Summer is coming! Lose weight get fit? Ask here.

[jillybean]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

If you could upload docs here, I would post it and then you could see my lifting plan. However, you pretty much need 4 days to hit all the body groups. There are way more groups to work in upper body compared to lower body. Each day should take about an hour. Any longer and you have depleted the glycogen stores in your muscles, you will be fatigued and risk injury, strain, etc.

Lift first, cardio second: ALWAYS

Day 1: Shoulder and triceps
Day 2: Back
Rest
Day 3: Legs, butt and calves
Day 4: Chest and biceps

Throw some abs in wherever.

How many days should you do cardio exercises then?

[valkyrie]

I never do weights and cardio on the same day, ever. I tried it for about a month and didn't like it. I don't even wear the same clothes/shoes/etc. FWIW, I do cardio three or four days a week and weights twice. Of course, I am just a gym rat and not an expert on any of this.

This site is kind of cool, although I've only skimmed it.

Also, RU OX, do you ever do intervals? I would recommend that (although again, I'm not an expert -- it just makes sense to me).

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by jillybean

How many days should you do cardio exercises then?

You can do cardio 4-6x a week, depending on what your goals are.

[axidgl]

What kind of healthy meals can you suggest for a college student with limited options such as the school cafeteria?

How important is breakfast to a diet?

What is the best way to get started with an exercise routine? I need the very basics...cardio, weights, etc.!

[valkyrie]

ALSO, has anybody here done a half marathon? I'm thinking about it, but is that insane?

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

ALSO, has anybody here done a half marathon? I'm thinking about it, but is that insane?

Yes, I did one in 1998 (under 2 hours baby!!). If you prepare using one of those "Running Room" training clinics for the half marathon, that would be good. When I finished the 13 miles, I was thinking, "there is no way in God's green earth that I could keep going for ANOTHER 13 miles" (i.e. a full marathon).

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

Yes, I did one in 1998 (under 2 hours baby!!). If you prepare using one of those "Running Room" training clinics for the half marathon, that would be good. When I finished the 13 miles, I was thinking, "there is no way in God's green earth that I could keep going for ANOTHER 13 miles" (i.e. a full marathon).

Okay, I think I am willing to commit. I was looking at the Hal Higdon novice training guide and it looks doable. I have 10 weeks rather than 12, but I've been doing four mile runs, so I think I'm going to be fine (although some of his suggested workouts are too wussy for me so I'm going to do more and there's no way in hell I'm doing runs and strength on the same day just because I hate that). I'll check out Running Room, too.

I don't want to push myself TOO hard, but hope I can get my speed up a bit. I'm slow, LOL.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Okay, I think I am willing to commit. I was looking at the Hal Higdon novice training guide and it looks doable. I have 10 weeks rather than 12, but I've been doing four mile runs, so I think I'm going to be fine (although some of his suggested workouts are too wussy for me so I'm going to do more and there's no way in hell I'm doing runs and strength on the same day just because I hate that). I'll check out Running Room, too.

I don't want to push myself TOO hard, but hope I can get my speed up a bit. I'm slow, LOL.

I love the half marathon distance. I've been working up to full marathon, and half is a nice way to gauge your training. Unfortunately, there aren't many "in between " distances (15 mile or 20) after that.

Best advice: GET GOOD SHOES! Go to a running specialty store and have them look at your pronation (most will put you on a treadmill and have you run and walk in the store). They're expensive, but the expense in shoes saves you an expense on phys. therapy later! My shoes are Asics and I love them...super light, perfect padding for neutral pronaters. I'm a triathlete so the running is only one aspect of my training, but its the one that I've had to work on the most.

Hal Higdon's plans are widely respected in the running community.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Okay, I think I am willing to commit. I was looking at the Hal Higdon novice training guide and it looks doable. I have 10 weeks rather than 12, but I've been doing four mile runs, so I think I'm going to be fine (although some of his suggested workouts are too wussy for me so I'm going to do more and there's no way in hell I'm doing runs and strength on the same day just because I hate that). I'll check out Running Room, too.

I don't want to push myself TOO hard, but hope I can get my speed up a bit. I'm slow, LOL.

I'm training for one now. I think I'm crazy.