Ok, I am going to start exercising tomorrow, what should I do?

[DontRecogniseMyself]

Apologies if this posts twice, I wrote a whole thread which then disappeared. I’d be grateful for any advice.

Main issues are:

1. I am feeling very unfit and have been pretty sedentary over the summer - 3000 steps a day or so.

2. I am apple shaped and would rally like to lose my gut / muffin top. I’m not sure what the best exercise would be for that. I am towards the lower end of normal BMI and really think my issues are ab muscle tone (or complete lack of it!) rather than fat, but perhaps I am kidding myself. I measured myself tonight and my tummy is an inch bigger than my bust and I think my waist to hip ratio is 0.9.

I have attached a picture - hope that’s ok. In the picture I am sitting up with my back straight but not doing anything to hold my belly in.

What exercise do you like/ have you enjoyed before? Maybe in school?

Eg netball, good thing to do as in a team so you have to do it. Or swimming, easy as needs no equipment and pretty cheap. Or running, do it any time and anywhere, just need a good bra and shoes. Or aerobics or similar classes, can be good for targeting tummy etc.

Exercise has to be something you enjoy or you just won't do it. I would rather swim or run than watch tv really (well maybe not, but you get the idea).

Here is the picture.

When standing up I look a little like the picture on here but slimmer and cannot pinch as much as the model is pinching at all.

I hate it all . I used to run as it is cheap and free. Could look into aerobics as I did like that sometimes when younger.

Pilates is great for your core, which will eventually pull your tummy in (though I’ve got a low-end-of-normal BMI abc have been doing it for a year and still look a similar shape even though I’m stronger than I was: massive baby seems to have stretched the muscles out, and I have to avoid crunches/plank etc because of knackered pelvic floor), and running is free and utterly magic for your mind and body - running hills and rough ground tones you all over, I’ve found.

Lucy Wyndham Read. Honestly I was like yeah right this will never work! And I lost half a stone in 3 weeks! She has a cook book too which has some nice ideas in that are really quick. And it's all free. She's got loads of videos online all for different body parts. I did the one linked and actually 7 mins isn't too bad 🤣🤣

Oh and she has different videos aimed at different body shapes :)

Thanks, that is exactly what I need to do I think, pull the tummy in. I can feel my core muscles are so lax and it just all hangs out so to speak!

Ava, that looks amazing and only 7 minutes. I would actually do that. Did it specifically help your tummy?

To lose weight effectively you need to eat less ( or more healthily) and exercise more.

One doesn't work without the other.

Then keep the new regime as a lifestyle change.

Good luck

It is hard work. Take it from me.

Try doing some HIITs at home, don't take long and really work, I like the joe wicks ones, he does some starter ones

Thanks both. Silly, the thing is I am not sure I need to lose weight. Or perhaps I am kidding myself...

My middle is definitely thicker than it used to be but I am a worried that if I lose weight it will go from my boobs and I will be even more apple shaped.

@dontrecognisemyself yes my tummy changed considerably...I was so surprised! She has an Instagram page too. Think she is an experienced fitness expert trainer lady ( can't remember what she calls herself lol) but as a pp said I did have to think about what I was eating too.

That sounds very promising! Although I have to admit I was hoping not to change my. Perhaps I need to rethink that one.

Start with matt pilates and/or reformer pilates, you'll get very strong quite quickly which will in turn make you an efficient runner. If you start running without body strength you'll suffer with injuries.

Thanks, perhaps Pilates is what I need actually.

Realistically exercise, along with a healthy diet can help you lose weight, but you can’t choose where you lose it from. So a mixture of whatever cardio you like, and a healthy diet will help you lose fat, although you may find unfortunately it comes off your stomach last.
Doing strength exercise/yoga/Pilates will help with the muscle underneath and help you with a stronger core, which will all show through once the fat comes off

I just don’t understand how I have fat to lose? I am at lower end of BMI but I suppose the muffin top must be fat? I had thought it was just rubbish tone.

Be realistic. What sort of exercise do you want to do? I recommend exercise in combination with a healthy diet. Pilates, yoga etc are good for concentration and core strength. Most gyms offer a variety of fitness classes. Swimming is another good option. What about dancing lessons? Running is free.

Make sure that you eat healthy food too.

Good question! I need to think as to be honest I don’t want to do anything. Whatever gives the quickest results I guess.

If you’re in it for results you’ll give up easily, but there will be something that you love for it’s own sake - maybe try a load of different things and see what gives you a buzz? I started running for depression, but discovered by accident that I completely love it - makes me feel free and whole and capable and alive. I do Pilates because it’s part of recovering from birth so I can run long distance again. You need to stumble across whatever it is that you’d do even if it didn’t change how you look if you want to keep going, I reckon. There must be something out there!

My friends who climb all have utterly beautiful bodies, and it’s fun. Worth a try?

A muffin top is fat and to loose it you need to be in a calorie deficit food side of things is to loose it exercising with weights will firm everything up.

Thanks both, I do like the idea of climbing, will have to see if anywhere does it. The trouble is if it is a long way away I can’t be bothered to go .

Would a body pump type class count as exercising with weights?

Perhaps I really am kidding myself about the fat issue then!

Yes, body pump is exercising with weights. A good all over body workout. Not much cardio until you get stronger and are using heavier weights.

I love body pump. It's great fun, the music is pumping and when I finish the class I feel so strong I've been doing it for 3 years now and it has made a big difference to the tone of my muscles, the first I noticed was to my arms and shoulders. Give it a try and see what you think. Be prepared to ache after your 1 st class!

Ooh that sounds promising. Would it actually help change body shape? I would love to get less apple shaped rather than just getting smaller all over.

Perhaps I really am kidding myself about the fat issue then!

I’m really unsure about this. I’m 5’6” and 8st5lbs, so BMI of 18.8. I don’t have excess fat over my ribs or on my arms/legs/neck/face, my mum’s fancy scales reckon I’ve got a body fat percentage of 20, and I do a reasonable amount of exercise and eat well, but my belly does look like yours and I’m pretty sure it’s just the after-effects of carrying a huge baby for 42 weeks last year. I don’t have ab separation but I know my pelvic floor is really lax and stretched out (because I have a pelvic organ prolapse where it no longer supports my organs. Bugger.), so I guess my abs are the same and suspect it’s just the longer, more lax muscles allow my intestines and stuff to flop outwards further. It has improved with Pilates but honestly I think I might always be this shape and have reached a point where as long as I’m functional and strong, I don’t care.

Have you had a big baby/long pregnancy OP?