I haven't seriously worked out in over 40 years. And I turned 40 in October.

I am starting to feel my age. I am starting to get stiff in places that I shouldn't. I would like to work out, but I am a quitter at heart if stuff gets too hard. I have a membership at the YMCA.

I've talked with the fitness experts there, and they look at me and say, "I think you can bench 200, lateral 250, etc." The numbers are too high. I don't know how to play with those weights, how to figure out what is the right start, how much weight should I lift without hurting myself and still accomplish something.

Y'all sound like fitness gurus here, but keep in mind that my idea of fitness is eating smothered chicken instead of fried chicken.

Start light. Start w/ benching the bar (typically 45lbs) - if you can do that 10 times without a problem - add a 10lb plate to each side. My suggestion is take it EASY for the first week - you are gunna be sore. Ya just gotta work through it & streach like a lot!

Also, if you are going to seriously start lifting weights - then you also need to seriously start eating right.

Stretching -- exactly how should that be done? Ya know, I've asked those 'fitness experts' at the Y and they said it's not important. One said it's important, but didn't know how to teach me.

If I had the $ I'd've hired a personal trainer long ago and be buff!

Now, about eating right - I've actually begun that. Details aren't necessary, but it did require some tears...

Stretching the muscles before & after you workout. Especially when you are feeling sore that first week. If you don't stretch - you will get hurt! And you WON'T want to start again! As for what to do....the basics you learned in grade school gym class. Nuthin' specific. Just get the muscles warm - the blood moving to them ect...

Like this...


or do a Google Image search on Arm Stretching. Plenty of pics of what to do for that.

Clay being as you've mentioned loosing a few pounds

Here are some of my recommendations:

1) Look on eBay for a subscription to "Mens Fitness" great articles, diagram, tips, and good motivation... I got a 2 year subscription for about $10 and they threw in extra magazines

2) Stretching is WAY important, and I will either Find pictures or draw you my infamous Microsoft Paint pictures to show you some great strechs. For now, start with the basics, touch your toes, and stuff.

3) Go to the Gym, go to the Gym, Go to the Gym... Make it a regular priority, a schedule block of time, like an important doctors appointment so many days a week. Once you get into the routine it'll be easier.

4) When lifting free wieghts, start with the dumbells and work your way up to the bar. For you since you are trying to trim up. Find a Weight that you can do a set of 10-12 reps. Becuase I am trying to gain weight, i do more wieght 5 reps. Start light, complete a set and add more wieght...

more to come i have to run...

How does that guy bend like that? Has he got all his parts?

Stop Joking Around that's an easy one
(the only one I can touch my toes) lol


You went to the Y the other day...

Whacha do ?

Right now, I'm trying to get some stamina back and work up the cardio stuff so I can actually do some weights. I'm doing about 30 minutes on the treadmill. I've got asthma (5 years now) and it's really slowed me down. But I was able to talk the whole 30 minutes on the treadmill. That's a first! (I may be able to sing in a processional at church!)

I found an article on stretching at http://exercise.about.com/cs/flexibility/l/blstretch.htm. Is this what GR was talking about?

My legs look really good (I promised MDolls pics - haven't gotten around to it yet...). I'm not so worried about that. But I would like to reduce my belly and maybe get rid of my boobs.

Those are some really good Leg stretches!!


You need to throw in some good upper body streches too, especially for weight lifting... I'll have to find some for you.


If you wanna burn Fat, the Treadmill is where it is at!! That and the Eliptical Machine....


does the one at your gym have sensors to monitor your Heart Rate?


What kind of Speed and incline are you currently doing???


being on there for 30 mins is great!!! if you can throw in like 10 minutes at a 6.0 mph Jog, you'd be tearing it up!


I don't think you should be altogether skipping the weight lifting though. Weight lifting burns mad calories, will help even out your diet and will tone your muscles so when you are slimmed down, you'll be ripped.


If your not concerned about your lower body, then just stick to some basic upperbody weight lifting. The treadmill is plenty fine to tone your legs.


Does your Gym, have Weight Machines? Sometimes it's best to start on those before free wieghts. Need to find a good machine for:
Chest
Back
Biceps
Triceps
Shoulders

Bare minimum take an extra 30 mins and do some basic stuff for those groups. Just find a nice machine, do 3 sets of 10-12 reps with a weight that you are comfortable with. START LIGHT

Good Bicep strecth

http://www.health24.com/fitness/Stretching...-1374,28849.asp

Tricep

http://www.health24.com/fitness/Stretching...-1374,27706.asp

Dear mother of God I can't even do a 6 MPH run for my life..... maybe a 4 and change and have a heart attack after 25 feet....

That's BS dude!!!

Have you seen that Show "The Biggest Loser" ... i love that show... anywhoo...

After they got these big dudes working out, that wicked trainer ninja lady made em ALL run at the tread mill at 10 mph for one minute!!!

10mph is FAST... but even the biggest dudes were doing it. They had that big doctor Jeff guy doing it, and when he got there he couldn't even walk down steps when he first arrived.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Clay should run a ten minute mile tommorow, but he can work up to it in a matter of a month.

Sadly it's not BS...

When I was still doing factory work... yeah I might have been able to do 10 maybe a little over for a full minute...


After getting a job where I'm chained to a desk all night / day whatever shift I work when this is read, I am serioulsy in a very VERY poor physical condition.

I'm winded walking 20 yards to the mailbox.

But Misty and I are trying to start walking more... especially after we get to the new house next month. Right now it's going to be a lot of packing.

Well I didn't say you should try it tommorow,
but you'd be surprised how fast you could work up to it.

Should Start a raspy thread and we can all chime in


Clay... What the fudge man, Where's the update ?? You been to the gym... and don't give me any lame excuses.


I'm thinking about starting my own thread too, track my progress gaining twenty pounds.

Just start speed walking and then work up to jogging.

.
.
This I'VE GOTTA SEE IN PERSON....


Especially the 250lb "lateral".

Yeah, I'm weighing in at 235 and do 50-60 lb. lateral raises on my heavy days with much assistance from my w/o partner.

That's something I'd suggest clay- get a workout partner. Preferably someone bigger or stronger than you. I lift with my little brother- talk about motivation to lift more than him!

:lol: There is a guy who's bigger and stronger than me. Looks like a 75-year-old Hulk Hogan - literally. He's a legend at the Houston YMCAs, the oldest fitness instructor in town!

I haven't worked out in ages. I need to, but I just can't get motivated to go into that room and sweat for no reason.

Good reasons to sweat:

• At the beach
• Riding a real (as opposed to stationary) bike through the countryside
• :eyebrows:

Well, that's about it...

Most guys I know hate doing cardio. I like mountain biking and hiking but I'm no runner. There is something about lifting weights, though. I've been doing it for a few years though so it's pretty cool when you stack up the plates for heavy squats or deadlift days right next to the guys who are benching the bar (while it's probably good advice to start benching the bar... I don't think my ego could let me if I were just starting out!) What's cool about starting out having never worked out before is all the milestones-

-benching past 200, 300
-squatting past 300-400
-puking at the gym
-passing out at the gym
-cold sweats
-almost crapping your pants during a heavy lift
-getting asked if you've ever used roids
-getting asked to train someone

These are all great things I've had happen! Enjoy the gym!

-belching past 200, 300
-s***ting past 300-400
-puking at the gym
-passing out at the gym
-cold sweats
-almost crapping your pants during a heavy lift
-getting asked if you've ever used roids
-getting asked to train someone

Um - no. I'll keep my fat, thank you. I prefer it to a muscle strain. 'Sides. Wifey has something to grab onto since I ain't got no hair.

By the way. I notice I started this thread over a year ago. Who bumped it? I think you win the award for dragging up the oldest :poop:

squats give you a butt, gives my wife something to hang onto!

EEEEWWW! TMI!!!!!! :gotcha:

:rolf: