To be nervous of using gym for weight loss?

[LemonadeRayGun]

I have recently been asked to be a bridesmaid for a friend and I am delighted but I want to lose some weight so I am happy with myself on the day.

I am considering joining the gym
as well as rejoining either slimming world or weight watchers - I have lost weight with both in the past. But, last time I was a member of a slimming club I found that the weeks when I had been to the gym, I didn't lose much if anything on the scales!

I know that SW/WW works by itself if I stick to it because I've done it before. But I would like to Tone up a little too - my plan before was always to Lose the weight and then think about the gym, but I never got round to joining. This time I haven time to lose weight THEN tone up, I have 5 months to be a beautiful bridesmaid!!

Am I being unreasonable, or just plain stupid, to be worried that if I do gym at the same time as SW/WW I won't actually lose weight?!

[ChickenMe]

I would say don't get fixated on the scales. In five months, provided you work hard (but don't kill yourself) you will be fitter and you will lose inches-particularly round the waist.
I can recommend asking the trainers about using weights (if you haven't before) and I mean heavier ones not stupid "womens" ones. Squats will give u a nice juicy derrière and weights are good for arm fat too.
Before I was preg I used the gym for about five months - and I didn't lose ANY weight on the scales!! But I know I lost inches cos I took photos and my clothes fitted better. I went down a dress size!
Good luck!!

[ChickenMe]

Ps I think the weights are the reason for the lack of loss on the scales. My friend who joined with me, and who I persuaded to try weights, had the same issue. Unfortunately her friends told her the weights were making her put on weight so she stopped them. I love them though, especially for avoiding flabby flat bum syndrome!!

[avocadotoast]

Start at the gym. Speak to a member of staff and get them to put you a training plan in place. Definitely involve weights. And stick to it (which is the hardest part!).

I won't get into my personal thoughts on WW/SW, but basically, if you're combining regular productive exercise with eating well, there's no reason you won't become leaner. If I were you I'd take my measurements and go on those rather than focusing on the number on the scale.

[MrsJossNaylor]

What were you doing at the gym, in the past? Because "going to the gym" can mean lots of different things.
If you do some weights plus circuits/spin, chances are you'll lose more weight and inches than through dieting alone.
Zumba or aquafit, not so much.

[JustMarriedBecca]

I had a PT before my wedding. We did weights and intensive cardio. We discussed diet but the focus was exercise. I didn't lose much more than 5lbs on the scales but I lost 7% body fat and went from a 12 to a small 8.

I've also done WW before. There is NOTHING so effective as healthy diet and exercise. WW on it's own didn't have the same effect for me (and I am a gold key holder whatsit)

[carlajean]

I've been going to the gym for 3 months. I haven't lost weight because I'm still eating too much, but, despite that, I've gone down a clothes size and my body is less flabby, so I'd definitely recommend it (now if I could only eat less)

[blueemerald]

I've had a similar experience to other posters. I've had a PT once a week for about 10 weeks now. I've lost 1 pound but I'm a dress size smaller (large 12 to a small 10) despite eating and drinking FAR more than is good for me! Also my thighs, upper arms and waist/tummy are unrecognisable! Definitely go by measurement/dress size and not weight!

We do weights and circuits.

[MonsoonInBelize]

So good for you too in terms of health benefits to heart, joints, circulation etc.

[coffeeslave]

As everyone else has said, you can lose size without losing much weight. A person can be a size 12 or a size 16 (for example) at the same weight & height - it just depends on how lean they are.

To give my example, I used to be a size 18 while weighing 76kg. I now weigh 73kg and am a small size 14. The difference is that before I was 42% body fat, and now I'm 30%. I'm pretty much the same weight - just a lot leaner.

I say do the gym & WW/SW, but use inches & dress size as your measurement, not the scales.

The only weight that should matter is the weight on the barbell

[redviolin]

I have problems going to the gym because all it seems to do is increase my appetite so I am replacing lost energy constantly. The times I have lost the best and most controlled and regular amount of weight have been when I: did a couple of hours or yoga every day (first stretching out my entire body then some resistance by swapping between my postures quickly and using my own body weight for resistance til I am sweating) stuck to a diet of mostly lean protein, veg, fruit and complex carbs, and started walking everywhere.

[LemonadeRayGun]

Thank you, that does make a lot of sense, I just really like seeing those numbers go down on the scales! I need to lose weight as I am overweight and I really would like a healthy BMI, I need to lose a stone to get there. But I also think there will be other benefits to going to the gym, my GP recommended it to help with depression and IBS so I've no excuse really!

I was thinking of doing some classes too, I used to really enjoy Zumba but someone up thread suggested that isn't worth it for weightloss? Is it good for toning?

[Gwenci]

Yep, exactly the same for me! I started the gym (three times a week) in January and by June had lost a grand total of 3lb which was initially frustrating but I looked leaner, much more toned and husband was full of praise for my 'new body' so I stopped bothering to weigh myself and went by how I looked.

Though now I'm 4 months pregnant so all my hard work is being steadily undone!

[Cantbelievethisishappening]

Bin the scales and get the measuring tape out instead. Much better.

[RaisingMen]

Cardio and weights, if you're doing them properly, you'll lose. If you aren't pushing yourself, you won't. Drink PLENTY of water and make sure you eat back the calories you burn at the gym. I use myfitness pal, my calories are set at 1400. If I go spinning and burn 500 cals (I use a heart rate monitor) but don't eat them back im surviving on 900 cals that day which is far too little. Muscle and fat weigh exactly the same, a lb is a lb, but muscle is much leaner so while the scales may not move much you'll be dropping dress sizes. Take measurements before you start. Good luck x

[pinkstinks]

I have lost 55lbs and counting through weightwatchers and going to the gym three times a week since April. Boxercise is fantastic for toning! I almost have abs... Not quite though. I think I have dropped 2 dress sizes, not sure about trousers!
Also I have not pointed on WW at all just stuck I filling and healthy which is going really well. Have not deprived myself at all.

Good luck!

[Billabong21]

Well slimming world and weight watchers clearly haven't worked or you wouldn't be where you are now! Go to the gym, use a personal trainer, let them take measurements and throw your scales out! Nothing beats long lean muscle for a confidence boost. Good luck.

[Bogeyface]

I found that I stabilized on the weeks I got to the gym three times, I got really down until I chucked the scales and went by the tape measure and the mirror. I am heavy anyway, even at a size 10 I was 11 stone (5'6" so hardly tall) so when I was toned I was even heavier but still looked v slim.

I didnt weigh less but my tummy was flatter without me almost passing out by sucking it in! My waist boobs and bum all got slimmer, my legs looked better in skirts etc.

I am low carbing and have lost a far bit but am saggy and untoned so am going back to the gym to deal with that and will probably put weight on but thats ok as I will look so much better.

Forget the scales!

[helenenemo]

I'm a smallish 10 now. I go to the gym regularly. Weights and intense cardio.

I weighed the same previously and was a 14.

[LemonadeRayGun]

billabong SW absolutely works if I stick to the plan. I have gained weight recently mainly due to mental health / emotional issues which I reeeeally don't want to go into right now but yes SW does work I just need to get back on plan and lose a bit more!

But it is my bingo wings, mummy tummy and flabby bum that need sorting as well as my weight ;)

[AyMamita]

There is no point trying to "tone" if you are fat, sorry. Your muscles are underneath your fat so nobody can see whether they are toned or not! Do tough cardio (not Zumba - running, spinning, body combat/attack etc) and weights/resistance and SW/WW - this way you will lose fat and strengthen your underlying muscles so that once they are more visible, you look toned and firm. Also, chuck out the scales. If you like to see numerical evidence of your progress, use a tape measure!

[Mmolly2013]

Going to the gym works best when you are (clean eating), basically following a clean eating diet with protein shakes eyc and no processed food such as the foods you eat on slimming world and ww.

A proper personal trainer will have you doing mostly weights because the more muscle you have the quicker you will burn fat. I lost 1 stone i my first three weeks of personal training and every session i done ten minuts warm up cardio then 50 minutes of weights going high intensity. So doing that you need to eat to fuel the muscle growth ie chicken, vee and proteins.

You wont see a big loss if your doing it wrong or eating loads of processed food.

[Mmolly2013]

People always make the assumption to do more cardio but its wrong only minimal is needed. Please do some research on it, muscle and fat weigh the same, but fat takes up more space so you need to build muscle.

the previous poster who said about you need to lose fat first is wrong. The fat will melt off by doing weights and you wont gain weight doing it properly

[Mmolly2013]

My diet plan

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms

Snack: 2 rice cakes and small spoon of peanut butter.

Lunch: chick/fish & green vege & small sweet potatoe
or
Tuna salad

Snack: protein shake


Dinner: chick/fish/lean red meat & green vege & small sweet potatoe

Snack: 30g porridge oats with skim milk.

Thats an example of one day but i add loads of spices and herbs to my meat, i will also add peppers/mushrooms etc.

Roughly 200g of whatever mear your having and plenty of water and green tea.

but if you google clean eating food lists in the image section of google you can see a food list.

Stick to a diet like this and loads of high intensity weight workouts and the pounds will fall off.

[Mmolly2013]

I also have a few sneaky squares of dark choclate and one cheatmeal a week. Weightloss is 70% diet and 30% working out. you will get better results from clean eating than ww and slimming world, trust me ive done it all

[thenightsky]

Can anyone tell me why Zumba is not recommended for weight loss? It looks pretty energetic to me (never done it myself though).