New here with a new routine

G

Gym1

New member
Hey all, here is my story. PS I am new so be gentle...

I joined gym about 2 months ago and my daily routine was to use the cross trainer for 60 minutes. From this point I also watchedwhat I ate, so I do eat any fast foods ow(very rarley) I also dont snack i between meals and If I do its a fruit.

A few weeks later I changed that to 30 minutes a day which was something I could handle.

Honestly I would go gym one week and not the other...

Going gym did make me feel better and I could fe the difference.

However the past two weeks I havent gone gym at ALL!! My excuse is that I dont like going to a crowded gym. I also used come back from college and say I cant be bothered to go to gym.

So now I am planning on purchasing a cross trainer so I can train at home!!!!!!!!

My query is that would this be enough to cut calories and look slimmer?
 
If the gym is crowded, try picking a different time to go.. when it's less crowded... My own gym is a madhouse on monday and tuesday -but gets far less crowdedthe end of the week...

Nutrition plays a big factor in losing weight -but if you care at all about waht you look like -then you really want to work exercise in there as well...

Spend some time reading the stickied threads -there's a lot good info that will help you out
 
Thanks for your response.

There are also alot of other factors that dont make me want to go to the gym. Like I dont feel comfortable working out in front of other people. When I come home from college etc I say to my self I cant be bothered to go to the gym Il go tommorow, but tommorow never comes.

So will having a cross trainer at home be all that is needed to help me look slim and lose weight?

Is there anyone here that does home excersing and what do they use?
 
Hi,

I only exercise at home. The only time i go out is when i do cardio training which is just basically going for a jog in my local park! To have your own home gym all you need is a set of dungbells that can be adjusted to suit your strength. It basically depends on what your goals are. Lose some weight, get some strong visible abs, put on some muscle. It all depends. If you have any other questions then just ask :)

Thanks
 
You're not going to the gym to impress others - you're going to the gym to improve your quality of life. All the hot bodies and the body builders there did something to get there, and so will you!

If you get a cross trainer at home, will you use it? Or will you find another excuse? The real deal is: How bad do you want it?

It's easy to make excuses for what you want to do, but you can't be going just to go. You have to accept it as a lifestyle. Just like going to school or work, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, paying a billion dollars for gas in your car: it is a necessity, and you cannot move forward without it. Whatever your plans are for the evening, tell yourself that you absolutely cannot do anything until after you have worked out.

As mal mentioned, your diet will play a MAJOR role in your weight loss/muscle gain. You mentioned that you don't snack between meals - that's not ideal for weight loss. What you need to be doing is eating 4-6 small meals daily. Look up some of the nutrition Stickys on this board to get better info. Fast food isn't bad if you eat it rarely, but stay away from all the fried crap! Try eating at Subway, and get your sandwiches on wheat with no cheese. These things make a big difference.

That being said, I DO train at home. I just bought an Olympic bench, barbell, and weights... and bought some dumbbells to go along with it. I also have a treadmill, which I use only usually when it's too cold or too hot to run outside.

It's definitely possible to do so - but I only did it for the sake of convenience. I can listen to the music I like as loud as I like, and I don't have to drive 15 minutes and waste gas. Before I bought the stuff, I still worked out just fine at the gym. Motivation to work out was an issue for me in the beginning, but as I mentioned before: How bad do you want it? I finally got sick enough to the point where I said, "no matter what - these are things I NEED TO DO." After that, I've been working out religiously. It's all about changing your mindset. :)
 
I think my attitude to gym was wrong, I used gym as an excuse to go out with my freinds. Since they stopped going gym I thought what is the point of me going alone?

I know it is stupid...

But now I have decided to train at home for convinience and I can do what I want wihtout all the gym distractions.

I am still confused though, I dont know wether to buy a multi gym or not?

My goal is too loose weight/ fat and look slim, personally I dont think a cross trainer would be enough. Am I wrong??

I dont want to be a body builder or have a 6 pack.

So what are your suggestions? To go for the multi gym or no?
 
there's a huge difference between maintaining muscle and being a body builder...

You can lift weights and not be a body builder - to be a body builder that requires dedication and caloric surplus...

you really don't seem like y ou're overly motivated to do anything - and you're taking teh path of least resistance.

What are y ou willing to do to get the results you want?

Then do that
 
My advise, and believe me that is all it is, is to skip the machine. That is a pretty big investment. You tired of the gym in 2 weeks. If you spend hundreds of dollars on a machine and do that same then that is wasted money.

I would suggest trying a no-equipment routine. There are tons of great cardio exercises you can do with no equipment. Walking, jogging, jumping jacks, jump rope. Thats not even mentioning all the great body weight strength exercises.

If after 90 days or so you feel like you need to mix things up a bit buy the trainer, or go back to the gym.
 
I agree with edco. Pushups, pullups, crunches, squat jumps, lunges, etc. are fantastic body weight exercises that you can do. Don't make any investment until you're ready to commit.
 
Honestly right now I admit that I am not 'overly motivated' because I have alot of other things on my mind.

I know once I get the equipment I will use it regularly and results would be my motivation, just like when I was going gym.

My training plan is to use the cross trainer for 30 minutes 5 days a week then use the multi gym for around for about 3 days in a week. That is the plan anyway...

I know that the no equipment routine will not work for me as I cant imagine myself jogging around the block. I would prefer to stay indoors in my own privacy.

Since I am a newbie to excersice I beleive that the machines will help me to lose weight.

I still am not sure wether to buy the multi gym or not... :)
 
see if you can rent one for a week or two... and see how you like it...

or better still -get a trial member ship at a gym - and use the equipment there and see what you like and don't like.

Generally unless you're willing to shell out the bucks -most home equipment isn't all that sturdy or will hold up to long term use...

Jump rope and weights are fairly inexpensive...
 
maleficent said:
see if you can rent one for a week or two... and see how you like it...

or better still -get a trial member ship at a gym - and use the equipment there and see what you like and don't like.

Generally unless you're willing to shell out the bucks -most home equipment isn't all that sturdy or will hold up to long term use...

Jump rope and weights are fairly inexpensive...
Click to expand...

I have used a multi gym in the gym I am currently a member with. I used to just use the chest stuff on these machines.

My gym routine was to use the cross trainer for 30 minutes (I would lose 300-400 calories according to the machine)

Then I would do these chest excersise on the multi gym. When I woke up next morning I would feel pain in my muscles in the arm and chest so I thought it must be working?!?

I am also going to spend 500 pounds/ 1000$ on the cross trainer and multi gym. Even though I am not 100% sure that the multi gym will help me lose fat...
 
I hate to sound like I'm beating you up. But I'm gonna anyway. It sounds to me like you are becoming another victim of displaced accountability (yes, I just made that up) The reason millions of people waste money on videos they don't watch, gyms they don't visit, and machines they don't use, is due IMO to the lack of responsibility and accountability people are willing to accept for their own situation. People don't want to be accountable so they buy a machine. Now the machine is accountable. If the results don't come. Its not your fault. Its that damn machine. Yor plan now is:
Buy Machine
Use machine
See results from machine
Finally be motivated enough by results from machine to continue using machine.


This isn't about buying/not buying the equipment. It is about feeling like you can in no way reach your goals without buying it. Thats the wrong approach. You cant buy results. I believe you could get a far better WO with body weight WO's and free cardio. To me the rational and goal oriented mind would jump at the chance to get the results they are expecting for 1000$ for free. That sounds like a good deal.
 
edco76 said:
I hate to sound like I'm beating you up. But I'm gonna anyway. It sounds to me like you are becoming another victim of displaced accountability (yes, I just made that up) The reason millions of people waste money on videos they don't watch, gyms they don't visit, and machines they don't use, is due IMO to the lack of responsibility and accountability people are willing to accept for their own situation. People don't want to be accountable so they buy a machine. Now the machine is accountable. If the results don't come. Its not your fault. Its that damn machine. Yor plan now is:
Buy Machine
Use machine
See results from machine
Finally be motivated enough by results from machine to continue using machine.


This isn't about buying/not buying the equipment. It is about feeling like you can in no way reach your goals without buying it. Thats the wrong approach. You cant buy results. I believe you could get a far better WO with body weight WO's and free cardio. To me the rational and goal oriented mind would jump at the chance to get the results they are expecting for 1000$ for free. That sounds like a good deal.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comment but I dont beleive that you accountability theory is correct.

Firstly I know I have to work hard in order to get results. I am not buying a machine because I lack responsibility it is because I beleive that I will work harder if I had a gym in my own home.

Like I said before I know I will not adapt to the 'no equipment' workout. One reason is because I dont know how to excersise.

First time I went into a gym I saw the cross trainer and thought that is what I need. I honestly enjoy working on the cross trainer and it was giving me results.

In my situation I think a home gym is the solution...

9/10 for your theory though :)
 
Buy it then but buy a good one. And I don't want to see any damn dirty laundry thrown on it. Ever.:)
 
Gym:

Don't take any of the comments from mal, edco, or myself as "beating you up" because all we're trying to do is help. I can guarantee you that all of us either were in your shoes or know someone in your shoes - where exercise becomes an inconvenience rather than a priority.

Do you think that because you are so new to exercise, that you feel as though this is your only solution? You mentioned that "you don't know how to exercise" - so are you just going to do the cross trainer and the multigym for your entire life? You didn't know how to use a cross trainer or a multi gym until you got yourself in the gym and used them, right?

If we can teach you some exercises you can do in your own home, without going out into public, without running around the block, and without using any expensive equipment, would you give it a shot? Or are you absolutely stuck on the cross trainer and multigym?

I mean, if you feel like you're going to use it, fine - go right ahead. But I used to be in the same boat as you. I had a treadmill for a good year before I even set foot on it. I had weights for a good year before I decided to actually start using them. I even got a membership to a gym and didn't use it for over a year.

Being healthy is a lifestyle, not an event. Once you start, there are only 2 roads: continued success or disappointment. You have to realize that what you're getting yourself into is a LIFETIME of hard work and dedication. It's not something that comes overnight, nor is it something that self-maintains. Your health and your body are something that you have to work on constantly.

Please, don't take this as preaching. I am simply speaking from experience as I believe I was in the same shoes as you. Wanting to get started but simply not motivated. Looking for ways to shirk the responsibility, while still trying to pass as pseudo-accountable. I think that mal and edco have come far from when we first set a goal in mind, but it wasn't by any means an easy trip. I'm on the road to where I want to be, but the hardest part for me was getting started.

You just have to ask yourself if you're really ready to make that dedication. If you are, go ahead, spend $1,000. If you're not, why not listen to some people who have already gotten their starts? Maybe you might learn a few things.
 
I am sorry if I came across arrogant or ignorant. I am open to suggestions and advice, that is why I joined this forum.

Hardyb your comments have changed my perspective and have made me think.

I like the 'This is a lifetime' part... lol

Seriously I feel as if I am ready to give anyhting regarding losing weight a shot.

The only home excercises I try are sqauts. It hasnt helped at all but hey...
 
Not arrogant or ignorant, simply "stuck." :)

1: Get your diet straight! So much of what you're looking for is going to come simply from eating right. Look at a bunch of the nutrition stickies on this forum, and make sure you're not eating too much or too little. A SAFE and easy bet is 500 cal below your daily maintenance limit. Remember, don't starve yourself either. That's no good. :) Come up with a diet plan and let us know about it.

2: Get a JUMP ROPE. You will not believe it, but jumping rope is one of the easiest, yet most demanding workouts you can do.

3: Being that you are new to working out, you can combine lifting and cardio work. This will give you the best results, because you can burn fat AND build muscle at the same time. Not to mention, the more muscle you have, the more fat your body will burn naturally.

4: Figure out a good full body+cardio routine. Something that looks like this:

3x10 bodyweight squats or squat jumps
3x5 lunges (each leg)
3x5 (or as many as you can do) pushups
3x5 chinups (or assisted chinups)
3x5 burpees
20-30min of jump rope

Do this 3x a week (Mon/Wed/Fri) and just some light jumprope in between on Tuesday and Thursday, and rest on the weekends.

There have been studies that show that those who are new to exercising will benefit from strength training immediately followed by cardio, as it helps them build/maintain muscle mass while burning fat.
 
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