Let's talk gym! - Page 3 - Beginners

Blimpy

21/12/2011 at 00:23

Lol, I used to be like that, but now I can see mine!

Blimpy

21/12/2011 at 00:24

Ooh, what a great TOTP!

loulabell

21/12/2011 at 07:22

RR, yes im toned and im prob just ok. my body fat is very low (my BMI is barely 17)so most muscle i have shows through quite easy. i think for women the problem areas are usually hips and thighs. then any weight on top over muscle makes you look bigger.

...i was a ballet dancer up until 22 and the training for that allows strength to build but not muscle bulk. the muscles are used and exercised in a way that streamlines for an aesthetically pleasing line. of course this depends on your body type a lot and the way it responds to training (ballet in my case). rather than over using the outer quad muscle on thighs, ballet dancers use the aductor muscles on the inner thigh which produces the turn out from hips to feet. thus those are the stronger muscles and take on a concave appearence when tensed. we used to do a LOT of sit ups at ballet school

and i still dont mind doing those.

Gastank

21/12/2011 at 07:46

Blimpy is spot on, please note I was only offering advice to questions asked not suggesting weightlifting is the answer for runners.. Far from it, CrossFit endurance I think can have it's benefit though, plently of crossfitters out there running sub 4 and 3.30 marathon times

As runners our training goal from a weights perspective is likely to be endurance I.e higher reps, lower weight, also good for toning but bottom line is that you can only tone muscle not fat... So to be toned by default you need less fat. Run more at slower pace for longer keeping body in fat burning zone, eat less and don't eat more fuel than you're using and well known fact that muscle burns fat just by it's existence, therefore more muscle = less fat

All things in moderation and as Blimpy says it all depends on your goals, not everyone wants to look like a weightlifter but equally not everyone wants to look like a runner either

fortunately it is possible to have it all with the right balance and some reading and dedication

Gastank

21/12/2011 at 08:11

P.S pick any box you like (all current)

Weightlifter/Bodybuilder - I can do pull ups and squat more than my own body weight
Runner - well I can knock out 10miles, running an off road half marathon in march and full marathon in may
Martial artist - currently a TaeKwonDo blue belt, have 4 belts before black

Being too bulky isn't good for any of sports, so it ain't my goal

Aiming for athlete, and I guess I'm never going to look like a runner but sprinters are runners too (they just can't go very far) and I think asthetically they look pretty good!

Key decision is your gym goal about running or about asthetics? You can have both but there will always be a bias towards one at the possible expense of the other

Have a great day guys !!!

by 'eck, it's hilly

21/12/2011 at 09:20

And for the mums out there - having a baby can split your stomach muscles, especially if you had a c section, making it more difficult for you to appear toned

Blimpy

21/12/2011 at 09:35

Simple answer, by 'eck - don't have babies!!!!

I'm agreeing with Gastank - gym work is a win-win, in moderation.

Anyway, I'm off to the gym to do 1000 bicep curls with two biro's...

Gastank

21/12/2011 at 11:33

That's the spirit Blimpy, u show those biros who the boss is!

RoadRunner76

21/12/2011 at 15:03

Went for a short run today, my first in something like six weeks - only thirteen minutes - but better than nothing, now I'm going to do my TT session.

Edited: 21/12/2011 at 15:05

loulabell

21/12/2011 at 16:05

Blimpy wrote (see)

Simple answer, by 'eck - don't have babies!!!!
I'm agreeing with Gastank - gym work is a win-win, in moderation.
Anyway, I'm off to the gym to do 1000 bicep curls with two biro's...

ok, i can def do the biro curl

abdominal muscles parting in pregnancy can occur but often it deprends on how strong they were beforehand..ususally some sit ups as soon as is safe after birth remedies it.

loulabell

21/12/2011 at 16:06

gastank, i supose the aesthetic side of things is just a thing ive grown up with having had to look 'right' for ballet and gymnastics. its a pain though and the downfall is it can get obsessive.

to a non-athlete or dancer such a person can look super fit and toned..when you are one 24/7 you take on the opinion that its never quite enough and the continual search for ' a bit more' ' and a bit better' is always present....

Edited: 21/12/2011 at 16:08

Alistair Fitzgerald

21/12/2011 at 17:27

Hi RR,gastank and little LLB- This is a scary thread for me!!!!!!!!! I do want to would strengthen my upper body as I believe it could help me improve my times.

At the moment I struggle to find time for the gym on top of the running that I do. What exerceises with minimal equipment would people suggest I od at home? Don't have the space for any large equipment.

RoadRunner76

21/12/2011 at 17:30

Well, according to what I've read, stronger arms improves your running. On the face of it, that doesn't make much sense, but I suppose when it comes to sprinting it might.

AF - I'd bet money that you've got a stronger upper body than me!!

Edited: 21/12/2011 at 17:37

Gastank

21/12/2011 at 18:59

AF check out the links I posted on our home thread a couple of pages back but was this week, might even have been yesterday - complete BW workouts that I believe will help anyone's running, no gym required and limited time investment!

Chilibean

21/12/2011 at 20:46

It was having twins that separated my abdominal muscles 8 yrs ago, and although i do sit ups/crunches several time a week and have for years I still have a small gap that won't close.

Thanks for the advice on chin ups. That is what I shall aim for first.... It's my birthday next month and have asked my hubby to get a bar... that way he'll get the one that he wants to use too

RoadRunner76

23/12/2011 at 23:43

What do you think is more effective: three workouts a week full body, or four a week, targeting legs in one session and upper body in the other?

Gastank

24/12/2011 at 10:48

If you're running as well then definitely 3 full body or perhaps some sort of a 3 day split - I'm on four at the moment and it's hard to keep up, the pain from one workout/run never subsides enough before you start the next

RoadRunner76

24/12/2011 at 14:41

Thanks, Gas. It might not matter either way for a while now. Last night while doing the cardio warmup for my resistance session, my knee began hurting. It's a very gentle exercise, hardly puts any pressure on the knee at all - the arms do most of the work - yet it was enough to set it off. So, no running and no leg weights for me - until I find out why this keeps happening and deal with it.

This is so frustrating, I went for the best part of two years without any injury at all while running. Now I'll probably be kicking my heels for another six weeks.

Fit-Running-Cat

24/12/2011 at 15:05

Must admit gas tank , you are are doing a lot of lifting with very little running...

I'm more the opposite, Blimpy s suggested option? 3-4 runs a week, Distances from 7-16 miles up depending on what im doing...minimum of 30 miles total, with 2-3 gym classes on top. I find just doing all running is boring and doesn't build overall fitness.

The crossfit sounds interesting though, something to check out.
I had some personal training sessions during marathon buildup, my PT used all sorts of approaches, pyramid, PHA to push me... Usually with a 10 mile run after. Nothing like a bit of pain to harden you up.

Gastank

24/12/2011 at 15:24

Festive gym will taper in new year and running will have to increase, have 5 months still before the marathon

plenty of time to ensure that when the running strips away any residual fat, that there's muscle underneath!

Merry christmas everyone!