Need to lose a stone. Fitness advice please??

[pamelat]

Will start by being open and admitting that I don't need to lose much weight (practically) but the emotional need to lose it is huge.

DD 8 and a bit months. I'm 5ft 4.

Pre pregnancy I always hovered around 8st ll lbs ish. I exercised 5 times a week and this would often include an hours jog. I ate lots and whatever I liked.

During pregnancy I fainted if I did anything strenous (low blood pressure) but I swam and did yoga at least 3 times a week (text book!)

I put 2.5 stone on, thats a lot on my frame but I wasn't bothered. Arrogantly I thought it would drop off.

DD born, lost 1.5 stone within a week. Breast fed for 5 months, never lost any weight.

Now this bloody 1 remaining stone (!. Is it possible to shift it? I am dragging myself to exercise at least 3 times a week, occassionally 4 times.

Diet wise, I think I eat less than pre pregnancy. I eats lot but generally healthily, with a take out once a week. I do eat a lot of carbs but I still get dizzy ish if I dont eat enough. I once fainted at the gym because I hadnt had a chocolate bar!

I rarely drink more than 2 glasses of wine and even thats only 2 times a week.

SO why cant I get rid of this final stone?

I would prefer to do it via exercise as I love food but if any professionals (or anyone from a similar experience) can tell me thats impossible, then I will diet. I love bread and pasta though.

I know a stone isn't a lot BUT none of my clothes fasten and I cant afford to replace a whole wardrobe and I feel bad. I felt better a stone lighter.

Looking at me I would say the weight is predominantly on my hips and tum, and my upper arms.

Currently doing a week
Swiss Ball class - 1 hour
Body Pump class - 1 hour
Conditioning class - 45 mins
and sometimes one other, usually something toning

Maybe not enough cardio??

Anyone any tips? Please. Know its not a big deal in general but it is to me.

[Elasticwoman]

How much time do you spend at/on/in

the car
the computer
the tv
the kitchen

or doing a sedentary job?

Do you drive to the classes?

I sometimes faint with desire for chocolate too.

I found that weight fell off after I stopped bf, and you've only been free of that about 3 months, so no need to panic.

Have you ever done Pilates? You have to do a course (well round here you do anyway) rather than one-off classes, but it is good for toning up.

[pamelat]

Thanks Elasticwoman

Currently I spend around 60% of my day sat down and 40% out and about, walking and often carrying my 22lb daughter!

Yep I do drive to the classes , they are only 2 miles away but I struggle to get to them on time with DD in tow anyway.

One of them is an evening class but it starts at 7pm and I only hand DD over to DH at 615pm, suppose I could jog there that evening and back - its having that energy

Need to buy myself a bike, would be happy to cycle but jogging 4 miles and a class is a big ask for me right now (know I need a kick up the bottom!)

Used to do pilates and loved it. Just wondering whether I need to be doing cardio though??

[ShowOfHands]

I would say cardio cardio cardio, definitely what's lacking. I am the same height as you and usually the same weight. I put on 3st while pg. I lost a lot of weight at first after having dd and then stalled. I was exercising- pump, boxing, pilates etc- but hit a brick wall. I still think some of it's the breastfeeding though! I found that doing a couple of cardio workouts a week made an enormous difference and I started losing weight again.

I never diet and couldn't. I eat healthily and am generally active so to lose the few extra pounds I just exercise more. I just started running a couple of times a week. I feel so much better for it.

[pamelat]

How much cardio do you do now?

I used to enjoy body combat but now I have DD I have to pick the classes around times that suit her really. I probably need to make myself go jogging .....

[DrNortherner]

I agree you need to up your cardio, otherwise the classes you are attending are not getting you to the fat burning zone.

Can you use a gym and run on a treadmil/cross trainer/bike? Or try a spinning class - very hard but very effective.

[Simplysally]

20:20:20 classes or LBTs are quite good as well for general toning up but they won't necessarily create weight loss. Have you tried swimming?

[elsiepiddock]

I would agree re upping the cardio.

Could you fit in a spinning class? They are great for fat burning. I try to do 2 a week (and do 5 gym sessions in total) and I think it really helps keep my weight down.

[ShowOfHands]

The thing is with starting jogging now is the weather (assuming you're in the uk). It's easy to become demoralised and skip workouts because of the inclement weather. If you're in the Caribbean however or don't mind the cold then I'd say start running. It's free, effective and good for you to be outside. If the idea truly makes you then don't do it. Do you have a child's seat on your bike? I don't drive and live on a farm in the middle of nowhere so to get anywhere I get a built in workout and dd loves it.

I run 3/4 times a week and twice a week I try to do some toning work when I get home while my heartrate is still up, making it a more effective workout. I have a swissball and some weights at home.

Disclaimer: I despised running at first, muttered and swore all the way round. I was just cross really because I felt out of shape and running shows that up more than a lot of other exercise. After a month or so, I find I look forward to it.

[ShowOfHands]

found I started looking forward to it. Been running for months now. Not continuously.

Spinning classes are good but I found them very bad for my knees.

[DrNortherner]

I love running but find I keep getting bloody shin splints, so for now, spinning i my thing. I do 3 classes a week, I maintain my weight and eat what I like.

[slackrunner]

Running is a brilliant way to shift weight (although I tend to put on muscle when I run ).

This book is brilliant for running inspiration; well worth getting from the library:

Run For Life

[ShowOfHands]

Ouch. I had shin splints pre-dd. Extremely painful. I invested in gait analysis and decent trainers and the problem went away. Spinning's brill though and it's great to eat what you like. Best way I think or you become a martyr to denying yourself things. Had Christmas pudding last night and the only guilt was that it's October.

[Elasticwoman]

Walk or cycle to the class. Going by car partly defeats the object.

[44christmaspuddingsinarow]

Walking with pushchair - good cardio and very underated. For calorie burning it is half as good as running - but, where as running can be around 25%-35% fat burning walking can be around 40% 55% fat burning.

Walking with a pushchair is also ideal as it gives a purpose. Try to build half an hour into your day every day of brisk walking.

[pamelat]

OK

\right so will walk more with DD (used to do this loads when she was younger but have eased off in the last few months)

and will find a spin class and do this once a week.

Thanks all