Am I doing enough?

LReReed
LReReed Posts: 26 Member
edited February 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I need to get fit. I do not have a specific number of pounds I want to lose, I just want to look better in my clothes. I've always weighed more than I looked though, so I don't pay too much attention to scales. I'm 5'5 and usually around 145-150. But, I have recently gained about 10 pounds, and would like to shred the extra weight to be healthier.

I work in an office, so I'm sitting on my butt for 8 hours a day. I just started Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and doing an extra 30 min. of cardio 5 days a week. I'm not following a certain diet. Just following what MFP tells me and cutting down on fast food. (single gal with no kids.) What else should I do if I would like to begin seeing changes by February?

Replies

  • STC1188
    STC1188 Posts: 101 Member
    Assuming you can, stand up and take a little walk once an hour. It will help with flexibility and it will keep you active.

    Walk at lunch, if possible. And, in general, walk more.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    Lift heavy. Seriously. You will love how you look, your clothes will fit better, and you get to eat more food the more muscle you retain/carry. Win, win, win.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    30day shred will do it....it knocked 9 inches and 8lbs off me in the first 30 days along with eating at a reasonable deficet.

    But now I lift heavy because the 30DS got me to a point but couldn't carry me any further.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    'Fit' has many connotations.

    For instance, take a marathon runner to a boxing club and they're probably not going to be doing that great.
    Same the other way around.

    I've also been supping from the 'heavy weights' cup and it does seem to work well for me too.

    I would consider the extra cardio you are doing - as the DVD keeps your heart rate up, if the extra cardio is just 'steady state', it may be just a case of buying yourself more calories to eat, rather than making you fitter.

    If it were me, I'd consider starting a lifting program like starting strength, but initially focus on the form using pretty light weights - if you then end up focusing on that more for a bit, you'll have a decent head start.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Lift heavy. Seriously. You will love how you look, your clothes will fit better, and you get to eat more food the more muscle you retain/carry. Win, win, win.

    This... but this has to be inconjunction with a moderate calorie deficit and adequate protein (which MFP is rather low with). OP, why don' t you make your diary public so we can look. But essentially, weight loss is 100% diet, fitness is exercise.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Oh and I should add 10lb isn't really here or there that much health and fitness wise.

    As it's not a big number, if you actually want to get fitter/more healthy, I'd focus on that and with a slight calorie deficit shouldn't have trouble losing the weight.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I need to get fit. I do not have a specific number of pounds I want to lose, I just want to look better in my clothes. I've always weighed more than I looked though, so I don't pay too much attention to scales. I'm 5'5 and usually around 145-150. But, I have recently gained about 10 pounds, and would like to shred the extra weight to be healthier.

    I work in an office, so I'm sitting on my butt for 8 hours a day. I just started Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and doing an extra 30 min. of cardio 5 days a week. I'm not following a certain diet. Just following what MFP tells me and cutting down on fast food. (single gal with no kids.) What else should I do if I would like to begin seeing changes by February?

    30 DS is basically cardio with some strength training thrown in...........I would ditch some of the "extra" cardio in place of more strength training. Strength training is great for inches.

    Kelly Coffey Meyer or Cathe.........

    http://www.collagevideo.com/exercise-videos/kelly-coffey-meyer-exercise-videos-107

    http://www.collagevideo.com/exercise-videos/cathe-friedrich-exercise-videos-13
  • ElizabethWillNotFail
    ElizabethWillNotFail Posts: 35 Member
    Bump
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Definitely weights or hard bodyweight work. You'll see changes by February as long as you challenge the muscles enough (no teeny weights).
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