I need some gym advice...

tiffanygil

I am almost at my goal and I am changing my routine at the gym to include less cardio (from 1 hour to 1/2 hour) and more strength training. I started last week with a plan set up by the trainer at the gym. Its about 45 min of strength training targetting diff parts of my body each day. So here is my issue, I dont knw if I want to be "the buff" girl, doesn't all that muscule turn to fat after you stop lifting wts? and how much should I increase my cals to reflect the work out? Also I knw the key to building musc. is eating more protein so is there a way of getting the protein with out eating a lot of cals or having to add the pwder stuff. Thanks in advance for any help! :flowerforyou:

majasmi

its a common myth, but muscle doesnt turn to fat. they are different things completely, the reason people put on weight once they stop working out is because they eat a certain amount of cals to maintain that weight with exercise. but the problem is that once they stop exercising, they dont adjust the amount they eat. thus they put on weight.

dont worry about becoming the "buff" girl, its not easy to become buff, plus your trainer will put you on a toning type of session im assuming, so low weights and high reps, probably 4 sets of 15 reps. or something like that, you wont become buff with that.

the whey protein shakes are pretty good. other than that maybe you can try drinking more milk or soy milk~

havingitall

Clif makes good protein bars called Builder bars. They have 20g of protein in them and are tasty.

You are not going to become the incredible hulk by lifting weights. Your trainer can give you the best advice on that. If you trainer is good, they will be able to give you advice on nutrition as well as exercise. My trainer has a wealth of information and actually lives the way he teaches.

BossyGirl

While strenght training, women will not bulk up like men....we dont have that special amino acid that males do. The women who are really bulky are also taking suppliments to increse the mucsle mass. Strength traing will make you look more lean and toned. I was worried about the same issue and I did some research.

shallen210

Yeah strength training won't make you get bulky....read this article...About 1/3 of the way down the gentleman who is a certified personal trainer discusses briefly about women using heavy resistance training...Hope it helps you.

http://tinyurl.com/yb99opt

Azdak

Given where you are in your program, I would agree that this is the right thing to do in your program.

Enjoy the strength training and don't be afraid to work hard. I also wouldn't obsess about protein. Unless you are really restricting your calories, you are probably getting all you need. If you are getting 20%-25% of your calories from protein, that is most likely sufficient, if not more than sufficient.