Hi all I’m relatively new to dieting, so I was just wondering what I need to do.
I’m 6 1/5 ft tall and weigh 250 IBS, and am nearly 19. I seem to be a cross b/t a Mesomorph and Endomorph ( I both seem to put on muscle and weight rather easily). I’ve been lifting weights and doing cardio since late July last year.
Currently I do an hour of cardio on an EFX with arm handles 6 times a week, this burns b/t 1150 1250 calories every go (according to the machine).
I currently do 4 sets on the bench, reps determined by the weight (1 warm up set of 135 -12 reps-, 215 -10 reps-, 220 -8 reps- and 225 -7-8 reps) and on the peck deck machine I do 3 sets (250-10 reps-260-10 reps-270-10 reps). I free curl 30 pounds and control curl 160. So I’m getting there.
My real concern is that I’m still 250 pounds and even shot up to 270 for a little bit. I don’t really control what I eat, but I rarely eat breakfast, and I don’t take protein powders.
I guess I’m just looking for general tips on how to lose weight w/o losing my muscle mass and am wondering what my ideal weight should be considering my (growing) bulk.
Thanks in advance,.
Posted by: Tom_B
Okay lots happening here .. Your training is complete shit. (sorry for being so blunt). Cardio 6x a week is way too much, and is just going to leave you 'burnt' out and can actually be negative to results. Ever wonder why the regular cardio bunnies are never all that lean? Also the fact that your 'don't really control what you eat' is a HUGE concern. Diet is at least 50% of the battle, if you want to live a healthier life with a much more appealing physique you need to set yourself up with healthy eating habits. Period.
I know it's alot of reading, but remember this is not some type of 'quick fix' its a lifestyle change, and what's the best way of sticking with something? By educating yourself and understanding the purpose of what your eating, when your eating it and why your eating it.
After you've read the following information try and put together your own type of plan, post it and we'll critique it and give feedback on how to improve it. Remember though, start with small changes, don't except to have a perfect diet/training routine right away, you'd only be setting yourself up for failure.
Good luck man!
Posted by: Jodi
Yes, as Tom said, read the stickies and then figure out a game plan. Come up with a diet plan and post it and we can critique it for you. The first thing to do is read and learn why and how to do this
Posted by: bigsahm21
Is cardio 6 x's a week really that bad for you? I mean can it really have counterproductive results?
I'm a runner, and I run 5 mornings a week...can't I just compensate for this by eating mroe calories?
Posted by: IainDaniel
Depends on your goals, and what you are looking to achieve.
Posted by: bigsahm21
For the past year/year and a half, I've just been educating myself on training/diet, and have basically jsut tried to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
I feel like I've done that though so I'm starting to stick to a strict workout regiment, diet (balanced, six meals a day, whole foods) and slowly increase my cals to put on a little weight...want it to be all lean, and just let my body fill out.
Could running 5 mornigns a week jeopardize that?
Posted by: Tom_B
It may ...
Remember the Human Body is a very adaptive thing, you overload it with cardio over a long period of time, it's going to adapt. (espically if it's the same type of cardio over and over). It's the reason you see so many of those cardio bunnies never going anywhere in terms of physquie at the gym. You see them always doing cardio, but never getting any smaller or leaner. Why? Becuase they're doing the same thing over and over, and their bodies have adapted to it.
You can run 5x a week for PERIODS of time. (even though if you ask me it's still pointless..) . Just remember to take breaks from the stuff and scale back .. also mix it up frequently (meaning don't only do steady state stuff, or only HIIT. Vary it).
Also know that you don't need cardio to get lean .. With my current program I do no cardio, and have managed to drop bodyfat.
Posted by: Smoo_lord
I use my cardio more as a lifestyle thing, rather than being uber strict about it.
stuff more like
riding a bike to work
walking/chatting to friends on the beach
Running/walking the dog
swimming, not laps tho, just at like a lake or beach
Kicking football around
and then sometimes just go for a Run or bike ride to clear my head
That way I get the variety I need and then it is far more enjoyable (for me) than just pounding the pavement for 30 mins.
