Good morning! I posted a brief intro in the Getting to know you thread already but wanted to expend my query here!
Brief history - mom is small and petite (5'1", 98 lbs) and I've always follow suit (5'2", 105 lbs average). I'm a little bigger boned than my mom. Mom and I are big junk foodies and have never been physically active at a gym or with sports. We have horses and working in the barn & riding has kept us realtively fit. Working out is completly foreign to me.
Previously my "biggest" was my college freshman spring semester at 120 lbs. During grad school I lost approx 15 lbs and toned my arms and core significantly, had several offers for fitness modeling. At that time I was a busy dog groomer and on my feet for 9 hours a day. A good combo of bending, twisting, walking, and lifting. Still no actual working out, gym or anything special. Just going to work got me toned and in amazing shape.
Current - 20 months ago I started a new job as a receptionist. Significantly less stress and strain on my body (and mentally) however, I've gained weight and inches. The weight number doesn't bother me (ok it does a little) but its more so the inches that bother me. I'm not comfortable and can't move the way I used to. I can't bend or twist, as I have more skin/fat where I never had it before (just above my hips/sides of my stomach, but not quite a muffin top yet) and I feel like my hips have gotten wider from sitting instead of standing.
For the past 2 months I've been using a yoga ball at my desk instead of a chair. I love it, am not as fatigued at the end of the day, but not sure its really helping with my core stregth like I thought it would.
Questions -
(1) will the body/muscles re "shape" to best accomdate/distribute your weight for the circumstances? Ie. long lean muscles, narrower hips = standing all day vs short wide hips and muscles = sitting in a chair?
(2) I'm down to about 6 weeks till my first dress fitting and haven't lost as many inches as I would like around my core, butt and low back (these are areas that in the past have melted off inches that fastest and easiest, but now not so much) and I'm not really sure what to do/try? I know spot reducing is a myth, but those areas have always shrunk the quickest in the past. I've tried to cut back on the muchies at work and watch calories. I've cut back on sodas (always been my primary calorie intake, not healthy I know) and try pretty hard to limit myself to one can/half 20oz bottle once a day. In place I try to drink lemonade (still surgary, but not as bad at code red) and cran apple juice as replacements for the soda. I drink a little water each day, but I've never been able to stand water and it makes me feel bloated. I use myfitnesspal sporadically, but am fairly confident in my caloric intake when I don't log as its not much different day to day really.
(3) I know my BMI is within a healthy range, but again I'm not comfortable with the excess baggage I've gained since starting my desk job. I'm not in a position where I can be on my feet and excessively active like I was in the past, so how can I increase my physical activities to the same level in significantly less time?
So thougts? Suggestions? Thank youf or taking the time to read and reply!