Diet/fitness plan
Author
Discussion

mcxuk1

Original Poster:

452 posts

169 months

Friday 29th November 2013
quotequote all
Joining the gym tomorrow and was wondering what training plans and diets people recommend? I'm looking to lose weight and also gain some muscles/definition.

Thanks.

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

dirty boy

14,858 posts

238 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
quotequote all
mcxuk1 said:
Joining the gym tomorrow and was wondering what training plans and diets people recommend? I'm looking to lose weight and also gain some muscles/definition.

Thanks.
Losing weight and gaining muscle is not easy, it's possible but is incredibly difficult.

Some important things to consider.

Get lots of good quality sleep
Eat good quality food
Eat enough to allow your muscles to grow

Remember, everyone is different, some people are intolerant of gluten/wheat/dairy, others are not, some are more sensitive to carbs than others, therefore, suggesting a generic diet plan is never going to be ideal.

Get a nutritionist/coach to sort you something out. I've been training in the gym for a few years with no real conviction and no real change, getting a bespoke nutrition plan, combined with a bit more effort in the gym has seen a massive change in everything, from how I look, to how I feel. I'm also eating more than I did (calorie intake wise) and exercising less, but my weight has gone up slightly and body fat has come down.

Get the food right, tailored to what your goals are, when you're training etc and it's a whole lot easier.

Most of all, good luck!

Badgerboy

1,794 posts

221 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
quotequote all
I've always quite liked www.scoobysworkshop.com.

His videos can be a little strange but he shows very good form and the site is full of useful information. Plus I hope I look that good in my fifties!

Happy82

15,078 posts

198 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
quotequote all
Badgerboy said:
I've always quite liked www.scoobysworkshop.com.

His videos can be a little strange but he shows very good form and the site is full of useful information. Plus I hope I look that good in my fifties!
I started my weights with his suggested workouts and found them quite good.

Recently started this one though

http://www.ironaddicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t...

Found it very enjoyable and seeing some good results

mcxuk1

Original Poster:

452 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Cheers guys, a friend of mine has advised 5 days of cardio a week (half an hour incline walking on a treadmill) - I was also thinking of throwing some swimming in as well? Then, 3 days of push/pull/legs? How does that sound?

I'm going to look at my diet but he has suggested 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fat?

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
How does that compare with the info in the link? wink

mcxuk1

Original Poster:

452 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
How does that compare with the info in the link? wink
To be honest it's all double dutch to me frown At least I'm being honest hehe

I know it sounds cheeky but basically I'm after being told what to do and what to eat for a couple of weeks until I can get my head around it all.

stew-S160

8,020 posts

267 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
mcxuk1 said:
Cheers guys, a friend of mine has advised 5 days of cardio a week (half an hour incline walking on a treadmill) - I was also thinking of throwing some swimming in as well? Then, 3 days of push/pull/legs? How does that sound?

I'm going to look at my diet but he has suggested 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fat?
The cardio, OK, do that, and swimming, also try out the rowing machines. I'd suggest though that walking out in the real world would do you much more benefit than a treadmill which does half the work for you.

As you're a 'newb', I'd suggest you stick to 2 or 3 full body workouts per week. Only once you've gained more experienced should you progress to push/pull/legs or other methods. Also, you do not need to do millions of bicep curls/tricep extension exercises. Stick to proper compound movements, such as squats, bench press, over head press, dead lift, and bodyweight training(push ups/pull ups/RKC planks).

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
mcxuk1 said:
To be honest it's all double dutch to me frown At least I'm being honest hehe

I know it sounds cheeky but basically I'm after being told what to do and what to eat for a couple of weeks until I can get my head around it all.
Ok, rules:
-You need to eat 10-20% less than your TDEE if you want to lose weight.
-Make sure you keep your protein levels up.
-Exercise is unnecessary.

That's it. For the reasons/arguments/whys, read the link.

"Why didn't you say?"
Because then I'd have to explain why. It's all in that thread.

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 2nd December 13:24

Gwagon111

4,422 posts

190 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Break it into two phases. concentrate your initial training towards more cardio / less strength / weight training, combined with restricted calorie intake until you have lost the amount of weight you want to, and get your body used to a better regime. Then move to more weight training / less cardio, and eat more of the high protien type foods.

Onemcs

364 posts

203 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
www.bodybuilding.com holds all your answers and more.


dirty boy

14,858 posts

238 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Gwagon111 said:
Break it into two phases. concentrate your initial training towards more cardio / less strength / weight training, combined with restricted calorie intake until you have lost the amount of weight you want to, and get your body used to a better regime. Then move to more weight training / less cardio, and eat more of the high protien type foods.
That's the way I started, but it was limited with success.

I'd simply suggest eating plenty, firing up the metabolism, plenty of weights to build muscle and create an even higher BMR, then go on a weight loss (cutting) plan.

Again, I can't reiterate enough, get a plan specifically aimed at YOU. Not anyone else, based upon your activity levels, gut health, sensitivity to foods etc.


One more thing to remember

Cardio is for prey
Conditioning is for predators

Who do you want to be?

wink

mark831

119 posts

260 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
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Have a read of leangains.com .... Been training for years and has made a huge difference in my training....7 weeks in and 10lbs down!! (No loss of strength and body fat has decreased so I'd say mostly just fat loss rather than muscle)

amare32

2,420 posts

252 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
There's nothing more laborious than doing cardio on treadmills, elliptical, stepper, bike..basically anything stationary in a gym. Not knocking
the gym but what's worked for me is doing different sports like tennis, basketball or badminton to cover the cardio and complimenting
it with weight training consisting of big compound lifts.

In terms of diet, just eat clean and try and cut down on simple sugars, sweets, cakes, soft drinks and alcohol. Drink lots of water throughout
the day and carbs you won't need to cut too much as you need to fuel your training. Oh and eat peanut butter, it's a great source of healthy fats
and protein plus it tastes lick

LordGrover

34,156 posts

241 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
mcxuk1 said:
Joining the gym tomorrow and was wondering what training plans and diets people recommend? I'm looking to lose weight and also gain some muscles/definition.

Thanks.
Your goals are a little vague - I suspect when you say 'lose weight' you mean lose fat and/or gain muscle. This may mean 'weight' staying the same or even increasing.

Start with one of the recognised, proven beginners programs - my choice is StrongLifts. Plenty of others out there - see Starting Strength, Bill Starr or All Pro for example.
Read, understand and do. Pretty much foolproof.

AngryPartsBloke

1,439 posts

180 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Ok, rules:
-You need to eat 10-20% less than your TDEE if you want to lose weight.
-Make sure you keep your protein levels up.
-Exercise is unnecessary.

That's it. For the reasons/arguments/whys, read the link.

"Why didn't you say?"
Because then I'd have to explain why. It's all in that thread.

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 2nd December 13:24
link said:
2) Exercise regularly
What?!

Anyway, Exercise is always necessary and very much should be encouraged.

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
quotequote all
AngryPartsBloke said:
What?!

Anyway, Exercise is always necessary and very much should be encouraged.
It's not really for weight loss but it helps.

Flibble

6,538 posts

210 months

Thursday 5th December 2013
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
It's not really for weight loss but it helps.
Good for general health though.
When you realise that half an hour on the treadmill burns off about a mars bar you realise why exercise is so bad for weight loss.

DukeDickson

4,968 posts

242 months

Thursday 5th December 2013
quotequote all
Flibble said:
Hoofy said:
It's not really for weight loss but it helps.
Good for general health though.
When you realise that half an hour on the treadmill burns off about a mars bar you realise why exercise is so bad for weight loss.
As a total non-runner & if correct, the marathon is the one that fries me.