OT: Best way to START getting in shape

theDude24 · Feb 17, 2009

So.... i quit smoking a few months ago and decided it is time to get in shape.

I have always been a chubby/husky (not really fat) guy as I way about 200 pounds. (have been 170 since i was like 14)

So I bought some running shoes and want to start getting in shape.

What is the best way?

Combination of cardio/weights?

Just do cardio to lose some weight, and then tone later?

Also - I went for a run and fuck, out of shape.

WHat is the best way? Just start running?
Good way to start slow and ease into it?

Thanks guys, appreciate any advice

JakeT. · Feb 17, 2009

Best way to lose weight is cardio. You'll just be a strong fat guy if you lift weights. Cardio sucks but it's the best way to lose pounds.

On top of that, get your diet right. Cut out soda and junk food. Get some chicken and fish. There is still a ton of good stuff to eat while doing it the healthy way and keeping the calories and other crap down.

Running sucks, I agree. I gave up running all together. A stationary bike is much better for me. I also play a ton of basketball and tennis which is a great substitute for running and you don't have to nearly pass out from it. I just can't run more then a mile... I can play basketball for 3 hours straight without stopping and get a better workout though. It really depends on what you want to do but there are lots of ways to get in cardio without just straight boring running.

But yeah, cardio loses weight for sure. If you really want to avoid it altogether you can do a cardio/lifting hybrid. Kind of a circuit training where you are hauling ass while doing different exercises without stopping... but it's just as much of a pain in the ass as running IMO.

If you are still pretty healthy you could try a product like Hydroxycut or Lipo-6 (my preference) when running. Just makes the fat go off much faster but it also speeds up your heart and is kind of like speed so don't mess around with it if you have any health issues.

I'm no expert but if you had any other questions about anything I could do my best to help.

mj23 · Feb 17, 2009

Get on a treadmill and go at about 4.2 MPH for about 3-4 miles starting at a 1% incline and work your way up to 5 to 6 % incline. Do this for 5-6 days a week and also mix in some weight lifting 2-3 days a week. Good Luck

cocktailsnlongshots+ · Feb 17, 2009

if you live near a beach or pool swimming and surfing....can't go wrong....

johnboland · Feb 17, 2009

I got a set of Navy Seal Perfect Push Ups for Christmas. They will kick your butt. I highly recommend them for upper body workouts. Tennis is great and I think not so hard on the knees as just running. With Tennis, the more you play, the better you get because of the hand to eye coordination thing going on. Swimming if you have access to a pool is the way to go. Very little if any strain on joints. A few laps a day and soon your stamina will increase. Getting off Cigs is the best move you ever made. I quit a few months ago and can really tell a difference. Cigs have nothing to offer you but lung cancer and heart disease. Be patient and know what your body is telling you. No pain No gain might be great for an eighteen year old, but if you are in your thirities or forties, it might mean a trip to the emerency room. BOL.

$tinky · Feb 17, 2009

If you don't have an ipod, get one. Makes working out so much more tolerable.

Jack Herer · Feb 17, 2009

Start walking, stationary bike, or doing the eliptical thing, keep raising the intensity and time you walk. After a while you can start jogging.

Diet is like 80%.

I think there´s more motivation if you join a gym/health club. Check hot chicks out, do your thing, plus a certified trainer should help you get started and record your progress.

Once you get started, don´t stop!!!!!

wolfie_cr · Feb 17, 2009

I am not going to tell you what to do

I am just going to reenforce your goal of doing it, now that you have stopped smoking .....food will taste better and you will probably eat more.....unless you increase your exercise rate you might gain lot which will become even harder to lose afterwards

now that you are no longer consuming the 'cancer sticks' you can do a double-play by adding the 2nd component to a healthy life

good luck

TomGshotput · Feb 17, 2009

run further and faster tomorrow

do that as often as possible and eventually you'll be a lot better at running

since when is 170-200 chubby/husky? You talking kilograms?

EasyMoney · Feb 17, 2009

google the word CROSSFIT and read about it. It will absolutly kick your butt. The workouts seem easy enough just looking at them but if you do them you will soon see they are really hard and you will lose pounds quickly. Especially if your dieting as well.

GoBlue34 · Feb 17, 2009

I will disagree about ONLY doing cardio. You might turn into skinny fat if you have no muscle under your fat.

Lifting heavy weights burns as much fat as cardio.

Once you get going, download P90x. It's a bitch but results are fairly easy with it. And get your diet in check

JakeT. · Feb 17, 2009

GoBlue34 said:
I will disagree about ONLY doing cardio. You might turn into skinny fat if you have no muscle under your fat.

Lifting heavy weights burns as much fat as cardio.

Once you get going, download P90x. It's a bitch but results are fairly easy with it. And get your diet in check

I have had way more success doing cardio for a month and then lifting for a month then I have combining the two. You shouldn't burn off much existing muscle with the cardio since all that fat is just waiting to be burned off first so unless you have no muscle currently, I don't see how you are going to be skinny after doing cardio to burn the fat. I'm no expert though...

HuskerFan1 · Feb 17, 2009

do 400 pushups tomorrow (all day affair it dont matter just bust out sets of 10-20-30 if you can do that many)

and come talk to me in a couple days....

GoBlue34 · Feb 17, 2009

Jake T. said:
I have had way more success doing cardio for a month and then lifting for a month then I have combining the two. You shouldn't burn off much existing muscle with the cardio since all that fat is just waiting to be burned off first so unless you have no muscle currently, I don't see how you are going to be skinny after doing cardio to burn the fat. I'm no expert though...

Depends on your goals but I would do one every other day.

But as Jake said, do what works for you

yellowman · Feb 17, 2009

I have run marathons and dieted...I can tell you that for me, I lost FAR more weight by watching my diet than by exercising. If you exercise hard, your appetite will increase...and you will need to refuel your body so you can continue to exercise vigorously. Kind of a catch 22 there...

However, when I have watched what I ate, cut out soda and fast food among other things...my weight has dropped quickly. The old saying goes run/exercise for fitness, diet to lose weight. True weight loss begins in the kitchen.

If was out of shape and overweight, I would diet first and lose some weight (20? lbs, maybe more)...once I got some of the easy weight off, then I would start exercising and getting in shape. But that is just my opinion - I congratulate you in taking the first step, hope you stick with it.

Maniac · Feb 17, 2009

Am planning on taking up running when I get back from holiday next month and have started to eat a bit healthier as well - whats a reasonable amount of weight to lose in 3 months just from running and eating more fish/veg etc ?

I initially set myself a target of 25lbs over 3-4 months which will put me at around 180lbs - which I thought was reasonable and realistic, or is this a bit too conservative ?

Naturally I am not planning on stopping there, but I thought that would be a good goal to get to by summer.

Am I selling myself short though, and am thinking maybe 30-40lbs over the same period would be doable.

I have never really been on a diet before or seriously excercised with the express intention of losing weight so I really have no idea what my reasonable expectations should be...

Bryan24K · Feb 17, 2009

http://www.gametimeworkouts.com/2008/06/ultimate-alex-rodriguez-workout.html

and don't forget to ask your cousin for help twice a month :lol:

TheWolf · Feb 17, 2009

Last year I only ate fruits & veggies and drank water & coffee for 1 month straight. Went to gym 2-3 days a week and did a little liftiing and cardio. Lost 12-15 pounds in a month. After that ate no red meat, no pop, sweets, or junk. Stuck to fruits & veggies and added chicken turkey and fish. Still drank light beer as well and ended up losing about 30 pounds after 3 month. Good luck.

Scans33 · Feb 17, 2009

Diet and exercise combined is the key for me .... exercise will strengthen your body, lift your spirits, and supress your appetite. As many people have already mentioned a healthy diet (lots of natural foods and lean meats) will improve your health and drop weight quick.

As for exercising find something aerobic that you enjoy doing recreationally - tennis, basketball, hiking, swimming, biking .... if it's an activity where you're having fun it won't feel like exercise. If you're looking to run I suggest taking 6-8 weeks to build up your endurance to where you can run 3-4 miles straight ... then join a running club (lots of positive enthusiastic people and hot chicks).

Scans33 · Feb 17, 2009

Maniac said:
Am planning on taking up running when I get back from holiday next month and have started to eat a bit healthier as well - whats a reasonable amount of weight to lose in 3 months just from running and eating more fish/veg etc ?

I initially set myself a target of 25lbs over 3-4 months which will put me at around 180lbs - which I thought was reasonable and realistic, or is this a bit too conservative ?

Naturally I am not planning on stopping there, but I thought that would be a good goal to get to by summer.

Am I selling myself short though, and am thinking maybe 30-40lbs over the same period would be doable.

I have never really been on a diet before or seriously excercised with the express intention of losing weight so I really have no idea what my reasonable expectations should be...

I'd focus on the process and the exercise/diet regimen, not the lbs lost .... the weight will come off if you're keeping to your plan stated above. IMO the problem with some weight loss plans is they focus too much on lbs lost, and not enough on body recomposition (lowering % body fat and increasing lean muscle mass). Women make this mistake all the time ...

OT: Best way to START getting in shape

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