Here’s my situation: I just started working out at the gym last week (March 16th). It’s been years since I’ve truly worked out like this. Needless to say, I’m overweight – probably by about 100 lbs. What I’ve been doing is M/W/F lift weights (on machines) concentrating on chest, arms, and my back. Then I do 5 minutes warm-up on a stationary bike, then 10-12 minutes on an elliptical (approx 1,300 strides and 0.8 mi.), then 5 minutes cool-down on the stationary bike. On T/Th, do weights for legs and abs and my cardio consists of walking to and from the gym (1.5 miles and ½ hour of walking). My problem is that I have been completely and utterly EXHAUSTED all day, every day since I started. I get 8-10 hours of sleep and eat a 3:1 carb-to-protein ratio pre-workout and 2:1 carb-to-protein ratio post-workout as recommended. Today I didn’t go just to see how’d I feel and I am not NEARLY as tired as I have been. It’s been nearly impossible to make it through my 9 hours of work each day, not to mention the comments I’ve received on my less-than-cheerful mood. Why is this?? I thought that exercise raised your metabolism and boosted your energy? Am I not replenishing my energy properly? Or is it because I’m so overweight or because it’s been so long since I’ve worked out? Is this normal? Will it eventually go away? I don’t want to quit as I’m seeing results already, but it’s really hard to function. As for my diet, I keep within the allotted Weight Watchers points of 26-31 and keep my calories at or below 1,300, keep my sugars below 5g per meal (except when I have my protein bar post-workout), and I drink at least 64 oz of water daily – NO soda. What am I doing wrong?? Please and THANK YOU!! (BTW, I am a 30-year old female)
Started Working Out = Exhaustion. What Am I Doing Wrong?
- Thread starter chelseasikoebs
- Start date
You have been exercising for a very short time, you have recently drastically decreased your calories and forgive me for stating this if it seems harsh, but you are probably extremely uncondtioned from your recent but former habits. It is common for someone who is new to exercise and anxious to "see results" to go at it hard and heavy and ruthless... Can I suggest that you NOT do that?
A lot of New Years Resolutioners start out that way, determined to drop weight fast, shape up and reach their goal without a long term plan. You want to go about it a different way! What if you could lose 1 lb a month but keep it off FOREVER? Eventually be in the best shape of your life? Wouldn't that be worth it? I suggest easing up a bit, building the habit and add intensity as I get those things down.
Trust me, I know. I was once 100+ lbs more than I am now but it didn't happen overnight to lose it. Now I have been fit for almost 2 years and know I wouldn't ever go back to being heavy and feel and look the way I did. It was worth it to go slow and get here.
Good luck!
A lot of New Years Resolutioners start out that way, determined to drop weight fast, shape up and reach their goal without a long term plan. You want to go about it a different way! What if you could lose 1 lb a month but keep it off FOREVER? Eventually be in the best shape of your life? Wouldn't that be worth it? I suggest easing up a bit, building the habit and add intensity as I get those things down.
Trust me, I know. I was once 100+ lbs more than I am now but it didn't happen overnight to lose it. Now I have been fit for almost 2 years and know I wouldn't ever go back to being heavy and feel and look the way I did. It was worth it to go slow and get here.
Good luck!
Lifting 5 or 6 times per week is too much for most people, especially someone new. You have to rest or you wont recover from the hard workouts.
Try 3 full body workouts per week (mon, wed and fri) and cardio 3 times per week or so. Weight training sessions should only last about an hour and cardio sessions can last from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the intensity.
Good luck with everything.
Try 3 full body workouts per week (mon, wed and fri) and cardio 3 times per week or so. Weight training sessions should only last about an hour and cardio sessions can last from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the intensity.
Good luck with everything.
It is true that I may have been going at it too hard. I really enjoy weight-lifting which is why I tried to just alternate areas so I could still do it daily. But, I have been pushin how much I can lift. I try to increase it every time I go - if I can. I'll just slow down. The personal trainer that showed me around the gym said that for weight loss I should do cardio at least 6 days a week for like an hour each day. That seemed excessive to me, but figured he knew what he was talking about. I like the idea both of you have. #1 slow down and be more steady for a long-term commitment and #2 go with the 3x a week and see how that goes then build up as I become more fit. I really appreciate your help!! And, Mel Def, I would love to hear more about your story in getting healthy!
I think 6 days a week of cardio is setting you up for failure. What is a challenge but something you could commit to doing? 3 days? Chances are very good you went 6 days a week to the gym you would be injured before long and sitting back on the couch eating Twinkies and hating yourself.
I had many stalls before I got to this point, and I STILL mess up. The difference is I don't let a setback define me. I have a slip up, I cuss myself a bit, think about how much hard work I have put in to get where I am and go back to being sensible. I am on course most always and give myself lots of positive affirmation when I have done it right and faced a big temptation and still kept to my standards and that is what YOU should do too! Everytime you make yourself work out when you don't feel like it, when you make a good food choice or stop and really think about how committing to yourself to feel and look and be healthy is making you better all around, then give yourself a big hug! <----- OK that sounds corny but we all waste time concentrating on where we could improve and not recognizing how far we've come.
So measure your success by your own standards, encourage others to do the same and when you find what you once thought of as "challenging" to be "easy", crank up your intensity. True for everything. I know you can do this!
I had many stalls before I got to this point, and I STILL mess up. The difference is I don't let a setback define me. I have a slip up, I cuss myself a bit, think about how much hard work I have put in to get where I am and go back to being sensible. I am on course most always and give myself lots of positive affirmation when I have done it right and faced a big temptation and still kept to my standards and that is what YOU should do too! Everytime you make yourself work out when you don't feel like it, when you make a good food choice or stop and really think about how committing to yourself to feel and look and be healthy is making you better all around, then give yourself a big hug! <----- OK that sounds corny but we all waste time concentrating on where we could improve and not recognizing how far we've come.
So measure your success by your own standards, encourage others to do the same and when you find what you once thought of as "challenging" to be "easy", crank up your intensity. True for everything. I know you can do this!