New to forum - mum and keen to lose weight and feel awesome

[mamatraining]

Hi All,

This is to introduce myself...I am new to this website, well new to forums all together but I guess I would love to use this as extra motivation to reach my goals and stick to a better healthier fitter lifestyle

I am interested in maybe one day competing in BB but for now will start with baby steps by first losing weight (fat tummy and bum :oops: ) and getting into a good routine. I live in Auckland and before I had my baby I was quite an active fit outgoing person but only through sports and training rather than running and weight training. Soon after having my baby I tried to walk most days and then decided to join the gym to which I went to the morning classes about 2-3 times a week. Then christmas holidays came and went and so did the gym routine... :naughty:

I started back at the gym at around the start of Feb, 2 - 3 times a week and in the last 3 weeks I have upped that to 6 times a week and absolutely LOVING it!! I work my butt off and I feel so good afterwards... unfortunately I have not really noticed the difference in weight or looks which I have to admit is starting to get me down...

I have an 8 month old baby girl and right now a stay at home mum (heading back to work at the end of the year - ?maybe?) I am 24 years old, 174cm and weigh a whopping 77kgs :shock:

Morning classes at the gym are...

Monday - Kickboxing,

Tuesday - Pump,

Wednesday - Boxing,

Thursday is like a cardio version of pump,

Friday - Spin and

Saturday - Kickboxing

(all awesome HARD classes!) Eating relatively healthy with a cheat day on Sunday (i know i have to cut that out but like i said baby steps) I am currently looking at adding protein shakes (still looking for a suitable one for me) to have after workouts and also maybe adding another afternoon workout of mainly running...

So my goal now is getting down to 68kg rage maybe lighter (dont want to set unachievable goals) but definitely want to be more fitter and toned and also getting stronger abs as right now i still find it so hard to do simple crunches...

All advice or suggestions welcome and I looking forward to using all tools this website has to offer - Thank you

[becbec]

Hey there, welcome :grin:

I used to do classes all the time and think it was enough, but found that even adding in 2-3 whole body weight sessions helped me drop 8kg since Nov (that and eating a whole lot better).

Post up your diet :grin:

[mamatraining]

Hey there, welcome :grin:

I used to do classes all the time and think it was enough, but found that even adding in 2-3 whole body weight sessions helped me drop 8kg since Nov (that and eating a whole lot better).

Post up your diet :grin:

Thanks! Yeh I want to add an afternoon workout but thought running would be good enough to drop the weight, will look into doing weight sessions instead

I am pretty strict monday to Saturday of Breakfast, Just right cereal with skim milk and a tuna salad (i love them!)... lettuce, carrots, tomato, beetroot, cucumber, advocado, almonds, sunflower seeds and tuna - sometimes ill add boiled egg as well

Dinner gets hard at times because my husband will be back from work by then and sometimes he can be quite fussy so that can be a lil unheathy at times but still all meals are a lot better than what it used to be... but we use the slow cooker a lot too because afternoon i dont want to be slaved to the kitchen if you know what i mean - and i have to get baby's dinner ready too, bathed etc but we would have deviled sausages, apricot chicken, last night we had buritos with chicken YUMMM!!

still trying to find ulternative healthy easy non time consuming dinners (miracle right?)...

long winded answer above!

[mamatraining]

Sunday however... :naughty: :naughty: :naughty:

breakfast will be spaghetti on toast, lunch we might go out or it definitely wont be salad.... and i even add in a desert of some sort

but i think i need the cheat day to get through the other 6 days... hopefully one day it will get easier and better!

[firegirl]

Hey there,

I would second the importance of some form of weight training to lose weight and tone up... Does your gym offer a session with a PT to set up a programme for new members? That would be the way to go.

As far as your diet, do you only eat breakfast and dinner?? I would suggest having at least 5 small meals a day. Your brekkie sounds great, then maybe some nuts and fruit or a protein shake for morning tea, meat and salad or a healthy sandwich for lunch and maybe another protein shake for afternoon tea, esp. if that's when you work out!

Not too many carbs (especially white floury stuff like potato, pasta, bread) with your dinner. Try to stick to meat / fish and vegies. If you eat rice, try small amounts of brown rice (1/2 a cup cooked per serve) instead of white. One cheat day a week is okay but try not to make it an all day blowout!

Sounds like you're pretty motivated, so you will get there! All the best.

[firegirl]

Ah and just coz hubby's "fussy" with food, you don't have to eat what he's eating! :poked: Why don't you make, say a healthy fish and chips, like oven baked fish fillets, chips and salad for him, and just omit the chips from your meal and eat a bit of extra salad? You can do the same with chicken, steak, etc. Also, watch your portions, and add-ons like sauces, they can really blow out the calories!

[HarryB]

Ah and just coz hubby's "fussy" with food, you don't have to eat what he's eating! :poked: Why don't you make, say a healthy fish and chips, like oven baked fish fillets, chips and salad for him, and just omit the chips from your meal and eat a bit of extra salad? You can do the same with chicken, steak, etc. Also, watch your portions, and add-ons like sauces, they can really blow out the calories!

Solid... find a happy medium between what you want to eat and the rest of the family want to eat.

[mamatraining]

Hey there,

I would second the importance of some form of weight training to lose weight and tone up... Does your gym offer a session with a PT to set up a programme for new members? That would be the way to go.

As far as your diet, do you only eat breakfast and dinner?? I would suggest having at least 5 small meals a day. Your brekkie sounds great, then maybe some nuts and fruit or a protein shake for morning tea, meat and salad or a healthy sandwich for lunch and maybe another protein shake for afternoon tea, esp. if that's when you work out!

Not too many carbs (especially white floury stuff like potato, pasta, bread) with your dinner. Try to stick to meat / fish and vegies. If you eat rice, try small amounts of brown rice (1/2 a cup cooked per serve) instead of white. One cheat day a week is okay but try not to make it an all day blowout!

Sounds like you're pretty motivated, so you will get there! All the best.

Thank you sooo much for suggestions - exactly things that I need/wanted to hear... I have breakfast(cereal), lunch(tuna salad) and dinner (will try and add in the above suggestions - stoked for ideas)... i do have a banana and almonds post workout and went from fizzy junkie to only drinking water so pretty proud of myself lol... but yes can always be better!

[Ronin]

Or just suck it up and make diferent meals each night. I make one meal for the kids and another for me every night...it's just a case of doing what needs to be done to achieve your desired results.

[mamatraining]

Ah and just coz hubby's "fussy" with food, you don't have to eat what he's eating! :poked: Why don't you make, say a healthy fish and chips, like oven baked fish fillets, chips and salad for him, and just omit the chips from your meal and eat a bit of extra salad? You can do the same with chicken, steak, etc. Also, watch your portions, and add-ons like sauces, they can really blow out the calories!

Yes, ill have to get tough on him i think... will make the fish and chips dinner idea since we have all ingredients so no need for a trip to the supermarket (bonus!)... portion size is what lets me down - will watch out tonight and behave myself!

[tomsammce]

Or just suck it up and make diferent meals each night. I make one meal for the kids and another for me every night...it's just a case of doing what needs to be done to achieve your desired results.

chicken nuggets for them, fish fingers for u? lol

[Ronin]

Or just suck it up and make diferent meals each night. I make one meal for the kids and another for me every night...it's just a case of doing what needs to be done to achieve your desired results.

chicken nuggets for them, fish fingers for u? lol

f*ck bro I'm not that rich...they get to fight over 1 chicken nugget...to the victor the spoils :nod:

[firegirl]

Hey there,

I would second the importance of some form of weight training to lose weight and tone up... Does your gym offer a session with a PT to set up a programme for new members? That would be the way to go.

As far as your diet, do you only eat breakfast and dinner?? I would suggest having at least 5 small meals a day. Your brekkie sounds great, then maybe some nuts and fruit or a protein shake for morning tea, meat and salad or a healthy sandwich for lunch and maybe another protein shake for afternoon tea, esp. if that's when you work out!

Not too many carbs (especially white floury stuff like potato, pasta, bread) with your dinner. Try to stick to meat / fish and vegies. If you eat rice, try small amounts of brown rice (1/2 a cup cooked per serve) instead of white. One cheat day a week is okay but try not to make it an all day blowout!

Sounds like you're pretty motivated, so you will get there! All the best.

Thank you sooo much for suggestions - exactly things that I need/wanted to hear... I have breakfast(cereal), lunch(tuna salad) and dinner (will try and add in the above suggestions - stoked for ideas)... i do have a banana and almonds post workout and went from fizzy junkie to only drinking water so pretty proud of myself lol... but yes can always be better!

I thought you had the tuna with breakfast! :doh: In that case, I would also suggest adding a nice dose of protein to your breakfast, as eating only cereal and milk will make you crave carbs all day long! Try eggs or maybe adding a protein shake in there as well. And watch the sugar content of your cereal, even the supposed healthy ones can be high in sugar through dried fruit etc.

Best option may be oats / porridge. I make and awesome breakfast pancake with oats, eggs, cottage cheese and protein powder - put it in blender then pour into pan! you can add flavourings like vanilla essence, citrus zest, coconut, cocoa powder... Then top it with natural yoghurt and fresh fruit, yum! =P~ =P~

[Jones]

Hello there i am new here . . .

But not that new to body building and forums

In my opinion , the best way to reduce weight is through running .

It will also increase your stamina . But there are different types of running better have a glance over them first .

[firegirl]

Hello there i am new here . . .

But not that new to body building and forums

In my opinion , the best way to reduce weight is through running .

It will also increase your stamina . But there are different types of running better have a glance over them first .

I would disagree with you there, Jones... Running is a good way to lose weight but the weight you lose through running only will be a mix of water, fat and quite a bit of muscle tissue. This is how you can end up "skinny fat", as in: the same shape you were before, just skinnier. Also, your body adapts very quickly to steady state cardio loading, which means that it will become efficient at preserving energy thorugh running (unless you do a lot of interval-type drills, etc). This will result in a weight loss plateau eventually.

In order to change your body shape, you need change your body composition and to add lean muscle tissue, which can be most efficiently accomplished thorugh weight training. This will increase your resting metabolic rate, and make it easier to keep the weight off.

In my opinion, if fat loss is your primary goal, a mix of weight training, steady state and high intensity interval cardio is the best plan to achieve this.

[Anna x4]

Hello there i am new here . . .

But not that new to body building and forums

In my opinion , the best way to reduce weight is through running .

It will also increase your stamina . But there are different types of running better have a glance over them first .

I would disagree with you there, Jones... Running is a good way to lose weight but the weight you lose through running only will be a mix of water, fat and quite a bit of muscle tissue. This is how you can end up "skinny fat", as in: the same shape you were before, just skinnier. Also, your body adapts very quickly to steady state cardio loading, which means that it will become efficient at preserving energy thorugh running (unless you do a lot of interval-type drills, etc). This will result in a weight loss plateau eventually.

In order to change your body shape, you need change your body composition and to add lean muscle tissue, which can be most efficiently accomplished thorugh weight training. This will increase your resting metabolic rate, and make it easier to keep the weight off.

In my opinion, if fat loss is your primary goal, a mix of weight training, steady state and high intensity interval cardio is the best plan to achieve this.

Excellent advice there fire girl. Have to second that. Running makes you get Skinny but takes your muscles away with it!!

[bang_bang]

Hello there i am new here . . .

But not that new to body building and forums

In my opinion , the best way to reduce weight is through running .

It will also increase your stamina . But there are different types of running better have a glance over them first .

I would disagree with you there, Jones... Running is a good way to lose weight but the weight you lose through running only will be a mix of water, fat and quite a bit of muscle tissue. This is how you can end up "skinny fat", as in: the same shape you were before, just skinnier. Also, your body adapts very quickly to steady state cardio loading, which means that it will become efficient at preserving energy thorugh running (unless you do a lot of interval-type drills, etc). This will result in a weight loss plateau eventually.

In order to change your body shape, you need change your body composition and to add lean muscle tissue, which can be most efficiently accomplished thorugh weight training. This will increase your resting metabolic rate, and make it easier to keep the weight off.

In my opinion, if fat loss is your primary goal, a mix of weight training, steady state and high intensity interval cardio is the best plan to achieve this.

Excellent advice there fire girl. Have to second that. Running makes you get Skinny but takes your muscles away with it!!

fair call but muscle loss isnt really an issue when your fat. assuming your a newbie with little nutritional/training experience running/cardio is an easy way to see quick results which is what a beginner needs to motivate and encourge them to take things further

[firegirl]

Again, I disagree. Muscle tissue loss is a HUGE issue when you're overweight and trying to lose body fat. As I said before, it's what keeps your body's metabolism running in high gear.

Also, I would stay that for someone just starting out, who is carrying too much weight and is generally unfit, running may be a pretty big ask and could even lead to injury! I wasn't overweight when I first started training but running longer than 200-300 meters at a time was a pipe dream. No matter how fat / unfit you are, everyone can lift weights if they get someone to put together a programme for them and show them safe lifting techniques.

I'm not saying don't do any cardio but there's a reason why you see all these really out of shape people (mostly women, too, coz they are afraid of weight training!) doing endless hours of cardio and jogging etc for years on end, only to look exactly the same and never change their body shape.

[bang_bang]

Again, I disagree. Muscle tissue loss is a HUGE issue when you're overweight and trying to lose body fat. As I said before, it's what keeps your body's metabolism running in high gear.

Also, I would stay that for someone just starting out, who is carrying too much weight and is generally unfit, running may be a pretty big ask and could even lead to injury! I wasn't overweight when I first started training but running longer than 200-300 meters at a time was a pipe dream. No matter how fat / unfit you are, everyone can lift weights if they get someone to put together a programme for them and show them safe lifting techniques.

I'm not saying don't do any cardio but there's a reason why you see all these really out of shape people (mostly women, too, coz they are afraid of weight training!) doing endless hours of cardio and jogging etc for years on end, only to look exactly the same and never change their body shape.

its not a HUGE issue if your eating half decent. mamatraining is 24 and 77kg and wants to lose weight. im not saying just do cardio either but if you want quick results then running or other cardio is a very effective option.

your not wrong im just pointing out theres more than 1 way to do things and if i was in her shoes this is what id do.

full body workout at the gym monday wendesday friday.

go for a brisk walk for 30 mins 4-5 times 1st week

25 mins walk 5 mins slow run 4-5 times 2nd week

20 mins walk 10 slow run 4-5 times 3rd week

15 min walk 15 min slow run 4th week and so on. thats just an example u should just progress as you feel comfortable but at the end of the day your diet is going to be the biggest factor in your results!

just my 2c

[Kiwi-in-Aussie]

Do both mamatraining. Weights and cardio. I'm a bit taller than you (175cm) and weigh 59.8 kg. Not as young as you though (I'm 38) I originally started @ 101 kgs. So yeah, I did weight training and then cardio afterwards. Granted I kept my calories pretty low which helped to an extent, however I literally worked my butt off too. I also did circuit training, but now have changed to doing 4 days weights plus 20-30 min cardio (2 days upper body & 2 days lower body) and also now do Muay Thai 3 days a week with my eldest son and daughter. I've dropped the cardio over the last week and just focused on the 4 days weight training and 3 days Muay Thai which I think is ample.

Weight training and cardio go hand in hand when losing weight if you want to have less saggy skin after you've lost the weight. It was suggested to me to do one or the other, but I made the decision to do both. Glad I did. I managed to fill out pretty ok too. Only really saggy bit I have on my body after incorporating both is loose skin on my stomach, which after having 7 children is not an issue for me, nor is it alot of lose skin either. I think if I didn't do both, I would of been quite thin but saggy looking I guess. I'd also suggest walking (briskly first), before starting running. I developed a love for running (started off walking though), however in the last month I've had really bad knee issues and was told by my Dr to stop the running.

I hope you succeed in your quest to lose weight and enter a competition. I only decided last week that this would be my goal as well. At the moment I'm on a slow bulk (lol - lose the weight to now have to gain some), however I want my muscle so yeah, got to do what I got to do

[Kiwi-in-Aussie]

My post should of included that weight training and cardio will give you a better body composition as you lose the weight. I know it's not all about saggy skin. Just didn't word it right.

[firegirl]

Again, I disagree. Muscle tissue loss is a HUGE issue when you're overweight and trying to lose body fat. As I said before, it's what keeps your body's metabolism running in high gear.

Also, I would stay that for someone just starting out, who is carrying too much weight and is generally unfit, running may be a pretty big ask and could even lead to injury! I wasn't overweight when I first started training but running longer than 200-300 meters at a time was a pipe dream. No matter how fat / unfit you are, everyone can lift weights if they get someone to put together a programme for them and show them safe lifting techniques.

I'm not saying don't do any cardio but there's a reason why you see all these really out of shape people (mostly women, too, coz they are afraid of weight training!) doing endless hours of cardio and jogging etc for years on end, only to look exactly the same and never change their body shape.

its not a HUGE issue if your eating half decent. mamatraining is 24 and 77kg and wants to lose weight. im not saying just do cardio either but if you want quick results then running or other cardio is a very effective option.

your not wrong im just pointing out theres more than 1 way to do things and if i was in her shoes this is what id do.

full body workout at the gym monday wendesday friday.

go for a brisk walk for 30 mins 4-5 times 1st week

25 mins walk 5 mins slow run 4-5 times 2nd week

20 mins walk 10 slow run 4-5 times 3rd week

15 min walk 15 min slow run 4th week and so on. thats just an example u should just progress as you feel comfortable but at the end of the day your diet is going to be the biggest factor in your results!

just my 2c

Hey Bang Bang,

I think we are pretty much on the same page. If you actually read my original post re: running, you will notice that I also advocated for a mix of weight training, steady state cardio and interval training for best results.

I definitely agree that diet is the biggest factor, but I don't think you can have a truly effective weight loss programme where you really change your body shape (not just size) and keep the fat off for good, without some form of resistance training. In other words, just cardio / running/ etc in itself isn't going to cut the mustard.

[firegirl]

Ah, and I never said mamatraining was fat or totally unfit. When I was talking about unfit people, i was replying to anna x4's post about how "if your fat, muscle loss isn't an issue". Just to set the record straight... :nono: :grin:

[mamatraining]

wow! i havent been on in a wee while but have been keep track on what im doing and eating...

session with PT was amaazing and intense and I was in bed by 7 and dead to the world haha so Im going to go once a week, maybe once every 2 weeks as money is a bit tight! but he has given me a weight/cardio plan (like cardio monday, weight tuesday, cardio wednesday and so on... using treadmill, rowing maching and tuesdays focousing on upper body and thursday focusing elsewhere...) which I feel like I can do on top of the classes Im doing in the morning and the session id have booked with the PT will only help me more.

Diet is a lot better, hubby's onboard and keen to help me out so happy about that! have added a boiled egg (minus yolk for breakfast) and write down everything i eat which has helped me see what im eating and what times

I realise I had weighed myself about 2 weeks before starting forum and just assumed i had not lost any weight since but today I weighed myself and now Im 75.1kg awesome! and shorts and pants arent as snug...

still a lot of work ahead of me but at least the sun is shinning for my afternoon session at the gym!

[mamatraining]

Do both mamatraining. Weights and cardio. I'm a bit taller than you (175cm) and weigh 59.8 kg. Not as young as you though (I'm 38) I originally started @ 101 kgs. So yeah, I did weight training and then cardio afterwards. Granted I kept my calories pretty low which helped to an extent, however I literally worked my butt off too. I also did circuit training, but now have changed to doing 4 days weights plus 20-30 min cardio (2 days upper body & 2 days lower body) and also now do Muay Thai 3 days a week with my eldest son and daughter. I've dropped the cardio over the last week and just focused on the 4 days weight training and 3 days Muay Thai which I think is ample.

Weight training and cardio go hand in hand when losing weight if you want to have less saggy skin after you've lost the weight. It was suggested to me to do one or the other, but I made the decision to do both. Glad I did. I managed to fill out pretty ok too. Only really saggy bit I have on my body after incorporating both is loose skin on my stomach, which after having 7 children is not an issue for me, nor is it alot of lose skin either. I think if I didn't do both, I would of been quite thin but saggy looking I guess. I'd also suggest walking (briskly first), before starting running. I developed a love for running (started off walking though), however in the last month I've had really bad knee issues and was told by my Dr to stop the running.

I hope you succeed in your quest to lose weight and enter a competition. I only decided last week that this would be my goal as well. At the moment I'm on a slow bulk (lol - lose the weight to now have to gain some), however I want my muscle so yeah, got to do what I got to do

wow thats inspiration right there Kiwi-in-Aussie...starting weight 101 and down to below 60 amaaaaazing!! and your a bit taller - really thought it was unrealistic for me to get to low 60s let alone below AWESOME work you!!

good luck with your new goal, im soo sure you will succeed amazingly!!

p.s i feel like i shouldnt be named mamatraining if i only have one baby and you 7...MACHINE!!! i think i should change my name :wink:

but yes with advice from many one here and my PT, i have now got a PT plan that includes cardion and weights...