I just did 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per day for 8 weeks.

It was pretty good, I guess. My fitness is much improved. 150 minutes per week is what all the public health information websites recommend that everyone should get, so according to them I’m almost doing the bare minimum for the first time in my life. I’m pretty old, so it took some time for it to start having an effect. It feels like it will probably take another 8 weeks before my body actually starts getting used to it and stops getting stronger so quickly as it still is doing for now.

  • turtlesareneat@piefed.caEnglish
    39·
    3 days ago

    I do a powerwalk with my dog once a day, 1/2 hour at least.

    I didn’t really realize it was doing me good until I went on a hike with a friend.

    1/4 way up the mountain, he was throwing up beside the trail, had to turn back.

    My heart rate never went above 100, I was barely sweating.

    Good habits build a good body.

    • tmyakal@infosec.pub
      11·
      3 days ago

      I’m on my fourth week of making a concerted effort to briskly walk at least three miles per day. Haven’t really changed my diet or my drinking habits, though, so it doesn’t feel like it’s doing much.

  • miseducator@lemmy.world
    48·
    3 days ago

    I’m a bit on the older side and started lifting a couple years back. It’s pretty remarkable how the body adapts to strenuous activity after a couple months. It continues to keep getting easier the more you stick to it. Keep pushing yourself harder! It’s worth it imo!

  • watson@sopuli.xyz
    27·
    3 days ago

    I wish I had the willpower to do this. I’ve tried multiple times but I get so bored working out that I never stick with it.

    • tomkatt@lemmy.worldEnglish
      23·
      3 days ago

      Try Dance Dance Revolution. I’ve been weightlifting for years but hate cardio. DDR got me moving and sticking with it because it’s fun and gamified via scoring.

      ITGMania for the app and Stepmania Online or Zenius-I-vanisher for song packs.

      ———

      Edit - ITGMania is an In The Groove oriented application. There’s also Outfox which is available on Steam.

      I use ITGMania with XX Starlight theme which switches it to a DDR Max/Supernova style and scoring.

      If you’re new to DDR none of this will matter to you, but figured I’d add it just in case, especially since IIRC In The Groove may have tighter frame timing for steps, I forget. 🤷

          • OopsOverbombing@lemmy.world
            4·
            2 days ago

            My buddy in middle school modified some soft mats in the easiest way possible. Literally sandwiched between a piece of wood and some plastic that were screwed together. Bought everything at home depot and then boom you’ve got a cheap hard mat that works great.

            • tomkatt@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              2 days ago

              I did similar. 1/2” sheet of ply board, staple down the mat edge trim with a staple gun, and tape down the edge with duct tape. Didn’t even need the acrylic sheet or whatever and I used that mat for years.

              Currently using the soft mat as is because I don’t have a lot of space and it’s nice to fold it up into the cube storage under my coffee table when not in use. I put some silicone grip tape under the arrows to keep it from sliding around much when in use, and it’s good enough up to around 8-10 difficulty.

    • VibeSurgeon@piefed.socialEnglish
      14·
      3 days ago

      It makes it significantly easier if you find an activity you actually enjoy, such that you don’t dread the activity or find it a chore.

      For me, the thing I dreaded was running, and the thing I enjoyed was cycling. I have since started liking running as well, but cycling was what got me into any form of cardio.

      • Bluescluestoothpaste@sh.itjust.works
        8·
        3 days ago

        I would think even more generally, like go fly a kite or a drone, play with a pet outside, go work on your car, like literally anything. It just doesn’t have to be any kind of actual sport or timed cardiovascular exercise. I think most people who don’t work out just dont like the idea of setting a timer and doing some fixed repetitive exercise, those people like me have to think outside the box.

    • PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world
      10·
      3 days ago

      I’ve put a tv in the room and put on youtube shows which keeps me distracted from the drudgery of the workout. Further motivation if I save my favorite channels for the workout. Works very well for me.

  • ceenote@lemmy.world
    15·
    3 days ago

    For me, it got a lot better once I no longer felt like I might be dying after each workout.

  • humble_boatsman@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    10·
    3 days ago

    Bike? Running? Jump rope? Do you think it would be as effective doing an hour twice a week? That sounds kinda extreme though. O and congrats! Keep up the good work!

    • kbal@fedia.ioOP
      10·
      3 days ago

      So far roughly half the time I’m on the bike-like machine with pedals, and the other half it’s a mix of doing stuff with dumbbells and other assorted calisthenics type stuff. Anything that keeps the heart rate up.

      The impression I get of the common wisdom — after reading all about it in the course of convincing myself to try actual exercise — is that as long as you do at least 10 or 15 minutes at a time it doesn’t make much difference whether you do a little every day or 75 minutes twice a week.

  • puppinstuff@lemmy.caEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    Happy for you, Dull Man. At around the 12 week mark most people lock in the habit. Congrats on working on your fitness!

  • Berttheduck@lemmy.ml
    9·
    3 days ago

    Well done! Try to keep at it for another month, a habit takes 3 months to set in. If you can manage for another month then you’ll likely continue doing it which will be great for your long term health.