NetWellness Exercise and Fitness

Losing 115 lbs in 12 Weeks?

Janet Buckworth PhD, FACSM — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:08:00 EST

Question: A local fitness club and a TV station sponsor a local "Biggest Loser" contest. They are running an ad for it featuring the last winner who lost 115 lbs in 12 weeks.

I need to lose 115 lbs and I could probably take off 12 weeks of FMLA from work if I got my dr to say it was necessary. . . .

Answer: Congratulations for making the decision to take steps to lose weight! Many people who participate in Biggest Loser programs DO lose weight quickly, but health professionals like me are not so sure this is the best long-term solution.

It didn't take 12 weeks to gain 115 pounds, and reduci . . .

Ask an Expert: Janet Buckworth PhD, FACSM, Exercise and Fitness

Aerobic Cycle or Other Machines?

Brian Focht PhD, FACSM, CSCS — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 07:03:00 EST

Question:

Me and my husband have decided to start excersise daily to stay fit and reduce our weight. As we dont have time for morning walks we are planning to buy one at home. We are thinking of buying an aerobic cycle. Is this a good way to burn calories or should we go for a better machine like tread m . . .

Answer: A stationary cycle is an effective piece of home exercise equipment for those interested in starting to exercise and lose weight. Stationary cycles, treadmills, and ellipticals are all appropriate pieces of home exercise equipment. Although many fitness equipment companies will advertise that thei . . .

Ask an Expert: Brian Focht PhD, FACSM, CSCS, Exercise and Fitness

Sore and On-Edge

Steven Devor PhD, FACSM — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:03:00 EST

Question: I`m 50. Recently started lifting and find that my muscles are sore and I`m on edge with people-- short in my responses, less patient with others. Are these typical syymptoms of my body reacting to my lifting?

Answer: First and foremost congratulations on beginning a new exercise program, particularly one that incorporates resistance training. We know the number one reason older adults lose functional capacity later in their lives is due to the loss of skeletal muscle mass, and resistance training is the best wa . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Devor PhD, FACSM, Exercise and Fitness

Dizzy While Running/Working Out

Steven Devor PhD, FACSM — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:03:00 EST

Question: My 12 year old daughter is very active and practices Volleyball/Conditioning 3-4 times a week. Lately she has complained of feeling dizzy, wanting to throw up, worried about passing out while playing, running or conditioning. She doesn`t have these symptoms other wise. Any ideas?

. . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness and for your question. You may want to make an appointment with your daughter's physician, as she may be having some issues with vertigo or perhaps she is just not eating enough. At any rate, a physical exam is needed to identify/rule out the source of her sympto . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Devor PhD, FACSM, Exercise and Fitness

Exercise Advice Needed

Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:02:00 EST

Question: Hi there,

I am a 47 year old female and am trying to lose weight as I am very obese and need to lose this weight so that I can have surgery. I have gone through 3 surgerys in the past 18 months and now have a colostomy and a large hernia in my stomach.

The plan is that I will be able t . . .

Answer: Based on the information you have provided, it seems that you are losing approximately one pound per week, which is well within the healthy range of .5 - 2lbs per week. Without knowing more information, I can't directly address your caloric needs but I am going to assume that your physician or a Re . . .

Ask an Expert: Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc, Exercise and Fitness

Treadmill Knee Injuries

Steven Devor PhD, FACSM — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:01:00 EST

Question: I do a lot of running on my treadmill, I run four to five mile a day and I do feel pain in my knees. Can it be from the running on the treadmill? If so what should I do for the pain that I feel? Thanks.

Answer: Knee pain can easily occur after running on a treadmill. This is largely due to the overuse of your knee joint, and the fact that one thing that differentiates treadmill running from outdoor running is that the surface never varies on the treadmill. Because the surface of the terrain varies outdoors . . .

Ask an Expert: Steven Devor PhD, FACSM, Exercise and Fitness

Back Fat

Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:01:00 EST

Question: I am 18yrs old boy with weight of 70kg and height 5`11".i have a fat collected at my back on upper rightside.it looks like a hump on my back.I feel embarass when anyone tease me.I want to get rid of it.suggest me something?

Answer: Calculating your weight in pounds with your height, you don't appear to be overweight. However, you could still have a high percentage of body fat. The thing that concerns me is that you have a fat pocket only on the upper right side of your back. This is atypical and there could be some medical con . . .

Ask an Expert: Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc, Exercise and Fitness

Butt Fat Reduction

Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST

Question: I want to reduce my butt fat and reshape it --looks very awkward. Please help I am ready to do anything to reshape it.

Answer: Well, there's good news and bad news. I prefer to save the best for last, so I'll start with the "less fortunate" news. Unfortunately, you can't spot reduce or target a specific area of the body for weight loss alone. However, (this is where the good news comes in) there are several things you can d . . .

Ask an Expert: Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc, Exercise and Fitness

Out of Shape or Asthma?

Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:11:00 EST

Question: I go to a college that's built on a hill. I have to walk up hills and flights of stairs every day, and I become easily out of breath. The amount of exercise I get here is quite a bit more than I got in high school, and I've been going here two years but despite the constant exercise my ability to br . . .

Answer: It is possible that you may lack conditioning or have a condition such as asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the breathing passages (bronchi) of the lungs. Asthma is characterized by sudden attacks or periods of bothersome or severe symptoms separated by periods of mild symptoms, or no symp . . .

Ask an Expert: Brandi Hester Janowiecki BSc, Exercise and Fitness

Gaining Muscle

Rebecca Nguyen MS — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:10:00 EST

Question: I joined Curves and was working 3x a week, 30 minutes each time and I made moderate changes to my diet. I gained 10 lbs over the 2 months I did that. People keep telling me it was muscle. I`m sure gaining muscle isn`t a bad thing but how do I work out and gain muscle without gaining weight? What am . . .

Answer: Unfortunately, it's not likely that the weight gained was muscle. Most people don't realize how difficult it is to gain lean mass, especially for women. The circuit training program at Curves is not the type of strength training that will stimulate a lot of muscle growth because the intensity is too . . .

Ask an Expert: Rebecca Nguyen MS, Exercise and Fitness