exercise goals etc

Well, Well, WELL!! It has been a 1 year and 9 mos!!
I have been exercising and have finally been successful enough to respectfully wear a T back shirt to the gym!! Now how about that! I have become the more fit woman that I wanted to be. I have new goals now but have certainly made serious achievements that I wanted to at the gym.
One of my new goals for exercise is to increase my cardio....try and burn off some off some more inches. I am entertaining plastics but I feel I need to give it another year of more focused and intensive cardio. I have certainly had cardio in my program but feel I certainly can increase it to see what more I can do. I am enjoying a road bike and that has been AWESOME! It is amazing what a great workout that is:)
Sure would appreciate any helpful hints from anyone on their cardio routines and what has helped you be able to reach futher goals.

 Way to Go! Sounds like you have been doing the right things!

I would do interval sprints for cardio, they melt off fat quicker than anything I know....Run as fast as you can for a 30 seconds, walk for a minute, etc...then increase the time when necessary....it works better than slow and steady cardio IMO.

Also weight training, functional training...keep your body guessing... I love the TRX cables, kettle bells, and weighted balls, so much more fun than machines...and if you haven't yet, hire an ACE certified trainer, a great trainer can help you get results so much better than on your own. The money I save on medications, fast food, & eating out, was designated to a trainer, worth every penny!

 Do you weight train? NOTHING changes your body like weight training. Well, plastics would change it the most.



Gail

Trainer for SURE!! After 6 mos of post op losing I finally felt I was ready to get to the gym and MOST def have a trainer. April of this year is my 1 yr celebration of working with a trainer!! NO DOUBT that having a trainer has made ALL the difference in my progress.  TRULY the best investment I have ever made.The ONLY reason I can wear a Tback shirt to the gym is because of the weight training with cardio. I can look in the mirror respectfully while working out and think to myself...WHO  is THIS woman..HAHAHA!  Cardio has been a big part of my trainer's plan each day. I just need to do more on my own.
I just know that the "shedding" of this post op weight is over...more serious cardio is needed on my own. I am going to increase my biking too. When school is in I can spend more intensive time with cardio. With the kids there is only so long I can hang at the gym to do all that is required to really make certain changes. I am getting off to a good head start these last couple of weeks ahead. The interval sprints sound awesome. I can do that I believe. Of course, anything with practice time right:) I am always so surprised at how much stronger I am. So much has changed with the gym time! Just want to make new and bigger goals.

Yep, intervals are awesome!

 I have been at goal for a long time but am only JUST starting a cardio program    

I got inspired reading a book called Younger Next Year which is written for those of us 50 and over. the authors (an old guy and his doctor) strongly encourage us to get a heart rate monitor and so I did. I think will definitely help.

I know I could just "take my pulse" but do I, is the question.

anyway, FYI

 Do you do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) or Pylometrics (sp)? Your trainer can also incorporate cardio into your weight training sessions, if she isn't already doing so. Spinning classes incorporate H.I.I.T into their classes. Also, running using intervals can burn more fat.

I go in spurts of doing different things. I like TRX, Spinning, Stairmaster, and hikes outside. I do different things, at different times. You make the most important gains, when your body is confused at what you are doing. If you do the same things, your body doesn't have to work as hard and your progress can plateau.

Yes, he always has incorporated all of that in training. I just need to do more I am sure. You have really been training I can tell.:)

 I've been working with a trainer for about 19 months and it is definitely the best thing that I have done post WLS. Even when I slack off the cardio, I have always been consistent with the trainer. I have loose skin, but it would be so much worse without the weight training and muscle under the skin. Someday, it would be nice to see my ab muscles. I know, they are there, but I can't always see them. :(.   All the exercise has helped to decrease my flat butt. Cardio alone would not have helped that at all.

Some people start training for a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or a full marathon. Some even train for triathlon's or an Ironman. This can kick you training up a few notches and challenge you in ways that you may not have been challenged before.

I'm sure that others will chime in.


Gail

I know this is going to blow some minds, but strength training is actually a better way to burn off fat than cardio.