Exercise and Fitness Thread

mto

Hi PU,

Very kind of you to offer advice :T. I have lumbar lordosis and find it extremely difficult to any sort of abdominal leg raising exercises. Is there any other type of exercise that will give the same sort of results (a six-pack would be nice :rotfl:) but will not put undue strain on my lower back?

Savvy_Sue

I'd like to know why when we're doing certain exercises at Keep Fit the instructor tells us to breathe in through our noses and out through our mouths. I've got enough to think about without opening and closing my mouth like a goldfish - I do keep breathing in and out as I should, just not with my mouth open! Haven't had a chance to ask the instructor ... it came into my head after the class.

Parallel_Universe

mto wrote: »

Hi PU,

Very kind of you to offer advice :T. I have lumbar lordosis and find it extremely difficult to any sort of abdominal leg raising exercises. Is there any other type of exercise that will give the same sort of results (a six-pack would be nice :rotfl:) but will not put undue strain on my lower back?

Hi there - it sound like Pilates will really help you, is there a local class you can join? Alternatively, maybe get a beginners Pilates DVD from Amazon?

Parallel_Universe

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I'd like to know why when we're doing certain exercises at Keep Fit the instructor tells us to breathe in through our noses and out through our mouths. I've got enough to think about without opening and closing my mouth like a goldfish - I do keep breathing in and out as I should, just not with my mouth open! Haven't had a chance to ask the instructor ... it came into my head after the class.

Hi Sue - breathing in that way is supposed to help lower your heart rate and hence regulate your breathing a little more, but not everyone finds it easy to do! If you can't do it don't worry - just breathe any way you can to get the air in

Imelda

Hi Parallel Universe,

Thanks for giving your advice!

I have started going to the gym 4/5 times per week for a 40 minute session, 30mins running (well 9.5miles/hour on the treadmill) and 10mins of sit ups (all my weight is round my middle). All I have noticed is the fat round my stomach getting loose and flabby (rather than the solid mass it used to be) does this mean it's going?
Also, I am getting to the stage where it is getting boring, what else can I do to vary my regime? The gym has elliptical trainers, bikes and rowing machines. Should I be doing any weights? They scare me and I think I'll end up like a body builder!
PS I don't like running on the road/ in the park as I live in a bit of a dodgy area of London. I go jogging with my OH sometimes but I end up shattered after 15 mins as I try to run faster to keep up with him!

Many thanks,

Imelda

katiekittykat

I have recently started to go swimming (1st time last night!) i did 40 lengths how many claroies will this have burnt?

Is swimming the best way to keep active?

bella4uk

I'm 2 stone overweight...alchocol being the major problem but I'm working on it.....I have started to do home workout dvd's but Struggle to stay motivated especially as I'm killing myself and not seeing much difference....
And to think 3 years ago people used to say "you need to eat girl!!!!!"
The weight piled after stopping smoking 4 years ago and suffering from anxiety/depression after losing a loved one....which resulted in drinking and lack of motivation....
Although I'm a lot better I'm still a bit in a rut......can state of mind affect your metabolism as I eat a healthy low fat diet...?

Parallel_Universe

Imelda wrote: »

Hi Parallel Universe,

Thanks for giving your advice!

I have started going to the gym 4/5 times per week for a 40 minute session, 30mins running (well 9.5miles/hour on the treadmill) and 10mins of sit ups (all my weight is round my middle). All I have noticed is the fat round my stomach getting loose and flabby (rather than the solid mass it used to be) does this mean it's going?
Also, I am getting to the stage where it is getting boring, what else can I do to vary my regime? The gym has elliptical trainers, bikes and rowing machines. Should I be doing any weights? They scare me and I think I'll end up like a body builder!
PS I don't like running on the road/ in the park as I live in a bit of a dodgy area of London. I go jogging with my OH sometimes but I end up shattered after 15 mins as I try to run faster to keep up with him!

Many thanks,

Imelda

Hello,

Not sure about the flabby question - I guess it could mean it's going?

I would ask one of your gym instructors to show you how to use the elliptical trainer as this is a very good piece of equipment giving you an all over workout, and helping to vary your routine.

Also, how about adding some speed work/hilly intervals to your treamill run? For example, you could increase the speed to, say, 10.5 for a minute then bring it bakc down, then to 11 and for a minute, then back to 10.5 etc just to vary the routine? You could also do with with an incline e.g. bring the machien up to a 3% incline for 2 mins, then back to 0 and so on...

Weights will NOT make you bulk up, this is impossible for women without steroids or testosterone injections! However a simple routine of some light weights will help to add a small amount of muscle which will barely be noticeable, this will increase your metabolism however and get you brurning more fat all the time - even while sleeping.

hope that helps!

Parallel_Universe

katiekittykat wrote: »

I have recently started to go swimming (1st time last night!) i did 40 lengths how many claroies will this have burnt?

Is swimming the best way to keep active?

It depends on how heavy you are and how long you were swimming for and how hard you were working...swimming is a good way to keep active yes

Parallel_Universe

bella4uk wrote: »

I'm 2 stone overweight...alchocol being the major problem but I'm working on it.....I have started to do home workout dvd's but Struggle to stay motivated especially as I'm killing myself and not seeing much difference....
And to think 3 years ago people used to say "you need to eat girl!!!!!"
The weight piled after stopping smoking 4 years ago and suffering from anxiety/depression after losing a loved one....which resulted in drinking and lack of motivation....
Although I'm a lot better I'm still a bit in a rut......can state of mind affect your metabolism as I eat a healthy low fat diet...?

State of mind can affect your metabolism a bit, however the weight gain is more than likely due to you eating/drinking more since giving up smoking I'm afraid.