"beginner exercise question"

[sashaleenicole]

I have been reading all these things about how overweight people and beginner exercisers should start slow with 30 minutes of exercise, light or moderate heart rate, and weight training only 2 times a week or else it could be damaging.  

But I am 21 and have been pretty fit most of my life. I was a competitive figure skater for 10 years. It's only in the last 1.5 years that I have gained a TON of weight. my depression got bad and I started to eat pizzas and ice creams all day every day. I went from a healthy 155 (at 5'9) to a whopping 225 in a little over a year. Both due to meds like seroquel and the depression.

now I am off meds and eating healthy and going to the gym, but I still feel like I can do cardio for an hour at a moderate/intense heart rate without feeling like I'm pushing too hard. I don't feel my muscles have weakened really at all. I want to lose this weight quick and get back to being fit. Is it ok for me to exercise like I did as an athlete as long as I'm not struggling to do so?

I know I should speak with a doc and I will, but I just wanted some advice on this. Also if anyone could suggest different machines that have worked best for them, number of reps and amount of cardio, I would be very grateful. Do I have to exercise like an old person because I had 2 bad years?

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Since you have been training previously it would take you less time to get to the optimum level. I would suggest training gradually over 2-3 weeks with increasing intensity and duration before you can take the full load and are comfortable with it.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!

[sashaleenicole]

since this post I have lost 11 pounds so I guess whatever I am doing is right.