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[MonkeyWrench]

Cause I'm skint and can't afford gym membership fees I've been doing some self resistence training from a site someone here posted (can't remember who, but cheers though!), on top of doing 30 mins cardio on a bike every day. I've lost about half a stone in the last month but the differences are quite dramatic, more so than I thought they would be. I've got quite a bit of bulk around the top half, especially my shoulders and chest, and my stomach is now much flatter (although there's still a bit of flab to come off). I think now I'm within my target weight, just got to keep it there

[Matt]

Excellent!

[dave heats]

Wow, this is a fantastic thread! I've managed to get 15 pages in so far haha!

Anyway, I joined a gym around a month ago, to increase my stamina and general fitness levels, and try to beef up a bit. I'm 22, 6ft2 and was around the 12 stone mark, so I had a perfectly normal BMI. But after i started noticing i had a bit of a gut going on, and realising my diet was outrageously bad (3 bags of crisps a day on average! urrr), i knew it was time to make a change. When I was younger, I used to run all day, and loved it so so much. But as time went on I lost the interest, and began sliding down the road to unfitness.

When I first joined, I had 3 1hour sessions with a personal instructor (my 3rd sesh is on thursday), and having mentioned my mild asthma and my general aims (my main ambition is to run a 5k or 10k run next year, or even a triathalon next year!), he set me up with a purely CV routine. Thats been going well, and last week he added a weight machine "resistance" routine, making my average gym visit last about 1hr30mins now.

I've lost half a stone, and have already noticed a slight improvement in my body. I'm running quicker and for longer on the treadmill and Ive just been shown a few amazing sets/circuits on the free weights/abs area, so I'm hoping to have a noticeably bigger body by christmas! Ive been going everyday for the first few weeks, but as my routine has got more and more hardcore, I really do need the day off inbetween to recover. I also heard its best to have at least a one day break to allow muscles to re-grow/repair?

One question I have for you all. I've been taking a 5g creatine supplement in my juice once a day for the last 2 weeks, as it was recomended to me. But I dont know exactly what it does? I'm guessing it aids muscle growth perhaps?

Anyway, great thread! I look forward to reporting back with results/milestones reached!

[spagmasterswift]

Well it's been almost a week with no posts, so can we assume everyone is fat again

Yep, went to Spain last week so took it as a week off. Very naughty I was too. Back in the gym last night and back on the cottage cheese and Jacket potatoes

[Rossco]

This last week, I've been taking note of my weight when I wake up, and before going to bed and when I concentrate on being higher than the day before then it works and I'm slowly going up each time. Piling on the carbs and really pushing myself at the gym. Taking notes and planning out my workout perfectly before I go and just filling in all the sets I do with how many reps and what weights I'm lifting to see how much I progress over time.

And I feel like and constantly lifting more and still seeing a visual difference in my body bulking up. I'm so glad this has worked this week as I was getting annoyed at not making much gains before. Hopefully I'll keep it up, At this rate, I think I might be able to hit up to 13 stone by January without gaining any fat. Its a tall order but I'm up to the challenge.

[Commander Marklar]

OK, I'm done running. Back on the hench = rowing* + weights and cycling days in between. Roar!

* Ain't done any for ages, did 2500m in 8:52 today. Pumped, felt great.

You stupid ****

Got an official time at the gym: 2000m in 7:15'0, 1:48'9 average. I need to train up and beat that, I ain't too bad at rowing. T'morra, gotta try the 1:33'0 someone set for 500m. I'm gonna kill myself

Fat? ****, I ain't been running and I'm down to a scary 80.2kg which is way to feckin' streaky for my liking. Fixed the diet and am back on the weights for some proper build up (not crazy bulking though, blimey!) 5 meals a day, more protein to maintain that anabolic state should keep my body busy. Cycling killing the fat, I need to get a body stat done to check the percentage (where are my calipers?) Got a cycle computer today (and a puncture, zoik!) - 1:45'19 home, 22.93 miles. Average 13mph, max 27.4mph

*finishes protein shake*

Slurp!

[Matt]

One question I have for you all. I've been taking a 5g creatine supplement in my juice once a day for the last 2 weeks, as it was recomended to me. But I dont know exactly what it does? I'm guessing it aids muscle growth perhaps?

Ahhh crap mate, stop that right now!

Creatine stores fluid, and I believe glycogen, in the muscle. It gives muscles a more rounded look and can give you a little more energy to push out an extra rep or two.

Firstly you want to avoid normal creatine and take creatine ethyl ester, vastly superior. You run a lot, and creatine can cause cramps. CEE shouldn't.

Secondly, who the **** sold you creatine? I'm sick and tired of health food shops selling people creatine without finding out about the buyer's requirements. Go back the last 5 pages and read everything I've written about protein. Your money will be MUCH better spent on a good quality multi-vitamin & mineral pill, and protein shake.

What's the use of storing fluid in the muscle when there's probably not much muscle there in the first place? Lots of people are after the magic pill/potion to add muscle. Doesn't exist, not even steroids will do much with a proper diet and creatine certainly shouldn't be someone's first supplement.

Also creatine needs to be cycled - 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off.

So please leave that alone for a while, just have 3 protein shakes a day AT LEAST between meals. Best thing you can do.

Read the last 5 pages mate I've covered it all there

[Matt]

*finishes protein shake*

Slurp!

Ah yes, that's more like it!!

I'm off to have my Uber Shake (TM) before bed. 84g of protein 8)

[recipher]

I've been a cyclist/mountain biker/hill walker for years now and suddenly decided to take up running in April, with the aim of running a marathon in under 4 hours within 6 months.

Anyway, cutting a long story short, despite coming off my mountain bike in May and breaking my collar bone, meaning a month of inactivity, I ran the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday in 3 hours 53 minutes and 19 seconds.

Job done. I hadn't really ever done any serious running before this and I'm pretty pleased with my accomplishment.

I'm running the Snowdonia Marathon at the end of the month too. Just aiming to complete this, not trying for a good time, since it's very hilly.

Anyway, I thought I'd share Read more on my blog, if you're bored.

[Rossco]

Ah yes, that's more like it!!

I'm off to have my Uber Shake (TM) before bed. 84g of protein 8)

Holy ****, what the hell do you put in that!?

Time to do some ab work, then protein shake too.

[Dirty Sanchez]

I've been a cyclist/mountain biker/hill walker for years now and suddenly decided to take up running in April, with the aim of running a marathon in under 4 hours within 6 months.

Anyway, cutting a long story short, despite coming off my mountain bike in May and breaking my collar bone, meaning a month of inactivity, I ran the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday in 3 hours 53 minutes and 19 seconds.

Job done. I hadn't really ever done any serious running before this and I'm pretty pleased with my accomplishment.

I'm running the Snowdonia Marathon at the end of the month too. Just aiming to complete this, not trying for a good time, since it's very hilly.

Anyway, I thought I'd share Read more on my blog, if you're bored.

Well done, a true acheivement worth shouting about.

I've played competitive sport all my life, I like doing the gym thing and exercise in general but there is nothing more satisfying that reaching a goal that is more than looking good in a t-Shirt in the summer.

[charlesr]

Nice one. I did a half marathon in 1h30m, but have never tried a marathon. Reckon it would take me about 4h heheh.

[recipher]

Thanks. I ran a half in 1h44 a month ago. If you train for the distance then you'll be able to go well under 3 1/2 hours. I think I'm capable of going under 3 1/2 hours on a faster course but I'm more interested in running a good race - pacing it properly.

[spagmasterswift]

Anybody got any good recipes for some healthy meals I can try or do the missus cook for you lot?

Was wondering around Scummerfield last night feeling completely uninspired and ended up buying a bit of cod (which I grilled) and some salad. YAWWWWN!

Just had a jacket potato with a bit of roast chicken and some Cottage Cheese in it. DOUBLE YAWWWWWN!! I swear I'm gonna turn into a Jacket Potato!

[Matt]

Holy ****, what the hell do you put in that!?

Pretty much everything!

It's 2 scoops of CNP Pro Mass, some Casein protein in this but it's mainly for some low GI carbs but I don't like too many carbs before bed (2 scoops is about 25g), a scoop of chocolate flavoured Whey, and a couple of scoops of unflavoured Micellar Casein protein. Add in 5g of fibre (psylium husks) and I'm done. Mix it really thick. The casein is slow digesting, so add the fibre and the theory is it'll give me a nice flow of amino acids for 5 to 7 hours.

I still wake up 4 hours or so later starving hungry though!

Normally I don't think you should have more than 35-40g of protein a serving, but as it's slow digesting I think it's OK to go OTT on it. That much whey would be a waste though.