Newbie Seeking Advice

Hi all. I just found your informative site. I am enjoying all the reading. I have never posted on an online forum before so am a bit unsure... but here goes.

I am 5'8" 130. Was 125 before I left curves and started working out with my husband in September at a regular fitness center. Previous to that time neither of us had ever had any weight lifting experience. Our kids are all active in sports..College and Highschool wrestling, football, gymnastics, track, so they all have been encouraging us to be more fit and healthy. I had a little caboose (now a 4 year old) and had been in the worst shape of my life since that pregnancy. My husband had some life threatening health issues...so it seemed the right time to start.

We live very rural area, and he can't always come in with me, but I have been very disciplined, so I make the trek in Mon., Wed., Fri., and I try to ride my Spinner at home 2-3 times per week 30 minute sessions on off days. I spend about 1.5 hours at the gym when I go in. My work out consits of 20min warm up on eliptical...and 5 min cool down. We are doing alternate days with day 1= chest and tri, day 2= back and bi, and day 3= legs and shoulders. We do an ab/oblique work out each time we go in to the gym.

I have always been fairly lean... putting on 5 pounds has been a bit hard to swallow. I still have not lost my miny love handles that came as my 40th b-day gift this year. I have been feeling a bit stuck... and am looking for a boost. My diet is excellent... I don't eat any junk other then the occasional chip and salsa and often a glass of red wine w/ dinner. Previous to upping my workouts had really been feeling like crap, hormones, fatigue, insomnia, etc. All that has dramatically improved...but I am just wondering if I am stuck forever with this unfamiliar band of fat arround my mid-rif? I am pretty lean every where else.. and I don't want to diet hard because I don't want to feel puny again like before.

Does anything jump out at any one as a place to change my routine? Any input greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I am just wondering if I am stuck forever with this unfamiliar band of fat arround my mid-rif? I am pretty lean every where else.. and I don't want to diet hard because I don't want to feel puny again like before.

These two statements are contradictory. You have to decide if you want to lose a little weight and thus your love handles or feel puny again.

It sounds like you are working out at a good tempo, so I don't have any comments there, but if you cut back on your calories a little you can lose that five pounds in 5 weeks.

Do you want to lose weight?
 
By puny I meant not well... weak, tired, poor immune system etc.. I am afraid that if I cut back I'll lose the strong immune system and health I have built up ( I really haven't felt this well in 5 years) so I'm not sure how to do it. I really do want to lose the love handles, and the pounds, just unsure how to without "rocking the boat".

Thanks for any advice/ideas!
 
Hey I have some bits of advice that will definately help you out! But I gotta tell you being 5 foot 8 and 130 lbs sounds about normal and I couldnt picture you really being very thick or flabby...so here it goes...first off I am going to tell you that you need variety in your routine. Variety in training is how you get results and bust through plateaus. So change up routines and workouts about every couple of weeks to keep your body changing. Second I noticed that you said your workouts consist of 20 min. on the elyptical and 5 min. cool down...this is ok but you can do way better. I would recommend doing 30 to 45 minutes of cardio in the morning on an empty stomach for best results. And continue eating clean and you will reach your goals!

Jared
TheFitnessVoice.com
 
Do you think I should try a whole body work out then for a couple of weeks?

I am changing my cardio as you recommended...

Thanks for the input.
 
Most of the pros on this forum, and I agree although I'm not a pro, will tell you that a full body workout in conjunction with plenty of cardio will make you healthy, lean, muscular but not too muscular (that requires that you be genetically predisposed and you gobble steroids) and toned.
 
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