Bikram for weight loss - any stories for me?!

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jonny sarasana
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July 20, 2012 at 3:07 am

Post count: 12

#9772

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to chime in on my weight loss experience with Bikram yoga. I’m in my sixth month of practice and lost 25+ pounds practicing 5-6 times a week in about 3 months. I’m 34 years old (woman btw), 5’6 and started at the 170 lb. mark. When I started I was at a HORRIBLE low in my life. I had was going through a messy, messy divorce and had just completed rehab. I had gained a lot of weight in a very short amount of time and was a complete wreck emotionally, physically and spiritually. I was an athlete in my teens and 20’s and had a previous knee surgery which put a stop to my *then* favorite form of exercise –kickboxing. My sister urged me to try Bikram and I was hooked at the first class. My appetite has completely changed. I crave and eat healthy things and I feel as though I process everything more efficiently. Also, Bikram has detoxed and regulated my body on the inside –I can feel that. I love the way I look and Bikram yoga is something that’s going to be in my life always. I never thought that yoga would be the best thing I ever did for myself, but it is 🙂

kikuka
Participant

July 30, 2012 at 11:58 am

Post count: 5

#9809

I have been at hot yoga now for around 6 weeks. I practice on average 3 times per week, on occasion 4, and I have lost weight, around 10lb in that time. I am on a strict calorie controlled diet as well, which may explain the loss, but the biggest change I have seen is in shape, rather than weight. Although I am carrying an extra 42lb of weight still, i am looking far more compact and I have lost 4 inches from my waist in that short amount of time. I had lost 60 pounds before I started at hot yoga but the last 10 pounds have seen the biggest change in my shape.
I am also more focused on my healthy eating plan, and more relaxed. I am reaping the benefits of hot yoga and hope to contiue improving my practice! Good luck everyone, and just remember that there are bigger changes to be gained than just weight loss as I have found to my delight!

aghaly
Participant

February 19, 2013 at 7:17 am

Post count: 2

#10336

I’ve lost a lot of weight in a short time doing Bikram yoga. I looked at various forums and calculators and estimate that I burn an average of 700 calories in a 90-minute class based on my body type–no idea how accurate this is. But I’ve gone to Bikram on average four times a week for the past five weeks and I also swim twice/week. In 21 days, there were only 6 days on which I did not exercise. I also count calories, cook a lot of my own food, and am vegetarian. Lentils are a great low-calorie food that fill you up. In the past month I’ve lost about 7 pounds, which I think is pretty incredible. I’m a 22-year old woman. I gained about 15 pounds after graduating from college so I’m looking forward to being able to fit into all of my old clothes again (I already fit into some of them!). But yes. Definitely count calories–I use a phone app called “Lose it” and set it to lose 2 lbs/week, and then I shoot to stay under the calorie limit as much as possible. Good luck! 🙂

ajdelong
Participant

October 10, 2013 at 8:54 pm

Post count: 2

#10658

It’s important to remember that muscle is denser than fat. The scale might not go down, but your body fat will definitely change. What matters in health is body fat, and a way more useful measurement for you to use are simple body measurements: have you lost any inches on your waist, your thighs, your hips, etc. Those are far better indicators of a shift towards health and an ideal weight for you and your frame.

So people seeing the scale go up, remember all the wobbles you might have done in chair pose or some of the other balances at the beginning? Remember how you don’t wobble so much any more? Those ‘balance muscles’ you’re building in your early days of hot yoga are having to work, and they will shape you up fast.

Also keep in mind what’s a metabolic boost FOR YOU. For me, I started doing hot yoga after several months of being too ill to do ANY exercise (I have a severe thyroid condition), so for me ANY exercise was better than my baseline of nothing. If I’d started hot yoga back when I was into running, it might not have given me as much of a ‘boost’ since it would be a change of activity rather than a jump.

I read in the book The Science of Yoga that yoga actually slows DOWN the metabolism, which makes sense in a way: Yoga would make your body efficient and healthful, so it will maximize getting calories out of food. The plus is you can do with less food! The minus is, if you don’t know this and keep eating the same as you did before, yeah, you will not be having a calorie gap to help you lose pounds.

avancouw
Participant

May 2, 2014 at 8:17 am

Post count: 8

#10928

Basically it is calorie in verses calorie out = gain or lose (no matter the activity)

Keep in mind, for someone letting go of a less active lifestyle and starting bikram, this isn’t always the case. Early on you will develop a tremendous amount of leg strength, and your body will naturally start to use more calories. That even works on days when you skip class.

My story: my weight didn’t go down at all, but I’ve cut four waist sizes. I didn’t have to diet; in fact, I probably started eating more (healthier too). My abs are starting to show, and I haven’t spent any time targeting them. I’m happy with those results.
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