The FastDay Forum

Hi everyone,

Another not too positive post from me again I'm afraid!

So I'm a young girl, (well, 24) I'm in the healthy weight range (5'7/8 and 11stone) but I just feel so wobbly and flabby Ideally I'd like to get another stone off, maybe a little bit more but I think I'll get to 10st7lb and see how I feel then as I don't find losing weight overly easy or enjoyable. My friends were horrified when I told them on Saturday I wanted to lose more and they assured me I was looking 'skinny' but I just don't feel it. It's not the size I am that I mind, it's the flab.
My tummy is really wobbly, I would feel really embarrassed in a bikini, I also have awful bingo wings considering I'm young and the weight I have lost has mostly come off of my bum leaving me with a rather flat behind, which is not attractive!
I know I probably need to start incorporating exercise now but to be honest I don't really know where to start. I do some crunches and squats a few times a week but I don't really know what I'm doing. Joining a gym for me is really impractical so I can only work out at home. I have a set of weights but nothing else.
Please help me to get rid of this flab!
Lil

[Debs]

Weight training my dear!! I would suggest seeing if there is a 24 gym nearby so you can go when it suits you; only lifting with weights will provide you with the toning you need. In the meantime I would suggest the following exercises for the 'bingo wings':
Press ups keeping your arms close to your body which will exercise the triceps, the muscle you need to tighten up.
Backward press ups against a low wall or bench, ditto for triceps.
If you had room I can also recommend a TRX set, I got mine for about $60 off some dodgy internet site but it is of good quality. You can hang it off a door, a beam, and comes with exercises.
Finally, have a look on line for tricep exercises you can do at home, a couple of sets of dumbells from Kmart should do the trick to get you going!
Good luck!

There is no way you can affect where to burn fat, but sure, weight training is excellent if you can stand it, but any training you can learn to enjoy or at least stand will do.

Building the habit is more important than quick results, schedule your training to eliminate decision making as much as possible. Disregard your feelings and your level of motivation at those scheduled times, the decision to work out is already made and you can save your willpower for better purposes.

Don't wait for you to build up the energy, determination or will power before taking action. It will never happen - waiting and postponing is a bad habit in itself, the more you wait the less likely you are to actually get going.

Also, not knowing what to do or how to exercise efficiently is not really much of an excuse for not exercising at all. A workout doesn't have to be perfect, it can even be ineffective and stupid and still do a a lot of good, compared to the couch.

Something simple almost anyone can do today or tomorrow - start walking at set times during the week, for example early mornings. Ease into jogging/running and ramp it up as time goes by. Be very careful with your running technique (no heel landings, short steps) or you will almost certainly hurt yourself.

Continue doing this for a year or two, and you're a habitual runner burning at least 2500 kcal worth of bingo wing material each week.

You want somethiing in your home? Turn on some music and dance. The most important thing is to just get moving!

Thanks everyone.
I'm not really after cardio though to be honest, more information about weights and exercises for the stomach
Lil

I get the impression you are hoping for some exercise to target fat burning in specific areas, you do know this is not possible?

Yes I'm quite aware of that. However, I already do a reasonable amount of cardio and am looking for advice about weight lifting etc etc.

[Betsysgr8]

There is a link for 'sexy arms' in this thread exercise-f24/how-to-banish-those-bingo-wings-t7362.html and @BBT053 is a font of information on weight training.

Thanks Betsy I'll give that a go!
Lil

I'm surprised about what a big difference just normal daily exercise makes to muscles in your arms. My upper left arm has atrophied quite a bit in spite of the cast being on my forearm. It looks so much saggier than my other arm. I will be looking for some triceps exercises that don't put so much pressure on my wrist. I think it will be a while before I'm doing push-ups!

I'm gonna have a little work out session tonight. I'm so weak though so we'll see how long I can stand!
Lil

Bit of a decisive post but running can lead to poorer muscle tone & isn't for everyone. Despite Chi running & lots of practice, running clocks me due to my bio-mechanics.

Google chronic cardio for the debate, this will be my only post in this thread on this as I don't want to fight with lovely runners. You want to have a look at Breaking Muscle for lots of workout ideas, see what suits. Kettle bells are great fun & you can do them as a tabata protocol so very short & effective.

I also qualified as a BWL Assistant Club coach this last weekend. Something I never thought I'd do a year ago...

I'm in the cult of Crossfit so I would say see if you have an affiliate nearby as even if you don't go for long, free weights need coaching properly to start with. Trad gyms are pretty dreary, coaching in a supportive environment is helpful.

Good luck.

Don't worry BBT053, I agree. Running isn't for everyone, and there's a risk of getting obsessive and overdoing it. I know I know, gotta get some weight training in there as well, sigh..

The plan is running one morning (love it), weight training the next (hate it). Thanks for the google reference.

@MaryAnn there's research somewhere (sorry - it's years ago that I picked this up) that showed that if one 'mentally' exercised the incapacitated limb, recovery times were speeded up significantly. Might be worth a shot, as it costs nothing!

@LilSmiler I was going to say the same as @GoLinda - but if aerobics are not for your, add in a tin of beans in each hand and include some isotonic resistance in your moves (both directions) and you've got a cheap-but-fun weight programme going (make sure the music is good for slow movement though!)

Would the '30 day shred' help here? Its a 20 minute a day intensive exercise program. Thosae who have done it swear by its toning qualities.

http://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Michaels- ... B00127RAJY