Newbie Here

[FigureHottie2B]

Hi all i am new here. I am currently VERY unhealty (high blood pressure, high cholesterol and extremely fat). For the past couple of months, i have modified my diet extensively. at the advise of a coworker who is an ametuer bodybuilder, and the eating plan from Bodyforlife.com, i have now gone to eating 6 times a day (i try to do 3 meals and 3 shakes). I am still getting used to the diet. sometimes i slip, but i am really good most of the time. I started going to the gym during my lunch hour (cardio only so far) and i am trying to work out a schedule so that i can incorporate weight training as well. Its kind of hard being a single mom.

I dont want to make this to long. I am just lucking for some knowledge and support from people have been/are in the same situation as me.

Here's a little about myself:

Current weight: 280
Height: 5'6 1/2
Age:30

After i started talking to my bodybuilder coworker, i found myself becoming very interseted in the female side of it. Not wanting to be too bulky, i started buying fitness magazines and discovered that i would love to compete as a figure pr. I understand that it takes a lot of dicipline and dedication and i am willing to put in the work. Its just a matter of having the right guidance and time to do it.

Anyway, thats it for now. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

[mitchcumstein]

Welcome and its good to see that your trying to make a positive change in your life. Dont worry about getting bulky, thats all just a myth women cant add muscle nearly as easy as men(and its not easy for alot of men). So hit the weights hard and good luck.

[fitme]

Originally Posted by FigureHottie2B

Hi all i am new here. I am currently VERY unhealty (high blood pressure, high cholesterol and extremely fat). For the past couple of months, i have modified my diet extensively. at the advise of a coworker who is an ametuer bodybuilder, and the eating plan from Bodyforlife.com, i have now gone to eating 6 times a day (i try to do 3 meals and 3 shakes). I am still getting used to the diet. sometimes i slip, but i am really good most of the time. I started going to the gym during my lunch hour (cardio only so far) and i am trying to work out a schedule so that i can incorporate weight training as well. Its kind of hard being a single mom.

I dont want to make this to long. I am just lucking for some knowledge and support from people have been/are in the same situation as me.

Here's a little about myself:

Current weight: 280
Height: 5'6 1/2
Age:30

After i started talking to my bodybuilder coworker, i found myself becoming very interseted in the female side of it. Not wanting to be too bulky, i started buying fitness magazines and discovered that i would love to compete as a figure pr. I understand that it takes a lot of dicipline and dedication and i am willing to put in the work. Its just a matter of having the right guidance and time to do it.

Anyway, thats it for now. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to BB4U.

I was in your shoes 2 yrs ago. I changed my whole lifestyle now and I feel great. You can do it. There are many experienced people here to support and help you.

[7digits]

welcome to bb4u.

[FigureHottie2B]

thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. I've been away for the holidays and have returned back to work. I ate like a dog over the holiday, but I am not going to let that deter me. I am back on program and i have quit smoking. I cant wait to see what effect that has on my cardio performance. Can already feel the difference when i am walking.

Well, i just wanted to thank everyone for the encouragement. Soon (as soon as i get up the courage), i'll be posting my before pic and charting my progress weekly.

[FigureHottie2B]

Really? What sort of shape were you in before and what changes did you make to get to where you are today?

[ktinspired]

Hey there...welcome to our crazy lil forum......congradulations on the changes you've made so far!

[fitme]

Originally Posted by FigureHottie2B

Really? What sort of shape were you in before and what changes did you make to get to where you are today?

Hey figure2B. I think you're talking to me. Well since I've changed my whole lifestyle 2 yrs ago I'm down about 35-40 pounds. I was embarrased to say that before but what do I have to lose. I have been working out consistently in the gym/home for 2 yrs now(including heavy weigh training) and my diet has improved. eating smaller but more frequent meals. Just ask a lot of questions here even if you may think they are stupid. Just ask. I'm still learning here too. There is always something to learn when it comes to bodybuilding.

[blueboy22]

Glad to have you here. There is a lot to learn from a lot of great people around here.

[narcsarge]

Welcome FigureHottie2B! I am sure that you will find that our female members have a wide range of knowledge and experience. Remember though, you have decided to make a lifestyle change. This is not a race so there really is no finish line. Everyday is a new chance for success! We are here for support; and a little criticism/humor too!

[ktinspired]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Remember though, you have decided to make a lifestyle change. This is not a race so there really is no finish line. Everyday is a new chance for success! We are here for support; and a little criticism/humor too!

Exactly.......thats a very good point.

Never beat yourself up. It does no good. If you eat soemthing you know you shouldn't or miss a workout. Just move forward, dont dwell on your mistakes. And whatever you do.......

STAY OFF THE SCALE!!!

I bout drove myself crazy in the begining, weighing myself all the time. It can be a real downer. Once I stopped living and breathing by the scale It made it much easier to focus on long term lifestyle changes. IMO...you should not weigh yourself for 3 months.

[FigureHottie2B]

Originally Posted by ktinspired

Exactly.......thats a very good point.

Never beat yourself up. It does no good. If you eat soemthing you know you shouldn't or miss a workout. Just move forward, dont dwell on your mistakes. And whatever you do.......

STAY OFF THE SCALE!!!

I bout drove myself crazy in the begining, weighing myself all the time. It can be a real downer. Once I stopped living and breathing by the scale It made it much easier to focus on long term lifestyle changes. IMO...you should not weigh yourself for 3 months.

Oh, i am a firm believer in staying away from scales!!! Before i got pregnant, i was a gym rat, working out 5-6 days a weekly, a lot of cardio. The only way that i knew i had lost 50lbs was because i was weighed before i started working out, and then weighed at my prenatal exam.

If i only had the time now that i had back then!! I find it a struggle to get in everything i need in one workout session. right now, since i am so heavy, i am mainly concentrating on cardio. I love cardio and eventually want to work my way up to running (a few miles a day), but i also want build major muscle. Is that possible? Should i be weight training now, or would it be ok to wait a month or so when i would have dropped a few pounds?

I really appreciate everyone input.

Thanks!

[FigureHottie2B]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Welcome FigureHottie2B! I am sure that you will find that our female members have a wide range of knowledge and experience. Remember though, you have decided to make a lifestyle change. This is not a race so there really is no finish line. Everyday is a new chance for success! We are here for support; and a little criticism/humor too!

You're right, i really do have to keep in mind that this is not a race. i am in it for life. I find myself being too concerned with how fast can i drop the weight and put on muscle. I am trying to break myself out of that, mainly keeping at the forefront of my motivation, being around for my daughter. I dont want her to have a sickly mother. And thats the way i was headed. Now I am on track and trying to be as calculated as possible. I have been doing tons of research. I think that makes a world of difference.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad i stumbled upon this forum!

[Hannainnc]

welcome figurehottie2b!

Awesome news about making changes for your health. I know all too well the struggles with weight loss. Be patient with yourself...nothing worth anything comes easy...you have to work for it. Good luck.

[jennyd]

Originally Posted by FigureHottie2B

If i only had the time now that i had back then!! I find it a struggle to get in everything i need in one workout session. right now, since i am so heavy, i am mainly concentrating on cardio. I love cardio and eventually want to work my way up to running (a few miles a day), but i also want build major muscle. Is that possible? Should i be weight training now, or would it be ok to wait a month or so when i would have dropped a few pounds?

I really appreciate everyone input.

Thanks!

You will burn more fat if you weight train along with your cardio. The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn.

It definitely is a struggle finding the time to put a full blown workout in for me to. I think there should be more hours in a day.
But once you've made the commitment, and you stick to your guns, the reward is so sweet.

[Rickster]

welcome to the boards ^__^

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by jennyd

You will burn more fat if you weight train along with your cardio. The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn.

It definitely is a struggle finding the time to put a full blown workout in for me to. I think there should be more hours in a day.
But once you've made the commitment, and you stick to your guns, the reward is so sweet.

Jenny, as always, nails it! Time is so very crucial for me (I have more jobs then sense) too. I am 15 years older then you and I have been back in the lifestyle for 3 years! I followed the same path that you are following now. I re-educated myself on my nutrition and finally made smart choices in my routines. I did Cardio for 20 -35 minutes on days I was not hitting the weights. It took me 3 year but I dropped from 198 pounds to 165. Of course, I am trying to add size and not just drop weight. Just doing a simple, full body workout 3 times a week and adding regular Cardio, and making sure you have a clean diet will get you to where you want to be. Never give up!

[ktinspired]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Jenny, as always, nails it! Time is so very crucial for me (I have more jobs then sense) too. I am 15 years older then you and I have been back in the lifestyle for 3 years! I followed the same path that you are following now. I re-educated myself on my nutrition and finally made smart choices in my routines. I did Cardio for 20 -35 minutes on days I was not hitting the weights. It took me 3 year but I dropped from 198 pounds to 165. Of course, I am trying to add size and not just drop weight. Just doing a simple, full body workout 3 times a week and adding regular Cardio, and making sure you have a clean diet will get you to where you want to be. Never give up!

SAme here, I sweat my @ss off doing cardio in the gym for about 6 months and got very slow results. As soon as I started with the weights and really challenging my body is when I saw real results.

[narcsarge]

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