitness classes, it is not too expensive. And compared to the cost of medical care, in the longterm, it is probably a good deal since I will stay healthier.

Good luck!

Raffi Ella

(4,465 posts)
4. I second the walking suggestion.
Sat Jan 4, 2014, 01:52 PM
Jan 2014

It can be as effective as jogging if you go fast enough and find some inclines. I run trails but I go on those same trails when I walk my dog and I count those walks as part of keeping in shape. Trails are easier on your knees than concrete too.

Also, just start being more active in your every day life. Turn on some music and dance around for 20 minutes instead of sitting on the couch watching TV; Find something to clean in your house everyday, take 20 minutes and organize a closet or scour your bathroom or vacuum- it all counts towards being fit if you do it every day or at least a few times a week.

Just get up and move your body, little things add up!

Raffi Ella

(4,465 posts)
14. Ok, but I just read that article-
Thu Mar 20, 2014, 12:15 PM
Mar 2014

it pretty much says the same thing I did- " if you go fast enough and find some inclines" - it even included just being more active in your daily life. Jogging burns more calories that's true, but the overall impact of walking fast uphill can have the same effect as jogging.

You can get fit and slim down doing it so

Response to jeffrey_pdx (Original post)

lizerdbits

(3,443 posts)
6. I work out at home with DVDs
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 08:21 PM
Jan 2014

I got fed up with gym membership prices (over $40/month for the few within reasonable driving distance) so switched to DVDs at home. More convenient for me, and in the long run cheaper after the up front investment in various videos- I like variety, so only having 3 DVDs isn't going to cut it for me.

Edit: The link to collagevideo.com isn't coming up, maybe it's registering as spam or something. You can search by types of workouts and the summaries list things like impact level and choreography complexity (great for those of us who aren't very coordinated). The video clips are great to see if it's what you really want.

PNW_Dem

(119 posts)
7. Here's a good basic set of exercises to start
Thu Jan 16, 2014, 03:45 PM
Jan 2014

Start easy and work your way up. The most important thing is consistency. Here's a good set of basic exercises:

Good luck and enjoy!

Squinch

(50,774 posts)
12. Two exercises from that list jump out at me: the squats show a bad knee position. You
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 08:36 PM
Mar 2014

don't want the knee to go past the foot in any squat because it puts a huge amount of weight through the knee. So I'd skip that one and double up on the lunges they show.

Also, crunches are much more effective if they are done with the legs raised.

Otherwise, I'll be using this list! Thanks.

sir pball

(4,726 posts)
8. Jut FYI, running, if done properly, is good for the knees.
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 12:32 PM
Jan 2014

You don't like it, don't do it - but a light running program is at worst harmless and very possibly beneficial to your knees, as long as you aren't overweight and gradually work into it. Walking might be a good option for you, but regardless of what you choose given that you have injury issues you should probably talk to a sports doctor about what program would be best for you.

bitchkitty

(7,349 posts)
9. Walking, or biking.
Thu Feb 27, 2014, 06:57 PM
Feb 2014

You could get a stationary bike, but regular biking would be a lot more fun! And walking (my personal fave) is something you can do anywhere, any time. The dogs and I do a morning mile every morning.

You might want to check and see if there's a YMCA in your area with a pool. Their prices in Atlanta were pretty reasonable, if memory serves.

jeffrey_pdx

(222 posts)
10. I have been walking more recently
Wed Mar 5, 2014, 09:20 AM
Mar 2014

I'm thinking about a yoga class since my back started hurting again. I think there are some fairly cheap ones available.

bitchkitty

(7,349 posts)
11. Yoga is good.
Wed Mar 5, 2014, 12:09 PM
Mar 2014

I don't do yoga myself, but I do Callanetics and Pilates. If you have a bad back, Callanetics can be extremely helpful. The woman who designed it had scoliosis and other back problems. It's pretty much for women but men with bad backs have found it to be very effective too.

ETA - to check out Pilates, go to Youtube and search "blogilates" - this channel is chock full of short Pilates workouts for all levels - beginners, intermediate and advanced. The lady, Cassie Ho (love that name!) is silly and goofy but she makes me smile and it's like having my own trainer.

 

jim601

(17 posts)
15. Swimming
Sat Mar 22, 2014, 05:18 PM
Mar 2014

Swimming is the easiest on the joints and the best all-around workout you can do. It works out all muscle groups, plus your heart and lungs, and doesn't tax the joints.

You can find a gym that has a pool in it. It may be around 40-60 dollars per month, but you get the added weight room so you can also do weight training. While it does tax the joints to an extent, if you have proper form it won't be an issue. Plus it will keep you strong.

Response to jeffrey_pdx (Original post)

bretlee

(2 posts)
18. Playing
Sat May 2, 2015, 07:20 AM
May 2015

Playing can be the big factor and if possible eat different kind of fruits and vegetables juice 2-3 times a day.

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