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Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

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Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Exercise

Amazing results 1yr after starting exercising :)

34 replies

feedmyfrankenstein · 09/04/2015 21:37

I'm new here and this is my first post so I thought I'd share some good news to start with :)
I started exercising just over a year ago when I weighed 17.5 stone. I am only 5ft 2in so I was very overweight and it was affecting my knees, my breathing and pretty much everything I did with my children. I even found it hard to sit in the chairs at work as they made my back sore.
1 year on and I have lost 5 stone just by exercising at the gym 4 days a week. I only do an hour but I work REALLY hard! I have had to fit it around work and 3 children BUT I feel so much better. I no longer take blood pressure meds or period controlling meds as they are normal now. I have a huge appetite and have found I can still eat pretty much what I like. I still have a stone to lose to be in the 'green zone' and to please my doctor but I wanted to share the fact that exercise is the answer and I actually quite enjoy it now :) Thanks for reading.

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feedmyfrankenstein · 21/05/2015 16:17

Hi Nabuma and thank you :) I did go straight into the gym as I'd had enough with making excuses for myself. I had 1 personal training session a month to start with and after each session I just repeated those exercises for the following month. After 6 months I have a lot of exercises to choose from both cardio and weights so it meant no boredom. It also made me stick to the plan as I knew I had a session just round the corner. I am rubbish if anyone even mentions the word diet so I knew that was a no go. I still eat rubbish sometimes (I had pizza a chocolate cake last night) but I stick to good food most of the time (I have fresh mackerel and baked sweet potato tonight). I eat loads and loads of veg and put raw spinach with everything to bulk out my plate. Bread and pasta is wholemeal but I don't cut it out and I try (and fail most weeks) to have only wine on 2 evenings a week. I don't buy diet food as it is full of sugar and rubbish so I don't feel full after. That's it really just keep moving whatever it may be and if I fall off the wagon, I get back on, dust myself off and get back on. It becomes part of your daily routine in the end and I never thought I'd say that. Good luck and let me know how you get on

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Nabuma · 21/05/2015 14:45

frankenstein wow, well done! I'm 5ft 4 and 17.5st so very similar to you when you started. I know I need to lose weight asap as I feel like I'm suffocating in my skin iyswim. Can I ask how you started? Straight into gym membership or did you exercise and lose a bit first? As someone who has never been active even before my weight gain, I feel like I'm navigating uncharted territory here. And when you went to the gym in the early days, what did you do? I would be so, so grateful for any tips/guidance you might have, of you don't think I'm being cheeky?! Just hearing your story has made me think it's not impossible!

feedmyfrankenstein · 20/05/2015 15:14

Thanks Verso,
I am definitely feeling and seeing the benefits in this second year. I have now started running more and cycling which were my demons but I am actually doing ok. I hate to be beaten by anything! 10,000 steps is great and a huge difference from a year ago. I have never really measured my steps. Sounds like a good idea. I actually had someone at work say the other day that I shouldn't get any more muscular so I know I'm winning now. I just need someone to say I'm looking gaunt lol

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Verso · 19/05/2015 09:15

You're an inspiration! I started back at the gym myself four weeks ago and am starting to feel the benefits, physically and mentally. I try to go four times a week but often things get in the way so I only manage three - but I'm now at the point where I miss it if I don't get to go. I religiously do my 10,000 steps though regardless (a year ago I was doing under 5,000 some days!!! )

Thanks for posting. I love reading positive, inspirational posts like yours.

feedmyfrankenstein · 27/04/2015 10:48

Oh and good job with the cycling this weekend Goodpresentidea :) Its the one thing I find really hard cycling. Just shows how different we all are with what we enjoy and can do.

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feedmyfrankenstein · 27/04/2015 10:45

Thanks everyone. It's so hard to make the first move especially if you are significantly overweight and have not been active before. I love reading others stories on here and it gives me the push to keep going. I was having a look through a women's fitness mag at the weekend and found a few new exercises to do this morning at the gym. I think chucking in a few new things every now and then stops me getting bored which helps to keep me going. Also I realise how much room for improvement there still is when I do a new thing and that gives me another goal. Now if anyone has a magic wand that removes the urge to eat puddings please let me know as I still have lots of wobble to shift

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Bexicles · 27/04/2015 08:17

Well done OP! That's dedication and determination there!

Goodpresentideaplease · 27/04/2015 08:10

Forgot to say WELL DONE!!

Goodpresentideaplease · 27/04/2015 08:10

That is good to read OP. I am at my heaviest ever, slightly more than your star at weight and an just am starting to get more active. Previous knee surgery rules out so much as I can't take the impact of running, can't kneel at all and squating/ anything with knees bent is very painful.

Cycling is about the only thing I can do, but I have been for a bike ride both days this weekend. It is a start.

It's hard but should get better. Sadly I can't manage the gym but your story is great to read and inspiring.

Eastpoint · 27/04/2015 07:56

Frankenstein You sound fab, well done on all you've achieved so far and good luck with your goals.

feedmyfrankenstein · 27/04/2015 07:48

That's great funnyperson. You did 10 minutes more than millions of people sat on their sofa yesterday :) Hope you felt ok after.

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funnyperson · 26/04/2015 13:55

thank you. I walked for 10 mins today.

feedmyfrankenstein · 24/04/2015 17:02

Hi LViyer and thanks it's so great to know that I have actually inspired people. I never thought that would happen in a million years. Good luck with the gym :)

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feedmyfrankenstein · 24/04/2015 17:00

funnyperson, I really did feel like that at the start. I really could not be bothered as I didn't imagine I could stick to it. I used to tell myself that even if I'm only doing walking on the treadmill that's better than sitting on my bum. I really did find the weights helped a lot as being short and bigger I was actually quite strong even at my heaviest so it was a good feeling to be able to lift the same as the fit lean person next to me :) I still have to force myself to go sometimes but I can't imagine stopping now as it has helped my head and my body and I don't get so depressed now. I even got naked in front of my husband for the first time in years and years the other day and yes I look like a bit saggy but nobody's perfect. Just start slow and put on your favourite music and only do what you can do. It will get easier I can totally promise that.

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LViyer · 24/04/2015 04:23

We'll done! Thank you for sharing. I am a new poster and your story has inspired me to get back to gym.

funnyperson · 24/04/2015 01:59

I need motivation to do any exercise. Its so hard even to walk now that it seems walking cant possibly make a difference so there is no point bothering. I'm quite depressed about it as I cant do a normal aerobics class anymore for example and was hospitalised after the aqua aerobics I went to thinking the water would bear my weight.

feedmyfrankenstein · 19/04/2015 17:00

Hi funnyperson. It was absolutely exhausting when I first started. I had trouble walking for more than 10 mins on the treadmill but I stuck with it as after a month I really noticed an improvement. I have done weights from the start and haven't really changed the length of my workout in a year just how hard I work and I do more incline and resistance work now. I couldn't do more than 2 press ups when I started but can do 40-50 now so a huge improvement. Weights and press ups have really helped the bingo wings although sadly they will always flap a bit cos of the loose skin

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funnyperson · 18/04/2015 20:10

Thats amazing
Was it harder at first when you weighed more?
I mean I'm guessing when you weighed more you didnt lift weights for instance?

feedmyfrankenstein · 10/04/2015 08:53

Thanks Jemster, Good luck with the Couch25K :) I work varying shifts over a 7 day period so I try and go Mon, Wed and Fri morning and class or running on Wednesday night. I also try and get in a swim at the weekend if possible for a bit of variety. If my shift falls on my gym days I go at the end of the day instead. I have had to put gym first this year and fit housework, shopping etc. around it otherwise I would never go.

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Jemster · 10/04/2015 07:21

Well done, great achievement! I'm just starting out with Couch25k at the gym.
When do you do your exercise? Have you found it best to go to the gym at set times to get into a routine?

feedmyfrankenstein · 09/04/2015 23:52

cleanmachine, I tend to do cycling, running, walking fast uphill, rowing, cross trainer. I like to alternate as I find I get bored otherwise. I have recently added boxing and skipping but the old pelvic floor needs a bit of work with the skipping after 3 children! AmyElliotDunne, I originally just wanted to be slimmer but being strong is such a great feeling. I have so much extra stamina for other things like gardening and housework and find that I no longer get bad backs or shoulder pain. I have nearly 9st of muscle mass currently and am trying to maintain that whilst I loose the rest of the fat by making sure I eat enough protein :)

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AmyElliotDunne · 09/04/2015 23:27

Sounds like a great way to break it into manageable chunks. I'd love to do some weights as well as the running, it's important to be strong, not just slimmer isn't it.

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cleanmachine · 09/04/2015 23:07

Thank you. And can the cardio be anything from running to cycling to jumping jacks etc?

Your story is very inspiring.

feedmyfrankenstein · 09/04/2015 22:58

cleanmachine, I have gradually increased the amount I lift but it's not seriously heavy. I use the machines mostly as I find it easier to keep the correct posture and avoid injury. I normally do 5-6 reps x12 of 32 - 39kg on each machine alternating between upper and lower body for no longer that 10 mins at a time. I started out using free weights but found I hurt myself too often. I did have a personal trainer for 4 months (included in my gym membership) who showed me lots of different exercises which helped a lot.

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cleanmachine · 09/04/2015 22:41

So you keep changing between cardio and weights? That's interesting. I might try it myself. Do you lift heavy weights?

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