Would 60 sit-ups a day do anything?

[StageLeft]

You need to do both... lose the fat and build the muscle. You won't see 6 packs on stick figures because they don't work their abs.

You do need the muscle, but most people have ample ab muscle to see it if they lose the fat. Mrsskoorbs' brother is like 6,2 and 140 pounds. Doesn't have any fat on him - or any muscle to speak of for that matter - but you can see his abs because his bodyfat is so low.

 

[bbkat]

Originally posted by: StormRider
It usually causes me to fart. That's why I can't get anyone to hold my feet down for me when I do sit ups.🙁

Best to keep that to yourself when looking for a training partner 😀

 

[GSOYF]

it's better than nothing.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Comp625
If I run up and down the stairs alot, would it do anything for me? I'm a fatso.... 5'9 220lb. (I don't exactly like to showcase my athletic running ability to my neighborhood by running around the block 😉)

If running up and down the stairs alot do help, how many repetitions of it should I do?

Repetitions are meaningless for weight loss.

Cardio exercise for weight loss and health are a combination of three things, all vitally important:

Intensity
Duration
Frequency

Intensity: What ever it takes to get your heart rate to it's target point, and keep it there throughout the entire duration of your workout. Let it fall and you have to start all over again. How fast you have to go, or hard you have to pump to reach and maintain your THR is determined by your cardio fitness level.

Duration: The length of each individual workout. For weight loss, you should do a minimum of 40 minutes at your target heart rate. You should also add a five minute warm up before, and five minute cool down after at a lower heart rate. Don't forget to stetch after your warm up/before your workout, and after your cool down.

Frequency: How many times a week you work out. I suggest four days a week.

Stair climbing is an excellent cardio exercise. But be sure you can keep your heart rate up for at least 40 minutes doing it. Do you work in a tall building?

Don't be embrassed running in your neighborhood. I have a hell of a lot of respect for people who are out there doing something to get into shape. And you'll look great in just a few months if you stick with it. When I first started running, I was a bit self conscience of my belly. But that melted away in just a few months.

 

[fyleow]

My problem is I can't put on enough weight. There is no fat to turn to muscle, everything burns away naturally even when I sit on my friggin ass doing nothing all day. Seriously I don't play any sports or anything and I'm like a stick. I was a little chubby Freshman year of HS and then I took weight traning Sophomore year. Worked out hard first semester and lost a crapload of weight, gain lots of muscle and was pleased with the results. Then it just stopped and I slacked off during second semester.

I'm guessing that I lost too much fat/weight and there was not enough calorie intake to build up muscles. It's been over a year now and I still haven't put on any weight despite no physical activity. I've lost a lot of my strength though 🙁

Probably has to do with the fact that I barely eat anything for lunch, a bag of chips usually and sometimes nothing. I HAVE to fix that, I get a healthy dinner (chinese food with lots of vegetables). I don't drink soda, eat candy, junk food (except lunch) either.

I'll try that running program, starting Monday. I have crappy cardio.

 

[0roo0roo]

toned strong abs are never bad. doing something is better then nothing.


that being said,britney does several hundred a day🙂

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: fyleow
My problem is I can't put on enough weight. There is no fat to turn to muscle, everything burns away naturally even when I sit on my friggin ass doing nothing all day. Seriously I don't play any sports or anything and I'm like a stick. I was a little chubby Freshman year of HS and then I took weight traning Sophomore year. Worked out hard first semester and lost a crapload of weight, gain lots of muscle and was pleased with the results. Then it just stopped and I slacked off during second semester.

I'm guessing that I lost too much fat/weight and there was not enough calorie intake to build up muscles. It's been over a year now and I still haven't put on any weight despite no physical activity. I've lost a lot of my strength though 🙁

Probably has to do with the fact that I barely eat anything for lunch, a bag of chips usually and sometimes nothing. I HAVE to fix that, I get a healthy dinner (chinese food with lots of vegetables). I don't drink soda, eat candy, junk food (except lunch) either.

I'll try that running program, starting Monday. I have crappy cardio.

First off, it's a myth that one can "turn fat into muscle." They have to burn the fat, and build up muscle. You're lucky, all you have to do is build muscle.

Secondly, if you want to gain muscle mass, you'll need to up your calorie intake, REALLY up your protein intake, and keep the cardio to a minimum with low intensity, low duration exercises. Too much cardio can be counter productive to muscle mass gain.

I suggest having three protein shakes a day. Designer Whey is a good powder, and mixes fine in a shaker cup in milk. Don't try stirring it, it wont mix. I like the strawberry... YMMV.

Try to eat five moderate, high protein meals a day.

To gain weight, do the opposite of what people do to lose weight. Eat more, eat high quality, high calorie foods, and do less cardio. BUT, you have to lift weights religiously so you don't just piss all that protein away.

 

[abaez]

This is all really good info... I used to weigh 250 pounds and I'm 5'9"... I lost alot of it and I've been down to 165... it was all done rollerblading in about year.. so my legs are lean and mean almost no fat on them.. now Im about 178 and all my fat is in my spare tire.. my roommate got me an ab roller to help me out but as amused said before, I have gained muscle but my stomach looks bigger because it just builds under the fat.. I cannot for the life of me lose my spare tire no matter what I do I hate that fat on the sides and in the back around my midsection.. what are the good ways to get rid of that.. even when I was 165 at my skinniest I still had it there so I'd like to work on that.

 

[fyleow]

First off, it's a myth that one can "turn fat into muscle." They have to burn the fat, and build up muscle. You're lucky, all you have to do is build muscle.

Right, but if you have fat to burn you see better results quicker. You burn fat AND build muscle at the same time so you get a double effect type thing. Body fat goes down enough not to cover your muscles and you build them up so they show better. With no fat to get rid off the only results I see are from building pure muscle. I guess it's all the same but I'm less motivated since I don't see as much change.

I'll try the running routine and see what happens. There is absolutely NOTHING healthy at school to eat though, and I used to eat pizza (cheese only, but that's just as bad) everyday. The gym my apartment has is very incomplete, it's all cruddy machines so it's hard to work out. I do have a set of 20 pound dumbells at home but I have no room for a bench so I can't do some of the good stuff I used to love (benchpress for one).

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: abaez
This is all really good info... I used to weigh 250 pounds and I'm 5'9"... I lost alot of it and I've been down to 165... it was all done rollerblading in about year.. so my legs are lean and mean almost no fat on them.. now Im about 178 and all my fat is in my spare tire.. my roommate got me an ab roller to help me out but as amused said before, I have gained muscle but my stomach looks bigger because it just builds under the fat.. I cannot for the life of me lose my spare tire no matter what I do I hate that fat on the sides and in the back around my midsection.. what are the good ways to get rid of that.. even when I was 165 at my skinniest I still had it there so I'd like to work on that.

It's just bad genes and/or age. I never had an innertube until my 30s, when one sprouted almost overnight. I can run until my legs fall off, and not get rid of every last bit of it. Most people tell me it hardly shows anymore, but I know it's there... covering the bottom ab muscle by my belly button.

The best I can offer is running. Of all the cardio I've tried, running had the most signifigant effect on my gut flab.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: fyleow

First off, it's a myth that one can "turn fat into muscle." They have to burn the fat, and build up muscle. You're lucky, all you have to do is build muscle.

Right, but if you have fat to burn you see better results quicker. You burn fat AND build muscle at the same time so you get a double effect type thing. Body fat goes down enough not to cover your muscles and you build them up so they show better. With no fat to get rid off the only results I see are from building pure muscle. I guess it's all the same but I'm less motivated since I don't see as much change.

This is all a matter of perception. It will still be easier to simply gain muscle, than to burn fat and gain muscle at the same time.

I'll try the running routine and see what happens. There is absolutely NOTHING healthy at school to eat though, and I used to eat pizza (cheese only, but that's just as bad) everyday. The gym my apartment has is very incomplete, it's all cruddy machines so it's hard to work out. I do have a set of 20 pound dumbells at home but I have no room for a bench so I can't do some of the good stuff I used to love (benchpress for one).

Pizza is NOT as bad as people make it out to be. Especially for someone like you who does not gain weight easily.

Running will not help you gain weight. The running routine I gave is a great way to lose weight, and get fit, but it will be counter productive to someone trying to put on muscle weight as quickly as they can. Runners are super skinny for a reason... because running makes them that way. You'll never see a marathon runner built like a tank. They are all very, very skinny.

Is there a YMCA near you? Can you join a gym?