After 2-mos hiatus from the gym my endurance is zero and my legs hurt. Advice, please!

[My Bariatric Life 764]

Thank you for the encouragement. I pretty much said the same thing to myself today at the gym - don't give up! I am at a point where I could say "to heck with it." But that would be a huge mistake! I was able to go a mile today, slowly. So that is improvement. My goal is to be able to run 3.1 miles at a moderate pace. Ultimately I want to run a 5k in 30-min or less. I think I was at 40-minutes when I last ran 5k. Heck I was thrilled that I could complete it at all!

Actually, alot of it is from your 2 month absence from the gym. It takes alot longer to get into shape than it does to fall out of shape. Start back slow, don't try to push yourself. Treat it as if you were going back to the gym for the first time in years not months. And most importanly, remember that anything that you do physically is an accomplishment and beats sitting at home watching tv. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY AND DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

[pink dahlia 2,513]

My hubby wears compression shorts for umpiring, he has Nike and Underarmour brands, but says he like the "Shock Doctor" from Umpire Attire.com. the best. They're made for men but some women umpires where them too, just without the cup.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Try something completely different like a Water aerobics class, water walking/running, or lap swimming. I am a water baby and as far as I am concerned, water cures all ills!

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@pink dahlia I have a pair of the tights on order. I think they will help.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@Inner Surfer Girl alas there is no pool at my gym. But that is a very good suggestion. Thank you.

[swimbikerun 1,045]

Yes yes yes. Water water water. I could live in the water. Swimming is a good friend. Not only is it a good overall workout but the cardio works everything. It will also help not being so hard on the knees with the weight.

[swimbikerun 1,045]

WHAT? No pool? I would freak out.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@swimbikerun I lost a lot of weight when I was a kid by swimming in our in-ground pool. I sure miss that pool!

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@swimbikerun I had some trouble swimming last Summer because my thighs and hips were still "stiff" from the plastic surgery. I could not flex the way that I needed to swim. I took crew and wondered if the boat tipped and I had to swim to shore if I would be able to do so. Of course, I knew that I could float or do the doggie paddle, LOL!

[swimbikerun 1,045]

You don't have one nearby? Even when the pool is closed, the rec centers nearby are open.

Have you done dryland work? Even lightly? You'd be able to just have the resistance now. Depending on how well you swim and what your stroke is, long course or short. Its short course until late spring/summer next year.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@swimbikerun what do you mean by dry land work?

[swimbikerun 1,045]

Ooops ... um ... sorry. I swam masters, competitively, so I use some of the lingo without thinking. You do work in the pool but you cross train more so than other sports. The weights, machines, cardio, etc. all that is referred to as dry land work. It helps to develop the muscles of the body, especially your core muscles.

For instance, you would have a period where you ran up/down stairs, hopped, jumped, etc. and then did things with the rope or the arms machine. You would do sets in the pool (speed work, distance work, work with the "toys"). You could then either do nothing or go back out and do some of the other. Push ups, sit ups, crunches, obliques, the whole deal.

[Beni 1,484]

Water, drink more. I have noticed my calves hurt when I use the treadmill. It's worse when I use it early in the morning. If I am well hydrated it goes so much better. Also, I do a warm up before starting. Our high Protein diet, I have been told, causes this extra muscular discomfort and drinking more Water is the solution. I could go over the medical lingo but I'm sure you have heard it before.

As we lose weight we lose muscle and if you don't use it goes. You have to build the muscle back up with weight training. Those machines at the gym will be your friends and don't skimp on the stretching.

Getting back up is a process but you will get there. Baby steps!

[Jonathan Blue 311]

Another great pre and post workout drink is watermelon juice, fresh with the pulp. It does have a bit of sugar from the watermelon, but studies have shown it is very good at speeding muscle recover after an intense workout. It is also a great way to hydrate. It is one of my "go to" post workout drinks.

I also agree with the other on the compression tights or even just the socks. They go a long way in reducing fatigue and leg pain. I am glad to hear you have ordered a pair.

I know the simplest solution you already know. Start of slow and work your way up. It might be a good idea to start with walking or working on an elliptical until you cardiovascular endurance is up a bit. Another thing my trainers focus on with me a lot is body weight resistance training. By building those muscles, even if you take some time off, you will be a lot stronger coming back than you would have been. Plus, muscle burns fat a lot faster and will work even while you are sleeping. If you have not added weight training of some kind into your workouts, I think it would do wonders for you. The other thing I do a ton of is swimming. I lost almost two thirds of my weight by swimming alone before adding weight training or running. You can push yourself hard, but there is no heavy impact on your body. Plus a good long stretch and soak in a hot tun post workout also does wonders for loosening up stiff muscles.

If you have any additional questions let me know. I will do what I can to get you the answers you need.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@swimbikerun I tried cxworks today and liked it. And I did some free weights and leg presses. Yesterday I did 15-min of warmups like planks and bridges, 15-min rowing, 15-min free weights, 15 min running. I have a bunch of routines that my former trainer put together but I want to throw them out and start new. They are from last year and I am bored with them.

I am meeting with a trainer on Friday morning... also getting the bod pod done and I am curious what my reading will be. My body fat percentage was really high last year! And that was AFTER all my body contouring. I cannot imagine what it would have been before Dr. Capella removed all that excess skin and fat. I had a scale that would tell body fat percentage and I remember when I was MO it was 50% fat!