I took a hiatus from my workouts for about 2-mos owing to extensive travel and work schedules. LAME, LAME, LAME excuses I KNOW!!! Now that I have retuned to the gym, I find that I have zero endurance and stamina, as well as my legs hurt when I do one lap on the indoor track. This is worse than when I began my workouts a year ago, so not all of what I am experiencing can be attributed to the two month hiatus.

I am looking for any recommendations for increasing my endurance and stamina so that I can get through a meaningful workout. I understand that I have to work back up to the level I was at, but I need some immediate help to get me there. Is there some supplement regimen or anything else that I should follow (amino acids, hydration, Protein loading, carb loading, etc)? Note that I have celiac disease and lactose intolerance.

I also need a solution for the leg pain. I was able to run a 5k and now even one lap and my legs hurt.

Thanks so very much for your advice! I truly appreciate it!!!

My hubby wears compression shorts for umpiring, he has Nike and Underarmour brands, but says he like the "Shock Doctor" from Umpire Attire.com. the best. They're made for men but some women umpires where them too, just without the cup.

Try something completely different like a water aerobics class, water walking/running, or lap swimming. I am a water baby and as far as I am concerned, water cures all ills!

@@pink dahlia I have a pair of the tights on order. I think they will help.

@@Inner Surfer Girl alas there is no pool at my gym. But that is a very good suggestion. Thank you.

Yes yes yes. Water water water. I could live in the water. Swimming is a good friend. Not only is it a good overall workout but the cardio works everything. It will also help not being so hard on the knees with the weight.

WHAT? No pool? I would freak out.

@@swimbikerun I lost a lot of weight when I was a kid by swimming in our in-ground pool. I sure miss that pool!

@@swimbikerun I had some trouble swimming last Summer because my thighs and hips were still "stiff" from the plastic surgery. I could not flex the way that I needed to swim. I took crew and wondered if the boat tipped and I had to swim to shore if I would be able to do so. Of course, I knew that I could float or do the doggie paddle, LOL!

You don't have one nearby? Even when the pool is closed, the rec centers nearby are open.

Have you done dryland work? Even lightly? You'd be able to just have the resistance now. Depending on how well you swim and what your stroke is, long course or short. Its short course until late spring/summer next year.

@@swimbikerun what do you mean by dry land work?

Ooops ... um ... sorry. I swam masters, competitively, so I use some of the lingo without thinking. You do work in the pool but you cross train more so than other sports. The weights, machines, cardio, etc. all that is referred to as dry land work. It helps to develop the muscles of the body, especially your core muscles.

For instance, you would have a period where you ran up/down stairs, hopped, jumped, etc. and then did things with the rope or the arms machine. You would do sets in the pool (speed work, distance work, work with the "toys"). You could then either do nothing or go back out and do some of the other. Push ups, sit ups, crunches, obliques, the whole deal.

Water, drink more. I have noticed my calves hurt when I use the treadmill. It's worse when I use it early in the morning. If I am well hydrated it goes so much better. Also, I do a warm up before starting. Our high Protein diet, I have been told, causes this extra muscular discomfort and drinking more water is the solution. I could go over the medical lingo but I'm sure you have heard it before.

As we lose weight we lose muscle and if you don't use it goes. You have to build the muscle back up with weight training. Those machines at the gym will be your friends and don't skimp on the stretching.

Getting back up is a process but you will get there. Baby steps!

Another great pre and post workout drink is watermelon juice, fresh with the pulp. It does have a bit of sugar from the watermelon, but studies have shown it is very good at speeding muscle recover after an intense workout. It is also a great way to hydrate. It is one of my "go to" post workout drinks.

I also agree with the other on the compression tights or even just the socks. They go a long way in reducing fatigue and leg pain. I am glad to hear you have ordered a pair.

I know the simplest solution you already know. Start of slow and work your way up. It might be a good idea to start with walking or working on an elliptical until you cardiovascular endurance is up a bit. Another thing my trainers focus on with me a lot is body weight resistance training. By building those muscles, even if you take some time off, you will be a lot stronger coming back than you would have been. Plus, muscle burns fat a lot faster and will work even while you are sleeping. If you have not added weight training of some kind into your workouts, I think it would do wonders for you. The other thing I do a ton of is swimming. I lost almost two thirds of my weight by swimming alone before adding weight training or running. You can push yourself hard, but there is no heavy impact on your body. Plus a good long stretch and soak in a hot tun post workout also does wonders for loosening up stiff muscles.

If you have any additional questions let me know. I will do what I can to get you the answers you need.

@@swimbikerun I tried cxworks today and liked it. And I did some free weights and leg presses. Yesterday I did 15-min of warmups like planks and bridges, 15-min rowing, 15-min free weights, 15 min running. I have a bunch of routines that my former trainer put together but I want to throw them out and start new. They are from last year and I am bored with them.

I am meeting with a trainer on Friday morning... also getting the bod pod done and I am curious what my reading will be. My body fat percentage was really high last year! And that was AFTER all my body contouring. I cannot imagine what it would have been before Dr. Capella removed all that excess skin and fat. I had a scale that would tell body fat percentage and I remember when I was MO it was 50% fat!

@@Beni thank you for the encouragement and the good advice about Water. I had not been drinking enough and I recently increased my intake. It sounds like I did a little backsliding into old patterns of behavior -- not exercising, not getting enough water, and I was getting lazy with my Vitamins. You know that is a slippery slope!