Used to cheer, but now im out of shape

Hi, Im candice. Im 18 years old and I cheered for about 4 years before finally giving it up last year in order to pay attention to school. Ive never been the skinniest or most in shape but while i was cheering I kept in pretty good shape. Im 5'4 and while cheering i weighed around 130 now weighing around 135 with a lot less muscle. Ive recently started going to the gym daily but I just cant seem to find motivation. Its not the same work out as tumbling and stunting and doing a 3 min. rutine that kicks your butt. I find myself getting tired and bored on the tredmill after about 1 mile, I cant stand being on the bike for longer than 20 minutes and i feel like im not getting anything from working on any machines such as for my arms or abs. Ive never ate healthy and I dont think I ever could. I love eating whatever I want when i want and I think thats a lot of my problem. Its hard to change that though because my bf isnt dieting so when I make dinner I make something he'll like to eat, which is usually full of carbs and trans fats. I need help, and some motivation.
 
Get into free weights that may help you feel better about working out. You can constantly challenge yourself and see great progress, that will help get you modivated..
 
jenn said:
Get into free weights that may help you feel better about working out. You can constantly challenge yourself and see great progress, that will help get you modivated..
I never really know how to use them and i always wonder if im doing it right. I guess a personal trainer would come in handy at that point right?
 
That would help yes. Start checking around the site and getting some knowledge around the net. That should help to get you going, and work out in front of a mirror, ask the guys or girls at the gym for some help. Also check out some of the diaries ppl keep on here to get an idea of how things come together, then ask lots of questions.. I take pictures to check my form on occassion as well, sometimes that helps to pinpoint weak spots.
 
the biggest thing is is I need to focus on weight loss a lot more than building muscle. So cardio is best, but cardio is what i hate the most. How do i get motivated :(
 
You're still young and building habits as well as bone mass and muscle. You may as well learn discipline now rather than waking up with heart disease or obesity later in life.
 
Candyfdr1 said:
the biggest thing is is I need to focus on weight loss a lot more than building muscle. So cardio is best, but cardio is what i hate the most. How do i get motivated :(

Muscle burns calories, which in turn creates weight loss. Lifting weights will not make you big, you dont have the hormones for it. You will be nice and tone, with longer sleeker muscles.
 
i dont think i would get as far as heart disease and obesity, but i guess you can look at it that way, ive never weighed over 135 no matter how bad my eating habits are. I guess the reason i dont eat healthy is cause i dont know how or where to start. I know things like chicken and tuna are good for you, too many carbs are bad and trans fats are bad. but thats about it. I just keep an eye on my calorie intake (which is always under 1300 a day) and thats about as much as I know when talking about healthy eating, I guess Ill check out the nutrition section of the website and see what I can learn. I just find it hard to stay motivated. My bf's family is hard core italian and i cant resist a good bowl of pasta and bread.
 
tonymcclellan said:
Muscle burns calories, which in turn creates weight loss. Lifting weights will not make you big, you dont have the hormones for it. You will be nice and tone, with longer sleeker muscles.
so if I stuck to ONLY lifting weights and building muscle I would still see a reduction in body fat? and does the area of muscle your working on relate to the area you lose fat? or does it just happen all over your body.
 
Candyfdr1 said:
so if I stuck to ONLY lifting weights and building muscle I would still see a reduction in body fat? and does the area of muscle your working on relate to the area you lose fat? or does it just happen all over your body.

At your size, most likely. You can do your cardio 2-3 times a week, mix it up and try to make it fun. Turn up the heat in the bedroom or go in your backyard and do some tumbling or what not. It strengthens your heart, which is the main benefit. You could do weights 2-3 times also.
You cant lose fat in only one area, otherwise most people would be walking around fat as hell with six packs. If you do a good overall weight training plan, some cardio, and change your eating habits, you'll reduce fat all over, which is better anyways.
Diet doesnt have to be crazy, you can still eat mostly what you want, just cut out cookies and cakes. You're on the right track.
 
tonymcclellan said:
At your size, most likely. You can do your cardio 2-3 times a week, mix it up and try to make it fun. Turn up the heat in the bedroom or go in your backyard and do some tumbling or what not. It strengthens your heart, which is the main benefit. You could do weights 2-3 times also.
You cant lose fat in only one area, otherwise most people would be walking around fat as hell with six packs. If you do a good overall weight training plan, some cardio, and change your eating habits, you'll reduce fat all over, which is better anyways.
Diet doesnt have to be crazy, you can still eat mostly what you want, just cut out cookies and cakes. You're on the right track.
thanks. Well im off to the gym now.. maybe i'll try doing more weights today and see how I like it.
 
I just got home from the gym. I tried more of a HIIT tecnique while on the treadmill and I got to say i lasted a lot longer with out getting bored and sweat a lot more in a shorter amount of time. Im impressed, i think it will be my new rutine for cardio. I did some free weights and some more machines, focused on my abs and legs today. And the scaled sayed im 132.5 today compaired to the 135 last monday. not much and it could be just water weight but it always feels good to see the scale going down. I also stopped by the store on the way home and bought TONS of fruits and veggies. Hope I can get on the right track
 
I also find motivation hard, but once I get a few different routines going - I actually look forward to working out.

If you still find it hard to get motivated, possibly try working out at different times of the day :)
 
ok an article to drive home to all the women that keep bitching about weight training and getting 'big' from it- first I have two kids under five Ilft heavy 5 times per week min and I weight 125lbs and wear a size 0 so living proof you won't get huge like a man.. no the article:

from muscle and fitness march/april issue pg. 21

one pound of muscle burns 50 calories
by Craig Ballantyne, C.S.C.S.
studies have shown that adding a pound of mucsle to your vody may burn an extra 5-10 calories per hour. But building muscle is still the best fat-loss strategy. The average woman burns about 200 calories in a weihgt workout. A weight workout will also eoevate your metabolism fo up to 36 hrs. burning on average an additional 200 calories more.But in order to build muscle, you'll need to eat protein (which burns twice as many calories as an equal amount of carbs and fat just through digestion) So while the reward of new muscle itself is helpful, its the means that justify the end. By adopting the weight training lifestyle, you can create a perpetual fat-burning furnace.



Sorry if I sound harsh ladies but I tired (1 hr sleep) and I'm sick of hearing how women can't weihgt train bc the will look manly!!! Look at my pic's and diary, I am far from manly and so are the women I train with! You want fat loss that will stay off get your hinny into the weight room and start lifting!!! Whining will get you know where...
 
Im not saying I cant get "smaller" if i lift. Im sure thats very true. But my body builds a lot differently than maybe yours does. I have a "gymnest" build. When I start lifting my shoulders and back get very defined, and my legs expecially bulk up. Im trying to go for more of a lean look and I can tell that my body just wants to go towards how its always been while cheerleading. Large muscluar legs and defined upper body.
 
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