Help! Need advice on my exercise regimen!

MMarvelous

I agree w/ strength training. Also take your MEASUREMENTS and track them at least monthly. If you can afford a PT definitely invest in one for at least 3 months.

Check out the book News Rules of Lifting for Women. It explains why women should lift HEAVY weights and why women won't get BULKY. There is a MFP group you can join as well.

Lastly, check your SODIUM intake. You would be surprised how much sodium pre-packaged foods have and deli meat.

Good luck~

madamepsychosis

It didn't take you a week to put on your weight, it won't take a week to lose it.

belovedromena

If you love cardio, you can do a Tread and Shred routine like this one. Everything is for 2 minutes unless noted otherwise.
1. warm up at 3.5
2. incline 8, 3.5
3. run/jog/walk fast (whatever level you are at right now). I usually do 6.5. Incline 0.
4. speed 3.2, walk with high knees
5. 20 seconds all out as fast as you can go, 10 seconds rest. Repeat 8x (takes 4 minutes). Hang onto the side bars to jump on and off. BE CAREFUL
6. recover-3.5
7. stop the treadmill. Hang on to the side bars or the front where you would take heart rate, put feet behind you so you are at an angle, and do push-ups. You can do 30 seconds with hands wide and 30 seconds with them narrow if you want to target triceps, too.
8. Squat with overhead press-1 minute. Start with weights that are challenging for you by the end. May be only 3 or 5 lbs if you are a newbie to lifting weights!
9. Bicep curls-1 minute. Make sure you extend your arms fully as this will keep you looking long and lean.
10. back on the treadmill at a jog-maybe around 4.5
11. 20 seconds all out, 10 seconds recovery 8x (takes 4 minutes)
12. recover 3.5
13. incline 12, speed 3.0. Try not to hang onto the treadmill as much as possible.
14. run/jog/walk fast (whatever level you are at right now). I usually do 6.5. Incline 0.
15. cool down-3.5
This should take about 1/2 hour. Your heart rate should go up and down (good for cardio fitness and fat burning) and you've incorporated some weights and the time flies by!

amanda52488

Wow!! Thankyou for all of the replies!!!!
This is what I am going to do:

1. Strength Train 2-3x a week. On these days, about 30 mins of strengh training and then 20 mins of cardio?
2. More protein, less carbs.
3. Drink more water.
4. Watch my sodium intake.

Ill check out that book... I usually do the machines when i strength train because I have a lot of neck issues and free weights tend to hurt my neck.

newfieborn

That sounds great. It will work. I am no doing enough strenght training yet but I intend on starting. I also find that 1 day with high sodium will show a large weigh increase and it takes about 2 day to get back to where I was. Just keep going and you will see results. Good luck.

mmapags

Wow!! Thankyou for all of the replies!!!!
This is what I am going to do:

1. Strength Train 2-3x a week. On these days, about 30 mins of strengh training and then 20 mins of cardio?
2. More protein, less carbs.
3. Drink more water.
4. Watch my sodium intake.

Ill check out that book... I usually do the machines when i strength train because I have a lot of neck issues and free weights tend to hurt my neck.

Better to split your strength and cardio on different days and up the intensity. I always feel that if I have the energy left do do cardio, I didn't go hard enough at strength and vice versa. Also, there is some eveidence that your body competes for recovery resources if strength and cardio and not seperated by at least 8 hours.

On the carb thing, I would get less of my carbs from grains that contain starch and more from fibrous veggies like Kale, Broccolli, Onions, Peppers. Swiss Chard, Spinach, Dark Green and Red Lettuces. This will help your weight loss.