Exercise Question- I love your opinions!!!

Hello Everyone!!

Quick question-- I've been exercising since the new year about 6 times a week. It's been going great and I'm (shockingly) enjoying it! I've been doing the elliptical for cardio. I started out doing 30 minutes, and then upgraded myself to 45 minutes. The past few workouts I've noticed that I really don't even lose my breath and have been sweating less and less. I'm thinking about MAYBE starting to run... but I'm scared! I'll be 6 weeks out on tuesday.

I like to get a good workout and sweat sweat sweat... so tell me what you would do!!!!


Vicki

Perhaps you could increase the incline or increase the resistance to feel the burn more.

Jenn-

Thank you for your response!! I've been thinking about doing that, but I'm afraid that I'm going to build muscle by raising the resistance. It's all so confusing! lol. But I'll have to try that! Thanks!


Vicki

I was an distance runner for many years and my coach had me train on ellipticals all the time. If building too much muscle is a concern, increasing the incline should do it. But I really don't think you should worry about increasing muscle because women don't build muscle like men do. Besides muscle helps us burn fat. Have you tried doing one of the programs that are on the ellipticals? Those programs usually self-adjust with varying levels of resistance and incline to maximixe fat burning.

mine has several settings for weight loss and I also do 5-10 minutes backwards at each session as you use different muscles to do that. 

you go backwards on the elliptical, wow, how do hold on, I need to hold on for my balance.

your still facing forward's so you can hold on to the handles but just go backwards rather than forwards you can feel it in differnet muscles and for me it gets my heart rate up quicker than just going forwards. 

Oh geez, do I feel stupid? I will try it out, thanks

Running is great, but don't try to do it 6 times a week.  You definitely need rest days when you start taking up running. 

I recommend reading a little before you start.  I recommend "No Need for Speed" by John Bingham.  He is an awesome writer and it's a short easy read.  He started running when he was a smoker, overweight and in his 40s, so it is geared towards what he calls "adult onset atheletes".  Really enjoyable.  Plus, there is a lot of information on getting the right shoes.  This can prevent injury. 

Hi Vicki!   Congrats on your exercise routine... that is awesome!  :-)  What I would personally do is lose a little bit more weight before starting running.  I would use it as a means for inspiration.  For example, set your goal at 195 to start running.  That way, you will be doing some more low-impact type exercises to get to that point.  Running is very hard on your body, and even harder on you with a lot of excess weight.  It really takes a toll on your bones/joints.  If you can get down a little bit more, and then start running when you are at 195, you will be better off.  Not to mention that running is difficult, and you will be less apt to quit if you build your way up to the task and are at a lower weight to make it easier for you.  This is just my suggestion.  In the meantime, I would do brisk walking, elliptical, and workout videos if you have any until you reach 195.  You can of course continue to do those as well after you start running for some variety .  Hope that helps and best wishes to you!!!!  Keep up the good work! 

Sincerely, 

Renee