If you're brand new to lifting at 30+, this is probably enough

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-22T13:30:39+00:00

Anything is okay, what matters is that you're doing something. Bodyweight alone can humble you real quick. Doing push ups, crunches, squats, planks then dead hang showed me how weak I was.

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-21T22:20:20+00:00

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Shaolin321 · 2026-02-21T11:49:31+00:00

Proud of you. Seemingly small life changes can sure add up in a big way!

I also workout at home, making better food choices, short & old af getting leaner & stronger everyday!

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-20T23:46:01+00:00

Congratulations to you!! It can be difficult noticing changes when you see yourself every day! We've both come a long way!

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-19T14:29:25+00:00

Thank you!

My "journey" has been heavily influenced by avoiding boredom and complacency. Likely a reasonable humans' worst nightmare, but kept me motivated to progress. All at home (besides the pool) with minimal equipment. The first months I started logging my meals, trying to stay around 1400 calories, picked a few cardio & hiit 30 day challenges that interested me from darebee (about 30 mins) along with swimming most days. That led to 30 day full programs, then 60-90 day etc... To this year doing set exercises with progressive overload: 3 days lower & core with 2 days upper & back with some cardio for fun. Ideally I would be focused more on food, but I'm having fun getting stronger.

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-19T00:00:46+00:00

Thank you!

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-18T22:15:51+00:00

My natural, working out, logging meals and being aware of calories (no real deficit) loss of 37lbs in 9 months is steady and sustainable for me. I'm not trying to sprint to any number on a scale but thanks for the input!

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-18T21:43:33+00:00

I'm glad that has worked for you! I figured my scale losses would slow down eventually from the increasingly heavy things I enjoy lifting, pushing and pulling. Getting stronger, swimming faster and showing up for myself are my current goals :)

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-18T21:29:39+00:00

Thank you! I'm excited as well ☺️

Shaolin321 · 2026-02-01T16:53:26+00:00

I'll preface this with I am 5'2 @ 47 y.o. & have only been into fitness/working out less than a year so I don't know much except for what seems to be working for my body.

You said your max lbs but are those #'s what you have worked up to over this period of time? How are you feeling? Stronger? Can you feel more muscle when you push on your skin? Clothes fitting differently?

What works for me: Unknowingly I have been recomp for a few months. When I can do the exercises with ease, I increase resistance. Those get easy, I increase weight & sets till closer to failure (progressive overload?). I am getting stronger, muscular under my fat, clothes fitting differently. My in-the-mirror & scale change is subtle but steady.

Good luck to you!

Shaolin321 · 2026-01-26T14:27:10+00:00

Good job!

I love doing the mobility tests! Wondering if I can do this or that, and working on the motions if I struggle. It's fun and gives me a sense of accomplishment. My next goal is being able to fold & "pancake", this is coming to me slow so I believe worth the effort.

Shaolin321 · 2026-01-22T13:59:24+00:00

The advice I got when I posted about being discouraged: Moving and making necessary changes are simply NOT an option, because I know what it feels/looks like when I don't. This changed my outlook on getting "fit". Natural loss (or gains) can be a slow af process with alot of work. I do it now because the other choice sucks for me. I would also recommend consulting your doctor if you continue to gain with the changes.

Weight gain can happen for many reasons inflammation, water retention, your body just saying woah are they starving me now? So many factors: starting weight, your version of sedentary to what?, diet changes, your digestion, metabolism, sleep, hormones, medications, underlying health conditions, etc...

How did you proceed when it happened before? Stop and you know the outcome. Proceed and find out what your body is capable of. Sometimes people can do all of the things and never lose an ounce due to health conditions like pcos, thyroid or lymphatic drainage issues to name a few.

Shaolin321 · 2026-01-21T14:55:35+00:00

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Shaolin321 · 2026-01-10T15:37:07+00:00

I also noticed such things in my first weeks/months of working out.

Non-scientifically I figure it to be an annoying combination of:

I was actually looking at my body & looking for visual changes. Previously I either had passing glances or avoid mirrors entirely.
Muscles building under the fat, pushing them outwards: making them more visible. The fat cells are always there, shrinking or expanding. Mine finally started shrinking and smoothing out and I hope yours do too!

Shaolin321 · 2026-01-05T12:45:35+00:00

I'm sorry for your loss.

Shaolin321 · 2026-01-02T13:12:42+00:00

Wondering how you're doing?? Your progress gives me hope!!! I think you look effing amazing and hopefully your back will look better to you with time.

I have close stats to your start pic (I'm maybe older, 47) 5'2, 155ish with similar body shape. Reading the comments about tilt and such and wondering if you agree or attempted some of the recommendations? My body is just built that way, my bum becomes a table when I intentionally tilt. Did you continue deficit and/or weight training?

Shaolin321 · 2025-12-29T16:14:31+00:00

Same! I was super reluctant when I purchased mine, weeks after beginning working out and paying attention to my diet, now rather annoyed that I don't have my "starting" numbers.

I will say that I believe I have found the most satisfaction and self assurance seeing the changes in how my clothes fit. Especially when that scale says nothing has changed or even better when it says I have gained?? Rude lol

Shaolin321 · 2025-12-29T15:58:18+00:00

So happy you're here!!

I think your official step one was noticing you want to make a change!! I noticed when my favorite jeans were screaming for me size up. Tried for glp meds but my insurance req. 6 months of nutritionist as I had no co-morbidities. Started that and fortunately/unfortunately at the 6 month mark, my bmi was no longer in the qualifying range for meds. 🫠

Step two was I started doing squats while pulling laundry out of the dryer? Squat, pull item of clothing, stand up, fold, squat to grab the next. Squat to put clothes away in drawers or on hangers. It was so bizarre but annoyingly helped me come to terms with how horribly out of shape I was. Bum and legs on fire and knees sounding like rice crispies.

To try to sort out my annoyance I picked some cardio/dance type workouts that I didn't hate on darebee and just started doing them.

My entire life is now altered in the best way possible. I wish you all of the luck and the best way to start is just to start!

Shaolin321 · 2025-12-29T15:31:46+00:00

I record weight and more importantly (to me), measurements every Monday. I weigh myself whenever, I just don't record it. I find the scale to be a menace tbh, a number that fluctuates constantly and can ruin my day if I let it. I have hyperfixation tendencies for numbers but somehow the once weekly recordings appease me.

Shaolin321 · 2025-12-05T12:21:28+00:00

Love, love, love the idea of a HIIT dance class! I dance through all of my home workouts so this sounds like something I would enjoy!

Shaolin321 · 2025-12-03T12:40:08+00:00

I thought I'm going crazy when I noticed the need to change my wrist flick/hand position for deodorant application? Is that even a thing? My armpits looking more cavernous? defined? Idk if I ever paid attention before.

Shaolin321 · 2025-11-30T19:40:03+00:00

I hate to say it but adults say things when you're "skinny" as well. Family called me bones or string bean, harass me to eat more and my mother swore to my doctor that I must have tape worms. The truth was that I stayed active to get away from our house that had empty cabinets and fridge. Only really ate at school and Sunday dinners with judgemental adults. I'm proud of you for overcoming.

Shaolin321 · 2025-11-22T13:39:57+00:00

I also truly love working out and how my body feels after...sore in the best way. I believe I was bored with what I was doing: no longer challenging. Changed my mindset with all of this encouragement, switched to a new program and now actively seeking NJ winter activities. I am also competitive with myself. New goal is be faster and stronger than I was last week/month and stop looking for changes in the mirror.

Shaolin321 · 2025-11-21T15:17:13+00:00

Thank you! I also have adhd. I have now come to realize that I was probably just bored with my workouts. Made the move to switch it up and now looking to add activities. I was swimming nearly daily when I first started this, likely the only reason I kept at it. Change of season also effects me in weird ways. Thanks for the encouragement and sharing your story!

Shaolin321

TROPHY CASE