New need help.

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9/3/11 8:17 A

Let us know how it's going, Jared!

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9/3/11 5:31 A

Wow thanks guys all comments helped me think at my approach. I think for me walking and active video games (like wii boxing and such) will work for me maybe 30 min or so. Also I think i'll ask my doc. what might be good too. Once again thank you all for the help support will also be the BIGGEST help of all. Thanks all.

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9/2/11 5:15 P

Hey, and how did the Body for Life plan go?

I read the book several years ago, but never really tried the plan at +35% body fat. I just thought it was too much fat to shed for any muscle to show.

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9/2/11 11:44 A

I did start with walking, but I quickly went to the weights as well. I actually stumbled onto the Body for Life site and went with that program for 12 weeks. After that I started reading Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ
Yes I was sore, I was learning the lifts, I was risking injury. I'm still risking injury... I push myself close to my personal limit almost everytime im in the gym. In fact if I died in the gym i'd die happy... the way I see it when I was a big, fat, soft mess I was already dead.The awesome thing about being male is testosterone... I see you guys getting a little worked up, a little heated, a little irritated... thats good! We're Guys! Thats why we have the Guys lounge... If we wanted more advice on spinning, yoga and granola bars I guess we would look around the rest of the site.

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9/2/11 10:57 A

I use a band once in a while and last winter it snapped in my face because like an idiot I didn't know that cold weather (my cellar is not insulated) can cause the band to break. All equipment can be potentially hazardous. Next time I get a piece of equipment I'll be sure to read "How to use" first!
LOL!

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9/2/11 10:33 A

Okey... talking about weight lifting, I have a question (JaredMp, I'm also kind of new to this, and this might be helpful regarding your initial question).

What's your experience with weight lifting AND losing fat at the same time? Did someone here started with jogging or walking to lose weight at the same time you were strength training? or did you lose the fat first and weight trained after?

What's your experience with this?

I've read many things, and different doctors have said different things, but real experience is best.

So what are your thoughts?

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9/2/11 9:55 A

I'll comment publicly.

Proper free weight use is not necessarily easy if someone hasn't doen it before- improper technique could lead to serious injury. Overdoing something before someone has a base of fitness to work from can lead to serious injury. Hence, my question.

And no, I'm not afraid of the cost or of dropping the weight on my head (which I read to be condescending by even suggesting it. Maybe you thought it was a funny, but I think it's insulting).

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9/2/11 9:45 A

My tone was not condescending. I was merely asking for clarification of the concern. But I'm not here to defend myself or argue semantics with someone who is incapable of answering a simple question without getting bent out of shape. If you'd like to take the discussion offline, please do so. I'm done replying to you in this thread.

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9/2/11 9:42 A

Sorry I brought that up and unintentionally highjacked the OP's thread.

OP- just do your best and keep it up.

I don't like or appreciate being treated like an idiot, and I think I've been more than respectful to everyone in this place.

Well, i will keep doing what I know works for me!

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9/2/11 9:39 A

I don't appreciate your condescending tone.

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9/2/11 9:37 A

It isn't that I didn't understand the verbiage of the question, it's that I didn't understand your concern. Is it a cost problem? A space problem? The notion that you might drop the weight on your head problem? Do you think it takes a rocket surgeon to lift a weight? Is a bench press harder than a push up?

I don't think its an either/or question. When I started resistance training, I did body weight and dumb bells.



Edited by: BREWMASTERBILL at: 9/2/2011 (09:38)

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9/2/11 9:25 A

Are free weights the right thing for a total newbie starting out? hardly a rocket science question.

Very simple, actually- are pushups, modified pushups-type exercises better to build up a base before you start free weights?

Or do you just go right to the very light dumbbells, etc?

I know I'm no monster weight lifter like you guys are, but I think it's a valid question!

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9/2/11 9:22 A

@ERICWS - I don't understand your concern.

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9/2/11 9:14 A

@KJFITNESS, the part where you said, "don't tell anyone you're trying to lose weight". Right on, man. You hit the nail with the hammer. So many times I have told people that, only to have them respond, "oh, you don't need to lose weight" The next thing I know, I'm off my diet thinking they were right when they were oh so wrong. Great idea!!

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9/2/11 9:04 A

Re: weight training w/ fre weights- just curious: how good of an idea is that for someone just starting out?

Could resistance bands and just body strength/isometrics be better to begin w/?

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9/2/11 9:03 A

My suggestion in addition to the great ideas below is to set reasonable intermediate goals for yourself along the way. I think attaining goals, like 5 lbs lost, an additional half-mile walked in a certain time frame, etc., are major motivators- for me at least!

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9/1/11 4:19 P

I totally agree with below. Even when you dont FEEL like it DO IT ANYWAY!!!! There will be many many times you dont feel like working out or excersizing... you will need to FORCE yourself to do it(have your motivations handy).
WEIGHT TRAIN with Free weights!
Develope HABITS and a nice rutines that will aid in this. For me it is going to the gym first thing in the morning! Dont beat yourself up early on and quit, just keep making a better decision for yourself day by day. Early on you will need to sometimes be ROBOTIC and just do it, the results will come be patient!!!

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9/1/11 2:20 P

My tip - even when you don't feel like going for a walk or the gym do it anyway. You will feel so much better when your done.

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9/1/11 2:03 P

I want ot echo everything that the other responses say.

Track every thing you eat and all exercise. Drink at least 8 cups of water per day. Read the Spark and set up some spark streaks for yourself.

It is simply amazing how much motivation results from achieving your spark streak goals and tracking food and exercise.

Following the above steps and the advice of others on SparkPeople has helped me lose nearly 50 pounds in under 5 months!

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9/1/11 11:06 A

Though I've only been two months into this, I've never had the results I got this time. I'll tell you what worked for me:

1) Understanding it's all about the calories in - calories out. All that nonsense about points, grams of fat, low carb, "zone" balance is just bs. Calories is it. I determined how many calories I needed based on my weight loss needs and stuck with that.

2) I used the food tracker in this site, and I got it in my smartphone. Every thing I've eaten in the last 60 days is in that tracker. I KNOW how many calories I've eaten and I don't estimate anything.

3) I started walking lightly at least 5 days a week for 30 minutes, no more than that. I increased the walking speed but the time I dedicate to exercise has remained the same.

4) This one worked for me but not for everyone: I weighted myself EVERY DAY, but I tracked the 14 day moving average in the weight tracker since daily weight is affected by "noise" created by liquid and solid retention. If you are interested in this, read "The Hacker's Diet"; it's an incredible book that looks at weight loss from an engineering point of view, and it's free online. Try to Google it if you're interested. I learned about it by a post by Brewmasterbill and it has been an eye-opening read.

This is what worked for me this time, check it out and see if it works for you.

Best of all, something I've learned by people in this site is that motivation is not a feeling, but an attitude.

Design a plan and make it happen.

Edited by: FITCHALLENGER at: 9/1/2011 (11:08)

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9/1/11 9:04 A

The magic secret. Eat less than you burn. That's it.

So you need to determine two things to make this happen. One, how much do you burn per day? Two, how many calories do you consume.

Keep in mind, there is no way to get the answer to both questions exactly, but the rough rules of thumb as good enough. Start using the SparkPeople tracker. They'll "figure out" what your rough burn rate per day is and suggest a daily calorie range that creates a calorie deficit. The next thing to do is to start tracking every bite, no exceptions.

Incorporate this habit and success will follow.

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9/1/11 6:30 A

I assume we're talking about weightloss. It'd be good to know where you're at in your journey. For now I'll assume you're just starting. See your doctor first before you engage in any kind of serious weightloss program and/or exercising.

Until then you can several simple things that'll help you start your journey (and a journey it is because real weightloss isn't a passing fleeing moment).

Walk. My doctor first told me to walk 15 mini. in one direction then turn around walk back. Everyday. If any excuse is used to NOT do this then you may NOT be ready to start your journey.

Food. Stop eating "fried" any thing. Limit the amount of bread and other carb heavy food after 6 pm. Eat more often but better choices. A friend of mine wants to lose weight and said he only eats basically once a day at dinnertime around 7:30pm........bad, Bad, BAD!!!!! Our bodies need fuel to fire up our metabolism and need it often, I eat 6 times a day.

Those tips alone ought to get you to jump started on your way to your goal.

One last thing, for me, when I started, I had a "Manliness" problem with losing weight, I had ALWAYS thought it was totally a GIRLY thing to do. It ain't, it's a freakin LIFESAVER thing. The women in my life tried to STOP me from losing weight. After my initial 20lbs lost they were saying I had lost enough. People WILL attempt to sabotage your efforts. So don't tell people you're trying to lose weight. Just lose weight and be happy to yourself with any success you have.

These are just my opinions and what's worked for may or may not work for anyone else. There are many folks here that are much better at giving advice than me so hopefully they'll chime in.

Good Luck, Brother!

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9/1/11 5:02 A

First, its good to see that there are other guys doing this. Next, any pointers, it would be good to get a guy prospective of this.