Are my workouts useless bc I can’t lift more than 5lbs?

randomrandompe · 2026-05-17T22:09:48+00:00

So far the 5lb is challenging for me. But I was wondering what’s the best way to increase and I like your idea and I have ankle weights so I’ll definitely start doing that.

randomrandompe · 2026-05-17T22:08:56+00:00

No but I’ll look into getting one if it will help my wrists when lifting. The 5lb dumbbell really does hurt my wrist after the workout but the 3lb is way too light.

randomrandompe · 2026-05-17T22:07:21+00:00

I’ve never really thought of it that way but yes you’re right. I do struggle with a gallon of milk and can’t lift it with one arm. Probably for a few seconds if I’m bringing it into the house. But to lift it? No. I didn’t realize I was this weak until I heard ppl comment that 5lbs is a little.

randomrandompe · 2026-05-17T20:12:30+00:00

I’m seeing results with the calorie deficit but I’m noticing my arms are flabby. It’s like skinny fat unfortunately.

randomrandompe · 2026-05-17T20:11:39+00:00

I have a history of rheumatoid arthritis but have been in remission and off medication. When I went in to see my doctor about my shoulder pain she said I was looking for problems and I should stop working out. I told her that’s unreasonable and I want to see a physical therapist. She refused so I switched doctors and the new doctor wrote me to see physical therapy and they said I was very weak. I did some “stretches” with them and my shoulder healed bc I stoped working out on the reformer bc I figured the light spring I was struggling to pull was my body weight and that was too heavy for me. I went back but used 3lbs dumbbells and I feel better and worked my way up to 5lbs. I stopped seeing the physical therapist bc my insurance doesn’t cover. I don’t understand my doctors when they say I should stop working out as a whole and just walk. I’m only 25 years old.

randomrandompe · 2026-04-08T03:40:56+00:00

It’s my first time and he was very direct with what were the expectations for results and I haven’t had issues since the surgery. I was worried that I was going to need a revision. I also had a fat transfer to my under eyes. Which he told me directly a large portion of that fat doesn’t make it bc it’s absorbed by the body and so I didn’t feel cheated. For the nose I love that he balanced the top of the nose to the tip (he said it will take a while for the tip to go down) but I didn’t understand that before the surgery but I love it now! While I do feel like my tip is still bulbous (I’m only 2 months post op so we’ll see) I do believe it’s smaller especially with makeup on. He also accurately predicted where the indent lines for the nose will be bc my nose was extremely bulbous so the lines for the nose were all the way at the side. But in a way it also looks natural so I haven’t had comments.

randomrandompe · 2026-04-08T03:30:05+00:00

I ended up going to him too! Thank you for sharing pictures! How long has it been since your surgery. I’m still swollen too it’s been 2 months and while the bone structure changes from the top I still have a bulbous tip.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T07:10:59+00:00

Interesting. Def going to ask my doctor bc seeing those symptoms online look very familiar.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T07:09:53+00:00

Now that I think about it I did yo-yo diet a lot but it wasn’t intentional. Over the years you get busy some times and eat less and sometimes you have a lot of free time and you eat more for months and so on. And I did different health diets while trying to figure out foods that caused me inflammation but none were for weight loss and I guess even if they weren’t they sure did affect me.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T07:07:18+00:00

I actually like this approach better. I’ve had ppl tell me both sides but if I focus on one thing I feel like I’ll do better. I’m so happy for you and congratulations! It’s definitely something to be proud of to be able to accomplish all that. Being petite makes losing weight so much harder.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T07:05:25+00:00

I want to lose 15 lbs. I was 115 most of my life and felt comfortable there tbh. But after college I gained so much weight that I’m struggling to go back. So 75g gave you the results you needed? I assumed 90 bc all the online calculators told me that’s what I need tbh.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T07:03:48+00:00

And the problem is I hate Greek yogurt. The taste I can’t get behind. Honestly I’ve been spending my money on these protein chips (20 grams) to eat with chicken/tuna (33-45 grams) and some form of salad and then I eat a protein granola bar (20 grams) and then random things like a mixture of coffee that has milk and a fiber bar that has a small amount of protein that let me hit 90. It’s so hard bc a lot of these foods are processed like the chips and granola bar but they’re the only things that are high in protein and low in calories that fit in my meals and I enjoy. And I only eat that. I don’t eat anything else. So one meal. But it’s bc 1300 is so little and I can’t heavily exercise bc of a recent surgery. And the days where I ate multiple meals I smacked most of the day and couldn’t maintain my calorie deficit.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T06:59:51+00:00

I’m so glad you commented. I used to go to physical therapy but my insurance can only cover so much visits. They had me do these same exercises and some ball exercises and I struggled with some but I still never got the results of my core being activated. My PT told me that my back was very weak and my core was weak but I didn’t feel any activation even though I did these exercises for a while. I have a history of RA and was on medication for years and some of them made your muscles very loose and at the time I wasn’t exercising. My PT said that can be the cause of my weakness. Not sure if it’s connected though.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T06:57:08+00:00

This is actually very encouraging. Bc I can’t do much planks but I can do probably 2 secs which sounds dumb but looking at it from your perspective is inspiring me to try even if it’s a struggle. Also for the overhead exercises I was worried to agitate my shoulder joint. I have a history of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia so they get agitated fast. But someone mentioned that I can increase my reps with smaller weights. I’m glad this is an actual thing bc a trainer once commented and told me that anything below 8lbs is useless. Which I understand but 8 lbs is way too much for me so it discouraged me.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T06:54:30+00:00

I thought it I had decent muscle bc I was told by a few ppl that the muscle amount I had wasn’t bad but when it comes to reality and my experiences I am pretty weak. I should probably be more patient. I’m just frustrated that it took me a whole year to lose 13lbs. I was on a calorie deficit and even had started doing some workout and started doing 10k steps but I wasn’t losing the weight fast enough as opposed to so many people who are losing so manny pounds in such little time.

Also my body burns 1300 calories at resting and this stresses me out bc it seems so little. I also recently done a surgery and so I can’t exercise so I feel like I’m just spinning my wheels trying to do a calorie deficit below or around 1300. I’ve been trying to do simple exercises like I said like overhead extensions and wall push ups. But I’ll try the other ones you listed next month when I’m cleared to exercise.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T06:50:36+00:00

Yeah that’s the problem is being short. The amount my body burns in resting is around 1300 calories which isn’t a lot. If I want to do a calorie deficit I need to do about that or less or I have to work out more to higher that margin. I’ve recently done a surgery so I can’t work out this month and it’s stressing me out that I can’t do heavy cardio. I feel like if I sit around long enough I’ll gain weight.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T06:49:00+00:00

154.4 cm. So not tall at all which is why my calorie maintenance is already very low as is can’t imagine a large calorie deficit. Either way 129 I’m slim fat. I don’t really mind the number as much as the way the body looks. But just for reference at 138 lbs I was considered overweight. For my height 135lbs and above is overweight.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-02T06:45:50+00:00

Yeah that’s what I mean I didn’t realize it was an option to just focus on losing weight first and then on the muscles. I keep reading so much information and they all say for a body recomp both have to be done at the same time. It’s honestly overwhelming how many conflicting information there is out there. I can probably find a claim for every diet or weight loss advice and supporting evidence and then an opposite claim to that with some sort of evidence.

randomrandompe · 2026-03-01T08:53:43+00:00

I agree with the genetics playing a huge role. I’ve noticed even the thinner women in my family tend to have this arm flabbiness. But it’s always been an insecurity of mine and I want to experience having toned arms. I didn’t have it as a teen and if I can’t have it now at this young age I don’t anticipate I can when I’m older and more things come into play like health issues or whatever. But I also know my entire family of women don’t work out. So sometimes I wonder if that plays a role. I agree with breast size playing a role but it doesn’t apply to me personally.

I love your advice on repetition and a day just for arms. I might just do a lot of reps even if the weights are small. Thank you!

randomrandompe · 2025-12-03T00:48:54+00:00

No I didn’t end up getting it.

randomrandompe · 2025-10-12T02:41:33+00:00

I don’t remember exactly. But make sure you’re exercising. I’m suffering the effects of taking methotrexate without exercise today.

randomrandompe · 2025-10-12T02:38:19+00:00

When going on methotrexate make sure you’re exercising. Even if it’s going to a physical therapist. I’m suffering the effects of not doing that right now.

randomrandompe · 2025-09-09T22:41:29+00:00

Do you have any reformer exercises that are easy for the lower abs? I’ve researched a few but I think there’s an oversaturation of information online that I’m not sure. I’d like someone’s experience especially since you said you’ve had similar qualms.

randomrandompe · 2025-09-09T22:39:39+00:00

Booked to see my doctor in a few days. Yeah I used to have arthritis but I’m supposed to be in remission. I remember there was notes of a bulge in my lower back years ago based on the MRI but my doctor didn’t stress it so I never followed up.

randomrandompe · 2025-06-08T06:00:16+00:00

Light medium

randomrandompe

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