Well my body is already adjusting to the workouts. When I first started I could barely last 45 minutes and now my workouts are lasting longer than an hour. Every time I see this thread pop up in general it makes me want to go work out.

Energies

Australia3225 Posts

January 10 2009 10:43 GMT

#224

On January 10 2009 07:28 MuR)Ernu wrote:
KILOGRAMS PLEASE, NON-AMERICANS DON't USE INCHES, FEET AND LBS.

I don't understand those numbers.

I figured the rest of the world is smart enough to convert imperial to metric, American's don't seem to be able to do it the other way around.

My progress. I'm working out like a beast, eating well and doing plenty of cardio, I seem to undo it all by drinking a butt load of beer. Argh! Regardless I'm starting to see some differences even within the span of one week.

I'm basically concentrating on increasing my weight as rapidly as I possibly can until the end of January, gain as much strength and muscle as I possibly can. Then spend the first 3 weeks in February before my goal date doing enough cardio to put the hamsters that run the internet to shame.

My final goal is a visible six-pack but I hope to at least reach my goal weight by the end of February so I can concentrate completely on my workout to burn the last ounces of fat.

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

January 10 2009 22:08 GMT

#225

Energies, what are you eating to stay healthy? I'm Asian so rice is a big part of my diet; should I eat less portions?

clazziquai

6685 Posts

January 11 2009 00:00 GMT

#226

On January 11 2009 07:08 il0seonpurpose wrote:
Energies, what are you eating to stay healthy? I'm Asian so rice is a big part of my diet; should I eat less portions?

yes limit the amount of rice you eat. i eat like half a bowl nowadays. i think it's rice that has a lot of carbs as well as bread.

thedeadhaji

39489 Posts

January 11 2009 00:04 GMT

#227

I'm on a standstill TT. Need moar cardio.

clazziquai

6685 Posts

January 11 2009 00:08 GMT

#228

On January 11 2009 09:04 thedeadhaji wrote:
I'm on a standstill TT. Need moar cardio.

Do jump ropes ^_^ cheap and effective.

Energies

Australia3225 Posts

January 11 2009 02:37 GMT

#229

On January 11 2009 07:08 il0seonpurpose wrote:
Energies, what are you eating to stay healthy? I'm Asian so rice is a big part of my diet; should I eat less portions?

Rice and Pastas are kind of dangerous since you can get carried away and quickly consume huge amounts. White rice basically has nothing in it, it has been processed to hell, no nutrients, it still has fibre though so I still consume it with other food in small amounts because it makes me feel full.

I mentioned in one of my posts that carbs are good, they make up a large portion of your daily calories, just make sure you're consuming good carbs. Eat brown rice if you have the option. But things like rice/pasta/potatoes although full of carbs have no fat, so if you eat small enough portions they are quite good.

If you are having problems controlling your potion intake, drink a big glass of water before you eat your lunch/dinner, and make a conscience habit to not eat everything that's on your plate for a little while, always leave a few mouthfuls of rice/meat/vegetables on your plate. This might be difficult if you have Asian parents or in my case middle eastern. I know you can start ww3 if you don't finish all your food.

This will automatically lead you to consuming smaller portions in each meal, but subsequently you'll start becoming hungry more rapidly because you have small meals. This will lead you to eating 5-6 small meals a day naturally, giving you a fast healthy metabolism.

LosingID8

CA10828 Posts

January 11 2009 02:41 GMT

#230

oh my god running is so tough haha i thought i was going to die lolllll

oh well i figure in a week or two my body will be adjusted to it

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

January 11 2009 03:29 GMT

#231

I weighed myself today and I'm at 158...

Reason: University started again -_-;;

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

January 11 2009 04:58 GMT

#232

Cambium, don't give up!!

Also Energies, you mentioned green tea. I've been drinking alot of this, how much has it helped you?

Binky1842

United States2599 Posts

January 11 2009 05:14 GMT

#233

ive just been doing a lot of simple things to gain some muscle and to tone up. i'm really skinny already so it's not that hard for me. pullups, crunches, pushups, and been using our free weights a lot more reguarlly. i shoveled the snow out of our little courtyard, patio the other day and my arms and lower back got pretty sore, so that's a good sign :D
i'm using a 20lb for my left arm and a 15lb free weight for my right, since my left side is my dominate side. i'm wondering, if i should just stick with the same weight for both arms? i can do the 20 on my right, but i cant get the same amount of reps with it if i were to use the 15. i figured doing the same reps on both arms is better than a lot less with the same weight for both arms.
still the same weight. gl everyone

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

January 11 2009 05:18 GMT

#234

I don't think you should use different weights, how much more do you use your left?
Also, don't expect you to gain alot of muscle, its only been a week

Energies

Australia3225 Posts

January 11 2009 05:19 GMT

#235

I couldn't tell you specifically since I drink it in conjunction with a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Green tea requires more energy to utilise then it has. So drinking 4-5 cups a day actually burns 80-100 calories. That alone isn't much or the sole reason to drink green tea, it also has cancer fighting/immune effects as well as regulating your metabolism along with a myriad of other benefits. It also has a pretty filling effect, its a good substitute for a snack.

Energies

Australia3225 Posts

January 11 2009 05:22 GMT

#236

On January 11 2009 14:14 Binky1842 wrote:
ive just been doing a lot of simple things to gain some muscle and to tone up. i'm really skinny already so it's not that hard for me. pullups, crunches, pushups, and been using our free weights a lot more reguarlly. i shoveled the snow out of our little courtyard, patio the other day and my arms and lower back got pretty sore, so that's a good sign :D
i'm using a 20lb for my left arm and a 15lb free weight for my right, since my left side is my dominate side. i'm wondering, if i should just stick with the same weight for both arms? i can do the 20 on my right, but i cant get the same amount of reps with it if i were to use the 15. i figured doing the same reps on both arms is better than a lot less with the same weight for both arms.
still the same weight. gl everyone

Argh. Use the largest amount of weight your weakest arm can take, keep increasing the weight until both your arms are the same strength...

Binky1842

United States2599 Posts

January 11 2009 05:27 GMT

#237

i use my left a bit more than my right. but my left fore arm is noticeably larger than my right, it's kind of gross actually. i guess if i'm more conscious of it, i could use my right arm more often for daily routines and what not.

energies: that makes sense. i'll start doing it like that from now on, thanks ^^

LosingID8

CA10828 Posts

January 11 2009 05:31 GMT

#238

if you havea 17.5lb weight i would suggest using that. 5 lbs is a huge difference o_O

Binky1842

United States2599 Posts

January 11 2009 05:35 GMT

#239

unfortunately, i dont. the weights i have go up in 5lb increments, so 5lbs -> 45lbs

eshlow

United States5210 Posts

January 11 2009 05:38 GMT

#240

Hmmm, I've received no PMs. Interesting.

---------------------------------

Anyway, here's a little something I've written on my blog about how to construct your own workout routine; however, it really depends on the goals of the person whether they should be using it or something else more structured.

http://eshlow.blogspot.com

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As far as nutrition and activity goes for most of you looking to lose weight & "tone up" this is what you should be doing. From crossfit.com "world class fitness in 100 words"

Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.

Do NOT starve yourself out. If the body goes into starvation mode it will stop losing weight (hence all those people you know who go all out diet's start to stall within a couple weeks).

---------------------------------

If you're looking to get into athletics you should be sticking with weights that reflect compound movements such as cleans, snatches, deadlifts, squats, bench, overhead press, pullups, dips, etc. Stay away from most machines and isolation work. Not as good bang for your buck, heh. Leg extensions, curls, skullcrushers, situps, etc = worthless.

---------------------------------

As far as nutrition goes. Macronutrient ratios (carbs, protein, fat) depends on the individual because of genetics much like food allergies. If you're someone who gets tired or bombs out after eating carbs you're probably NOT carb tolerant and eating too many carbs will probably set you on the path to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and all that other nice stuff.

A good ratio to start out on is 40/30/30 carbs/pro/fat and then play with the carbs and fat ratios as needed to see what makes you FEEL best. Some of the guys I know thrive on 50-70% fat in their diets.. I do pretty well around 40-50% carbs or so.

It all depends. Anyway, I'll try to pop in here and give some more advice if people want it. Just shoot me some questions via PM and I'll answer 'em here (for everyone's benefit) or address me specifically.