Fitness Thread

Quote: girlpants

Quote: Dissimulation

Quote: Paddy_Irishman

does it matter when you go to the gym? I've been told that you should do a day on/day off but with my work hours I could probably only do friday evening, saturday morning and sunday morning. I'm mostly looking to lose weight so I do mostly cardio, but I do a few weights too.

If you're concentrating on weight loss, any amount of exercise is going to be beneficial. Personally, I'd only bother with paying out gym fees if I was looking to pack on some muscle. Anything else can be done under your own steam, for a fraction of the cost.

All you need is a pair of running shoes, some free weights, a balanced diet and a positive attitude.

I know a lot of people don't like jogging, especially on the roads, but there is no better exercise for weight loss. It's simply a case of weighing up whether you dislike running more than you dislike being overweight.

In my opinion http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=30 is the best place to start. If you're not used to running, the step ups can seem hard at first, but anyone could do that if they really wanted too.

Isn't cycling supposed to be better than running, purely because its a tad more aerobic than just running?

Depends. If you're talking about racing speeds, then cycling is better. If you're talking about an hour bike ride around the town in the evening compared to an hours running, the running's gonna be better for loosing weight. Cycling is still fantastic and there's not that much of a difference, but it's because if you're knackered when your cycling you can coast for a bit until you catch your breath, but with running, unless you stop and walk, your cardiovascular system is always getting pushed.

If I had room, I'd get a mountain bike. I love biking too and it would be fantastic cross-training. Uses different muscles from running, too. I mean, I have an exercise bike, but an hour on that staring at the wall is complete soul-destroying.

The Ipod shuffle is a fantastic distraction. I found at the beginning, the hardest part was getting out the door. There were definitely a lot of moments where I was questioning whether there was something easier, but it's 90% psychological and you've just got to keep at it.

Today is exactly 11 weeks since I started with 30-a-day lungs, a shoddy knee and nearly 2 stone heavier. At first, I found the step-up from week 2 to week 3 a struggle and was almost laughing at the thought of 15 minutes, let alone 30. 11 weeks on, I can run for 1 hour 20 before I'll stop and walk and the weight's falling off - even when I miss sessions. I still eat the odd pack of crisps, roasts and curries (albeit not everyday), so I'd recommend it to anyone.  

Quote: scarlet

Quote: ApologeticSquirrel

Quote: farmer_jack

Just realised I haven't posted an updated image for a while, so here one is:



Not been at the gym for 4 days for one reason or another; back down there tomorrow though for biceps and triceps and a decent cardio workout.

STOP WORKING OUT YOUR NECK MUSCLES CHAP.  

amen. You look like you can't move your head

Haha, just seen this. I can move my head fine


I reckon if I can keep up my new 'like' for cardio as well as my old love of weights, I will be on track for sound results come Christmas in 6 or 7 weeks.

Back on creatine as of tomorrow as well, so that'll help. Had almost a month off it to let my liver 'recover'.

Its the eating healthy I'm really worried about, Although I have cut down on the 2-3 bottles of lucozade a day and started having more salad on my subway than meat, with a bottle of water instead of a large coke. But I still hate most fruit and veg and don't really know anywhere where I can get some good food round where I work. But as you's said, anything at all is better than nothing

Quote: girlpants

Jamie, I take it your progress/the stages you went through on this is in this thread?

2 stone in 11 weeks is a damned good achievement and pretty much my current target in terms of weight (Time is another matter, with christmas coming and what not I suspect it may take me a tad longer.)

Overall, I've lost 4 stone this year, but I've only actively started excersing and keeping my diet in check since the beginning of this thread. Did my first run on Monday 25th, week one of that schedule, run one minute, walk 90 seconds 8 times and went from there.

I do it three times a week, Monday, Thursday and Saturday, but I play football every Tuesday night, so it counts as 4 session really.

Diet-wise, it was simply just a case of cutting out the sh*t and cooking more. Cooking a home-made turkey curry, a shepherd's pie, or a bolognese with plenty of veg to bulk it out, is infinitely better than going to the chippy. You can pile it on your plate. There's no reason why anyone should be on a 'diet' and go to bed each night hungry.

But aye, 11 weeks later and I'm now down to 13.7 and can run over 1hr 20 minutes. When I got to the end of the schedule I just started making my own up. Most sessions I'll still just stick to 30minutes of running, which is around 5k at a normal jogging pace. That's still more than adequate in terms of weight-loss, but other sessions I'll do 40 minutes and then Saturdays now is usually the long run.

Other than that, I do a little bit on my free-weights when I can be arsed, press-ups, but not nearly enough as I should. Still have crisps. Today I've had, two packets, sausages and cheese, so you really don't need to be too anal with what you eat. If it's too much like a chore, it's never gonna be a long-term thing. The most important thing is to enjoy it.

Nice one Darren. Sounds like a good start

I had an alright session in the gym today; I'm just ticking over on the weights while I concentrate on upping the cardio. Finding a 2k row very easy now, even when tired, so I'll be increasing that tomorrow. I noticed that once I'd done the rowing it was initially easier to lift the weights. Not sure why, as I'd have had less energy, but there you go.

Quote: Dissimulation

Quote: farmer_jack

Nice one Darren. Sounds like a good start

I had an alright session in the gym today; I'm just ticking over on the weights while I concentrate on upping the cardio. Finding a 2k row very easy now, even when tired, so I'll be increasing that tomorrow. I noticed that once I'd done the rowing it was initially easier to lift the weights. Not sure why, as I'd have had less energy, but there you go.

It might have felt easier with warmer muscles.
I still need to do the opposite and concentrate a bit more on building strength. From monday, I'll be combining a proper upper body workout into my cardio routine..one day on, one day off and see what happens.

That's what I'd put it down to as well but it never normally happens after cardio; it was almost like an energy spike. It could just be a sign of progress I suppose, with the 2k row not being so challenging anymore I'll have more in reserve.

I'll fill up the iPod shuffle in a bit for a longer session tomorrow

Not been to the gym since Tuesday; I've not been well. It's bollocksed up my week of training but never mind; I suppose a week off won't hurt. I won't be going today; perhaps tomorrow I'll get down there.

6 days with no gym, and counting. B*llocks.

Quote: farmer_jack

I'm 4 stone in my clothes now.

are your clothes made out of helium?

Went back to the gym today although I'm still not feeling 100%. It was illustrated well by the fact I could only do about 30 minutes, but at least I went. I think I'll be sound tomorrow although it's going to be several days until I'm back where I was, I think.

I went to the gym on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and today. Overall I'm quite pleased with how I've done this week. Generally they were all good sessions, perhaps with the exception of Tuesday 'cos I still wasn't too well, so I'm having tomorrow off and I think I'll buy a new coat.

Tomorrow is my last re-loading day of creatine as well; so it'll be nice not to be taking 25 tablets a day. A mere 5 instead. Although including my amino acid tablets it's been 29 tablets per day this week.

I've also discovered a milkshake in my local newsagents that has almost 20g of protein in 500ml. So I've been having one per day, and I've got some in for the weekend. They taste superb.

Sumo champ!

Yesterday - 40 minutes on punchbag with sporadic 1 minute breaks for water and Muhammad Ali poem recitals  
Tried to run afterwards but was far too exhausted.
20 minutes in the sauna at 95 degrees.

Quote: ApologeticSquirrel

I just tapped in my measurements on a few online 'body fat calculators' and got several results ranging from telling me I'm obese to that I have the body fat percentage of a professional athelete.

What the f*ck.

You have pretty much no body fat, unless you've piled on the lard in the last few months.