too fat for yoga or pilates???

mamanutt · 16-May-04, 11:40 PM

I am 5'11'' and 270#, i am starting to exercise with walking, a small curcuit at the Y and treadmill/stepper. I have considered doing pilates or yoga because I can't quite keep up in the cardio workout classes. I have never done either and am not quite sure if it is for me. Before I sign up can I have your advice. I hear that they are not as fast paced as cardio. I am pretty fit (just pretty overweight after lots of kids) and able to move just not enough stamina yet. I would like to join a class though to keep my interest going. Do you think I should wait until I adjust a little more (ie, lose more weight and get used to exercise again?) Or can I go for it and keep up as much as I can?

arbit · 17-May-04, 01:28 AM

In Yoga, u work with u'r bodyweight, so it can be a bit dicey. I'd recommend looking or trying out classes first. Eg, I wood say Astanga Yoga is not suited for u, maybe other styles will be better.
Anyways, be careful and take it slow, dont do headstands and stuff at u'r current bw.
What are u'r goals? Losing weight? Gaining stenght/flexibility? General well being?

mamanutt · 17-May-04, 09:34 AM

I want to lose weight for sure.. But I don't mind being "fat" but I feel fat now. I don't want to feel unhealthy. I don't mind being overweight but I want to be healthy and obviously I have passed that limit. Does that make sense? I have always been a little big , but healthy and fairly fit. Meaning, I'd work out and eat a pretty balanced diet but was never really into it. But now I am just wayy overweight and I definatley haven't been exercising, soooo i am at a point that I need to make a change. I had 6 babies in 8 years so that is where my gain came from gradually. (that's not an excuse I could've done better, I know) But my baby is 2 now and no other's are expected soooo, time to get the ball rolling, It's much harder though 10 years older than before to find the energy and motivation. If I enroll in a class, I won't stop taking it, If I have videos here at home, it is sooo easy to just stop! LOL I know myself, I need to have commitments...Thanks for your input!!!

corey1206 · 18-May-04, 09:55 PM

how does your diet look?

Andrea · 18-May-04, 10:05 PM

Yoga and pilates are both slow progress programs. If your wanting results sooner, I would do weight training and a lot of cardio to burn the fat. Have you ever tried Tae-bo?

arbit · 19-May-04, 06:16 AM

Hmmm, I'd recommend sticking to cardio/weight training classes for the time being. Just keep up as much as u can. Once u gain strength, u can start on yoga, it'll be more fun.

mamanutt · 19-May-04, 07:45 AM

Thanks for the advice!!! I am glad because you all saved me money on classes I may have quit! My diet could use a shape up but overall is pretty good. Need to take a closer look at portions!! Yes I did Tae Bo after child 3.. I loved it. Maybe i'll get some dvds and do it at home until I build up to being able to really do it again. Endurance is a factor LOL.. And that is why I thought about a class, to keep me intersted. Ahhhh, I guess I just really need to find .........willpower!!!!

**Lady C** · 19-May-04, 07:59 AM

What does your diet look like now? How often and what do you eat?

MrsRiley · 19-May-04, 01:12 PM

ok I'm gonna go against the grain here and say start with the pilates (try a class at least to get you started with the proper technique) It is not so strenuous and can slowly get you to a point where you can handle the cardio. I did this when I had back probs and just worked my way up into the more intense activities.

gregc · 20-May-04, 04:16 PM

Pilates certainly won't do much for you at this point...you'd get better flexibility, but it wouldn't really help you lose that excess fat. The best starting point (when you're at 250+ and need to lose a lot of weight) is to just do weight/cardio training 6 times a week (each on 3 days per week). After you slim down a bit, you can start thinking of mixing in things like Yoga or Pilates. But until then, cardio and strength training is the real thing you need to focus on.

I was 240 two years ago. Now I'm a pretty sculpted 196...and I have just started to do some Pilates recently (really helps flexibility but doesn't really make me break a sweat)--so I was basically in the same boat as you and know what it's like to have so much excess fat. Oh yeah, and a good (calorie counting) diet is ESSENTIAL as well, with the cardio/strength training. Don't waste your time with stupid fad diets or Carb-cutting diets at this point...you'll lose weight faster with the carb diet, but you'll only gain it back quickly when you cheat or get off the diet.