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At this point, it might be worth it to get a personal trainer. Tell them specifically where you need to lose the weight and get them to set up a plan for you.
Good luck, and congrats on the weight you've already lost!
This might sound silly, but have you tried working out? Even just walking and hour a day makes a huge difference. If all you've done so far is eat better that's a great start, but you have to exercise too.
Try walking, jumping rope, anything active. Get at least an hour of cardio a day! I absolutely hate working out, but when I walk everyday it makes me feel soooo much better so it's worth it.
You can definitely do it and safely too (safe weight loss rate is 1-2 lbs/week). If you can't afford a trainer, check into Weight Watchers for diet and just get active. Adding 30 minutes of fast walking and weights (yes, weights) to your routine will make a big difference. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn and the more it trims down your body - they don't bulk you up like most people think.
You can definitely do it!!! :) Good luck!
ok, just by hearing just the three of you is giving me encouragment!
I am still watching what I am eating. i've been going to the gym since last week about 3 times a week and doing 40 minutes of cardio. I think maybe, i'll up the workout to 4 times a week and increase cardio to 1 hour. I've been doing light 3 pound weights on my arms and shoulders, which i don't know if that is having an affect.
BC I just started this regime, I haven't noticed anything so far, and that is why i am panicking...myabe i'm doing soemthing wrong or not enough or not the right way....
What are some of your workout regimes?
Cardio is definately the way to go. The problem is that your body adjusts to the lower calorie diet you have been eating by lowering your metabolism. You need to raise it, and aerobic exercise is the way to do that (watching the Olympics last night, they said that Michael Phelps burns 4000 calories per workout, needs over 12,000 per day to fuel his swimming with the number of races he has been doing per day!)
I mostly bike for cardio, as I HATE being cooped up in the gym. In the winter I do BodyPump, which is kick-butt and quite fun. Throughout the year I do yoga, which a great maintenance type activity. I don't think you'll lose a lot of weight doing yoga, but it's great for firming and toning and flexibility.
Keep in mind that it's not just a question of weight but also of mass.
Muscles weights more than fat.
So if you exercise regularily you'll get more fit althoug on the scale it might not change all that much. Just so you know.
Exercice is definitely the way to go, Little things you can do on top of your regular exercice: park as far as you can from the shop in the parking lot, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk walk walk.
Get a personal trainer. I am going to give you some tough love - if you knew you needed to lose 15 pounds, but didn't start working out until LAST week (though you had 3 months), than you obviously do not have enough intrinsic motivation to get to the gym. There are a lot of things that haven't motivated you to workout: losing weight, being healthy, fitting into your dress... If those things had been motivating in and of themselves, you would have been in the gym a long time ago. You've only been working out for a week - I fear that this habit is going to die quickly unless you add something to the list of reasons to workout ... MONEY.
That is where a trainer comes in. I prepay for my sessions a month in advance - if I skip a workout, I'm losing money. I have never been able to create a workout habit, but now the combined motivation of not wanting to lose money and the social motivation (it is rude to not show up for an appointment), I have finally been able to develop a wonderful habit of working out regularly. You don't need to be rich to get a trainer. I am a grad student. I've stopped eating out and I've found an afforadable trainer. I have had a trainer at my local YMCA and now I found a med-student who is a certified trainer who was able to work around my budget. Another reason you need a trainer, you probably don't know how to work out and you could probably get a lot more "bang for your buck" time wise. All thirty minute workouts are not the same - you can work out for 30 minutes and burn 150 calories or you can work out for 30 minutes and burn 600 and get muscle tone. So get a trainer! And also take other people's advice - get a pedometer and make sure you get 1000 steps a day, take the steps instead of elevator ALWAYS, do not let chips/cookies/cake into your home - keep healthy food around, and do not binge after a workout because "you've earned it." Buy Self magazine - it always makes me feel lazy and unhealthy - but it is full of great advice.
One last thing - if you are 5'8" and 118 lbs - you can't lose 15 lbs in three months - talk with a Dr. and a trainer to make sure you are setting a healthy and realistic goal for yourself.
Another thing to try is pilates because it combines the streching aspects of yoga together with muscle building through resistance. I bought some DVDs and just do it at home and I've seen huge results with that combined with cardio. For the cardio, you don't need to kill yourself either - you typically want your heart rate between 125-135 (depending on age) in order to stay in the fat burning zone. Once you get above that, you are burning carbohydrates and not fats. A fast paced walk that leaves you slightly out of breath but still able to have a conversation would be about that pace.
If you go the weight route, you might want to consider more weight and fewer reps. You should max out at 8-10 reps and then repeat that three times. Then switch off your days - arms/back one day, legs the next, abs the next, repeat, to work the whole body and not get injured. If you work out a gym, ask a trainer there if you can pay for just one session to get a weight training consultation.
Oh, and don't pay attention that much to the scale. You can actually dramatically change your body without losing a pound because muscle weighs more than fat but occupies less space. What you might want to do is actually check your measurements or just go by how your clothes fit to see if you're getting results because sometimes the scale won't move even when you're reducing size because you're trading the fat for muscle.
Gosh, thanks for posting this. I've been bad about working out myself the past few months and this actually really got me motivated to get so exercise!
Cardio is great, but not the only thing you need to concentrate on. Strength training needs to be added into your routine! Mix it up a bit. Check out the free classes your gym offers.
Sign up for a race...put the pressure on yourself.
Don't have a routine or trainer...check out www.trainwithmeonline.com. Free to sign up. Free workout routines. Ipod video downloads. Videos and pictures on how to do each exercise.
Keep watching what you eat. Drink lots of water. Stay away from anything that has high fructose corn syrup and trans fat.
And if you're really determined...i say check out the book The Abs Diet by David Zinczenko. Not really a diet, but a lifestyle adjustment. It has changed my ilfe for the better!
And if at all possible, get your fiance to work out with you. FI and I work out together, and it's the best motivation for me!
Good luck!
GREAT to hear you no longer need the medications!
GREAT JOB at eating health and losing so much weight! That is really amazing!
I agree that eating healthy AND exercising regularly completely changes your body...the stubborn spots go away when you do both!
GOOD LUCK increasing your work outs! I have no doubt you have the discipline and committment to lose the medication weight :)
Agreed with the walking -- my "workout" is speed walking my dog about 45minutes a day, 5 days a week. My favorite way to tone the upper body is with good old fashioned push-ups. No equipment required, and tones and tightens your arms, chest, back and abs in one shot.
And Mrs. Froggy is really right on with the little things you can do that add up -- taking the stairs, etc. Added bonus: it doesn't take up a whole lot of extra time. Pretty soon they just become habit, which helps to make a long term difference. Think twice before hopping in the car -- walk to work, the bank, the store. Europeans walk and bike everywhere and look how skinny they are compared to us hefty Americans...
Are there any running groups in your area? I think a trainer is a fantastic idea, but if that's not in your budget, I'd suggest joining a running group. I joined one four years ago to train for the LA marathon and have been running ever since. Having that accountability and support really helped keep me motivated. A good running group should inspire you to do cross training too, like biking and pilates, since they're all good ways to build your strength and endurance. Good luck!
Also, check out the "walking vest," or start walking with weights. When your body plateaus, it thinks that it has lost all the weight it needs to (i.e. you're not burning as many calories as you were before), so you need to trick your body into thinking that you haven't lost all that weight.
HTH
First of all, great work!!!
My FI who once had a personal trainer imparted this interesting workout advice to me: working at the top of your ability level (but not hurting yourself) for short spurts of varying activities is better than one long stint at any one activity. So increasing from 45 minutes to an hour of cardio probably won't help you. In fact, 45 minutes may be too much in one go! Start with 15 minutes, and then switch to strength training exercises to build muscle. Do fewer reps at the most weight you can handle without hurting yourself. By the tenth rep or so your muscles should be close to "giving out"---that feeling is what tells you that you are breaking down (and thus rebuilding stronger) muscle. Then rest for a bit and do another set. Then after you've done weights or sit-ups etc for awhile, do another 15 minutes of cardio. Alternate what body areas you're concentrating on so that you don't overwhelm yourself. The variety also will help keep you motivated. Good luck!
Also, since your dress has a corset back, is there more room for you to be a little bigger and have it still fit?
I'll heartily recommendweights. 4 months before our wedding I started serious weight training with my now husband. I did cardio, but much less than normal. I did real weights, not small ones and I honestly don't think I ever looked better. The tone is amazing and muscle really burns those calories. Plus I liked it more than cardio. I was really worried about getting bulky, but that didn't happen, at all. I also combined Pilates which helps develop the long lean look. I did something very similar to RoseSkier - had 3 days - legs/shoulders, biceps/back and triceps/chest. I did 5-6 exercises each day, with 3 sets of 8-10 reps. And at weights where I could barely get the 3 sets of 8-10 reps in. Once I could do the full sets and reps, I increased the weight. You need to be able to keep track of your progress on paper....
3 pound weights won't do much - it is pretty much a waste of your time. I would get a trainer, someone who will push you, to teach you proper weight exercises so you feel comfortable at weights that will really help transform my body. Even if you can only afford one session to learn the basics - or find a guy friend who knows what he is doing and can teach you.
Incorporating walking more (stairs, not escalators) and reducing portion sizes are other good suggestions!!
Thanks for all of your advice! =)
I've been going through treatments and medication for over a year, and all of it got affected my weight. I was not allowed to exercise, and the pain kept me from doing anything that has to do with movement. Even coming to work was hard for me.
Even after I got off the medication, I was still going through pain and had to go through preventive treatments. Which is why i have only done watching what I was eating rather than exercise. It was just too painful and I was scared something will happen...lol~
Now, that everything is over and done with, it feels great to exercise.
I will be taking all of your advice. Parking far, getting a pedometer, strength training with cardio, some yoga, some pilates....basically doing the little things throughout the day to help me burn those fat while doing gym workouts.
whew~ now, i know i can do it!! =)
chelseamorning- I've been hearing that doing spurts of intensive cardio and then resting and doing it again is more effective than doing 30 min of same intesnity cardio. I am definitely going to try that!
I've had trainers in the past, so with my arm workouts I know i can definitely go heavier, but i though easing into it with 3 pounders will help...hahaha! I'm babying myself as you can tell. I'll be switching over to my usual 10 pounders and following your advice! =)
my FI and i have different gym memberships! boooo!
Make sure you are taking care of yourself too though. Talk with your doctor and/or a dietician/nutritionist. They may be able to give you other tips that would help. Take a mutlivitamin and drink lots of water.Congrats and good luck!
I was in a very similiar position just weeks ago!
You have 3 months. YOU CAN DO IT!
I lost 12lbs in 2 months all by changing my caloric intake and exercising daily.
You also need to explore the world of alterations. I had a fully beaded La Sposa that is hand beaded over the dress making it damn near impossible to alter. Well.... it's possible. The dress was much too snug and the zipper wasn't zipping. I took it to 2 different seamstresses and both had different opinions, I went with the one that I felt knew the most. It worked.
Get second opinions on your dress and know your options. There is NOTHING WORSE than feeling like a beached whale in your wedding dress, it's emotionally exhausting. Watching what you eat, coupled with exercise and a good seamstress will get you to where you need to be!
Good Luck!
If I may add my 2 cents as a seamstress - your choice of a corset back is the most flexible option of all dresses for weight fluctuations because you just adjust the lacings. Of course, if it's allover too small even that won't help but you CAN add an extra placket underneath the lacing and it's quite straightforward for any good seamstress to do.
So fret not - I think it'll be great!
Maybe try pilates? I lost about 5 pounds and a bunch of inches after I was consecutively doing it. It could be a bit costly but the results are there especially if you are not a big fan of the gym. Cardio I try to do 45 minutes 5 days a week especially to lose weight before the wedding. The best time to go is in the morning.
OK. This is controversial and you may not be able to do it due to your medical condition. But stop eating carbs. All of them. Starting now. In two weeks you can lose up to 10 pounds by not consuming the simple carbohydrates found in most store bought breads and pastas. Replace those items with lean meets and lots of veggies. After two weeks you can add whole grain pastas and breads and brown rice into your diet, but minimally. I workout everyday and do long runs twice a week, but after I did this diet my entire outlook on food and eating changed and I lost those 10 pounds that I'd been struggling to lose for years! It's called the South Beach diet, which has a bad wrap, I know. But read the book. It changed my life.
Ok, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but...have you tried Spanx? Obviously exercise and eating healthy are good, and the Spanx won't shave 15 pounds, but they might give you an added edge. I've never worn them, but a lot of friends have recommended them for under the wedding dress (from their own personal experience). Also, a friend just told me she read that Jessica Alba wears two pairs under dresses for red carpet events. Now, that sounds kind of crazy, but I suppose if it works, it works!
I'm sure I'm going over some information that you've already gotten, but some of it might be useful.
First, I agree with previous comments - make sure your goal is reasonable, and that you are setting realistic goals - your body will always equilibrate around its ideal weight. Check your BMI to see where you stand.
Second, I definitely like the personal trainer idea. If nothing else, get two or three sessions during which they can show you a workout routine that you can follow. They will also show you how to properly perform the workout without injuring yourself and without improper form.
Third, cardio is always good. One thing to keep in mind(for plateau purposes) is to vary your workouts. I have several friends who have joint issues or back issues, so they cannot do as intense of a workout as I can. Still, they were able to lose weight by putting a treadmill on a higher incline, walking moderately, and monitoring their heart rate to get into their target zone(if you don't invest in a trainer, try a heart monitor - it'll help you keep track of heart rate, calories burned, etc.) Each time you notice you begin to plateau, try something different. Go from jogging, to elliptical, to biking, and classes. Rotate as much as possible to avoid your body getting used to anything.
Lastly, weight training is a huge help. Even though I don't have great genetics for building muscle, any little help I get makes burning calories easier. More muscle = more calories burned. Don't worry about bulking up - most women never get anywhere close to being "big." A trainer will also be able to modify your workout to your goals.
Ultimately, remember that all those beautiful models have been working out for years and years(not to mention airbrushing), so don't get discouraged. Aim for what your body is capable of, and remember to take care of your body. Eat smaller meals and more often(up to 6 times a day), work out at least 5-6 days a week for at least 30-45 minutes in your target heart zone, and vary your workouts!
Good luck! Just remember you'll be beautiful no matter what, because on that day, you're going to be glowing from happiness!
amandaR- I LOVE LOVE spanx. I am thinking of getting one to wear under my dress. The one I have is a high power one, but I was thinking of getting one that looks like a tight strapless stress.
Definitely no matter what shape or size, spanx will smooth out everything!
I would exchange for the bigger size dress if you can. It is easier to alter sizes down than up. It sounds way too stressful and also unhealthy to lose 15 pounds in such a short amount of time.
Novbride08 - i love your positive attitude! Thanks for posting this - it's so helpful to read what has worked for others.
I have to agree with MsShamrock about cutting out bad carbs...it really changed my body. I used to be addicted to white rice, pasta, bread, muffins, cereal - that was the bulk of my diet. I worked out and managed to stay in shape, but there were always a few inches in trouble spots that never budged...I just attributed it to getting older and having a desk job. My fiance told me I would see results if I just gave up the daily rice and pasta meals...I told him he was crazy.
Well, after I ordered my dress I tried cutting out the bad carbs and eating lots more protein and veggies...the stubborn spots disappeared, all my clothes fit differently, and everyone noticed. I still eat carbs, but it doesn't dominate my meals and I substitute for the whole wheat options when possible.
indecisivebride- That is one area I have probs in. Asians eat a LOT of rice, and i am one of those asains. Love the rice, love the bread and pastas.
Along with workout, that is one thing I am going to try to cut back on. I don't want to go on those NO carb diets bc I do not want to deprive, but I am going to cut back big time. No more rice, pastas and bread for a few months~ =)
If you're looking for something to help guide your routine, I've really liked using self.com's website. They have a free online program called "Reach Your Goal" that actually starts tomorrow. You choose the goal (e.g., lose 8 pounds in one month, tone w/out cardio, etc.) and follow the four-week program. You can stick with it or try different goals after the first month. Takes the guesswork out of developing a routine without the cost of a trainer!
Good luck!
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I have to start the story from the beginning...Long story short, I gained a lot of weight last year due to medications. As of January this yr, the doc said I am free to get off the medication bc i'm all better now....yay!! Time to lose weight!! (the medciation made it impossible for me to lose weight...)
Fast foward to April...I lost about 20 pounds just by watching what I was eating. Came about May, I found the perfect dress. Its a corseted back Maggie Sottero Limited Edition dress. When they asked me what size i wanted, i just told them that the sample size is fine. It was sort of small, but i thought I could lose more weight until my nov wedding. The lady said lose about 15 more pounds...any more than the dress will be big for me...Cinch right, since i alreayd lost 20 pounds only by watching what i was eating....yea right!
Well, the dress came in this past weekend...I did not lose a single pound. You know how people plateau? Well, I plateued for aobut 3 months!!!! Now, I have no idea what to do....is it possible for me to lose 15 pounds in less than 3 months? Can I make the dress bigger? Should I buy another dress? Panic mode now! HELP!!!
What should i do? ANy advice would help!