Trying to get back in shape.....

[Julieannesjazz]

So, was a fitness instructor for 20 years. I’ve been able to maintain a healthy & happy weight due to all the classes I teach & a clean diet. Unfortunately, due to arthritis & other degenerative issues and injuries I’m no longer able to teach. I also tore my hamstring water skiing in July & had to stop working out all together. Just did physical therapy exercises for three months. Then I bought a spinning bike & rode only 10 mins a day before PT exercises. The holidays were full of alcohol and cookies. It was fun but I gained 10 lbs! So, Jan 2nd I started riding 30 mins a day. With 20 mins abs, weights & stretching. I’ve also cleaned up my diet, cut calories to about 1600 a day (I’m 5’10”). Anyway, I expected to lose the 10 lbs right away and be knocking off the other 20 I gained over the past few years due to my injuries.

I’ve only lost 5 lbs. I feel slightly thinner but I’m frustrated.

I’m going to Kauai in May to celebrate my 50th birthday. I really want to feel confident in a bikini.

Suggestions? I’m not giving up but I am tempted to go ahead and drink again cuz abstaining hasn’t helped me lose weight and I miss my wine!

Btw....my hamstring is not only torn but I have ishial bursitis, tendinitis & tendinosis in the same hamstring. The pain can put a quick end to my workouts or walks.

Thanks

[MrsRose23]

It sounds like you've thrown yourself into it! That's great! I guess sometimes our expectations are our downfall and can lead to frustration and us reaching for the wine or cookies again! You have a goal... your trip away... so perhaps focus on all the physical and mental benefits to each of the sessions you do and not so much on the weight loss- it will happen-perhaps more slowly than you anticipated but you could stay positive reaping all the other great benefits from the changes your making. Keep going! ☺

[Julieannesjazz in reply to MrsRose23]

Wow. Thank you. I really needed to hear that. More than I knew! Great advice!!!!

[Rignold]

a 5lb loss in 4 weeks sounds pretty good going. As you doubtless know, you can only really lose about 1.5lbs of fat per week. Any more than that and you are losing lean muscle mass, which presumably is not what your goal is. 1600 calories a day sounds pretty low for your height and activity level, so you may be slowing because your body is verging on starvation mode, although if you are going to start adding alcohol calories back in, that will deal with that, even if they are junk calories.

What resistance work are you doing? I would look to up that - it's not going to impinge on your hamstring, will burn calories and increase metabolism.

[Julieannesjazz in reply to Rignold]

Thank you. That makes good sense. My husband also said I might be in starvation mode. I’ll add more healthy foods throughout the day. I stop eating at 6 pm. I’m so glad I joined this group. Never knew how helpful it would be. I’m lifting 10lb free weights for biceps, 15’s for chest, 8’s for shoulders & triceps. About 4 minutes per muscle group. Laying off lower body strength training cuz of my hamstring.

Today I added a little Pilates. My hamstring isn’t too happy about that. I still rode my 30 minutes. Maybe I should try & up that.

Thank you!!!!

[Rignold in reply to Julieannesjazz]

perhaps incorporate some tabata drills with your weights? That's a super-effective fat scorcher and arm-toner.

[ebcroquet]

I’m no expert but previously I have found the 5:2 a really good way to reset my mind and body and kick start some weight loss 😊

[ebcroquet in reply to ebcroquet]

And by that I mean intermittent fasting, not necessarily the 5:2 🧐

[Julieannesjazz in reply to ebcroquet]

I’m so new to this I don’t know what 5:2 is. 😬. I stop eating at 6pm. I have coffee at 6 am. Breakfast at 7. Is that “fasting” enough.....or?

[ebcroquet in reply to Julieannesjazz]

The 5:2 is reducing your calorie intake on two days not necessarily sequentially to about 500-600 per day

[Julieannesjazz in reply to ebcroquet]

Oh. Cool. Thanks!!!

[misswobble Graduate]

Calories in sounds too low. Eat healthily and eat enough. I don’t drink any more and I never missed it at all, and I used to drink a lot

I think drinking wine adds to the joint problems, which for me, are much better now, and i’m 60

Good luck with your exercising and eating plan. Just stay on it and you’ll come good. Stay positive too 😃👍

[Julieannesjazz in reply to misswobble]

Thank you!!!!!