Gym plan for weight loss

[thejoyofanonymity]

Hey everyone

So I'm looking for a bit of advice...I've just joined a gym and been going regularly for a week now and actually enjoying it (to my own astonishment). I've been researching quite a lot online and have found various different mantras of advice for weight loss workouts at the gym. Should I do more cardio that weight machines or vice versa as there's seems to be no definitive answer. I just want to make sure I'm doing the best fat burning workout I can do to optimise my time there.

Any advice would be great ta in advance!

Clare

 

[Llamasoks]

The best fat burning exercises are the one that work multiple muscles at the same time, Cardio is brilliant for losing weight, but if you want to tone up as well you'll need to be doing some form of weight training - even if it's just squats. If you're focused on numbers I'd recommend more Cardio than anything else but a mix is always best for your body.

For example, if you're doing squats, do curls or lifts with them, you burn way more calories that way but also it's quicker than doing muscles separately (which if like me you're idea of a good time is avoiding exercise and stuffing your face with copious amounts of toast and butter!) which means you do the same amount of good but you get out the gym quicker!
X

 

[lauuuu10]

I agree with above.

Whenever I have a workout, I try to do 30 minutes cardio with 15 or 20 minutes weights (this is at home though as I can't afford a gym right now).

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

Yeah, that all sounds like a great plan. I've been using the weight machines as well as doing some cardio when I go but doing squats etc sounds like a good plan. I definitely just want to be making the most out of the time I'm there so I can lie on my sofa afterwards and not feel the guilt - haha

 

[Llamasoks]

Yeah, that all sounds like a great plan. I've been using the weight machines as well as doing some cardio when I go but doing squats etc sounds like a good plan. I definitely just want to be making the most out of the time I'm there so I can lie on my sofa afterwards and not feel the guilt - haha

Oh I feel the guilt even if I've done loads! Definitely mix it up a bit and keep it fun! It's odd how much you start to enjoy it

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

Oh I feel the guilt even if I've done loads! Definitely mix it up a bit and keep it fun! It's odd how much you start to enjoy it

That's the bit I'm finding really weird. I only joined the gym last week (Tuesday I think) and I've already been 4 times since then and I'm missing not having been today...I decided to have a booze free April and I think that's really helped me to get into the fitness mode also decided to worry less about weight loss and concentrate on body fat %

 

[Llamasoks]

That's the bit I'm finding really weird. I only joined the gym last week (Tuesday I think) and I've already been 4 times since then and I'm missing not having been today...I decided to have a booze free April and I think that's really helped me to get into the fitness mode also decided to worry less about weight loss and concentrate on body fat %

I normally give myself weekends off and am always surprised at how lazy I feel, despite the fact I didn't do ANY exercise before and never felt lazy!

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

I normally give myself weekends off and am always surprised at how lazy I feel, despite the fact I didn't do ANY exercise before and never felt lazy!

That's a good wee idea to give yourself the weekends off...I work shifts so I'm still trying to figure out the best days and times to go but weekends off sounds great

 

[Llamasoks]

That's a good wee idea to give yourself the weekends off...I work shifts so I'm still trying to figure out the best days and times to go but weekends off sounds great

It's mainly convenience more than anything else, I've got 2 doggies who go to doggy day care whilst me and OH work, and he finishes later than me so picks them up and I get about an hour on my own to do exercise, otherwise I get jumped over when I do anything! I tried doing sit ups once at a weekend and got a fairly big collie sitting on my chest!

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

It's mainly convenience more than anything else, I've got 2 doggies who go to doggy day care whilst me and OH work, and he finishes later than me so picks them up and I get about an hour on my own to do exercise, otherwise I get jumped over when I do anything! I tried doing sit ups once at a weekend and got a fairly big collie sitting on my chest!

Haha ! Situps are hard enough as they are, never mind with a dog climbing all over you!

 

[Llamasoks]

Haha ! Situps are hard enough as they are, never mind with a dog climbing all over you!

I think he thinks I've died every time I lay on the floor! "I will lick your face to check if you're alive and sit on you to protect you from predators!" Bless him...heavy little sh**

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

I think he thinks I've died every time I lay on the floor! "I will lick your face to check if you're alive and sit on you to protect you from predators!" Bless him...heavy little sh**

Aww bless...that's so sweet but yeah, heavy dog on chest not so great - haha

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

So I'm totally perplexed. I've been going regularly (4 times this week) to the gym, not drinking alcohol since the start of the month and making careful food choices and my body fat% has gone up?! What am I doing wrong?

 

[Llamasoks]

So I'm totally perplexed. I've been going regularly (4 times this week) to the gym, not drinking alcohol since the start of the month and making careful food choices and my body fat% has gone up?! What am I doing wrong?

That doesn't make a lick of sense, how are you measuring?
X

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

I have a set of scales at home which measure body fat % - my waist measurement is apparently down by 1.5" though so it just isn't making any sense to me. I'm so confused...

 

[Llamasoks]

I have a set of scales at home which measure body fat % - my waist measurement is apparently down by 1.5" though so it just isn't making any sense to me. I'm so confused...

I'd be inclined not to trust that and if you're concerned go get it checked at the gym, doesn't sound right to me!
X

 

[thejoyofanonymity]

They have one of the big measurement machines in my local Boots I think...I might go there, or try next week when I'm back at the gym and see what it says. Good thinking x