Exercise n00b

[Shawn]

So I've slowly been putting on the pounds ever since I started college. I would like to lose some weight so I have decided that I will start exercising. What is the best exercise to do to shed the pounds? Running?

 

[GenHoth]

Watch your diet and pick up some cardio. Weight is all about calories in and calories out. Nothing else.

 

[crt1530]

High intensity calorie restriction.

Don't get me wrong, exercise is very important for health and fitness, but no amount of exercise will make you lose weight if your diet isn't in check. Pick exercise activities that you enjoy (at least a little) and will be able to commit to long term. If you hate what you're doing, you are much more likely to give it up.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: crt1530
High intensity calorie restriction.

Don't get me wrong, exercise is very important for health and fitness, but no amount of exercise will make you lose weight if your diet isn't in check. Pick exercise activities that you enjoy (at least a little) and will be able to commit to long term. If you hate what you're doing, you are much more likely to give it up.

This is the basic truth. Diet must be in check to lose weight. Exercise accelerates that process only if diet is spot on.

 

[KoolDrew]

Diet, weight lifting, cardio.

 

[PSU]

Originally posted by: Shawn
So I've slowly been putting on the pounds ever since I started college. I would like to lose some weight so I have decided that I will start exercising. What is the best exercise to do to shed the pounds? Running?

How heavy are you? Running is not always a good choice if you are currently obese. Your knees would do much better on an elliptical machine or other low impact device, at least to start.

You might also consider lifting weights to maintain your muscle mass. Losing muscle mass along with fat sets you up for a lower basal metabolism and a rapid fat gain if you go off the diet.

First, implement an exercise program to start improving both muscular and aerobic conditioning. Second, consider your food choices and quantity. Examine your energy levels. Dieting to the point of exhaustion will both hurt your grades and your ability to workout.

 

[Check]

Last summer I did some serious weight loss (~30lbs) by eating 5 small meals a day and running every morning before eating breakfast.
I'm lucky enough to have a treadmill in my basement at home so I was able to do some interval training (1 minute at a fast pace followed by a minute at a slower pace for 10-15 repetitions).

edit: also limit/cut out the following stuff:
Any beverage but water (this includes beer). I drink diet soda but I should probably cut that out too.
Red meat (don't have to cut this out completely but limit the intake.)
Desserts/sweets
Pork
food after 8pm

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Diet, weight lifting, cardio.

Yes, please do all 3. People who get it in their mind that they should "shed their fat by running" need to ask themselves what they hope to be left with when that fat is gone.

 

[Check]

Originally posted by: skace

Yes, please do all 3. People who get it in their mind that they should "shed their fat by running" need to ask themselves what they hope to be left with when that fat is gone.

Yeah but if you don't have enough time to adequately lift and run, I'd take running over lifting any day.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: check

Originally posted by: skace

Yes, please do all 3. People who get it in their mind that they should "shed their fat by running" need to ask themselves what they hope to be left with when that fat is gone.

Yeah but if you don't have enough time to adequately lift and run, I'd take running over lifting any day.

Some people prefer not turning into a skinny-fat person with a slower metabolism.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Shawn
So I've slowly been putting on the pounds ever since I started college. I would like to lose some weight so I have decided that I will start exercising. What is the best exercise to do to shed the pounds? Running?

So far I've found:

1. Diet plays the biggest role in how fat you are
2. Cardio & HIIT help the most for losing weight, provided you have a good diet
3. Sleep plays a huge role because you're more likely to cave to junk food and not exercise if you are tired

That translates to:

1. Get a good meal plan
2. Exercise 3-6 days a week, 10-45 minutes (any cardio activity - sports, exercise machines like treadmills, bicycling, jogging or running, kayaking, etc.)
3. Go to sleep early (10pm at the latest, 9pm if you are serious)

Like the others have said, if you want some definition other than just being lean and skinny, start doing some strength training with weights. I am using this diet plan:

http://www.anthonycatanzaro.com/dietplans.html

It's 7 days of 6-meals-a-day, all spelled out for you and easy to cook. I did that with about 10 or 15 minutes on my exercise bike, 5 days a week, and lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks. I'm still on it but have extended it to a 2-week menu with my own recipes and I'm working on losing another 25 pounds over summer.

That's all I know.