Pilates for weight loss?

[KirstyHas9]

I have tried every exercise known to womankind and I am either very bad at it, uncoordinated, too unfit to do it for long or it just makes me miserable and unhappy and stressed. I’m overweight and need to lose at least 1st 7lbs. I’ve been eating well and losing weight but have hit a weight loss wall so I think I need to move more. I have a flabby ring around my middle and zero core strength.

I have an office job so I don’t get steps in so need to do exercise early morning or late evening.

I do swim but I am not a good, strong, confident swimmer. I like walking but I have not been able to make a success of running or jogging. I can’t dance and I am uncoordinated at aerobics. I do cardio and strength things in the gym on equipment but they never really make me feel like I have worked out, I don’t feel the impact in my muscles and I have no idea where to begin with weights and just end up wanting to go home.

I have discovered Pilates on YouTube (Isa Welly) and although I am not yet that good at it, it’s by far the least stressful of all the activities I have tried. It’s relaxing but still hard, I feel very achy (in a good way) afterwards. I don’t spend the whole video wishing it would be over.

Can anyone tell me their personal experience of Pilates is this a good option for what I am trying to achieve? Weight loss, strength and toning up? Does it burn many calories? Google says it does but not a high amount. Does this matter?

The scales today show a slight gain and no loss again. 5 weeks at a stall now. I did take measurements with a tape for comparison and I have lost another half an inch from my waist at some point but nothing off my hips. I am certain I am in a calorie deficit but nothing is helping. I am aware of the small movements and that’s what I like about Pilates as I feel the body parts actually working instead of just chaotically throwing myself around to the same boring monotonous tracks week after week.

Nobody bothers if you make a quick dash for the toilet.

A few years ago, I lost 5 stone over a period of 16 months, at a rate of about one pound per week. I remember there was one month, about a year in, when I hit a plateau and didn't lose anything for that month, but I stuck with the diet and then the weight started going down again.

In my experience, exercise is overrated for losing weight, although it does make you feel better. At the start of my weight loss period I could only walk a very short distance as I was recovering from a heart procedure. I gradually built up the distance, helped by my 2 naggy dogs who demand a daily walk. By the end I was able to walk 3 or 4 miles easily. I didn't do any other exercise except usual housework and gardening.

I think, if weight loss is your goal, you should focus on that and don't get distracted with expensive and time consuming exercise fads.

Once you've lost the weight, you can then tone up. I currently do yoga and cycling as well as the dog walking. I've kept the weight off for nearly 5 years and feel good.

Don't give up on the diet, keep at it, it will work.

Kirstyhas9 sorry if my post confused you. Anything that relaxes you and you will stick to doing is a good thing and as long as you focus more on the diet side then it will help.
Proper slow controlled weight training helps immensely but you have to know what you're doing and it can cost.
Programmes such as Caroline girvan on YouTube are fantastic and there a great support thread on here.
But any exercise you will stick to and enjoy is a great thing.

I have had my gym PT session and it was useful, I explained everything as I have here. it wasn’t the free weights but the weight machines and I have a new programme to try out. I’m going to stick with some very gentle/beginner Pilates to work on my core and relaxation. PT understood what I meant that I do not want to spend my time unhappily flinging myself around to dance tracks or just plodding on a treadmill.

I am very demoralised by the weight loss stall but thank you @Ecci you have inspired me not to give up. Well done on reaching your goal