All You Workin Out Mamas!

Updated on April 14, 2011
C.B. asks from Oskaloosa, KS
12 answers

i have written on here before about my struggle to lose weight. good news - it has been almost 2 weeks and i have worked out every (week) day! yay! tomorrow will be two full weeks. i want to give myself the weekends NOT to get up at 5 am and work out. plus i have been trying to do active things on the weekends as well, taking my son to the park, walking, etc. i am just starting out, so i am very out of shape! *unless, as they say, round IS a shape :)

I have been doing this great series of workouts i found, and i have kind of stuck with this one episode i have found, lately. it's low impact, a lot of floor work, but it focuses on the outer thighs and stomach, which are going to be my main focus. i love it! i really feel like i am getting a great workout right where i need it most.

my question is (and i can't say this without sounding whiny) when does it get easier!?! for almost two weeks i have done the same workout, working the same muscles...my back has hurt (i fixed that, my form was a little off), my muscles have been pulled, my abs have ached...but it's not really getting easier at all.

i am not weighing myself right now (although after 2 weeks i think i am about to) and i don't want to focus on a "number". i am looking long term and am looking to just be healthier, hoping of course that weight loss will be a big part of that. i have been eating much better (surprising how easy that has been). my attitude has been "anything "they" can do, i can do too!" i know millions of people do this. there is NO reason i can't. i know lots of people who have lost weight. i will be one of them! i am just as smart, just as mentally strong, as any of them. SO.

when do i start feeling/seeing some results?!?! lol! let's get this show on the road already! thoughts!? thanks as always!!

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So What Happened?

thank you all! what a great pick me up. definitely encouraging and just the support i needed. i will definitely mix things up. you guys are great, thanks again!

More Answers

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A.P.

answers from Gainesville on

It should start getting easier pretty soon. Your body should start showing a littl results and in more muscle soon too, but if you're overweight the muscle often underlies the fat so you can't expect to see a six pack lol! You don't want to do the same workout everyday though. first your muscles need time to recover, so if you work legs and back tuesday you wait a day an then you can work them thursday.. Also after a while your body adjusts to the workout and you won't get the same benefits...Finally unfortunatley building muscle as in ab workouts don't burn as many calories as cardio, so if you can add some cardio-maybe cardio m,w,f and weight training/ abs & leg work t& th...

2 moms found this helpful

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

You shouldn't do the same work out daily -- you need to change it up. Your muscles need to rest a bit -- so working the same ones day after day will lead to pulls, stress, strains, etc. It WILL get easier but it takes about 4-8 weeks to develop an exercise HABIT and about 8-12 weeks for your body to get used to a workout and plateau (once you are fit that is....otherwise, it will just get easier for a while and then eventually plateau where you aren't getting any more real benefits from doing the same thing all the time). Floor work is great but since you can't spot reduce, make sure there is enough overall CARDIO in the video (about 25 minute minimum where your heart rate should be UP and PUMPING). If not, make sure to get enough other cardio in like walks, jogs, bike rides, elliptical etc. You WILL see results -- there is just no quick fix that is long lasting. It is a life style change! GOOD FOR YOU MAMA!

PM me if you need some support -- I went from super fatty after I quit nursing my 2nd child and started exercising again in February 2010 -- by June and July, I did 2 triathlons and lost all the baby weight. Of course, I am now 35 weeks prego with #3, so about to go through it all over again ;) I always feel happier when I am keeping up with my exercise! Endorphins work magic!

2 moms found this helpful
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D.G.

answers from Chicago on

Good for you!!! I"m with you with the 5am. workouts, but EVERY day? Hmm.. I've heard just starting out you should give your muscles a rest & do every other day, that might be part of the soreness. Otherwise, stretching before and after exercising is really important. As far as results, every one is different. Don't be surprised if the numbers don't move or go up for the first month or so. Muscle weighs more. I wouldn't focus on the numbers, I'd focus on how you feel, how loose your clothes will get & your energy level. Good luck to you!!!!

2 moms found this helpful

S.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I have made one mistake over and over through the years. It's been working on one machine or exercise the most. You've probably heard that water aerobics and swimming is safe for people with fibromyalgia and or arthritis. Well not for me it's not. Every time I work out I start slow, work up like I'm supposed to, stretch, and always end up with repetative use injuries. Please don't work through the pain. You will be sorry.

What you need to do is create a schedule that includes every muscle group and giving each muscle group 48 hours between workouts. It's not easy. In my case it's that I have no coordination and can't do workout videos. I get too upset and can't keep up with what they are doing. I can't go to the gym all the time and when I have one piece of machinery to work on, it's too much to do it daily.

I totally hope this works with you. Have you tried any of the Leslie Sansone videos? I think she's not too hard to follow. I used to have them on vhs. I could almost do them LOL. You might love them.

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

As soon as its gets too easy you have to intensify your workout in order to continue weight loss and toning.

I recently did the 30 day shred, for 62 days, then now im on an all new regimen, kick boxing 3 days a week, pilates in between days, walking and roller blading every day. My results are not what i would want but they are good, and worth it.

I think the key to success is mixing it up and tricking the body not to get used to any workouts

1 mom found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Dallas on

You really need to be doing a cardio workout if weight loss is your goal. You need to be doing something that keeps your heart rate up for an extended amount of time, an hour will get good results. You could jog or take spin classes. I would say a month and you will stop being as sore. But, honestly you do have to keep stepping it up as you get used to the intensity to keep losing. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.W.

answers from Boston on

You sound like you are off to a great start! The soreness has to do w/ you just starting out but you also may be working the same muscle groups too much. Stick to doing the video every other day, muscles need a day off to recuperate. By taking a day or two of rest, you'll be able to come back stronger and have an even better workout. You could also get another video that targets another area of your body, say upper body, and alternate the videos to avoid overdoing it. On days when you're not doing floor work you could do something aerobic like walking or riding a stationary bike.

I would say in about a month you'll be seeing results, and pay more attention to how your clothes fit than the scale. Best of luck!

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Chicago on

Kudos for being off to a great start! That being said, you need to give your muscles a much-needed rest. Variety is the spice of life. You can work out every day, but not do the same exercises every day. You aren't giving your muscles enough time to recover. Think Monday, Wednesday, Friday as Cardio days and Tuesday, Thursday as strength training days.

Also, mix it up. Do different cardio and different strength training. That way, you're using all of your muscles and strengthening them. You don't want to have killer abs and bat wings. You want to be toned all over.

Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Have to agree with the others - change it up. If you're doing the same thing over and over again, you're OVER working those muscles, which can cause fatigue and injury. They need a break.

Since you're in the habit now, try some different things. Working your overall body will lead to weight loss - so you don't have to keep hitting the same area over and over again. Make the routine that you do now a 1-2x/week thing. Then test out some other types of workouts to see what else you like.

Great job and congratulations!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Detroit on

I think it takes a good month (sadly) to really start to see result. And be CAREFUL about the scale!! I started working out last July and I got on the scale a few weeks in and almost cried as my weight had gone up slightly. REALLY?!?? But, my clothes were fitting so much better. I was gaining muscle and the fat was "shifting" a bit. Weight wise (according to the scale) I am slightly thinner than I was last July, but I have dropped at least one size, so that's what really matters. Everyone is different of course. I have been eating healthy for years and was only slightly active and thankfully did not have a lot to lose, but it does take time to start seeign results.

Keep up the great work!!! You will feel so much better about yourself and you will have so much more energy!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Louisville on

When I started working out a few months ago, I began by weighing and measuring. The program I use has you check yourself at ten day intervals, so after the first interval, I was pleased to see a couple of pounds lost and inches lost in all the important spots. But the next time, I had gained weight and lost inches. Logically, I knew it was muscle, but emotionally, it was rough to see the numbers go up. Be prepared for that when you start weighing yourself. In my opinion, it is a good indicator but isn't the whole picture by any means. The biggest help (on the scale) was getting back to healthier eating while working out regularly. Definitely more energy and of course, faster weight loss (but nothing extreme). Just stick with it and keep that positive attitude! You'll be seeing great results in no time.

1 mom found this helpful

H.V.

answers from Cleveland on

YAY!!! Way to go!

Based on what you said, it sounds like you are doing a form of pilates or yoga style exercise. Those are soo awesome.
Anyways, it takes a while for those kinds of things not to hurt. You've been "out of shape" for a lil while, so you have to get back. Remember, think about how longs it has been since you were "in shape" it will probably take almost that long till you aren't hurting anymore. IT sucks but you're doing great!~

Also please be careful with scales. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat does. So if you lost 2lbs, but are gaining more muscle mass your weight on the scale could say that you gained weight.
If you're clothes are fittin better, you know it is working :)
Oh you could always find a BMI test or something along those lines.

1 mom found this helpful
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