Is there any cardio that is easy on the legs?

Yes, my first thought would be swimming. Or those Elipticor machines are supposed to be easier on your knees, not sure about legs. For abs, have you tried sitting on the floor while holding a medicine ball and touching the medicine ball to the floor on your right, then on your left? So it is a twisting motion. A personal trainer at our gym gave that to us to do. And a basic crunch should work, regardless of your belly. You only curl your shoulders off of the ground, you do not completely sit up. Hope that helps.

I agree about water aerobics. I've not tried it, but I know some people who have. My old boss took a class because she had major back problems and she LOVED it! I've always heard good things about water aerobics.

Also, I like to use the stationary bike when I'm sore from alot of running, power walking, or high impact aerobics. And the "Walk Away the Pounds" DVD's are a good medium as well. But they aren't really a tough workout in my opinion. I like the burn, WATP doesn't burn.

For the abs, try a exercise ball and some pilates. If you have On Demand they have a 12 minute ab workout that is pretty good. Its simple enough, but still burns real good.

Congrats on your loss so far! Thats awesome!

I think you're overdoing it. Do no more than one hour per day and just try to make it more intense instead of 1 1/2- 2 hours per day. It's a lot. I know you have a lot of weight to lose, like you said, but you will seriously burn out - and probably injure your legs - if you're working out this much. On days you strength train, do less cardio. Do your weights FIRST (this helps burn more carbs & sugar, which accelerates what the cardio is doing to your fat) and then do like, 30 minutes of cardio. This will allow your body to rest more instead of working it so hard all in one day. Or split up your work outs if you want to keep doing 2 hours. Do one hour in the morning and then do an hour of something different in the afternoon or at night.

If you've experienced a slow in weight loss, it may be because you're working too hard. Your body needs time to recooperate so don't overexert yourself - it will only slow down your weight loss and hinder all your hard work up to this point.

You could try punches. A lot of videos I've done use boxing moves and if done with a lot of energy punching can really get your heart rate up.

Is the concern for your legs about impact? Because cycling is zero impact.

On leg "rest" days, I ride my recumbent stationary bike and keep the resistance low and the speed high.

See if your gym has a rowing machine. You can usually plant your feet and work more of your upper body and core than the legs.

And I know how the "belly in the way" feeling goes! I agree with the suggestion of plank exercises. I also have a couple dance workout dvds that have ab segments that are STANDING, so I feel like my tummy gets in the way a lot less than floor-based moves like sit-ups and whatnot.

By the sounds of it you are doing slow to medium state steady training if you can last for an hour and a half. I think if you mixed it up a bit with some shorter duration high intensity stuff that isn't leg focussed like boxing, body combat class or something like that that you would be able to have a bit more recovery time for the legs. Having said that, if you chuck in some kicks on a bag session I think it is even more intense

try hula hooping! i swore i couldn't do it and then i tried for about a 1/2 hour and got it. you just have to find the rhythm (and it helps to put one leg out to the front). the hula hoops you see at wal mart won't really work- the bigger the better. and if you can find one without weights or water in it, that's better too.

i got mine online (it's collapsible) at hooplahdenver.com for $25 and it's wonderful!


you can burn 220 calories in a half hour by hooping and it is sooo low exertion that you barely feel like you worked out.

TRY IT!!!

(you don't have to be shaped like a pole to do it. i'm round )