Good workout techniques?

[The Hierophant]

Hiya.
Over the past few years I've sorta let myself slip in terms of working out and keeping fit. I seem to be putting on a little unwanted weight around my face and chin, as well as somewhat developing a bit of a 'gut' so to speak Now I'm sure there are plenty of fitness enthusiasts (or at least people who like to keep in reasonable shape) out there in IW land and I'm wondering as to whether you could give me some pointers on how to tone up the unwanted softness

Now, I do daily press-ups and sit-ups and train twice a week for martial arts, but I still can't seem to get rid of the 'facial fat' around my neck, chin and cheeks [img]smile.gif[/img] Any ideas on how to tackle this?
Cheers.

[Animal]

A sensible diet. In other words lay off the twinkies and ding dongs.

A well balanced work out regime is important. You need to work out all areas of your body, not just a few.

[Bardan the Slayer]

Full body circuit training with free weights, conbined with a sensible diet, is the best way to whip yourself into tip-top healthy shape. Check with your doctor before getting too strenuous, though, just to make sure.

Nothing beats resistance training.

Oh, and BTW - the only way to reduce fat *anywhere* on your body is to reduce fat *everywhere* on your body. Spot-reducing is a myth perpetuated by get-rich-quick sellers of tummy-toners for women. If you want to lose fat on your face, you have to lose it off your chest, waist, legs, everywhere. It will come off everywhere at a proportional rate.

[ 06-11-2003, 10:28 PM: Message edited by: Bardan the Slayer ]

[Gabrielles blades]

exercise *shudder*
soo much work, exhausting boring work. i dont do it more than once a month and my body shows it; ah well.
some tips tho:
do arobic(sp?) exercise, your heart probably needs more help than your pudgy stomach. things like jogging are good for your heart but bad for your tendons n stuff, i think i heard swimming was one of the best arobic exercises since your joints wont be getting constantly jarred with force and you can get your heart rate to a constantly high speed as well.

If your going to do anarobic exercise like using weights n such, then always remember to do stretching exercises in conjunction with the workout. if you dont your muscles could get stiff and you wont be very flexible. also remember to use the full range of a muscle, it may be easier to do say something like lifting a weight using your arm from a 90 degree angle at the start instead of 180 degrees but you would be training your muscle to work like that and so it would be less flexible and weaker than if you use your full range.

[The Hierophant]

thanks for the pointers guys. They will all come very much in handy. Once I start university again I will recieve free gym membership and so will be able to step workouts up a little. Until then it'll be down to the basics that you guys have advocated, eat well, train hard. Will do [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[johnny]

Here are some very usefull exercises. Work that body.

[Lovisa]

[img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] Have some sex and u'll be thin in a moment [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by The Hierophant: Hiya. Over the past few years I've sorta let myself slip in terms of working out and keeping fit. I seem to be putting on a little unwanted weight around my face and chin, as well as somewhat developing a bit of a 'gut' so to speak Now I'm sure there are plenty of fitness enthusiasts (or at least people who like to keep in reasonable shape) out there in IW land and I'm wondering as to whether you could give me some pointers on how to tone up the unwanted softness Now, I do daily press-ups and sit-ups and train twice a week for martial arts, but I still can't seem to get rid of the 'facial fat' around my neck, chin and cheeks [img]smile.gif[/img] Any ideas on how to tackle this? Cheers.

You need to check your level of body fat...in guys excess fat tends to manifest itself around the face and around the waist (in women it's usually in the hips and buttock region). As you're getting older your metabolism is probably slowing down.

The only way to reduce your body fat is to lower your body fat % - you can't spot-reduce it. That means regular cardiovascular exercise - walking, running, biking, stepping, all those things that get your blood circulating and get you sweating. It'll also help to avoid fatty foods and ones which are high in calories (stating the obvious ). You sound like you're doing some decent strength training and also the martial arts will help you tone, which is good, you just need to cardio to your training regime. It won't happen overnight, but if you stick to it and do it regularly you'll strip that excess fat right off. Plus you'll feel that much better. [img]smile.gif[/img]

There's a decent thread on cardio and resistance training and exercise that was posted here earlier, it's here.

[The Hierophant]

Originally posted by Memnoch: You need to check your level of body fat...in guys excess fat tends to manifest itself around the face and around the waist (in women it's usually in the hips and buttock region). As you're getting older your metabolism is probably slowing down. The only way to reduce your body fat is to lower your body fat % - you can't spot-reduce it. That means regular cardiovascular exercise - walking, running, biking, stepping, all those things that get your blood circulating and get you sweating. It'll also help to avoid fatty foods and ones which are high in calories (stating the obvious ). You sound like you're doing some decent strength training and also the martial arts will help you tone, which is good, you just need to cardio to your training regime. It won't happen overnight, but if you stick to it and do it regularly you'll strip that excess fat right off. Plus you'll feel that much better. [img]smile.gif[/img] There's a decent thread on cardio and resistance training and exercise that was posted here earlier, it's here.

Thanks! I'll add a bit of running into my daily schedule

And Johnny, those excercises sound great

Lovisa: If only man, if only heh heh

[Sigmar]

To tackle facial fat you've got to reduce your levels of fat in your body, I know it sounds funny but your body then gets the fat from your face and "spreads" it around your body . This is why Body builders (who have like 5% fat in their bodies) have projecting muscles and viens, no fat in the way (and obiously all the toning) If there's little fat the body will try to spread it like a person with little butter will try to spread it evenly on a piece of toast.

Training I reccommend, well you've got three options. Continue wht you're doing, you won't get results over night. Kepp your eye on the prize.

2nd, join a gym in your local area and download a training guide off a reliable site on the Internet and follow it to the letter, diet and all If you want to tone your muscles work with weight your "comfortable" with, if you want to "max out" train with heavier weights and do each set of weights in sets of eight or ten (maqke sure you decide before hand) and DON'T GIVE UP!

3rd- Join/partcipate in another sport which will improve your overall fitness level and tone your muscles. Swimming is the best by far, it trains many muscles in yourt body. Next is running, and finally rowing (my favourite ). The important thing is you should do something you enjoy and not view your training schedule as a hassle. Integrate it into your life and acknowledge the fact it will benifit.

NEVER GIVE UP! I reccommend you train with music too, personally I recommend- The "Rocky" Soundtrack, Eminem (his second album), Sum 41, Linkin park and other dynamic/action packed/you against the world-esque songs

[ 06-12-2003, 06:40 AM: Message edited by: Sigmar ]