Posts by rebecaht

I'm 52, 5'9.5" and medium frame; size 9 shoe and size 5.5 ring. Like many former aerobics instructors from the late 70s/early 80s, I have a back injury from hard impact and one kind of shoe, the classic old Reebok. I had surgery and am doing well now. Age, inactivity from back pain, having kids, etc caused me to go from 170 in the 80s, to 230 now. I have weighed close to 250, but not for some time.

I'm 'supposed' to weigh 152, which is not realistic, imo. In my 20s, at 147, I was often told how thin I was...as in 'too thin'. I prefer to be around 165-170; a size 12. I look very slim at that weight, and jaws drop when I reveal that weight. It sickens me that the supermodels, the shortest of whom are my height, weigh no more than 120 and are skeletal. I want long, lean muscle without a lot of bulk, and a strong core; my weak spot. With a short waist and a 31 inch inseam, I carry most of my extra pounds in my midsection.

I'm doing a circuit using weight between 30-50 pounds, up to 3 sets of 10 reps each. After, I do 30-40 mins on the elliptical, selecting a cardio program and keeping my HR at about 70% of max for about 10-15 mins. I also use a stayball for crunches and obliques. I'm familiar with resistance training, proper technique and breathing during lifting weights. I use a women's weight room at my gym, and do a little free weight work there for arms and shoulders. I just started this program a week and a half ago, after two years of no regular exercise beyond taking walks and the occassional power walk.

I do both weights and cardio one day, then just cardio the next. I take every fourth day off.

I'm at about 2300 cals a day and working on lowering that a bit. I am not a stress eater and not an overeater, but of course regardless of that it's what we eat that figures prominently in our weight. A friend my height has gone from 499 lbs to 299, with a high fiber, low fat diet. I am also following a high fat, low fiber, no sugar, few processed foods diet comprised of lean protein/meat, fresh veggies and fresh fruit (in moderation) and drinking lots of water.I'm working on breaking the habit (again) of doing the bulk of my eating in the aft and evening.

I believe in muscle memory, and after just six workouts I can feel a difference and my clothes are very slightly looser. Of course, the mental high is the best part. Any recommendations anyone has for me would be welcomed, as well as more experiences. Good on you, mrsmueller.