Fitness & Exercise

Hello everyone! I had my lapband on 3/8/11 and I am currently down 69 lbs! I do a lot of walking, but I am now needing to step it up a bit more - so aerobics starts Thursday One area I REALLY need to focus on are my arms...they are becoming flabby/wrinkly with skin since I have lost pretty fast. Anyone know of any good arm exercises that can help me? I have been trying the backwards chair push-ups (which I love) to try and work the triceps as well as using free weights, but I have yet to see any results...will the flabbiness eventually go away with exercise or will I always have my batwings??

Hello everyone!!! I've been doing workouts at home because I can't decide what to do. I lift weights, work out on my thigh and bun rocker, and treadmill. Its not giving me the results I really want. I've thought about Zumba, gym membership, and personal trainer. There are so many different exercises you can try but I wanted to know what everyone's daily workout routine was and what worked best for you.

I have had the crappiest spring/ summer. I have had both feet operated on- battled positional vertigo for 4 motnhs .. There is no exercisng and I have gained 6 pounds and am so po'd at myself . I need a fill and our insurance REFUSES to help with ANYTHING that is lap band related . I forgot to mention that last week I fell and broke my tailbone -- this was caused by the dizziness from the vertigo

I feel great right now and really am ready to do some activity. Any tips?

What does Calorie Restriction mean?

My daughter wants me to go to a Zumba class tonight but I am unsure if I can keep up. I am 223 at 5'6 and I can do 2 miles on the treadmill at 35 minutes. Is it all dance? I thought if I couldn't keep up with the youngins (I am 48) maybe I can side out early? How was your first Zumba experience?

So I started the couch to 5k a while back (finished week 5 tonight). The program tells you to run a set time or distance with each session. I kept finding that when I completed the set time, I was well short of what they listed for the approx distance for the time. So tonight I was supposed to jog 20 minutes or 2 miles. I ended up going for 22 minutes straight but only covered 1.3 miles! That is a 17 minute mile. At that pace, It'll take me 55 minutes to complete the 5k I plan to run in a month! Anybody else running a crazy slow pace? My stats are: male, aged 40, 6' 3", weight 323 lbs. (approx 100 lbs over my target ideal weight).

So, I saw my friend yesterday after not seeing her in a year. She raved about my weight loss. I knew she was a personal trainer and now she's begging me to take her Body Pump class. Has anyone tried this? I HATE lifting weights but she swears to me it's fun and it'll help me tone the areas I want to tone.

If some one is interested in getting a set schedule to exercise I have soon him and treadmill and gym membership.planet fit. If your serious please email me I'm ready to move on a regular and pretty much I have bee but could be more enduring with motivating partner.

Does anyone have any suggestions of an exercise dvd that is really good at focusing on butt/thighs/legs...mainly thighs! Really got to get some more weight off in these target areas!! Thanks!

Hi everyone!!! I just had surgery on August 10, 2011, and I am wondering when I can begin crunches, etc? I am adamant about keeping up with my weight loss in terms of keep my skin firm (if possible). When can I begin ab workouts? Kelly

Ok, I just got my HRM I've been wanting for months. Got it all set up and just did a test run...well bike ride. LOL So since I'm not a fitness guru....what should my heart rate be when riding my bike or exercising? It only got up to 108. Resting mine is usually 68. Now I'm 46 yrs old and weigh 194 right now. What HR should I be shooting for or does it matter? Thanks,

If you've ever heard of it, you know it's a crazy workout. Before I was banded, I was around 295 or so and I got down to 200lbs before I met my fiance...and it allllll went back uphill from there. haha. I haven't weighed myself in the recent past, but my gut feeling (*pun intended* lol) says that I'm probably 275ish. It's incredibly depressing, but I'll tell you, though, I'm getting married in late September and I'm going to lose this weight again. I owe it to myself and her. Has anyone else done this before or is currently doing this? Is anyone willing to diary with me? haha. Thanks!

Hi all, I am contemplating joining Curves or a real gym. Any advice? Does Curves work? I am kind of intimidated to go to a real gym. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

I have developed the weirdest pain in my ankle just below the main bone and above the arch. Periodically, for no reason I recognize, I get this sharp pain. It most resembles when you whack the very un-funny bone in your elbow. Last for a few moments of agony and goes away. But I haven't whacked my ankle, and I was wondering about stress fractures, since I sometimes (well usually) try to do too much too soon where excercise is concerned. I guess I am trying to make up for all of the time I haven't spent on the treadmill in the last ten years. Any thoughts? Robbie (and why does spell check keep eating my posts so I have to start over; asking forgiveness for any sp…

Looking at them both .. Any input ???

i finally went to get some pain checked out today, and the dr is almost 100% sure it's a stress fracture. he told me no power walking and no running (my main exercise) and also no elliptical. does anyone have any exercise suggestions while i heal? i can't afford to be stagnant while i wait for this to heal, but i'm not much of a bike rider; and i don't really have access to a pool, although i'm checking that out. thanks!

I went to my first Belly Dance class last night since I have been sleeved. Granted it was cabaret and I have done mostly ATS. I felt like a complete idiot. I could not find my balance! Will it be like this as long as I am losing weight rapidly? Besides that... I have found that my stamina is gone. I was sweating and panting wh en I shouldn't have been. How long do these things last? Khy

How long post surgery do I have to put martial arts on the shelf? I was thinking 4 weeks but will I need more? I think the rigors of the classes can only help in stripping fat off my frame. As noted previously, I practice Krav Maga (Israeli combat martial art) and the training is somewhat brutal. Will my stitches heal in 4 weeks to be taking direct shots to the gut? We do full-contact sparring. If I can't do my KM what else could I do? Walking along really doesn't get the job done.

Fast, quick but not easy. I know these exercises work, I've been using them. Just not in this sequence. The technique they describe is essentially drop sets of alternating movements. Try them and see if you can rev up your fat loss, I am doing it right after this post. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A few months ago, I asked Alwyn Cosgrove, C.S.C.S. -- one of the world's top trainers -- to create a cutting-edge fat loss program for Men's Health. And, of course, he obliged. But a curious thing: One of the workouts in the plan featured just two…

So I just joined a gym last month. For the most part I have been doing the bike, treadmill and a few arm weights. I see people on the eliptical and going so fast and what seems like forever. As they are flying on this thing the have the ipod going in 1 hand and texting away with the other. So I think how bad can it be. I am not exagerating when I say 3 minutes nearly killed me and not going fast. I think it takes way more coordination then I have. Is this something you get used to? Or are some people just not meant for this torture device.

I had my surgery 6 weeks ago. I started at 202 and am now 178.2. I am obsessed with the scale. I havent budged in a week. I go to the gym daily and walk or jump rope for at least an hour 5 days a week. Desperately trying to eat solids but have such horrible GERD that I find Im not eating very much. Im not sure why the scale isnt moving. Im definitley putting in less than im burning. Any suggestions???

I recently read somewhere that one can increase metabolism by exercising 2x per day. Anyone heard of this? I went to a strength training class this morning at my local YMCA and am thinking of going to Zumba this evening. Am I crazy??? Or am I onto something? Living the dream!, Laura

I hate exercising. I want to vomit during and get very weak after gym sessions, even low intensity. I signed up and canceled my gym membership at least 3 times... All pre-band. I do walk fast-pace at least 1h a day at least 3 days a week. I need input, advise, a kick in the a$$ from this forum. Do I need to exercise? Is walking enough? And just in case - anyone in Shipsheadbay Brooklyn or Woodbridge NJ is looking for an exercise partner?

I have been using MyFitnessPal.com to log my calories and exercise but am confused by the difference between MyFitnessPal.com and my exercise equipment. My exercise bike tells me I have burned 145 calories yet when I put in the time and speed in MyFitnessPal.com it is closer to 550 - 600 calories. How do I know which is accurate and which I should use? Anyone else with the same experience? Thanks in anticipation.

Well, I have lost my man boobs and a lot of my stomach. I am having a hard time getting rid of my lower belly fat ( below my belly button). What are some good exercises that has worked for you to help reduce this? My stomach area ( above my belly button) is getting greatly reduced but I am not seeing a big reduction in the other. I want to concentrate on the exercise that will work on that area. Please give me your feedback. Thanks.

I've been walking lately and I'm pretty sure how far it is but I thought there must be an app for tracking excerise or some kind of pediometer out there. I was reading on Obesity Help and read one lady who recommended Endomondo sports tracker. You can choose the type of excercise (walking, running, biking and many more) and put in your weight and it will tell you the distance, pace, and number of calories you are burning. I also use my droid for my music and this app will break through and tell me when I've walked a mile and the time it took and then go right back to my music. If I do more it tells me that I walked two miles and the average of my lap time. You can al…

Okay so I was banded March 11th and the weight is starting to really come off now. I've been exercising as much as possible and being so much more active. Actually for the first time I went to the lake. I was so surprised, because before when I was 327 pounds there was no way I'd have ever got in a bathing suit on a boat. lol. Anywho, I'm down to 260.5 now and I'm wanting to switch up my exercise routine, without overdoing it. Right now I'm doing 30 minutes every morning of cardio. My mom and I do different machines every day. We have an elliptical and a treadmill so we rotate. I'm always working really hard to. I make sure to keep my pulse in the 150-160 range and I sw…

I mean I REALLY hate the gym. I have tried to like the gym, but it's just not for me, even when I'm at a healthy weight. I've also tried those dance/zumba/jazzercise classes that the gyms offer, but I'm red faced, sweating and huffing and puffing 2 min into the warm-up; and I find myself staring at the clock, praying for the class to end. Same thing with the Yoga class the gym offered. Who knew holding a pose could be so HARD??!! What I'm saying is, I know I've got to exercise if I want to lose weight, even with the sleeve, but I will be darned if I can think of anything that I can do! Any suggestions? If it's high impact I can be sure I won't stick with it, but I love b…

I just invested in an elliptical machine. I was very excited! But I got on the thing and after only 12 minutes (disappointed) my quads were killing me and I had to stop. Anyone else experience this? What is your advice concerning working up to more time. 12 minutes is not enough so I walk an hour too.

I find it hard to find time to workout on a daily basis, which scares me that after I have the surgery I will not have any results. Has anyone not had a daily workout and lost weight? I know when I was my ideal weight in the past I loved to workout because it was not as hard as it is now. I feel if I have this tool and know it will work, then my workouts will be more successful than in the past. I guess when it comes down to it and now that I have got approved I am really hoping I can stay committed. I don't think the food will so much a problem as the working out. Any words of wisdom?? Thanks

Does anyone have Peripheral Neuropathy and exercise? Been trying to figure out the best exercises with this. I have extreme back and leg pain after exercising and was curious if anyone had found a good exercise routine for this? My doctors tell me to keep trying and to do yoga but so far we haven't figured out a good thing to do. Any help would be appreciated!

After losing about 20 pounds, I started exercising daily. Right now I am doing 30 minutes everyday on a treadmill. After 37 days in a row, I was/am ready to start going to the gym. I spoke with a trainer, who I am going to start training with today, and she recommended that I get a Heart Rate Monitor to aid with exercise. I wanted to know if anyone had a heart rate monitor to recommend. Specifically, one that has a large chest strap to monitor heart rate. My chest is about 54 inches. Been doing some research on those, but almost no one give the chest strap size.

Anybody know of any GOOD aerobics DVD's?? I mean one that gives a really good aerobic workout! I have been researching different ones along with Wii workout games etc and wanna get some opinions. Thanks.

I am looking for someone fairly close to the starke florida area. I really need a PIC ( partner in crime) to become a real fitness buddy with me. Whether walking, running, or gym...

Hey all! I SO realize the importance of exercise AND diet when banded-I just wanted to know if there's anyone dealing with a knee inury at the same time? I'm only 12 days post-op, and I won't be "working out" just yet- but wanted to geta few suggestions. I do have a stationary bike, but my knee HATES me for it afterward...I'm really at a loss..(no pun tintended..lol..) as to what to do for cardio... Thanks!

Hi all, Anyone out there a mountain/trail biker? This was something I was getting into before surgery (I'm one of those lucky ones who is pretty muscular under all the pudge. ) and I want to get back into it as soon as possible. My surgeon said two weeks before riding, but two different nurses from the surgeon's office said six weeks. Both said I could ride on paved trails as soon as I felt up to it, but my concern really is the rough twisty trails. I'm in Florida, so there's no steep climbs on any of the ones I ride. And yes, I've wrecked a few times, but I plan on taking it veeeeeeeery sloooooow at first. Anyway, if anyone does this or has any input, let me…

I just started a new job at a hospital. Imagine my delight when I found out there is a fitness room that you and a guest can use 24/7 for $5 a MONTH!!! I checked it out last week and was so excited! Except, here's the thing... we just started construction on an ICU and I just found out they blocked off the fitness room yesterday since it's next door, and it's closed until the ICU opens... which is slated for OCTOBER! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Just had to get that one off my chest. I'm so bummed out!

I am a little over 2 weeks out and my incisions are closed and scabs have fallen off. The paperwork said I shouldn't swim for 6-8 weeks, do I really need to wait that long? I thought the concern was over infection of the incision points but someone else is telling me it is to not overstretch the stomach muscle and rip your stiches. Is that right? I've been walking since the day after surgery and doing some light cardio this week already. How soon can I swim?

Through a friend of a co-worker of mine, I got to adopt a 1 year old purebred long haired german shepherd. I was looking for a German shepherd for a couple months now.... buying one from a reputable breeder would cost over $1500...and the ones at the shelter didn't fit my lifestyle. But the one I just got is pure sweetheart. She gets along with my current dog, who is a 30lb Beagle/Dashchund mix. I'll have to take some pictures of her. She's gorgeous. 100lb shepherd..which is REALLY BIG for a female German Shepherd...(average male is about 80lbs). We expect her to fill out to about 120lbs. So why is this relevant? I hope to do some training with Bella and get exerc…

A coworker purchased a 16 DVD set and a kettleball. I checked out the website and it looks awesome. I'm interested in purchasing a cheaper/starter bell and DVD. Anyone try it? What video do you recommend? I'm 2 months post op and am very worried about flabby skin, especially my bat wings on my arms. I'm hoping since you are always holding the bell, that it may help in tightening up the skin. please share your thoughts.

So I get banded in 9 days. I know that I am going to have to start exercizing and I am not looking forward to it. My wonderful husband ( who can eat anything and still wears the same size he wore in HS) is helping me with lifting weights 3 times a week. I have an eliptical, but that thing hurts. We also bought a Wii fit. I use it once in a while. I have never liked to exercize and i'm not sure how to modivate myself to WANT to exercize. I am hoping that when I start to drop a few pounds, it will inspire me. Anyone else been there???? :idea:

Has anyone heard of S.T.A.F.F. (sisters training against fatigue fat)? This is a group of people who meet and work out with someone whom they pay 5 dollars a work out. I am interested in attending but scared to look really bad since i'm by no means the athletic type. I've seen some of the photos on the website, but i'm thinking i need to lose some weight or get athletic before showing up. My weight is 170lbs. but sure am not athletic. Is anyone out there near Memorial Park willing to take a few classes with this newbie? I'm looking at attending the 5 or 6 am class (Tuesday and Thursdays)

I have recently started a zumba class. It is not a pretty picture since I am 355 lbs atm but I get in there and move and do what I can to the best of my ability. I still can't jump as high as the instructor but I feel as long as I am doing what I can, moving and getting my heart rate up then thats helping myself. I find I am more accountable in a group setting. I used to use the excuse that the others would look at me and I don't belong there because I am fat. But now I don't care. Everybody else is too busy trying to keep up with the instructor that they don't pay attention to me. I also find I am more accountable in a group setting. If I put a tape in at home an…

Hello! I am looking to buy a treadmill to have here at the house, but most of the ones I see are rated for no more than 250lbs. Unfortunately I weigh closer to 300lbs. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably priced, yet well-built treadmill? I am looking to spend about $500. Thanks in advance for any comments... Karen

I'm planning on starting back up on the EA Sports Active 2 workout on Monday which will be about 2.5 weeks after surgery and after I meet with my doctor. It can be a little intensive at times with some running and ab exercises. Should I be worried about that and is it too soon for ab exercises? I think you can customize the workout around it but I was just wondering. Thank you.

I am having little luck making myself go to the gym to do the typical stuff (treadmill, eliptical, ect.) and was wondering if anyone uses a mini trampoline? I'm thinking of buying one to get some cardio (and fun!) in every day. Has anyone had success with one?

Has anyone here learned (or tried to learn) Tai Chi as an adult? I'm trying, without much success (so far). What's discouraging me is that I've realized that I've lived my entire life in a sedentary, cerebral manner. While that has benefited me greatly in some ways (I'm super well educated and make lots of money in high tech) in other ways I've missed out -- I was (obviously) obese, and I'm still rather uncoordinated. So, because of this, I decided that maybe studying a gentle fitness/flexibility program like yoga or Tai Chi might help me. The problem is, I think I'm TOO uncoordinated! I don't have any MEDICAL conditions (meaning, I'm not injured or medically inca…

for home use when I can't get out to work out because its too hot or rainy, etc. The cost of a gym is ridiculous when you consider that after a year you have to pay another years membership fee, then another, and another.... its crazy when you can spend less money and get a couple pieces that are yours forever (I am a bit of a grinch when it comes to spending $, can you tell? lol). I know I want to get a electric treadmill, any suggestions on the best one? It needs to have a weight limit of at least 250, preferably 300 since I doubt I will lose 40+ pounds b4 I need to start working out, and an inclining treadmill is on DH's "Christmas list" lol . I was also thinking about…

....is not ever feeling guilty about not exercising! I'm off today, and can enjoy doing nothing if I want to. Feels really good!