Workout question...

[EmoBorg]

i am thinking of getting a workout machine. I currently work shift and shift work means you sleep, wake up, eat and work at odd hours. That has lead to significant weight gain in recent years. That is really depressing for me because i used to be very fit when i was in the army 9 years back. The great change in my body from fit to flab really depresses me. i do need help.

There is no 24 hours gym near where i stay. That is why i want to get a personal workout machine for my place. I would like to have the option of working out before i go for my shift work.

I need a machine that can give me a both upper body and lower body workout. Cardio burning is the first priority followed by muscle building. I saw a list of workout machines but i am not sure which one to buy.

1)Treadmills
2)Elliptical Trainers
3)Rowers
4)Exercise Bikes

Could you guys help me out on what machine to get?


BTW, are dumbbells enough or do i need to buy barbells as well for strength training?

 

[Saturn0660]

i am thinking of getting a workout machine. I currently work shift and shift work means you sleep, wake up, eat and work at odd hours. That has lead to significant weight gain in recent years. That is really depressing for me because i used to be very fit when i was in the army 9 years back. The great change in my body from fit to flab really depresses me. i do need help.

There is no 24 hours gym near where i stay. That is why i want to get a personal workout machine for my place. I would like to have the option of working out before i go for my shift work.

I need a machine that can give me a both upper body and lower body workout. Cardio burning is the first priority followed by muscle building. I saw a list of workout machines but i am not sure which one to buy.

1)Treadmills
2)Elliptical Trainers
3)Rowers
4)Exercise Bikes

Could you guys help me out on what machine to get?


BTW, are dumbbells enough or do i need to buy barbells as well for strength training?

I would say you need to try each one and see what works best for you.. I used to be a big treadmill runner but i'd rather just run outside. I wanted an exercise bike but my wife said she thought she'd use the mill more.. Now when we goto the Ymca she only uses the bike.. (go figure).

 

[RoJoHen]

If you really want to buy cardio equipment, buy the one that you'll actually use. Beyond that, it doesn't really matter.

 

[Van Zandt]

Lift heavy. Eat big. Sleep lots. You don't really need to complicate it any more than that. The only piece of equipment you need is a barbell and copy of 'Starting Strength' by Mark Rippetoe. Understand that gaining size is all about calorie consumption, which means putting on muscle also means increasing body fat levels. Don't worry about your gut for now; keep cardio to a minimum and focus on big, heavy "compound" lifts. Bench press. Overhead press. Bent-over row. Squat. Deadlift. These basic total body exercises, done with sufficient weight (we're talking about building up to 1 and even 2x bodyweight on the bar), will hit every muscle in your body without needing to do silly isolation exercises (biceps curls, anyone) or wondering how to hit your deltoids. When you have reached a desired size, you can switch to maintenance work to keep up your strength while doing lots of short, high intensity sprint sessions combined with a calorie deficit to reduce body fat. Read as: STAY big and get lean. You can't GET big and lose fat at the same time. As far as nutrition goes, Google "GOMAD." It essentially works out at drinking a Gallon Of Milk A Day. Full fat milk. None of that skimmed, processed crap. Read the GOMAD articles for more detailed instructions, but essentially drink lots of milk, eat lots of leafy green veg, the occasional piece of steak, and you're sorted. As for supplements, I suggest you read this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18863293