How long does it take to get physically fit?

[spinbaby]

I've spent the last four weeks at the fitness center swimming laps, pedaling a bike, and pushing around weights. I'm getting rather discouraged. About all I've accomplished is to gain two pounds.

[lunatica]

1. Building muscle will make you gain weight

You're doing good. Just concentrate on how you feel and don't worry about what you weigh. Being fit is what counts.

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. Serious answer...

It depends on your general level of fitness when you start your routine.

[spinbaby]

4. Pretty crappy

Had some surgery last fall and spent the winter lying around like a slug. At 55, you can't do that kind of thing and get away with it.

[LeftyFingerPop]

9. Just remember that starting is the hardest part...

Don't envision yourself as becoming "perfect", but rather, set your goal as "improvement", however slight that improvement may seem.

[nickinSTL]

14. I know that feeling

I'm younger, but had complications from a surgery back in August 2006, when I was 33.

Couldn't do much exercise at all until early 2008, and I was in horrendous shape. Had put on about 60 pounds and the first long walk I went on with some friends, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

Took about a year to really feel like I was anywhere near back to normal.

Now I'm in decent shape, but still have about 10 pounds to lose before I get back to where I was before the surgery.

[Incitatus]

3. Diet also plays a big role.

Did you cut down on the soda and junk food? Working out will make you hungry. If you are eating all the same crap, that isn't helping.

[spinbaby]

5. I don't eat junk food

I cook and eat real food. I'm making soup now.

[flvegan]

6. Depends on many things

1. How "unfit" you are;
2. If you're doing exercises properly;
3. If you're eating right.

For example, you can "pedal a bike" all day and not lose any weight if you're not doing it right or eating poorly.

[sammytko]

7. about a month in basic training....

All that walking, running, hauling heavy stuff around really tones you up.

[Dappleganger]

8. Three months to get on your way.

Stop weighing yourself, go by measurements instead. Muscle mass weighs more and if you're female water weight and the monthly curse will throw you off course.

If you are completely out of shape but not grossly overweight, three months should make a difference. If you have a lot of weight to lose it will of course take longer. A very long time ago I went from completely out of shape and about 20 pounds overweight to running a 5K race within 3 months. That included regular lifting and running in the hills.

[Captain Hilts]

27. Exactly. Stop weighing yourself and judge by how you feel. nt

[demmiblue]

10. Cheesy answer: it is the journey, not the outcome.

You are already becoming more physically fit by what you are doing.

The question is, do you also want to lose weight in your process of becoming more physically fit?

If so, 80/20... 80% diet, 20% physical activity.

[spinbaby]

11. Weight loss would be nice

But I'm mainly after fitness--I want to get off the couch without those creaks and groans.

[Electric Monk]

12. For creaks and groans, you could try a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/supplements/a/glucosamine.htm

Worked wonders for my old arthritic dog in the final years of his life. Gave him a couple extra years of relatively normal activity once I added it to his diet, compared to where he was at before that.

[BlueIris]

23. I loooooove glucosamine and chondritin. Love it.

Really helped with my sore joints.

[one_voice]

13. Personally...

I don't do the weighing myself thing. It can be discouraging. Find a pair of pants...that are a little small (be reasonable) and worked toward getting in them. I've gone down in size without losing a lot of weight.

No scales for me, if I can see a difference in the way my clothes fit, then I don't get discouraged.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck and don't give up.

[Skittles]

15. here's your problem, spinbaby

stop looking at the scale.....you are helping your skin, muscles, heart, lungs, bones - you're doing good. Stay away from the scale.

[Roon]

16. That's great!! Keep at it!

How is your diet? weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. You will gain weight when you are training. You are replacing fat with muscle. Ditch the scale. How are your clothes fitting? I used to body build so I know all about nutrition and weight lifting.

Figure out what your BMR is and cut 200 calories. Every time you lose weight, cut more calories. (forget the exact ratio)

Think of your metabolism as a fireplace in your belly. You want to stoke the fire will 5 little meals instead of three big meals.

Drink as much water as you can stand. It will make you pee a lot but eventually your body gets used to it and you won't have to go so much.

[applegrove]

17. I just spent an hour gardening and my thighs are developing big muscles. Who knew... gardening!!!

[MadMaddie]

18. First thing if something is good for you it's not going to be

an instant fix.

I have been working out for about a 1 1/2 years, my weight didn't decrease as much as I wanted BUT i am sinching up my belt to where my pants look ridiculous.

I take step class M, W and F.
I have started running and I ran my first ever 5K on St. Pattie's day.
During the week my partner and I keep the carbs low and eat healthy. On the weekend we treat ourselves but not too much.

1. Be consistant - it takes about 2-3 months to get into a habit of working out consistantly.
2. Be patient
3. Stop stepping on the scale, as many have said you are probably gaining muscle so your weight is not a true measure of your hard work.

My step clas instructur who has been stepping for 20+ years at a spry 50 is out stepping all of her students who range from the age of 23 to 65. One of our favorite motivation statements she makes to the beginners, those that are out of shape and those that have been going to class for years.

"IF YOU ARE MOVING, YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT"!!!

Pretty simple but true. Hang in there, you will see how your clotes start fitting loser etc.

MadMaddie

[applegrove]

19. I swam for a while and though I developed some muscles I didn't loose any weight.

It was a compulsion to swim 7 days a week because I had been harrassed and I had lots of anxiety. I think at the time I read something about how swimming in water cools you down so you maintain a layer of fat. I lost no weight despite the fact i was swimming like a maniac and doing the crawl for 1 hour a day 7 days a week. When I quit swimming I quickly gained 10 pounds all of it on my stomach.

[Captain Hilts]

35. Swimming is suprisingly ineffective for weight loss. Exercise will help keep weight off

but, alone, is rarely enough for weight loss.

Your experience is normal.

[unpossibles]

20. it depends on a lot of things

It takes some time, especially the first attempt. I know it took me a couple of years to be "fit" although I was making progress before then.

[old mark]

21. It really depends where you are when you start - Takes a few months usually,

and it is a great idea not to weigh yourself more than once a week or so - it fluctuates too much and you can get frustrated. I usually get on a scale two times a month.

Also, make sure your scale is RIGHT - the one at my doctor's office shows about 8-10 pounds heavier than my actual weight.

Keep doing what you are doing - you will feel better soon.

(I am an overage gym rat.)
m

[MiddleFingerMom]

22. I got immediate and AWESOME results.

.
Your results may vary.
.
.

.

[lukasahero]

31. LOL

Ok, that's funny.

[Steerpike]

24. generally speaking

2 to 3 years to get to peak...that's if you're seriously out of shape and serious about getting fit.

[spinbaby]

25. That's longer than I had hoped

I was kind of hoping that after a month at the gym I'd be all fit and full of energy, not kind of creaky and tired from working out. Still, I'm going to keep at it at least for the three months of membership I've paid for. This place was very good about checking out how fit I was and putting me on a schedule. Last night was swimming, tonight is weights and the bike.

[lukasahero]

30. If it only took a month, Americans wouldn't be so out of shape

The problem with getting in shape is that it takes effort, hard work and commitment. If it were easy, everyone would be in great shape.

Hang in there - you'll need about 3 months to really start feeling the changes in your body. And by that point, you'll be addicted to the exercise. Starting is hard. Sticking with it through those first few discouraging weeks, however, is really the hardest part. It is totally worth it though!

[melman]

38. Reminds me of what my Dad says..

"That time will pass anyway." It's true. In a year or two, you could be in the same place or really fit. Why not work at being fit?

[Captain Hilts]

26. First, stop weighing yourself. The weight guidelines aren't for people that work out. nt

[Flipper999]

28. As far as losing weight goes...

diet is the most important aspect. No need to starve yourself (very counter productive). Just eat plenty of veggies, fruit, and get adequate protein. The protein is especially important if you are hitting the weights.

Do you have a workout plan in mind? It can really help. When I was working on my weights routine, I got a lot of my information from bodybuilding pages online. I wasn't really interested in bodybuilding (too extreme a lifestyle for me), but they have piles of information on changing body composition.

One last suggestion, try not to think about the number of weeks that you've spent getting into shape. Figure out what exercises you like most, and try to make them part of your daily routine. If working out becomes just something you do (like a hobby or something), it won't like a chore anymore.

And if all else fails, there are personal trainers out there whose only job is getting other people in shape.

[Raffi Ella]

32. "but they have piles of information on changing body composition."

Yeah! About 6 weeks ago over hauled the way I eat due to finding a bunch of info about insulin and its effect on body comp at a body building site. I'm no body builder but it has changed everything for me.

I thought I was in great shape as I'm a runner and hike a lot and don't eat a lot of sweets or fast food and stuff like that but after reading that I realized just how badly I've been eating.

too many carbs, carbs by themselves, not enough protein/good fats, not eating enough calories and not eating breakfast.

I lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks that I didn't even know I had to lose and my stomach is finally really flat!

I wish I'd known about this a long time ago! it is amazing the difference it's made in my life.

[Raffi Ella]

29. You're doing really well

You should be VERY proud of yourself.

Just know that starting out SUCKS to high hell. it's physically hard to do and all you can do is Do It and keep doing it - it sucks.

But a month is a solid amount of time to be stronger and fitter. I bet the workouts aren't as hard now are they? And you're in the process of making this a habit which is hard to do in itself.

So just don't even think about where you want to be, just know every time you work out you're getting "there".

[Rambis]

33. Don't get hung up on weight

I weigh the same as I did when I left school and at that time I was working out 3-4 hrs a day. The weight is not in the same places it once was.:eyes: Try doing something that used to be fairly difficult. I carry a table up a flight of stairs every spring that weighs a ton but when I was fit it was a breeze. Little victories like that-
Hang in!

[Orsino]

34. Army Basic Training lasted eight weeks.

For me.

It demands rather a lot of focus.

[mikeSchmuckabee]

36. 4 to 6 months of walking 6 km a day

and your friends will be complimenting you and asking how you did it.

That's what it took for me, a 40 y.o. who weighed 235 for 25 years. Nothing else changed. Got down to 200. 6 more months to 180.

[la_chupa]

37. it's a constant battle

I run between 20-30 miles a week
yoga twice a week
lift weights 2-3 times a week

and if I don't monitor everything I eat I gain weight
I've been doing weight watchers online.

I dare say that if you are working out and not watching what you eat you end up gaining weight.

You've made a great start. I'm concerned that you're not enjoying it and if not you won't stick with it.

[miscsoc]

39. if you gained weight by doing that

it's muscle presumably. which is good!

it's pretty startling how much muscle develops if you're starting from a sedentary lifestyle. like in a matter of days.

[muffin1]

40. Don't give up!

It's extremely hard to lose weight at our age - for women, it's even more difficult. It's taken me almost a year to lose 32 pounds.

Trust me, keep plugging along, and the weight will come off slowly but surely. Many people have suggested not weighing yourself at all. And while that philosophy does work for some, I find it better to weigh in once a week. I am an expert at at lying to myself. That's how I ended up needing to lose fifty pounds instead of ten or twenty. I kept telling myself that I didn't look THAT bad. Anyway, a year later, and I have twenty more to lose. If I had given up, as I considered early on, I would still be fifty pounds overweight today.

Keep going! You CAN do it. Exercise at least an hour - 5 or 6 days a week. Walk, instead of driving when possible. Park as far as possible from any building you frequent. Clean the house - burns lots of calories. Read fitness magazines for tips and inspirational stories. Cut back on carbs and sugar, drink LOADS of water, and most importantly, be nice to yourself. You are embarking on something worthwhile for yourself. That's always a good thing!

:)