MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I'm having difficulty motivating myself to keep in shape. I'm working 9 - 5 tuesday to friday and 8 - 5 on saturdays leaving only sundays and mondays free. I often get out for a MTB ride on sunday however jobs and the girlfriend means its not always possible. I considered joining a gym but I only have circa £150 disposable income per month ATM and the cheapest local gym is £60 per month. Does anyone use gym equipment such as a treadmill at home? Unfortunately commuting by bike isn'e possible this time of year and barely during the summer. I have considered a road bike but this time of year I cant see myself going out in the dark rush hour time for fitness alone. Help!
Turbo trainer and road bike combo. Something for winter and summer then. Works for me.
Get out a short but fast run, twice a week.
Once the weather get better, get out a very fast ride, between 10 and 15 miles and try and always get your fastest tie round it. Then enjoy riding you mtb at the weekend.
....or rollers if you don't fancy the turbo. Rollers are a bit more entertaining I find.
why can't you commute in the winter, but possibly can in the summer?
I'm working 9 - 5 tuesday to friday and 8 - 5 on saturdays
like most people; what about evenings. you don't need a lot of time to get fit, just do it regularly.
I can't commute full stop really, Lack of changing room etc and no where to keep my bike ends play.
early starts.
Turbos.
Weights
Night rides
Long Sundays
All can be done without joining a club.
I work 7-5 and like you I have no changing facilities, only a single hot tap. And the bike would have to go in the stores. So a no go for me.
I can jump on the turbos most nights.
I have a small selection of weights, I combine them with turbos.
I do one guaranteed night ride, no mater what.
I always do a long Sunday.
Unlike you I've stopped working Saturdays after 35 years of them.
That above is the absolute bare minimum I'll do in a week, so do'able.
I can't commute full stop really, Lack of changing room etc and no where to keep my bike ends play.
lock the bike to a lampost (buy a crap old bike) change in the toilet.
Yep as above poverty is no excuse! Get on eBay, guarantee someone nearby will be selling a bench and some dumbells. Learn how to use them properly. Do weights 2/3 times per week and run 2/3 times per week. That and MTB at the weekend will get you as fit as you need to be.
I'm not claiming poverty just don't have loads of money to throw at keeping fit at the minute, I can't really afford a road bike but i'll fit some overtime in and should have one in time for summer. I've found some cheap equipment on eBay that i've got my eye on. Running is cheaper but I'm no runner and really dont enjoy it. Gym equipment and riding I enjoy.
lock the bike to a lampost (buy a crap old bike) change in the toilet.
Used to do that. But better if there is a swimming pool nearby. Bike to work, go for a swim, shower and go to work.
Have a look on YouTube, there's loads of workouts you can do at home that don't really need equipment. Do burpees/squat jumps, running on the spot, star jumps, press ups (loads of variations to have a go at), dips, sit ups/crunches etc. Burpees are the absolute best thing ever if you dont have cash to waste, loads of variations and every one of them killer. Do as many as you can in a minute, rest for 30secs/a minute and repeat. Do that 5-6 times and keep a log of how many you do so you can see yourself getting better.
Go for a run, join a running club or a club of some sort that you just pay a couple of quid a go for, have an ask around for a local group that does cross fit or something, much better than some crappy gym!
Exercise does not need to be in a gym, get your head around that, you'll be fine. You only need to do 30 minutes a day, you can certainly find it in the hrs you are working!
9-5! I wish I had that much time off work. I commute by the way, most days. And ride at the weekend.
It's a choice you make and not making the choice means you make excuses. I commuted 20 miles each way for two years at a place that had zero cycle facilities. No place to lock bikes up, no changing rooms, no lockers.
Excuses.
I'm not having a go, I was there once. You need to commit though. Go to bed a bit earlier, get up earlier. Shower and shave then ride in, strip wash on arrival. Talk to facilities, get the receptionist or security guards on side, they'll be happy to help. Start small, say once a week, then build up. Once you're in the groove it comes easy.
you want to do it, you need to put some effort in. Also, consider the non-road routes, do a bit of searching. They're always there. In summer my commute is 20 miles of offroad. In winter I do a lot more road.
A lot of stuff to think about here thanks a lot guys and gals!
Being completely honest it's motivation I suffer with ( or lack of I should say )
would it help if someone yelled at you over the internet?
the cheapest local gym is £60 per month.
There will be something cheaper than that. Whether council, YMCA or likewise.
Motivation?
Strip naked and look at your bulbous dying flesh in the mirror.
Does that help?
Christ feel the warmth from you guys!
Get up an hour earlier and head out on the road, on your bike or running. It saves a lot of hassle getting in as you shouldn't be covered in muck.
Keep a small flask of black coffee for in the morning and down that before you go out. You'll soon enjoy getting up early doing stuff whizzing around when everyone else is still asleep.
Press ups are free and some dumb-bells can be had cheaply. I keep mine in the attic and push out sets every time I go up.
Just do it as Nike say. But first make sure you:
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Being completely honest it's motivation I suffer with ( or lack of I should say )
That's down to you really at the end of the day. Give it a go, when your fitness improves then exercising (including cycling) becomes much more fun and you'll probably wish you gave yourself a kick up the arse ages ago. That's my experience anyway. Re: running, it's hard work when you're unfit but I really enjoy it now I'm better at it. Probably the cheapest exercise you can too and more time-efficient than cycling IMO too.
It's tough love. You'll thank us when you have a body honed from mahogany.
Christ feel the warmth from you guys!
...but can you touch your toes?
[i]I keep mine in the attic and push out sets every time I go up. [/i]
This is a euphemism, right? I just can't work out what for.
might help motivation if you set yourself an achievable goal. add so much weight/muscle, lose so many lbs, etc. if you can see results each week, it helps keep you on track.
Here's a motivational poster for you to put on your wall:
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One more for good measure. Wouldn't suggest you craft yourself into that particular body. *unless you want to and if you do that's fine.
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Being completely honest it's motivation I suffer with ( or lack of I should say )
The hardest thing for a lot of people, is the getting out the door bit.
It helps if you have [s]barstewards[/s] people that pretend to be your friends.
These people will then give you nowhere to hide if you don't stick to the plan,and will sent horrible text messages to you when you fail to go training.
Find some like minded folk and make a plan 🙂
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Love the angle you are coming from Jamie. Inspired 😉
Do you subscribe to cable/sky and watch a lot of tv at night. Lose the subscription which will save some money, put some music on instead and you will find a bunch of more productive things to do which may include exercise.
Find what facilities your council has...
My nearest leisure centre is doing an offer at the mo' which gets you gym, pool & classes for £19.99.
Facilities are functional rather than fancy, but it all works.
Peterborough council does a Sports Pass thing that gets you access to all the gyms, class & pools for £36/month. I have just signed up. Planning on doing a gym session, a class & a swim per week. There are tons of spin classes.
You probably have something similar close by, although just getting out on your bike or for a run is cheaper.
No showers?
As Samuri said, shower at home then when you get to work baby wipes are your best friend.
My nearest leisure centre is doing an offer at the mo' which gets you gym, pool & classes for £19.99.
*Hi-5s fellow Peterboroughian*
Where is doing that for £19.99?
I am contemplating going back to The Regional for the classes, never really swam, but deciding whether to hold off till [url= http://www.thegymgroup.com/find-a-gym/gym/the-gym-peterborough/ ]this place opens @ £10.99 a month.[/url] If somewhere is offering the lot for £19.99, I could be tempted.
No showers?As Samuri said, shower at home then when you get to work baby wipes are your best friend.
If I was the OP, this would put me off as well. I would rather get up earlier and do something so I could have a shower at home, or get lit up and go for a run in the evening.
If money is really tight then get/make a pull up bar. Chin ups plus press ups will work your upper body well. In fact chin up bars at most gyms is massively underused because most people can't lift their own body weight! Squats/burpees will work legs and for extra resistance ask your girlfriend to sit on your back when squatting 8). Do some basic core - planks/side planks. Combine with three 30 minute runs per week plus a long MTB ride on the weekend. Throw in some Yoga if you're looking for more work on core/flexibility.
I just get up early and go for a 45 minute run - costs practically nothing.
I do this Mon-Thurs and try to ride my bikes on a weekend, the last couple of weekends have been snowed out so I've just done a longer Saturday run instead of riding.
Just get yourself straight into your running kit when you get out of bed and be out the door in the next 5 minutes, don't allow time to talk yourself out of it.