Amazing results 1yr after starting exercising :)

[feedmyfrankenstein]

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.

[Goodpresentideaplease]

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.

[Goodpresentideaplease]

Forgot to say WELL DONE!!

[Bexicles]

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

[feedmyfrankenstein]

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

[feedmyfrankenstein]

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.

[Verso]

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]

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

[Nabuma]

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]

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