frustrated and confused

[stephkate]

please help me!!!

i am new to this and was hoping that someone might have some suggestions for me.

i am a 25yr female, 5,5' and 132lbs. i was 145lbs in november and have been determined to get to 120lbs as soon as possible. i need help. over the past two weeks i started the zone diet through my gym, (which seems to be working and i understand the concept) and am on lean and abs +; and along with my gym workout, seems to be working as i have lost almost 5lbs in 2 weeks. 2 weeks ago my bf was 26%. i would ultimately like to be 17%bf; lean, less fat and no cellulite is my goal for june-how do i do this???

my exercise routine is 45mins of cardio 3-5 times/week, and weights for 20 mins. i have thought that maybe i should be doing less cardio with high intensity and more weight?? i have been dedicated to push myself with higher weight and learning proper techniques so that i increase my muscle in order to look more defined. i really need suggestions for my legs as i have cellulite and am so embarrassed that i can't get rid of it. i desperately need suggestions for my whole body. i am very depressed, as i feel a little hopeless and ugly right now. i feel like there is a slight change in the way i look, but looking in the mirror, i can't really see a difference. :confused:
thank you!

[cursor]

Welcome to DiscussFitness.com, stephkate.

Don't expect a visable change in just two weeks. Be patient and the changes will certainly come. Expecting too much progress too soon is a prescription for failure. I've found that shooting for a minimum 6-week milestone is the most healthy perspective.

As you know, a combination of resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and a quality nutrition plan is the best combination for taking your fitness to another level. It sounds like you're on your way. Hang around and pick up some excellent advice from some really great folk!

[atherjen]

Hi Stephkate, welcome to DF.

what does your current leg workout look like?
it sounds like your making good progress on the diet?! by decreasing bodyfat and building more muscle, that will enable you to help rid of the cellulite. takes time though, just keep working hard.

[stephkate]

gosh that was fast!
thanks for the quick replys!
i try to vary all my work outs, for instance my leg workout is:
leg press up (machine pushing, lying on my stomach, pushing up behind me); leg press forward (machine sitting, legs at 90 degrees, pressing forward) i pick a weight that i struggle to do 10/12, 4 times
squats (which I haven't done lately) but will do with ball in the small of my back up against the wall, and do 10-15, 4 times. inner and outter thigh press machine, try to do 10-12, 4 times, and the leg lift machine (sitting pulling up with bar on my ankles)for the hamstrings 60lbs, 10-12 reps, 4 times. and the stair master on level 10-12, pushing for 30sec intervals for 15 mins.

[atherjen]

are you going to failure on all your sets? meaning that once you hit 10 or 12 reps you simply cannot push another rep out of you?
have you tried doing freeweight squats with either the smith machine or olympic bar? those are far superior than with an exercise ball.
Id reccomend ditching the inner and outter thigh machines and concentrating more on squats, add in some lunges as well.
how about leg extensions?
stiff legged deadlifts?

[stephkate]

atherjen, thank you for your suggestions. i will try it all. yes, i do go to the point of failure with all my sets. with the stiff legged deadlifts, would i be sitting and lifting my legs off the ground only? or some how include weights? and by leg extensions, do you mean with a machine? thank you!
what do you recommend for cardio-how long? how often?

[SurfinAmy]

StephKate
Take heart, it can be done. Cellulite is nothing but fat and it WILL come off with some hard work, but like cursor said, it's going to take time & patience.
-Amy

[stephkate]

SurfinAmy, thank you for the support!
I also have a question about leaning out arms. does anybody have any tricks up thier sleeves for working and leaning out arms. i suppose it is the same thing, just working at it and being patient!
thanks again!

[MAURER]

working to failure on all of your sets is NOT a good thing spephkate. lots of bodybuilders and all powerlifters do not workout to failure. i think they know what they are doing.... also, there is a machine at some gyms where you pedal with yuor arms instead of your feet. if you have access to one it should be great. other than that, you just gotta wait for the rest of your body to trim down, and the arms will go with it.

[atherjen]

Originally Posted by stephkate

atherjen, thank you for your suggestions. i will try it all. yes, i do go to the point of failure with all my sets. with the stiff legged deadlifts, would i be sitting and lifting my legs off the ground only? or some how include weights? and by leg extensions, do you mean with a machine? thank you!
what do you recommend for cardio-how long? how often?

stiff legged deads -
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...gDeadlift.html
yupp leg extensions are the machine :
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...Extension.html

I would suggest sticking with only 3-4 days, making at least 2 of them HIIT style (intervals) for 25-30 mins. if you do moderate paced cardio Id say 40mins max.