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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Losing weight and exercise

41 replies

Lessfatmorefit · 16/02/2019 22:15

I've been making efforts to lose weight since August by joining slimmingworld and going to the gym. I'm 4.5st down, which is great, but i still have 2.5-3st before I'm within normal BMI, so a way still to go.

I'm going to the gym 4 times a week, 3 times I do 10k brisk walking with some jogging (i am too heavy to run for longer than 2k so it's mostly walking) and the other time I do 30 mins uphill walking. I'm not sure if this is enough or if I need to do anything different? I dont really have any more time tp do much more I dont think as I struggle to fit in these sessions, I go after work so it means I'm not home til nearly 8pm on the 10k nights.

OP posts:

Treble9 · 17/02/2019 10:35

Ignore the blokes. Dont let them intimidate you. You have just as much right to be there.........besides, half of them have no idea what they're doing anyway.

Just make sure your weights aren't too light. To make a difference and be of use they need to be heavy and actually challenge your muscles.

Footloose80 · 17/02/2019 11:04

Well done on your loss. Marking place as I am 3 stone down from my highest ever weight calorie counting and exercising but I keep on falling off the wagon. However I have about 4 stone to go.
I firmly believe that exercise plays a huge part and that I need to mix my routine up more.

Wild123 · 17/02/2019 11:14

Well done on your weight lose and determination.

Weights will definitely help build up slowly. Also the step machine is really good. On my first try i could only manage 200 steps but worked my way up to 1700.

Passthewinebottle · 17/02/2019 11:15

Have you heard of James Smith? If not, look him up. He’s a straight talking online PT. His lives are excellent for asking the questions you need answers to. He also has an online academy where you can get training plans & watch hundreds of exercise videos to show exactly how to lift properly.

Teddysmum7 · 17/02/2019 11:16

Maybe cut the carbs for a few days to help

Mortgages · 17/02/2019 11:30

Most guys don’t care about women using weights

CycleWoman · 17/02/2019 11:37

Wow! Well done. Sounds like you’ve done amazingly well.

Another vote for weights here. It really does wonders for your strength, shape and fitness. If you’re new to it I wouldn’t recommend starting at home with YouTube videos as it’s important to have someone check your form to ensure that you are doing everything right. If you have a gym membership there are probably classes you can try which involve weights.

Also mix things up. If you do the same sort of thing each week your body just gets used to it. You could try a spin class, cycling or swimming just for a change.

CycleWoman · 17/02/2019 11:38

Ps on being up off by men in the weight area. I hear you! Can be intimidating. Classes are a great way to start off

FrogFairy · 17/02/2019 12:01

No one talks about kettlebells these days. At one time they were popular and supposed to tone and tighten your body really well. I never got around to trying so can’t comment any personal experience but might be worth looking into.

BreastSideStory · 17/02/2019 12:12

Firstly your weight loss so far is an amazing achievement! You must feel great!
Secondly I did slimming world for a while, lost the majority of the weight but then plateaud. At that point I started doing calorie restriction instead. I limited myself to 1500 calories a day, then reduced it by 10% every month until all the weight was gone (Fewest calories I ate was 1200)

jenthelibrarian · 17/02/2019 12:24

Does your gym have one of those Boditrax machines?
I don't think it's 100% reliable but it gives a good snapshot of where you are and tracks/graphs progress.
I'm 62 and got a metabolic age of 47, which is dead flattering and gave me such a boost, even if it might be bollocks.
I had a brief session with one of the gym's trainers, who suggested some small but helpful 'tweaks' to my workout - I must admit I'm in the habit of doing to same stuff in the same order and need to mix it up a bit.
Also, if the grunty men around the weights are a bit scary are there resistance machines in the gym to try?
You are brilliant to be doing so well, OP, huge congrats!

KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse · 17/02/2019 12:24

I agree with the weights advice. I really should do it myself. I would start with the fixed weights machines and then get a pt session or go to a class to learn how to use the free weights. I say that because I always walk over to the free weights, get a bit overwhelmed and then give up!

Also worth considering is taking some of your walking/ running outside. The weather is getting better and the daffodils are nearly out. It's so much more interesting to get out and explore the great outdoors and the time flies by compared to the gym.

Park run, a local walking group, another beginner from your slimming world group would give you a bit of company and all much more sustainable for years to come.

Couch to 5 k is brilliant for getting started and you can stay on week 1 or 2 as long as you like.

I took up running to help me lose weight but now I lose weight to help me run. And I've made some lovely friends along the way. Good luck and we'll done so far

PrismGuile · 17/02/2019 14:28

Put the incline right up on your walk (exhausting but I used to burn 1,000 calories in 1.5 hours just walking that way) and do some weights 😊

CottonSock · 17/02/2019 14:33

You are amazing. Do things you enjoy so you make them part of your life. Hiking, swimming?

SpoonBlender · 17/02/2019 14:34

4.5st from August is fucking amazing. You're doing it right, and there's something to be said for not messing with a working scheme!

Talk to the trainers at the gym if you want to switch it up a bit without making a dent in your weight loss.

Remember that if you do add strength exercises to your regime you'll be putting on muscle so losing weight less fast - but you'll still be getting thinner, you'll have to rely more on measuring yourself than weighing.

Londonmummy66 · 17/02/2019 17:29

If you can do 10 mins on the rower you could use that as your warm up to get your heart going as it uses your stomach muscles so is helpful with toning. Also look up the Jeff Galloway method as it is much kinder on your joints than straight running and will help with the cardio on the treadmill. You could also ask the PTs at the gym about HIIT and see if one of your cardios could be switched to that although you might not be fit enough for HIIT yet. Try and do one weights session a week - if you find the weights area intimidating see if the gym has a circuits class. You are doing really well though that's a great weight loss.

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