Duck Feet

Bowsergirl · February 2014

I've been working out at the gym for about 2 weeks, this is my second time around with losing weight and exercising, but I'm at my heaviest weight ever.

I'm feeling good about working out, but 15 minutes in my feet are aching. I have basically no arches.
I've tried expensive insoles, but they only help a little, the only thing that will help is losing some weight.

Anyone have suggestions for exercises to do right now?
Things that are low impact, but hard enough to help me keep taking weight off.
I can't run, it's very painful. I love Zumba, but that's been causing me a lot of pain too.
So far, I'm having good results with the elliptical and the rowing machine, but I'd like to do more.

leaner426 · February 2014

I have bad knees so I typically rotate between elliptical, walking on the treadmill and an upright exercise bike (upright requires you to engage more core muscles). I split the time I'm going to do cardio evenly between the three so my body doesn't adapt. This morning I did 20 minutes on each. On the treadmill I'll start at a slower pace for a few minutes, then up it to a fast walk, then add in incline so that it mixes things up for the muscles and cardio. Hope that helps.

amybluehat · February 2014

If you belong to a gym try the recumbent bikes. I broke my toe and had no issues riding them! Good luck!

Bowsergirl · February 2014

I just don't feel like I'm working out hard enough on the bikes.

cmriverside · February 2014

How about swimming?

There are some serious calorie burns in swimming, and if you don't like to or don't really feel comfortable swimming, now would be a great time to fix that! It opens up a whole world of recreational activity.

lacroyx · February 2014

what kind of shoes are you wearing to work out with? I am the same as you in which I have flat feet. No arch at all. I did research into shoe types and found there are shoes for people with no arches. The shoe industry usually calls them motion control or stability. They make them in many kinds. Running, walking, cross trainers, etc.

craftywitch_63 · February 2014

How about swimming?

There are some serious calorie burns in swimming, and if you don't like to or don't really feel comfortable swimming, now would be a great time to fix that! It opens up a whole world of recreational activity.

This^^^

Water aerobics have been used by orthopedists and physical therapists (and veterinarians, believe it or not!) as an excellent way to burn calories and build muscle since water causes resistance. It has the added value of increasing endurance and lung capacity.

If you don't want to join a class, the Mayo clinic has some exercise suggestions:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/aquatic-exercise/sls-20076730
http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/814093/the-ultimate-water-workout-1

Bowsergirl · February 2014

How about swimming?

There are some serious calorie burns in swimming, and if you don't like to or don't really feel comfortable swimming, now would be a great time to fix that! It opens up a whole world of recreational activity.

I was thinking about taking an AquaFit class. I don't know how to swim.

weezgrrl · February 2014

You can get an intense cardio workout on a recumbent bike. It's all about the intensity level you choose. Recumbent tends to be my "warm-up" machine (on Level 4-6), sure, but when my feet are hurting and I don't feel like standing for my big workout, I hop on and set the level up towards 10 and focus on keeping my rpms up there. Intervals are helpful as well. Go really hard for a few mins on a very high setting, and then slow it down for a two to three minutes on the easy setting (while maintaining a steady rpm). If you've got a HRM it's easier to determine if you're getting enough work out of it!

ashenriver · February 2014

How about swimming?

There are some serious calorie burns in swimming, and if you don't like to or don't really feel comfortable swimming, now would be a great time to fix that! It opens up a whole world of recreational activity.

I was thinking about taking an AquaFit class. I don't know how to swim.

This would be the perfect time to learn. Most pools have beginner adult lessons. Swimming is one of my favourite exercises.
If you don't know how to swim, go talk to the pool before you take an aquafit class, some classes take place in the deep end of the pool not the shallow end which would not work for you and make you uncomfortable. Swimming is a full body exercise that helps with strength and cardio.

Bowsergirl · February 2014

Thanks so much for the suggestions guys.
I'm looking forward to changing up my workout this week.

cmriverside · February 2014

How about swimming?

There are some serious calorie burns in swimming, and if you don't like to or don't really feel comfortable swimming, now would be a great time to fix that! It opens up a whole world of recreational activity.

I was thinking about taking an AquaFit class. I don't know how to swim.

This would be the perfect time to learn. Most pools have beginner adult lessons. Swimming is one of my favourite exercises.
If you don't know how to swim, go talk to the pool before you take an aquafit class, some classes take place in the deep end of the pool not the shallow end which would not work for you and make you uncomfortable. Swimming is a full body exercise that helps with strength and cardio.

I agree! This is the perfect time to learn. Swimming means you can safely and confidently use a canoe, a kayak, go white-water rafting, snorkel, scuba dive. It's a life skill you will really enjoy. It is a sensuous, pleasurable experience to be in the water. Do it!! All public pools have lots of "learn to swim" classes and opportunities. Yay!

Duck Feet

Replies

Categories