So, I'm looking to get in shape, lose some body fat, gain some muscle, that whole deal. I don't have an extensive weight set, just about thirty pound adjustable weights. If possible, could you guys tell your own workout regimens and how I should start? I'm not overweight, I just want to get in tip top shape for summer. I'll follow up here on what I'm doing so I stay accountable. Any and all assistance is immensely appreciated!
[H]Daily workout advice
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Track
United States217 Posts
So, I'm looking to get in shape, lose some body fat, gain some muscle, that whole deal. I don't have an extensive weight set, just about thirty pound adjustable weights. If possible, could you guys tell your own workout regimens and how I should start? I'm not overweight, I just want to get in tip top shape for summer. I'll follow up here on what I'm doing so I stay accountable. Any and all assistance is immensely appreciated! | ||
Ancestral
United States3230 Posts
That site is pretty extensive in my opinion. I'd read their sections on workout basics. The best way is to keep a schedule and record your results so you make sure you're making progress and can also gain confidence in the fact that you've become stronger. That site has sample routines, and I could outline some, but it's probably best to find a friend who has experience with weightlifting so he can show you IRL how to do things. Basically, when I'm not preparing for certain things (maxing, foot races etc) I do basic splits, kind of like this: Monday Chest: Barbell Bench Weighted Dips Back: Barbell Pullovers Good Mornings Machine Rows Tuesday Run 3~4 miles Wednesday Legs: Squat Leg Curls Sumo Deadlifts Arms/Back: Skull Crushers Wide Grip Pull Ups Thursday: Run 3-4 Miles Friday: Back: Deadlifts Back Hyperextensions Chest: Dumbell bench press Pulldowns Shoulders: Lateral Raises That's just a "maintenance" style routine. Every has different opinions, listen to theirs too and formulate something for yourself based on your desires. Edit: I didn't factor in your lack of equipment, but it doesn't matter. You can still work out every body part, and there are variations on the exercises above. The exercise and muscle directory on that site will help you. Never underestimate the usefulness of body weight exercises either. | ||
infinity21
Canada6683 Posts
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Jibba
United States22883 Posts
I changed up my routine based on some of the advice here and I think it's working out. Elliptical 3-6 per week, 30 minutes of High intensity interval training Weight lifting 5 days a week, but different muscle groups each day. You can come up with that on your own or look up some cycle online. I go to a gym, so I can't really give you any ideas on what to do without equipment. Sometimes a slideboard at home and when it gets warmer I'll start roller blading and playing basketball. Start eating well. I'm not sure what your eating options are, but eating is an important as well. Push yourself as much as you can. Don't be dangerous about it, but it's ok to be a bit masochistic in the gym. | ||
micronesia
United States24483 Posts
On March 20 2008 06:16 infinity21 wrote: Yeah I have great difficulty motivating myself to do something for exercise purposes. It's not simply that I'm lazy, I mean, in college I'd go play basketball whenever the other guys were going, but I went to the 'gym' to 'workout' like once a year.I think motivation is a big issue for most people (for me, at least). | ||
Track
United States217 Posts
On March 20 2008 06:20 Jibba wrote: If you wanted to get in shape for the summer, you should've started before January. ^^ Seriously, you can lose some fat in that time but you're not going to gain sizable muscle mass in the first couple months. I changed up my routine based on some of the advice here and I think it's working out. Elliptical 3-6 per week, 30 minutes of High intensity interval training Weight lifting 5 days a week, but different muscle groups each day. You can come up with that on your own or look up some cycle online. I go to a gym, so I can't really give you any ideas on what to do without equipment. Sometimes a slideboard at home and when it gets warmer I'll start roller blading and playing basketball. Start eating well. I'm not sure what your eating options are, but eating is an important as well. Push yourself as much as you can. Don't be dangerous about it, but it's ok to be a bit masochistic in the gym. It's not so much that I want to get much different before summer, but just that I may as well make a change now rather than later. Yeah, I really have some motivational issues too but I think my willpower can overcome them. We'll just see. I'm about to go to the wal*mart to pick up some stuff, then i'm going running for a couple miles. It's a start! | ||
zachmorris
United States106 Posts
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HamerD
United Kingdom1922 Posts
OMG it's really all about the diet . All exercises and motivation are GREAT :D but you HAVE to get a perfect diet or it is all POINTLESS!!!! Plus, losing weight + adding muscle mass is usually of course worked on separately, so if I were you I would work on getting a six-pack and a nice lean physique, and look towards building mass around august/october until early january. But diet is SO important! You need to eat just the right amount of the right stuff, get used to not being fully satisfied, drink a lot of water, etc etc. Start the day with an oat breakfast, some carbs in the midday, some protein before and after exercise and perhaps eggs/ beans on toast, lean mince or chicken for dinner. White fish, tuna, chicken are your friends . Gogo! | ||
YPang
United States4024 Posts
4-6 miles.. after a week you'll think its not so bad if you take a different routes... But running on the track for 4-6 miles is just painfull... | ||
Track
United States217 Posts
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HamerD
United Kingdom1922 Posts
Also start every weights session with a 10 minute run at a good pace, and intercede the following weights with like 2 1000metre rowing machine things. Unless you aren't going to a gym. Start each muscle exercise day with some pushups (30, 20, 10), dips (15, 10, 5) and pullups (5, 5, 5) would be nice if you buy a telescopic bar . But I really advise that you eat properly, for anyone but like 10% of people who have sick metabolism, you need to diet + exercise. When I did karate there were loads of VERY fit, unbelievably, fighting fit POWERHOUSES who were just lethal and could go for like 3 times as much as me; who had big bellies and looked unfit. Cardio is all very well and good but to get quick weight loss you need to do cardio + diet and there is a difference between basic cardio and weight loss cardio. My friend hardcore dieted with cucumber, carrot, some egg, tuna, chicken, wholegrain rice, etc as his only real food. No sugar or burger king. he went from like 16 stone to 12 and looking great in about 2 months. He ran every day and dieted perfectly. Make sure you work your abs every day/ missing a couple days out here and there, because they recover quickly and you can get to a six pack quickly. As I found out when i did karate. | ||
Jibba
United States22883 Posts
On March 20 2008 07:53 HamerD wrote: diet diet diet diet diet diet DIET OMG it's really all about the diet . All exercises and motivation are GREAT :D but you HAVE to get a perfect diet or it is all POINTLESS!!!! Plus, losing weight + adding muscle mass is usually of course worked on separately, so if I were you I would work on getting a six-pack and a nice lean physique, and look towards building mass around august/october until early january. But diet is SO important! You need to eat just the right amount of the right stuff, get used to not being fully satisfied, drink a lot of water, etc etc. Start the day with an oat breakfast, some carbs in the midday, some protein before and after exercise and perhaps eggs/ beans on toast, lean mince or chicken for dinner. White fish, tuna, chicken are your friends . Gogo! Yeah... I disagree completely. Diet (not the commercial use of the term diet, but just what you eat) is important, especially when you're nearing in on your goal, but it's still about caloric deficit and you don't need to eat horribly bland food to gain muscle or lose weight. Back home I ate Qdoba burritos (no rice) + Royal Espresso Cafe for meals 3 days a week and I made a lot of progress. At school my food choices are even worse, but I'm still doing fairly well. I don't mean that you should gorge yourself on pizza, I still stay away from fried foods, creams, beef and I make sure I'm getting sufficient healthy carbs, but I still get to eat dessert and most of the other garbage they serve. My friend hardcore dieted with cucumber, carrot, some egg, tuna, chicken, wholegrain rice, etc as his only real food. No sugar or burger king. he went from like 16 stone to 12 and looking great in about 2 months. He ran every day and dieted perfectly. That's not a sustainable lifestyle change and getting enough calories on that diet would be painful. This isn't like you diet just to lose weight for this summer, this is something you keep up your whole life so it should be a system that you can continue. | ||
HamerD
United Kingdom1922 Posts
Obviously my friend got down to his ideal weight and stayed there and is now a strapping rower for cambridge. Yes you are right that eating that amount would be painful, but it requires effort, a good amount of water consumption and correct eating- NOT starving yourself but not eating too much ever. To the OP, do what everyone does and NOT what jibba does. Eat healthy, smaller amounts than you usually do. Eat 4-5 small meals a day. Don't snack unless it's on small amounts of nuts or fruit. Get plenty of water and you will see the pounds literally fly off, in combination with good cardio work and of course high-rep weights exercises/ body weight exercises. Once you are fit and healthy, you can focus on bulking up and you will see results much quicker, MUCH quicker, than if you eat doritos 5 times a week. Another good idea is to drink green tea, it stims up your metabolism . | ||
Jibba
United States22883 Posts
If I were going for a hard 6pack (low body fat %) I'd improve my diet, but that's really not my concern. My main concern is having enough energy for my workouts, and maintaining a good body fat %. EDIT: I'm not saying eating well isn't important. I already said I monitor what I eat and avoid junk food regularly, but I disagree with you saying working out is for naught unless you eat well. I've found it's the exact opposite. Eating well is worthless unless you're working out and you can still have great success without going to a cucumber and tuna diet. | ||
MaRiNe23
United States747 Posts
On March 20 2008 09:11 HamerD wrote: Make sure you work your abs every day/ missing a couple days out here and there, because they recover quickly and you can get to a six pack quickly. As I found out when i did karate. Can u clarify this sentence? Are u saying u SHOULD work out ur arbs every single day with let's just say crunches or u can miss couple days? | ||
byChris
United States99 Posts
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Jibba
United States22883 Posts
And Marine, 6 packs are mostly a product of body fat %, not muscle mass. Your body can probably handle working your abs almost every day but burning fat will have the bigger visible impact on your stomach. | ||
byChris
United States99 Posts
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Jibba
United States22883 Posts
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MaRiNe23
United States747 Posts
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