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Old 01-Aug-03, 01:49 PM   #1
Mortanis
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Where to begin?


Where to begin? I'll skip the intro of what all i've done to try and lose weight, unless it really matters. I'm starting fresh.

I'm 23, 5'5", and about 190 lbs. I'm a programmer, so i sit all day.

Where to begin? Is it more important at this point to try and build some muscle up so that i'm burning more calories, or do i try for some fat loss first? I've got a long way to go on both.

I've got some simple dumbbell free-weights, a 120 lb punching bag, and I just recently enrolled in Kenpo Karate.

Whats the best place to start? Thanks a lot, and i hope to be changing the weight in my sig, soon.
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Old 01-Aug-03, 02:04 PM   #2
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best bet is going to be join a gym and have access to proper equipment.

that being said, since you're a relative newbie i'd suggest focusing on gaining mass now, cut later- you'll experience newbie gains when you start lifting; you'll grow like there's no tomorrow (these last for like 4-6months genearlly) and gian massive strength. focus on building up as much muscle as you can now, worry about fat later. trust me, once your newbie gains fade you'll be swearing at your muscles to grow, so maximize the advantage now.

i'd suggest a full body split since you're a newbie; most seem to really benefit from them. check out my page - www.ironpumping.com sample/past articles, 1 on full body split, on how to build a proper one.
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Last edited by Kitara; 03-Aug-03 at 08:52 AM.
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Old 01-Aug-03, 02:17 PM   #3
Wolfnatas
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Alot of people begin their quest to get fit in the gym. Personally, I think more people would have better results if they started in the kitchen. A proper diet will get you results combined with working out, but a proper workout won't get you results with a bad diet.
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Old 02-Aug-03, 01:11 PM   #4
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Wolf...good point...start in the kitchen.
Mortanis...I would not recommend split routines to a person with little to no experience. Although it is possible for people to get through split routines as beginners, it is an invitation to overtraining and often too much of a change in their lifestyle to hit the gym that frequently. I have seen many people try splits right from the start and just not stick with weight training.
My recommendation would be full body workouts 3 days per week with a day off in between the workout days ( ie: mon, wed, fri ). The days 'off' should include activity though. If you aren't into a certain sport then you'll have to pick a cardio exercise to start doing.

Basic compound exercises to start with:
Do squats holding your dumbells.
Do overhead presses with your dumbells.
Dumbell rows...bent over and upright.
Bicep curls.
Push ups-->You should be bench pressing here but without the proper equipment...

The better equipment you have the more and better exercises you'll be able to do. With your current equipment you can't even do proper pressing exercises so if you aren't about to spring for a good quality machine or a bench and more weights...then do as AJ suggested and join a gym. There are many exercises that would benefit you greatly as a beginner that you NEED equipment for.
The punching bag is a great thing for cardio...but make sure you TAPE your wrists...a wrist injury could keep you from doing resistance training for quite some time...and also mess with your karate classes.
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Last edited by carcajou; 02-Aug-03 at 01:14 PM.
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Old 02-Aug-03, 02:12 PM   #5
TsiTalon
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programming .. blahhhhhhhhhh

I am getting into computer science. I tried taking a programming class man its not too too hard to do but sitting there drives me crazy, punching in code after code. That alone is a workout

Want to lose weight this is whats its about
1)Diet. You have to eat right and find out what your maintence level calorie intake is. So take for example is 2000c a day maintans your body the way it is then drop it to 1500c a day . Eat throughout the day 6 or so meals a day eatign every 2-3 hours. So yes pack a cooler and sit that baby right next to your computer. I would also everyonce and a while ..well every chance i get , would stand up strech and walk around . Sitting there all day isnt going to help any. Maybe even on lunch break take a quick run or walk.

2) Sleep , of course. Try to get 8 hrs , 6 at min.

3) Best for last . WORKOUT . Cardio is great search for HITT cardio on the forum thats a good cardio but if you are starting out just stick with basic running or machines just to get your body into gear. If you try to jump in too fast you will hurt yourself. Well I thinks thats about it for now. any other Q's def use that search button everything you are thinking of asking has been answered somewhere in here before , goodluck.
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Old 02-Aug-03, 04:47 PM   #6
Integer
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Solution


If you honestly think about what you are trying to accomplish, you will see the difference between what you want and what you are doing.

Sit on your ass all day? Stop sitting on your ass all day! Run for 30 minutes EVERY DAY. I don't care if you have to stop and breathe often. Start by walking 5 minutes or so for now, or jogging. Then start running. I don't care if you walk it or jog it or run it. Just do it for 30 minutes a day. Try to do it every day, that way it well end up happening about 4-5 times a week. And you know what, it's really not hard. 30 minutes that you will love and feel awesome after.

But remember, try to push yourself. You don't want a heart attack, but don't make it easy. You're not supposed to feel EXTREME PAIN, you're just supposed to raise your heart level. This will get easy fast, however. Each time you run, you will have to run a little harder or a little softer based on how you feel. Make the most of those 30 minutes!

After about a month you will see much better running form developing. A human body adapts to whatever tasks it is doing. So if you are run frequently, your body will adapt and you will start looking more and more like a runner. Simple biomechanics. Your posture will improve. And future runs will get easier and easier. Not only that, but you will be losing fat.

And if you want to build muscle, DON'T! Simply MAKE YOURSELF RUN on a treadmill or outside until you lose weight. Your problem isn't muscle. Your problem is diet and a sedentary style of life. Lose weight and love it, and then build muscle afterwards when you're skinny. The muscle you build afterwards will help you have an easier time staying fit since muscle burns calories. But the simple answer to 'sitting on one's ass all day' is to change that!

As for the diet, stop eating ****. Drink many glasses of water and gatorade. Drink 3 cups of water before your run. Also drink water during and after your runs. Don't eat after 6.

The other thing I want to say is that even without exercise, a body has no choice but to use up fat for energy if you start eating healthy, since it won't be getting calories via the mouth. But with exercise, it will be even easier. You understand math, it's this simple. There's no magic or genetics or anything to worry about. Here's a program for you:

bool amBurningFat (int int****YouEat, int intHealthyFoodsYouEat, intCaloriesYourBodyBurns) {

// total up the different calories from junk food + good food
int intCaloriesYouConsume = int****YouEat + intHealthyFoodsYouEat;

// does our body use up more calories than we eat?

if (intCaloriesYourBodyBurns > intCaloriesYouConsume)
return true; // YES! LOSING WEIGHT!
else
return false; // same exact weight or gaining weight!

}
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Old 02-Aug-03, 04:52 PM   #7
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"Don't eat after 6. " I cant agree with that. Say he goes to bed at 11:00 thats 5 hrs not eating then sleeps for 8 hrs thats 13hrs not eating. Bad move. Eat every 2-3 hrs when it gets later like at night thats when you want to cut back on high carb foods (pasta's and stuff) and eat things that are also low in fat since your body is starting to wind down. Take a shake before bed and when you wake up.
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Old 02-Aug-03, 06:25 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfnatas
Alot of people begin their quest to get fit in the gym. Personally, I think more people would have better results if they started in the kitchen. A proper diet will get you results combined with working out, but a proper workout won't get you results with a bad diet.
Yah see Wolfnatas your not so weird!!!! I totally concur with this advice!!
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Old 02-Aug-03, 07:22 PM   #9
carcajou
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...and don't take that gatorade advice...TOO MUCH SALT!!

The big thing to remember is the activity level though...remember when you were a kid? You were probably running around and very active for 6 hours per day. Now your current job probably has you inactive for the most part and the amount of activity you do per day is 'X'.
Well, compare the 'X' to that level of activity as a child...BIG DIFFERENCE!!

Therefore you require activity every day and it must be intense because it is most likely the only activity that you will get. Remember...humans are biologically designed for activity. A full day of 'foraging/hunting/other physically demanding things' is much different than 'live in a box/sit at a desk/eat stuff that is not right for our systems/sit on the couch channel surfing/sleep in a bed'. Hence the poor condition of the average person.
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Old 03-Aug-03, 08:49 AM   #10
Integer
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The reason I said to drink Gatorade was because it makes me want to go potty I drink water and what not, but when I occassionally drink a bottle of Gatorade while resting, it just 'cleans out my system'.
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