Help ME!
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Help ME! - 2/21/2006 2:41:45 AM
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XskiX598
Posts: 10
Joined: 7/12/2004
Status: offline
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Hey Everyone,
Let me fill you in on my current situation, I'm 5'8" and weigh about 200 lbs. I want to drop my body fat. But, I when I ask people they will say I look about 175. Reason is, I lift on and off, then I accumulate muscle and it basically goes to waste.
The reason I'm here is that, I want to lose basically 20-30 lbs. Unfortunately, eating 5-6 small meals a day isn't quite a feasible option for me. So, I eat 3 meals a day, since I've started working out -- I eat alot healthier. Usually salad w/ chicken, fruits, and a sandwich w/ wheat bread and turkey.
I've heard that 30 minutes of cardio is ideal. I can certainly go beyond that -- so, should I proceed to go til 45 minutes, an hour etc...??
I've been working out now for almost a week and feel healthier, but now I would like to see results as quickly as possible.
I have some whey protein, megamen multivitamins, and L-glutamine.
At this point, I'm not overly interested in gaining size and bulk, but rather I would like to maintain the muscle mass I have (or maybe slightly increase it) and drop alot of body fat.
What do you think?
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RE: Help ME! - 2/21/2006 5:49:47 AM
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gzinkl
Posts: 3212
Joined: 3/23/2005
From: Chicago, IL
Status: offline
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My guess is that by keeping your diet clean, you're on the right track. But for getting quick results, aim for 1-2 lbs a week; you'll be more likely to keep it off. Do a search on the site for fat loss and look for postings by the likes of danmirage; he knows his stuff. You're biggest challenge will be jump starting your metabolism when you can only have three meals a day. Maybe we can help with some creativity if you let us know what the barriers are?
_____________________________
"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"
"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"
(in reply to XskiX598)
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RE: Help ME! - 2/21/2006 2:39:30 PM
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danmirage
Posts: 6297
Joined: 11/20/2005
Status: online
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Sounds good.
Oh gzinkl, now I HAVE to help him! 
Train the whole body in your lifting.
Get your calories under control because that is the true deciding factor of weight gain or loss.
Oh...here..start with this...then we can help you get you some SERIOUS results!
#1 diet - most important
You need to be eating enough calories so that your body is not in survival mode!
500 calories under your needs per day will get you -1 pound a week...if you need more, adjust accordingly, but shoot for losses of no more than 2 pounds a week...so you have to decide what weight you want to lose.
Try to get At least 4-6 meals a day! This helps in MANY ways.
Go to this post to figure your daily calories if you don't have a clue.
Calories needed per day for various goals <------ link for you to click
At the bottom of the post is a link to a spreadsheet/calculator that you can use...
Use fitday.com to plan meals to get what you need not just as a meal journal...it is free! Use fitday.com as a MEAL PLANNER..not just a journal. To help you tweak your diet into different mixes!
Basic meal:
A protein (3 oz Chicken/turkey/beef/soy...)
A vegetable (1/2 cup broccoli/green beans/peppers/ 2 cups salad...)
A carb source (1/2 cup Rice/quinoa/amaranth/oatmeal...sweet potato, potato...)
Sufficient good fat (from the protein and/or Fish oils, omega 3 oils, flax oils, nuts..)
You are looking for:
Protein-15-30%,
carbohydrates-40-75%,
fat-10-30%
...of your total calories
The ideal range of protein for growth is .6-.9 grams per pound of body weight.
If you are a light eater and meats sit like a brick in your tummy then go for the lower part of that range.
If you enjoy meats and could eat them many times in the day, and they give you energy...go for the higher end.
Target the fat % on the scale proportionate with the protein. Then inversely proportion the carbs to the protein.
Foods should be fresh whole foods. Carbs should be from veggies and non processed starches (rice, baked sweet potato, potato, quinoa, amaranth...) with some fruits. Drop most processed sugars from your diet.
It depends on your preferences and your body chemistry. Everyone IS different in the way they digest and use food. You have to work with it to find what gives you the most energy and power, focus and good feeling.
Yes, I am speaking from experience as a trainer. I assess clients for where to start their meals, then assign a diet and adjust based upon what we observe. This is what you will do for yourself.
Experiment with different mixes...1 week strict per "experiment"!
I.E. (these are the extremes and represent points in a whole spectrum! They give you ideas of parts of the spectrum to explore)
The moderate protein type=
Protein-20%,
carbohydrates-65%,
fat-15%
High Protein type=
Protein-30%,
carbohydrates-40%,
fat-30%
High Carb type=
Protein-15%,
carbohydrates-75%,
fat-10%
#2 Training
train your whole body
Chest
Back
Biceps
Triceps
Shoulders
Legs
Calves
Abdominals
Always warm up 5-10 minutes light cardio and also light higher rep sets for major bodyparts you will be working.
Optimal set / rep ranges and days between:
For muscular Endurance the rep range is 12-25 slow pace/30-90 second rests/ 1-3 sets / 1-2 days between
For muscle size the rep range is 9-12 slow- moderate pace/30-60 second rests / 3 -4 sets per / 4-7 days between
For Strength (vs. power) the rep range is 6-8 slow pace/2-3 minute rests/ 3-4 sets per / 4-7 days between
For power the rep range is 1-5 fast/explosive pace /3-5 minute rests/ 4-8 sets per / 2-3 days between
That has been heavily tested and it works...courtesy of the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
It is essential to vary intensity in your training every cycle to keep the gains/losses going.
There are a lot of intensity principles that you can toy with to spice up your results a bit. Some discussion threads on varying intensity...
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_87226/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#87256
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_93729/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#94183
#3 Cardio
The body adapts very quickly to cardio, even faster than it does to lifting. For this reason it is important to vary an aspect of your Cardio about every 2-3 weeks, or as needed to maintain the results you are looking for.
If you do the same things every day, you get less and less caloric expenditure from them. Additionally, as you lose weight, the number of calories expended from an activity declines!
The solution? Vary your training to keep your body from getting accustomed to it.
The things to vary every 2-3 weeks or so - in this order of "importance":
The the intensity of your training...slower/low intensity, moderate speed and intensity, high speed and intensity, intervals
The type of exercise you do...bike, rowing, elliptical trainer, treadmill, walking, etc
The length of time you train...from 20 minutes, to 30 minutes, to 40 minutes, to 50 to an hour.
The frequency with which you train...3 days a week, to 4 days a week, to 5 days a week, to 2x day 3 days a week
Some notes about this...change your frequency only as a last resort!!! The more frequently you do cardio, the quicker the body adapts and the LESS you get from it!!!!!
Be sure to take 1 full week at least every 3 months doing NOTHING!!! In addition to other benefits, this de-conditions the body so that when you come back your body is more responsive again. When you come back, start your training at 30 minutes 4x week and moderate intensity with a new type of cardio.
Then increase the intensity (2-3 weeks), then try interval training (2-3 weeks), then switch the type of cardio and start the new type at moderate (2-3 weeks), then high (2-3 weeks), then intervals (2-3 weeks), then switch and repeat. Then add 10 minutes and go 50 at moderate (2-3 weeks), then high (2-3 weeks), then intervals (2-3 weeks).
After 3 months...REST and come back and repeat the pattern.
IF after 1-2 weeks you are not seeing any loss of body fat weight, you may need more time. If you still see nothing, you may need another day.
#4 track your progress!
On the topic of Body fat measurement... this is a tool to make sure you are on target!
The methods YOU can use to test your body fat yourself are unreliable on a one time basis. They are better used to track changes over time on an ongoing basis.
Test every 1-3 weeks at the same time of day...and use the same scale to take your weight.
Here is a calculator that allows you to use skinfold calipers (3 or 7 point test) or tape measure
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
Here is the best price I have found to date for good cheap accurate calipers:
skinfold Calipers <--- link to place on amazon where it is cheapest
Once your diet and training are in place, measure your body composition and go a week following your plan. Take circumference measurements of your muscles.
At the end of the week (and each week) check your body composition again - always at the same time of day with the same method and tools.
--If at first you are just gaining fat, then revamp your training it is obviously not sufficient to create muscle gains, also adjust your caloric intake down 500 calories.
--If you are gaining fat and muscle, stay where you are! or if it is too much fat, you can drop calories 250 or add a bit of cardio.
--If you are just gaining muscle go another week as is it will trim fat later.
--If you gain muscle and lose fat but gain no weight (or lose weight), add calories (keeping the %) 250 and go another week
--If you are gaining muscle and losing fat...while gaining weight you are at an optimal balance.
--If you are just losing fat, stay where you are!.
--If at first you are just losing muscle, adjusting your caloric intake up 500 calories.
--If you are neither gaining nor losing muscle or fat...you are at maintenance. add cardio or drop 500 calories, then revamp your training it is obviously not sufficient to create muscle gains.
#5 the basics
Keep the training under an hour
Do not over train
Don't miss a meal.
Don't go low carb on us.
12-15 cups water minimum a day!!!
Don't let your calories get behind your muscle gains.
Multivitamin to support growth!
8 hours sleep a night
Avoid artificial additives (flavorings, coloring, preservatives) in foods
Cut out processed foods
get pre and post work out nutrition:
Here is a general rule for replenishing glycogen and sparing muscle pre-post workout:
0.2 g/lb high glycemic index carbs
0.1 g/lb whey (or Just 5 grams of BCAA or 15 grams of EAAs)
Sip 1 serving before/during and 1 after
With cardio, start with the least amount of it you can do…3x20 minutes max to start if you must.
Diet will be your biggest challenge. You have to get the caloric level sufficient so that you are losing FAT. You should expect to lose .5 to 2 pounds a week.
Any questions…after you do your homework…post your caloric needs, diet, and training and we can comment to get you in the groove!
_____________________________
My journal:
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_158705/mpage_2/tm.htm
Primers:
Gaining Mass
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_111173/mpage_1/tm.htm
Losing Fat
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/m_111175/mpage_1/tm.htm
(in reply to gzinkl)
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RE: Help ME! - 2/23/2006 6:11:28 PM
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Italianangel
Posts: 2860
Joined: 8/4/2005
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: XskiX598
Hey Everyone,
Let me fill you in on my current situation, I'm 5'8" and weigh about 200 lbs. I want to drop my body fat. But, I when I ask people they will say I look about 175. Reason is, I lift on and off, then I accumulate muscle and it basically goes to waste.
The reason I'm here is that, I want to lose basically 20-30 lbs. Unfortunately, eating 5-6 small meals a day isn't quite a feasible option for me. So, I eat 3 meals a day, since I've started working out -- I eat alot healthier. Usually salad w/ chicken, fruits, and a sandwich w/ wheat bread and turkey.
can you do protein shakes? You need to try to have some protein eveyr 2-3 hours for the results you want.
I've heard that 30 minutes of cardio is ideal. I can certainly go beyond that -- so, should I proceed to go til 45 minutes, an hour etc...??
Yes, until you reach desired gains then you can maintain with 3 days of 20-30 mins per.
I've been working out now for almost a week and feel healthier, but now I would like to see results as quickly as possible.
I have some whey protein, megamen multivitamins, and L-glutamine.
At this point, I'm not overly interested in gaining size and bulk, but rather I would like to maintain the muscle mass I have (or maybe slightly increase it) and drop alot of body fat.
What do you think?
_____________________________
Come Visit my websites!
www.figureteam.com
www.lindacusmano.com
www.bodyrushpersonaltraining.com
(in reply to XskiX598)
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