6 Weeks to Workout and Make a difference! Help?

H

hannah_11

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Hi Guys

Im new to the forum and was hoping someone on here would be able to give me advice and hopefully a bit of motivation.

I usually workout 2-3 times a week running and lifting weights etc, but have only been doing a body pump class once a week for the past 2 months due to starting a new job and my timetable being a bit messed up.

Things have settled down now, but its hard to find the motivation to get back into doing the same as I was doing before and heres why:

I would like to change my programme to make it more effective, where i was able to be in the gym for around 90 mins - 2 hours before I now have limited time after work so would ideally like to get the most out of being in the gym in one hour. I used to run for a majority of this with lifting weights and quite a few core exercises afterwards.

I have read on a previous thread about HIIT, and was thinking i could give it a go, but will it really burn the same amount of calories as running for a longer amount of time? I just cant seem to get my head around that it will, and also do tread mills have settings on them so that it will change automatically or will it be something i have to do? my most problem areas are outer thighs as they seem to tone up but still seem to have a lot of fat around them, would HIIT work on this area too?

I am planning to keep up the body pump as i really enjoy it and i know it is doing my body good toning wise as i can see an improvement.

Basically, i am a little confused as to what to do in the gym, i want to trim down and tone up but dont trust trainers in my gym as i have heard they pass the same routine around to every client.

Does anyone have any good suggestions as to what i could try or something that would make a difference in the next 6 weeks as i dont think i mentioned that my kick start for this is that i go on holiday at the beginning of june =)

I realise i have written alot but this is the first time i have commented on one of these forums so i was looking for as much advice as possible!!

Thanks alot to everyone =)

Hannah
 
Hi Hannah,

Its tough keeping up that exercise consistency with extra work hours. I know. :( HIIT is a good time saver, you might also want to look at the tabata approach (20 secs on,10 secs rest per strength training exercise, usually spread over 4 mins).
You are half right about gym trainers giving seemingly identical plans. Thats because they restricted to giving out routines restricted by their equipment and facility. If you want something different, I suggest taking your exercising out of the gym once in a while. Especially for time saving purposes, why not do some of your workout at home as well, or incorporate it in your day more, i.e. run, walk or cycle for transport, jog up and down a flight of stairs when you see one.It pays to be creative.

I hope this helps Hannah. :)
 
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My work schedule has been a wreck for the last couple of years, and though I've been in and out of the gym, my weight fluctuates about 10lbs. With that said, I've been doing research into "Cardio strength training". Tabata is one good example of it. It revolves around doing exercises for a set amount of TIME (timed set AND rest periods) instead of a set number of repetitions and sets. Another example is find two exercises that you can transition between very easily, do them for a set amount of time (with no rest in between), and then having a timed rest period. When doing things like this, it creates a negative rest period, meaning your body is under stress for longer than it's resting. Also, since it is resistance training, you are in an anaerobic state. This focuses on working muscle vs just burning calories from cardio. In the long run, you burn more calories doing a 10-15 minute workout than a 30 minute cardio workout. Warning though...it will kick your butt for those 10-15 minutes.
 
90 mins to 2 hrs in the gym is nutty. I'd do a 45 minute strength training one day, then a 45 min to an hour on the elyptical the next. Not necessary AT ALL to spend that much time at the gym.
 
SXIPro said:
90 mins to 2 hrs in the gym is nutty. I'd do a 45 minute strength training one day, then a 45 min to an hour on the elyptical the next. Not necessary AT ALL to spend that much time at the gym.
Click to expand...

Yeah, good point. You don't neccesarily have to do strength and cardio in the same workout. You can do split days.
 
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