I am trying to get fit...here is my plan your thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to lose about 50 lbs, I exercise at least 45 minutes to two hours a day...my regimen starts with elliptical for 10 to 15 minutes, stair climber for 10 minutes and then walking with jogging for the remainder of whatever time I have left before the gym closes 30 min to an hour and half...I am eating around 1200 to 1300 calories a day...so is this legit or should I add weight training? If so how often? I keep reading that weight training helps ya lose...I been all cardio thus far

[quovadis911]

First of all each 2000 calories a day if your working out, your body needs sufficient nutrient intake, 1300 calories a day won't contain enough nutrients. If you jog for 30 minutes a day with NO WALKING, then you will shed pounds very quickly. Buy a heart rate monitor, and ensure you jog 30 minutes a day with your heart rate above 145 beats per minute, if you do this and eat a healthy 2000 calorie a day diet, you will be healthy and thin.

Buy a treadmill, or rent one, and use it everyday at home. Just the time it takes you to commute to the gym, you'd be done your workout, plus you won't have an excuse to avoid working out, even for one day. If you run 5 days a week you'll easily burn the 50 pounds.

Your legs will put on muscle, thus raising you metabolisim, helping lower your weight too.

[Asker]

Not up to the running non stop yet that's why I do intervals...and at 2000 calories I think I would gain weight...I do have one day a week I eat what I want within reason...I also eat after working out...I can't do protein shakes or bars...I have an allergy to beef pork lamb and venison, I can only do poultry and seafood...so I eat lots of veggies and fruit. I have ent on spark people and the recommend 1200-1500 cals to lose weight...Im a woman...so maybe the difference in calories?

[quovadis911]

I think you should go to your local gym and get a consultation with a certified trainer, and do what they recommend. I'm a very elite athlete and I can assure you, a certified trainer will impact you very positively. He's provide you with the correct information and you will get good results. Some of what you posted seems contradictory to much of what I've learned about nutrition, and if I'm correct, could hurt your chances at success. See a trainer and you'll do great.

[Asker]

Maybe I will talk to one soon, my limitations on protein I think could be a problem. I like my shape I'm the hourglass shape every woman wants to be, I just need to slim it down...I went from sedentary to can't get enough of a workout at times...I read so many contradictory things that I am totally confused...just trying to get it right...with maximum results no matter the effort. I am working my way up to running non-stop but that takes endurance!

[kheserthorpe]

Weight training can add muscle - which is heavy, but takes very little space up. Probably your goal is to be thinner, not lighter. Added muscle tends to look good on most women - it sits where you want it to sit.

More materially for you, muscle burns fat. So adding muscle via weight training will push your baseline metabolism up, for as long as you keep that muscle.

[Asker]

True, I just know on the scales it will show as a gain at first but the size of a pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat...so for the meantime I'm going to add some light weight training..

[martyfellow]

Losing wieght if 80% det and 20% working out imo. Stick to your diet, but maybe add another 300 calories a day so you're lesss tempted to cheat. With this much working out you'll need at least 1500 a day or you'll faint!

No, you don't need wieghts, that's only if you really want to gain strength as well. They won't help a lot with weight loss. Cardio is more key...

[Asker]

Ill do 1500 but I think the 2000 would hinder results

[martyfellow]

2000 yes would be too much...try 1500 and see how it feels.

[Anonymous]

Throw in weights otherwise you are going to be one of "those" girls. Called the "skinny fats". Where there limbs look skinny yet their abdomen looks fat, or they just don't look toned or mishaped.

Keep in mind cutting calories is not always good. It might make your body STORE fat than burn it. You need quality calories, and slow processing food. Good stuff like protein, whole wheat, vegatables, etc. Eat after your workout.

[Asker]

I do tend to eat lightly after a workout...and yeah I get the skinny fat thing...I want to be toned, I been working hard at it too! I'm female maybe light weights lots of rep?

[quovadis911]

With fitness you will her copious amounts of contradictory material. Therefore, find a few people you know are in great shape, and ask them what they do.

[ladsin]

weight training typically builds muscle which weighs more than fat so if your just trying to lost don't do much weights, just make sure your eating good food protein carbs etc. and if you are gonna do weights do plyometrics