Hello Ladies!

I just joined this website because I started a REINVENTING MYSELF project a little over a month ago. I am not currently overweight (5'4" 115 lbs), but after having 3 cesareans, and not exercising regularly for most of my life, I am ready to start over and try to get in shape. I am now running 30 min approx 4-5 days a week/using the stair climber another 10 min, and then spending another half hour using machines alternating upper and lower body every other day. I know it has only been about a month and a half, but I am NOT SEEING THE RESULTS I WANT. Hardly any results really.....I am starting to get extremely discouraged, and am having doubts about all of this. Maybe I'm just not meant to be toned, tight, and in shape. I have also cut out ALL fast food (a huge weakness for me) and sweets. I am trying to eat smaller portions, and like I said, I am beginning to wonder why I am doing this at all??? Does anyone have any great tips to getting in shape...I am giving myself at least six months to get all of this started...so I still have 5 1/2 months to go. Has anyone else gone through this?????

I am not expecting to look like Brittany Spears..I just want to look good for me. I want to feel more confident naked...I hate feeling my butt and inner thights wiggle so much, and I hate the size of my waist. Aren't these things I should be able to change????

Hullo and welcome.

First of all, congratulations on making the commitment to reinvent, and for sticking to it for six weeks. That's an accomplishment in its own right!

Second, banish the thought that you're not meant to be toned and fit. Of course you are, but you might not have exactly the same body that you had before the 3 kids.

Now, there is so much more qualified expertise on this list that I'm going to leave most of this to them. I just didn't want you to think we didn't hear you. And I have a couple of questions that everyone always asks:

What are you eating? You say you're *not* eating fast food (that's a great step in the right direction), but what ARE you eating? Have you tried more protein and fewer carbs, for example?

What kind of weight lifting are you doing? Are you lifting heavy? Do you use any free weights? Like I said, if I didn't ask, someone else would.

Why not jump in on the main thread -- let us get to know you and see if we can't help.

Warmest regards,

Airegrrrl (aka, Indiana Robin)

Can I call you Xyph? Kind of a long (but imaginative name) otherwise. Here's my 2 cents.
First, since you are not overweight, your goal should be to gain muscle. That's what "tone" is. You may actually see the scale go UP during this process, but ignore it. Muscle is heavier than fat. With more muscle, at the same weight, you will actually be smaller.
I think you are doing way too much cardio (running and the stair climber) which will burn off muscle if you are not building it quickly enough and eating to conserve it. You said you cut out fast food and have decreased your portion sizes. That's a great start, but you may be underfeeding yourself if you are not also increasing the number of meals you eat. Try to eat at least 5 - 6 meals per day, spaced about 3 hours apart. This provides your muscles with a constant flow of nutrients, prevents insulin spikes which lead to fat storage, and assure your body of having enough food.
Next, I think you are overtraining which also will burn muscle, rather than build it. Most musclebuilding programs recommend training large body parts with at least a 4 day rest, and small muscle groups with a 2-3 day rest. Are you lifting to failure? If not, you will not build muscle. Don't be afraid of getting big- women just DON'T get big, especially at your weight. For a great site on women's weight training, check the Krista Smash site, www.stumpuous.com.

Hope this helps- check our stickies on getting started, recipes, favorite exercises, etc. And please join us on the weekly thread. As Ilene will tell you, WE LUV NEEWBIES!

Don't despair! We've got a great group here ranging from years of experience, to a few weeks. Hang in there, ask questions, and we'll do what we can to help

mel

How can you tell what is fat, and what is skin??? I am trying so hard to burn the fat around my waist and on my tummy and lower back etc, that is why I am doing so much cardio...to try and slim it down. But what if it is just skin from 3 pregnancies (although I didn't put on more than 28 pounds with each)....????? Should I go and have my body fat tested.....I am wanting to build muscle...I want to be STRONG, and I want people to see that......but I don't know how I can get started on that, if I have what feels like flab around my middle....

PS>..the web link didn't work to stumpuous.com??

Here's the link:

http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html

Hello and yes we do LUVS NEWBIES HERE

I'm with ALLLLLL of what Mel and Robing said....Eat clean foods, we have a Clean Eats Thread now, which will help with suggestions on a menu....Exercise whether it be cardio or weights to reach your "10's"...

What you may or may not know is that once you start building muscle you will burn more fat also... and that loose skin may or may not, everyone is different, tighten up...

You may also want to check out Body for Life by Bill Philips, which is a great book for starters, you can usually get it at the library...

.... it takes longer than 6 months... it takes a lifetime of learning .... we are never done learning about health because something new comes out daily... so, I have only one other thing to add PATIENCE....all good things take time....it's only been a little while for you...

Good luck and please join us...

Later...