Posted: 9/28/2008 3:16:57 PM EDT
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Folks I need some fitness advice. I need to improve my upper body strength and lose body fat. Goals Improve Pull Ups Improve Muscular Strength Improve Muscular Endurance Improve Flexibility Maintain Aerobic conditioning I have never had problems sticking to a running program but I have never been able to stick to a weight lifting plan. The options I am considering 1. Personal Trainer for 8 weeks to 2X to 3X a week 2. Civilian “boot camp” training program for 8 weeks 3. Gym membership and work out on my own 4. Body weight exercises at home 5. Yoga and P90X workout I am looking to run 3 days a week and work out 3 days week. Any advice on the pluses and minuses of the options I have listed. I am going to join my wife and follow to the weight watcher points program as well Any other suggestions for programs. Thanks The Bald Monk |
Lengthy post follows, but I put thought into it, so please take the time to read it. A 'boot camp' style program would not be a bad way to kick-start things for a novice trainee. The programs are generally paced appropriately and the staff can monitor everyone's progress. In this sense, all you have to worry about is performing. After 8 weeks, you can keep up the routines on your own by setting higher goals. Other members here are currently doing P90X and have nothing negative to say. The whole program is laid out for you, it establishes benchmarks and goals, and probably gives you the tools you need to progress beyond the program. A few of them will hopefully weigh in. Personal trainers are a gamble. Very few are worth what you will pay and you'd be surprised how much money you can save with what you can learn on your own in a short amount of time. Hitting the weights solo eventually works for everyone... because they make mistakes over and over and over again until they start getting things right. You can go that route, but better to have a foundation (like PT) so that you can hit the gym with some muscle and with a plan for goal-oriented training. There will come a day in the surprisingly near future that you will feel very confident and very ready to buy a good lifting book and move some serious weight. PT your ass off under some supervision until you get to that day. Most of all, don't give up. Good on you, and good luck! |
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I had a trainer for a long time. I found it to be very helpful, and he was a good source of motivation. I learned quite a bit, made serious weight loss progress (60 pounds in 11 months.) I am on my own now, and I'm pretty decent at knowing what to do. I am going to start a 15mile a week running kick for the rest of the year, and then I will start on Rippetoe's SS. Whatever you do, just dont give up. After a while, you will feel like crap NOT going to the gym every day. I have this to add last: A Six Pack is made in the Kitchen, not the gym |
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I will let others tackle the diet side, but when it come to training my advice is "make it enjoyable". If you like to run, base your program on running. Keep the other stuff to a minimum. Conversely, if you are a gym rat, spend most of your time there and fit in the least amount of cardio you can live with. Why? Because you will stick with an exercise program longer if you enjoy it. I have been a steak head in the past, but my passion now is endurance sports. I spend most of my time cycling and running, fitting in swims when I need to for races. I know that i need some strength work since I am in my 40s, so I keep it to 2 x 20-30 minute sessions per week. I won't look like Arnold, but I get what I need to avoid looking like a T-Rex and I can spend more time riding and running, which is where my heart is. |
P90X was made for you. I am on week 11 and I see major changes. P90X will help you with all of the goals you mentioned. Just in case you don't know there is a Yoga workout included with P90X. |