The getting back in shape thread

[Rapscallion]

Thirty minutes, 500 calories.

Rapscallion

[Rapscallion]

Thirty minutes, 444 calories.

Rapscallion

[Indigo]

@ Indigo Good luck :-) It sounds like you have made reasonable goals (not saying things like "I will lose 2 stone in a month" and you have a sensible way of aiming for what you want.
I hope you enjoy Zumba, it's meant to be really good

Thanks. I think I got off to a good start today. I took the steps instead of the elevator and walked about 6 blocks during my cancelled class. Also had spinach with dinner.

[Cat]

I must to go the gym today....I ate quick a bit this past week with all the pumpkin and candy goodness, ha. Easy enough to fix.

[shadowpanda]

@ Indigo Good luck :-) It sounds like you have made reasonable goals (not saying things like "I will lose 2 stone in a month" and you have a sensible way of aiming for what you want.
I hope you enjoy Zumba, it's meant to be really good

[Indigo]

So I've seen this thread before, but now I have decided I need to join it. I'm currently a size 18/20 and I just don't feel healthy anymore. I used to be able to run around in a bikini and look great - now I don't even want to wear a swimsuit period.

I've decided to finally do something about it. A friend of mine and I have decided that we will go to Zumba at our school's gym at least once a week (hopefully more if my job allows it). I also have a balance ball in my room that I've been using as chair - I'm going to start using it and the DVD that came with it at least three times a week to work on my abs (that are kinda nonexistent right now).

What I'd love to do is be able to fit into my size 16 jeans by the beginning of next semester (mid-late January).

[Rapscallion]

Did quite a bot of Prague stomping and my knees were remarkably good by the end of it. Ate too much, mind. Anyway, back to the exercise bike. Thirty minutes, just over 500 calories.

Rapscallion

[lupo pazzesco]

I solemnly swear (again) that I'm going to start working out (again).

I stay on top of food intake, for the most part, it's just getting back into an exercise routine that's troubling. Bah. I will make it work!!

[Cazzi]

Want to get rid of some boobs but not compromise them at the same time?

Meh! think mine are well past the stage of resurrection

[Whiskey]

Does anyone have any leg specific exercises they could recommend? I can't really go running because I have issues with impact pressure on my ankles, but I have found I am able to walk 2.2 miles home after work (I work in an office, sat down all day. Wouldn't have the energy if I was working in retail) 2 times a week.

Good luck everyone

If you have medical issues, ask a doctor. I'm not going to recommend anything to someone who has a medical issue because I'm not a doctor.


I'm finally back in the gym after a week of anxiety about going to a new gym.

Upper Body Day so it went a little something like this: (note: 3x5 refers to 3 sets of 5 reps)

Bench Press
3x5 45lbs (bar)
3x5 50lbs
2x5 55lbs (fail)

Lateral Incline:
3x5 30lbs
1x5 50lbs (fail)

High Row:
3x5 30
3x5 50
3x5 90
3x5 110 (no fail, but was about to)

Deadlift:
3x5 50lbs (quit)

I noticed it was five minutes till the next bus came so I just wrapped it there and went and caught the bus home.

[blas]

Want to get rid of some boobs but not compromise them at the same time?

Chest presses and other various chest exercises. Most of my weight lifting is chest workouts, with cables and some with bars, all with weights.

Doing this for a while, you will notice your breasts will slightly perk up, and some excess flab between your armpits and your breasts will decrease, if not go away altogether if you do it and keep it up long enough. Your breasts will become more shapely but not as large as they were before.

I've lost 2 inches from my chest. I still wear the same size bra, but I no longer have so much extra squish between my armpits and chest. They look perkier and feel less squishy.

For abs, use an exercise ball, so you use your abs instead of your legs.

The best one I've found is laying on your back, place the ball between your feet, and reach up using your core (NOT your back) to touch the ball. It's ok if you have short arms and don't actually touch the ball, but you will really feel your abs getting a workout.

Otherwise, the captain's armrest is a great ab workout. This piece of equipment is at every gym or health club. You stand in it, bend your arms and stabilize your upper body, then use your abs to pull your legs up, bending at the knees. Do not swing your legs while doing this.

[Cazzi]

oh gawd! I'd pay to get rid of a bit of my boobs.. damn things are always getting in the way!

As for leg exercises, not much help with home exercises sorry but at the gym I walk uphill on a treadmill & use a leg press. I can't run & have to keep to low impact stuff too due to hypermobility syndrome

[Becks]

(I'm not giving up my boobs without a fight)

That's my philosophy.

[shadowpanda]

I've recently joined the forum and this thread seems positive and fun :-)

I used to be this tiny little thing at school, now? Not so much. I'm not what other people call 'big' but I could do with weighing a bit less. I am female, 5' 6" and just over 73kg or 161lbs ish.
Most of the weight I carry is in my boobs and thighs, so the only way to reduce my weight is to reduce the size of my legs (I'm not giving up my boobs without a fight)

Does anyone have any leg specific exercises they could recommend? I can't really go running because I have issues with impact pressure on my ankles, but I have found I am able to walk 2.2 miles home after work (I work in an office, sat down all day. Wouldn't have the energy if I was working in retail) 2 times a week.

Good luck everyone

[Ellain]

I recently decided that i need to get back in shape. I can barely keep up with any of my friends anymore, and while I am not fat, some days I truly believe I am. So, I'm trying to figure out my goals.

1. Cut out soda, except at restaurants. This one should be fairly easy, if not enjoyable. I love my Pepsi.

2. Go on at least one 45-60 minute walk every week- and increase either number or time every 2-3 weeks. My hubby is helping me with this one, or I would be doomed to fail.

3. Eat more veggies- not counting potatos and corn.

4. Work on flexibility every day.

5. Work on abs at least twice a week.

Back in high school, I took weight training instead of regular gym. I worked a lot harder than I was used to, even when I was taking dance. I was in the best shape I have ever been in. In college, I lost a bit of tone, but stayed in decent shape because of all the walking that was necessary.

Then I got mono. it knocked me flat for about 3 months. To get to the bathroom, I would crawl out of bed and make it to the stairs before I needed a nap. Then I could get halfway up before my next nap. Get to the top, nap again, etc. Or I could just ask someone to carry me. After I recovered, I had about a month before I relapsed, this time for just one month. This time, I could make it all the way to the bathroom without help, but I needed to rest before I headed back.

Now even before I had mono, I would sleep 8-10 hours a night when possible, just like my mom. Since then, however, I don't feel good with less than 12. Its crazy, I hate never having energy. I'm hoping that if I start exercising again, maybe drop a few of the pounds I gained since being sick, maybe I can be closer to normal again. *crosses fingers*