Ok to HIIT when obese or better to do moderate exercise?

gerbies
gerbies Posts: 444 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm a long-time exerciser and have had a long-time battle with weight. I typically do not have an issue with exercise; rather, my primary issue is with eating moderately/healthy. I tend to enjoy the "go big or go home" type of workouts that bring you to failure, like TurboFire, Jillian Michaels' workouts...essentially High-Intensity Interval training. As I read more and more, I'm now wondering if I'm doing myself more harm than good by doing these types of high-impact, plyometric-driven workouts. Cardiovascularly, I can do these workouts. I've been working out steadily for the last few years (minus breaks when I was pregnant), so my stamina is good for someone who has 80 lbs to lose. But, at age 37, now I'm worried that I may be damaging my joints, etc. I find that I have pain in my neck and shoulders regularly (muscular pain/knots) and before losing 45 lbs, I had some knee pain.

What are your thoughts about someone my size doing high-impact workouts? I love to feel like I'm really pushing myself, but is it better to do workouts like an elliptical or spinning (which I've never tried) until I've lost more weight.

Any thoughts out there?

Replies

  • porffor
    porffor Posts: 1,210 Member
    I don't know the advice - you'd have to speak to a specialist or GP for that really. But personally I started at morbidly obese and I'm down to bordering overweight - I do whatever I fancy when it comes to exercise - if it gets me moving and I enjoy it then thats right for me..
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    It does not matter. You can actually lose weight with no cardio by just eating less food. No particular type of cardio burns fat better (or even sprcifically). It is simply a means to burn more calories that you could also save yourself by eating less. So relative to your concerns, lower impact will save joints etc and be just as effective, it just takes longer to burn the same amount of calories.
  • recoiljpr
    recoiljpr Posts: 292
    I've been running, cycling, martial arts, etc for years now generally at 300+ lbs. I do HIIT, etc without any issues. My problem was like yours, not the activity level, but the eating food right level.

    As long as your knees aren't hurting (and your ticker is healthy), then do whatever exercises you can that you enjoy!!
  • akaporn
    akaporn Posts: 231 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQSzx0ofto

    Please take a look.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    hey ! you're issue is exactly the same i had when i started losing weight. i've been working out consistently my entire adult life but my problem has always been portion sizes.

    anyway, do the HIIT if you can. i saw my doctor before i officially started and she gave me the OK to go as hard as i can with the workouts and just use my best judgment.

    HIIT wise my favorite is sprinting. at first it was tough sprinting with all the extra mass and i could only get through a 6 minute session of 15 second sprints/15 sec rest. now i can easily get through 21 minutes and that initial sprint speed is now a mid range speed for me. as others have said, just pay attention to how your joints feel
  • 28houstonc
    28houstonc Posts: 11
    I have the same problem, when I feel pain I reduce the speed or the weight in the machine. That help for me, but if you feel good why stop.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    HIIT on a stationary bike?
    Yes!
    On a treadmill or footpath?
    No!

    Just walk!
    Its better for your back and knees!
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Once you're fully checked by your doctor, do whatever exercise he or she says you're up to doing.
    Make sure you do that before taking medical advice from a bunch of clueless people in some internet forum.
  • cordianet
    cordianet Posts: 534 Member
    well, HIIT and high impact are really two different things, so I'd say avoid the high impact if you're concerned, and do the HIIT.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    HIIT on a stationary bike?
    Yes!
    On a treadmill or footpath?
    No!

    Just walk!
    Its better for your back and knees!
    This. The bike can kick your *kitten* if you ramp up the intensity and RPM for sprint sections of your HIIT without overstressing your joints.
  • BigRich822
    BigRich822 Posts: 681
    HIIT may be too tough at first and discourage you from wanting to continue exercise I would start small and work your way up to doing it if that is the way you want to go. I think moderate exercise or even lite exercise would be better at first.
  • dougii
    dougii Posts: 679 Member
    Once you're fully checked by your doctor, do whatever exercise he or she says you're up to doing.
    Make sure you do that before taking medical advice from a bunch of clueless people in some internet forum.

    Totally this. Talk with your doctor and take that advice to heart. I have personally moved from the elliptical to ourdoor, long, slow, running and weight circuit training on the off days.....all with doctor approval.
  • gerbies
    gerbies Posts: 444 Member
    Thanks, everyone. I recently moved through about 3/4 of the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution program and have taken a few weeks off (due to vacation and other factors). I was either going to work back into that program (can't just start where I left off as it gets progressively more challenging), go to the gym and do some cardio workouts on the elliptical and/or jogging, OR start Insanity. I'm still unsure what direction to go. I know if I feel pain to stop a particular path, but what about damage that is not evident right away (like knee or joint damage)? I suppose maybe that really happens more to people who are heavier than I am?

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