Quitting the gym?

Okay here's the deal - I've been going to the gym 4+ times a week for the last three months, and ended up losing 20 pounds. However, I'm still the exact same size inch wise. It's great that I've lost weight and everything, but I was really hoping to see more of a physical difference. I'm thinking that instead of renewing my gym membership for the next month, I might just start running on the treadmill that's been sitting in my basement for the last X amount of years.
Anyway, I'm just wondering if doing this might make any difference. The workout I was getting was a combination of cardio/resistance training for 30 minutes a day, that's how the Curves franchises work, and I'm thinking I'd probably be running for 30 minutes a day for 5 or 6 days a week. If there's anyone who knows all that much about fitness, could they tell me if I'd see any results by doing this?

And for the people who are going to come in and tell me to cut back on the food - my doctor has actually told me I need to be eating more. Also, I don't eat junk food or sugar, so it's not a problem of healthy eating.

Reply 1

lapsaJ

How many cals you taking in roughly?

If you want to lose weight cardio is the way to go. I don't really think it's going to be hugely beneficial going to the gym for resistance training etc. If I were you, Id get outside and run and cycle (not at the same time :p:

). If you can fit in other things like swimming that would also be good - might be cheaper than your gym membership.

Reply 2

bedbug

I don't understand how you lost 20lbs but your measurements haven't changed at all. Does your body look different? It must, surely. :confused:

Reply 3

friendsfreak88

Well firstly, just because your waist has not got smaller it does not mean that you have not lost inches elsewhere. Some areas are just harder to lose from that others, depending on your body shape so I wouldn't assume that the gym isn't working.

As you do have a treadmill at home I would suggest that you do quit the gym and workout at home instead. Running that much per week is fine but try and do interval training while you are running (eg sprint for 1 min then jog for 1 min then sprint again etc). This really gets your heart rate up and burns more calories. It also has a greater afterburn effect than just running at a steady pace so your metabolic rate is elevated afterwards.

I think to see the best results though it is better to do a range of exercise- maybe jogging one day, swimming the next, aerobics or something another day to mix it up and ensure all your muscles are being worked. I have several fitness dvds which I use on days that I don't go to the gym in order to get my body doing something different.

Also in order to lose inches resistance training is essential. I know you are doing this in he gym at the moment but make sure that you still include it in your routine at home. You can buy a swiss ball which is great for working the core. Some hand weights are also useful which you can hold doing things like squats and lunges and also use for shoulder presses, chest presses etc.

Good luck I am sure you will get the results you want.

Reply 4

CorpusNinja

if you only use the gym for cardio and don't do weights then its fine to quite. i know plenty of people who prefer running/cycling outside rather than in a gym - makes it less repetitive. i don't mind the gym environment but if i did only cardio then i too would quite, since the membership ain't worth it then.

Reply 5

loggins

squirly

I don't understand how you lost 20lbs but your measurements haven't changed at all. Does your body look different? It must, surely. :confused:

Reply 6

Mutant

Resistance will aid in toning, plus you may have lost more physically than you think as muscle weighs more than fat.

You need to be working areobically for atleast 50-60mins to get in the zone where the oxygen you take in metabolises with adipose tissue (fat cells) and breaks them down.

Good luck.

Reply 7

Caribou

squirly

I don't understand how you lost 20lbs but your measurements haven't changed at all. Does your body look different? It must, surely. :confused:

fluid retention??

Reply 8

kitten with a whip

Thanks for the replies everyone.
First of all, how have I lost weight but not inches...good question. I'm wondering that myself. At the gym, I get measured and weighed by one of the trainers once a month. They keep track of your weight/inches/BMI in a book. My measurements are exactly the same as they were when I went in, although I'm 20 pounds lighter. My BMI is down 1%. They might have made a mistake while measuring me, but 20 pounds might not have made that much of a difference. I'm quite overweight, and still have a far way to go. Maybe I have to lose a lot more before I even see a difference, I don't know. Anyway, I'll try working out on my own at home (I also do pilates and tae bo to change things up every few days) and see if anything changes. Fingers crossed!

Reply 9

2late

20% is exercise, 80% is diet (for me, at least).

Eat every 3 hours, weetabix->rice/pasta->tuna->workout->chicken breast->tuna

Add some fruits and vegetables. Reduce calorie intake, avoid white bread (those cals deposit as fat), don't eat junk food. Some basic tips.

Also you should know your body is a fortress, and you can do with it whatever you want. You just have to know how it works and then you can work wonders.