mid-age pooch, cyclist, hate weights

B

bluetortilla

0
Hi.

I'm a 42 year old cyclist and have a typical cyclist build- slim (6'2", 175). I burn tons of calories but can't seem to get rid of a gut I've developed. I know all about diet and have been on top of that. I have strong stomach muscles beneath the fat layer. Just middle age?

The problem with cycling (cept for MB) is that you don't get much of an upper body workout. On the other hand, I'm sorry, but I'm at the point where I really can't stand being in a gym working with weights. Can calisthenics take care of this problem (I'm thinking short sessions a dozen or more times a day). If yes, what are the best ones? Thanks in advance.

Philip
 
depending on what you do (high or low intensity etc) it can but you only burn fat while actually doing cardio where with wts you continue to burn calories for up to 48hrs after so in total in will burn more calories
 
That's interesting about long burns using weights. Didn't know that.

I know most of you love lifting (I used to be a dumb bell fanatic myself), but I LOVE to get out and romp around in the jungle, if you know what I mean, rather than in four-walled room.

If I lowered the calories in my diet, my muscles would atrophy I think (at 2500 now and I hit mountain roads hard), but the spare tire won't go away.

Do you think calisthenics have a similar slow burn effect as weight lifting? It's resistance exercise after all. Calisthenics are just easier for me since I run a SOHO and can just do push ups, whatever, in my office every hour.
 
I think what swans05 was saying is that resitance training speeds the metabolism so you may burn more total kcals than with aerobics. Adding muscle mass through resistance training raises your BMR which will burn even more kcals. I myself am of the Phil Kaplan school of thought that says you need a combination of diet, aerobics and resistance exercise.

How about getting yourself a weight setup for your home and doing 3 full body workouts a week of about an 1hr each. That is what I use and it is working great.

As for that middle age spread I have a feeling it is going to be real tough to get rid of. I was well on my way when I quit tobacco and it came back hard. I am hoping to get rid of the most of it again by 2007 by gaining more lean muscle mass.
 
Okay fine... I'll be the bad guy :p

You NEED weights. No cardio alone cannot get rid of that pooch. I really hope you are in some sort of stretching program as well. I work with cyclists and can tell you that back problems can be the LEAST of their worries.

Weights are good. You need muscle. If Lance uses weights... do you think it's bad :)

One caveat... you will want to lift lighter weights for more reps. Working on endurance. Most people will NOT want to do that... but for you it may be more beneficial.

Weights burn more total calories than cardio. One pound of muscle burns 50 calories per day at rest. One pound of fat burns 5 calories per day. BIG DIFFERENCE!

Hit the weights. Love the weights. Loose the pooch and continue to ride :)
 
You need a weights routine that you like. Check out a few vhs tapes or dvds from your library or Blockbuster.

See my diary on this site.
 
Mary98 said:
I hear the aerobic exercise burns more cals than weights.
Click to expand...

actually, a half hour of intense weight training will burn a solid 300 calories. roughly 100 more calories than a typical cardio workout.

the issue is, weight training is anaerobic exercise, so they body cannot burn fat for fuel...while cardio is aerobic so the body can tap into fat stores for energy.

but by the same token, weights build muscle, and muscle burns calories, so the more weights you lift and the bigger you get, the more calroies you burn naturally, which has a fat loss effect.

EVERY good training program incorporates weight training AND cardio/aerobic training.
 
Hear what you're saying...

I really appreciate all the replies, but I'm still wondering if simple calisthenics are just as effective as weights in the goal I'm trying to achieve, which is basically just to shed some belly fat? Also, the home workout sounds good. How about just a pair of adjustable dumb bells?
Really, I don't hate weights, and it's good to be strong. It's just that I don't have much time and if I have to choose between my bike and the gym, I'll take the bike and the nature anytime. :)
 
Adjustable dumbbells are great. I am a huge nature freak. My cardio (in the summer at least) consists of trail running, hiking and kayaking. I do a full body routine three days a week for about a month or so and then I switch to a split routine: mon/thurs: upper body and tues/fri: lower body and abs.
 
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