[mum2jp]

I need to lose probably 10 to15 kg and tone. I am carrying a lot of extra weight since DS 2 years ago, feel very yuck and we are TTC without any luck so far. I Have PCOS so losing weight will improve my chances of conceiving and help me not to put on even more weight next baby. My question is if you had to choose where would you invest your money. I am thinking either.1) getting a gym membership with a few persona trainer sessions to get me started an trying to adjust and change my eating habits myself Or2) joining on of the food related weight loss programs such as weight watchers or light nd easy and trying to establish and maintain the ex cerise by myself.
I guess I m just not sure which sort of assistance would give me a better chance at successfully losing the weight. TIA

[MahnaMahna]

I have always been told weight loss is 80% healthy diet/portion control and 20% exercise.

[mez70]

To be honest I would look at seeing a dietician or a specialist in eating and metabolisim. You can exercise all you want but if you are eating the wrong foods in the wrong portions etc then you won't get great results,

Exercise is "part" of the issue. You need to find out what foods your body is able to process most efficiently and don't just store as fat. Excercise can be incidental as well.. Playing with kids dancing to the wiggles etc all add up.


I have been on a similar journey and have lost approx 5 of the 15-17 kgs I need to loose. I have been going to the gym and to be honest although I am feeling fitter and able to do more the results are not happening as good as I like. I know my answer is in the food I eat. when the kids go back to school and kinder etc and all sports term fees etc are paid up I will actually be getting a referral from my GP to a specialist Physician (DR) who specilizes in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Her special interests are diabetes and eating disorders amongst other things. She is brilliant and I had my dad referred to her recently when he was diagnosed with Type 2. I was a patient of hers many years ago so knew she would help dad and she has pegged issues with his weight and how we can manage it with his other co conditions, changed 1 medication etc. The best part was she remembered me and why she was seeing me and has agreed to work with me in my journey as she pegged me when I asked about possibly coming back to her (know me too bloody well lol)

For me when we can get to the bottom of medical issues I know the weight will then start to drop so for me I would really look at the medical and food side of things but with specialists not so the Lite n Easy which really doesn't teach you anything about food choices and selections or WW which is good but again not the medical background.. Good luck it is bloody hard but even just feeling fitter is helping me more and more each day

[pitzinoodles]

Definitely put the money into the food side, either a dietician or weight loss program. Exercise IS good, but you are very unlikely to loose a significant amount of weight by increasing exercise alone. In fact quite a few people actually put on weight when they exercise as it stimulates appetite and then they over eat.

Weight loss will be more about what you eat, than getting to the gym. Of course getting to the gym will also be great for you, but probably won't result in the weight loss you'd like.

good luck!!

[B-B-M]

Yep - agree i'd go with the "food" side.

SIL did Lite n Easy and lost 20kgs! She looks amazing - she exercises (now) but the majority of her loss was changing the way she eats. She said it has taught her portion control which she thinks was her biggest problem.

[Roxi]

I think you need both. There is so much information out there on the internet about healthy eating that I don't see why you would really need to see someone about it. But with exercising you really need to guidance and help from a PT.

[feliz6]

For me I would choose the gym. I have bought exercise dads to do at home but I don't enjoy doing that as much as I enjoy going to the gym. Sure you don't need to go to a gym to exercise but if I don't find too many excuses- it's too hot to go for a talk or its raining or I really need to do x around the house. But if I schedule a gym session I find I go and I stick it out. So I think in part it depends on you. If ur highly motivated and will exercise at home and have a good idea about a range of exercises you can do then go with the food option. If ur more like me and have a good idea of where the failings in ur diet are' not enough veggies and too many jollies and soft drinks then go to the gym.

[WizzFizz]

Personally I don't think you need to spend money on either.

You can easily track food using My Fitness Pal - its easy, free and if you use it every day keeps you very accountable.
Exercise wise, all you need to do it move more. Go for a walk every day, go for a run, swim some laps at the pool, ride a bike with the kids.

Losing weight is not overly complicated. Eat Less. Move More.

My biggest advice is set yourself some realistic goals, tell EVERYONE you know about them and reward yourself along the way.

Good luck !

[vitaechel]

I would say it depends on how you are now. The kind of diet you have now and how much you exercise. If you are prone to eating unhealthy food choices or large portions then you would benefit from food related weight programs. But if you eat relatively well and know what you need to cut from your diet to assist you with weight loss then perhaps exercise is the key for you.

My DH and I find exercise is the key for us. We eat fairly healthily and have a fair amount of food and portion knowledge between us (DH was an athlete most of his life and I have a "foodie" family who like to grow vegies and I worked as a cook for a while). I find I need the motivation of going to a gym or doing dance classes to get my butt moving, but DH will happily go for a 2hr ride or dance for hours without a problem.

[Phascogale]

They are both important but food is probably moreso than the exercise at this point. Maybe look at a dietician or some sort of lifestyle change diet that you can continue for the rest of your life. There's no point going on a 'shake' diet for a couple of months and losing weight but having no idea about a balanced diet because you'll just put the weight back on when you come off the diet (not saying you'll do this but using it as an example).

You're also not going to lose much weight if you spend 2 hours in the gym and then come home and eat the wrong foods (or too much food regardless of how healthy it is) but you will probably be fitter.

With the PCOS I'd also be looking at metabolic stuff too as that may be preventing weight loss as well ie do you have insulin resistance as part of the syndrome.