The 1st step is admitting you have a problem.

[Doberluv]

I feel for you. I am doing Zumba to help me lose weight. It isn't for everyone though, it's very intense cardio. You can burn up to 800 - 1,000 calories an hour.

I take classes once a week (plan on taking two in the future.) and have the zumba game as well. My instructor is awesome, I think I have lost a bit of weight from starting Zumba in the middle of February but I can't say how much. It's totally FUN and you don't even feel like it's a work out because you're dancing. It also makes you very happy, atleast it makes me really happy.

If you are uncomfortable taking classes in front of everyone (I was believe me, but my instructor and the girls in my class are very supportive and I am very comfortable with them now.), you can buy the DVDs online on http://www.zumba.com and just work out an hour or two a day. Zumba isn't going to do it all for you but it will certainly help.

If you're unsure what Zumba is:
http://www.zumba.com/en-US/about/

You can also find classes in your area, there are a few like I would say 4 in my town but I am totally comfortable in the class I am in. My instructor is from Argentina which I think is awesome.
http://www.zumba.com/en-US/parties/search/

DVDs if you don't want to do it in a class setting. I don't think they are very much!
http://www.zumba.com/en-US/shop/category/dvd_s/

You can do this, zumba is just a suggestion I have since I love it so much and am addicted! But we're all behind you. Another suggestion, maybe you can offer to walk shelter dogs at a shelter and take them on long walks? That will certainly help too. Good luck!

I LOVE ZUMBA. It's so fun and it definitely burns off a ton of calories. If I compare it to walking/running on a treadmill which can make me burn 200 calories in about 20-30 minutes, (it says so right on the machine.lol) it's mind boggling how many calories an hour of intense Zumba can do. I don't care what anyone says, lots of exercise burns fat and helps you lose weight along with not eating fattening things, especially if you do the exercise not too long after you eat. When I started losing weight when I still lived in Idaho, I beefed up my exercise...started running and some walking 3 miles a day every day. I didn't start dieting right away and I lost quite a bit each week. So, I don't believe it that exercise doesn't help you lose fat. (It's not always about weight, since muscle weighs more than fat. It's about losing fat, for me anyhow) When I started eating better, of course, then it really came off much faster. Also, being toned and in shape makes your clothes look better and makes you feel better, most importantly. But I slacked off a little a week or so ago when I was scared to do anything much following a hospital ER visit. Now, I'm starting in again. It's amazing how little time it takes to get out of shape again. I'm huffing and puffing so much quicker than I did when I had been doing it regularly. But definitely, exercise alone won't work as well as diet and exercise.

 

[Renee750il]

Very true, Carrie. With the belly dancing and weight lifting I am smaller now than I was when I weighed 20 lbs less, and wearing clothes I couldn't wear then. A big difference is in my waist and abs.

 

[Doberluv]

Yes Renee, all those muscles in your waist and all over are really getting tight I bet. And my bad back, which has the potential to give me some serious trouble is so much better when I'm exercising and keeping those ab and back muscles sturdy. I feel so much stronger and more energetic, even with the low thyroid. LOL. I didn't know I had low thyroid until the blood test. I'm not arguing that eating right knocks the pounds off. Of course it does! But without exercise, I think I'd still be flabbier and fatter.

 

[Renee750il]

I was exercising before, but didn't have access to the gym and weights or the dancing so it was all walking and some aerobics.

A lot of the stuff I do in the gym now incorporates all the dance training and even some yoga I've had in the past WITH weights, especially on the legs. I'm sure there are quite a few who cringe when they seem me hyper-flexing my back too, lol, but that's an important part of building strength for dance.

 

[Doberluv]

Yoga is fun and I think most of the classes they offer make it all more interesting and fun. I'm glad you found the belly dancing. I haven't tried it yet...might be too embarrassed. I'm sort of not the dancing type. lol. I use to take karate which I loved and highly recommend. I was in the best shape ever. But that was years ago.

I like doing weights and using all the machines at the gym. There are so many muscle groups you can get at with this equipment. I can't do certain things because of my herniated disc. I'm not suppose to put much resistance on my back, but as long as I keep my abs on the strong side, that supports my back.

Swimming laps, I do most days. It's my favorite thing. I do about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile and it's quite taxing, but I like how it makes me feel. No hard concussion and it really strengthens my arms especially, and my waist. I kick but put more strength into my arms because my legs are all right, but my arms are disgusting. lol. There's a continuous, small rocking motion, side to side a little bit and I stretch long when I swim and that stretches and strengthens all those muscles along the waist, abs and back, pecs and probably some I haven't realized. lol. And it's easy on the joints.