Do you go to the gym?

rollycollysmama
rollycollysmama Posts: 143
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
I am a gym newbe, and I have to main areas I want to work on, my love handles and tummy, what machines, excersizes would you suggest?

Replies

  • jenomaha
    jenomaha Posts: 631 Member
    I'm sure you've heard the whole "you can't spot reduce" thing. But in order to lose love handles/belly fat, it's more than just staying within your calorie goals. It takes three things. Cardio, strength training and cleaner eating. Cardio to burn the fat, strength training to build lean muscle (to burn even more fat and give you the "toned" look) and healthy, wholesome food to fuel your body to run efficiently. Try to avoid the boxed frozen meals, deep fat fried stuff, gimmick bars, etc. Go for lean meats, fruit, veggies, whole grains, monounsaturated fats (i.e. almonds, avocados) and low fat dairy. Also at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

    I would suggest a gym orientation with a trainer. Typically new memberships come with a free one! They can give you some suggestions. All muscles should be targeted and compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, push ups do wonders!!!

    Good luck!
  • EuroDriver12
    EuroDriver12 Posts: 805 Member
    I'm sure you've heard the whole "you can't spot reduce" thing. But in order to lose love handles/belly fat, it's more than just staying within your calorie goals. It takes three things. Cardio, strength training and cleaner eating. Cardio to burn the fat, strength training to build lean muscle (to burn even more fat and give you the "toned" look) and healthy, wholesome food to fuel your body to run efficiently. Try to avoid the boxed frozen meals, deep fat fried stuff, gimmick bars, etc. Go for lean meats, fruit, veggies, whole grains, monounsaturated fats (i.e. almonds, avocados) and low fat dairy. Also at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

    I would suggest a gym orientation with a trainer. Typically new memberships come with a free one! They can give you some suggestions. All muscles should be targeted and compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, push ups do wonders!!!

    Good luck!

    Well said got nothing to add..........
  • jwalker30
    jwalker30 Posts: 282
    I'm sure you've heard the whole "you can't spot reduce" thing. But in order to lose love handles/belly fat, it's more than just staying within your calorie goals. It takes three things. Cardio, strength training and cleaner eating. Cardio to burn the fat, strength training to build lean muscle (to burn even more fat and give you the "toned" look) and healthy, wholesome food to fuel your body to run efficiently. Try to avoid the boxed frozen meals, deep fat fried stuff, gimmick bars, etc. Go for lean meats, fruit, veggies, whole grains, monounsaturated fats (i.e. almonds, avocados) and low fat dairy. Also at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

    I would suggest a gym orientation with a trainer. Typically new memberships come with a free one! They can give you some suggestions. All muscles should be targeted and compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, push ups do wonders!!!

    Good luck!

    What she said....
  • ImJDLookatME
    ImJDLookatME Posts: 288 Member
    I don't use machines. I am all about the group fitness classes at my gym
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    I workout at home........I have the three main cardio pieces, treadmill, elliptical and stat. bike, tons of weights and DVD's........
  • rsmithy89
    rsmithy89 Posts: 174 Member
    Jenomaha covered it well.
  • ascott048
    ascott048 Posts: 61
    I agree with the above comment regarding a full body work out. I was never a gym class person but our gym has great instructors that make you feel welcome. I try to do full body workout classes-- our gym does LesMills classes. I rotate them on certain days, cardio and strength is RPM (Spin), Strength with Body Pump and CXWorks, cardio with Body Step. They offer more but these are my favorites.

    I also am trying the 30 day shred -- have to take a break cause i hurt my back -- which I feel like works better than than the Body Pump classes but you can't go wrong either way.

    I also do the elliptical when the classes are full or I am running late.
  • aregensb
    aregensb Posts: 239 Member
    I'm sure you've heard the whole "you can't spot reduce" thing. But in order to lose love handles/belly fat, it's more than just staying within your calorie goals. It takes three things. Cardio, strength training and cleaner eating. Cardio to burn the fat, strength training to build lean muscle (to burn even more fat and give you the "toned" look) and healthy, wholesome food to fuel your body to run efficiently. Try to avoid the boxed frozen meals, deep fat fried stuff, gimmick bars, etc. Go for lean meats, fruit, veggies, whole grains, monounsaturated fats (i.e. almonds, avocados) and low fat dairy. Also at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

    I would suggest a gym orientation with a trainer. Typically new memberships come with a free one! They can give you some suggestions. All muscles should be targeted and compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, push ups do wonders!!!

    Good luck!

    GREAT ANSWER! I just want to say - don't be afraid of strength training. You can get some amazing results with it. I've been lifting heavy since the end of November 2011 and I am so surprised with how much my stomach area has toned up. It's pretty impressive what working with HEAVY weights can do. Go do those deadlifts, squats, and lunges! It may not seem like it just looking at these exercises, but they do work your abdominal muscles because they require core stability.

    Since I started, I've been the sole female in my gym hanging out in the weight section. Granted, I go to a small gym, but it's crazy how intimidated other women are by the free weight area.

    Some other exercises you could do that concentrate on the middle: Swiss ball crunches, reverse crunches, prone jackknife (my favorite), and lateral flexions.
  • jenomaha
    jenomaha Posts: 631 Member
    I'm sure you've heard the whole "you can't spot reduce" thing. But in order to lose love handles/belly fat, it's more than just staying within your calorie goals. It takes three things. Cardio, strength training and cleaner eating. Cardio to burn the fat, strength training to build lean muscle (to burn even more fat and give you the "toned" look) and healthy, wholesome food to fuel your body to run efficiently. Try to avoid the boxed frozen meals, deep fat fried stuff, gimmick bars, etc. Go for lean meats, fruit, veggies, whole grains, monounsaturated fats (i.e. almonds, avocados) and low fat dairy. Also at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.

    I would suggest a gym orientation with a trainer. Typically new memberships come with a free one! They can give you some suggestions. All muscles should be targeted and compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, push ups do wonders!!!

    Good luck!

    Well said got nothing to add..........

    Wow, thanks for the approval :wink:
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