[Touch]

Hi there all you cuties!!!!!...On March 17th I started going to the gym...well...thats wasn't much for me...but I still go off and on...I'm now doing Crunch Pilates...working out my belly...tummy and thighs...its a half hour worked out...I'm now just starting to do it twice a day...morning and night...plus a bit of weights..but nothing too serious...5 pounds of each arm...and high reps...When I started in March...I was 212 pounds...I haven't weighed myself yet...but today I measured my waist...I had lost an inch and a half ...I'm just wondering if anyone could give me any tips or ideas for more weight training for my upper body...my goal is to lose 62 pounds in 7 months...but of course I'm too damn scared to get on the scale yet..hehehehehe...so please any advice or ideas...I need all the help I can get....Alayna(Touch)

[Ilene]

Hello Alayna and welcome,

Here are some great sites to help you with ideas:

http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html
http://www.davedraper.com/
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/
http://www.hussman.org/fitness/index.htm

I positively agree that you should not weigh yourself and go only by measurements and the good ole pant-o-meter they are the best gauge, and also how you feel....

Eat well, clean, balanced meals, everything that is not processed is good for you in moderation and good fats are your friend...

On a personal note I don't like high reps, I prefer that after you can do a maximum of 12-15 reps it's time to up your weight because this is what will build those muscles and muscles are a woman's best friend because they burn fat.... (see my signature, I truly believe what I say too!!) And they totally look awesome!!

Good luck to you and feel free to post on our weekly thread...

[BethO]

Alayna -

Do some research and follow a program in the early stages. It's tough to freestyle a program when you're still in the learning stages. There are some wonderful programs that will combine great eating with time spent in the gym that brings results you can actually see and measure.

Go to your local library and request books like: Body for Life, Body Rx, Schwartzbein Principle I and II, Strong Women Stay Younger, and a whole host of others. All seem to combine the basics of: eating GOOD WHOLE UNPROCESSED foods, weight training to build muscle and in some, aerobic exercise to speed up fat loss.

I'm with Ilene on the low weights/high reps...all of the books above will put you onto higher weights/lower reps. You'll be amazed at the difference this makes to your body!

Best of luck!

BethO