Working out

I’ve just started seriously working out after a few months break. I just wanted to know who else on here seriously works out and what/how much you do per week?? Also, does anyone else follow a strict body building type diet??

Im trying to but I keep getting ill. Its crap. Ok I used to be, still almost am, a competetive cyclist and played bucket loads of hockey so working out was pretty rife. I am more of a carbo and creatine loader though. My metabolism is way too quick so its just stores loading for me. But lately Ive cut caffeine out almost entirely, diuretics + cycling = bad!! Loads of water, bleah, when Im riding hard again its back to "water super hydration" and "water poisoning". And I was always told you drank it til you werent thirsty!!

I usually do a few reps a night...





















Pulling the footrest lever on the laz-y-boy chair.:o

Most of the year, I swim competitively, and that keeps me in tip-top shape. But when I'm not swimming, I'll do a 10 minute ab workout in the morning and at night. I'll do that every other day and it keeps me at least looking like I'm in shape.

On the objective of your exercise...

If you are after muscle bulk then consuming protein, creatine monohydrate, dextrose (to help with the uptake of the creatine) and heaps of water would be the go. Depending on your diet a multivitamin may be useful.

My understanding is creatine helps with fluid retention in muscle cells, which adds bulk (allowing you to train for longer and heavier weights) and your recovery from exercise.

If you are after endurance, complex carbohydrates (such as pasta) will help provide a source of energy during long periods exercise. Chocolate provides a short energy boost (with all that sugar) but without some complex carbos you'll fall off the ladder. Depending on how long and hard you exercise (and for that matter perspire) you may consider using an electrolyte replacement to assist in replacing lost salts.

Exercising for weight loss is a different matter altogether and I can't help you with that one. Every time I do any training regime I add muscle bulk and lose fat so weight goes up. The only reliable way for me to lose weight is to backpack for a few weeks (no not Delhi Belly but lots of medium intensity walking carrying a pack in summer usually results in weight loss for me - esp when there are no weights to do).

Remember to hydrate heaps - a little bit often is best. The other trick I have when trying to train is to occasionally have a red bull about 20 mins before hand as a stimulant... though I wouldn't recommend it as a regular supplement - you especially need to be careful about hydration if you try this... or you'll bonk (which is short for hit the wall with dehydration) - which is why we use camel-bak for hiking/freeskiing and mountain biking.

Originally posted by replicant_008
On the objective of your exercise...

No there wasn’t any specific request behind my post. I just wanted to guage how many people on AF work out and follow a specific diet. I see a nutritionist and have a workout plan so I wasn’t after any specific information. :)

I follow no diet (I can't cook and my parents work most of the time) meaning I live on Maggi Pasta Snacks, Hash Browns and occasionally if I can be bothered, some decent meat (ie Steak)

I work out two nights a week with a personal trainer and play Soccer (But the season is up) and Tennis.

I am thinking of taking up Golf :bloated:

I do barbels and stepper workouts. I'm one of the older people here (53) but I still climb utility poles and work in manholes, although not as much as I used to. I have replaced breakfast with energy bars and protein drink in the morning. I am really trying to get the waist smaller but mother nature says no, so I'm just happy to maintain!

ahh... depends on the time of the year... and if I'm trying to study as well as work full time for 50 hours a week. This is the current year's regime (I'm not studying in 2002 as I graduated my post-grad and decided to have a year off).

if it's in the six weeks before ski season... three or four sessions a week
of weights - esp squats, lunges, leg curls and extensions, bench press, bicep curls and french press. In the days between... Cardio on the mag trainer or with the boxing gloves and a heavy bag, lots of stretches - preferably to some very loud music at home...

During ski season, its mainly stretches and a couple of sessions with light weights, mainly heaps of reps during the week. A couple of sessions at the driving range too.

During summer, it's back to the golf course during the weekend carrying the bag (walking with no trundler) on a hilly course - sometimes a couple of rounds in a day. A couple of sessions at the range and a different weights regime - more stretches and fast twitch stuff. Also touch a couple of times a week.

I used to play competitive football (soccer) but gave up when I got concussed for the third time and broke my scaphoid (little bones in wrist) as well as breaking a couple of ribs - if you were wondering how that happens playing football - I was a psychotic goalkeeper who sledged like Parore...

i usually lift weights everyday but i train different body parts. today was chest, biceps and shoulders. i do an ab workout everyday and usually follow that up with a few hours in the sun swimming. the only diet i follow is what my local taco bell cashier suggest.

a half hour on the ol' drums everyday keeps me in shape, well my wrist's forarms, calfs and thighs at least

I've got back into serious training again after a couple of knee operation a few years back which sidelined me for a long time. In that time my weight just keeped getting worse and worse.
But in the last 5 months i've hit the streets again, running up to 5-10km's every night and biking about the same distance which is what i do for my work-outs. Drink lots of water and cut down on the food and stopped drinking(only after the game on a Saturday).
So far its been good....lost 14kg and feeling heaps better again

Originally posted by primera man
lost 14kg and feeling heaps better again

Mate, thats a fair chunk of fat to shed, I know whats it like.



I dont work out per se, but having to shift about 4 tons of bread a week, and running while carring it, as well as jumping in and out of the truck, makes for a very good work out. (not to mention the actual driving the truck).
Then theres the walk too and from my car park/Uni to the bus stops, and having lectures at opposite ends of uni immediatly after each other keeps me active the rest of the week.

And then I not a big eater, don't really know why, but in the last 3-4 years Iv just cut right back, (hence losing a shit load of weight). So far I seem to be living off rice, fish, pasta, and cereal (which also has the advantage of being about the only food I can afford at the moment) with about 1 meal a week of something usualy unhealthy cooked by flat mates (it was meat loaf on sunday. :) )

I used to work out at the gym five to six days a week for a few hours a time. I was not a body builder so much as I was just looking to move as much weight as possible. My only down side was I didn't work on my legs enough. After doing that for about seven years, I just got tired of going. I might pick it up again someday.

I got back into serious working out this week myself. After a break up and other stress, I need it :( As far as diet goes, I just drink lots of water, and don't eat junk food. I try to eat a decent amount of protien and get some carbs in too, but keep those levels to a dull roar.

Mondays I work on chest and back. With 45 min of cardio after.
Tuesdays is arms and shoulders...45 min of cardio after.
Wednesdays is legs...15 min cardio after.
Thursdays cardio for 45 min.
Fri-Sun - nothing so far, but may consider going in one day over the weekend just to keep it up and not get lazy by Monday.

EDIT: I don't have my list on me now as to what machines I specifically use....I am still waking up :p but I can re-edit this later when I have my list handy to tell you exactly what I am doing.

I run 2 miles twice a week!

During the day, I swim freely, do 15-20 wide arm pull-ups, and 30-40 crunches. At night before bed, I do 40 crunches, 20 diamond one-footed push-ups, and then 30 regular puch-ups! :D

I'm not into the weights yet, but I do bench presses if it's raining outside

Originally posted by primera man
So far its been good....lost 14kg and feeling heaps better again That’s awesome P-man! :D

It’s good to see that quite a few people on here actually do work out and watch what they eat. I was beginning to think I was on my own. :

Originally posted by KatWoman
Mondays I work on chest and back. With 45 min of cardio after.
Tuesdays is arms and shoulders...45 min of cardio after.
Wednesdays is legs...15 min cardio after.
Thursdays cardio for 45 min.
Fri-Sun - nothing so far, but may consider going in one day over the weekend just to keep it up and not get lazy by Monday.
Awesome effort Kat! :)

I hope you're starting to feel a bit better after the break up. That's one of the great things about exercise, it's a wonderful stress reliever. :)

2 years ago I swam competitively, now I've been doing yoga and some machines at the gym. I've also been working to regain the flexibility I had back when I was in gymnastics. I don't have a specific diet, but I do try to keep the fat content low.

As far as diet goes, I belive in "everything in moderation." For me personally I found I had more problems with calorie counting, etc. because I would get over-obsessive with numbers and what not and then I would drive myself crazy, deprive myself, then splurge, then deprive, repeat vicious cycle. If you eat decently healthy and smaller meals every few hours, it keeps your metabolism up. Dessert once in awhile or going out for dinner once in awhile won't kill you either.

One big thing that has helped me is taking my own lunch to work. I used to eat out all the time until I redid my budget and found I was spending $25-40 a week! That could have been gas for the car or put toward something else. And a few inches more OFF the waistline :p

Soda is also a big killer too. Regular soda is full of empty calories and sugar. Diet is full of nutrasweet which over time can affect your brain. I have noticed my thinking has been a bit sharper since I quit drinking diet soda so much. I will still have some once in awhile but thats about it.

Originally posted by KatWoman
As far as diet goes, I belive in "everything in moderation." For me personally I found I had more problems with calorie counting, etc. because I would get over-obsessive with numbers and what not and then I would drive myself crazy, deprive myself, then splurge, then deprive, repeat vicious cycle. If you eat decently healthy and smaller meals every few hours, it keeps your metabolism up. Dessert once in awhile or going out for dinner once in awhile won't kill you either.
Eating smaller, regular meals (every 2-3 hours) is definitely the key. I don’t seem to get cravings like I used to now that I eat so regularly and I’m never hungry which also helps! I also have a day off a week which helps to keep me sane! :p

I sit around all day, then I go home and loaf some more. I eat whatever's convienent.

:o

And I've got the gut to prove it.

I've always been really really skinny... A year ago, I wieghed 110 lbs. :eek:

Now, I weigh 170 lbs. :eek: :)

Unfortunately, it's mostly fatty stuff, got a bit of a gut, so I started working out not too long ago. I don't follow a specific diet... I eat ALOT of fast-food :(.

It's really weird though to see pictures of me from a year or two ago, and I guess I didn't really realize how thin I was (even though people told me all the time that I was really skinny).

I carry cases of beer, cases of pepsi, and cases of water up and down stairs at work. Not to mention stocking everything into the coolers... oh joy!!!

No, really, that is my work out. I used to figure skate, but I got out of it once I quit competing. Now I'm usually too busy with work or spending time with friends to worry about it. I eat chocolate far too often, but I keep my weight down anyway.

Originally posted by Spec2 Girl
Eating smaller, regular meals (every 2-3 hours) is definitely the key.

BINGO....That's a really good idea that helps out when you first are starting.
The other is training your mind so that when you are on a diet you stick with it. To many people lose the weight, only to put it all back on again, and in some cases worse then before.
For some people like my self its a never ending battle, i only have to look at junk food and i add weight, where as others just seem to eat what they like and never gain weight :mad: :mad:

Originally posted by primera man



For some people like my self its a never ending battle, i only have to look at junk food and i add weight, where as others just seem to eat what they like and never gain weight :mad: :mad:

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/883962fat1.jpg :cool:

2 nights a week I do a 2hr karate training session. Can sometimes be one hell of a workout.

I'm wanting to get back into lifting some weights [cartman voice]So I can be looking all Buff[/cartman voice]

And I'm starting back into the Body-for-Life diet.(Thanks to Moon and Spec2):D

Originally posted by darkness
I'm wanting to get back into lifting some weights [cartman voice]So I can be looking all Buff[/cartman voice]
Just make sure you also take some Weight Gain 4000 then, just like Cartman. :D :silly2:

I'm on my feet all day at work so when I get home exercise is the last thing on my mind.

I also have to lift heavy bronze castings on a fairly regular basis:( .


I do have a weights bench but that is used for hanging up my jacket:D

Originally posted by Spec2 Girl
Just make sure you also take some Weight Gain 4000 then, just like Cartman. :D :silly2:
"With 4000 grams of saturated fat per serve! Its patented formula is designed to enter the mouth, and go directly to the stomach! Where it is distributed to the bloodstream!!!!"

:D :D

Originally posted by jay@af
I sit around all day, then I go home and loaf some more. I eat whatever's convienent.

:o

And I've got the gut to prove it.

Your routine sounds similar to mine, Jay. On a regular day, I sit around and snack all day while working, then I go home and lay around more, usuially eating some fast food I picked up on the way home.

Am I proud of it? Hell NO! I tried going on a diet, but I had trouble eating my plate of greens while everyone else sits down to a huge dinner of steak, potatoes and other such bits. I did manage to lose a good amount of weight, only to gain it back plus more in less than 1/2 the time it took to lose it. :(

Thumbs up to anyone who starts an exercise / diet routine and manages to stick with it. :)

Originally posted by HuMMerMan
Am I proud of it? Hell NO! I tried going on a diet, but I had trouble eating my plate of greens while everyone else sits down to a huge dinner of steak, potatoes and other such bits. I did manage to lose a good amount of weight, only to gain it back plus more in less than 1/2 the time it took to lose it. :(
Remember that you don’t have to avoid meat to lose weight. Quite the opposite in fact. It’s amazing how much you can actually eat and still lose weight. What works particularly well is eating smaller meals 6 times a day and avoiding carbs after about 4:00pm. Meat/protein is a must in any diet. :)

Originally posted by Spec2 Girl
times a day and avoiding carbs after about 4:00pm.

Can I ask why????? :huh:

Originally posted by Moss1O6GTi
Can I ask why????? :huh: Because carbs are easily converted to fat if you don’t use them up. Most people eat the carbs at night and then go to bed. There’s no way for them to be used as energy so they convert to fat. It really worked for me.

my problems always been lavk of exercise....I keep a well balanced diet.....have managed to keep my weight my weight within a consistent region over the past 4-5 years...but as good as that is I know I'll only lose weight if I exercise...but my problem is getting a routine set.....

and the other thing is I get bored very easily exercising alone :rolleyes:

Originally posted by ragt20


and the other thing is I get bored very easily exercising alone :rolleyes:

That was one of my biggest things. Alex started working out with another friend because he wanted to get into free weights..and I wasn't strong enough to spot him. So I started working out alone, and fell out of it for a bit. Then we split up and other stuff was going on so I had huge amounts of stress going on. I decided I HAD TO get off my ass and start again. So far I am doing good. Going to the gym and just being around other people helps...even though I hardly talk to anyone else there. Working out at home? Nope not my cup o tea.

Originally posted by KatWoman


Working out at home? Nope not my cup o tea.


yeah problem with working out at home is that you get distracted/put off working out very easily...:(

Originally posted by Spec2 Girl
I’ve just started seriously working out after a few months break. I just wanted to know who else on here seriously works out and what/how much you do per week?? Also, does anyone else follow a strict body building type diet?? I used to 4 times a week. Work my arms and chest 2 days a week, and lower body the other 2 days. Then I got down to about 1 day a week, and now about once every 2 days. I've been trying to get back into 3 days a week, but it's hard to make myself. I don't do any diets though. :)