[Nicholas/Chaos]

GITS SAC Motoko, on 26 January 2012 - 12:49 AM, said:

Definitely a combination of watching what you eat and exercise combing cardio, abs workouts and other strength training whether it's arms, legs or whatever.

Watching what you eat will help keep the fat cells in your abdomen deflated and will not cause them not to swell. Carbohydrate consumption (like refine white breads/pastas) can cause your fat cells to swell. It's actually broken down the exact same as normal sugar! Usually it's CARBS/SUGAR that make us gain weight in many cases--it's a long biochemical story to get into--but in a nutshell your body stores the extra carbs that you eat (you really don't need TONS to survive, again another long biochemical story) and uses a little process that stores it into fat and for many of us, belly fat. It works too. Before I got really sick last year I followed this exact model and I was so close! But ah, well :3.

By doing cardio, it burns lots of calories at one time which helps burn calories somewhat quickly at one time. Then strength training helps rev up your metabolism for the rest of the day.

And then, lastly remember that just the front of your abdomen isn't all the abs you have! You have your rectus abdominus (the front 6pack and lower abs), you external obliques, transverse abdominus, and internal obliques. Regular crunches and leg lifts work the rectus abdominus, twisting crunches work the external and internal obliques, bridges/planks/and even pushups in a way work the transverse abdominus.

Hope this helps, I can post actual examples of work outs if you need them I know some places to go.

Thanks for the advise and could you please post examples? anything would help. all i been doing push ups, sits ups, crunches, planks, and playing DDR on expert for my cardio. (to cold to run outside in my opinion) but i'll start running again when volleyball seasons starts

[GITS SAC Motoko]

(I like to reference livestrong.com) lol.

Here are some examples with kinda how to do them:
Right here. :3

Some for the lower abs:
Here here!

[Nicholas/Chaos]

Thanks again now to have better abs by C2E2 for my Aqualad cosplay

[GITS SAC Motoko]

Hope everyone is staying somewhat healthy for the Super Bowl!!!!!

[magishine]

GITS SAC Motoko, on 05 February 2012 - 01:20 PM, said:

Hope everyone is staying somewhat healthy for the Super Bowl!!!!!

What is this "Super Bowl" you speak of?

[Alkaren Hyralt]

I would love to lose 20lbs at least by acen but I hurt my ankle really bad over christmas and it's still healing >< which has severely put my plans to start working out and losing some weight into the less likely category :[

[nouseforaname]

Lost 20some lbs from September to now. I feel pretty good about it.

[XenoBlade]

Alkaren Hyralt, on 05 February 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

I would love to lose 20lbs at least by acen but I hurt my ankle really bad over christmas and it's still healing >< which has severely put my plans to start working out and losing some weight into the less likely category :[

You don't have to just walk/run use the exercise bike till your ankle heals.

That and lifting weights.

[Isamu]

XenoBlade, on 05 February 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

You don't have to just walk/run use the exercise bike till your ankle heals.

That and lifting weights.

He's already doing 12oz curls.

[Nicholas/Chaos]

SOOO thanks to the super bowl party and my friend's birthday party i feel like i gained weight but i feel like i have more stamina. Was it the rest period? How long should your body heal before you start lifting/working out again?

[GITS SAC Motoko]

It depends. I mean if you're in terrible horrible pain then take a day rest. But if you're able to handle it do a lighter day or work a different muscle group. Like if you worked arms one day, try legs the next. But try to have one day of rest per week of no exercise to give your body a break .

[MsLovelyCookie]

Why does it seam that everything looks so easier to do or eat when the Dr. Oz is on TV and he is explaining what can help us become healthy?

While waiting on my time, there was a coworker sitting in front of me eating candy and drinking a Mountain Dew. Then another coworker started to give out candy and I refused but gave in when my friend gave me half. With Mr. Soda Drinker in front of me still, the person who gave out candy went and to get soda which I gave in and followed. I know it is not the end of the world for giving in that one time but I like to hear what you do. What are tricks for fighting temptation? How often should one treat themselves? What is keeping you on track with the work-outs?

This post has been edited by MsLovelyCookie: 06 February 2012 - 06:33 PM

[Alkaren Hyralt]

XenoBlade, on 05 February 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

You don't have to just walk/run use the exercise bike till your ankle heals.

That and lifting weights.

Yeah I know, but I have back injuries from a car accident a few years ago so I try to take it pretty easy with weights ><

Guess by ACen we'll see how it goes though

Isamu, on 06 February 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

He's already doing 12oz curls.

wtf

[NinjaJedi007]

^ Start easy indeed but bump up the intensity over time. The last thing anyone should do is avoid strength training, especially if there was previous injury. Stronger (because of exercise) usually means healthier muscles & joints. Plus you feel better and look better!

[GITS SAC Motoko]

MsLovelyCookie, on 06 February 2012 - 06:29 PM, said:

Why does it seam that everything looks so easier to do or eat when the Dr. Oz is on TV and he is explaining what can help us become healthy?

While waiting on my time, there was a coworker sitting in front of me eating candy and drinking a Mountain Dew. Then another coworker started to give out candy and I refused but gave in when my friend gave me half. With Mr. Soda Drinker in front of me still, the person who gave out candy went and to get soda which I gave in and followed. I know it is not the end of the world for giving in that one time but I like to hear what you do. What are tricks for fighting temptation? How often should one treat themselves? What is keeping you on track with the work-outs?

I set priorities and times that I can cheat. Honestly, I let myself cheat once a week. If I cut out cake and chocolate forever, I would die. Literally. I set Saturdays as my cheat days since I'm at work or if I go home I can eat good good at home. Holidays are a big one for me too, and ACEN. I let it go at ACEN. That is my ultimate "I don't give a hoot of what I eat" day. And on the rest of the days I watch my carb intake/food intake/drink lots of water.

To keep on track with workouts I keep a reminder of my goal where ever I can. It's cheesy but...Motoko Kusanagi is my goal. I want to be in shape like her is within my natural body frame. I make sure to have pictures of her everywehere so I'm reminded of how I want to be in her awesome shape. I have a picture of her which accents her awesome rockin' body on the background on my phone, I have pictures of her all over my room at home/dorm so I constantly am reminded of what my goal is and how I need to stick to it. It keeps me going to the gym everyday. Because if you notice, when you first start out on the lifestyle change of eating smartly and working out it's FRESH in your brain so you consciously do it. (and it's the beginning so it's easier XD) but later it's not as fresh anymore, and you can get "bored" per se--you need another reality check to remind yourself to stay on track. I always have to be reminded to stay on track, and when you're constantly reminded, the more it becomes a habit.

[kazixcupcake]

I actually read an article once by someone that let themselves cheat once a week on saturdays. They actually found that including this with regular diet and exercise, they lost more weight than they did when they cut out desserts altogether. The logic behind it was to spike your metabolism every now and then because once your metabolism stabilizes, your body adapts and you start plateauing. I've actually seen these results myself. I can't lie and say that I lost 58 pounds without a donut or cookie along the way. ;]

Do not use this as a science, however. Don't expect it to work for yourself or anyone else. :]

[NinjaJedi007]

If fitness is truly your goal, then your diet should be pretty clean and under control year round. Personally, a cheat meal is perfectly fine but I try not to have too many cheat days. No one should take away everything that's good. We're all still human and we need to enjoy life. Keep moderation in mind and take control!

[XenoBlade]

I also heard the cheat days too. Once a week kinda thing. Honestly, I think people should be allowed to eat the good stuff every once and a while (once a week) If you are properly dieting and working out, once a week defintely won't hurt.

What's the point of living, if you don't "live a little" lol

[GITS SAC Motoko]

kazixcupcake, on 07 February 2012 - 03:00 PM, said:

I actually read an article once by someone that let themselves cheat once a week on saturdays. They actually found that including this with regular diet and exercise, they lost more weight than they did when they cut out desserts altogether. The logic behind it was to spike your metabolism every now and then because once your metabolism stabilizes, your body adapts and you start plateauing. I've actually seen these results myself. I can't lie and say that I lost 58 pounds without a donut or cookie along the way. ;]

Do not use this as a science, however. Don't expect it to work for yourself or anyone else. :]

NinjaJedi007, on 07 February 2012 - 10:36 PM, said:

If fitness is truly your goal, then your diet should be pretty clean and under control year round. Personally, a cheat meal is perfectly fine but I try not to have too many cheat days. No one should take away everything that's good. We're all still human and we need to enjoy life. Keep moderation in mind and take control!

XenoBlade, on 07 February 2012 - 10:40 PM, said:

I also heard the cheat days too. Once a week kinda thing. Honestly, I think people should be allowed to eat the good stuff every once and a while (once a week) If you are properly dieting and working out, once a week defintely won't hurt.

What's the point of living, if you don't "live a little" lol

I agree 10000000000000% with all of you. But the whole metabolism spike is true though. And Ninja Jedi is right it should more be cheat meals than days, lol.

[kazixcupcake]

The beauty of counting calories is that I get to eat whatever I want as long as I don't go over my calorie allotment, so I need to make sure that the cookie is worth subtracting something later on, like the side with my dinner or that roll for lunch. I've found a steady menu, though, that works for me. It's hard because I work midnights, but the great thing is that I eat my biggest meal (dinner) as soon as I wake up. xD Then I have a soup at hand and a roll(160 calories) for lunch around 2 am and then a bowl of cheerios and fat free milk(120 calories) when I get home after working out. My dinner (breakfast) is usually around 400 calories, so I still have plenty of calories to spend snacking on healthy stuff which is good because I work out a lot and I get hungry every couple of hours. xD~ My weight has plateaued, but I'm working through it. I'm toning up nicely.

Also, on the subject of toning, is anyone else having skin issues? :/ I was using this toning lotion that was working wonders until it was discontinued. I've heard that a lot of protein helps, and also collagen supplements. Skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin. Loose. What does.

[XenoBlade]

kazixcupcake, on 09 February 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

The beauty of counting calories is that I get to eat whatever I want as long as I don't go over my calorie allotment, so I need to make sure that the cookie is worth subtracting something later on, like the side with my dinner or that roll for lunch. I've found a steady menu, though, that works for me. It's hard because I work midnights, but the great thing is that I eat my biggest meal (dinner) as soon as I wake up. xD Then I have a soup at hand and a roll(160 calories) for lunch around 2 am and then a bowl of cheerios and fat free milk(120 calories) when I get home after working out. My dinner (breakfast) is usually around 400 calories, so I still have plenty of calories to spend snacking on healthy stuff which is good because I work out a lot and I get hungry every couple of hours. xD~ My weight has plateaued, but I'm working through it. I'm toning up nicely.

Also, on the subject of toning, is anyone else having skin issues? :/ I was using this toning lotion that was working wonders until it was discontinued. I've heard that a lot of protein helps, and also collagen supplements. Skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin. Loose. What does.

Even with weight lifting? I remember lifting weight helps alleviate the effects losing a lot of weight? Maybe implement more weight training? Gets muscle to replace now missing fat. I didnt know there was a lotion for it. Dunno how that would even work. Lol

News for me is I hit a short term goal and ran a mile with out stopping. im almost at where I was before I had to stop. Moving forward. Weight training is going good too. All is well.

[kazixcupcake]

The lotion works by supplying collagen, elastin, and vitamin e which help to re-tighten the skin. Since I'm a smoker, I'm especially low on collagen and elastin. I can deal with skin, though, as long as the weight is off. ;]

[GITS SAC Motoko]

oooooo that's a cool lotion. :3

I've been through hell this week with test after test and studying for long hours....working out didn't happen very much, but I'm still slimming down--and I haven't paid huge attention to my carb intake because I'm so stressed already (wait it's like the fourth of the semester??) O_O
but one thing to remember is that when you wake up in the morning that's "techincally"your stomach's/thighs/etc size since it hasn't stretched out yet from eating.

[Isamu]

So I wore a pedometer last nite at work. Turns out I move between 13 and 16 miles per nite.

[MsLovelyCookie]

I notice I never stick to one workout routine, I change it every time I get bored with it. So I am trying out this sample routine from the guy who invented the Insanity workout. YAY! Wish me luck!

Questions for those who workout normally:
-Does changing a workout routine effect your body? At least I am moving, right?
-Is it normal to have sore mussels? is it because the mussels were never used much? I did some ab workouts and tried keeping up with the instructor and now I feel it when I move but mostly when I sneeze.

[NinjaJedi007]

My thoughts about changing workout routines: don't do it too often. Yes, it's a great way to keep your body from getting used to the workouts but it's hard to measure if you're making any progress if you're doing something different every time. IMO, find a program that works for you and stick with it. Switch it up when you plateau and get stuck... or if you're just getting extremely bored!

This post has been edited by NinjaJedi007: 16 February 2012 - 08:35 PM

[Yandere Emi]

I have some kind of mono-like virus that makes me absolutely exhausted all the time, so working out is the last thing on my mind. @_@

Despite this, somehow I am down to 160. :3 If I can hit 140 by ACEN.....

[kazixcupcake]

I always do the same work out. If I want to do something else, then I combine it with my regular routine as a bonus work out. Like today, I wanted to do yoga so I did my regular thing and then did some yoga. It's a great thing to do after hard cardio since you're body's already warm and flexible. I sweat like a working girl at rapture, though. xDD~

Also, sore muscles are going to happen no matter what. I've been working out for years and I still get sore sometimes. Sometimes it could be your muscles are not use to the work, sometimes you can push yourself harder, who knows, just make sure you're not hurting yourself, though usually if you damage a muscle, it's not sore, it KILLS. I pulled an oblique once and thought I was going to have to go to the hospital. e.e;;

[XenoBlade]

If you don't get sore, I don't think you've done enough. lol XD The rule of thumb is, not to be so sore that you can barely move, but to where you can't really do whatever area you are working out anymore.

[GITS SAC Motoko]

XenoBlade, on 21 February 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

If you don't get sore, I don't think you've done enough. lol XD The rule of thumb is, not to be so sore that you can barely move, but to where you can't really do whatever area you are working out anymore.

yeah get that lactic acid build up!!!! :3