We need to get some good discussion going here, so......
What do you want the direction of your fitness to be? Are you more into lifting, for a bigger body? Or just lifting to lose weight, Is it cardio, for speed or distance? What about arobics?
I spent last year lifting to build more upper body strength and lose weight. Both accomplished with my losing 36 pounds so far. But I quit lifting in December when I suffered a detached bicep. I am more into running now, trying to get back to five miles a day like I was in the 80's (before I quit and gained 72 pounds) I want to be able to run a 10k race by this summer.
Got back into cycling for fitness about two years ago at the tender age of 57 after being off for several years due to gal bladder surgery and then hernia and subsequent surgery to repair that. (General laziness was also a factor, I'm sure)
The reason for doing so was to lose a little accumulated girth and weight and to improve my general fitness level. First year of cycling during the nice weather and treadmilling/stationary biking in poor weather plus watching my diet took me from 225 to 205, and dropped my blood pressure and resting heart rate substantially.
Also took up rollerblading at the end of last summer and ice skating in the winter. Am just now trying my hand at roller skating (quads)
Second push to lose more weight was from Jan. 04 to April. Used regiment of 1000 cal. per day deficit and regular exercise in aerobic zone. (skating,treadmill). That took me from 205 to 180.
Hoping that the resumption of cycling and rollerblading plus care with diet will result in 173 lbs. by summer's end. (puts me in acceptable range for my height 5'10")
Have enjoyed and learned a great deal from lurking in both the bicyling.com and men's health forum .
Sorry for the long first post, but that's my story.
BTW: just purchased a unicycle and I would venture to say that it's going to be a long hard haul to master that.
Also forgot to add to my post that throughout the last two years have been trying to do some basic resistance training with a weight machine and free weights.
And one last thing: I used the spell check function and it didn't pick up my misspelling of "gall", unless "gal" is also a legit word.
A Unicycle? Good luck; my balance isn't that good! :^O Yes, GAL is a word... At 42, time has caught up with me. Had a physical in March; doc asked what I did for exercise. Then he said the remote didn't count... The fact that someone kept shrinking my slacks so that I had to purchase consecutively larger sizes should have been a clue.
Since then, lost 3 pants sizes (am guessing 33# or so). Gotten into the weights (basement set up), for a little strength training and to add mass that matters (ie: not fat). Trying to come up with a split that works with my work / child rearing schedule. (Single dad w/ 2 kids). Have NEVER felt as good as I do now! Looking back, wish I had started this at 22 - or 12! 6' 1" 175#
FANTASTIC!! I would love to shrink a couple of pants sizes. I play basketball one night a week and "try" to go to the gym a couple of days a week for cardio and weights. I say "Try" because I am lucky if I make it once a week.
> FANTASTIC!! I would love to shrink a couple of pants > sizes. I play basketball one night a week and "try" > to go to the gym a couple of days a week for cardio > and weights. I say "Try" because I am lucky if I > make it once a week.
Thanks. It took a major lifestyle change, one that I should have made years ago. Cut out the 'bad' foods, and start eating clean. Tracking what I eat for carbs/protein/fats so I know where I stand. Setting goals and limits. Working out at least 3 nights a week. In short, doing what I should have been doing for years! I purchase equipment for the home (basement) Sumo rack, weight sets, dumbbells, couple of second hand benches, a donated Weider home gym (doesn't replace the free weights, but does have some things that add to them, cables, et al). Having it here at the house makes it a little easier, though the workout may take place at 10 PM - not the best time, but better than no workout at all. Still trying to tweak my routine to find what can build muscle mass, which is going to be a tad more difficult at 42 than it would have at 22! (May have to have popeye take a look at it should he have the time and be willing?) :^O
I would like to say I go to the gym two to three times a week for 1/2 hour of cardio and then 1/2 hour of strength training, but lately that has been a losing proposition (I guess I have to learn to set prorities).
I started walking about 4 years ago and running about 2 years ago. I went from running for 30 seconds at a time to doing a 1/2 marathon last Dec. I normally run about 5 days a week, walk with my wife about 4 afternoons a week. (the walking running days total about 8 - 10 miles) Use my bowflex a couple of times a week and try to bike about 10 miles once a week. I'm in better shape at 44 than I was at 24. Hardest part about running is putting on your shoes.
I'm riding everyday. I would say Im too dedicated. I put off dates and such to work out and ride. I lost several pant sizes and my clothing has been getting 'bigger' on me. I was 'fit' in the Army, but against my will. But now? I'm paying to get fit, rather than being paid for it. "Eat less and excercise." Words that lowered a former smoker's high blood pressure and obesity. I've come a long way. I'm still working at it and haven't felt this good in years. No wonder people who work out are so into it. It feels good.
45 years old. 6'5" and 220. Up in the AM at 5 alternate weightlifting and cardio Monday - Saturday and take Sunday off. For weightlifting I'll do a abs/chest one day; back, shoulders and arms another day; legs the third day. For cardo I'll either run or hop on the eliptical.
Goal is just to stay fit, build some muscle and keep the heart healthy. SO far it's worked very well, I feel great and the wife really appreciates the new physique (says I look better now than I did in my 20s!)
I am a 36 y/o 6 ft tall and weigh 198lbs. i can run 1 1/2 miles in 12:30min. I tend to concentrate on cardio by running 30 min 3X a week along with doing push-ups and crunches.
Right now I am working on basic weight machines 3x a week for tone. I then add crunches for abs. I'm small framed so I'm not going for the brawny MHZ cover model look (I'm a realist). I finish off with 20-30 minutes of laps in the pool. In the future I plan to add more free weights to add muscle to my chest and arms.
