Greetings, all!

l'm a new little rat, freshly coming off of a long sabbatical/ED recovery. Having maintained my "goal weight" (and "healthy attitude") for a substantial amount of time per treatment team recommendation, l've been given the green light to start exercising again.

YAY!

After nearly ten years of restricted activity, you can imagine how excited l am to dive back in. Of course, l can't quite start running and swimming regularly like l used to do...but l have thrown in Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred into my daily routine to start toning and sculpting and such. As a full-time waitress at a crazy-busy restaurant, l thought l could ease into this twenty-minute strength-cardio-abs routine with little trouble...but, five days/ten workouts in, l'm sore and cramped and swollen and feeling like my plan is backfiring. l haven't increased my calories, l've cut out caffeine, l'm drinking 3+ Nalgene bottles of water daily, and l consume a very natural, very balanced low Gl diet....so why can l barely pull my jeans up??? 

l don't remember going through this when l've begun new routines in the past....although - again - it has been quite awhile since l last delved into any routine. l've read quite a bit about fluid retention...but mostly limited to the extremeties, not the thighs. Anyone...???

Thanks so much in advance!!