The Running/Keeping Fit Thread

[Ams12]

Depends what you are going to the gym for. Some weeks I do no cardio. But I should say I walk 2 and a half miles a day at a fast pace whilst travelling to work, plus I don't have a desk job, I am on my feet every now & again throughout the day.

Lifestyle & gym goals come into the equation, no right way or wrong way for anyone.

But one fact - the bigger your muscles, the more fat you burn when at rest. So hitting the weights is a major player in the weight loss game.

Too many people go on the cardio machines and hammer it for all their worth. They'll get fitter, but if their main aim is to look good, it's not the greatest idea. Because when running at a certain level, you start to burn muscle more than fat, which harms your chance of losing weight.

Of course, sprinting on a treadmill for 5 hours a week will see you get where you want if its just weight loss, but you could have got there that much quicker if you slowed the pace and hit the weights.

Personally, I may not be as hardcore or as dedicated as many, but if I'm wasting my time down a gym, you can be dam sure I want to be making it worth my while. So I always make sure that my hour is packed to the max with routines that work for me.

Great advise mate! Weights are more important than steady state cardio in the weight loss game!

The name of the game is 'EPOC' (Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption) which will keep your body burning calories at a higher rate 2-3 days post exercise...the weights will bring this affect much more than cardio.

[Neil Young]

Interval training burns fat fast.

[Darth Marty]

Interval training burns fat fast.

5 words = All the previous pages.

[Norbs]

I've just completed my 5th 6k run and its not getting any easier! Bettered the time each time, by another 40 seconds tonight. Latest time is 32m47s or a shade under 9 minutes per mile. Target is 32 mins and then we're going to increase the distance to 10k

[tufty]

I started in January, not so much a diet as eating healthier and doing more exercise

not into gyms, spent my time wallowing in hot tub perving

I've now lost just over 1.1/2 stones now just under 14

not got a target as such, I'm over six foot so just waiting til I look and feel about right

given up eating all the ****e as used to enjoy but knew was bad for me, pastry, crisps, biscuits, cake, chocolate, and cheese which is a big loss for me

I go for a walk every night now for about an hour, does wonders

[paulg]

I've been reading this with interest, but usual lack of motivation. I'm 6'2 and am down to about 16.5 stone, from 17 - 17.5, through walking the dog and eating / grazing less.

We had all our carpets changed, at home, so I spent two days moving all the furniture up and down the stairs. My abs (didn't know I had), shoulders and thighs ache like I've done the biggest workout of my life. Maybe I should become a removal man!

[Snigger]

Sarb, when you get to a certain body fat % it becomes insanely hard to shift it without being very strict.

I'm a casual gym goer who sticks to the routine and doesn't eat crap on a regular basis. That gets me to a certain level. If and when I get close to a 4 pack showing, at that point I may look at things closer to get down to the 6 pack.

I don't know what it is for me, but it is certain that some people show a 6 pack on 10% or more, whilst some have to get right down to 6% body fat. Depends on your genes at that kind of level.

Fast diet burns fat without the need of much exercise and its easy and sustainable, first couple of weeks is tough but your body learns to adapt. It's really simple, burns fat, lowers BMI and importantly internal fat that surrounds your internal organs, it lowers cholesterol, blood sugar levels and blood pressure minimising risks of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's etc.....

The human body was not designed to eat the way we do, 3 square meals a day, over 2000 calories every day - conitiunuous eating tricks the body into storing fat which it is designed to do for famine days where fat is burned for energy. Early man ate what he killed, sometimes he would go days with nothing, others he'd gorge on a big kill - this is what the body is designed to deal with and why there is so much obesity now with a big kill each and every day and no need to hunt ie exercise.

Its's very simple, 2 days a week you limit your calorie intake - women can have up to 500 calories a day and men up to 600 calories, how you split those calories over the day is up to you and what works best for you but the longer you can last without eating anything from the previous night the better. The remaining 5 days you eat and drink what you want, obviously if you do it in moderation you'll see the effects faster.

If you want more info Dr Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer wrote a book on it, there is also a horizon programme about it.

It works, is easy and sustainable as you know that tomorrow you can do what you want, I know because I'm doing it and have friends that live that way now. Once you reach your fighting weight you reduce it to fasting once a week.

It should not replace exercise but work with it, that said it is actually a more efficient way to burn fat than exercise as twice a week your body burns excess fat to convert into energy as you are not feeding your system, the body is working as nature intended it to and if dont exercise regularly or have problems sustaining a gym regime you now have an alternative that also wins you many side health benefits. Give it a go.

[Rowan]

I binned off the gym on account of the fact that it is a ****ing soulless place full of unfun machines. Plus I was getting pissed off with people walking on treadmills.

Anyway, bought a door gym which gets some occasional use but I joined a running club and I run with them twice a week. It's done wonders for my stamina and speed. Varied work outs, lovely people, lovely girls. It's marvellous. We played pursuit last night which is basically a 6 mile long game of tag. I've been training with them for 3 weeks and my first half marathon of the year (last Sunday) was done in 1:34. 4 minutes quicker than my pb so it defo works. So running clubs are the future.

I might try a park run too. Only 5k so could probably sprint it and I'd get to take down a load of mutha****ers. The weather is picking up too so I can soon dump the buff bandanas and bust out the Luis Garcia Stylee hair supports

[Neil Young]

Long bike rides.

I'm knaggd.

[Snigger]

I used to ride to work, 15 miles each way - loved it, got fitter but was perpetually hungry.

[Fierce]

Fast diet burns fat without the need of much exercise and its easy and sustainable, first couple of weeks is tough but your body learns to adapt. It's really simple, burns fat, lowers BMI and importantly internal fat that surrounds your internal organs, it lowers cholesterol, blood sugar levels and blood pressure minimising risks of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's etc.....

The human body was not designed to eat the way we do, 3 square meals a day, over 2000 calories every day - conitiunuous eating tricks the body into storing fat which it is designed to do for famine days where fat is burned for energy. Early man ate what he killed, sometimes he would go days with nothing, others he'd gorge on a big kill - this is what the body is designed to deal with and why there is so much obesity now with a big kill each and every day and no need to hunt ie exercise.

Its's very simple, 2 days a week you limit your calorie intake - women can have up to 500 calories a day and men up to 600 calories, how you split those calories over the day is up to you and what works best for you but the longer you can last without eating anything from the previous night the better. The remaining 5 days you eat and drink what you want, obviously if you do it in moderation you'll see the effects faster.

If you want more info Dr Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer wrote a book on it, there is also a horizon programme about it.

It works, is easy and sustainable as you know that tomorrow you can do what you want, I know because I'm doing it and have friends that live that way now. Once you reach your fighting weight you reduce it to fasting once a week.

It should not replace exercise but work with it, that said it is actually a more efficient way to burn fat than exercise as twice a week your body burns excess fat to convert into energy as you are not feeding your system, the body is working as nature intended it to and if dont exercise regularly or have problems sustaining a gym regime you now have an alternative that also wins you many side health benefits. Give it a go.

Lec?

Not really a polite way to put this, but almost all of what you've written is not true.

Consuming less calories than you expend will make you lose weight, regardless of which days you choose that reduction

But to agree with you:

diet >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> exercise

When it comes to shifting fat

[Snigger]

Lec?

Not really a polite way to put this, but almost all of what you've written is not true.

Consuming less calories than you expend will make you lose weight, regardless of which days you choose that reduction

But to agree with you:

diet >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> exercise

When it comes to shifting fat

Not sure you've really understood it, and if you don't think it's true watch the Horizon programme where it's scientifically tested and proven.

Of course consuming less calories than you expend makes you lose weight, that's the whole point, the trick is to find away to do it in a sustainable way that you can keep doing unlike calories controlled diets every day - which is what this gives you.

I've seen it work, mate of mine has lost 2 stone and his dangerously high blood pressure has dropped significantly. I've given it a go and lost 1/2 a stone so far without increasing the amount of exercise I do or dieting in any way the other 5 days of the week.

Write it off if you want, it's your loss.

[Beastie]

Hi Snigger,

About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with high blood pressure which spooked me into getting fit and loosing weight. I lost 20 kg over a 12 month period , I have managed to keep it off but I still carry about 5 kg too much weight. I Got into Mountain Bike Riding during my fitness dive, but find I really struggle up long hills, so would love to get rid over those extra 5 kg

I started the 5:2 diet last Friday, today is may third fast day. I wanted to find out more scientific info regarding the diet, which I have found hard to get. Probably the most balanced article I found is form the NHS web site. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01Januar...diet-work.aspx you might find it interesting.

I will keep you informed on the results.

[Boogs]

I need/want to lose 2 stone and I am giving this a go. I'm only into the second week and the fast days you should chose carefully. I chose Mondays and Thursdays and yesterday fast was much easier.
I do feel that as you are watching your calories on these 2 days a week ,you are much more aware of what you are putting in your mouth for the rest of the week which also assists the loss greatly.

[Snigger]

Hi Snigger,

About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with high blood pressure which spooked me into getting fit and loosing weight. I lost 20 kg over a 12 month period , I have managed to keep it off but I still carry about 5 kg too much weight. I Got into Mountain Bike Riding during my fitness dive, but find I really struggle up long hills, so would love to get rid over those extra 5 kg

I started the 5:2 diet last Friday, today is may third fast day. I wanted to find out more scientific info regarding the diet, which I have found hard to get. Probably the most balanced article I found is form the NHS web site. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01Januar...diet-work.aspx you might find it interesting.

I will keep you informed on the results.

Yes I've see that, and there is much research to do as it's a relatively new theory for mass market.