Those of us who are Obese

Mannerizms07
Mannerizms07 Posts: 10 Member
edited November 24 in Fitness and Exercise
I am currently attempting to lose as much as I can. I am currently down 22lbs - a bit feat for me. My starting weight was at my heaviest 272; I am currently down to 250lbs. Anyone have any good ideas to help with lose a large amount of weight (again being obese not looking to lose weight fast) and the best advice in doing so?

Currently I walk a 1/2 mile a day currently and ride an indoor cycle for 30-45 minutes 4 days a week. I have been doing some work outs at work (push ups against wall, tricept dips on my chair, and finally attempting to do modified lunges.)

In December I dislocated my knee, 2 days before my birthday no less!! But I have been doing the low carb diet with the work outs and seem to be doing better.


Please share your stories/ideas/support here!
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Replies

  • Mannerizms07
    Mannerizms07 Posts: 10 Member
    I am actually looking to buy a bike when I get my taxes back, this way I will be riding the bike to and from work daily... summer is going to be a killer for me (I live in Arizona, gets to 114+ daily!) but looking to add something a little extra to my work outs! I have seen to stop depending on the scale as I am seeing myself starting to tighten in my midsection! :smiley:
  • Mannerizms07
    Mannerizms07 Posts: 10 Member
    edited February 2018
    So I started doing a toning/strength training I will focus on one part of my body (per day) and this is for 3 days a week (due to my work schedule) the other 4 days is straight cardio (riding my indoor cycle then adding my bike when I use that to go to work!)
  • tess5036
    tess5036 Posts: 942 Member
    I started at about 260 lbs, that was 14 months ago, I'm now 166, but still got a way to go.

    You've made a great start, the key is finding what works for you, and what you are happy with. If it's not comfortable and you are not happy with it, then you won't sustain it in the long term.

    I made small changes, and then kept adding to them over time. I don't drink any sugared drinks, and stay active. I found I loved the gym, that has become a habit. Find what you like to do and make sure it develops into a long term habit. Motivation can come and go, but habits stay. I tried different gym classes, and now regularly do Zumba and BodyCombat. I also like the treadmill and rowing machine, easier to use with headphones watch TV or with a you tube playlist.

    As everyone says, the most important thing is the calorie deficit. Exercise does help, it increases health, and also helps to increase the deficit a bit.

    I would also advocate lifting, I'm sure it has helped me retain muscle during weight loss, and I feel much better for it.

    Good luck,
  • Mannerizms07
    Mannerizms07 Posts: 10 Member
    Well I want to post the work outs I have been doing (and honestly I LOVE them!)

    Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Cardio on my indoor cylce 25-35 minutes, walk for 45 mins - 2 hours (permitting my work hours)

    Thursday: Arm workouts
    Friday: Chest Workouts
    Saturday: Leg day (beast mode!)


    I felt so much more energenic after doing these now. I am just frustrated this week as my cardio is really being messed up from people calling out constantly (sometimes/ALL the time, being a manager sucks!) But I will make it up if I ever get days off!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    gtm197 wrote: »
    One attributes it all to rowing, but she's old. The young ones lift to keep and build muscle and muscle is what makes a body shapely.

    I’m 65 and lift 3-4x a week. 65 is not old my friend. Not sure what point you’re making by saying “but she’s old, the young ones lift....”



    Think he was making an inside joke...
  • Okiludy
    Okiludy Posts: 558 Member
    I started out at 300 and am now at 240. I also have a powerlifting total of 1145 and am working on hitting a 1200 total by the end of this year. I am not losing more as weight loss effects my lifts and I have a 38" waist now and will likely hit 36" by April at the same weight.

    My advice would be 3 main things.
    1. Calorie deficit is more important than anything else for weight loss. Keto, intermittent fasting, or any other trendy diet doesn't really matter as long as you are in a deficit.
    2. Start a beginner program from http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1 . It really doesn't matter the one you pick, but I do prefer Starting Strength. The reason is you will lose muscle during a weight loss. You can combat this by lifting. The beginner programs listed here work. Many of us have tried them and proven that they do work.
    3. This brings me to the something many don't think of with exercise and training. You need your recovery. Make sure not to sabotage your progress by not sleeping enough or trying to lose to quick. Once you start seeing the progress you might think if I go a bit more into deficit I'll lose faster or I can train 7 days a week. This is not healthy and if training cardio or strength it can *kitten* up what you are attempting to accomplish.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    edited February 2018
    Well I want to post the work outs I have been doing (and honestly I LOVE them!)

    Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Cardio on my indoor cylce 25-35 minutes, walk for 45 mins - 2 hours (permitting my work hours)

    Thursday: Arm workouts
    Friday: Chest Workouts
    Saturday: Leg day (beast mode!)


    I felt so much more energenic after doing these now. I am just frustrated this week as my cardio is really being messed up from people calling out constantly (sometimes/ALL the time, being a manager sucks!) But I will make it up if I ever get days off!

    It is great that you have started resistant training, but working one body at a time, so only once a week really is not optimal.

    You would do much better doing a full body work out on those 3 days then all muscles will be strengthened equally including those muscles you don't think about that help with stabilization.

    I mentioned Nerdfitness up thread, if that does not suit you look at other programmes that work the whole body.

    There are a lot in YouTube, different fitness sites, and listed in this thread-
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

    It is of course totally up to you, I, from personal experience, think you would do better, and see better results, following an established full body workout.

    Cheers, h.

    Posted same time as @Okiludy, totally agree with point 3. Rest, recovery, and fuelling are as important as the workouts. Burnout can really sabotage ones goals.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Well I want to post the work outs I have been doing (and honestly I LOVE them!)

    Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Cardio on my indoor cylce 25-35 minutes, walk for 45 mins - 2 hours (permitting my work hours)

    Thursday: Arm workouts
    Friday: Chest Workouts
    Saturday: Leg day (beast mode!)



    I felt so much more energenic after doing these now. I am just frustrated this week as my cardio is really being messed up from people calling out constantly (sometimes/ALL the time, being a manager sucks!) But I will make it up if I ever get days off!

    You need to find a balance between loving your workouts and doing a routine that's effective - because that is a simply awful lifting routine.
    Sorry but you could use your time so much more efficiently and why you do consecutive cardio and then consecutive strength workouts is a complete mystery.
  • thesatchito
    thesatchito Posts: 5 Member
    edited February 2018
    Hey, they say this all the time but it’s worth repeating, your weight loss is 70% in the kitchen and 30% at the gym. You can’t be completely healthy without exercise but for losing weight is mostly about what you eat.

    I was about 350lb at my heaviest and I did the low carb diet for a while but it only took me to around 280lb. My advice here is the same my doctor gave me, you can only get so far with low carb because it can be deceiving! One day you’re eating bacon and is perfectly fine but the next day you will start gaining weight because you’re not having a considerable calorie deficit.

    There’s no way around it, you have to eat less calories than what you use, period.

    MyFitnessPal helped me get to 238lb and my goal is 210 (I’m 6ft tall), it’s all about combining the foods you eat and not going over the calorie limit, the bulk of what I eat nowadays are veggies and different kind of proteins (chicken, beef, protein bars as snacks) but last night I had a banana muffin and it’s totally fine because I saved some calories having coffee without milk in the morning and my lunch salad without my regular piece of bread to go with it. Find combos that work for you.

    One last tip, I usually put plenty of hot sauce on my food, or eat jalapenos or other peppers because the spiciness makes me feel more satisfied, maybe because when your mouth is on fire you can’t just inhale your plate, you have to pace yourself lol!

    Kee it up!!!!
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I do see where you're coming from, but in order for me to get to a good fitness level, I had to cut my calories so the weight would drop and I could run up two flights of stairs without getting winded. Exercise did help reduce my appetite, my stress, and my boredom, which made it easier to stick with the program, but I've always eaten a well-rounded healthy diet... just too much of it.

    For me, it's all interconnected. But being a short (5'3") woman, my calorie requirements are probably a bit less than yours, so I have less wiggle room. Especially as I get closer to my ideal weight.
  • OldHobo
    OldHobo Posts: 647 Member
    I started at 274, down about 40 with maybe 60 to go. One word of caution, I was off to a good start a couple years ago with primary exercise being long walks. Got run over by a car on the sidewalk and that halted progress and I gained back all I'd lost plus some more.

    Keep up the good work and be careful on that bicycle.
  • Mannerizms07
    Mannerizms07 Posts: 10 Member
    Hey guys! Sorry, my work out schedule I know is a bit off kilter, this is temporary until I am able to have steady shifts. With this I have been keeping my food intake has been really good and I end up only a couple hundred cals under. I do intend on switching this up, but as I am literally JUST being able to start the resistant training, I am starting slow right now. I do keep everyone's advice on hand (and really do appreciate all the help!) I just am stuck this way to keep a routine going and then switch it around. @thesatchito I do the same thing with spice! I live in Arizona and picked up quite the spicy habit :D


    But again, this is gonna be slow and steady for ME. This is about losing healthy and toning for me right now.
  • Mannerizms07
    Mannerizms07 Posts: 10 Member
    Okiludy wrote: »
    I started out at 300 and am now at 240. I also have a powerlifting total of 1145 and am working on hitting a 1200 total by the end of this year. I am not losing more as weight loss effects my lifts and I have a 38" waist now and will likely hit 36" by April at the same weight.

    My advice would be 3 main things.
    1. Calorie deficit is more important than anything else for weight loss. Keto, intermittent fasting, or any other trendy diet doesn't really matter as long as you are in a deficit.
    2. Start a beginner program from http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1 . It really doesn't matter the one you pick, but I do prefer Starting Strength. The reason is you will lose muscle during a weight loss. You can combat this by lifting. The beginner programs listed here work. Many of us have tried them and proven that they do work.
    3. This brings me to the something many don't think of with exercise and training. You need your recovery. Make sure not to sabotage your progress by not sleeping enough or trying to lose to quick. Once you start seeing the progress you might think if I go a bit more into deficit I'll lose faster or I can train 7 days a week. This is not healthy and if training cardio or strength it can *kitten* up what you are attempting to accomplish.

    Thank you!

    I really like these! I am not trying to lose fast but I will check those starter programs out as well! I just kinda want to get the strength/toning started so I can get my metabolism going with what I want to do. I did take 2 days off this week, but my eating and sleeping has been right on point. Thank you so much for the advice!!!! :)
  • mjbnj0001
    mjbnj0001 Posts: 1,268 Member
    You're going about it with the right attitude (slow is best). I'm down about 65+ lbs from my high, have a good 50+ more lbs. to go. It's a slow process to do it right (more than a year for me so far), and 1-1.5 lbs./week is a sustainable pace.

    1. Be careful about your weighing. Pick a routine and stick with it, and be prepared for frustration and push through that. I'm on a bit of a plateau right now, and reworking my general plan around that. My routine is weighing every day, just before I step into the shower. I weigh 3 times (get on and off the digital scale) and take the average or mode, as the the number can change between reading for a host of reasons. I chart my progress just so I can see the decline visually. However, daily weighing has a danger in that it is easy to bounce around a pound or two each way each day, for things such as water weight. I like to keep tabs and a tight leash and continually adjust my lifestyle. There are others that think you should only weigh once a week or less frequently. No one is "righter" than others, it's got to just work for you. Doing daily has a mental cost from the fluctuations, just keep on grinding through.
    2. Most of my weight came from dietary modification, and MFP has been great for that. Not just calories, but awareness of what's going into my body. I've just retired, and am doing the bulk (all) of the family cooking, and by adopting better, cleaner foods, we're getting good results. However, I'm down to about 2000 cal/day through dietary control, and am finding it difficult to sustain many less cals/day for any length of time (short fasts or reductions are easy). So ...
    3. I'm increasing my activity levels. I've always been a big guy, but historically active: football/shotput in high school, scuba instructor nights/wkends while computer programming during the weekdays, and, decades ago, bicycle touring. The came promotions in my IT career, extensive, long-term business travel, family and other obligations, life things, etc., all leading to less or no real activity, except for sailing (I'm a boatowner on the New Jersey coast - there's no real cardio in sailing). The weight came on. And on and on. So, now, as a retirement/Christmas gift, I have a new bike and am working hard at an invigorated lifestyle. My docs are thrilled with the idea of me cycling, and I'd suspect yours would be too - low impact, good cardio, etc., in addition to the calorie burn. So, as of Jan 1st, I'm on a gradual physical buildup program centered on cycling as my "now-current job to get healthy." Since it's winter, I can't ride outside as often as I'd like, so I hit the gym in the off days. 5 of 7 days a week I strive to do one or the other. You need to rest your body a little also.

    Good luck in your endeavors. Get ready for the long haul, and keep your end state in mind. I made up a poster and taped it to my refrigerator, just to keep me reminded.
  • Kohanai
    Kohanai Posts: 172 Member
    You're kicking butt, so keep it up! Every person is different, but an important thing to keep in mind when trying to loose a large amount of weight is to just continue chipping at it. Eat well (and watch your portions), stay active.

    As others mentioned, the deficit will lead to loss of lbs so you need to burn more than you eat. As you get more confident in your ability to move well, and control those movements, start adding weight. I started at 273, and I'm down to 237. It takes time, but if you stay consistent, the weight loss will happen.
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