Best way to get in shape?

[alltherage]

I want to start to get in shape. My whole life I've had a really good metabolism and now it's slowing down since I got in to my 20s. I want to get fit... like not bulk up or anything but just slim down and get toned. I have never had to work out, and I sit at a desk all day for work.

I would rather not spend money on a gym unless it's imperative. Is cardio/situps/pushups enough to get in shape? Can anyone recommend a solid workout regimen?

TIA

[troutman]

boot camps

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by troutman

boot camps

My fiance did these a couple times and she didn't really lose any weight. They are only a few weeks usually arent they?

[Ford Prefect]

Round is a shape. It takes many beers to sustain though.

[Top Shelf]

If you don't want to go to a gym, and want to keep the costs down, I would recommend P90X.

There are better programs out there, but if you are a noob like me, the program lays everything out for you.

[valo403]

I've been through the same thing, and while I haven't been able to keep up with my exercise lately (studying 12-14 hours a day) I found that simply jogging, running hills and stairs, and light resistance training did the job (combined with a balanced diet). I never followed a regimen per se, I just tried to be active as much as possible.

[missdpuck]

Do P90x. If you were female I'd recommend SlimIn6 . But yeah they do have guys in those DVDs. It just seems to be less of a mental hurdle than P90x.

[Azure]

p90x.

Oh, and if you're in your 20s, and you think your metabolism is slowing down, then you never had a fast metabolism to begin with.

[Top Shelf]

Some good reading in here to get you started on p90x.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...highlight=p90x

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Azure

p90x.

Oh, and if you're in your 20s, and you think your metabolism is slowing down, then you never had a fast metabolism to begin with.

This might be true. I guuess as a kid I mostly ate what my mom made for me, (aka healthy dinners etc) and I never drank beer. Or smoked pot. I think those two things are my biggest hurdles.

[Joborule]

Diet is pretty important. Although you may want to lose weight, you don't want to starve yourself as well. You need to have energy before and after your workouts. So be sure to pick a suitable diet.

[Locke]

I hesitate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

- Hunter S. Thompson.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by alltherage

This might be true. I guuess as a kid I mostly ate what my mom made for me, (aka healthy dinners etc) and I never drank beer. Or smoked pot. I think those two things are my biggest hurdles.

Plus, you probably never had a desk job.

P90x will kick your ass. But it is a good starting point.

I just got done reading an article that emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation.

In other words, going with crash diets, and '6 weeks back into shape' diets won't help you any.

If you're serious about wanting to get into shape, you have to get into something that you can ALWAYS do. Because getting into shape should be a lifelong commitment. Otherwise you're screwed from the beginning.

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Diet is pretty important. Although you may want to lose weight, you don't want to starve yourself as well. You need to have energy before and after your workouts. So be sure to pick a suitable diet.

Yeah, see I also have no idea how to eat. I find that on days where I try to eat less carbs I get light headed and stupid hungry shortly after eating. I eat way too many carbs though. Like a regular day for me is:

Breakfast: Coffee and Bagel with Cream Cheese
Lunch: Subway/Sandwich from home/Tim Horton's sandwhich
Dinner: Steak/Chicken/Pork Potatoes/Rice/Perogies Corn/California Veggies

That seems like way too many carbs.

I also find I make excuses. How do I break that habbit? I used to not have running shoes. I bought some. I used to not have workout clothes. I bought some. Now I don't have a gym membership. Do I need to buy one? Can I get up every morning before work and jog? How do I break the lazy streaks?

I've heard that actually getting out there is half the battle.

[starseed]

I always hear great things about P90x. I was going to join a gym, but I found great resources here and there on the net and decided to do it on my own. I was doing OK, but I did not stick to it... and that is the key. I was very busy this last month, and I went from 167 to 175 without noticing. Time to re-commit.

If you make a little cardio (jogging, rollerblading, whatever) a part of your routine, it is easier and you feel better and more motivated to keep going. I find that it encourages me to stick to a balanced diet as well, instead of the quicker option.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Diets and boot camps don't work unless you are trying to lose 20 pounds and then put it back on over the next few months. Sure they can get you started, but they aren't a solution.


If you want to lose weight and keep it off you have to change your lifestyle.
That means eating better and being more active all the time, not just for 6 weeks.

That's all there is to it.

[alltherage]

I'm 6'1" and I weighed myself recently after not for a long time. I remember being about 195. I'm 216 now... that felt horrible.

[missdpuck]

I don't remember where I read this (could have been the CP P90x thread) but doing cardio BEFORE breakfast in the morning has really jumpstarted my weight loss. If I'm feeling sluggish I may have half a protein shake or something, but I can't believe the difference in my metabolism, so, whoever threw that out there gets a big thanks.

[flylock shox]

If all you want to do is stay slim and fit, you don't need to go anywhere near a gym or a program like P90X.

All you need to do is engage in regular cardiovascular exercise and ensure you have a diet and lifestyle that keep your calorie consumption and energy expenditure in balance. This can be done easily by playing sports, running, cycling: activities that get you outside, are sociable, and are way more fun than going to the gym or following a workout routine on your TV at home.

I can strongly recommend ultimate frisbee if you're looking for something that's fun, co-ed, and provides a fantastic workout. Couple that with an activity like rock climbing and you're getting a full-body workout with minimal bulk, and you won't spend all day inside with grunting steroid-jockeys. Also, you won't be stuck spending the rest of your adult life "maintaining" the excess (an unnecessary) muscle you've built.

[albertGQ]

Models are all skinny, so I say start abusing cocaine