A little advice please :-)

[tadpole]

Any gym that doesn't require you to fill in a form similar to the one below(at induction stage),doesn't have your best interests at heart,only your wallet.

Neither am I. But will qualify in 3 months or so then I can say I am. I offer free advice too, what I don't offer is advice based on nothing. I abhor this poisonous advise before info mentality that so readily infects these forums. It's rarely the OP's fault though, blame is squarely at those who ill-advise,well meaning people but offer potentially disastrous consequences.

I for one know now, that if any advice I ever gave caused serious injury or damage to any person, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

My doctor sent me, and the Gym is linked and in the same grounds as ) a local hospital, and I still didn't fill in that form.
I'd avoid any gym where you have to sign away any rights to behave as an adult.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

My doctor sent me, and the Gym is linked and in the same grounds as ) a local hospital, and I still didn't fill in that form.
I'd avoid any gym where you have to sign away any rights to behave as an adult.

That is slightly different than the average gym punter.

?

 

[black'n'yellow]

Setting a time frame on a weight loss goal is a bad idea because it encourages a temporary fix rather than changing the habits that caused the person to be overweight in the first place.

only if the time frame is unrealistic.

 

[PK99]

Ok, so in addition to the cycling, I have booked an induction session at the gym. I am hoping you lovely helpful guys/gals will help me out by giving some advice on what is best to use in the gym to A: lose a bit of weight and B: to improve my cycling.

I haven't been to the gym for long time and any USEFUL pointers would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks in advance

After you have been to the gym, don't fall for the "I've just worked out so calories don't count" fallacy!

 

[lulubel]

What about the people who wanted to be slim and healthy? That somewhere along the line involves a goal within a timeframe.?

It doesn't. It just means saying something along the lines of, "I want to lose 1lb a week until I reach a weight of around x, so I'm going to eat about 500 calories a day less than I need. I understand that I won't always lose exactly 1lb a week by this method, and will probably find I lose less than this as I approach my weight goal, so setting a time frame on it is setting myself up for disappointment. I'm going to stick with my plan for as long as it takes to reach my goal."

People who decide they want to change their way of eating and/or exercising because they want to be lighter and healthier generally achieve their goal of being lighter and healthier, and stay that way because they've changed their lifestyle.

People who decide they want to lose x amount of weight for a wedding (or whatever event) may or may not achieve their goal, depending on how realistic it is, and will probably go back to their original weight, or heavier, once the event is over and they go back to their old ways of eating.

The second group generally posts threads with titles such as, "Fell off the wagon (again)", or "Hello, I'm back (again)." The first group doesn't generally start threads, but responds to the admissions of failure with efforts to guide the second group in a more helpful direction.

only if the time frame is unrealistic.

No, because it encourages thinking along the lines of, "I'm changing my eating/exercise habits to achieve this goal. Once I have achieved my goal, I can go back to doing what I was before." Which means the weight piles straight back on.

 

[Arsen Gere]

Bit of discussion on Slow Twits that may be of interest with some fine leg comparisons. http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=4097766;search_string=lifting ftp;

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

It doesn't. It just means saying something along the lines of, "I want to lose 1lb a week until I reach a weight of around x, so I'm going to eat about 500 calories a day less than I need. I understand that I won't always lose exactly 1lb a week by this method, and will probably find I lose less than this as I approach my weight goal, so setting a time frame on it is setting myself up for disappointment. I'm going to stick with my plan for as long as it takes to reach my goal."

People who decide they want to change their way of eating and/or exercising because they want to be lighter and healthier generally achieve their goal of being lighter and healthier, and stay that way because they've changed their lifestyle.

Therefore their longterm goal was, take up exercise - lose weight and eat healthier. There are exceptions to this, those who give up which your focus appears to be on but does not account for everyone. They deserve their success and the subsequent happiness. Well done to them.

There are many in your second group of people who attempt to get the results of group 1 in the wrong way too.

People who decide they want to lose x amount of weight for a wedding (or whatever event) may or may not achieve their goal, depending on how realistic it is, and will probably go back to their original weight, or heavier, once the event is over and they go back to their old ways of eating.

And the reason they go back to original weight? Unrealistic goal setting or crash dieting looking for a quick fix.

The second group generally posts threads with titles such as, "Fell off the wagon (again)", or "Hello, I'm back (again)." The first group doesn't generally start threads, but responds to the admissions of failure with efforts to guide the second group in a more helpful direction.

There are always those who simply don't want it, or want the easy route which doesn't exist.

No, because it encourages thinking along the lines of, "I'm changing my eating/exercise habits to achieve this goal. Once I have achieved my goal, I can go back to doing what I was before." Which means the weight piles straight back on.

Is this true all of the time? Anecdotally I myself, prove you wrong.

 

[lulubel]

And the reason they go back to original weight? Unrealistic goal setting or crash dieting looking for a quick fix.

Not true. A goal of losing 14lbs (just 1 stone) for a wedding in July would be very realistic for most people who are overweight. That doesn't mean they won't put the weight back on after the wedding.

Is this true all of the time? Anecdotally I myself, prove you wrong.

All the time? Probably not.

But, anecdotally, I could list lots of people who prove me right.

Anyway, I've said my piece and made my position clear. I know you're into prolonging a discussion until it's well past its sell-by date, and that bores me, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Not true. A goal of losing 14lbs (just 1 stone) for a wedding in July would be very realistic for most people who are overweight. That doesn't mean they won't put the weight back on after the wedding.

Yes it would be very realistic, but it doesn't mean they will put weight back on after the wedding. It certainly doesn't mean that everyone who sets a goal, will "fall off the wagon" either.

To rubbish goal setting based on what someone might do after the goal is absurd.If someone lacks the mentality to continue or set another goal after the initial goal, that isn't fault of the goal. It's the fault of mentality, you either have it or you don't. You either want results, or you don't. If you want sustainable results you will be smart about the changes, if you want a quick fix you will evidently look for the latest diet that offers less calories per day than a baby intakes.

But, anecdotally, I could list lots of people who prove me right.

I'm sure you could. But then we'd have to look at the individual factors around each example.

Anyway, I've said my piece and made my position clear. I know you're into prolonging a discussion until it's well past its sell-by date, and that bores me, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Jodee1kenobi]

I must admit my original posting is somewhat vague, I apologise for that.

I lost 3 stone last year, without setting it as a goal. I started cycling 3/4 times a week, whether this was a club ride or shopping on the bike with the trailer. I basically tried to use the bike instead of the car whenever I could.
I also changed my eating habits, for the first time in a long time I ate breakfast (I now know it's the most important meal of the day!) I stopped drinking lager, eating lots of bread and cut out crisps and biscuits.

To date I have not put any of that lost weight back on. But I haven't lost anymore either. At 13 and half stone I still need to lose some more weight. Ideally I would like to get down to 11 stone. Something that I don't think is unrealistic.

I'm not looking for a quick fix and don't have a special event that I want to try and achieve the weight loss for. This is why I am looking for something that is sustainable. My thinking was that I could do an intensive 1 hour workout maybe 3 times a week, as well as cycle with the club on a weekend. I would be cycling the 2 miles to the gym as well.

If it helps, I don't have any weight related health issues, but did find that when I tried jogging the impact on my knees wasn't particularly good.

I understand the point about, to improve cycling you need to cycle more and on reflection, I think the weight issue is more of what I am hoping to sort. Like you say improvement will come by cycling more.

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I must admit my original posting is somewhat vague, I apologise for that.

I lost 3 stone last year, without setting it as a goal. I started cycling 3/4 times a week, whether this was a club ride or shopping on the bike with the trailer. I basically tried to use the bike instead of the car whenever I could.
I also changed my eating habits, for the first time in a long time I ate breakfast (I now know it's the most important meal of the day!) I stopped drinking lager, eating lots of bread and cut out crisps and biscuits.

To date I have not put any of that lost weight back on. But I haven't lost anymore either. At 13 and half stone I still need to lose some more weight. Ideally I would like to get down to 11 stone. Something that I don't think is unrealistic.

I'm not looking for a quick fix and don't have a special event that I want to try and achieve the weight loss for. This is why I am looking for something that is sustainable. My thinking was that I could do an intensive 1 hour workout maybe 3 times a week, as well as cycle with the club on a weekend. I would be cycling the 2 miles to the gym as well.

If it helps, I don't have any weight related health issues, but did find that when I tried jogging the impact on my knees wasn't particularly good.

I understand the point about, to improve cycling you need to cycle more and on reflection, I think the weight issue is more of what I am hoping to sort. Like you say improvement will come by cycling more.

Thanks again for all the replies.

First off. Excellent work

It may be possible that you have plateau'd. This is when your calorie intake and expenditure meet in the middle. You don't lose nor do you gain, but just maintaining statically. The general rule of thumb there is to reduce intake further (slightly) but you may find with high intensity sessions that you don't need to for now.

Depends really on the intensity but the overall training effect of increased calorie consumption post exercise when intensity is high, could swing the calorie deficit and therefore weightloss back in your favour. So you might want to try it out for month or so first and change accordingly. Or indeed bring the thread back up.

I do (as an almost professional) highly recommend setting of a longterm goal. 2st loss over 1lb per week basis would take you to July. Sooner if done quicker, but you have to weigh up the necessity and speed of loss. Losing too quick does have it's own issues