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Exercise

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Not liking my post 40 body, can I fix it with exercise?

35 replies

Lovemusic82 · 12/05/2024 18:53

I’m 42, the last year or so has been pretty rough due to women's issues, my weigh yo yo’s a little but generally my BMI is spot on, I walk/hike a lot and swim, I also do a lot of work on my allotment, I’m not sure I can fit much else in but maybe I need something that concentrates on toning. I am recovering from hysterectomy, I can exercise but no weights or high resistant stuff yet. I feel a bit down because I’ve gained weight in places I don’t normally gain (legs, tops of arms) and my body shape has changed, I don’t seem to have a waist anymore and resemble a potato. I still get some swelling from the surgery which doesn’t help. What can I do to get my shape back?

OP posts:
hopscotcher · 13/05/2024 07:09

Hope your recovery is going well OP. I second what other people have said about diet, Pilates, walking etc - but also, go easy on yourself. and do what feels right for you.

Lovemusic82 · 13/05/2024 07:45

Peclet · 12/05/2024 21:50

Brisk walking. Try walking for thirty mins as soon as you wake up and eat a high protein breakfast post work out.

eat in a calorie deficit

return to weights and resistance training when you’re fully fit post surgery.

I walk over 5 miles a day, I love walking. I pretty much don’t sit still. It keeps my weight down and helps my mental health but it just doesn’t tone my tummy. I’m not overweight as such (BMI is fine) so it’s more about my shape and tone.

Im probably eating around the right amount of calories, maybe slightly over (sugars my downfall). Any weight I have gained has been post surgery whilst not being able to do as much. I have only started walking long distances again for the past 2 weeks so I guess it will take time to lose any weight I have gained, I don’t have much patience.

I will look into Pilates and yoga but would rather not go to a group as I can’t afford it (most ask for a months payments up front). I think I can start swimming again this week.

OP posts:
lightand · 13/05/2024 07:47

Onewildandpreciouslife · 13/05/2024 06:40

I would recommend starting with Pilates- it makes a huge difference to strength (particularly but not just core) and might make you feel more “in tune” with your body. It’s been through a lot lately, so some time focusing on breath, posture, controlled movements may help generally (personally I’ve always preferred Pilates to yoga, but either would be good for this - I’d see which is more easily accessible locally to you)

My physiotherpist said there is lots of good videos and help online.

RidingMyBike · 13/05/2024 08:09

I found a local Pilates studio offered class passes so you can buy four to use within six months, then also
has online classes.

It felt like a good idea to get to an in person class to check positioning and movement was totally right, but mostly do the much cheaper online classes.

Peclet · 13/05/2024 10:24

Pop sugar online has great videos on yoga and so on. Check you tube.

Soigneur · 13/05/2024 10:53

You can do three things through exercise that actually change the appearance of your body:

  1. Increase muscle mass and size
  2. Decrease body fat (both subcutaneous and visceral)
  3. Improve your posture
Non-appearance related benefits are:
  1. Increased functional strength
  2. Increased cardiovascular endurance and heart/lung health
  3. Increased bone density
  4. Better joint mobility/flexibility

For a general, non sport-specific exercise programme, you generally want to strike a balance between increasing functional strength (which will also result in increased muscle mass, bone density and some fat loss), cardiovascular exercise (for fat reduction and improved cardio health), and joint mobility.

It sounds like you have the cardio covered with swimming and hiking - the key is to ensure you are making some hard (VO2max) efforts in addition to the steady state stuff. So in addition to regular pool laps, try doing some interval training - for example 100m at full speed with a minute rest between each interval. Or if hiking, push as hard as you can up hill, and try a light jog on the flat/downhill sections. If you are in the VO2max zone you should feel very uncomfortable, hot, sweaty, and unable to speak - it's something to aim for and only do in brief intervals until you are really used to it though.

For strength training, you could go to a gym, but if you have good proprioception (body position awareness) you can do everything at home. Personally I do a mixture of kettlebell exercises and callisthenics (bodyweight exercises) - you can learn how to do all these from youtube. Kettlebells and bodyweight are really good as they are functional (reflective of real-world movement) exercises, whereas most gym strength exercises (barbell and machines) don't rely reflect movement patterns that you use in real life. Functional strength is really about strength endurance rather than pushing the biggest weight you possibly can just once, which is why kettlebells and bodyweight exercises work so well - you are generally using moderate weights but doing a lot of work with them, rather than just lifting massive weights for a handful of reps and then having a big rest (which is what pure strength athletes do).

For mobility, you can't beat yoga or pilates - again, if you have reasonable proprioception you can learn to do these at home - the Down Dog app is good. You can also incorporate mobility into every day activities - for example always squat where maybe you might be tempted to bend down, e.g. when picking something up.

It's also great to combine exercises and do them spontaneously - so if you are out for a walk and you see a handy looking tree - then climb it! Or if you find a steep bank, try doing some hill sprints up it. Or if there is a log, then maybe try and do a lizard crawl along it. These kind of spontaneous outdoor exercises, in my opinion, are far more valuable, and far more fun, then sticking to a programme in a gym.

TheGreyStork · 14/05/2024 12:44

Absolutely, exercise can help you improve your body composition, strength, and overall health at any age, including post-40. Incorporating a combination of cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility work can be particularly effective. Cardiovascular exercises like walking, cycling, or swimming can help burn calories and improve heart health, while strength training can help build muscle mass and boost metabolism. Additionally, flexibility exercises such as yoga or stretching can improve mobility and reduce the risk of injury. Remember to combine exercise with a balanced diet for optimal results, and be patient with yourself as progress may take time.

BigSkies2022 · 20/05/2024 21:41

Hey OP, hope your recovery is going well. Have you thought about doing some really simple, body-weight exercises like planks (regular, side, reverse is also good for the tops of arms) and press ups? These tone and strengthen your core as well as arms, back, shoulders. They cost nothing, you can do them at home.

For YouTube exercise, I like Lazy Dancer Tips (Alessia Lugobuni) - it's ballet (barre and centre), but she also has lots of Pilates based stuff as well. Lots of workouts for core and back, arms and legs toning.

Thegreatgiginthesky · 21/05/2024 07:30

I am a bit older but reduced my waist size from 34" to 24" through a combination of diet (cutting out starchy carbs, upf and sugar), weight training and hrt. I don't count calories but focus on dietary quality and nutrient density.

Disturbia81 · 21/05/2024 09:37

Thegreatgiginthesky · 21/05/2024 07:30

I am a bit older but reduced my waist size from 34" to 24" through a combination of diet (cutting out starchy carbs, upf and sugar), weight training and hrt. I don't count calories but focus on dietary quality and nutrient density.

Yes cutting carbs and sugar is the most effective thing that works for me. It has always been the way my body feels most happy too, no grumble from it, no digestive issues etc

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