Seriously don't know what I am doing!

hiemerapril

I have lost 15 lbs, I know how to loose weight. I've done it a million times before, and the reason why I've done it a million times is because I don't know how to maintain it. I am good with my weight now, but I want to tone. I have set my goals to 'maintain' and I have been able to get pretty close to the calories. I have been slacking on working out tho, and what I had intended to do was work out on my total gym for strength training, so I have not been doing any cardio, then I got busy with midterms and stopped using the total gym too. I know I need to get back on the exercise wagon definitely. But I have also noticed that my tummy isn't looking as flat, I have not actually gained any weight back yet, but I don't like the "bloated" look after being flatter for a couple of weeks! So, is the total gym a good work out for toning? Do I still need to do cardio, and how often if so? And, should I back off the calories a little since I appear to be building back up??? AAARRRGGGHHH! So confusing! It's easier just to gain-lose-gain-lose-gain-lose.... PLEASE HELP!!

smalyk

Lots of good reasons to do both cardio and strength training. The muscle mass you build with strength training burns more calories at rest than fat, so it will help you maintain your weight. Besides, toned muscles on women is sexy for us!

The cardio keeps your energy up, heart healthy and there is an ever increasing amount of research showing it has a positive effect on our mental health, including taking away stress.

I got back on the exercise bandwagon by paying myself 2 cents per minute of exercise when I was starting to find too many excuses to blow a workout off. I have my eye on a cute leather jacket as a reward a few months down the road with this money.

It's easier to keep a couple of pounds off than let it build. Make sure your intake isn't sending in the wrong direction!

flyawaybyebye

Weigh yourself every day, give yourself a 2-pound range above or below your goal weight, and if you gain more than that, focus again on losing rather than maintaining. If you're within that, you're doing great and shouldn't worry. As far as toning, maybe you could use a visit or two with a trainer for some tips that are custom to your body's needs? I'd definitely do some cardio, but if you do the Total Gym correctly, you can make it cardio. Do cardio at least 3 times a week, even if it's just a walk or run.

Javajunkie67

Doing the yo yo thing is hard on your body too. Don't forget how hard you worked to get there.

What kind of cardio are you taking about? A few days a week shouldn't be a problem. Youl'll get the stress relief from it too. The bigger issue sounds like just getting back in there and doing it. Everyone hits that at some point. Life happens : ). You just have to push yourself and get back in it. Have some friends hold you accountable.

I'm using the total gym also. I hit the max of my dumbbells, so I switched to using the total gym that we have. Im not crazy about it, because it takes longer to workout with than with free weights, but it's better than doing nothing. Remember to track your workouts, what level, how many reps, so you can push yourself. Remember to take a day off to recover. So far I'm hanging onto what I've built and working on losing some more fat.

I can't see your diary so I don't know if your eating is doing any harm, but look at your sodium levels they could be high. I always have a bloated tummy for a few days after to much pasta or bread.