Protein & Workouts Question!

GreenMint

GreenMint

GreenMint

Soldato
Joined
11 Dec 2003
Posts
21,611
Location
Sol
Hi guys, I've not really been active in here much in the past, but a quick lowdown, I'm 33, not done enough exercise for the last 10 years, and have recently started at a gym/circuits, so:

I'm doing at least 3 sessions a week, sometimes 2 gym 1 circuit training & vice versa, trying to up it to 2 of each though.

I'm only about 160lbs, 5"11, pretty thin but the early 30's have "blessed" me with a bit of extra stomach bulge which is something I want rid of an am working hard on!

The thing is, I'm wanting to bulk up my arms/legs & torso, get a bit bigger all over and get a bit more toned (I know, that word...) Also trying to work on my stamina and lose that stomach weight, I know trying to do 3 things at once probably isn't a great idea, but I'm trying to just get fitter, work on all 3 things over time, I'm just not that clued up on diet & protein mixes etc.. some guys I know are obsessing I should get them, some others saying they are pointless for what I'm trying to do, I'm stuck in the middle, so really seeking advice on here instead, sometimes its easier when you can't hear people!! :D

Thanks!
 
Get lifting heavy. Do a beginner routine like Strong Lifts 5x5. After you complete your weight session each time do maybe 20-30 minutes of cardio if you really must.

Start logging your food with something like MyFitnessPal. To start with don't particularly try to diet and don't particularly try to supplement your protein. Just log everything you eat (accurately!). After a week or two have a look back at what you've eaten and work out how you need to adjust your diet.

Keep in mind that with a strength building routine like StrongLifts if you just carry on eating at an amount of calories that wouldn't cause you to gain or lose weight you will start to shed fat and build muscle. It takes time but you will end up looking far better from that than just going crazy with cardio.
 
Thanks guys, French I'll give that a go, I'm not going cardio mad but just trying to work on my general stamina as well, Circuits seem t do that well along with a fair bit of strength work (When you're at my level!), I need to startlifting more in the gym, the main cardio, if you can even call them that, that I do at the gym are about 15 mins cross trainer, 10 mins rowing & hand bike.
 
Agreed - start with a lifestyle change, decent weight lifting exercise regime, good dietary choices, good sleep. Then once that has embedded itself (it takes months!) and you start to plateau rethink your diet, and exercise plans. Then, in due course, if you feel you'll get better nutritional profile from supplement, start to supplement. However there's little need to do so until you've nailed everything else.
 
Tom_e and Freefaller's advice is really good - definitely pay lots of attention to it :)

I was at a similar place to yourself about two years ago, though I was probably less fit and more overweight. It took a while for things to fall into place but part of that was because I didn't really approach things in a very structured way. I'd say that doing more of the right kind of exercise is the most important thing. That is assuming your diet isn't absolutely atrocious. Otherwise, you'll need to get your diet sorted asap. The way to have a good idea of where you're at is to log everything though - log your diet and log your exercise. In a month when you look back at all the data you'll be surprised (possibly in a good way) by what you find.
 
Something I always try and remember is you can't out train a bad diet, you really can't I've tried!

Also keep it simple, there's nothing worse than letting yourself get bogged down in the complexities when you first start out when all you really need is a half decent diet and consistent training to see great results.
 
I'd join an old school boxing gym and just train that. Get a road bike and do some commuting on it. Sorted!

I wouldn't worry about the gym unless it's for meeting women.

Protein? ha ha. Nah, it's carbs to be lean and mean. Leave the protein and steroids for the 220lb guys who will **** their kidneys later in life.
 
While I "kinda" see what angle you're coming from Nate, I think I'll stick with the advice of the guys who don't come across as though they were dropped on their heads as babies, but thanks ;)

besides which, I go to the gym with my girlfriend, so your point is kinda pointless ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom