Best type of exercise?

[MissMogwai]

I'm trying to lose some weight and have lost 10lb so far (3weeks in) by low carbing and calorie counting. I want to lose another stone and a half. I'm 12st at the mo, usually about 11 but had a tough year and piled it on

I need to tone up and at 38, I want to get my shit together and face 40 feeling good about myself. I'm also getting married in 2019, so def need to get cracking.

I have an hourglass figure and big boobs. I'm thinking weight training might be good? I don't do classes as I'm not much of a joiner inner so probably not for me. I want to sort my bingo wings and tummy out really, my legs and bum aren't that bad.

So what works for others? I have an office job and it involves very little movement, other than the biscuit and cake eating that have got me in this predicament!

Sorry for the long post. Any ideas or recommendations greatly received!

Weights are brilliant but you need someone to show you what to do and check your form because you can do some damage if you're doing it wrong.

Can you afford a few personal trainer sessions?
MOSSA power and les mills pump are both good beginner weight classes if you do want to try classes out (and I definitely recommend it)

I could do some personal trainer sessions. There's a good gym about 10 minutes from work so no excuses really!

I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Thanks

Running! Start with 10 mins or so every day for a week, then increase by 1 or 2 minutes each day and you're soon well into it. Worked for me -
I got to 40 min runs every day with one day off a week. I really enjoyed them and lost lots of weight. Now pregnant and can't wait to start again soon. Good luck!

Go to a gym and get them to weigh and measure you and then set goals and design you a program.

I joined a gym 3 years ago and haven't looked back!

I enjoy doing a bit of HIIT on the cross trainer, then so weights, then some abs and then a jog to finish off. That's about 1.15hours and it's a PROPER work out.

Get yourself a good sports bra and treat yourself to some nice athletic gear too. H and M have nice things and Forever 21.

Also- my fitness pal is very good for logging food intake and monitoring it. It starts and ends with a good diet.

I know I need to get off my arse and go to the gym. I'm just a bit scared of a skinny beautiful young person grabbing my fat with those fat measuring things and making me do star jumps or what have you.

I am going to do it though. I'm going to ring up tomorrow.

I do need a sports bra. Do they make them from steel these days?

Ha ha! Not sure about steel!

The best kind of exercise is the kind you enjoy, because then you'll actually do it For me that's cycling, yoga and walking with DS on my back and ddog. I never enjoyed the gym, so I never went!

30 day shred or other Jillian Michaels workouts if you are not ready to face the gym yet - the DVDs are pretty good value on Amazon.
M&S do good sports bras at good value but make sure you have done the bra intervention to know your size, don't trust M&S measuring service which is notoriously useless. Brastop and Figleaves sales or clearance sections are also pretty good.
HTH

Weight training is the best. Prevents the loss of muscle during weight loss and burns calories beyond what you'd burn during a regular cardio session. Steady state cardio like running has many health benefits but it is not effective for weight loss as most women will compensate either by eating more or moving less during downtime. It also doesn't prevent muscle loss (a problem from age 40 on, and accelerated when you are eating at a calorie deficit).

It's worth getting some personal training, but some people make do with Youtube videos. If you get a trainer, make it clear that you want to learn how to lift free weights with good form. Otherwise they'll assume that you want to do more "womanly" things. Once you're shown how to do the main Presses and pulls with good form, you'll be able to strike out on your own and even improvise with various equipment. There are lots of ways to do each compound move (squat, deadlift, etc.) It's just understanding the mechanics of them.

You may find this information useful:

www.t-nation.com/training/hierarchy-of-fat-loss

Body Pump classes

mix of cardio and weights. start at the right level for you don't try to do too much. for 5 years after I had my first child I despised working out as I used to be exhausted from looking after the kids however i forced myself to do 10 mins a day and now I'm up to 40 mins a day and no matter how tired i am I hate missing a day. I never thought I'd like exercising but I love it now.

To improve your all around fitness I reckon one each of these every week should work wonders.

A cardio class (someting like body combat), spinning cycle class or running, Parkrun (or walk).
Something stretchy, yoga / pilates / tai chi / body balance.
And something strengthening, body pump / TRX / free weights.

I've been doing PT sessions for a while now. I love it. I go though spells of being really focused or not so focused but I've definitely changed shape/ I have a way to go yet, but I enjoy them.

I need to lift heavy weights to keep my weight down and body some way toned. I lost 4 stone 2 years ago and in the 18 months since I stopped lifting (my excellent trainer shut up shop), I've put back on 1.5 of it. I'm currently on holidays but I've a session in a new gym booked for the week I get back. My 20 year school reunion is coming up so I've a deadline to work to!

Spinning is pretty good. Or cycling if the weather permits.

I'm an hourglass and can't run to save my life. Sports bra, I know, I know, I'm just not a natural runner.

Cycling tones up everything, even your arms.

I do weights too, very beneficial.

I love playing sports.

Weight training is fun, OP, you could try going to cross fit? I also do that and really enjoy it although at my gym it's quite casual - they put up the exercises on the board (and app) and then you do them at the time you come rather than having to attend a specific "class" at a certain time each day.

HIIT sprints is the best for burning fat (much better than running distance) - on treadmill walk for 1 minute then turn it right up and sprint for 30-45 secs, then back to walking for 60-90 secs (or longer if needed to catch breath), then repeat. You may only be able to do 3/4 times if you've not done it before, but you'll gradually be able to do more repeats, less rest time in between and longer sprints. I would also do some resistance training to tone. Your gym should have resistance machines as well as free weights, which I found really good to start on.

Thanks for all the tips. I still haven't phoned the gym so I'm a lazy ungrateful mate.

I will it tomorrow. I'm not sure if I can turn up and do the spinning or if I have to be assessed first? I've not been near a gym for years some time.

What do I wear? I need some proper trainers for a start. Any recommendations?

The problem I've found is that PTs are not really geared for the very unfit. I'd try something like C25K first to build some fitness.

I've found the opposite, wisps, the two I've used have been great with absolute beginners. Maybe I got lucky.

Key exercise kit is a really good bra and well fitting shoes. A pair of good cross trainers mights be useful until you figure out what you like to do. I like asics and brooks but it depends on what kind of support you need.

I really like "Body Fit by Amy" YouTube videos - specifically the beginners work outs. I do a mixture of HIIT and weight training (including body weight). Definitely work a look.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005X5FP20/ref=twister_B005X5FG2O?tag=mumsnetforum-21 If you are big of boob this is the sports bra you need.

Try a PT and get them to help you work out what you enjoy (even if it is the "least worst" at first. You may find classes help as you are all in in together (Body Pump good as a slow/low coordination required starter and v good for weight loss).

You may hate classes and prefer to be alone - and run. Find some music or favourite pod casts to download. I love running to the Radio 4 comedy shows or Kitchen Cabinet. DH donwloads books and crime thrillers to run to.

Or you may find the gym/machines suit you better. Or find team sports better (there are lots of Back to Netball things going on at the moment - is there one locally to you? Does that appeal?)

Try various things. Even though it really is a faff to start with. There are only two really important thing with using exercise to help with weight loss:

1. Keep doing it (so hence above find something you like)
2. Do not think that it means you can eat more (I have been for a run ergo I can have cake).

Good luck.

I love the panache bra linked above, but on amazon there's a great cheaper version, Syrokan, which I find just as good for my enormoboobs.

Have to say it is more expensive than when I have ever bought it - wonder if end of line = pricy now? But just so OP does not think she needs to go down the horror of the "Shock Absorber"