Trying To Lose 30LBS, Please Help :)

twiztid · 05-13-2009, 12:50 AM

Okay, so right now I weigh 185LBS, and I'm around 5'7. I'm also 21 years old. It's just hard for me to get to the gym, because I don't know what to do. (can't afford a trainer) I was hoping you'd be able to help, because I have heard such mixed things.

I want to get to about 160LBS (30-35 lbs) about how long will that take?

At least, how long until I/Others will start to see weight loss???

I've read I have to do weight training and cardio in order to lose weight, otherwise I will get very flabby skin? Please help me out with this.
Right now, I'm eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack inbetween of some fruit. I wouldn't say that my eating is the healthiest thing, but I stopped putting on very greasy food and lower my portions. This way I'm eating at least what I like. (which does NOT include Fast food or anything along those lines. I'm just a pasta kind of person!)

I was hoping you'd also be able to give me some advice as to what machines to use, and how long. I'm very, self conscious about going on the treadmill at this point. I know there are people that wish they only had 30lbs to lose, and I shouldn't complain, but when I run I feel my gut move and it's not something that I'm proud of. I tried to go on it, and got so discouraged, I haven't gone back to the gym in months.

I am grateful to all the help and extra suggestions you guys will give!

twiztid · 05-13-2009, 12:53 AM

I realize I might have put this in the wrong section, sorry.

PTSara · 05-13-2009, 03:26 AM

First you have to stop caring about what others think..you go to the gym for yourself, your fitness and health not others : ) Are you doing any type of cardio or workouts now? You do have to do cardio and strength training together to lose weight. To start out you should 30 mins or more of cardio and 2 days of strength training. With cardio you have to mix it up, keep tricking your body. Example Monday walk treadmill for 20 mins and the ellipital for 10 mins. Tuesday ellipital 15 mins, bike 15 mins. Another day you can do incline intervals on the treadmill at a speed of 3 or 3.5 for 30 minutes. As a beginner you don't want to get on the treadmill running full force bc you will tire out and discourage as you stated. For weight training do light weight 5 to 10 lbs, 8 to 12 reps/2 sets. If you do not have funds for a personal trainer you can always look up workouts online, there are so many sites with tons of workouts! Best wishes!

stikfigure · 05-13-2009, 06:05 AM

definitely with PTsara about forgetting what others think. Until you do it for yourself it's not going to stick.

how's your diet? give us a sample of what you eat in a day. that's a huge part of this and if you start exercising without taking care of the food you eat you'll set yourself up for failure. and it's not about restricting. it's about fueling the workout!

you need to create a non-negotiable time in your schedule for exercise at least three times a week. once it's part of your schedule it becomes like anything else and you just DO IT.

Read some of the articles on this site. take a look at muscleandstrength.com for good workout pictures and workout routines that you can follow.

don't be afraid to learn about weight lifting. The more muscle you build the more you are helping your body to burn calories on its own in the long run.

while you're learning about the weight lifting ptsara's advice about cardio is great. start slow.

good luck getting started and post as many specific questions as you need to here.

twiztid · 05-14-2009, 05:43 PM

thanks guys. I know I have to stop caring, it's just hard sometimes at my age at least. Anyways, I eat a bowl of ceral in the morning with some apple juice. For lunch if I'm working I'll eat those "Healthy Meals" pasta ones or chicken, that comes precooked. For dinner it depends on what's at home. Ranges from frozen food-pasta-hamburgers. It depends on what I cook.
In between I'll eat some peaches or apple sauce or something.

Soem lunches I'll eat salad, it depends on my allowing schedule for that day.

Tricking my body with the cardio, see I never knew that. I would have done the same exercise day in and day out.

Would I be able to alternate? Like Mon, Wed, Fri do a workout. and Tues, Thurs do another workout, that's the same those days.
Or that's not tricking my body much?