Thread: Is it too late for me to become super fit?

4 Years ago I spent a year getting fit. I wasn't super fit, but I could run 16 miles easily. Before that I was 18 stone and lazy. Then some stuff happened in my life and I've basically abused my body for the last 4 years, smoking, drinking and eating nothing but meat and potatoes.

My question is, if I started a fresh could I become super fit and run a marathon for a hobby on a regular basis... or have I done too much damage to my body to recover fully?

If I could go back to childhood, I would have probably taken better care of myself... I worry that my abuse will mean I can never become a sports machine.

Smoking and drinking for 4 years probably will not have hugely detrimental consquences. Don't get me wrong, it is bad for you and you'll have decreased your maximum fitness levels but you'll be able to get to marathon pace again.

What is it you're training for? Long distance specifically or all round fitness?

Well.. If I have to come clean, I've been smoking and drinking (on and off) for longer. But I'm starting to feel the effects of this abuse and want to do something about it... but my mentality wont let me start a project unless I think I can ace it.

Start with "How old are you...?" Without that knowledge it is difficult to advise.

Potty, you need to join a fitness forum or similar if you want real support and motivation. Here, the only people you’ll get telling you what to do are old farts like me, who’s never raised a sweat in his life, or like ***, pretending to be a body-builder when everyone who attends his signings knows he’s Bunter reincarnated.

Imho, it all depends on how old you are. Up to about 40, all other things being equal, you should be able to gain whatever fitness level you desire. Beyond that…

Join Fitocracy, is a site that uses gamification as an incentive for exercise. You gain points for workouts, and what do points mean? Well nothing but it's a nice way of keeping track. Also its satisfying having a badge next to your name saying you can deadlift twice your bodyweight..

Originally Posted by Potty

If I could go back to childhood, I would have probably taken better care of myself... I worry that my abuse will mean I can never become a sports machine.

Potty, you are a sports machine. Writ believes in you. Sixteen miles was very good by the way.

Hey, if you need motivation look at that video become a web sensation of that young female Aussie sprinter doing her warm up dance. You'll look like Zeus in no time. Just take some ice with you down to kangaroo land if you plan on going jogging.

Potty, you'll certainly get closer to being superfit by trying than by not trying. I've been on the 'see food and eat it, sleep in and don't work out' plan for too long and I can tell you that it doesn't work very well for fitness. I know what I have to do to change it...it's a matter of actually doing it. :p

Stop smoking, first of all! Google "smoker lungs" and look at the images if you need the motivation to quit.

My step-father's coworker just had one of his lungs removed last month. The culprit: smoking.

Can you imagine having one of your lungs removed? I can't imagine that guy's headspace right now. I assume it's a place full of fear and intense regret.

You don't want to end up in that place.

It's never to late to be healthy. Fitness is a great way to get there, as well as eating right and NOT smoking and drinking. ;0)

As you know, if you used to run 16 miles no problem, it's all about conditioning.

Start off like you did when you used to run. Maybe join a running room? Start slow and don't expect too much at first. Run or jog one minute to start and walk 3 minutes, then jog one minute and walk 3 again. .. Over and over... start to change those times as you get more comfortable... start running 5 minutes and walking 2... and on and on.

I LOVE running. If I don't, I feel like I'm missing something from my day. I HAVE to run and workout everyday. It just becomes a part of your regular routine and it becomes like eating; you feel like you have to do it. I run and fast pace walk 10-14 km everyday.

My advice is, if you really want it -- DO IT!

If you're feeling lazy and want to skip it that day -- DON'T!

Get your butt in your running shoes, put on your running outfit and just start your workout. Before too long, you'll feel so much better and you'll WANT to run all the time.

Well, at least that's the way it is with me and friends that run.

Find someone or something that will motivate you and grab on to it and don't let go!

Good luck with it! I hope you have fun.

Join another forum? I can just about cope with this one!

I was just wondering if fitness is one of those things you have to grasp young or if it can be done at any time... I might post up a daily log of my journey to super fitness, pictures included

If four years ago you could run 16miles easy - then I don't see how you could not build your fitness levels back up to or near that again.

You are 4yrs older. I don't know how old you are and you have gained weight - so check with your GP that you are up to it, just to be on the safe side.

Originally Posted by Potty

Join another forum? I can just about cope with this one!

I was just wondering if fitness is one of those things you have to grasp young or if it can be done at any time... I might post up a daily log of my journey to super fitness, pictures included

Oooo pictures...maybe enlist some of the other guys here so that we can finally have a Hunks of WF calendar?

I smoked for 52 years and quit when the surgeon told me, after taking out my burst appendix, that I'd given the anesthetist a hard time because my lungs were messed up from smoking. He said that if I kept smoking and the lungs got any worse, the next time I needed surgery I probably would never wake up.

That was ten years ago. I've not smoked since, not so much as a single cigarette, but when I cough I can taste stale tobacco smoke.

When I turned 70 I had a physical exam and told the doctor I wanted to get back in the shape I was in when I was 25. Yeah. He laughed too.

Now I'm about to turn 72 and I'm trying to get back in the shape I was in when I was 70. You hit that chronological tipping point and it's a fast downhill slide.

Everytime I talk to you, Garza, I have a mid life crisis.