Weight loss and starting to feel flabby

[Cindbelly]

Hi all,
I'm mid way through my weight loss, 2 stone down and 2 left to lose.
Been using mfp since September and despite Christmas and a holiday have lost a little every week so I'm pleased with that.
however This week I have started to feel 'flabby'
I've been overweight my entire adult life me the weight I'm at now is probably the lowest I've ever been, but I've always been quite solidly fat I'm probably not explaining this very well

Anyway I've decided to start doing some exercise as I'm worried now I'm going to look like a skinny mess with lots of loose skin if I don't start soon.

I already walk to school run and work every morning, roughly an hour, and on a typical 5 day week average 12,000 steps a day. But weekends are more difficult and I don't think the walking is helping me to tone.
Anyone got any ideas or would like to join me? I'm hoping that posting every day will help me be more accountable and actually do something.
I can't join a gym as too poor and time is precious due to DH shift work.
I plan to do c25k in the summer but the area I live in means there's no way I can go running alone in the dark.

[Sleeplessinmybedroom]

I'm following with interest. I've lost 5 5st in the last year and still have another 1.5st to go and I feel really flabby. I walk loads too and it doesn't seem to make much difference.

[LauraMarling]

You need to lift weights. Have you tried the 30 day shred ?

[Cindbelly]

laura I tried the shred back in September when I started with no weights and thought I was going to die. Struggled to finish day 1 level 1. I'm so unfit

[Cindbelly]

sleepless I'm sorry you feel the same way, but good to know I'm not alone. Have you got a plan for exercising? Maybe we can spur each other on...

[FV45]

Well done! The days are getting longer. Are you able to get our and run at all...I see your DH works shifts.

Can you get out during lunch break at work?

Can you buddy up with someone to run in the dark?

Can you run around the park while the kids play (yeah...I know..you'd feel a bit of a twit, but it's just an idea!)

If you're keen on toning and keeping the weight off you really need to find exercise that you can do all year round.

[FV45]

Can you get down to the pool in the evening? Swimming is great.

[FatCatFaces]

Running won't do anything for toning. You need strength/weight work. Have a look at fitness blender they have loads and loads of videos. You can filter out ones requiring equipment if you don't have any weights.

Shred is really tough if you are properly unfit. I couldnt manage it until I had built up some cardio base with c25k. It's also really boring.

I'm currently what you don't want to be - small and flabby. You need to start working on it now.

[Cindbelly]

Thanks fv lots of suggestions there,
I work 9-6 office job, so very sedentary, would feel nervous bout going out running and returning to my desk hot sweaty and smelly. No showers at work. I do go for a walk every lunch time normally to buy a salad which I then eat at my desk
The plan is to do a short run on lunch breaks when I've cracked the c25k as hopefully I won't be so sweaty then.
DS 9 has asd but definately would love to come running with me. DD 4 would hate it and complain the whole time. Couldn't leave them unsupervised at the park at the moment.
DH shifts do make things more complicated for a running buddy as I'm never consistently available the same times every week.

Wow that just sounds like a huge bunch of excuses doesn't it?

[Cindbelly]

Thanks fatcat I'm off to Google fitness blender videos.. if it makes you feel any better I'm currently fat and flabby so I'm sure you look better then I do

[FV45]

fatcat I disagree. Running does tone you up. If you are using your muscles they will get toned. It might not be the most effective way, but it's a pretty good all round exercise.

You say the exercise you do is boring. It's very, very hard to make life changes if you find something boring.

cind I do understand how hard it can be to fit in. I didn't really do much at all when my kids were small.

I bet there are LOADS of runners where you live and once you start up, you'll get to know people (social media is great for this) and maybe find a little group of likeminded people who need flexibility like you do.

[Cindbelly]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to take the DC for a walk to the shops then park on the way back. May get a lap round the park in if I can manage it. The joys of half term
I will be back later.

[Wheresthattomoibabber]

Definitely worth trying the shred again as you are now two stone lighter!

Well done on your weight loss. I've lost 1 stone 6 since September just by being a bit more sensible then cutting out sugar. I have been doing a bootcamp class which has made a huge difference to how toned I am but is bloody hard! I still have about 4 stone to lose.

[Sleeplessinmybedroom]

I don't have a plan at all. I've tried the shred before and almost died. I had to run back to the house yesterday to get Dd's blanket before the bus came and I could only run a few steps before I had to walk again.

[Cindbelly]

Morning all,
Realised late last night reading through the thread that I didn't acknowledge all the posters who have lost weight, felt quite rude about it. Its hard to quote on my phone, but I love hearing people's weight loss stories.

So plan for today is to take the DC to my friends for the last day of half term, I'm aiming to walk 5,000 steps most of today will be spent on her sofa catching up
I took some measurements when I got out of the shower which I'm going to post here, I'm hoping this will spur shameme on.

Can I just start by saying it was much harder then I thought it would be to measure myself

Left wrist 6 inches
Left forearm 9.5 inches
Left upper arm 12 inches
Left upper leg 24 inches
Left mid leg 20.5 inches
Left low thigh 18.5 inches
Left knee 14.5 inches
Left calf 14 inches
Left ankle 9 inches

Right wrist 6.5 inches
Right forearm 10 inches
Right upper arm 13 inches
Right upper leg 24.5 inches
Right mid leg 20.5 inches
Right lower thigh 17 inches
Right knee 15 inches
Right calf 14.5 inches
Right ankle 9 inches

Chest 40 inches
Bust 38 inches
Hips 42 inches
Bum 42 inches



Basically a blob

[Cindbelly]

Hit post too soon,
Age 33
Height 5'7"
Weight - will weigh and post later once DC are in bed.

This is the chart I used if anyone is interested (I'm not at all saying that my one else should post measurements btw just that it will help me by doing it)

[yeOldeTrout]

What about shred with lighter weights, or shorter version of Shred? If you enjoy that kind of exercise.

Or dig out the garden. Which uses a lot of muscles, too.

I don't think running is great for people who are still 2 stone overweight (guess that depends if it's 2 stone over BMI=25 or 2 stone over your ideal). Still, running may be very hard on your joints if still quite heavy.

[Cindbelly]

Thanks trout I hadn't thought about gardening. I do like to garden a bit.

As for exercise I enjoy... there isn't really any!
That's part of why I started this thread, to get some ideas nd then trial them and see what's made the most difference.

Weight currently 167lbs so bmi just above 25. Started with bmi of 30.8 in September

Today's exercise goal was to do 5000 steps, I've ended the day at 8130 so pleased with that.

[lljkk]

Gardening counts as "strength" or "resistance" work (who knew), so definitely go for it.

[Cindbelly]

DD4 very poorly last night, was throw up city at 3am so I think today is going to be a rest day.
I was going to try and get up before everyone and shred but I'm exhausted and also I don't fancy being the source of the family's entertainment today.
Going to have to stay indoors. Will aim to do 10,000 steps (can see me marching on the spot a lot to achieve this) and 30 jumping jacks vaguely remember these being the part of the shred I found hardest when I tried before

[Cindbelly]

Managed to do 30 jumping jacks just after posting and then another 30 whilst cooking dinner earlier. Was really red faced!
DD still poorly, and it's rained on and off today so no gardening.
Step count 3492
Pretty poor really. Tomorrow is another day I guess

[Cindbelly]

Thanks KOKO hope it's ok to shorten your name like that.
I will take a look at some videos now

[Cindbelly]

Is there some sort of 30 day plan for taebo? I looked at some videos, recon I could give it a whirl, but need some structure to follow to keep me motivated. If not can you recommend a workout video to try? The beginners video I saw was about 5 mins long, do you think that's enough if I do it every day?
Going to set a target for next week as well, 70,000 steps and 300 jumping jacks. Happy to put a short video every day on the list as well.

[PanannyPanoo]

have a look at Chalean extreme. Its £19.99 on Amazon at the moment and is a great weights workout.

[standingonlego]

Just popping in to say how about parkrun? Might be good to do with the DC too. You can start just with walking and the weekly routine is a useful anchor in any get fit plan.

Lots of us happy to evangelise about it on these threads