Finally started to lose weight (2 dress sizes) now that I'm not punishing myself at the gym!
fitnessgenetics17
Posts: 2 Member
Well after years and years of going to the gym...back to back classes (and not body change whatsoever) - I finally decided to just stopping going! Since April I've lost 16lbs and dropped 2 dress sizes. I've probably got another 7lbs to go as I'd like to be a size 10. So the reason i stopped going to the gym is that i injured my neck so I took up walking to work (5 miles) and then sometimes doing that on the way home. Inches started to fall away and i was amazed as i thought the answer to everything was the gym but actually it wasn't...it kind of made me unhappy, hungrier, aching everyday and not sociable as i was always at the gym. For the past two months I've introduce Tower Pilates and Reformer classes 2 to 3 times a week - this helps with back issues and wellbeing. I've actually never been happier! Sometimes i have to question whether the gym is right for all of us and perhaps putting in too much effort for little results.
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I was a fitness instructor and physio rehab assistant for over 25 years and yes..... especially for someone who does it for a living... it can be too much stress on our bodies. I now have physical problems due to overuse when I was younger. I can no longer workout at the gym except to walk on the treadmill, cycle, or use the elliptical. I do my workouts in the water when I feel up to it (deep water running) or otherwise brisk walks, snowshoeing, some cross country skiing, some canoeing and SUP.
I'm glad you found exercise modalities that work for you.3 -
Studies suggest any time of moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day is what an average person needs to stay healthy. From there onwards, it really depends on your fitness and physique goals. I go to the gym as I live in a big capital and this is the easiest/cheapest sport to practice for me. It was not my favorite sports modality by far, but I love being active and it helped me disconnect from work and stay fit.
Over the years I've leaned towards workouts at the gym that make me happier and are interesting/challenging, rather than the traditional workouts and classes everyone does at the gym.
It's about finding what suits you, everyone is made differently!1 -
First, congratulations for losing pounds and inches! Especially if for years the scale didn't bulge and now finally you have found your recipe for success
Can I ask what have you been doing in the gym that was so punishing and exhausting and ineffective at the same time?
Did you count calories before, now? Does that make any difference for you?
Did you walk before? Do you think you spend more time on your feet/being active now (with all that walking) than before when you were only exercising at the gym?
I lost my first 5-7 pounds with walking as only activity (plus calorie counting) and only started working out for real in my life after that. I love the gym (now)! But I never go to any classes, I'm just not a group workout person. Still, purposeful walking and logging as many steps as I can is a big part of my daily deficit even now. So, I can totally relate on the effectiveness of a simple walking.
It is great you have found a way to lose weight and enjoy the process. I hope goal weight is on the horizon 3 -
I had a bit of a choice between the gym or adding more walking to my lifestyle. For now, I'm settling on the walking as my daily steps (not counting workouts) were pathetic, and I'm pretty sure that was doing nothing for my overall calorie burn. While my workouts would range from moderate to intense, the hangries that accompanied the harder workouts made losing weight a LOT harder!
I'm still going to need to reintroduce the gym and lifting, but thinking I will likely start with some home-based workouts first. The added walking actually adds quite a bit of time to my day already, so also fitting in the gym is going to take some getting used to (but is pretty much a requirement with my sport and a lack of a home-gym).2 -
im thinking of cutting the gym as iv put on weight as well and convinced its muscle that I dont want...1
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kittyd7015 wrote: »im thinking of cutting the gym as iv put on weight as well and convinced its muscle that I dont want...
I wouldn't recommend stopping exercise. It's normal to retain water when you start as the muscles repair, if you are in a deficit your weight should be going down in time.
Putting on muscle as a female is actually very difficult and takes months of being at a surplus or at least maintenance. In a deficit you typically will be retaining what you have and it shows more as you lose. The problem is if you don't help retain muscle you risk looking like a smaller soft version if your current self (which is fine if that is your goal of course).2 -
fitnessgenetics17 wrote: »Well after years and years of going to the gym...back to back classes (and not body change whatsoever) - I finally decided to just stopping going! Since April I've lost 16lbs and dropped 2 dress sizes. I've probably got another 7lbs to go as I'd like to be a size 10. So the reason i stopped going to the gym is that i injured my neck so I took up walking to work (5 miles) and then sometimes doing that on the way home. Inches started to fall away and i was amazed as i thought the answer to everything was the gym but actually it wasn't...it kind of made me unhappy, hungrier, aching everyday and not sociable as i was always at the gym. For the past two months I've introduce Tower Pilates and Reformer classes 2 to 3 times a week - this helps with back issues and wellbeing. I've actually never been happier! Sometimes i have to question whether the gym is right for all of us and perhaps putting in too much effort for little results.
I got burned out from a few years of too much group ex plus triathlon training, three hour workouts etc. I was 15lbs heavier then too!
I remember being exhausted and hungry all the time. I’m pretty sure it was stressing my body and from what I understand, cortisol (stress hormone) gets released with overtraining which can make us hang on to fat and/or lead to overeating. (Thoughts on this?)
I’m a fan of building muscle and going hard a few times a week with lifting plus HIIT or short runs. But I stopped exercising compulsively for hours and hours just for weight loss. Leaving energy for activities outside the gym gives me more activity overall even if it’s lower intensity stuff like walks, chores, or playing with the kids.
Great to hear your story!
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