Fitness & Exercise

So, after my injury with a greenie personal trainer, i have been working with a very experienced person who has a physical therapy background. She has determined that I am very strong in some areas but often the strong muscles "take over" and certain exercises I am not really doing right even though my form looks okay. Example, my shoulders tend to take over alot of the work that my mid back should do. Well, i have really strong legs. Probably from a lifetime of packing around alot of extra weight, but also because I ride bikes and horseback ride and maybe a genetic component. She noted that my abductors (both in and out) are crazy strong for a woman, my quads are s…

I am a strong person and do not usually quit something unless there is a good reason. A couple days ago I quit cross fit. There I said it. My conscious just won't let go of the guilt. There is nothing wrong with the concept of cross fit nor the people I worked out with daily for a year. We sweat, cursed, bled a little, got sore and collapses on the mat in a heap together. As a team. I never did sports in high school and this was a close to a team as I have been. I loved every moment of it. Except when I got injured. And I got injured often, almost chronically in my back and my shoulders. It was to the point I had trouble making progress in strength and, w…

I am an apple shaped girl with a lot of... um ... girth around the midsection. I have added crunches in with my cardio. Does anyone know whether or not they will help? Does people still do crunches?

I bought a stair climber to start getting in some movement. It was cheap, moveable, and didn't have me freezing my tush off outside. When I am on it both my knees sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies Cereal, snapping, cracking and popping. It doesn't hurt just sounds horrible. Am I doing more damage to my knees by using the stair climber?

I never thought I would call myself a distance runner but here I am, training for a half marathon after a few 5k's and 10k's got me hooked! I just did my farthest run (7.2 miles) and felt the need for some fuel about that point. Anyone have any recommendations for brands of gels or gummies or anything that works well for your sleeve? I don't eat much sugar and I'm afraid anything too sugary might make me sick. I know I will have to do some experimenting with what works for me but am hoping I can learn from some other sleeved runners out there!

My first race of the season is a 5k tomorrow followed by a 10k in April and May. Through the summer I'll do a zombie run, warrior dash and finally in Oct a half Marathon. Runners...what are you race goals this year?

Hi everyone! I need some ideas on cardio that can be done while sitting down. I had ankle surgery last week to repair 2 torn ligaments and a dislocated tendon and will have to be non-weight bearing on my foot for at least 6 more weeks. Because of this, I am really freaking out! Before the surgery, I was able to at least walk and swim, but now I am out of ideas. Due to other issues, I haven't had a proper fill in my band since December, so exercise was the main thing keeping me from gaining, even though I wasn't loosing. I do go for a fill this week, so hopefully this will help, but all I'm allowed to do right now is sit on the couch with my foot elevated. As the we…

Ok...here we go. A new month....Time to get off our collective butts and push ourselves a little bit. This isn't about weight loss so much as it's about living/breathing/moving more...feeling better....improving the quality of our life through fitness. Not to mention pushing ourselves to do a little more than we thought we could. As always....set a goal for yourself. Something that you know will be challenging. State what your goal is....then come back every chance you get to update your progress. Make your goal something specific and measurable. XXX miles walking/running/cycling/ellipticing/swimming/crossfitting/weightlifting. Or XXX hours working out this month.....XX…

As of February 24 dr said I can start working out as much and anything I want. I started a week ago trying different xbox games for times when im bored, I found that biggest loser is a lot of fun and the workout are easy to hard. I notice everyday I feel like I can do more so I do the boxing fit for extra calories burned. I also play kinect sports season 1 and 2 and play against other people . I say I love the challenges. I also go to gym for swimming, tredmill, and lifting weights.

I'm sure it varies depending on your Dr but I'm just looking for a consensus on when you were able to start working out after surgery. During my six months wait I've become addicted to the gym and with my surgery date approaching fast (3/17) I'm just wondering how long before I can get back to working out ( I will be asking the doc)?

Omg. Did the first day workout yesterday and I can hardly walk today. It was legs, butt and thighs. Ouch!

today i went for a body composition test in the bod pod. it cost 50 dollars to get done but it helped with my obsession with the scale. it broke down the difference between fat mass and everything else. i lost a total of close to 210 pounds and i am down to a 13.1% body fat percentage and that is in the "moderately lean" range….only 1% from "lean" here is a link to the manufacturer of the bod pod and you can do a search in your area on where to get the test. http://www.bodpod.com/en/products/body-composition/adult-children-bod-pod-gs/bod-pod i have done nothing but cardio to lose all the weight and i started strength training and wanted to make sure that if i saw…

I was sleeved 1/27. I have been exercising since day 3....started out with short, slow walks and just gradually added activity. I bought and am using a fibit Force (LOVE IT) and I have my first session with a personal trainer tomorrow after work. I am working out every day for about 60 mins-- 2 days weights, 2 days 90 min of hot yoga, 3 days 60 min or more of cardio. I have lost 21 pounds in 4 weeks. i have hope for the first time in a long time I might get back to the fit person I was about 6 years ago before I stopped exercising and ate my way up to 300 pounds. I am feeling really good about myself-- I LOVE exercise and I am excited to do more things (like kickbo…

I am currently in a PFT class. Lecture Saturday was on caloric burn, calorie deficits and what the body is truly capable of losing healthy or otherwise. I ended up educated everyone and revealing my VSG and how much I have lost in the last 11 months. Disproving the lecture and absolutely flooring the teacher and most of the class. I did the math however and have had a 457,500 calorie deficit this year to have lost the weight. My year surgery anniversary is coming up on the 27th. I just thought it was an incredible number.

Do you love your fitbit as much as I love mine?! So I bought a Fitbit (I got the One) and I love it. I tracks my steps, weight, calories in and out, stairs I've climbed and so much more. If you have one and want to be fitbit buddies message me privately and I will send you my email address so we can modivate each other! It all comes down to one step at a time

Since I know some of us have Fitbit Force, I thought this might be a good idea to let everyone know that Fitbit has voluntarily stopped selling and has issued a recall of the Fitbit Force due to the skin sensitivity issues some users have been reporting. This link has a bit more detail of the recall http://www.macrumors.com/2014/02/21/fitbit-force-recall/ And here's the link for the refund/return of your Fitbit Force. http://fitbit.expertproductinquiry.com/Force.aspx To note: You only get a refund. They are working on a different version of the Force, but its not available for purchase yet.

I have a decent treadmill that I've used for a couple years now. Sometimes when I walk, and more often when I try and jog, I feel it slip just a little if I step down real hard. It feels like the band slips backward and it's just enough to scare me and imagine my knee going out from under me. The band doesn't seem loose and there is no separtation in the seam of the band. Has anyone else experienced this? I'd love to hear some thoughts from more experienced treadmillers! I can't give it up because it's the only outlet I have most days since I have a young child. Thanks!

Hey everyone. I'm one day pre-op and I already go to the gym five days a week. Food is my problem- certainly not physical activity. While I prefer cardio to weightlifting, being in the gym centers me. I'm getting mixed answers as to how soon I can hop back on an elliptical. Any post-op gymmers out there have any advice? Being sedimentary for a long time will be more painful then the recovery. I have no co-morbidities and courtesy of the pre-op fast am a good-feeling 275lb 37yr old guy. Thanks all!

I'm asking for the opinions of regular exercisers.... For the past three months, I have done 60 mins of cardio on the elliptical 6 days a week. Then, I might do a weight circuit ( not very often). It's like when I'm finished with the 60 mins., I think I'm done. So today, I did 30 mins. on the elliptical, did an arm circuit, and then I came back and did another 30 mins. on the elliptical....... SO, HERE's MY QUESTION..... Is it better to do 60 mins. of cardio straight or break it down into two 30 min. sessions???? Is there a benefit of one over the other?

Hi all! I've never posted my own thread before but i'm looking for some imput on the FitBit. Does anyone else have this? Pros/cons? I like that it plays well with MFP which i use every day. My main concern is accuracy. How would it know the difference if i'm walking vs just moving my arm while working at my desk? It's expensive so i want to make sure it's a sound investment because i LOVE the idea. Thanks! Stats: Starting weight : 313 Current weight : 224 Surgery date : 10/08/2013 Current loss : 89 lbs

I'm starting a 90 day challenge on March 1st - May 31st for those who need an extra push. With this challenge, you will work out 4-5 times a week, eat healthy meals, drink lots of Water, and use my Skinny Pack. Ultimate Makeover: Skinny Pack Add Advanced Formula Fat Fighter with Carb Inhibitors™ to your Ultimate Makeover regimen. The Skinny Pack has all the tightening, firming, and defining of the Ultimate Body Applicator and Defining Gel, plus the fat and carb fighting powers of Advanced Formula Fat Fighter. Tighten, tone, and firm in 45 minutes with the Ultimate Body Applicator Reduce the appearance of cellulite and varicose veins with Defining Gel Absorb less fat …

Help! I knew I would have problems with my legs because they were so big before surgery....but now I'm getting wrinkly on my inner thighs.....I just up'd my swimming and squat, and still moisturizing with cocoa butter. What have y'all tried?

Last night I decided to sign up for this year's Color Run with my husband and in-laws! This is a HUGE step for me, since I've been avoiding walking long distances for years. I'm definitely not ready to walk (not run!) 5k yet, but I have six months to get myself there! I'm so glad I feel I can finally put myself "out there" and do things that I've always wanted to!

Hi all, I'm looking for abdominal strengthening exercises that won't bother my port (I'm banded). I've been using the ab machine at the gym and it feels like the port is sliding down my ribs like a cheese grater as I do the crunches. Then I'm sore fir a few days afterward. Maybe there are non-machine exercises I can do? I have my one year follow up so I'll ask my physician more about why I seem to be experiencing this. Thanks!

So excited! I finished my first 10k race today! Today I am 10 months post op and never dreamed I'd be able to finish a 10k! I'm down 108 pounds and feeling amazing! [

I discovered an app today called TrendWeight that syncs up with a Fitbit Aria scale. I like data and tracking progression, so it's interesting to me to see what it projects every day there is a change in my weight. I know some of you guys enjoy data and stats too! Attached mine as an example of the kind of data you see. Have a lovely day!

It's such a great workout! I did 2-3 hours of work out in the garden (I lose track of time) pulling blackberries, digging new beds and transplanting trees. I'm sore in all the areas I want to work- my legs, core (obliques especially), and arms- triceps on fire! Another bonus- gardening helps you live a long life- did you know that an amazing percentage of those to live to over 100 have one thing in common? That's right- gardening! And some are still going at it. . This is my public service announcement for the benefits of gardening....that is all.

Found this information on full body dynamic stretching yesterday and want to share it with the fitness group: lunch. For a computer worker like myself, I think these dynamic stretches will make a noticeable difference in gaining more mobility and flexibility in hip and shoulder regions as well as being able to perform better during the daily workout and prevent injury. Let me know what you think!

Have you heard of a new site called earnd it (yeah that's how it's spelled - not a typo). Well it's new to me at least. You sign up for the program, link your fitbit, nike, run keeper, mapmyfitness, endomondo, bodymedia, etc to this site and when you exercise as you normally would, you can earn points for free or discounted exercise stuff. Here's my referral link - http://earnd.it/LrtNOu You get a free 50 points by going through this link. It's new to me so I'm not an expert yet. The link looked fishy when a coworker sent it to me but it seems pretty legit after googling the program. You're exercising anyways, why not get rewarded for it? Let me know if you use …

How long after surgery till you went swimming?

I'm going to do the mud run this year on fort Gordon, but all my friends who do runs are moving by that point, so it's just me and my husband right now. I'm under the under standing ill need a team of 3 or more I believe. We want do it comp just for fun, at lest not this year bc it's my first one. Just thought I'd ask on here this is the only social media I use. Lol yes I don't even have a Fb! I'm old school

This was in my local newspaper, as a letter to the editor in the "Opinion" section....thought I would share it.... / / / The Fountain of Youth is a pool of your exercise-induced perspiration. As a 91-year-old retired family physician, I rake leaves from the many trees on my property, and I did some shoveling of snow during this last storm. A few years ago, I painted most of my house. Like the doctors mentioned in the Asbury Park Press article, “Physicians heal themselves,” Jan. 28, I too was in terrible shape a few years after graduating from medical school. Like them, I returned to a sport in which I participated in high school and college — fencing — only to regai…

Friends of the fitness forum. I need your help to diagnose an issue and perhaps offer some approaches to fix it. I know there are several lifters who have been lifting Iron much longer than I as well as physical therapy and perhaps fitness professionals among you. With your collective knowledge and practical experience, I think you can help me. Quite frankly, I have a profound weakness in lifting overhead. Even though I have been doing all sorts of progressional lifts of different styles over the last year, I have made no progress, or worse, negative progress. For example, I can not even do a 65# shoulder press without discomfort and very little strength. …

Along with my surgery a year ago, I decided to remove the word "can't" from my exercise vocabulary and replace it with "why not". I am 48 yrs old and have a bad knee and several autoimmune disorders. My doc has diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I had every excuse to say I can't. Instead, I decided to persevere and to always try. I started the couch to 5K training program one year ago this week. When I started I could barely run for 45 sec walk 90 sec repeat 5 times. I finally finished the program in August. This weekend I am part of a team that is running from Miami to Key West (200 miles). Three weeks ago I ran my first half marathon. None of this happened overnight an…

What is a good pre workout drink that doesn't have caffeine? Something that helps with energy and helps you push your way through your work out. Most have caffeine and I was told to stay away from it. Possibly amino acids instead?

Hi Does anyone know how to sync the fitbit and fitness pal?

I'm eating what the dietitian wants me to but there is no way I'm getting enough calories with the amount if working out I'm doing. I weight train 3x a week with a trainer and I do cardio 6 days a week for an hour. I always get in all my protein. But my problem is there are days I'm getting only 700 or 800 calories. I was told to not graze and to eat 3 meals a day with one snack, possibly 2 if needed. I always feel sluggish and I've lost 3 lbs in 3 months and I'm only 10 months our from surgery. Am I making sense? How can I increase my calories without increasing what I eat each meal. I've already added a post work out Shake. I double my protein shake in the morning, have…

I finally tried BodyPump at my gym today. It is so good! It's basically weight lifting set to music. You don't have to be really coordinated, the movements are simple and easy to pick up, and I found everything do-able but could have sat some things out (like the planking) if I didn't feel up to it yet. You choose how much weight is on your barbell or whether you just use the bar empty at first. I will be adding one BodyPump class a week to get in some weight training. Much more fun than doing it solo. And I am sure I will be sore tomorrow!

Don't want to do it, ugh mad at me

I decided to join a gym for a few months and work with a personal trainer... it was either that or crossfit and I guess i flipped a coin and wound up at the gym..haha. I am coming back to exercise after significant time off from major plastics... Anyway, first session was today and my goals are to strengthen and tone, reduce body fat percentage and (nice to have) build up some more butt since mine is quite skinny. Trainer recommended taking aminio acid supplements when doing aerobics to keep body from burning lean muscle - if I understood correctly. I am curious if this really makes a difference... i know some of you have researched this stuff alot. My bodyfat is…

Just Curious, how long do you wait to eat after you workout? I do a post-workout recovery shake, but curious if I should wait to eat after I get home

It's been one year since my lap band surgery (October 2012) I'm stuck as far as exercise. I work 8-430 Monday-Friday. What can I do to help get some of this weight off???

I just received a FitBit Force today for my birthday. I have successfully sinked it to MFP. I would appreciate any advice from those of you that are using this tool. I really want to use it to the max!

Ok...here we go. A new month....a new year. Time to get off our collective butts and push ourselves a little bit. This isn't about weight loss so much as it's about living/breathing/moving more...feeling better....improving the quality of our life through fitness. Not to mention pushing ourselves to do a little more than we thought we could. As always....set a goal for yourself. Something that you know will be challenging. State what your goal is....then come back every chance you get to update your progress. Make your goal something specific and measurable. XXX miles walking/running/cycling/ellipticing/swimming/crossfitting/weightlifting. Or XXX hours…

Hi, I just had surgery 12/28 and I'm feeling great. I'm back into the gym almost 5 days a week. My trainer and I are trying to figure out what will work as a pre workout meal before my resistance training. Any ideas? Also, how far ahead of my session should I eat? Glad I found this forum. I really need it. Thanks! Allyson

I am not sure this should be in fitness or nutrition. Apologies if it is in the wrong forum. I work out hard daily and sweat out a lot of Water but do not take in a lot of electrolytes nor do I add salt much to food. I got really bad leg cramps at the end of a hard workout today where I had trouble completing the jumping part of the workout. My diet is mostly low sodium , a lot of lean Protein, protein shakea and veggies. I take Vitamins and do supplement with magnesium and some potassium to balance Calcium daily. I do not know how to add sodium / iodine to my diet to avoid this cramping from loss of fluids. I do not have electrolyte drinks readily available. I al…

Is anyone interested in trying out dance classes in Dallas) with me? I'm looking at United Dance Academy (off Mockingbird) Burlesque Studio (Downtown) Vertical Fitness (aerial silks - Richardson I think?) The Girls Room (off Greenville Ave) Anyway there's a bunch of places I want to go but I'd like to go with someone.

How soon after surgery is it safe to exercise?

All right people, Plank challenge time! Who wants to do this one? I will try to check in daily whether I plank that day or not, and cheer everyone on. Take my advice, don't laugh when you see 20s for the first day. After 5 seconds the shakes start and you realize this is tough. But totally doable! I got to 100s by the end and that made me feel good. And hey, if I can do it? You can do it! All you have to do is dedicate less than 3 minutes to this, and it can be done anywhere (I mean, don't try it in a public place, but you know...) Attached is a picture and the schedule we can try to follow together. Who's in?? Attached Thumbnails

I just signed up for two months at The Dailey Method here in Willow Glen. Got a great Groupon. two months unlimited access for $129. Looks like it will be good workout for me. Joint injuries prevent me from the Body Pump class, who kph I really liked. This gym also has several early morning classes. I need those because I gave to exercise BEFORE I have all day to come up with an excuse. Has anyone else done The Dailey Method? Lynda