Woody's Ways

[Woodruff]

Been working out for a month and a half now, minus one week off for Family Reunion week.

Top weight 165. Last weigh in, two weeks ago, 161. Tuesday is usually weigh in day for me. I know I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket by weighing in every week. I should be paying attention to inches and how my clothes fit.... but i didn't measure myself when i started and I hardly wear fitted clothes due to being a housewife. (yea stretchy pants and shorts)

Current exersize routine:
25 minutes on elliptical + 5 minute cool down.
inner and outter thigh machines each day, always 3 sets of 12
sit up abench (when I can get to that because it's popular) 3 sets of 12 on my back, and each side
5 other leg machines (am currently trying to break out of my only leg machines routine and add tummy and arm exersizes) 3 sets of 12 each
2 miles on the treadmill at a fast walk. (maybe some day I will appreciate running, however that day is not today)
10 minutes on the stair master

So today I did my ellpitical, switched up to some arm and belly machines instead of my usual leg machines, did my 2 miles and my stair master. Yea me! =)

Weigh in is to come later. I like to usually weigh myself after noon an hour or two after I've ate my lunch. (It's only 10:30 here right now). Hopefully I haven't gained too much weight after taking last week off for the Family Reunion... but I will say if I have... IT WAS WORTH IT CUZ THE FOOD WAS GOOD!

Love,

Woody

[Missy]

You could always try splitting up your workouts on the days you do weights. When you work a muscle, it needs 48 hours to recover..so if you do legs on Monday, you shouldn't do legs again until Wednesday etc...

For me, I alternate upper & lower body. So Monday I will do lower body (leg press, leg curls, leg extensions, calf raises, lunges..running the stairs) and then on Wednesday I would do upper body (chest, back, shoulders, arms)...Friday would be back to legs. If you wanted you could probably do some of your ab exercises everyday that you work out. Your abs are one place that don't need a lot of focus because your cardio and other weight machines also work the abs...you work your abs even if you are bending down to pick up something (laundry etc), they are always in use. It doesn't hurt to do a few ab machines, but you don't need to be a slave driver on them

It sounds like you are doing pretty awesome with your workouts so far. Again, the things I mentioned are just suggestions. But always do what works best for you

Just wanted to say welcome again, it's great to have you here.

[Woodruff]

Originally Posted by Missy

Your abs are one place that don't need a lot of focus because your cardio and other weight machines also work the abs...you work your abs even if you are bending down to pick up something (laundry etc), they are always in use. It doesn't hurt to do a few ab machines, but you don't need to be a slave driver on them

I'm glad you said that because I was wondering about that today. At our gym we only have 2 actual ab machines and then an "abench" and one of those things that's tilted real high on one end. I'm sure there are many ways to use them that I don't know about, but it made me wonder, "how come there are so many arm exersizes, but not any stomache ones? the stomache is what i need to be working on (even though I don't want to)"

thanks for the heads up!

[Missy]

Yeah, pretty much the only way to lose stomach fat is to do cardio. Ab exercises will tone up the muscles underneath, but cardio is the only thing that will get rid of the fat.

[Trying4Thin]

Hi and welcome to the board.

I am not a personal trainer but I aspire to be one someday; so I will take a stab at this anyway. I think the abs get "unfair" gym treatment because there are less areas to work on in that area. (I am probably wrong). But it seems like the arms are more complex and each muscle has to be worked individually; like the legs. If you check out many woman's magazines (Prevention is a good one), they have a lot of upper and lower ab workouts. Crunches are good for the abs too. So are exercises done on a ball or a Bosu (I cant spell it) because they keep the muscles engaged. Missy is also right when she says that everyday movements can be helpful in strengthening these muscles. I went to WalMart and got an Ab Roller really cheap. Good luck with the workouts!

~Carrie
You can always ask around at your gym and see if there are other machines that you may have overlooked for targeting that area. I just remembered another one you may want to see if they have; but I forgot the name of it. I will let you know.

[Woodruff]

Woo Hoo!!! it's officially more than an hour since lunch and I'm at 159.6 I don't care about the .6 I'm just happy I've gone form 165.whatever to now 159!!!!! Yea me!!! That's like 6 lbs.

New goal time.... now to reach 155!

[Woodruff]

Originally Posted by Trying4Thin

Hi and welcome to the board.

I am not a personal trainer but I aspire to be one someday;

Oh goodie! Now I have someone else to bug with all my questions. =) Been probably driving my friend nuts with all the things I come up with to ask.. hahah

[Trying4Thin]

Whoa!! I said aspiring! I have no formal training. Just the few ass kickings I have gotten from various trainers. I did find my copy of the Prevention Abs (Special Edition) booklet. (It is Orange). You can find it in the grocery store by the check out with all the trash mags (my favorites!!) This edition has oodles of ab exercises and belly bulge friendly foods.

You can ask a question or 500. I have become fascinated (well obsessed) with nutrition lately. I do have contact with a personal trainer via email. He hasnt heard from me in a while so I am sure he thinks I have fallen off the face of the earth. So I can find out the correct answer and not BS one for you.

Chicken and salsa and cheese....more of my favorite things!

~Carrie

[muppet]

Welcome to the boards, Woody! Congratulations on your loss. Way to go!!!
Carol

[Missy]

hehe if you also have a question that is bugging you, let me know. I am currently working with a personal trainer and have been for about the last 6 months. He loves when I ask questions.