Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 383, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Weight\Cardio Training Expectations

deaddale
deaddale
Posts: 11
Joined: 2004/03/22
United States
2004/03/23, 02:28 PM
Hi,
First of I want to say what a wonderful site this is!!! I've just joined and already it has given me such a boost in motivation, reading about people that are in the same boat as I and that they beat it. Thanks.
Here's the backstory, I'm 5'8'' and now 205, I was 235. I've been doing a modified Atkins diet, I eat meat, nuts, olive oil, fish, and LOTS of veggies. It seems like a lot of people don't like the diet, but it is working well for me so I'll probably stick with it. I also work out three times a day, all cardio. 45 minute in the moring, 40 minutes at lunch, and at least a hour at night. This isn't vigorous excerise, between a walk and a jog. Doing all this I lost the 30 pounds over about 8 weeks, which I feel isn't too bad. My hope is to get to 160-170. Recently I have hit a plateu in my weight loss, so I thought that it would be good to mix things up a bit. I decided to add some weight training. What I'm wondering is what type of weight training should I do and what should my expectations be. I was thinking tone and weight loss, but there are parts of my body (shoulders) that I would like to bulk up, so I don't know if toning would be the way to go. I lifted weights in years gone by so I know how to do the particular excerises, but the science behind it has progressed so far beyond what I know.... it's intimidating. I have the work out for toning done and sitting on my desk, if that is the way to go. What should I expect to see. Will this just be harding of what I already have or adding to new muscle. Or is this even the best way for me to go. In addition, does any of these professed fat burning products work?

Sorry to ramble,

Thanks,

Dale
Carivan
Carivan
Posts: 8,542
Joined: 2002/01/20
Canada
2004/03/23, 05:42 PM
Welcome to freetrainers Dale. Please fill out your profile while your here. I am assuming (not good to assume) you are male.
Sounds like it's time to change.
Get into eating right, and yes do the weights. Cardio is meant for cardio, exercising the cardiovascular system. If you include the weight training and eat good nutritous food you will start to see more results. You can add in the wide shoulders program to your workout, and it will put emphasis on your shoulder exercises, works good. You don't have to do the cardio 3x a day. 30 min is plenty and with the weights you will be speeding up your metabolic rate and shed fat. Eat lots of protein, good carbs and good fats. You will do ok! Good luck.

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"A will finds a way, failure is not an option"
Ivan
carivan@freetrainers.com
Montreal Canada
Relique
Relique
Posts: 187
Joined: 2004/03/17
United States
2004/03/23, 06:33 PM
Just thought I would mention, (Atkins guy here) if you get off the atkins diet, you will gain a lot of the weight you lost due to it right away, probably a few extra pounds. Atkins is a life style, not a diet, and don't forget to add those carbs back in, slowly once you hit your ideal weight. Also, due to the fact that your body is not taking in any energy you need to be carefull about the intensity of your workout. Working out too hard could hurt you if you do not take in the appropriate amount of carbs. (not an expert on anything, just having done the Atkins diet, and know a lot of people that have tried it, I've seen a few of the pitfalls and problems)

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Sean "TBAR" Johnson -USAF-
Carivan
Carivan
Posts: 8,542
Joined: 2002/01/20
Canada
2004/03/23, 08:15 PM
Right on about the carbs. You will get very weak if you workout with out the right amount of carbs. Good point Relique.

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"A will finds a way, failure is not an option"
Ivan
carivan@freetrainers.com
Montreal Canada