need more intense but varied work outs to knock the pounds off

I apologize in advance for the length of this post but I know that there are many, many, many people on here who are smarter than I am about this whole losing weight process and am hoping that someone can help so that I don't just give up like I always do:

I've been at this weight loss thing for a few months now... The first time I started to lose weight was in Fall 2006 and I dropped about 8 lbs/month for about 4 months.  That was with between 15-20 hours of elliptical each month.  I then gave up all of the exercising all of a sudden (initially, because I had surgery and was unable to bathe for a number of days and so was told not to work out or get sweaty and then after that 10 day break, I just didn't go back to the gym for various stupid reasons... some depression issues, some frustration, some overwhelmin feelings of being in the high 280s and feeling like I had "barely made a dent") So, I just kept with the nutrition stuff (1800 calories) and continued to lose a few inches (about 4 around my hips) but no more weight.  My doctor is convinced that it's cuz of my PCOS for some reason and kept wanting me to take phentermine (sp?) but I tried it for all of a day and was feeling way too dizzy.  It's apparently legal speed.

Anyway, I started up my routine again as my NYE resolution.  Began on January 3, 2008.  Since then, I've lost 21 lbs.  The thing is, I feel like motivation is not so good right now  This is usually the point when I start to give up.  I think I need a better work out variety too.  That being said, I clearly see more results from elliptical than from any other kind of exercise.  (I did swim a few times a week the summer before Fall 2006 and didn't seem to lose much... probably b/c I cannot do the front stroke for the full length of the pool and so did more leisurly back stroke or crawl strokes.) 

Even just in the past 3 months, I lost 9 lbs in Jan doing 20 hours on the elliptical, 7 in Feb doing 15.5 hours, and then only 5 in March doing about 5 hours of elliptical and over 25 hours of dance classes (something I had added in, in the hopes of keeping up morale, keeping me feeling like I needed to keep up the fitness routine, and also the monetary investment was significat enough that I thought that it would make me feel guilty if I did not go... all true).  I get sweaty after my latin dance aerobics class and a little elevated from my 2 salsa dance classes but the others are pretty much just instructional with slower movements so no elevated heart rates. 

So, that's where I am at.  I am at 266 lbs so a lot of tasks are more difficult for me given that I still have a big pouch of fat in the way from my bending over all that easily even.... stuff like biking, for instance, is very difficult.  even just kicking my leg up in front of me still seems problematic because of the fat. Right now, I am trying to force myself to do some more weights this month b/c I basically do very little (about 2 hours a month in total, since I will do 15 minutes at most every few days).  I am also trying to find things (like dance) that I really do enjoy doing so that they can become a way of life and something that I will WANT to do because of how fun it is rather than an obligatry task (like the elliptical). 

Any ideas and tips are welcome and appreciated!!!

I would cut some of your cardio and add weights to your routine. It will help you keep up the burn all through the day as you gain muscle mass.

well since you've got the ellipitcal down and you are doing some weights (they will push that heavily in this forum...with good reason...) it sounds like you just want to have FUN and look forward to working out.

this might sound silly but: i found when my morale got low -- i changed up my work out MUSIC to more fun, funky, dance paced music. i downloaded gads of "workout music" from itunes, loaded up my iPhone and looked forward to hearing the music when i was exercising. 

also maybe try some variety:  15 mintues of weight lifting followed by 15 mintues on the treadmill with a large incline.  that will burn calories, also using your large legs muscles to get you through it. THEN hop on the ellipitical for antoher 15 mintues and challenge yourself.

congrats though, it really sounds like you are making great progress!

 

Whenever I do weights, I feel like psychologically, I'm not burning any calories -- compared to doing cardio, where the machine tells me the calories I'm burning.  Also, I do 2-3 sets of 10 reps at about 6 machines (right now, I've worked my weigh up to 30 or 40 lbs, depending on the machine... and 20 lbs on the Leg Curl because I am a weakling) and that only takes me 20 minutes to do.  It does not seem like a whole heck of a lot of time to "build" muscle. 

Original Post by watchmeshine82:

Whenever I do weights, I feel like psychologically, I'm not burning any calories -- compared to doing cardio, where the machine tells me the calories I'm burning. Also, I do 2-3 sets of 10 reps at about 6 machines (right now, I've worked my weigh up to 30 or 40 lbs, depending on the machine... and 20 lbs on the Leg Curl because I am a weakling) and that only takes me 20 minutes to do. It does not seem like a whole heck of a lot of time to "build" muscle.

keep doing as much as you can, and as much weight as you can, and 20 minutes is plenty!  shoot, i only do about 10 minutes at the most, because i lift the heaviest i can and can't do it very long.

Original Post by watchmeshine82:

Whenever I do weights, I feel like psychologically, I'm not burning any calories -- compared to doing cardio, where the machine tells me the calories I'm burning.  Also, I do 2-3 sets of 10 reps at about 6 machines (right now, I've worked my weigh up to 30 or 40 lbs, depending on the machine... and 20 lbs on the Leg Curl because I am a weakling) and that only takes me 20 minutes to do.  It does not seem like a whole heck of a lot of time to "build" muscle. 

The thing is, you are actually burning more calories during your cardio workout than you are during your lifting workout (not a lot more, but more).  The thing is that after weight lifting your body will continue to burn calories at an elevated rate for a long time (48 hours according to some sources) while the number of calories you burn after cardio will only stay elevated for an hour or so. 

Interesting.  How many machines do people do a day?  I do the chest press, shoulder press, leg press, leg curl, leg extension, lat pulldown and bicep curl.

also, has anyone done a spinning or kickboxing class?  i'm afraid to do this because of my weight (i'm in the 260s) and feel like maybe i'm not "ready" for that intensity yet.  but, i can do an hour on the elliptical pretty routinely so maybe i am just scaring myself.

I get what you're saying about "feeling" like you burn more calories doing cardio than lifting weights, but I assure you, lifting weights will work for you.  And nobody is saying you can't do some cardio on lifting days, but back off a little.  I would be so bored doing the elliptical everyday, no wonder you give up.  I'm someone who needs a workout spelled out for me, I'm not good at coming up with things on my own. 
That being said, if you want to try an ass kicking workout in the comfort of your own home, I strongly suggest P90X.  It's a combo of 12 DVDs with 3 different programs set out for you in a book.  It cleary tells you what videos to do on what days.  You are guarenteed results with that, especially if you are a motivated person, which it sounds like you are.  You should check it out, beachbody.com.  It looks a bit intimidating, but try it, I think it would be a great program for you.

Original Post by jill91198:

I get what you're saying about "feeling" like you burn more calories doing cardio than lifting weights, but I assure you, lifting weights will work for you. And nobody is saying you can't do some cardio on lifting days, but back off a little. I would be so bored doing the elliptical everyday, no wonder you give up. I'm someone who needs a workout spelled out for me, I'm not good at coming up with things on my own.
That being said, if you want to try an ass kicking workout in the comfort of your own home, I strongly suggest P90X. It's a combo of 12 DVDs with 3 different programs set out for you in a book. It cleary tells you what videos to do on what days. You are guarenteed results with that, especially if you are a motivated person, which it sounds like you are. You should check it out, beachbody.com. It looks a bit intimidating, but try it, I think it would be a great program for you.

My huaband brought home the P90 dvd's the other day to burn copies of.  The fire dept he works part time at uses this program for their physical training requirement for their employees.  Firefighters have to stay in good physical shape. I haven't seen it yet, but my weight management teacher was talking about his wife is working with Gold's gym or Pure fitness or something like that to devise a class based on this type of workout.

I think I would trying a variety of different cardio workouts.  I used to do the ellipitcal every day but have gotten a bit burned out.  I do love walking though and have also started doing the recumbent bike.  I also take an aerobic step class at the local community college that is fun.

watchmeshine82, i agree that the fun aspect is one that too many people overlook.  it's quite sad that most people at the gym are enjoying themselves about as much as the average dentist patient.

some unconventional cardio workouts that i've heard great things about:  martial arts (tae kwon do, karate, i know a bunch of people who do this and love it), boxing, self-defense classes, rowing (many towns anywhere near a lake/stream/river have local teams/groups/classes), volunteering w/a trailmaking organization, nature walks w/the local nature center/garden club/arboretum/whatever.  also, try a different dance center, bec i know that dance classes can be quite physically demanding (swing, african dance, hip-hop, pasodoble). 

oh, and congrats on your success w/the elliptical--you should know that few people can boast such astounding results from its use.

Don't be scared of spinning, the great part that people don't realize is that you control your own tension so when you need to take it easy you can make it easier without anyone else knowing. It's the only class that other people have no idea how hard you are really working. In my gym there are people of all fitness levels (and some that have 100+ lbs to lose) in the class.

I would also say that the first class is tough, it often uses muscles in a way you've never used them but it's an incredible calorie burner. After the first class you will be saddle sore but give it a week and go back and within a month you'll notice it's much much easier.

Also, tell the instructor you are new so that they can help you set up your bike for the first time.

Good luck!

thanks for the advice everyone.  i think i am going to join the Y and take spinning and kickboxing to vary my routine a bit.  and also try to do more bursts of speed with the elliptical... that has been helping to get me sweating lately.