cardio- how can I comfortable up intensity?

[kittygirl]

http://www.whfn.com/board/images/smilies/redface.gif
Ok, This is embarrassing, but must be asked nonetheless..I am a big girl trying to lose weight with fitprimes/& Firms & haveno problem with the workingout, but there are moves that I cannot comfortably do (mainly jumping, sakters, and running) not b/c of knee/back pain , but b/c I am shaped like I am preggers, but the tummy fat keeps hitting itself making a clapping noise (blushes hard here)which is highly embarassing and not that great feeling either. There are times when I feel like I can up the intensity and marching in place hard, overhead arms while marching, low jacks, grounded calf pumps etc. just feel like I am wasting my cardio tunes. If it is step, or nearly any other moves I don't have this problem, but when I want to take cardio to burn the fat all over (in turn helping the tummy fat go away) I would like to do what I am capeble of without dying of humiliation.
I know for certain things, like lo jacks, I can go lower increasing the muscle tension on the stable leg, but I want something that can more or less up my heart rate.
I refuse to have lipo or gastric bypass/ b/c I can lose this weight and I am far too proud of waht I can accomplish with hard work vs. a surgeons knife, so any ideas other than surgery are appreciated.

[snora]

Do you use a heart rate monitor? In all honesty, if you are in you target HR zone then your intensity is just where it should be. If you are below that zone, then yes, you need to think about increasing intensity. But first, you need to know where you are at in your heart rate.

[fredcate]

http://www.whfn.com/board/images/smilies/redface.gif
Ok, This is embarrassing, but must be asked nonetheless..I am a big girl trying to lose weight with fitprimes/& Firms & haveno problem with the workingout, but there are moves that I cannot comfortably do (mainly jumping, sakters, and running) not b/c of knee/back pain , but b/c I am shaped like I am preggers, but the tummy fat keeps hitting itself making a clapping noise (blushes hard here)which is highly embarassing and not that great feeling either. There are times when I feel like I can up the intensity and marching in place hard, overhead arms while marching, low jacks, grounded calf pumps etc. just feel like I am wasting my cardio tunes. If it is step, or nearly any other moves I don't have this problem, but when I want to take cardio to burn the fat all over (in turn helping the tummy fat go away) I would like to do what I am capeble of without dying of humiliation.
I know for certain things, like lo jacks, I can go lower increasing the muscle tension on the stable leg, but I want something that can more or less up my heart rate.
I refuse to have lipo or gastric bypass/ b/c I can lose this weight and I am far too proud of waht I can accomplish with hard work vs. a surgeons knife, so any ideas other than surgery are appreciated.
I think that you are to be commended so much! YOU GO GIRL!!! What a wonderful attitude!http://www.whfn.com/board/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Redeye]

I have a dear friend who HATED running on a treadmill because of her "bouncing" body parts. How uncomfortable! I don't blame her one bit for not liking it.

just feel like I am wasting my cardio tunes
NOT TRUE! You are doing yourself a favor when you modify any uncomfortable high impact exercise to a low impact exercise that you enjoy. Remember this: All movement is good ~ Christi Taylor.

Exercise doesn't have to beat the daylights out of you to do any good. You'll get great results even though you modify. Smart people modify when they have to.

If I didn't modify some of my workouts, I'd never do them; now that would be a waste. :)

[LoriInND]

I agree with everything. The heart rate monitor is a great tool. Don't worry about if you're not jumping or whatever - you need to be comfortable to keep motivated to keep exercising. Maybe look into some good supportive exercise clothing?

[Redeye]

Maybe look into some good supportive exercise clothing?

Excellent suggestion! :)

My sister (who is very endowed upstairs while I'm flat as a pancake :o ) has to wear two jog bras to keep everything in place.

[Firm Believer]

As a former big girl myself, let me assure you that everything that Mark and Anna have explained about cardio not being the cure all for weight loss is true.

My thoughts: while you are still heavy, focus on slower controlled moves and sculpting tapes. The more muscle you build, the faster your metabolism will burn calories and you will lose weight. When you are a bit lighter, you will find cardio so much more enjoyable. When you can't do the moves, marching in place is certainly not a waste of time, especially when you use that time to think about how great it is that your heart is pumpin and you are sweatin and doing better every day. JMHO