Help for my wife

[win4life]

My wife wants to start working out, but since our third child was born two years ago she has been struggling with her strength, endurance and energy. I would like to help her by finding some good info regarding females and products that could aid her quest for getting in shape. She has not been in the gym for years. She only weighs 110lbs and after the last baby never really seemed to bounce back like after the first two children.

Any thoughts regarding supplements that would be beneficial? We are developing an exercise routine and diet, but any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I

 

[George Spellwin]

Have her get her hormones checked.

Here is something to ask her doctor about:

Estratest
The only FDA approved testosterone replacement for women is a drug called Estratest made by Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Estratest is indicated for the management of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in patients who do not respond to estrogens alone. This hormone combination contains esterified estrogens (a type of estrogen) with Methyltestosterone (a type of androgen) in one pill. Estratest is available in two dosage strengths:

The half-strength formulation, contains 0.625 mg of Esterified Estrogens and 1.25 of Methyltestosterone. The full strength formula contains 1.25 mg of Esterified Estrogens and 2.5 mg of Methyltestosterone.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Just a shot in the dark, but how old are your children? I am asking this because a lot of your wife's problem may be due to sleep deprivation (mine STILL come into my room in the middle of the night when there is a thunderstorm, the oldest being NINE - youngest almost FIVE) and just poor diet.

I was always so busy taking care of everyone and everything else that I never had the time to go to the bathroom let alone eat or sleep.

Go to the doc and if everything checks out ok, she REALLY needs to sleep better and eat better. If I don't get enough sleep (which I STILL DON'T) and I get lazy and do not eat enough or take my supplements....I feel it in a matter of two or three days. Now think about your wife's current phyiscal condition after having neglected herself and having carried and given birth not once, but twice. Taking care of small children is EXTREMELY demanding.

Have her visit the boards so she can get a better idea of how to eat better and begin a training regime that will make her feel better sooner than she realized it.

I tell ya, if I did not pursue competition (not saying that she should), but that is what REALLY made me look at diet and proper training, rest, etc......

Good luck to you and your wife.

 

[win4life]

My wife is responding:

You hit the nail right on the head. My children are 5, almost 3, and 20 mos. I am woken by them all the time. Even when I'm not with them, I usually am going to bed really late for one reason or another.

Each pregnancy wiped me out. They caused me a lot of morning sickness, and physiological problems that were difficult to recover from. I was just starting to feel better from the second child when the third came. She was a surprise baby. We need to figure out what is causing them lol.

Thanks for your response.

 

[win4life]

I want to find some supplements that will assist her recovery. We want to do things right.

What kind of supplements do you take? What does your training program look like?

We are working on the diet.

 

[Bikini Mod]

First off YOU NEED TO STAY THE HELL OFF OF YOUR WIFE! J/K

Seriously, though my girls are 16, 18 and 20 months apart....I KNOW HOW DRAINING THIS IS.

You MUST try and get more sleep. PERIOD

Try and eat a balanced diet. No magic, just eat clean unprocessed foods, oatmeal, veggies, fruits, whole grain bread and pastas, good protein sources and be sure to get fat also (FAT IS NOT EVIL). Eat 4/5 smaller more frequent meals, drink LOTS of water.

Since I put serious physical demands on my body and my diet is limited often as I stay between 12/14%bf most of the time (done bulking) I also take a multimineral vitamin supp, Vitamin E, Calcium and LOTS of Vitamin C (C is water soluble so you can't OD on it).

Start off slowly (weight resistance training 4 days per week is plenty...I do not train more than 5 EVER). Cardio 3 times p/week at 20min a clip is more than adequate for cardio vascular health...but even w/this start off slowly and work up to it. You may feel that 10/15 is a lot at first, but you will be amazed at how quickly you will progress.

Remember though, cardio is secondary to weight resistance training. Your primary focus should be to build lean mass; more lean mass - the stronger you will be, the better you will feel, the faster your metabolism, the more effectively you will burn fat.

And THROW OUT YOUR SCALE! Use polaroids and a tape measure to more accurately guage your progress. I am 5'3 1/2" at 124# 11% bf......size 2/4. I used to be 116# at 12%bf size 2. Before that 108# soaking wet, size DOUBLE ZERO - YUCK.

Visit the women's and diet board for more specific info if you need.

I have posted a sample of the diet that I follow while leaning. I would not recomment this just yet, however. You can basically follow it...only ADD the amount and type complex carbs, also add some simple carbs (ie fruit, etc)

Good luck! And don't despair...whatever your goal is - it CAN BE REACHED. Don't let ANYBODY EVER TELL YOU ANY DIFFERENT!

 

[win4life]

Thanks! Bikinimom.

Your abs are amazing considering children and all.

Keep up the good work!