I can’t lose this weight, what’s the one piece of equipment I could have at home that would help?

[Ilmb]

I’m not classed as overweight but I’m obly 5 foot 2 with a TDEE of just over 1200 calories. Up to last year I weighed 8’10 which was ok but would’ve been better at 8’7 but I wasn’t going to the gym, that was my normal weight.

Last year I went through a really really bad time and wasn’t eating well at all. My weight dropped to about 7 1/2 stone. I put all the weight back on though I’m november/December. After Xmas I was 9’4 and to me it feels fat. Tried slim fast, calorie counting etc but I couldn’t shift it. Managed to get to 9 stone but I can’t lose it. Last weekend was 9,2. Have been at centre parcs this week, was cycling every day at quite a pace, at least half an hour, was in the pool for 3 hours every day (obviously not 3 hours solid swim but moving constantly l etc) and did some activities so more active than at home and iv put on 2lb!!! I did not eat more than normal, I actually ate less as was busy all the time.

I can’t go to the gym (can’t afford it an a LP and no support) I hate any kind of ‘dvd class’. I always walk 10-12,000 steps a day and according to my fit burn approx 2000 calories a day (I think it’s lying to me) I need to get my calories down I KNOW this. I was eating 1500 roughly, sometimes under but I can’t eat less than 1200 a day as it makes me so sick and dizzy.

I’m thibking of getting a small piece of equipment at home and do that maybe half an hour every day? A bike would be easier to store... but I think I heard a rowing machine was the best for over all? Any suggestions or thoughts on this? Would half an hour (on top of my normal daily routine) every day start shifting these lbs??

I don’t know that there’s a magic bullet piece of exercise equipment.

What’s a typical day of 1200 and 1500 calories like for you?

I lost weight quickly ( I wasn't even trying to!) not with any equipment or extra exercise. Just eating fruit on an empty stomach, not mixing protein and carbs at the same meal . Also giving up a daily cup of freshly gound caffienated coffee. I have never CC or weighed food or anything and I now maintain with Paul Mackenna.

string I’m not after anything magic, imasking what piece of equipment would be the most effective if I only had one piece?

I’ll log down what Iv later but usually tesco grain and seed granola with unsweetened almond milk for breakfast. Bowl of salad with portion of quorn (quorn generally about 100 calories) dinner varies but could be quorn sausages with loads of veg or I make chill with cauli rice. Trying to cut right back on my sugar. I can’t have a lot of wheat or dairy as it bloated me and gives me stomach ache and I’m vegetarian.

what piece of equipment would be the most effective if I only had one piece?

I think what String meant is that it's a big ask of one piece of equipment. A bike, tower or treadmill will burn calories - but it'll lose effectiveness as you get used to using it. Ideally you need to be able to mix it up.

If you have to get one bit; the best bit is going to be whatever you're most likely to use often. Would you prefer to cycle or row? There's no huge difference in calorie burn between them as standard; the difference will come from how good you are at them, how long you do each activity and how long you keep it up.

The most calorie burning ‘machine’ is a rowing machine. It wouldn’t be a good idea to only do that. You’d also need tips on form & a good one would be expensive.

How about a suspension trainer (like TRX but there are other brands)?

Really good trainers and a lightweight breathable rain jacket, and just walk or run

Do you drink a lot of tea and coffee, or coke, wine, fizzy drinks etc.? As I said it's much easier to lose weight without too much caffeine.

I don't know why but we've had annoying equipment scattered about the place and after a few goes it never gets used. A regular quick walk , a dance to the radio before breakfast, or a run up and down the stairs 4 times a day would be cheaper and more doable!

I can’t go out for runs for a couple of reasons. I’m a LP with no care for my dc and they’re too young to be left (plus one has SN) and I also have shin splints and it hurts to run.

I didn’t know that about needing various pieces. I guess it makes sense. Would one piece be worth it though? I’m pretty good on the rower, I know someone who owns a gym and went in there for an induction to start but couldn’t end up going as one of my dc currently out of school (long story) and he said I had good posture .... I think that or a bike? I have to think about storage... I have the floor space but a rower is very heavy so won’t be able to move it... a bike is less floor space but taller....

I don’t drink any fizzy drink at all, I do have one coffee first thing, rarely drink tea, if I do it’s decaffeinated.

ppea that’s more or less what I’m doing at the moment as best I can.... but obviously not good enough!

Have you had your thyroid tested?

No not recently mini, it crossed my mind but I don’t have any symptoms (other than the weight). Can you suddenly develop an under active thyroid?

I would get a set of power block weights. They’re American, nesting weights that are very compact and very easy to adjust. For me, strength training has made the biggest change to my body shape and weight - it’s so efficient. Far better than spending hours doing repetitive cardio.

I had bloods done 6 months ago when j went to the doctor with a pain in my side ( grumbling appendix) wouldn’t an under active thyroid show up or do you have to have a specific blood test for it?

slightly how long/often do you do that for?

it won't be equipment that helps you lose the weight. It'll be eating less. Have you tried fasting? That really works for me. And no carbs.

Other than that, I would suggest running is the best form of exercise for burning calories.

I have a similar TDEE and can't lose weight unless I really restrict what I eat and do lots of exercise.

(I'm saying this, but I have no idea whether you are actually in need of losing any weight - as someone who's 5'9 and hasn't weighed 8stone since I was 12, I have no idea how much you have to lose!).

For toning up, if you need that, I'd suggest a HIIT workout.

Iv tried fasting.... if I don’t eat by mid morning I get so dizzy.....

If I had to choose one bit of cardio equipment I'd go for the elliptical, uses your arms and legs, can burn calories quickly and I don't find it as deathly boring as a rower or bike. Also kettlebells can give you a strength and cardio workout at the same time.

I tried cutting down to 1000 calories a day and didn’t lose a thing, and I don’t want to do that again as it felt a little ‘obsessive’ you know? Counting to the calorie to keep it under 1000.

we is that like a cross trainer you sort of stand up on?

Kettlebells are pretty good

VerticAl climbers give one of the best workouts from a single piece of equipment but they are tough so possibly not sustainable without serious dedication.

It has to be realistic and sustainable. What do you enjoy? if you think you could manage running/c25k then hire a treadmill for six weeks and see how you get on. Or just dvds like30 day shred or similar.

It is a specific test llmb, call the drs and ask if it was done. If it was ask what the TSH was, you want it to be under 2.5 ideally. If not then worth asking. Yes it can develop over time, mine was fine till early 30s.

You are already eating very low calories and doing loads of exercise so I doubt less food/more exercise is the answer for you, hence suggesting looking at hormonal issues

I didn't have any symptoms at all

My back isn’t great, would I be ok with kettlebells?

I can’t run as I said above but o really envy those that do! Does anyone know a way of getting rid of shin splints? Doctors just shrug their shoulders!

mini so it wouldn’t show there was a problem with thyroid unless that was being specifically tested? all I know is there was a higher level of infection and I had to have the bloods re done but doctor was happy with it as they had lowered.