ACK!
I actually have loved working out these past 4 weeks - it makes me feel so much better and totally energized the rest of the day!
I have not lost 1 pound. I didn't measure, but I notice my clothes are a teeeeesy bit looser, but not much.
When will I start to see results?
I work out 5 times a week - weights 3 days, cardio 2 days.
I have not intentions of quitting my routine, I'm just wondering WHEN I start to see the results of my efforts!




Lisa
5/03
5'7"
268/230/140ish

Oh, Leesah - I wish I knew, but I am in the same boat as you. Nada for 4 weeks. I'll stick with it, thought, because I fell wonderful.

Jen
175/129/120

May I make a suggestion... I know that time puts a restraint on the workouts that many people are capable of, but if you can... kick your cardio up to more days than your lifting. Although that muscle will come in handy later for burning more fat while your at rest, cardio is what's going to give you the initial burn now. A friend of mine did a study with some friends of ours and typically, they subjects lost more weight initially doing cardio 30 min/day, 5 times/week and only weight lifting 2 or 3 days per week.

This is the progam I have adopted, and although I have fallen off the LC wagon twice, I have been able to still shed pounds of fat through the cardio.

A little tidbit that alot of people forget about... you need to figure out your Target Heart rate for Fat burning. If your heartrate is too high, you move into the Cardio training zone, and if it's too low, it's ineffective. Generally your target heart rate depends on your age and fitness, but I would check it with a trainer or on a website that can give you an instant "quote".

Hope this all helped!

MeganRose LC WOL since 2 JAN 2004
(fell of the wagon for a few days but I'm back!)
240/225/145
80 lbs to go!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Confucious

"The dawn of a new day must only come after the ending of the final setting sun the night before."

So, how about, instead of cutting out 1 day of weights - I just added 1 more day of cardio?
Some wednasdays(sun and wed are my days "off") I totally wantto work out - I just figure it's good to have a break...maybe I'll just plan on doing cardio that day.
Also, on my weight days, I only do about 15 min. of cardio - maybe I should do 30? 15 before - 15 after?

Thanks for your input!

Lisa
5/03
5'7"
268/230/140ish

Well I tend to say that if you can still do cardio after you've lifted, you obviously didn't lift to your max exersion. All that means is you are reserving energy. May I suggest doing all 30 minutes of cardio prior, the stretching for 15-30 minutes afterward. Alot of people downplay the stretching, but it is just as important if not more than anything else we do to work out. Keeps muslces limber and replenishes the muscles with all the fluids(aka the H2O you've been drinking!). Good luck!

My routine is 7 days cardio a week, and 6 days lifting, but mine is a bit extreme due to the extreme task I have rolling up soon. I wouldn't suggest lifting more than 3 days and maybe cardio at 5 or 6 days max. Make sure your lifting is every other day on muscle groups and make sure you are stretching!!!!!

MeganRose LC WOL since 2 JAN 2004
(fell of the wagon for a few days but I'm back!)
240/225/145
80 lbs to go!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Confucious

"The dawn of a new day must only come after the ending of the final setting sun the night before."

Megan -
I'll try to up my cardio 1 more day.
Also, I am going to do the cardio for 30min before weights.
Alot of times, I am restricted by time - I get up at 6:30a.m. to throw gym clothes on and go work out and be back by 7:30 when my dh has to leave. So, if I do cardio for more time, I will cut into my weight time..and the stretching thing - I have heard of the benefits of stretching, but I really think I just cannot squeeze any more time out of my sleep schedule!
Is that lame or what?!
What do you mean "every other day on muscle groups?"
When I do weights, I do arms first, then legs - but I do them all the same day.
Thanks so much for giving me your insight - I'm kind of a novice with this stuff(as if you couldn't tell )




Lisa
5/03
5'7"
268/230/140ish

So here's the deal on "every other day".. most people looking to fit a significant amount of exercise into a short period of time or who have tons of evercise to fit in(like me) do this. It works like this:
Monday-leg lifts and abdominals
Tuesday-arms and back
Wednesday-legs and abs again
Thursday-arms and back
Friday-Legs and abs again
Saturday-Arms and back
Sunday-no lifting
And of course the 30 minutes of cardio, and by stretching all the lifting you would do in one day over two days... it gives you that extra 15 minutes to stretch!

The schedule can be altered to fit your schedule and your likings... personally I don't lift on Mondays, but whatever is best for you. If you are only interested in lifting 4 days a week, just make sure you alternate the parts of the body you are working.. or just cut two days of lifting off the schedule I put up. Understand the "every other day" theory? Good

Oh and sleep is key so don't think that you should cut into those eight hours for workout time... remember, without sleep the body cannot replenish and build those muscles you are working.

I'm sure you have heard the benefits of stretching... ask any athlete and they will probably tell you it's more important that then work they do with the weights. It's because without stretching small amounts prior and after will give way to the possibilty of injuries.. especially torn muscles.. which will inhibit your ability to workout! See what I mean? Okay... if you have anymore questions.. feel free to ask! Good luck with everything!

MeganRose LC WOL restart 1/25/04
240/224/145
79 lbs to go! Only checking the scale once a week.. can't wait for saturday!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Confucious

Well, I have a peri-umbilical hernia, so that counts me out of abs - it can make my hernia bigger.
So, I could do weights everyday if I do different muscle groups? legs on Monday, arms on Tuesday and so on?

I did 40 min of intense cardio on the treadmill today...whew! After 5 minutes I kept thinking, "I gotta slow this thing down", but I stuck with it and felt GREAT!

Another question I have for you...if you don't mind...I'm a total beginner as far as weights go....so, I have just been doing the same machines(the only ones I know) over and over and over...I have a friend who has a personal trainer and she said he is always changing up the routine to work different muscles, I just don't know how to do that myself??


Thanks a bunch!




Lisa
5/03
5'7"
268/230/140ish

My best suggestion would be to either check out a fitness magazine of an online website... it will give you an idea or different exercises and the muscle groups they work! If you can't find anyhting I'll be glad to send you some info later in the week.

MeganRose LC WOL restart 1/25/04
240/224/145
79 lbs to go! Only checking the scale once a week.. can't wait for saturday!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Confucious