Discouraged with exercise

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2005
Discouraged with exercise
16
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 10:17pm
Joined a circuit gym last November, Contours with weight machines 10 stations alternating with arobic stations (jog pad and steppers)45 sec each. -with 6 min bike warm up, and 10 min stretch cool down. I started slow with low weights and added aerobics after two weeks. Each month I go up five lbs in weights on machines. Worked up to at least 4x week, sometimes 5x. Did not lose any weight first 3 months. Started watching calories and fat using online diet journal to verify protein, fat and calories. Finally lost 4 lbs in Feb cutting back calories more. and then another 6 lbs in April and early May. stayed there. added a day of Work out to 6x/wk. at the gym.(supposed to allow 48 hours between weight workouts, so some days 1-2x wk would just do an hour of bike, steps, spot exercizes) Also Added 10-20 min. situps and crunches each work out. Did not lose any more. but started getting dizzy mid day and evening and did not lose any weight or inches. Went to Dr. blood work and exam showed nothing. She offered me diet pills, which I refused. Felt sick one day and took off weight exercise - no dizzyness! now I workout 3-4x alt days with weight machines and walk 30+ min each day. With the heat I am way way overheated even in a/c gym. No energy to work out, sweating like a pig. I gained back all my weight when I stopped the 6x weight machine regimine. walking seems to do nothing. Always tired. Plus now I have to stop walking at work 1)ruinned 4 pairs of dress pants in two weeks - yes my thighs rub together and wore holes in the pants - not only can I not afford to buy new dress pants every two weeks, I cannot find them to fit or match my blazer tops. Plus work increased the inside temp in a cost reduction effort and 2) my thighs are so chafed I can barely walk. So now I am still 100 lb. overweight, my back still hurts all the time, my knees hurt, and chafed. I still cannot make it in to work (park a football field and a half away + 24 stairs)without being out of breath and huffing. so what good is exercise doing me? what else can I do?

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2005
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 10:50am

Are you checking your heart rate during your circuit workouts?

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

 

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 10:50am

HUGS to you, hon. I know how hard this must be. Have you talked to a personal trainer? Depending on the fitness center, there might be trainers on hand. If there are and you don't have the money to get them to train you (they are EXPENSIVE!), then this is what I would do. Walk up to one of them, explain your situation and ask them if there's a website or something that could help you, or if they might have a suggestion as to what you need to work on right now. Hopefully they will give you a pointer or two and not say, "Um, no, I can't help you- you have to pay me." Or maybe if you know someone who is being trained they can ask their trainer for a few tips on your situation.

When my mom and I were being trained, we were told that for her (she's around 325) walking and an 1800 calorie per day diet were the best things to do, and for me (I'm around 230) 1200 cals per day and core training along with 30 mins cardio 3X/week and weight training were what would help me.

I HTH some- good luck and keep us updated!



iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 11:17am

Im sorry that you are struggling :(

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 11:57am

I did Curves (similar to Contours, it sounds like) for over a year. NOw, I loved it. I felt good, I toned up, but I didn't lose weight after a while. I worked out hard, but the scale never budged.

I started doing Jazzercise and WATP dvd's a few months ago.....and noticed pretty good results and started to lose weight also.

Maybe you need some more vigorous cardio into your exercise routine.

Also, protein? Are you getting enough? That could be contributing to the dizziness. Are you eating fruits and veggies also? You don't mention them.

Just some thoughts.

Dawn

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2005
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 9:49pm

I am 4'10" so for the last 30 years I have tried to stay at around 1000 cal/day. On the weekends or special occassions I may go up to 1200 or 1300. yes I told the Dr. as I said she offered me diet pills, so obviously she thinks I can eat a lot, lot less. The only times I have lost weight in the past were when I dropped to 500/700 cal day. But I wound up with stress fractures - now I take calcium, vitamin and mineral suplements. ugh - more pills than food sometimes when adding in the osteo biflex for my knees. I tend to live on the healthy choice / lean cuisine meals for breakfast and dinner and have to watch to assure I get enough protein. I add low fat yogurt or cheese to bring up the protein. I usually eat fruit, V8, or yogurt for lunch. I love fruits and have to watch these in summer as they are my treats. Salads are much easier in summer than winter to add veggis.
Several years ago I did weight watchers and started walking and gained substantally after 5 weeks. First they said eat on the low end, then they said eat on the high end - it was all a lot of food.
No the club does not have a trainer and I cannot afford one. no I cannot wear capris or use baby powder while walking on my half hour lunch time art work. powder does not help - I would not be seen in capris - they would be down to my ankles anyways. too hot to walk outdoors here. no time to change before next meeting. not apropriate dress.

Yes I would like to know the jump start diet - thank you

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 10:55pm

50-700 cals/day is putting your body in starvation mode. Its a dangerous thing to do. I truly hope you don't do that!

I really don't know what else to say. I know that the Frozen meals have alot of sodium, and that could be causing water retention. Other than that, you got me!

I hope you find something that works and I'm sorry I can't help more!

Dawn

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2005
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 10:58pm

Hi surfergal,

I really feel for you.

A woman I work with had the same problem--she exercised everyday for an hour and a half and never lost a pound. Also, it was so hard to make that much time for exercise. I can't stick to an exercise program long enough to see or not see any results. The woman I work with started on a diet where she had to eat every 3 hours while awake. She ate whatever she wanted as long as it wasn't over 5 grams of fat. Sometimes it was chicken salad on crackers, sometimes it was 1/2 a Klondike bar. Whatever, as long as not more than 5 fat grams every 3 hours. She ate 5 or 6 times a day and that gave her up to 30 fat grams per day. Also, it made her start paying attention to the portions because usually only a small portion is 5 grams of fat. She lost a ton of weight and she has kept it off to this day (now she eats every 4 hours up to 10 grams of fat--that is her maintenance allotment of fat grams).

The point is, if the calorie counting thing doesn't work for you, change it to a diet that does. But the diets like Atkins are impossible to maintain longterm (in my opinion).

I don't think you will ever see huge weight loss with exercise unless you make the food changes that work for you.

Also, get yourself one of those little sets of bicycle peddles--you can get them at most medical equipment places. Physical therapists use them. They are small and will fit underneath your desk. That could take the place of your walking in the day. I don't know what it might do to the pants but it is worth a try.

Hang in there though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 1:31am
Oh gosh, so much to say running around in my little mind! I completely agree with Dawn, you go under 1200 cals a day and you are in starvation mode. Yes, you'll lose weight, but it will be muscle, not fat. The body hangs onto the fat because it's easy energy. And if your brain thinks you are starving, it's going to do what it's supposed to: survive on it's energy stores. In saying that, you definitely sound like a woman with a metabolic problem. Check with your insurance but you should be able to consult a nutritionist via a referral from your doctor. A nutritionist worth her license will be able to recognize your problem and tailor a plan for you. Chafing on the thighs? Take those gigantic bandaids that are for knees and other big parts and put them over the chafed areas. You'll be walking pain free! That will get you from your car to your job pain free. Since you have a half hour lunch, eat some vegies and protein or soup and protein and then do some stretching/yoga (not the tie-yourself-up-in-a-knot poses) in the last few minutes. You will feel energized and looser until you get home and can get in some fat burning exercise. Let us know how you're doing! Kristi :o) <><
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 10:18am
I would suggest you speak with your doctor if you havent already.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2005
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 9:28pm
Yes my doctor approved my calorie count, and she offered me diet pills to further reduce it. When you are as short as I am the "one size fits all" 1200 cal count does not apply.
Would 1200 cal/day be ok for a 6ft tall woman too??


Edited 6/19/2005 9:30 pm ET ET by surfergal50

Pages