Fittness advise needed....

[booger]

After about a year off I am looking to get back in to the weight lifting/training program again. The last equipment I had was a Gold's Gym bench with the 300lb cast iron weight set. That was good but seemed to just add bulk. I sold the system when i moved about a year ago.

Instead of the added bulk i think this time around i would like to drop weight and body fat first and then tone and gain back some mass.

Joining the gym would probably be the best option, but is really out of the question right now.

So I am basically looking into home systems. The platinum crossbow has a good look and concept to it, not to mention the price, but I have read up on some pretty bad reviews on it. Bad customer service, wiring problems, motors need replaced, etc.

To me Bowflex seems to be the best thing on the market, just a bit more than I would like to spend. They do seem to have better warranty coverages though.

I guess i was just wondering if anyone here has any input on bowflex( is it worth the $$$?) or knows of any other home gym systems out there.

Thanks in advance.

[booger]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

When you're fat like me, you don't need weights. Just do squats and pushups...

True.

I guess that's why the Chuck Norris thingy looks like an idea as well since you are using your own body weight to work out. Plus It will hold a 265 lbs max person and I still fall slightly below that line.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by booger

Maybe you can help me with my spelling.

It looks like i can't spell fittness.

I didn't want to rub it in.

[booger]

Originally Posted by Donger

I didn't want to rub it in.

I do appreciate that.

[MVChiefFan]

High volume-low fat diet, walk/run and as many crunches and push-ups that you can do and everything will take care of itself.

[htismaqe]

Just an FYI on diet sodas and alcohol.

There's considerable scientific evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners like aspartame are not any better for you than sugar.

1) They are sweet but contain no calories, screwing up your body's natural ability to feel satiated. Lab animals consuming aspartame ate THREE TIMES as much food as the group eating regular sugar.

2) Artificial sweeteners can trigger insulin in the same way regular sweeteners do, resulting in blood sugar effects identical to regular sugars. Your body will then convert excess calories to fat, even if glucose or other base carbs aren't present.

As for alcohol, most grain alcohol like vodka or whiskey contains little or no CARBS. But alcohol does contain CALORIES.

If possible, I would suggest not drinking alcohol at all.

[htismaqe]

I lost 20 pounds on Atkins this time last year before I realized that it was making me sick. 2 months of ketosis tore the shit out of my kidneys.

This time around, I'm doing portioning and exercise. I started on January 14th and I've lost 20 pounds so far eating 1200 calories a day and working out.

[B_Ambuehl]

Best thing to do if you like to lift is check around for used equipment and just get a power rack with a flat bench and pulldown attachment. Either that or powerblocks which i believe even bowflex has a version of now. I've yet to meet a person with a bowflex or any other gimmick who used them outside of a month so I send caution. Your options for exercise are unlimited. The general recommendation of strenght training + some form of cardiovascular activit holds true.....try to do things you enjoy for cardio even if it's just a couple of games of halfcourt basketball per week or walking the dog around the neighborhood at a brisk pace. That plus 2 or 3 whole body strength training sessions and a moderately clean diet will get you where you want to go.

Honestly if you have a playground nearby with a jungle gym you can use your own bodyweight and get a good whole body workout for free.

As for toning vs bulking:

You can make a muscle bigger or you can make it smaller. No such thing as toning.

You can make a fat cell bigger or smaller and that's it.

The combination of either neutral or small increases in muscle size + decreased bodyfat = "tone"

Say you can rate your muscle size on a scale from 1 to 100 with 1 being a small muscle and 100 being a very big muscle. Say you're currently a 50 and you wanna go to abot a 60. Well, the same training techniques that take a person all the way up to 100 are also the best and the quickest at taking a person from 50 to 60, or 0 to 50 or any other measure of improvement. I used to tell people, you can lift light girly weights or do Richard Simmons for 2 years or you can lift heavy weights for 2 weeks and get the same results with regards to muscle so why not take the shorter route and maintain through reduced frequency and volume instead of just wasting time?

As for body composition and fat loss it's all about diet. I'd suggest small changes you can incorporate gradually instead of making wholesale changes from the get go. That means you might initially make a concerted effort to increase your protein intake and eliminate simple sugars. That means cakes, cokes, candy, and ice cream. Hell, most people I know of your size can lose 20 lbs just by eliminating soda. Burn more calories then you take in and you lose fat it's really that simple.

Here are some good articles on the subject I normally recommend:

http://bodyrecomposition.com/article...tion/index.php

[Demonpenz]

diet mountain dew. All that energy no calories

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by MVChiefFan

High volume-low fat diet, walk/run and as many crunches and push-ups that you can do and everything will take care of itself.

This is pretty true.

I don't know why I waste the gas by going to the gym anymore, seriously. I'm at the point to where I can stop lifting and just maintain what I have by doing crunches and push-ups. My brother never lifted a day in his life and yet he is ripped because that's all he does as a workout--push-ups and crunches. He gets up at 5 in the morning, does his thing for an hour olny, then showers, eats breakfast, and off to work. He'll play pickup football or basketball, or run for cardio, like me.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by booger

True.

I guess that's why the Chuck Norris thingy looks like an idea as well since you are using your own body weight to work out. Plus It will hold a 265 lbs max person and I still fall slightly below that line.

I have one of those Chuck Norris thingys, I believe it's called the ultimate Gym, actually it's my brothers and when he went overseas to work I got it from his storage shed. It's on my front porch now and I use it a couple times a week. It definitely will give you a workout. I think they go for about $250.00. I also put an exercise bike in the feed mill and ride it 5 days a week during the lunch our while the mill grinds feed. I usually get about 15 miles in. Also started drinking v8 juice for lunch. All your veggies in one can.

[Chiefs Express]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

I have one of those Chuck Norris thingys, I believe it's called the ultimate Gym, actually it's my brothers and when he went overseas to work I got it from his storage shed. It's on my front porch now and I use it a couple times a week. It definitely will give you a workout. I think they go for about $250.00. I also put an exercise bike in the feed mill and ride it 5 days a week during the lunch our while the mill grinds feed. I usually get about 15 miles in. Also started drinking v8 juice for lunch. All your veggies in one can.

The only bad thing about the V8 is the amount of sodium it has in it. I've used the low sodium version and added a little salt to bring out some of the flavor. (Probably use too much, but not as much as they do.)

[booger]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

Best thing to do if you like to lift is check around for used equipment and just get a power rack with a flat bench and pulldown attachment. Either that or powerblocks which i believe even bowflex has a version of now. I've yet to meet a person with a bowflex or any other gimmick who used them outside of a month so I send caution. Your options for exercise are unlimited. The general recommendation of strenght training + some form of cardiovascular activit holds true.....try to do things you enjoy for cardio even if it's just a couple of games of halfcourt basketball per week or walking the dog around the neighborhood at a brisk pace. That plus 2 or 3 whole body strength training sessions and a moderately clean diet will get you where you want to go.

Honestly if you have a playground nearby with a jungle gym you can use your own bodyweight and get a good whole body workout for free.

As for toning vs bulking:

You can make a muscle bigger or you can make it smaller. No such thing as toning.

You can make a fat cell bigger or smaller and that's it.

The combination of either neutral or small increases in muscle size + decreased bodyfat = "tone"

Say you can rate your muscle size on a scale from 1 to 100 with 1 being a small muscle and 100 being a very big muscle. Say you're currently a 50 and you wanna go to abot a 60. Well, the same training techniques that take a person all the way up to 100 are also the best and the quickest at taking a person from 50 to 60, or 0 to 50 or any other measure of improvement. I used to tell people, you can lift light girly weights or do Richard Simmons for 2 years or you can lift heavy weights for 2 weeks and get the same results with regards to muscle so why not take the shorter route and maintain through reduced frequency and volume instead of just wasting time?

As for body composition and fat loss it's all about diet. I'd suggest small changes you can incorporate gradually instead of making wholesale changes from the get go. That means you might initially make a concerted effort to increase your protein intake and eliminate simple sugars. That means cakes, cokes, candy, and ice cream. Hell, most people I know of your size can lose 20 lbs just by eliminating soda. Burn more calories then you take in and you lose fat it's really that simple.

Here are some good articles on the subject I normally recommend:

http://bodyrecomposition.com/article...tion/index.php

Thanks!

[booger]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Just an FYI on diet sodas and alcohol.

There's considerable scientific evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners like aspartame are not any better for you than sugar.

1) They are sweet but contain no calories, screwing up your body's natural ability to feel satiated. Lab animals consuming aspartame ate THREE TIMES as much food as the group eating regular sugar.

2) Artificial sweeteners can trigger insulin in the same way regular sweeteners do, resulting in blood sugar effects identical to regular sugars. Your body will then convert excess calories to fat, even if glucose or other base carbs aren't present.

As for alcohol, most grain alcohol like vodka or whiskey contains little or no CARBS. But alcohol does contain CALORIES.

If possible, I would suggest not drinking alcohol at all.

Alcohol isn't really that big of deal to me. I have some at home but only drink if there is someone to drink with. The occassional trips to the bar followed by drinking lots sure can't help though.

[booger]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

I have one of those Chuck Norris thingys, I believe it's called the ultimate Gym, actually it's my brothers and when he went overseas to work I got it from his storage shed. It's on my front porch now and I use it a couple times a week. It definitely will give you a workout. I think they go for about $250.00. I also put an exercise bike in the feed mill and ride it 5 days a week during the lunch our while the mill grinds feed. I usually get about 15 miles in. Also started drinking v8 juice for lunch. All your veggies in one can.

Yeah i've done the V8 thing in the past with good luck. Just hadn't thought of it again.

[Iowanian]

Start with a $200 Gazelle.

"you caaaaan Doooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!"