New and looking for help creating a workout routine.

[Deavyin]

Hi, Just joined the forum.

I am looking for some info on a good workout routine. I'm not trying to get big and bulky, or anything like that. I just want to lose weight (especially the belly fat; where I put on most of my weight). I want to mix up the cardio with some strength training (for tone).

Here is a little bit about me:
I am 5'11 and I weight between 190-195 (I'm 25 years old, so still pretty young). According to my BMI, I am overweight, but not obese or anything like that.

I would like to get myself down to 170-175, if at all possible. I belong to a good , fully equipped, gym right down the street from where I work. I currently do 3-4 days a week on the elyptical machine, for 30 minutes (I push myself pretty hard). According to the machine, I burn 500 calories with a steady heart beat of 175 beats a minute. I want to throw in some strength training along with it. No "pumping iron" or anything like that. I just want something that will give me a nice tone and help lose weight/cut back on the boredom of constant cardio. I don't over eat, although I do enjoy certain foods (I stay away from all things fried or greasy though). I am pretty sure that my diet is okay for losing weight (and I only drink 0 calorie drinks; aside from alcohol on the weekends with friends).

I used to be very in shape (always an athlete and good one) and it wasn't until I got out of high school that I fell into the sedentary life style. I ended up drinking a lot, eating whatever I wanted, not working out at all and I quit smoking (which upped my appetite for a good while). I think those things helped in my getting to where I am right now.

I just want a good, varying and steady routine that I can do to help me slowly, but healthily, lose weight.

 

[Trevor M.]

Don't worry about becomming "bulky".
1. This is a process that takes years of hard training while in a Calorie surplus for the majority.
2. It is very difficult to gain much LBM while in a calorie deficient.

You can not - nor will you ever "tone" a muscle. A "toned" muscle is one which has very little bodily lipid covering it. The term "riped" and "toned" go together here. In order to achieve them. One needs both a solid amount of muscle mass and a low body fat %.

The benefits of weight lifting are plentifull. With your current activity level. You might want to start out with a 2x a week Full body routine. Check out the sticky "basic lifts" for more info.

Any more questions please feel free to ask.