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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A difference in how I feel. Right now I frequently feel stiff or sore after bending over or sitting with kids. Or have trouble getting up from the floor. Wondering when I’ll feel a difference there. I know weight will be a separate battle. [/quote]

I'm sixty-two and started regular strength training with an experienced trainer about 6 mos. ago (2x weekly with trainer in gym, 1x weekly at home with dumbbell set), after doing little to no exercise most of my life. Prior to that, I had experienced stiffness after sitting too long for at least two decades and had terrible posture (desk jobs and too much screen time can do that to anyone). I was told by a doctor while still in my 30s that I had osteoarthritis. Yoga helped a bit with my chronic stiffness, but sticking to a regular strength training program has helped me even more. Six months in, I'm bounding up stairs, have much more energy, have noticed improved posture, and have also experienced a boost in mood. I don't experience the same stiffness getting out of bed or after sitting too long. I can get up off the ground in seconds. In addition to strength training, I try to get up from my chair every hour and move around as much as I can throughout the day--an Apple Watch or a reminder app can help with that. It took a month of strength training 2x a week to start feeling a positive difference. Please note that you will experience soreness for a while as you begin to use little-used muscles, but that does dissipate with time. By month 3-4, when I started to add a 3rd training session at week at home, I really started to feel a difference. It has been transformative in so many ways and I don't say this lightly.

In terms of looking better, that can only come with weight loss since the fat covers up muscle definition. I'm losing weight concurrently and can definitely see improved muscle definition in my arms and legs, but I need to lose the remaining fat to see the full effect. A thin person would likely see a physical difference much more quickly.

Let me know if you have any more questions or need more encouragement. You are on the right track and just need to establish a regular strength training schedule. I know that's easier said than done when you have kids, but you will feel so much better when you do. And what a great example to set for your kids, no matter their age![/quote]

This is so helpful and I appreciate the support! I found a gym with a trainer I like so I’m going to do that for the next six weeks, then I’ll have to switch to one with a different schedule. Six months to see such a noticeable difference would be amazing! Someone else said you pick up something and suddenly it’s easier…I’m hoping by summer that will be my toddler! [/quote]

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