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2008/05/28, 02:13 PM
I just joined this site and already I am not very happy with it. I'm hoping to gain some insight from some of you....
I'm 46 yrs, female.
First, it seems there aren't enough choices for customizing my exercise and nutrition plans.
MY GOALS:
I want to gain lean muscle mass WHILE losing weight. I need more muscle in order to help me burn the fat, but i don't want the muscle to just exist below a layer of fat. And i want to avoid the extra skin issue when i reach my goal--which is losing 40 lbs and gaining overall strength and muscle. Most of my weight is in the front--in my stomach.
WHAT I DO:
Currently, i use a couple of free weights (10 lbs each), an Ab cruncher, and a Gazelle, which i use in many different ways, to work different areas and overall body, and to include adding the tension rods during part of my workout. I do this for an hour, 2 to 3 times per day. I started a week ago and have lost 1/2 inch in "lower" belly, 1 inch in "upper" belly, 2" in breast-area, and 1/2" in thighs. So something is working.
HEALTH:
Additionally, i eat healthy, and frequently, small meals throughout the day, and try to include a protein, veggie, fat, carb in each meal; I drink lots of water, V8, and unsweetened juices. I DO NOT DIET. This has never worked. I also am progressively changing to organic products for personal care and household to help rid my body of toxins.
MY LIMITATIONS:
There are exercises i cannot do for physical/ health/ injury reasons, but there seems no way to customize this without doing an all-or-nothing plan. I cannot walk for long distances, nor run. I have a bone spur in both shoulders and have to be mindful of that; I have joint issues from which i continue to recover, after years of disability and injury from days in the military. I have thyroid disease, and this and the injuries is where all that extra weight came from. I've been trying to get it off for years...but until recently, was limited in what i could do. I am about 30 lbs lighter than i was a couple yrs ago. I can't do sit-ups, as this hurts my lower back and spine. My feet are sensitive, as I've had improperly-healed stress fractures and tendonitis in them for years....they are much better now, but i still have to be mindful of that. Oddly, i can play a rousing game of racquetball, but grocery shopping for a few hours can put me in the bed.
I take lots of supplements, to include glucosamine-chondroitin, fish oil, calcium, ginkgo biloba, gotu kola, and extra C, E, A and biotin.
My biggest concern in this process is getting the weight off properly, without ending up with "skin flaps" as i call them--there is a school of thought that says that extra skin will go away if you continue to lose fat, because it's still those pockets of fat that cause the skin to droop--not sure if this is accurate or not...., and I'm also concerned about stretch marks and the elasticity of my skin, at 46, and whether or not there are preventative measures i can take--such as, the use of emu oil, vit E, or collagen or hyaluronic acid supplements.
Thanks for any insight any of you can provide.
Best,
Jae
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