Achy!

Good morning!  I had my WLS on last December and am down 57 lbs which I am so happy about.  I joined Planet Fitness 3 weeks ago and met with the trainer to set up a toning program which I do 6 days a week, alternating days of upper body/lower body with treadmill as a warm up.  I am so happy to see muscle definition in my upper arms (back of arms...eh, "Come Sail Away" by Styx comes to mind :)  Here's the problem- my hips are achy almost all the time.  I use the machines with no problems but when I wake up in the a.m., or have been sitting for a while, my hips are achy and it takes a dozen or so steps to losened up to I can stand straight.  Anyone else experience this?  And my lower back is tight also.  I do stretching after my workouts, which feel great.  Oh, and when I'm out walking my dog my lower back starts to ache after a couple miles.  I don't want this to hamper my exercises since for the first time in my life I can move! 

Stretching is the first thing that comes to mind.  I know for me I am always stretching off and on througout the day.

 I totally unerestimated stretching.  Its critical, I feel especially for us that spent so many years as couch potatos.  I use the foam roller, and stretch religiously.  I can tell you it made a world of difference.  I have also added in ART therapy.  I was a doubter at first, but I gotta tell you, it is so nice.  

Stretch A LOT. and really spend time.. like 30 seconds a stretch, and do it a couple or 3 times.  Don't ru****  I don't think you can over stretch.

I became a big fan of trigger points after a 45 minute intro.  Hurts so bad while doing it but damn afterwards if you don't feel great.

 What are trigger points?

trigger point therapy utilizes toold like the foam roller to do an intense deep tissue type of massage using your own body to  supply the pressure.

There is a company Trigger Point Performance Thrapy that seels a number of products to work the muscles as needed.

  http://www.tptherapy.com/

The workshop I was at was not a sales motivated workshop so we focused more on using the products and the correct techniques.  Like I said it was pretty painful working some of the spots but later it was so much better feeling.

 Ah yes, the foam roller.  I didn't know what the therapy was called, but our trainer is really big on the foam roller.  My hubby uses it a lot.  I finally tried it for the first time last night.  I've been afraid I was just too big and/or uncoordinated to use it, and it was rather funny.  Didn't do much for me and I was rolling more.  Oh well, practice, practice, practice.  I have a good website that tells you how to use it.

http://www.runnersworld.com/video/1,8052,s6-1-0-5,00.html

Thanks.
Jan