Well, yes. Crunches will build up the muscle and thus produce more definition, but if there's a layer of fat hiding it, cardio and diet modification are necessary as well. I have very little body fat, so I skip right to the good stuff.
RoJoHen's Abdominal Halloween Challenge!
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Correct. Ab exercises will definitely help strengthen the abs and make the muscles grow, but the fat that's there needs to be burned by doing cardio. You need a caloric deficit (consuming fewer calories than your body uses) in order to lose weight. This can be done by eating less and/or by increasing the amount of exercise you're doing.
Cardio is the best way to lose fat.
I know all this stuff. I don't even really need advive (I am certified personal trainer, afterall
). I just need to force myself to DO IT!
Well, yes. Crunches will build up the muscle and thus produce more definition, but if there's a layer of fat hiding it, cardio and diet modification are necessary as well. I have very little body fat, so I skip right to the good stuff.
Cool. People who have little body fat to begin with have an easier time building muscles. Those who have extra padding will have to, well, work harder. When I was a 24HF member, I used to see a lot of guys (and women) in fine shape. I mean, they were ripped. Back then, my priority was either to lose weight or maintain my current weight, and I never really did much resistance training. Maybe someday, I'll buy a Bowflex.
False, though they probably have an easier time showing off their muscles. Actually building muscle has more to do with resistance training and the nutrients you are providing to help rebuild the muscle after training.
Don't waste your money.Maybe someday, I'll buy a Bowflex.
Correct. Ab exercises will definitely help strengthen the abs and make the muscles grow, but the fat that's there needs to be burned by doing cardio. You need a caloric deficit (consuming fewer calories than your body uses) in order to lose weight. This can be done by eating less and/or by increasing the amount of exercise you're doing.
Cardio is the best way to lose fat.
I know all this stuff. I don't even really need advive (I am certified personal trainer, afterall
Oh, I knew you were an expert, Rojo.
One other thing to consider and that's probably common knowledge is that muscle burns fat. In fact, that was the motto of one of the personal trainers at the gym I went to (and man, was he hot!) So besides diet and cardio exercise, one must also consider weight training to burn fat. Now by doing weights, a person could gain weight, but at least it's muscle mass and not body fat.I, too, have an elliptical machine at home but am looking into getting some other equipment. Outdoor exercise is always nice, but I don't like the crowds, dog poop, and bicyclists getting in my way.
This is true. I've been weight-lifting since I was 15. Cardio is the one thing missing because I just hate it so much.Oh, I knew you were an expert, Rojo.
Damn me and my goals.
False, though they probably have an easier time showing off their muscles. Actually building muscle has more to do with resistance training and the nutrients you are providing to help rebuild the muscle after training.
Don't waste your money.Maybe someday, I'll buy a Bowflex.
Really? From my observation, the guy who was leaner to begin with got to his goals of getting fit and more athletic sooner than the 200+ pound guy who had to lose all the fat and had a BMI of 30 or higher (not counting muscle tissue). But everyone's metabolism is different; so stranger things have happened.
Everybody is different. Metabolism has everything to do with it. There are super thin people who will have an impossible time putting on any amount of weight, and there will be fat people who have an impossible time losing the fat. There will be people who can build muscle very easily, and there will be other people who have to struggle and eat 8 times a day just to see minimal growth.
It all depends on how your body responds to different stimuli.
It all depends on how your body responds to different stimuli.
Sad but true (re: one's metabolism). Most of my older sisters are a bit overweight and have been most of their adult lives. One sister, however, is very fit and athletic, but then she works out regularly and eats a healthful diet. So did the two not-so-slim sisters, at some point, but they still had a hard time losing the pounds and maintaining the desired weight. At some point, three siblings were fit and the other three needed to get in shape. As we get older, though, metabolism slows down. I definitely noticed this when I hit my early 30s.
It depends on how you look at it. Someone who is very much overweight or obese will have an extremely hard time because they won't have anywhere near the stamina of someone who has a lower body fat percentage. I have personally experienced this. I was exceedingly weak when I was big (265) and I couldn't gain any strength, but when I dropped down to about 165 I have had a much easier time of gaining strength and muscle because exercise is about a million times easier now.
Also, good luck!
Reader's Digest once published an article on weight loss. Some experts did a study on two groups of people who wanted to lose belly fat. One group did sit-ups and no cardio exercise; the other group did regular cardio exercises (walking, running). At the end of the study, guess who lost more weight and trimmed down their waistlines? Yup, the cardio group.
Well, go get pissy with Reader's Digest. I didn't write the article.
I was actually supplementing my reply to Tim. Nothing personal.Speaking of cardio, I've been doing it for a long time, so I'm used to it.
Clean...yes, of course.
*pretends the Wendy's cheeseburger in his mouth is a piece of celery*
Oh that's not good...Halloween comes around mighty quickly!
Quiet, you!
I had just gotten off work, had no food at home, and had no motivation to go grocery shopping. It was a moment of weakness.
I just got back from the store, though, and I am going to cook and prep a bunch of food for the rest of the week.
I just started a "cleaner" diet myself. The fridge is full of good stuff...I stopped at Subway though today. Ah the best laid plans..
RAMA
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