Gym: when did you see results?? When will I? So impatient I know.

[HarryB]

I've been going to the gym twice a week (hour each time) for the past month to get back into it - didn't want to go too mad at first as had an em-CS in Jan and hadn't exercised for a while - and now feel confident enough to up it to 3 times a week.

I'm kind of thinking that even after twice a week for a month that I'd notice a change in my figure, but I haven't really - I feel healthier, but don't feel thinner. How long before you noticed results?

I am a size 16.

[MadameCastafiore]

Depends what you are doing at the gym but normally about 6 - 8 weeks I would say.

[HarryB]

Thanks Madame. I do 10 mins bike, 5 mins rower, 10 mins treadmill, 15 mins weights then 10 mins back on bike. Actually that's just 50 mins isn't it. Bugger, perhaps I need to throw in something else.

[MadameCastafiore]

Are you doing heavy weights to build muscle to burn fat or little girly weights to tone?

Do you run on treadmill or walk - if you run do it for longer or interval train, if yu walk do it up a very high gradient.

I would increase cardio if you want to see more of a result though 25 mins is not very much.

[HarryB]

Madame, feel free to call me a pussy, but here goes:

I do shoulder press (17.5kg for 2 reps of 15)and pulldown (20kg 2 reps of 15) and abs (15kg 4 reps of 15). Should I up the weight or reps. I want to tone rather than build.

I walk on treadmill as don't feel confident enought yet to run (frightened of falling off).

I spoke to an intructor and he said I was doing well as my heart rate is getting lower, but he does seem a bit dizzy day dream. Perhaps I'm just being impatient.

[MadameCastafiore]

I think that is quite a high weight to press and lift. I would do more cardio - increase your gradient and maybe add another 20 mins of it so a little on to each thing and lower your weights but do more reps of each one.

I am not a trainer or anything though - I have though had lots (in the purely gym sense!) over the years and have sort of sorted myself out now - have shed the fat and am starting on increasing the weights to tone a bit more and build a small amount of muscle.

Someone may be along soon who is qualified though and could be of more help.

Good luck though it is admirable starting something like going to the gym and sticking to it - have you thought of running outside though - you can build up very quickly and make it a social event - see if anyone else in your cirle of mums wants to get fit and go out doing wlk/runs until you can tag it all together.

[HarryB]

Madame, I'm such a baby brain. I meant 7.5kg of shoulder press - you must have thought I was trying to be Arnie.

I know that I wont stick to running. I live on a park but know I'd be forever stopping 5 mins early to check if DS needs me. I like the gym and those 3 hours are heaven to myself. I'm going to up each cardio I think.

Thanks Madame and well done on your own weight loss

[BigMomma3]

I think it normally takes about 6 weeks to see a difference. I go 4/5 times a week for around 90 mins (about 30 mins cardio and the rest weights). I use most of the weight machines in there and have gone from 3x20 reps on each to 5x20 with 15-20 kilos on each one just enough to feel the burn (can still only do 5 kilos on the chest press though!). I do make sure I warm up on cardio first though and have not had any muscle ache to speak of.

I have been going religiously for 2 months now and have gone from a size 20 to comfortable 16. Have been using Slimfast as well but still have probably not cut enough calories (odd choc bar still finds it way into my gob!). Everyone who sees me now says that I look toned and smaller than a 16 which is more important to me than what the scales say so I personally would up the weights if I was you.