Starting up again - I just can't do it this time

[jogym]

Hi I have posted in the past, a few years ago. I had my 2nd child 9 months ago and need to lose about a stone. I CANNOT get back to the gym. I need help. My dear daughter has started to crawl big time and is now on her feet. At the end of the day I am so tired physically and mentally and after getting her to bed at around 7.40 I just want to sit down as I have been on my feet ALL day. The last thing I want to do is train for 1 1/2 hours, come home and fall into bed. My tummy is my worst area. All my weight has went on here and my arms. I also can't stop eating!! I could eat all day. I have another daughter who is nearly 8. I got into training seriously when she was about 1 and was then at my fittest but now as I'm obviously older (36) I seem to be going downhill from here and can't ever see me getting that back again. I would do weights then cardio. I have tummy bulge now and it's gonna get bigger! I used to take Lean System 7 and have recently purchased these though don't want to take them until I am into training again. Can anyone point me in the right direction.....

Joanne

Welcome back to Discuss Fitness land. I am hoping that one of our superfit lady members will jump in here and save you with some sage counsel, you damsel in distress.

As busy as you are being a full-time Mother, it shouldn't prevent you from eating healthy and in the correct quantities, so the first order of business is re-learning how to make sure that food is not your comfort "drug of choice".

I'll let the superfit ladies take it from here. But I encourage you to start an Online Journal here as a tool to help you get back on the fitness saddle.

Enjoy Motherhood. It is an honorable profession.

[CF-OC_gal]

HI jogym,
I don't recognize your name from before so I guess I'm starting from scratch. First of all your age is not an excuse.

If you are feeling too overwhelmed start small while you get your life in order. See if you can put aside 15-30 minutes in the morning for something - anything. At your age all I could manage was a 5 minute stretch and 3 sets of situps and 3 sets of pushups every morning. You know what? I could out-rep my husband in pushups and he had no idea until we went traveling and I did pushups at the hotel (maybe that's why he left me?)!

You don't need lean system or any other crutch-like supplement. Organize your schedule and your eating in order that you can feel in control of your time and commitments. Eating well will give you a boost in energy too.

• Make a commitment to yourself
• start small and work up to more - 90 min is too much exercise and unnecessary
• be consistent
• get your blood profile checked to make sure you are not deficient in any way that can hinder your energy
• put priorities first, your family's wellbeing is more important than a flat tummy

Join us with your progress. There's been some interest in getting a parent/family related fitness forum going. Your situation sounds like a perfect topic that many people would love to get answers to.

[jogym]

Thanks. I think my eating has to be sorted out. It's probably comfort eating. After having my little one I was not well and lost 2 stone in 3 weeks. I had post-natal depression and was on medication. I am now off them thank goodness but my energy levels are zero. I crave and eat a lot of bread. Needless to say I put the weight all back on again and a bit more. I went on holiday 3 weeks ago and 3 weeks before going I hit the gym 3 times a week and lost a bit. You see that was what was spurring me to go, my holiday. Since coming back I haven't been. I used to get comments on my upper body when I was doing weights years ago and had nice definition in my arms but I put a lot of hard work into it. When you have kids I think your priorities change a bit. At the minute it's just the energy. I need to find some.

[LiftGirl]

I agree with Brat. If you aren't eating well, you won't have energy. Would you put the wrong kind of gas in your car and then expect it to run well? It's the same with your body.

A good workout can be had in as little as 20 minutes and right in your own home. If you don't feel up to doing 90 minutes then don't. But also don't make the mistake of saying if I can't do 90 minutes I just won't do anything.

[jogym]

My eating is improving. I am making an effort to eat well. I was thinking of maybe getting one of those lateral thigh trainers. Anyone know if these give good results. It's a start and I could do it at home (obviously).

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by jogym

My eating is improving. I am making an effort to eat well. I was thinking of maybe getting one of those lateral thigh trainers. Anyone know if these give good results. It's a start and I could do it at home (obviously).

Why? Isn't your goal to lose bodyfat overall? If so isolation work will not give you those results.

Come up with a plan that is both aerobic and strength training. These can be in the same session or alternating days.

I would start with bodyweighted movements like push-ups, squats, pull-ups, etc. and being consistant with diet and exercise for awhile. I would target working out 5-6 times per week until it is a habit.

[CF-OC_gal]

That's good advice Lady C.

You could try this plan to get started with if these workouts are too intimidating

[jogym]

Oops didn't realise the LTT was for target areas. Suppose it would be wouldn't it!! 5-6 days a week is not an option with a small family (not right now anyways). I have looked at this website Brat and will give it a go minus the pullups, would probably need a hand with those and am too embarrassed to do them just yet. Thanks all. Will keep you posted on my 1st and many days back (hopefully tomorrow, fingers crossed).:

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by jogym

5-6 days a week is not an option eyes: with a small family (not right now anyways).:

It is if you include them in your activities such as taking walks 2 days a week.

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by jogym

I have looked at this website Brat and will give it a go minus the pullups, would probably need a hand with those and am too embarrassed to do them just yet.

If you are talking about the simplefit, there is a link on that page for subbing (substitutions) for pullups. You cant get out of them that easy my dear!

[Merrida]

20 minute workouts at home when the kids are napping or at school.
Get a trainer to come to your house.
Find daycare for one hour.

I have clients who travel the globe for work and manage 3 hours a week, - if you can't, then start small.

There's no reason you can't fit 20 minutes in even 5 days a week. Too much, try 3 or 4. Then 30 minutes. No one says you have to work out 90 minutes, especially starting off.

Take one step at a time instead of trying to tackle the world.

Invite a neighbor or relative to watch the kids in exchange for a healthy dinner, a movie, whatever. Spend that time on you. It will invigorate you, not tire you out, and you'll have more energy to spend with your children.

Look for ways to make it happen, not reasons why you can't.

[jogym]

Hi there. Am just browsing and forget had posted this. To date I am with a personal trainer once a week for an hour, a made out workout and a spin class, so x3 a week. I am getting back to where I was! Thanks to my pt. I really enjoy it as he does something different each week and the hour flies in. The question is my body fat has went down 3.5% from 24.5% to 21% BUT my abdominal area is still loose and flabby it will not BUDGE. It's weird because my body is toning up everywhere else but not there, it's like two different bodies. My weight on the scales is hardly budging at all either in 8 weeks I have lost about 4 lbs. I am working so hard but am finding it much harder to get off after baby no. 2.

Questions I have:

1. PT made out menu plan for me but I am starving on it e.g. breakfast oatibix, porridge, special K etc., fruit mid-morning, lunch chicken salad or wholegrain sandwich, mid-afternoon fruit or bio yogurt, dinner: chicken with basmati rice, sweet potato and lots of veg, later fruit. I really struggle with this. He has also been telling me to eat little bites of fruit say every 20 minutes to keep energy levels up. Is this enough?

2. He does mostly cardio workouts in interval training: fast and slow bursts on treadmill, rower, bike etc with step ups, press ups mixed in. If he does weights it seems to be in high reps eg 20-30. I used to do a weights session and then cardio in the one night but I realise at this intensity that he does that that might be too much in the one night. I am bursting to ask him to do more weight training!!

3. Do I need to get more resistance exercise in and if so should I say do it like week 1: 1 cardio and 2 weight training sessions, week 2: 2 cardio and 1 weight training session.

Sorry that was long!!

Sorry I am petite, 5 foot 1, 8 stone 8 and still look about 4 months pregnant.

[Merrida]

Are you working out at a gym with a trainer, or at home?

I'm gathering you now belong to a club because you're doing classes and mention several different types of cardio?

I would opt for a higher ratio of resistance training personally. And keep your sights on the prize. You're now 4 lbs lighter, your bodyfat has reduced (that's more important than the weight) and best of all you're more active than you were when you started this thread.

[jogym]

Yes I am at a club. Could anyone give me a weight training routine to do. Do I split it into different body parts or do a whole body workout. Am not sure what would get better results.