Exercise advice for unfit fat chick

ziggy23

Hi guys
Just looking for a bit of sensible advice. I'm really let myself get disgustingly fat and I'm also seriously unfit at the moment (smoke don't help either). I want to start from scratch building my strenght up. I seriously would not be able for a proper gym workout yet but I was thinking of joining curves for a few months to start with. I did it before and found the 30 minute workouts fine as well as the odd zumba class. Just wondering what other people would reccommend? I'd really like to slim my bum and legs right down too without building too much muscle. I'm out of this fitness game a long time so any advice would be great cheers.

Katgurl

People here might disagree with me but I'd say yes start with curves, the workout there isn't too rigorous (you're likely to keep turning up) and the staff are supportive - judging by your OP you sound like these two factors would be important. I'd also add swimming and frequent long walks.

However the best thing you could do would be to lose weight simultaneously through diet. Exercise alone will have limited results and you'll get disheartened and give up. Read the stickies on nutrition & diet forum and download MyFitnessPal or keep a food diary and track everything you eat until you have your calorie intake under control.

Lastly, lay off the terms like disgusting etc, there's no need to give yourself such a hard time, you have gained weight which you can lose by regular exercise and creating a calorie deficit, simple as. To keep you motivated take a picture of yourself in your underwear same time every week.

Good luck.

gymfreak

ziggy23 wrote: »

Hi guys
Just looking for a bit of sensible advice. I'm really let myself get disgustingly fat and I'm also seriously unfit at the moment (smoke don't help either). I want to start from scratch building my strenght up. I seriously would not be able for a proper gym workout yet but I was thinking of joining curves for a few months to start with. I did it before and found the 30 minute workouts fine as well as the odd zumba class. Just wondering what other people would reccommend? I'd really like to slim my bum and legs right down too without building too much muscle. I'm out of this fitness game a long time so any advice would be great cheers.

Hi Ziggy,
First off just curious as to exactly what your goals are..look better? get fitter? get stronger? Or a bit of all the above:D:D

TBH at the moment, if you are unfit like you state the best thing for you is to choose something that you WILL do regularly! There is no point in me recommending something that you'll do for two weeks but hate doing it and then just stop. If you really are starting off from a beginner base anything you do now will help.

Losing weight is mainly down to diet...believe me I know!!! I'm always trying to outtrain bars and bars of chocolate!! So have a look at the stickies at the top of the forum with regards to nutrition. They really are the first port of call.

With regards curves, I'm kind of in between minds about it. I think its a very very inefficient way of acheiving your goals BUT if your going to join and your going to stick to going down every week three/four times as well as keeping an eye on your diet..then you will make improvements. I definitely dont see it as any long term training plan. I have a friend who joined curves 2weeks ago and I do find it hard to give her a pat on back and a well done every time she goes cos it wouldnt be anything I'd ever recommend. But at the same time, the thought of going to a real gym deters her so much that she'd never ever go, so therefore I suppose curves is good for her. I'm not sure if your situation is similar but if it is..then little is better than nothing I suppose!

So in short...diet is key, any exercise after that, be it walking, curves, swimming etc is good. But there are more efficient ways of training and losing weight, you need to find what you'll stick to!:)


Also this thread my interest you:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71575595

RacoonQueen

You've been in curves before and it didn't work out. Why not? Do you think you'll stick to it this time? Do you think that after 3 months or so of 3 or 4 times a week in curves you'll progress to another gym? Curves is great for getting people out exercising, getting them in the habit of going to the gym and getting them comfortable with being there. Plenty of people do lose weight continuously while they're there but it takes discipline, as it does with any exercise routine.

There is no reason why you can't join a proper gym, even if you think you would not be able for it. One of the trainers there or a personal trainer if you choose to use one will start you off on a light workout and you can keep getting them to change it every few weeks to progress you on to something more difficult and more suited to your improved fitness levels. This site can be a great resource as well for running your gym programme by more experienced folk.

You won't build too much muscle no matter what sort of exercise regime you do, unless it's in the oul genes it's just not possible for women.

SheFiend

Any exercise is better than none! However, you will see better results with longer sessions. You sound determined so I think you would certainly be able to push yourself. Something like an hour of light weights, then an hour of cardio eg: bike, jog, crosstrainer , whatever. Give yourself the best chance to achieve your goal. You want to, so you will do it. Cut out white bread and eat more lean meat / chicken / tuna and fill up on veggies too. Drink loads and loads of water, get to the gym and sweat! you will find it easier the more you do it. Congratulations on getting back into shape! The decision to start is the hardest step.

Oh yeah: i agree with poster above. Don't be afraid of bucking up accidentally. It won't happen. But having more muscle will burn more fat.

senordingdong

I'd siggest cycling to work etc... A great work out which is great for burning fat and building stamina etc...

ziggy23

Lastly, lay off the terms like disgusting etc, there's no need to give yourself such a hard time, you have gained weight which you can lose by regular exercise and creating a calorie deficit, simple as. To keep you motivated take a picture of yourself in your underwear same time every week.

Yea you are right but it's just when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror I'm like :eek: Good idea about the taking the picture every week thanks:)

gymfreak wrote: »

Hi Ziggy,
First off just curious as to exactly what your goals are..look better? get fitter? get stronger? Or a bit of all the above:D:D

Have about 4 stone to lose, then obviously tone up and I'd love to be fit again!



There is no reason why you can't join a proper gym, even if you think you would not be able for it. One of the trainers there or a personal trainer if you choose to use one will start you off on a light workout and you can keep getting them to change it every few weeks to progress you on to something more difficult and more suited to your improved fitness levels. This site can be a great resource as well for running your gym programme by more experienced folk.

Sheer embarrassment actually:o The thoughts of me on a crosstrainer:eek:

krystal123

To get fit and to loose weight you should be counting two most important factors.One is your calorie intake and other is doing proper exercise.You must burn your excessive calories to get slim and for that you can start with long walk in the morning.And you must be watching your diet for any excessive calorie intake.:)

UL_heart_throb

senordingdong wrote: »

I'd siggest cycling to work etc... A great work out which is great for burning fat and building stamina etc...

I think this is a pretty stupid idea. You're more likely to harm your health (fall off) then improve your health cycling around any of the cities in this country. I certainly wouldn't recommend a self-proclaimed fat and unfit person to hop on a bike first thing and prove me wrong.

Probably the biggest hindrance to the original poster is will power and commitment. So it's important she finds something she can stick it. Diet is paramount. The only way to improve your diet is to educate yourself on what is healthy, what is bad for you, and most importantly, identify the things that are bad for you that are masquerading as being good for you (special k breakfast cereal for example).

You need to get yourself a buddy, a supportive spouse, friend or family member. This person will need to help, encourage and support you. You need to read a good book of diet/nutrition, start by reading the stickies in this forum and its sister forum. You need to eat less and eat more healthily.

you need to exercise more and be more active. You need to start taking the stairs over the lift. Walk rather than drive. Get up and change the channel rather than relying on the remote control. Stuff like that

Find a hobby you think you can stick at. Or get a new hobby every six months. Walking, jogging, swimming, badminton. Doesn't matter. You need your buddy or buddies to do this with you, motivate each other.

Diet is the most important thing to improve weight loss. But exercise has huge positive effects for health in general, from bone mass, to cholesterol, to circualation etc. etc.

good luck, don't undermine yourself by obsessing with negative body image and don't discourage yourself by obsessing with the scales.

ziggy23

Thanks for the replies. I've made my appointment to re-join Curves Friday:) It's just until I get some of the excess fat off and regain some sort of fitness level then I will try up the ante by joining a 'real' gym. I'm very interested in the weights thing. I used to go to the gym regularly a few years ago and was quite fit. I actually much preferred using the weights and the resistance machines than the crosstrainer, treadmill etc. Would using weights benefit my weightloss or am I better off getting the 'flab' off first then work on toning/strengthing?

fizzyorange

Well by using weights you gain muscle which will then in return help you burn fat quicker, so I reckon it would be a good idea to maybe do some weight training 1/2 a week.

If you feel that you'd like to start with Curves though and that would be enough for you now well then I'd say leave the weights for a while. You don't want to overload yourself if you feel like doing too much all at once will make you disheartened and might lead to you giving up.

With whatever you decide to do OP good luck.