Plump girl's new gym regime and overall health kick diary

aleachay

Hello
I have just joined the gym. I'm on a 12 month contract (apparently, although I have not signed anything) anyway I want to use it for 12 months so I'm not too worried about the contract. And I got a good work rate.
So, I am overweight, by about 6 stone. I need to do something about it. I'm in my mid thirties and my motivations are:

Stop killing myself and give myself the best chance I can at a healthy life into later years

My husband and I would love to start a family and I do believe that dropping dress sizes would make that much healthier, better chance of conceiving and an all round good idea.

I want to look better and FEEL better about myself. I know it will boost my self esteem.

So on this diary I will be putting down when and what I do at the gym and a little bit about what I am eating. I think it may help to motivate me. Don't know if anyone will read but I'll go ahead anyway.

Thank you for reading if you have!

A x

haras_nosirrah

Good luck. I started my own 6 stone weight loss challenge in November last year and have so far lost 44lb. I have until November this year to lose another 40 to make the 6 stone overall loss

One thing I have done which isn't everyone's cup of tea is I have made it very public as my problem is that the diet always starts on a Monday and then I cheat by wed so write off that week and start again the following Monday - rinse and repeat

I have got a load of sponsors for my weight loss challenge with the proceeds going to children in need. I post up a monthly update on Facebook saying how much I lost that month so that there really is no hiding from it.

If I hit the 6 stone I stand to raise about £400 for children in need

I am also doing a 20 mile walk for our local hospice in June so training for that at the moment - 5 months ago my knees clicked going up the stairs so the health benefits are really worth it

The main reason I am losing weight is I want to have a second baby. Having gone through pregnancy as a larger lady I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I got hip displasia and ended up with occupational health putting attachments on my bed to enable me to turn over at night. I am not getting pregnant again unless I get down to target so that is a big motivator for me.

Good luck

aleachay

Thanks Haras_nosirrah for posting that.

Well I made it to the gym this evening. I did the dreaded rowing machine again. I know it is doing me good but I can't bear it mainly because my stomach really gets in the way and hinders me. I hope it will get better. I only managed 6 minutes on that which sounds quite pathetic but I am a total beginner. I did the same on the bikes, treadmill and cross trainer. Will increase the times next time I go.

Good luck with your journey too!

littlegreenparrot

Well done on making a start. I always find the tricky bit is staying with it!

Things that have worked for me are: gradually changing my diet, I now eat a lot less meat and a lot more veg. But I still feel like I eat a lot, so it keeps me happy. I've been vegan since January and its really doing me good. (that won't work for everyone, but I was nearly there anyway after a gradual reduction)

When in the gym, try interval training. So for example - you might do 2 minutes steady on the rower, then 1 minute as fast as you can. Repeat. It burns more calories overall, and should mean you can keep it up for longer.

There are others but I don't want to overload you!
I will subscribe, and might try to do it with you, I definitely need to do something!

Upsidedown_Bear

Good luck - look forward to hearing how you get on :)

aleachay

Haven't been to the gym today due to falling over yesterday on gravel and grazing my face and knee and hurting my ankle. Felt so stupid! Anyway, hopefully will be back there tomorrow.

Have lost a pound on the scales this morning. I think I can do better here..

Thank you to those who have posted and read and your words of encouragement.

StrugglingYouth

The gym effort is fantastic. Please remember that you cannot out gym a bad diet. What you consume is key in the weight loss process.

Rowing is a great way to warm your body up! Personally id suggest warm up with cardio, some light weights, then cardio then weights. So it breaks up the cardio while you first start out.

Jane2112

Just read this thread and have to join in and say .. well done and keep it up.
You are making me realise that I have let my gym regime go to pot. Not been for about 3 months !!
We have a cross trainer and a bike at home so will aim to use that more.

Keep us updated with your regime

Sharon87

Good luck with sticking at the gym. I found it hard at first to not give up after a couple of months. If you make a plan of when to go the gym then stick to it.

6 minutes on a rowing machine is good effort for a newbie.

I do interval training as suggested, I do 1 minute fast as I can go and 1 minute slow. I do between 10 and 20 minutes on each machine, depending on which machine. I could do 20 minutes on the bike, but only about 10 minutes on the rowing machine.

I would also suggest doing some free weights and core exercises - like plank, sit ups on a yoga ball, mountain climbers.

wifeforlife

Just wanted to say Congrats on making a start, even saying it out loud or writing it down is a hard thing to do - so well done!

I'm a similar age and the same weight to loose, so will be reading along and hopefully chatting with you throught the journey.

I wouldn't look too much at the scales for the first month or two, your body will change shape before you notice any weightloss and muscle weighs more than fat, it's good to build muscle so don't panic, always reinforce the positive!!

aleachay

Thank you wildforlife, struggling with youth and for your posts and encouragement.
I haven't been on here for a while. Actually really struggling with my diet and motivation. I'm going to get on it with the gym before work today. I think that may be the key as once I get back from work I just want to flop. The diet thing is more difficult. I seem to be determined to eat crap at the moment. Ie chocolate. Also I get so hungry and deleted of energy at work and little time to eat that when someone offers me a chocolate or done cake I take it without thinking. I have to learn to say no. Perhaps changing my breakfast or having some snacks in my pocket or something.
Hope you're all getting on ok.