Do you even lift?

[Daniel]

How do.

Well this year, I really must pull my finger out and try to subdue the fat jacket around my torso. Been talking to a few guys that lift, each giving sound advice on what I should focus on what to do and how I should be doing it. And what "actual" beneficial supplements I should be taking for my size/weight.

I'm taking this pretty seriously now as I've bought the following;

Gym bench
Curl bar
Dumbbells
Weights
Grip strengtheners (these are actually showing early results!)
Wrist restricting gloves
Elbow supports
Exercise bike
Supplements

I'm not really a gym person, paying a membership would be the cheapest solution but knowing me I'd most likely end up in a tussle outside with someone. So this is the safer solution all round, plus when I'm bored, I can just get changed and get on with it in home comfort.

I've also been compiling a workout regime that appears a bit full on, but the first two weeks will be about tailoring how many sets of what are achievable so as not to over cook it. On the subject of fancy charts I've also made a separate one listing my stats and how they change on a fortnightly basis. hopefully we'll see some difference eh! Dad did joke about in time me being to lift an atlas stone, well it sounds like a challenge to me.

So how many of you on here are going through a similar thing? fat loss etc?

[maff]

just go for a run and eat proper, its cheaper, and better for fat burning.

I found downloading audio books changed it from a chore to something fun.

Got a mate at work who used to do the gym thing, weights, reps, never did get it myself.

[john B]

As Jasper Carrot used to say fat people get fat because the hole at the front is bigger than the hole at the back....................

Seriously though its all about burning more calories than you consume....eat little and often ! Eat well with lots of fruit and good protein.......if your trying to bulk up then obviously ignore everything I have said......
Its finding the motivation that most people struggle with when starting exercise etc.....if possible get someone to train with you so you can push each other and also from a safety perspective its always a good idea to have someone spot for you when bench pressing etc......last thing you need to do is drop the bar on your face or neck.
If your just trying to tone up then cardio vascular is best cycling is great minimal impact on your joints etc....
Good luck Dan its a long road but I'm sure you will get there knowing how determined you can be !

[Stuart]

Oh John, that Jasper Carrot quote is one of the funniest things I have heard Brilliant.

[IWANT1]

I visit the gym as much as I can now depending on work, looking at your list of items brought I would really be looking at a cross trainer surely you need more cardio work rather than weights to shift fat?<o></o>

[Soreen]

I'm a military PTI in commando forces and have seen loads of fitness theory's come and go.
If you ask me, cross fit works best for looks and functional fitness - for all levels.

[RX7]

Good quote re Jasper Carrot

Yeah I'm doing the health thing this year after last year where I comfort ate and stuffed takeaways etc down me.

Am eating more healthily and planning our meals a bit better but will also get out on the bike more and go for walks.

Agree with the others though, building up is good but I think fat loss is about cardio and sustained cardio eg long cycles (15 mins or more) at a constant level rather than short bursts.

Sounds like you have a plan though mate, stick at it and am sure you will see a good chunk of weight drop off.

[Daniel]

I have refrained from mentioning the diet plan that backs this training up, but don't worry guys. With the help from my mate Ken I should see a projected safe loss of 2lbs per week which can be made more if and when I'm ready to do so. The early stages of this (week 0 - 2) is going to be a lot of body adjustment and re-teaching, after this we should see more improvement. I know that doing weights bulks the body up, but it's fat I want to lose and not muscle density, so with any controlled diet you need to keep on par with muscular fitness. Last thing I need are my muscles getting smaller! Plus the more muscle you grow, the higher the resting metabolism rate and the more hungry it'll become = residual fat burning machine active. Cycling also has a prominent feature on the agenda which is what I wanted anyway, obviously this will help with the cardio side of things and as John said, is much easier on the joints. Which leads me to running, a big no thanks from me. Treading the boards at just over 20 stone wouldn't be a wise thing to do just yet. But a cross trainer is a good idea (admittedly overlooked that one) but for now on the fat loss side of things is walking, cycling and controlled diet.

[Stuart]

If you want a cross trainer, FREE OF CHARGE, I've got one you can have Dan. Was worth a few hundred quid mate; let me know

[john B]

Glad you liked the Jasper Carrott gag
One other thing Dan dont go on the scales ! Its about losing fat and toning muscles muscle is heavier than fat so people get frustrated when they start training as they don't appear to lose the weight due to the muscle toning effect