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ShamandyNinebark

Hello! I'm Holly. 30 years old, 40 or so pounds to lose. I'm aiming to do a 3-day September-October, so I'm training for that. I want to lose fat and build muscle.

This time around I think my relationship with food and exercise is much better!!

I'm trying out interval walking to increase my heart rate. So either changing up my walking pace, or including bursts of sprinting/running during walks.

I also eat tons of protein, including complementary proteins. I made a wicked high protein veggie stew the other day that has quinoa, red lentils, barley, brown rice, and kidney beans in it. 😂 GETSOM!!!

And I read that not giving yourself enough rest days can actually interfere with muscle gain? And that it's still very important to get enough protein on rest days.
So instead of working out 5-6 days like I used to, I'm going to be trying out 2-3 days exercise, 2 days rest (will do nice walks and stretching).
I say 2-3 because someone mentioned to "listen to your body." I can be very tempted to push myself hard, but I really like the idea of feeling super stiff from going hard and then saying, "I planned on exercising today, but I'm going to let my body heal itself instead."

So that's my plan!!

Feel free to add me and share advice!!!!!

AnnPT77

ShamandyNinebark wrote: »

Hello! I'm Holly. 30 years old, 40 or so pounds to lose. I'm aiming to do a 3-day September-October, so I'm training for that. I want to lose fat and build muscle.

This time around I think my relationship with food and exercise is much better!!

I'm trying out interval walking to increase my heart rate. So either changing up my walking pace, or including bursts of sprinting/running during walks.

I also eat tons of protein, including complementary proteins. I made a wicked high protein veggie stew the other day that has quinoa, red lentils, barley, brown rice, and kidney beans in it. 😂 GETSOM!!!

And I read that not giving yourself enough rest days can actually interfere with muscle gain? And that it's still very important to get enough protein on rest days.
So instead of working out 5-6 days like I used to, I'm going to be trying out 2-3 days exercise, 2 days rest (will do nice walks and stretching).
I say 2-3 because someone mentioned to "listen to your body." I can be very tempted to push myself hard, but I really like the idea of feeling super stiff from going hard and then saying, "I planned on exercising today, but I'm going to let my body heal itself instead."

So that's my plan!!

Feel free to add me and share advice!!!!!

Hi, Holly!

When you say you're back, and from some of the other comments in your post, it sounds like you've made earlier forays into exercise and weight loss . . . and also sounds like you've learned a lot from those experiences that's guiding you now. That's great: I think that's a key part of a success mindset, learning how *not* to fully succeed, but moving on from there to more insightful strategies as a result. Good stuff!

As a long term exerciser, I think you're right about rest & recovery. I think of recovery days as being like pulling back the bowstring to shoot an arrow: It may feel like we're moving backwards in the moment, but that pulling back is what enables us to shoot forward, make fitness progress.

When I was starting out with being more active, I definitely ramped up gradually, more rest or "active rest" days. That temptation to go from zero to high speed is, well, tempting . . . but it's not necessarily the most productive approach, with that built-in risk of burnout or injury.

Are you a vegetarian, or maybe vegan? That veggie stew sounds yum, very filling and nutritious . . . and IME it's mostly the veg folks who talk about complementary proteins. 😉 (I've been vegetarian for 47 years now, but ovo-lacto.)

With regrets, I have to admit I'm not the best person on the MFP friend side of things, kind of lackadaisical there so maybe not a great add (I guess I'm more of a Community forum kind of gal, maybe?).

Nonetheless, I wanted to stop by your intro thread here, say "Hi" and "Welcome (back?)". Wishing you great success - I think your great attitude will lead you that way!