Exercise and Fitness Thread

johng_uk

missyg wrote: »

Hi John, thanks for passing along the tips, most useful!

At least being a man, you get a bit more leeway in the calorie department anyway! I have a BMR of 1254 and I'm always struggling with getting the calorie/exercise balance right so that I don't a) gain weight or b) go into 'fat store' mode with undereating for the amount of exercise I am doing.

I am still learning, and I do like reading up on different exercise related things to try to get an understanding of how it all works.

I read 'Zest' magazine and it does have good tips, if you ignore the pages and pages of "buy this, buy that, must have this, etc"... :rotfl:

Hi Missy,

It's nps - It's good to be of use lol! If you think of anything else just drop a post here and I'll try to source the answer for you.

Are you doing any resistance exercise at all? This is obviously important for muscle tone, but will increase your metabolic rate more than simple cardio will (as muscle burns more calories than fat 24/7). This would aoffer you a chance to eat slightly more to satisfy your cravings (as long as their not for crisps, chocolate and beer!)

I too am learning and by no means an expert. In fact, although I have been reading about fitness for ages, I haven't hit the gym as much as I should have to put it into practice. I've recently started my own programme so we'll see how it goes!

I know a some women also read 'Top Sante' which they reckon is quite good, but couldn't recommend any more fitness mags for women. As I say, I read Mens Fitness and Mens Health, which are brilliant - For blokes!

For all interested in what BMR actually is, here's a link:

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

It basically tells you how many calories you'd burn each day doin no exercise. Using this you can judge how much to eat/exercise for optimal results.

missyg_3

I'm eager to start upping the weights work John, but I'm awaiting surgery for a suspected hernia (upper stomach area) so I need to be careful about heavy lifting and certain stretches. I have a lovely new weights set which I'd bought about 3 hours before I found out about this...!!! :rotfl:

In the meantime I'm carrying on my exercises with the relatively light weights I was using before, and obviously I get some resistance with cycling (indoor and out), cross trainer, abs exerciser, swimming etc. I'll be happy to maintain the muscle mass I've already got (which isn't too bad if I say so myself!) and then look at improving it when I'm fully mended

johng_uk

missyg wrote: »

I'm eager to start upping the weights work John, but I'm awaiting surgery for a suspected hernia (upper stomach area) so I need to be careful about heavy lifting and certain stretches. I have a lovely new weights set which I'd bought about 3 hours before I found out about this...!!! :rotfl:

In the meantime I'm carrying on my exercises with the relatively light weights I was using before, and obviously I get some resistance with cycling (indoor and out), cross trainer, abs exerciser, swimming etc. I'll be happy to maintain the muscle mass I've already got (which isn't too bad if I say so myself!) and then look at improving it when I'm fully mended

Lol - think they call is sods law when things like that happen - Shelling out on weights and then finding out about a hernia!

Just be careful!

missyg_3

John (or anyone else) what do you know about heart rate monitors? I know someone who has the Polar S810 which seems to give feedback on just about everything including making the tea :rotfl:

I'd like something that would do the following:

- heart rate monitoring (duh!)
- calorie feedback (personalised to me)
- multi sport: swimming, cycling and running data
- stopwatch for laps/lengths/splits
- suitable for smaller female wrist
- downloadable info to PC (not essential but would be useful)

Am I asking the earth, moon and stars here? :rotfl: The S810 itself (and probably the newer version which has replaced it) is a bit too huge and manly for me

johng_uk

Sorry double posted - Proper post below!

johng_uk

missyg wrote: »

John (or anyone else) what do you know about heart rate monitors? I know someone who has the Polar S810 which seems to give feedback on just about everything including making the tea :rotfl:

I'd like something that would do the following:

- heart rate monitoring (duh!)
- calorie feedback (personalised to me)
- multi sport: swimming, cycling and running data
- stopwatch for laps/lengths/splits
- suitable for smaller female wrist
- downloadable info to PC (not essential but would be useful)

Am I asking the earth, moon and stars here? :rotfl: The S810 itself (and probably the newer version which has replaced it) is a bit too huge and manly for me

Missy,

I haven't done a lot of research on these tbh. HRM's are useful to know whether you are training your cardiovascular system or for optimal fat burning.

I never trust anything that does a general calorie count (i.e. cross trainer, running machine etc) as there are too many variables that the machine can't take into account (i.e. your metabolic rate) - You hop on these things and enter your weight and they tell you how many calories you burn (tosh!)

Due to all this I wouldn't possibly recommend a specific model to you.

I have heard that IPOD and Adidas or Reebook do these things that link to your shoe when your running and give you data which you can download to your computer - Might be worth a google search if your interested?

johng_uk

This is the thing I was on about Missy:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/sync.html

http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sp/nike_plus.html

Doesn't have all the things you listed - But may be worth a look. Then again it may not lol!

G-G_4

Hey everyone, my first time posting on this thread, so be nice

I'm trying to get fit to apply for the RAF.

My main areas I need to focus on are jogging, sit-ups and press ups.

I'm on a high protein, low carb diet (not too restrictive tho).

I'm okay with the running, as I know this is just something i'm going to have to get stuck into and get on with.

My problem is press ups.. I can't do them! I'm strong, so that isn't the problem, I guess my muscles in that area are just really crap! Any help with exercises to do with that would be great

johng_uk

G-G wrote: »

Hey everyone, my first time posting on this thread, so be nice

I'm trying to get fit to apply for the RAF.

My main areas I need to focus on are jogging, sit-ups and press ups.

I'm on a high protein, low carb diet (not too restrictive tho).

I'm okay with the running, as I know this is just something i'm going to have to get stuck into and get on with.

My problem is press ups.. I can't do them! I'm strong, so that isn't the problem, I guess my muscles in that area are just really crap! Any help with exercises to do with that would be great

Hey Gemma and welcome,

What you said on the other thread is correct - Start with 'girly' (your description not mine lol) pressups on a bench or something and on ur knees rather than toes. Do this until you build up a basic core strength and then progress onto full pressups. I would do a set each morning of the 'girly' press-ups and once you progress onto the full ones, do a set every day or every other day, depending on how you feel. I wouldn't just do press ups though. Incorperate some sort of weights routine to get your biceps and triceps strengthened. Basic bicep curls and tricep dips would suffice. Do all these regularly as well as your dieting and runnig and you'll be fighting fit in no time!

Hope this helps.

All you have to achieve to get a pass is 10-19 press ups and 32-37 sit ups.

G-G_4

Thanks once again John! You have been a massive help on my little RAF mission so far..

Right, i've got some weights upstairs, so I will get them out and start building up some strength.. also, gonna get on with some girly press ups now :laugh: