Excercising for the severly obese?

Question

My fiance needs to lose about 100 pounds, and i want him to start going to the gym with me, but all the ever does when he goes is lift weights. I know he likes lifting weight and it does burn calories, but i think he needs to do something a little more aerobic or atleast work on the rest of his body too. I know it's hard for him because he's so over-weight, but is there anything he can do that will help out?

p.s. he is supposed to weight for his height around 200 pounds, but right now he's at around 320. Now it isn't all just fat, he's been lifting weights for years, so he has A LOT of muscle underneath the fat that is also adding weight. He just needs to lose all the extra fat.

Answer 1

My suggestion would be swimming...together.

Swimming burns large amount of calories at quick rates because of the resistance. Moreover, it is easy on the joints and low-impact. If your fiance is 100 lbs overweight, then it is important for him to not bear anymore on his joints than he already is.

You can try lap swimming, water aerobics, or simply walking back and forth across the pool. My suggestion would initially be to do water aerobics together.

It is important for both of you to change your eating habits together. No amount of time in the gym (or pool) will help if you are replacing those calories immediately.

Additionally, you may want to look into programs like LA Weight Loss, Weight Watchers, etc., as it's important that you do not become a nag. You do not want your fiance's weight to become a wedge between the two of you in your relationship. But, I would caution against you not taking an active and supportive role in his attempt to lose weight (that is why my initial suggestion was for yo to do whatever it is together). By doing it together, you will both be living an active and healthy lifestyle, and you will have each other for support.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

If he's lifting weights that's a great start. See if there is a weights w/ aerobics class around. That way he may not feel so self conscious as he'll already know how to do most of the exercises.
Try to get him to try walking on a treadmill or cross trainer
Water Aerobics - it's not just for little ol' ladies in shower caps
Perhaps try a senior aerobics class
Check with a personal trainer
Swimming - yes you have to put on a suit, but once in the water no one see's anything jiggle.
Also make sure you BOTH eat healthy when going out -watch portion sizes, try to set up dates where some exercise is involved i.e. walking from the parking area, going for a walk, bike ride, ski etc, join a couples sports league - make sure it's non competitive.

Answer 3

low impact aerobics such as walking, bike riding, eliptical machine, there are also low impact aerobic classes and DVD's that he can do.

Weight lifting is important too. Muscle burns fat. So the more muscle he has will help him burn fat. While weight lifting will help, he needs to break up his routine.

One day do weights, the next day do cardio or aerobic activity in order to give those muscles a day to rest and repair before weight lifting again. This along with a healthy diet, he could can start dropping those pounds.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Tell him that you want to start out your new life together by both being healthy. Has he been to the Dr. for a checkup lately? And, have you? If so, and the Dr. gives his approval, ask your fiance to walk with you everyday. Now, keep in mind that he might only be able to manage to walk 1 block at first, but increase the distance a little each week Then, when you go to the gym, you can do "your thing" and he can lift weights. Or, he may want to start walking on the treadmill for a short distance. I have arthritis, so am unable to walk for long distances, but have found that walking for 1/2 hour and doing stretching exercises in the warm water pool, at the gym, is both helping me lose weight and reducing pain. Maybe he'd like to try that.

Most importantly, DON'T NAG HIM ABOUT IT OR MAKE HIM FEEL GUILTY. Remember that you fell in love with HIM as he is.

Answer 5

Since you mention you go to a gym, weights are good but he needs to add some cardio into is work out. Tell him to start out slowly or get some brisk walking in, or jump on a eliptical and try it for 5 or 10 minutes. If it's still tough with the extra weight he may consider water areobics, maybe something you guys could do together? Just keep working at it! He didn't gain it over night so it's going to take awhile to loose!

Answer 6

Lifting weights is good because muscle mass will help change his metabolism for the better. If he cuts down on food intake w/weight lifting it's better than nothing.

If you can get him to start walking on a treadmill while watching TV that would really help too. He can watch sports center, before he knows it he will have spent an hour on the treadmill and burned ~500-1000 calories. Assuming he likes sports - works for me;)

Answer 7

Since he is severely obese his joints have a lot of strain on them from his weight. So for this it would be better for him th get in the pool to exercise. That way it saves alot of pain on the joints by taking the weight off them. Most of the gyms offer a water aerobics program and it's something you can do together.

Answer 8

that is ideal to make certain your record yet till then save doing what your doing. in case you sense your heart is going too quick, then decelerate for a minute or 2 till you regain your wind, then hit it harder back. the major is to get your heart price up, you do not ought to maintain that for the total time. you want to get it up there for more effective or less a million-2 minutes, then lower back off for the same era of time, then do it back. i imagine your doing large! Watch your ingesting alongside with this as a way to % the burden-loss. As you drop some pounds, all of this can get a lot less complicated and with what your doing, that is not lengthy! BTW- you want stress your cardiovascular gadget! you want to understand what the indicators of something more effective intense might want to be, so note yet your doing all of your heart more effective good by technique of operating it than by technique of no longer.

Answer 9

Get him a pedometer ($14.99 at sporting goods stores).

Have him wear it all the time, and work his way up to 10,000 steps a day. I am not obese, but I did this and I have really lost weight!

Answer 10

Make sure he checks with his doctor before you start, especially in his situation with the risks that obesity include. Ask the doctor what exercises he recommends then make it something you can do together. Take an evening walk, go swimming in the summer, make it fun and varied.