almostfit's 2009 - Page 3

5kgLifter · 09-28-2009, 04:51 PM

Nice to see you back on the forum.

I just noticed a few posts up that you're doing your honours degree, is that the final year you're currently in, or have you just started a degree course?

I recently finished my honours year

almostfit · 09-30-2009, 02:15 AM

Congrats on finishing! It's definitely an achievement.

I can't wait till mine's over... not long now!
It's worked out to be my 4th year of uni. (no breaks since starting school!) I'm considering doing my masters next year though...thats another 2 years, but is the same amount of work as honours which was squashed into one.
I've never worked so hard, It's a good thing my studio's next to an oval otherwise I'd be very unfit by now. We even had to put a mattress in the studio cause everyone keeps falling asleep at their desks, stupid long hours.
Needless to say I'm trying to re-motivate myself and find some more time for me and exercise. I can't make it to the gym daily at the moment so I bought some small free weights to work with at home, they're light, the biggest is 4kgs but they're better than nothing!

almostfit · 10-16-2009, 12:26 AM

I'm getting a new routine on wednesday!

Trying to get excited about it- the instructor's great, I know it's going to be a good challenging workout

My exegesis is due next friday!!! then classes are officially over and all I have to do is prepare for my assessment exhibition in a month. I'll finally be able to breathe again, I'm going to spend ages in the pool/spa/sauna relaxing to celebrate.
ONE WEEK TO GO! WOOHOO!

almostfit · 10-23-2009, 10:00 AM

I got my new routine!
It's great. Hard but great!
I found a bar that I can use overhead without hurting my dodgy wrists, I think it's called the ezybar? well it's bendy and a funny shape, but it doesn't hurt so I'm loving it.
I'm doing squats on the bosu and crunches on it with a 10kg weight! killer
Doing standing cable flys, they're good. and straight arm push down things- I forget there proper name but they kill your triceps and abs and back. Assisted chin ups too, they're painful but good. Power squats with 11kg ezybar too! I think thats all of them. oh and cardio, I'm doing 20 secs on as fast a physically possible and 20 secs off on cardio. It's amazing. I never thought my heartrate could get and stay that high.
Haven't lost weight in a couple of months though. Annoyed.
Has anyone tried caffeine based weight loss pills? Do they work? or am I just getting crazy even thinking about it?

5kgLifter · 10-23-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by almostfit

I got my new routine!
It's great. Hard but great!
I found a bar that I can use overhead without hurting my dodgy wrists, I think it's called the ezybar? well it's bendy and a funny shape, but it doesn't hurt so I'm loving it.
I'm doing squats on the bosu and crunches on it with a 10kg weight! killer
Doing standing cable flys, they're good. and straight arm push down things- I forget there proper name but they kill your triceps and abs and back. Assisted chin ups too, they're painful but good. Power squats with 11kg ezybar too! I think thats all of them. oh and cardio, I'm doing 20 secs on as fast a physically possible and 20 secs off on cardio. It's amazing. I never thought my heartrate could get and stay that high.
Haven't lost weight in a couple of months though. Annoyed.
Has anyone tried caffeine based weight loss pills? Do they work? or am I just getting crazy even thinking about it?

First, don't bother wasting your money on caffeine based pills, it's cheaper to drink a cup of strong coffee

You may not be losing any weight, because of the amount of muscle work you are doing and that will result in muscle mass and fat loss, which means your weight may stay stable for a short time, or go in spurts. I remember losing 1.5 lbs fat and gaining 1.5 lbs muscle and not seeing a change on the scales, but in body composition. Cardio teaches the body to burn fat, muscle is more metabolically active (so extra will help burn more fat/calories); so the two forms of exercise work brilliantly together.

It seems like you're really into your new routine and loving it; I reckon you're doing great, especially since you're studying as well

almostfit · 10-24-2009, 08:13 AM

Thanks 5kgLifter, I really love my new routine, it's challenging but not disheartening, I feel great because I can see myself getting better and better every time I do it.

I think i'm doing ok now, I've been spending more time exercising outside and listening to music which makes me smile! I handed in my exegesis on friday! It's done!!! YAY! Classes are officially over! I've just got to write my masters application this weekend. Now i've got a month of hard work preparing for assessment/exhibition and then i can do nothing! nothing but go to the gym, relax, read, cook, take photos and have fun!

You mention the waste of money aspect to caffeine based pills but i've been given some by a friend to kick start my weight loss... so I was just wondering if they actually work or if they're bad for you. I'm not a coffee/soda drinker so the only caffeine I have is in the occasional chocolate treat (which still manages to make my head/heart go funny) so i'm just cautious.

As far as cms go, I actually managed to gain an inch on my waist, but I think it's the muscle underneath because I feel so much stronger through my core.
I really hope you're right about the losing fat/gaining muscle but my scales haven't shown a change in body fat % either

oh well, chin up and keep going, I know I'm doing the right stuff... hopefully my body will decide to shrink soon.

5kgLifter · 10-24-2009, 12:31 PM

Since you already have the caffeine pills, it probably wouldn't do you any harm to try them. Some people, due to the amount of caffeine in them tend to get jittery, so I'd watch for that. Caffeine, in any form, also raises the heart rate (tachycardia ??), so you may feel your heart beating a little faster, depending on how they affect you etc. I believe, caffeine can also dehydrate, (but don't quote me

), take a look on the internet for caffeine side effects, and if it does state dehydration just drink a bit more fluid.

They may work for you, but if they do, afterwards you could always consider a cup of coffee or some other caffeinated drink just before workouts. I do know that it does help to keep a person more alert which is probably how it helps during exercise, you just get that extra boost which means you workout slightly harder without necessarily noticing it.

Trusylver · 10-24-2009, 10:09 PM

caffeine does have a scientifically proven beneficial effect in training and competition which is why it was a banned drug for many years BUT the levels of caffein required to have an effect is very high will effect some people very badly. I can confirm dehydration is a side effect.

5-6 grams per kg of bodyweight is required 1 hour prior to an event to improve performance in prolonged aerobic exercise.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, andrenalin and muscle.

almostfit · 10-25-2009, 12:15 PM

Thanks very much girls, I really appreciate it. I did do some internet research on caffeine but I never know what to believe, so I thought i'd better check in here! you always seem to know something about everything.
I guess I'll give it a go and if it has any bad side effects stop quickly.
Who knows, maybe my new routine will kick start my weight loss and I won't have to resort to it... I might give it a couple of weeks, I think I'd like to avoid it if I can.
I've also been considering personal training... the old gym manager- now instructor as he's back at uni doing his masters in sports rehab or something like that, has offered to train me.. He's the one who put this routine together for me and has done some amazing ones in the past too... but I don't know, how much more can personal training do for me? Do any of you have trainers? or have you in the past? Just thinking about it...
Thanks again for your advice, This forum's great

Trusylver · 10-25-2009, 01:16 PM

I have 2 coaches (not quite the same as a personal trainer) but the benefit of having a trainer is they are able to get the most out of a client by pushing you to do things you would never consider on your own. They help you to not give up or take the easy option in a workout.