Exercise; safe? Confused, advice please!

HI all,

Can anyone tell me how much exercise is safe to do on a VLCD?
Would going to the gym 3 times a week for an 1hr and half each session be too much? Training consisting of treadmill, bike, weights. I've been told about a new way of traiing where they make u work harder for short bursts then reduce the level and up it again - is this advisable on VLCDS?

Also, what is everyones experience of exercise on vlcds? Does it imporve weightloss or make u hungry?

Many thanks!

Chelle xx

Yep, I think that would be too much, though it depends on what you're used to. When I did that for a week it made me really dizzy and hungry- though that may be just me.

Good to see you back hun!!

chelle_powell said:

HI all,

Can anyone tell me how much exercise is safe to do on a VLCD?
Would going to the gym 3 times a week for an 1hr and half each session be too much? Training consisting of treadmill, bike, weights. I've been told about a new way of traiing where they make u work harder for short bursts then reduce the level and up it again - is this advisable on VLCDS?

Also, what is everyones experience of exercise on vlcds? Does it imporve weightloss or make u hungry?

Many thanks!

Chelle xx

Click to expand...

Hi Chelle

In my first 14 weeks fo CD I exercised from week 2 onwards. Generally you do what you feel able, so its not so much planning how much you are going to do, but doing it and then stopping if you feel knackered.

I used to run pre diet, so I stopped that because i didn't have the energy to do it to any value. I used to use the exercise bike for 15-20 mins on a hill program to tone legs, then I used to used the rower for 2000 metres. I would then do toning exercises using weights. I would alternate this with swimming, so one day in the gym, one day in the pool, and I used to go about 4 times a week average.

Had a bit of a rest from CD over the last 2 1/2 months, during that time I have been training for a marathon, so have had to build my running up, after losing 4 stone, the running felt easy! I am now back on CD as I am still 18lbs from goal, the running is a bit more difficult, def feel more knackered sans carbs, but i am still managing 3 and 4 miles... I should be target by beginning of May so then I can build my mileage up again.

Listen to your body, and stop when it feels too much. I think programs that are designed to push your body to their limit are def a bad idea on SS.. your body can't cope with sudden spurts, so things like circuit training should be avoided I think.

Hope that helps

Kirstin x

PS it did make me a bit hungry, but after the high weightloss weeks at the beginning of SS, I then averaged 4lbs a week loss - it was virtually consistent, think there was only 2 weeks when I didn't do my normal 4lbs!

Hi Chelle,
i am on week 4 of ll and i have been on my cross trainer doing 10 k every other day and i have been fine, like people have said before, it's what ever your body can cope with, i have always done it so there was no change for me, although my councillor advised me not to do to much!! i feel fine, so good luck!! angelXX

chelle_powell said:

HI all,

Can anyone tell me how much exercise is safe to do on a VLCD?
Would going to the gym 3 times a week for an 1hr and half each session be too much? Training consisting of treadmill, bike, weights.

Click to expand...

Probably too much to be honest, particularly if you're not already active. Why do you want to do that much? An hour and a half of solid exercise is pretty intense.

I've been told about a new way of traiing where they make u work harder for short bursts then reduce the level and up it again - is this advisable on VLCDS?

Click to expand...

It's not new, but I think you're referring to the Australian study that was done recently regarding interval training? Interval training is the best way to train IMHO but I think the conclusions from that particular study are slightly misleading.

If you're new to exercise and you're planning to do interval training, you should speak to a personal trainer about the different levels you should use while you're on a VLCD. They'll take all kinds of info from you and use it to work out the best workout regime for you.

Also, what is everyones experience of exercise on vlcds? Does it imporve weightloss or make u hungry?

Click to expand...

You really shouldn't be doing enough exercise while on a VLCD to significantly improve your weightloss. If you're doing that much you need to eat more. I exercised the whole time I was on CD so I don't know if it made me any more hungry than I would have been otherwise. However, I did have to drop the intensity of what I was doing otherwise I would have killed myself.

Hi,

as others have said it depends if your have been doing htis program before starting the diet or if wanting to start at this level.

If it's the latter, I would say it's too much and maybe once/twice per week to see how you get on for shorter amounts of time. Make sure you have a pack before starting and drink plenty of water.

Good luck

Good point there Soon Be Slim, if you are doing an hour and a half in the gym you would probably need to up your water intake by 2 litres (I know it sounds a lot; most people seriously underestimate how much extra they need to drink when exercising).

Hi Chelle.

The program you speak of sounds very much like a fat burning program. I would say this I a big no no, especially if you are on the ss plan.

If you exercised regularly before you started SS, then it is ok to continue as long as you are not doing more than you were before you started ssing. If you did not exercise before, you should start off very slowly with brisk walks and then gently increase your activities week by week.

I currently do 15 mins on a bike, 15 on the tread mill, some light weights and maybe a swim. I will do this 3-4 times a week. I don't want to be doing any more than this while I am ssing.

Thanks for all of your replies - I really really appreciate it!!!
I've been to the gym 3 times this week (not currently ssing).
The programme I've done it;

10mins - cross trainer;
10mins - Bike (with increasing intensity for short bursts)
10mins - treadmill (with increasing intensity for short bursts)

Abdominal exercises/squats with exercise ball
Adductor
Abductor
Torso Machine (can't remember the name lol!!!)
Bicep and tricep machines
Leg extension machines (cant remember name lol - I know I'm pants lol!)
Free weights

I'm thinking I might be better suited to a 790 type programme, and to make sure I have a bar before I go and work out. Will also reduce my time to an hour or slightly over.

Thanks again to everyone, really appreciate it!!!!!!

Much love, chelle xx