Hey monkeys I need to do some serious body recomp I know enough about nutrition (and have greatly improved my fitness in the past) so I'm not looking for advice. I do well with intuitive eating (sometimes I count calories but mostly I prefer not to and to use hunger cues instead, it's easier since my activity level and metabolism in different phases of my cycle -woman here- are higly variable) of unprocessed food (sometimes plant-based leaning, sometimes paleo-leaning, usually CRON diet-inspired), and avoiding added sugar, hyperpalatable junk, and overeating/mindless eating. I'd appreciate an additional incentive to keep my commitment instead, and I figured nothing could be better than someone who shares my reasons for wanting to be fit: I don't want to look good in a bikini (although it's a bonus), I want to climb walls with ease! This last India-Pakistan tension made me think of the increased incidence of conflicts the world over and I don't wanna be an armchair prepper. I want to be more "combat ready", mostly because it's fun, but also because it might be useful one day (and no, I don't plan of Rambo-ing my way through the apocalypse, but I don't want to struggle if a situation requires me to run away or to ruck uphill, and I used to be into martial arts before a health issue forced me to be a couch-potato and I hope to go back to it). I want to be healthy, because it's pleasant and because the body works better all over. I'm fat (my weight should be lower, but my bigger issue is my body fat percentage that is ridiculous) and I really need to strenghten my upper body and core and improve my cardiovascular fitness. Lower body isn't in as horrible of a shape but can always be improved. I don't want an accountability partner that's brutal for the sake of it, nor I want polite lies, I offer a supportive and non-judging but honest and reality-based attitude and expect the same. My starting point is bad but I'm ambitious. Ideally we would keep in touch through email, it's easier than logging into the forum and feels more personal and quick. If you have privacy concerns there (I don't expect you to share not-fitness-relevant information though, and I will not for the most part) I'm willing to use the Signal app. It would be best if we were both in Europe because similar timezones make everything easier. I would prefer 1-3 fixed (at a regular time) interactions a day because overusing the phone feels counterproductive, but there can be some flexibility.
I'd like to help you out, but I'm overweight and out of shape myself. It would be like a drunk trying to help someone quite drinking. I have a gym membership and summer is here, so I have high hopes of dropping some weight and getting fitter, but I'm not gonna bet the farm on it. Good luck!
That's not a problem for me if it's not a problem for you, @Wildbilly My idea was indeed to help each other get fit together. I wouldn't ask someone who is fit already to do it, otherwise they would not have much to gain from the interaction I'll share the dedicated email here directly so interested people can contact me easily btw healthyfuturehardtimes@gmail.com
Sleep on the floor with a pillow. Or in bed without one or covers. The idea is to acclimate yourself to being uncomfortable and being able to sleep anyway. You may find you need to be more active in the day to sleep at night. There's some direct feedback accountability. Work your way up to 100 consecutive burpees. Make sure you can stand an hour of uninterrupted isolation from the outside world without getting nutty in your head. The worst times of my life involved a lot more discomfort or waiting than sudden bursts of strenuous activity.
Here in the U.S. we do have an ungodly amount of gyms, yet we are fast approaching the fattest nation in the world, like, go figure. I have had a yearly membership with my local YMCA for more years than I can count. The YMCA is international, Global Services. If you have a local chapter near you, please check them out. Almost every YMCA gym here in the states have personal fitness training and programs that are either low cost or are provided with your membership at no additional cost. My local Y has an actual retired MMA fighter that offers a very rigorous MMA fitness program that is a very intense 45 minutes of a combination of strength/cardio workouts that took me almost two months of these 45 minutes/three times a week sessions to become acclimated to. The hardest was getting through the first two weeks without wanting to quit and just walk away. Yes, punching bags are involved, but this training only prepares you for actual MMA fighting, it does not teach you how to fight, that is a different training program altogether, but because I will turn 60 in a few short months and because I am on blood thinners for the remainder of my life, that fighting program I will leave to the young ones.
