Trying to burn fat

misspiggy40

Hi all you fit people! This whole exercise thing is very new to me so if the following question rediculous please be gentle. I joined Weight Watchers a while ago. I am almost half way along my projected weigh loss (31lb) and am trying to use the gym to help jolly things along.

I have absolutely nothing to compare my self planned routine with and tbh I have zero confidence in the advice of the children who have been hired to run the gym. So, anyhow, over the past eight weeks I have figured out that the following routine 4 times a week pushes me well but my question is......Is it doing me any good or should I be doing something else????

15 mins on the treadmill - 6% incline, 6 km/h to warm up
15mins on the excercise bike -Level 10 on these uses 100-110 cals -I find this the toughest
10mins on the rowing machine
10mins on the cross trainer - 100 cals again
5 mins cool down on crosstrainer.

I would really appreciate anyone's opinion on whether this will help burn fat or if I should be doing something else. Have reduced fat in diet by the way and am losing 1-2 lb a week. My real interest here long term is in getting rid of my pudgy belly.

Thanks in advance.

corkcomp

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Hi all you fit people! This whole exercise thing is very new to me so if the following question rediculous please be gentle. I joined Weight Watchers a while ago. I am almost half way along my projected weigh loss (31lb) and am trying to use the gym to help jolly things along.

I have absolutely nothing to compare my self planned routine with and tbh I have zero confidence in the advice of the children who have been hired to run the gym. So, anyhow, over the past eight weeks I have figured out that the following routine 4 times a week pushes me well but my question is......Is it doing me any good or should I be doing something else????

15 mins on the treadmill - 6% incline, 6 km/h to warm up
15mins on the excercise bike -Level 10 on these uses 100-110 cals -I find this the toughest
10mins on the rowing machine
10mins on the cross trainer - 100 cals again
5 mins cool down on crosstrainer.

I would really appreciate anyone's opinion on whether this will help burn fat or if I should be doing something else. Have reduced fat in diet by the way and am losing 1-2 lb a week. My real interest here long term is in getting rid of my pudgy belly.

Thanks in advance.

hi op, 1 or 2 lb a week is good so your doing well there - if you are going about an hour 4 times a week thats good but you could do with varying things a bit - maybe give your body a bit of a shock and reverse your entire workout so start with cross trainer and treadmill last (mainly do different workouts every time) - seeing as your in a gym you should do some resistance exercise too - even machine weights are okay for starting off .. I know where your coming from with the comment on children working in gyms - im always seeing the same copy and paste programs being given out to people (without any consideration for varying abilities + goals etc)

size5

Miss Piggy-best of luck in achieveing your goal. But in order to get rid of the belly you really need to introduce some weights into your programme in order to change your body shape.

Over time weights will help to increase your resting metalbolism. However if you have not done weights before, ensure you get someone who will give you a good all round programme and edcuate you in correct form while completing the exercises.

Add the cardio at end of weights session but make it shorter BUT more intense

Frogdog

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Hi all you fit people! This whole exercise thing is very new to me so if the following question rediculous please be gentle. I joined Weight Watchers a while ago. I am almost half way along my projected weigh loss (31lb) and am trying to use the gym to help jolly things along.

I have absolutely nothing to compare my self planned routine with and tbh I have zero confidence in the advice of the children who have been hired to run the gym. So, anyhow, over the past eight weeks I have figured out that the following routine 4 times a week pushes me well but my question is......Is it doing me any good or should I be doing something else????

15 mins on the treadmill - 6% incline, 6 km/h to warm up
15mins on the excercise bike -Level 10 on these uses 100-110 cals -I find this the toughest
10mins on the rowing machine
10mins on the cross trainer - 100 cals again
5 mins cool down on crosstrainer.

I would really appreciate anyone's opinion on whether this will help burn fat or if I should be doing something else. Have reduced fat in diet by the way and am losing 1-2 lb a week. My real interest here long term is in getting rid of my pudgy belly.

Thanks in advance.

The above advice is pretty sound OP. You need to introduce lifting weights into your program to burn fat. You are doing good already but you will reach a plateau whereby your body gets used to your aerobic exercise and diet regime. The more muscle you have in your body, the more fat you burn. Muscle burns fat, nothing else does. And don't worry about turning into one of these women with huge muscles all over, it's not natural. Women don't produce enough testosterone to build muscle like men. Instead, by following a good weights program for both your upper and lower body, you will look toned.

I have a problem with Weight Watchers though. Fair enough, it is successful, to a degree. But it doesn't teach people how to eat healthily. It teaches people that fat in your diet is bad. This is incorrect. We need fat in our diet, especially if we're trying to burn fat. Sounds weird doesn't it? But it's true. You need the healthy fats in your diet, the unsaturated fats (mono-, poly-, etc). You can get these from nuts, avocados, fish, seeds etc. What you don't need is trans fats that are in biscuits, cakes etc.

To reach your goal of losing the belly, you have to lose fat from all over. There isn't a way of losing fat from one area specifically. Exercise (both cardio and weights) will help but sorting out your diet is probably the most important. You might think you're eating a healthy diet when in fact you're not. Read the stickies in this forum and the Nutrition & Diet forum and if you follow them you won't go wrong.

Best of luck!

misspiggy40

Frogdog wrote: »

I have a problem with Weight Watchers though. Fair enough, it is successful, to a degree. But it doesn't teach people how to eat healthily. It teaches people that fat in your diet is bad.

Yes Frogdog, I dislike that element of it too. It seems to me as if they are saying sugar is fine but fat is bad. I had gestational diabetes so this doubly does not apply to me. Still, within their framework of points, I do my own thing. We are great salmon and trout eaters and I got some really good advice from the dietician during my pregnancies..........my problem is that I eat good food in too large quantities. Still, I find the weekly meeting motivating and the WW thread helpful too. Will take your advice and read through the stickies.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply.

misspiggy40

size5 wrote: »

Add the cardio at end of weights session but make it shorter BUT more intense

If you had told me two months ago I would even be doing this much I would have called it impossible. 'More intense':eek: will probably take another two months. But the biggest shock to me is that I feel great and I really look forward to my gym trip.

misspiggy40

So, Corkcomp, you are telling me to keep it mixed up so I don't get used to a particular routine. Thanks for that because I have been doing the same thing in the same order.

There is one guy at the gym who seems to be knowledgeable enough. I will trap him one evening for an intro to some weights.........have to say though I am still a bit unsure of myself:rolleyes: and hate asking questions etc.

corkcomp

misspiggy40 wrote: »

So, Corkcomp, you are telling me to keep it mixed up so I don't get used to a particular routine. Thanks for that because I have been doing the same thing in the same order.

There is one guy at the gym who seems to be knowledgeable enough. I will trap him one evening for an intro to some weights.........have to say though I am still a bit unsure of myself:rolleyes: and hate asking questions etc.

yep, defo, it keeps the body guessing and means you are less likely to adapt to your workout .. make sure you still enjoy it though, remember no matter what you are doing in the gym its better than sitting on your butt at home

you could start off with machine weights until you get comfortable with the concept - like leg, shoulder and chest press and maybe lat pull down too ...

neuro-praxis

Frogdog wrote: »

I have a problem with Weight Watchers though. Fair enough, it is successful, to a degree. But it doesn't teach people how to eat healthily. It teaches people that fat in your diet is bad.

Ok, no it doesn't. It teaches you to calculate how much saturated fat you are eating. You are encouraged to eat oily fish, nuts and dairy and to use good oils in cooking.

The problem with WW is that those who use it have copped that you can eat sh|te and still lose weight. In my meetings anyway, they encourage eating lots of wholefoods and avoiding anything processed, including their own products!

misspiggy40

Hi all and thanks again for all the advice. Nabbed the instructor and asked him to work out a gentle starting weights routine for me. Says he will go thru it with me Mon/Tue next week as I would have no idea where to start. Those machines look like torture instruments to me. Anyhow, will mix it up a bit and see how I get on:rolleyes:. Thanks to all.

ANTIFA!

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Hi all and thanks again for all the advice. Nabbed the instructor and asked him to work out a gentle starting weights routine for me. Says he will go thru it with me Mon/Tue next week as I would have no idea where to start. Those machines look like torture instruments to me. Anyhow, will mix it up a bit and see how I get on:rolleyes:. Thanks to all.

You know what you're actually right, so my advice is to avoid them.

Use free weights.

Here, maby have a look at this:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/women.htm

Resistance training with cardio is like the perfect combination for looking HOT!!

Jimmy Bottlehead

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Hi all and thanks again for all the advice. Nabbed the instructor and asked him to work out a gentle starting weights routine for me. Says he will go thru it with me Mon/Tue next week as I would have no idea where to start. Those machines look like torture instruments to me. Anyhow, will mix it up a bit and see how I get on:rolleyes:. Thanks to all.

Have to say, fair play. So so many women are too scared and feel pressured to not do weights as its not a 'girls thing'... but you went ahead and bit the bullet. I really admire that Congrats on taking the biggest step to being one hot mama!

ANTIFA!

Oh also you seem to have like used the gym for a while beforehand which shows motivation, i hope my sister can get over initial stages as well when she joins a gym next week. most people give up so early.

misspiggy40

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Have to say, fair play. So so many women are too scared and feel pressured to not do weights as its not a 'girls thing'... but you went ahead and bit the bullet. I really admire that Congrats on taking the biggest step to being one hot mama!

LOL

misspiggy40

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Those machines look like torture instruments to me.

How wrong can one person be......no the chest press etc are not torture.......torture is triceps dips....and not a machine in sight!! None the less a bit of practice and I will be fine....or dead!!:eek:

d'Oracle

misspiggy40 wrote: »

None the less a bit of practice and I will be fine....or dead!!:eek:

Thats the spirit.

misspiggy40

Well all, the few weights did not kill me afterall. I am shocked to see what a difference they have made already. Now I am sure my attempts would be laughable to many but as it is all so new to me I am chuffed with myself.

Still losing a little weight each week....though not as quickly as before. A little perplexed at that as I have stepped up the excercise as well as watching the intake. Still, the trend is in the right direction so time will do the rest I am sure.

Feeling really healthy too.

Thanks to all for your help.

Khannie

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Now I am sure my attempts would be laughable

No such thing if you're pushing yourself.

Fair play to you anyway. Keep it up!

sfag

Start chosing what to do.

Losing fat is about eating less but making that less more nutrional.
Weights are OK but be warned you may get thinner but the scales will not show it so dont be put off.

Walking fast before breakfast 6 days a week is better than all that cardio in my opinion.

The way you are going it is unlikely you will be replenishing the nutriants depleted by the fast cardio. You will get exhausted and sick and burn the muscle gained by the weights.

One or d'other.

Food to lose weight.
Cardio to get fit.
Weights to get strong.
Sleep to recover.

Orlee

Keep us updated on your progress - It's quite motivating!

misspiggy40

sfag wrote: »

Start chosing what to do.

Losing fat is about eating less but making that less more nutrional.
Weights are OK but be warned you may get thinner but the scales will not show it so dont be put off.

Walking fast before breakfast 6 days a week is better than all that cardio in my opinion.

The way you are going it is unlikely you will be replenishing the nutriants depleted by the fast cardio. You will get exhausted and sick and burn the muscle gained by the weights.

One or d'other.

Food to lose weight.
Cardio to get fit.
Weights to get strong.
Sleep to recover.

Thanks for that. Yes I am being very careful about the food end of things. Have never eaten healthier. All my old snacks are gone but have discovered a new enjoyment of good healthy foods. Love fish, fruit and salad. A bit of a reluctant veg person so I have to dress them up a bit for myself.

Walking before brekkie just wouldn't cut muster in my house with the routine we have, but thanks for that tip which I might try during the school breaks. I have to focus on what I can do which is why I have chosen the gym.

For the moment the combi I have is working for me. And LOL I promise that I do get enough sleep. I have had a 40 year love affair with my bed.

Thanks for your insight....very interesting point about change that doesn't show on the scales.....I can live with that too.

sfag

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Yes I am being very careful about the food end of things. Have never eaten healthier. All my old snacks are gone but have discovered a new enjoyment of good healthy foods. Love fish, fruit and salad. A bit of a reluctant veg person so I have to dress them up a bit for myself.

Walking before brekkie just wouldn't cut muster in my house with the routine we have, but thanks for that tip which I might try during the school breaks. I have to focus on what I can do which is why I have chosen the gym.

For the moment the combi I have is working for me. And LOL I promise that I do get enough sleep. I have had a 40 year love affair with my bed.

Thanks for your insight....very interesting point about change that doesn't show on the scales.....I can live with that too.

Sounds like you do know what you are talking about and have everything in place.

Re the scales.
After a weights session I've noticed I go up on the scales. I burn hundred of calories during but drink a fair bit of water. The water is retained in the muscles as thye stay engourged until the next morning.
The lbs dont really go down for me as I eat heartily post workout as without it muscle growth will not take place.

I've also noticeed if I do not workout for a 4 days or more I get 2 - 3 lbs lighter and thats without dropping the food. I put that down to water leaving my body.

Growing some muscle is nothing but good but if you do 4 stints of cardio your muscles most probably not grow. You will then enter the more complicated arena of fuelling (eating ) before and after cardio - which kind of defeats the purpose of the cardio if its intention was to lose fat.

Dont get me wrong - fast cardio will empty your stomach good and proper so that when you rest you will burn fat - so if its worked so far then stay at it.

misspiggy40

Oh Oh! That is a lot to take in. Now I get what you were saying about making decisions. I don't think I have to worry just yet though. The weights I am doing are only baby steps. But, assuming that I keep progressing, I will need to plan what I want to do next, so thank you for opening my eyes to the give and take element of it.

corkcomp

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Oh Oh! That is a lot to take in. Now I get what you were saying about making decisions. I don't think I have to worry just yet though. The weights I am doing are only baby steps. But, assuming that I keep progressing, I will need to plan what I want to do next, so thank you for opening my eyes to the give and take element of it.

your doing great so far and seem to have the right attitude so id say just keep going, as you say once you are progressing e.g. running faster, lifting heavier or completing more reps or sets then you are doing fine .. diet is important as you know by now! dont over complicate anything thou ....

misspiggy40

Hi All. I had mentioned that the weight loss.....which lead me to this point originally.....had slowed somewhat and that I was a little dissapointed. Anyhow, it seems that there must have been some internal adjustment going on because I have been down 1.5 lb again the last two weigh ins at my WW class.

Can actually do the biceps dips now. Really pleased with that.

Have reassessed my intake a little in light of sfag's comments.(Thanks for that) Have included some more proteins. Feeling more 'able', for want of a better word, after a week of that.

Will be getting a new routine from the gym next week and looking forward to that. Feeling much more confident now, thanks in no small part to the tips and encouragement here so thanks again.;)

sfag

Good to hear.

I notice you say you weigh yourself in the class.
The only time you can get accurate readings regularly is in the morning, naked after peeing and before breakfast.
All other times are susceptible to the the last thing you ate, drank and water retention.


Also good to visualize how much a lb of fat actually is - its a lb of butter and thats a lot.
Its equiviant to a deficit of thousands of calories so every lb is an achievement.
Even one lb a week is great going.

Make it thru the weekends without over eating and drinking and it will continue to melt.
.

misspiggy40

Thanks again sfag.:D

On that point, at WW they recommend that you don't weigh yourself except at your class. Well..... always having been an a la carte person when it comes to taking instruction.... I weigh myself most mornings exactly as you have described. The most interesting thing I have noticed is that when I started out on this I didn't drink a lot of water. The difference between my weight in the morning and in the evening could have been up to 4.5/5lbs. Now that I drink much more, the difference between morning and evening is less than 2lbs. I thought that was amazing and was guessing that I was dehydrated a lot of the time. Would that be true or is there another explanation.:rolleyes:

sfag

misspiggy40 wrote: »

Thanks again sfag.:D

On that point, at WW they recommend that you don't weigh yourself except at your class. Well..... always having been an a la carte person when it comes to taking instruction.... I weigh myself most mornings exactly as you have described. The most interesting thing I have noticed is that when I started out on this I didn't drink a lot of water. The difference between my weight in the morning and in the evening could have been up to 4.5/5lbs. Now that I drink much more, the difference between morning and evening is less than 2lbs. I thought that was amazing and was guessing that I was dehydrated a lot of the time. Would that be true or is there another explanation.:rolleyes:

As a lady you will probably be prone to water retention as the month progresses. Drinking more water - albiet counter intuitively - is supposed to reduce the water you hold. Could be that.

As a 15 st bloke I normally weigh 2 - 3 lbs heavier each night than I do in the following morning - so I'd now say your decrepancy is about normal.

JerryCorbet

Fat reduction is the critical question in now days because many of the people facing same problem and they want to lose inches.And because of this ,liposuction is the right way to fat reduction and lose inches.It is the best way.

stevie_b

JerryCorbet wrote: »

Fat reduction is the critical question in now days because many of the people facing same problem and they want to lose inches.And because of this ,liposuction is the right way to fat reduction and lose inches.It is the best way.

lol

sfag wrote: »

As a 15 st bloke I normally weigh 2 - 3 lbs heavier each night than I do in the following morning

what on earth do you be doing in your sleep?!

Khannie

stevie_b wrote: »

what on earth do you be doing in your sleep?!

Same as everyone else....lose water weight through your breath and sweating and then a nice morning pee. I lose a kilo overnight consistently and I'm only 65KG.

stevie_b

3lbs in a night is pretty impressive. i reckon you're sleep-jogging.

metamorphosis

I can fluctuate up to over 2kgs between last thing at nighttime and 1st thing in the morning. All down to food in the tummy/hydration levels etc. Not uncommon for a 4/5lb weight difference at different points throughout the day

misspiggy40

JerryCorbet wrote: »

Fat reduction is the critical question in now days because many of the people facing same problem and they want to lose inches.And because of this ,liposuction is the right way to fat reduction and lose inches.It is the best way.

No Way Jerry!! Colin Hendry is without his wife after that particular quick fix. I had to have two encounters with surgery....one to deliver my beautiful little girl which was of course worth it.......and any surgery is a risk that I would not take on for cosmetic reasons. Good luck to anyone else in their choices but not for me thanks.

corkcomp

misspiggy40 wrote: »

No Way Jerry!! Colin Hendry is without his wife after that particular quick fix. I had to have two encounters with surgery....one to deliver my beautiful little girl which was of course worth it.......and any surgery is a risk that I would not take on for cosmetic reasons. Good luck to anyone else in their choices but not for me thanks.

fair play - its a pity more people didnt take the same attitude!

g'em

sorry, meant to say earlier - JerryCorbet and his shilltastic posts won't be seen around the forum for a while...

misspiggy40

Woohoo! just a shade off ten stone this morning! Now that may not seem significant to a lot of people but I have not been ten stone in over twenty years. Tummy still there....... stubbornly remaining but diminishing none the less. Arms and legs coming along really well. Particularly happy with the arms cos I have a couple of dresses with no sleeves which I will now be confidently wearing over the Xmas season. That bit between tummy and boobs....sorry guys this is a girly comment.......is almost gone which is great cos now I can put on a t-shirt or a tailored top and not look like the Michelin man. Woohoo! again. Really enjoying the gym sessions and the whole household is healthier. What more could you ask? Thanks again for all the support.;)

bdo

For the record, Miss Piggy, well done!!

Any views of using a Stair Master (the one that makes you feel like you're skiing) vs. a stepper (the one that maks you feel like you're climbing stairs). I was on the Stairmaster but got switched to the stepper ... and I hate the stepper. Can't step fast enough but will persist if it is good for me.

misspiggy40

Hi all. After languishing for two months I am back in action this evening, Just reading back over all the posts. Thanks a second time round to all for helping.;)