I need help with this exercise and diet lark!

I need help with this exercise and diet lark!

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Blue Oval84

Original Poster:

5,276 posts

162 months

Wednesday 6th June 2012
quotequote all
Guys (and gals), I'm in a very dangerous position at the moment in that I practically live in a hotel, I have access to my own kitchen about 2 days per fortnight, the rest of the time I have to eat from the restaurant or from the Tesco Express near work.

On the plus side, the hotel has a gym with large range of free weights, an assortment of resistance and cardio machines, and a pool.

So, my concerns are two-fold:-

1) I need tips for what to eat, I've been trying to avoid eating the burgers regularly, haven't touched a pasta dish and have leaned towards Chicken Ceasar salad with minimal dressing etc. If you were in my situation, what would you be asking for? I'm thinking of asking for "off-menu" stuff to be cooked as I'm getting fed up with the options on the menu.

2) What is the best type of exercise to be doing here? I'm horrendously bad at cardio, I run out of steam very, very quickly on the treadmill and I find resistance work so much more rewarding. I've been trying to hit the pool after my resistance work to at least work on the cardio slightly but to be honest am worried that I'm just pissing about and not going to see any results.

I'm 28 years old, 5"10' and weigh about 11st 5lb.

Any advice appreciated smile

Blue Oval84

Original Poster:

5,276 posts

162 months

Wednesday 6th June 2012
quotequote all
Oh and forgot to say, I was at a Kettlebells class last week which hurt like hell, aching all over afterwards in places that I didn't know could hurt. However, the sessions are £9 each and I'm not sure if they're worth that?

Hoofy

76,399 posts

283 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
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A single 15kg kettlebell will cost you about £25. If you only used one kettlebell, then you're not getting value for money. If you used over 5 individual kettlebells, then it'd cost you over £100 to buy the selection you need. And then you need a PT to motivate/guide you. I think that's the only way to judge things. A BodyPump class costs about £5-6.

Blue Oval84 said:
1) I need tips for what to eat, I've been trying to avoid eating the burgers regularly, haven't touched a pasta dish and have leaned towards Chicken Ceasar salad with minimal dressing etc. If you were in my situation, what would you be asking for? I'm thinking of asking for "off-menu" stuff to be cooked as I'm getting fed up with the options on the menu.

2) What is the best type of exercise to be doing here? I'm horrendously bad at cardio, I run out of steam very, very quickly on the treadmill and I find resistance work so much more rewarding. I've been trying to hit the pool after my resistance work to at least work on the cardio slightly but to be honest am worried that I'm just pissing about and not going to see any results.
1) Eat less but not too little (aim for about 1800 calories a day - if you try to be clever, you'll lose quickly then hit a barrier and start putting on then give up like 150% of dieters). You could ask about the calorie "content". Any decent chef will have a good idea.
2) You need to do cardio and lift weights. You may be surprised to hear that you'll run out of steam less quickly if you regularly exercise even if it's only 10 minutes a day... soon you'll be running for an hour a day.

jonnydrama

466 posts

165 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
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Are you Alan Partridge? Ditch the 12" plate!

Minemapper

933 posts

157 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
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Swimming is about the best thing you can do, as well as running. I always travel with a pair of trunks and running gear, as I never know what the hotel is going to have. I hate gyms, hotel or otherwise, so my strength work is all resistance stuff using a suspension training system (except I built my own because I'm cheap).

The best thing you can do though, is be consistent. I found last year that as long as I was sensible in what I ate, and just got out and did something, exercise-wise, every day, it worked. Lost about 15kg in 6 months, doing nothing but that.

Most folks over-think it. It's not rocket science.

stackmonkey

5,077 posts

250 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
Blue Oval84 said:
1) I need tips for what to eat,
2) What is the best type of exercise to be doing here?
am worried that I'm just pissing about and not going to see any results.

I'm 28 years old, 5"10' and weigh about 11st 5lb.
That depends on what you are trying to achieve, given that your current weight is reasonable for your height.
Maintain weight, generally improve both fitness and strength?
maintain weight, become much fitter, not too fussed about strength?
maintain weight, become much stronger, not too fussed about fitness?
put some weight on, but make sure it's muscle?

New POD

3,851 posts

151 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
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The exercise can be solved in your local swimming pool.
The food ? Don't order anything but a ham salad sandwich, and pea soup.

Onemcs

364 posts

175 months

Friday 8th June 2012
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Foodwise I'm sure if your regular you could request things like grilled chicken and rice etc?

Whenever I go into a restaurant I usuall mix and match.

Instead of steak and chips and peas - Steak and New Potatoes and green beans etc. etc.

Blue Oval84

Original Poster:

5,276 posts

162 months

Friday 8th June 2012
quotequote all
Some excellent ideas here guys, I think I will discuss with the staff in the restauraunt and start asking for stuff like the chicken/steak and rice combos, I think it will depend on which person I ask as to how much flexibility I'll get!

As far as goals are concerned, I need to cut body fat and/or build some muscle mass to balance it out, despite my weight seeming like it's ok for my height, I actually have distinct moobs (although thank god they don't actually sag like moobs yet!) and a slight gut which I would love rid of!

Minemapper

933 posts

157 months

Friday 8th June 2012
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Push-ups and sit-ups will take care of the moobs. Running the gut. Simples.

Blue Oval84

Original Poster:

5,276 posts

162 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
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Well I hit the pool tonight and have set a starting amount (40 lengths, but it's quite a short pool lol), aim is going to be to make sure that I hit the pool hopefully every night and increase this number each day.

Is swimming really that good a method of weight loss? I always thought that it was meant to be not all that effective. Although I have to say it got my pulse rate up quite a bit, and didn't result in an asthma attack which is a bonus smile

StevieBee

12,930 posts

256 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
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Whilst I may not live in a hotel, I do travel a lot and so know your predicament. The biggest issue is the temporary the loss of a routine that you benefit from at home.

I've been doing the P90X programme which comes with bands, pull up bars, nutrition guide and a programme of workouts on DVD so I can take this with me wherever I go.

Only on my second 'proper' week (had to spend 4 weeks getting to the appropriate level of fitness before you can start proper - Jane Fonda this aint!!!!) but I have to say, so far, it's excellent and ideal for maintain regularity of excercise and diet when away from home.