Help! How Do I Get Started Again?

[susiek]

I am seriously overweight and no longer active. I haven't gone gluten free yet--waiting for doctor's appointment on Friday. Then I'm off the grain! lol

I previously was very active--doing jazzercise several times a week--and lost some weight. Over the past two years I gave up the jazzercise--I was bored--and gained everything back. Then I got super sick from something which I now suspect is a gluten intolerance. (I've now lost--again--22 of the original 35 lost primarily from diahhrea.)

I joined a women's gym last fall and that's when I noticed working out was killing me. I would do weight training machines--not over doing the weight on anything. I did some classes--step aerobics and toning type things. I did the treadmill and even tried the elliptical machine once!

I would have to take to my bed after working out. My entire body ached for hours. I would work out in the morning and recover enough to get showered and functioning before my kids came home from school.

Slowly, the exercise stopped because I couldn't bear the pain. I was chalking it up to age (I just turned 40), weight, laziness.

But now that I have an idea of what might be wrong with me, I want to get back to that gym I pay for every month! How should I go about it?! Where do I start without killing myself again?

[taz sharratt]

I am seriously overweight and no longer active. I haven't gone gluten free yet--waiting for doctor's appointment on Friday. Then I'm off the grain! lol

I previously was very active--doing jazzercise several times a week--and lost some weight. Over the past two years I gave up the jazzercise--I was bored--and gained everything back. Then I got super sick from something which I now suspect is a gluten intolerance. (I've now lost--again--22 of the original 35 lost primarily from diahhrea.)

I joined a women's gym last fall and that's when I noticed working out was killing me. I would do weight training machines--not over doing the weight on anything. I did some classes--step aerobics and toning type things. I did the treadmill and even tried the elliptical machine once!

I would have to take to my bed after working out. My entire body ached for hours. I would work out in the morning and recover enough to get showered and functioning before my kids came home from school.

Slowly, the exercise stopped because I couldn't bear the pain. I was chalking it up to age (I just turned 40), weight, laziness.

But now that I have an idea of what might be wrong with me, I want to get back to that gym I pay for every month! How should I go about it?! Where do I start without killing myself again?

slowly is the answer, if you could just start with walking, outside is best as you dont get bored of things to see and you have lots of inclines to get your heart rate up. try getting a friend to walk with you as its safer. the tired thing may improve after going on the diet but you must eat properly, getting enough carbs to give you strength to work out and enough protien to feed your muscles so they dont get fatigued! dont give up, keep at it, thats what everyone on this board tells me and now im giveing you the same advice. allways start any exercise even walking with stretching as this can make you ache for hours and allways finish with a stretch too. you can do it!

[KerriAnne]

susiek~

Good for you!

First of all, you say you are "seriously overweight." It'd be a good idea to talk to your doctor about getting active again to make sure there are no concerns there. S/he may have certain suggestions for you that would be very important to take into account.

Assuming the doctor gives you the okay to get moving...

The key is definitely starting slowly, as well as staying committed & consistent. Make an appointment with yourself to exercise. Start with maybe even less than you think you can handle. It's easy to overdue it in the beginning when you're so excited to get moving again, but take it easy. Maybe you can start off with little goals.... take a 15 minute walk three times a week...and then build on it slowly. Also, you've got to keep changing it up every once in while...walk a new route, try a new cardio machine at the gym, mix up the order of your weights, etc. Also, making it social is a great motivator...take classes, find a walking buddy, join an online chat/forum, etc. Take advantage of the summer to get outside and form some solid exercise habits now before the winter gets here (it always creeps up way too quickly for me!).

As for the fatigue and achiness you were feeling, hopefully with your dietary changes, your body will heal and resume normal, healthy functioning and nutrient absorption. Your diet is very important to fuel and recover from exercise, so be sure you are getting plenty of carbs & protein, as well as staying very well hydrated. I know I get very achy & totally wiped out from a workout if I haven't hydrated well.

Best of luck to you!!! Be sure to let us know how you're doing.

[CarlaB]

Take it very slowly in the beginning. Your body will not only be trying to recover from working out, but also from being ill. Do what you can. Walking is better than sitting! Definately get the okay from your doctor. Then I'd see if there's a personal trainer at your gym who can help you get started. Don't think you don't deserve a trainer being overweight! I see the trainers at our gym, and over half their clients are overweight. They are very gentle with them and even help them with both the lifting and stretching. The hardest thing is to get started.

I do the elliptical machine (along with free weights), and I'm in really good shape. I could only do five minutes on it in the beginning, so don't feel bad that you had difficulty or be afraid of trying again once you've been doing other exercise for a while.

I am 43 btw. You can do it. Granted, it's a lot harder than it was 20 years ago!!

[KerriAnne]

Hi susiek,

How was your doctor's appt last Friday? Have you gotten started with any exercise?

I just thought I'd check in and see how you're doing!

Hope all is well!

[Robina]

I am seriously overweight and no longer active. I haven't gone gluten free yet--waiting for doctor's appointment on Friday. Then I'm off the grain! lol

I previously was very active--doing jazzercise several times a week--and lost some weight. Over the past two years I gave up the jazzercise--I was bored--and gained everything back. Then I got super sick from something which I now suspect is a gluten intolerance. (I've now lost--again--22 of the original 35 lost primarily from diahhrea.)

I joined a women's gym last fall and that's when I noticed working out was killing me. I would do weight training machines--not over doing the weight on anything. I did some classes--step aerobics and toning type things. I did the treadmill and even tried the elliptical machine once!

I would have to take to my bed after working out. My entire body ached for hours. I would work out in the morning and recover enough to get showered and functioning before my kids came home from school.

Slowly, the exercise stopped because I couldn't bear the pain. I was chalking it up to age (I just turned 40), weight, laziness.

But now that I have an idea of what might be wrong with me, I want to get back to that gym I pay for every month! How should I go about it?! Where do I start without killing myself again?

I would recommend checking with your gym about their personal trainer(s)... the gym that I work for part-time pays me to write programs and train their members... by working for them I don't have to pay rent to train my private clients... so maybe other gyms are offering personal training which is included in the membership... no addtl. fees...