20 Minutes 3 Times a week Claims ???

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OK, I have a workout program during my triathlon training season that includes weight training. I know my goals and what I need to do and I am not trying to lose weight.

However, recently I had a friend come to me for advice after expressing interest in a home gym system. She wants to lose weight (needs to lose about 30 lbs but only wants to lose 10), and is willing to do just about the absolute minimum (she didn't say that, but that's what I'm getting).

I have been encouraging her to do the 30 minutes a day of cardio exercise touted by most health organizations to be healthier, and I have discussed the importance of diet.

She asked if it was really possible to get a "[weight system] body" in only twenty minutes a day three times a week like the ad says. I told her no.

I don't believe it is possible to look like the guy or gal in the ad in only 20 minutes a day, but I just didn't know what to tell a rather sedentary person how much weight training is necessary each week for better health. I have been trying to encourage this gal to be healthier, but she is never going to work out 10 hours a week, so I'm encouraging small changes in the hopes she can build on them.


I know that telling her that she needs to do a lot more than she is doing now will really discourage her. Right now she is doing a lot more than she was doing 6 months ago.
What would you tell a sedentary overweight coworker who looks to you as a mentor (ie. I don't want to be snarky or scare her off).

TIA
 
What about (if she's looking for weight lose) a program like this to start out:

3 days of cardio for 30 min
2 days of full body weights
Take the weekend off
 
Honestly, she will have a better chance to lose the weight by Dieting and cutting out 500-1000 calorie a day then excercise. The excercise will be good for her health and heart BUT in term of losing weight, I dont' think it will work. Most likely, she will just eat the calorie that she worked out.

Sorry if I am permistic but just trying to be realist. I mean, there are water pills that she can take to drop the water weight but then she will gain it all right back. Real weight loss (fat-loss) involve hard work and determination.
 
Those people in the ads are fitness models. They are working out MUCH more than 20x3 but your friend probably knows that. Sounds like she wants to lose 10 pounds and maybe she feels good about herself and that would make her happy. She could probably lose 10 pounds on the 3x20 plan and cutting out some junk here and there. Especially if she is overweight. Encourage her to go for HER goal and support her if she wants to go further. 10 pounds is a great strting point and people who use exercise and nutrtion to get there probably are going to keep it off and go for soemthing more once they get to that point. Or not.

Honestly, some days I think I would trade my fit body for self acceptance. I envy someone who feels good in their skin. That is great!
 
Im not trying to be a ****, but if shes looking to do the bare minimum, shes not gonna see much results. The reason why people give up and stop training so easily is cuz its hard work.

All you can do imo is encourage her to do what shes willing to do, help her with her diet, and hope that by some stroke of luck that shes starts to enjoy it. If she starts to feel better she may catch the fitness fever, but you cant force her to have drive.

From my experiences people like this end up giving up cuz they dont see the results they want. They want great results without giving great effort and it just doesnt work that way.

Good karma to you for trying to help her. :)
 
Yeah, they use fitness athletes and such in ALL the marketing material, commercials...even the manuals and guides that come with them.

I love watching the P90X infomercial, because every person they show in those Before photos has a fair amount of muscle mass, but due to being 30, their body fat is up to 14%.
Most people that are in real bad shape cannot even do P90X cuz they can't manage 1 pullup (or half the other exercises), let along multiple sets done circuit style.

And not that its necessarilky marketed at the 'morbidly obese' demographic, but you KNOW the wrong people are buying it anyways.
 
Try and talk her up to 3x30minutes a week. With the correct excersize choices and good diet she can get a good physique. By good choices I mean sticking to the basic big lifts, squats, deads, bench and OH press. Add some pulls in there like a lat pull down and she'll get good results even with a limited time to train in.

I think that what brings results is intensity and intelligent programme design not time put in
 
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