Lost - Please Help!

princessjaffacakes
princessjaffacakes Posts: 31
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello, I really hope someone can give me their opinions, bear with me this might be a bit of a ramble…

I completed the London marathon exactly 1 month ago (first timer). I trained for it using a beginners running plan, from January to April for the planned training, and since October previous to that with general cardio to get myself ready. I trained at about 8 – 9 minute miles, and aimed to run at about 10 minute miles for the race itself. I ended up with a time of 5 hrs 4 mins which I’m extremely pleased with – and more importantly, no lasting injuries.

I’m about 14lbs over my goal weight, and have been pretty much throughout my training, only dropping a few pounds the week before the marathon (ironically when I was stuffing my face with pasta and barely running to conserve energy). Afterwards, due to legs bloating up, fluid, too many energy drinks (can’t bear to think of all the sugar now, but at the time I needed something!!) I had two weeks off to have some fun, recover, let go of the training that had taken over my life up to that point.

So this is where I’m lost….

I started back at the gym, and on MFP, doing free weights and cardio 3 to 4 mornings a weeks. I do about 25 minutes of weight work + crunches, lunges, etc and then around 45 – 60 minutes of cardio depending on how much time I have. At the moment using the cross trainer, bike and treadmill. I really only like the treadmill, I do the others to balance out my muscles (learnt the hard way that strong hamstrings and rubbish quads leads to problems), but they bore me.

I have no idea what type of plan to work to, what I need to add in or how often – HELP!

Apart from the 14lbs I need to shift, all the training has meant my body shape has changed making my legs, bum and hips absolutely huge. And no, they’re not ripped with muscle, its all wobble and horrible. I’m sure there is muscle under there, my calves are like steal. I want to lose this layer of fat, and get my bottom half back into my jeans. They’ve gone up one or two dress sizes in a few months and I can’t seem to figure out how to reverse it!

Ok so ramble over, I hope someone has time to read through all of this and give me some opinions?

Replies

  • louise_shillito
    louise_shillito Posts: 3
    Firstly well done for completing the Marathon - you should be VERY proud of yourself!!

    My personal opinion on your fight with shifting the 14lbs is to concentrate on cardio and reducing your calorie intake!
    I would reccommend Spinning. Its hard the 1st few times you do it but its a great way to burn calories and tone your legs bum and quads too! Try spinning twice a week, and drop the weights just concentrate on cardio. THis way you will burn that layer of fat. If you start to build the muscle under the fat then the muscles will get bigger and the fat will remain!

    Good luck, I'm sure if you can run the Marathon then you can do anything!!
    x
  • princessjaffacakes
    princessjaffacakes Posts: 31
    Thanks for your help!

    I've done spin before, and I'm a little worried this will bulk out my already MASSIVE legs even more... tricky as most cardio is focused on legs.

    I know I need to focus a lot more on my diet and be super strict, but I'm also lost on the routine of following a plan for 6 months and now floundering a little.

    Maybe I'll see if the PT at the gym will hook me up with a plan for free....
  • keepsiejess
    keepsiejess Posts: 51 Member
    What about yoga? its an awesome dose of strength training that gets your heart rate up. I know a lot of folks who use it to balance and support their running goals.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Congratulations! I was obese when I did the London Marathon at a walk/run pace last year and it HURT!

    I know from experience that though you feel you grow muscles when running training, you don't really get bulky, or they'd be calling Paula Radcliffe Thunderthighs! Certainly in my case I was just a different size pear shape, with a layer of fat.

    Now's the time to kick back and try some cardio you enjoy, not just training for an event. Try some classes at your gym - something like boxercise or Zumba really torches calories and is great fun. Try some workout DVDs - you can get some cheap second hand ones off eBay until you decide what you like.

    And if you miss getting out there, try walking. I've found it uses my muscles in a completely different way to running and seems to have shrunk my bum!

    Good luck!
  • princessjaffacakes
    princessjaffacakes Posts: 31
    Thank you! Yoga is something I enjoyed before I kicked up the mileage, so definately will look into that. Had a bad experience in a 'beginners' class where the lady got rather annoyed I refused to stand on my head (in my first ever time at yoga...), but sure thats a one off!

    BerryH - well done on your marathon! I remember mouthing to friends at one cheer point 'it really hurts!!' as I plodded on past :)

    I think you're right, I might look up some alternative classes to mix it up. I used to like aerobics and body pump, but everything got put on the back burner to make time for the miles.

    Would just be nice to get my old jeans and trousers past my knees for the first time in months - friends are all like 'you ran a marathon, bet you lost loads of weight!' ha... ummm... nope!
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    I know, right? I got to me heaviest ever while training for the mine, thinking it gave me a license to scoff and quaff! Wish I'd been using MFP back then :smile:
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