what's the best place to workout?

[GameDude]

I went to a local gym and they wanted almost $40 a month with a 2 year plan...and $75 a month with no commitment! :o

[sblymnlcrymnl]

YMCA is probably cheapest

[epobirs]

All you need is few square yards of space. Equipment is nice but there are plenty of effective exercises you can perform that use the weight of your own body as all the resistance needed. You can add equpiment slowly as cash flow allows. A simple weight bench will give you plenty of value without breaking the bank. Most of the array at the gym simply serves to make the process more entertaining rather than more effective.

If you're looking to socialize while sweating, that is the real value of a gym membership. Beyond that it's largely a scam. If you have the self-discipline to stick to a regimen without having money sunk in a membership you'll be fine.

If you want some simulated jogging without cutting into your gaming time, I've found that I can do a lot of playing while using a treadmill.

[GameDude]

[quote="epobirs"]All you need is few square yards of space. Equipment is nice but there are plenty of effective exercises you can perform that use the weight of your own body as all the resistance needed. You can add equpiment slowly as cash flow allows. A simple weight bench will give you plenty of value without breaking the bank. Most of the array at the gym simply serves to make the process more entertaining rather than more effective.

quote]

know any sites with those exercises?

[WildWop]

It depends on what you want to get out of your workout. What type of physique are you going for?

[GameDude]

It depends on what you want to get out of your workout. What type of physique are you going for?

Pretty much to lose my love handles and tighten up my chest.

[WildWop]

You don't need a gym for that.

1) Diet (lovehandles)

2) Pushups, angled and flat (chest)

3) Jogging in a park/around the block (overall fitness, helps raise metabolism for #1)

[GameDude]

You don't need a gym for that.

1) Diet (lovehandles)

2) Pushups, angled and flat (chest)

3) Jogging in a park/around the block (overall fitness, helps raise metabolism for #1)

Do you have any suggestions for a good diet? Thanks.

[epobirs]

[quote="epobirs"]All you need is few square yards of space. Equipment is nice but there are plenty of effective exercises you can perform that use the weight of your own body as all the resistance needed. You can add equpiment slowly as cash flow allows. A simple weight bench will give you plenty of value without breaking the bank. Most of the array at the gym simply serves to make the process more entertaining rather than more effective.

[quote]

know any sites with those exercises?

I'd leave that to Google. If you want to build up your chest on the cheap, plain old push-ups will serve.

As for the love handles, wait and see if a regular regimen makes a difference. Cutting calories may be called for but don't do that simulataneously with starting an exercise regimen. You'll have a hard enough time fighting the hunger that comes with building new muscle mass. Some people pig out as a result of their stimulated appetite and find themselves becoming bigger because they keep on the fat while adding muscle. I've done it myself. If I avoid giving in to increased appetite I can make my pants fit noticeably looser after just a week's effort. My problem is sustaining it for more than a month.

[WildWop]

You don't need a gym for that.

1) Diet (lovehandles)

2) Pushups, angled and flat (chest)

3) Jogging in a park/around the block (overall fitness, helps raise metabolism for #1)

Do you have any suggestions for a good diet? Thanks.

I need to get an idea of what you eat now to give you a better recommendation, but here's some basics:

1) Eat on a strict, regular pattern. Personally I eat every three hours, but you are going for a different end result. I'd say every four hours will suffice.

2) Cut down on sugars and processed carbs. Both break down to glucose and cause a spike in your insulin levels, leading to fat.

3) Carbs are necessary for active lifestyles, so be sure to get a good amount in with your daily meals. Not all carbs are good carbs, though. You need to eat things with whole grains (oats, wheat) and not ones based in white flour. Oatmeal, brown rice = good. White bread, pasta = bad. Avoid burger buns like the plague.

4) Stay away from unnecessary fat intake. If you eat cheeseburgers, for instance, use a half a slice of cheese rather than a full one. It's basically all about moderation.

5) Lower the amount of salts in your diet, they lead to water retention and thick skin.

[Admiral Ackbar]

I work out at my local university. I just graduated May of last year so I have to pay the Alumni fees.

It's on the expensive side. Normally a gym around here would cost me $300 a year but the UD charges me $400 for a year. Also, on the downside, while summers are nice in early Fall and spring the place is too crowded. The Fall Semester starts this week I believe, so when I go in this evening I expect the weight room to be filled above capacity...

Those are the downsides. But it has a ton of pluses beyond a normal gym. I have access to most of the athletic faclities at UD, and our basic complex alone is twice the size of the YMCA. The YMCA is crowded year round where the university Gym is only crowded at peak times and for about five months a year. Compared to say, a Gold's Gym, we have an Olympic Pool, Soccer, football, baseball fields, indoor and outdoor tracks, aerobic and olympic weight rooms. Access to classes. Also get to keep my ID, which I can still pass off as a student ID easily for discounts and benefits.

As for diet, focus on reducing caloric intake. Also, don't go crazy. During the week I try to limit myself to around 1500-1600 calories a day, but I eat whatever I want on the weekend. It's worked out wellfor me, but it's taken me awhile to get comfortable, I worked into it gradually, and everybody is different.

Start by reducing for maybe a couple days at a time. Watch what you eat M/T, eat healthy but regularly on W, watch what you eat T/F, then maybe go out to dinner on Saturday. Eventually your body will adjust to the new regimen. Don't just try to go cold turkey. Also, a lot depends on current weight, body fat, health, etc. It's fine to start this on your own, but if over a six month period you see wild weight shifts, seek help. Say you lose 20 over two months, gain twenty over two months, and then lose it again, then you probbably need some expert guidance. Seek out a dietitian or physician to help set up a diet for you.

[GameDude]

Like this morning, I had a chicken sandwich.

Yesterday I had some waffles and sausage for breakfast. I usually eat a potpie express thing sometimes too with broccoli and chicken in it. I don't eat a lot, but I don't think I eat that well either.

I also ate a pizza yesterday with sausage and peperroni...I guess I should not do that, huh?

[Admiral Ackbar]

Well, my diet through the week is this...

In the morning I have some fruit. About 100 calories worth. That's like a small fruit bowl or a pear or bananna or something like that.

(They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I never was a big brealast guy. Until a couple years ago I hardly ever had breakfast in my life.)

Then about 4 hours later I eat my packed lunch. Small sandwich with turkey or ham, with cheese. Just don't load it up. Carrot sticks, Wow Potato chips or some sour dough pretzels. Diet coke or tea. Small pudding, a couplke cookies, or a couple nuggets of chocolate for desert. That's about 500 calories.

Then another four hours later I'll have a frozen dinner or something lite for dinner. Those forzen meals from Healthy choice and Lean Cuisine are actually very good. The only thing I worry about is sodium, because they're loaded with it. But from a calorie perspective they're great. A general frozen dinner comes around 400 calories. Don't eat the stuff that 250 or less because that is definately not enough food. Have those for a snack or supplement them. Here are some exampes of what I'm eating this week for dinner.

Stoffers Lasagna (350 cal) with Snow Peas(150 Cal)
Fresh Salmon (150 cal) with Lean Cuisine Broccoli/Cheddar Potatoes (250 Cal)
Healthy Choice Grilled Steak (400 cal) and a small pudding or something (100)
Lean Cuisine Jumbo Rigitone and Meatballs (400) plus an extra side of frozen vegetables (100)

So my average dinner is around 500 calories. That's just 1100 clories so far for the day. Then in the eveing I have another snack around 300 calories. A Hot Pocket, and ice cream cone, a chocolate bar, some pretzels, a slice of pie, whatever. I also usually have a snack when a craving hits for about 100 calories. Recently I've become hooked on the Sunkist Tropical Medely. It's like crack-coccain and a quarter cup is around a hundred calories.

I try to space myself in 2 and 4 hour increments. Have breakfast, wait four hours till lunch, four hours till dinner, for hours till my evening meal/snack. If I get a craving I try to satisfy it in between the four hour intervals.

But yesterday was sunday, so I could eat whatever I want. I skipped breakfast. Hsd a salad for lunch. Went to Bob Evans for dinner and had their Wildfire Salad. Stopped by DQ and got a large blizzard. Then late in the evening I had a slice of pie and then a Strawberry turnover with icing. Even with all that it was probably around 2500-2800 calories, which for a person my size, weight, and muscle build is just about right for my daily allowance