I feel fat!

[cyberspice]

I feel really fat. I'm fed up with being five stone over-weight. I'm sure I don't over eat but what I do eat just turns in to fat. I went on new medication a few years ago and it was about then that I ballooned out. I'm trying to reduce my carbs as much as possible to help but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I know I should exercise and try and work it off but my joints are achy at the best of times. When I was a teenager I outgrew my knees and ever since then I've had problems with them. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the ball rolling?

Comments

[vin_petrol]

Well, I'm no expert, but I can say a few things that worked for me...

I decided that as a male over 35 I was in the demographic for a heart attack, so I needed to get fitter than I was. Some weight loss would have been nice. The results have been mixed. My legs are now much more muscled and toned than they were a year ago, but I still have a squidgy belly :-( There's clearly less fat on my body than there was a year ago. I managed to at least move one belt notch tighter. I've recently given up ethanol and chocolate (as a woman, could you survive without chocolate?)

First up, I found there were two types of exercise:

1) Really good exercise that I would never do.
2) Not so good exercise that I would do.

"Going to the Gym" is clearly in category (1), but there are soooo many excuses not to go I would never get there.

I ended up doing several things:

1) running
2) cycling
3) light weights - many reps

(1) is *very* hard on the joints, and clearly wouldn't suit you. (2) did make my knees ache to start with, but this was more a 'stretching' ache than a 'load bearing' ache, if you see what I mean. I took some cod liver oil for a few weeks and they've been fine ever since. I even have an exercise bike in the house in front of a television - watch Star Trek and exercise - result. (3) is dead easy. My wife has a set of colourful, 'girly' weights. I just do loads of reps with the lightest weights. Great for really cold winter's nights when I didn't feel like running...

[cyberspice.livejournal.com]

Running for is definitely out for me. It is very bad on my knees. Ironically, despite my weight, I still seem to be able to run middle distances.

I've already cut right down on chocolate and alchohol and hardly ever have either. I was drinking diet cokes on Saturday too. As I sit on my arse all day at work cutting down on carbs does seem to be a good thing to do. Tonight we had poached fish and salad. I can't get much healthier than that.

The exercise bike in front of the TV is a good idea and something I had already thought of except that I don't own an exercise bike and can't afford one right now. I would be relatively happy to go down the gym if there was a way to avoid the bordom.

I should really use my push bike regularly. Unfortunately, living at the top of a hill, every direction is down on the way out and up on the way back. Plus push bikes seem *so* slow after motorbikes and I find myself riding faster than is optimal and getting knackered easily.

I know what I need to do. Eat less; eat far less fat and carbs; and go clubbing regularly. Dancing the night away getting hot and sweaty will burn it all off.