phelan said:
I don't mind the developing muscles but it's not one of my goals, weight loss is as I want to get down to my optimal BMI zone.
BMI is a big misnomer (sp?). These are antiquated indices that doctors and some fitness "professionals" still use. With BMI a large percentage (66-80%) of professional athletes would be considered morbidly obese. Please do not use BMI as an indicator of fitness levels
As for weight loss, I know that priorities revolve around numbers and we have to set our goals based on numbers, but keep in mind the same VOLUME of muscle weighs substantially more than fat. For instance when I started back at the gym I weighed about 248-255 depending on time of day. 2 months later same weight. However waist size has dropped by 2 inches, my ass is getting to the point whereby it doesnt need its own area code, body fat test resulted in a 5% decline and muscle mass is up by 3.5 pounds. I have had to get my suits retailored and the older tighter suits fit like a glove.
So therefore think about your goals. Is hitting 220 for me important. Absolutely! Would I prefer a tight 230 vs a worn out and not so toned 220. Absolutely. Weight is an easy marker for most people. Once again rethink your goals.
Another thing from the know it all, I find that the most important thing to success is consistency. What kind of exercises you do are somewhat meaningless unless you are doing sport specific training and avoiding dangerous exercises if you are a beginner. I kind of chuckle when I see people focusing on there problem spots. I agree with the comment on crunches for getting rid of the fat on your belly, but there is some benefits to crunches for fat burning. Just doing activity will enhance your bodies fat burning levels. Your body predetermines through genetics where it like to store fat and where it will be burned first.
Lastly if we are talking chemicals and fat burning, I am a bit of a junkie when it comes to supplements. I can usually determine if something is worth it or not. The best fat burning supplements that I have found are the ephedrine/caffeine/aspirine stack, (too dangerous for beginners or people with medical conditions), Guggulsterones (a naturally occurring plant extract that increases your metabolism through thyroid stimulation (natural substance only side affect is an almost immediate rise in you body temperature, but no jitters or gut rot like the previous) and the most impressive supplement that I have recently found is a product called TIGHT. It is a synephrine(similar to ephedrine but with a lot less jitters)anhydrous caffeine/guggulsterone/greentea extract stack. It also has Yohimbe bark in it. I remember Yohimbe as being one of the first supplements I tried and soon after it was proven as worthless. However Yohimbe has recently been proven to attack brown fat cells, the fat that you cannot get rid of ie, last bit of belly fat, for women legs and ass and in both men and women the love handles. This brown fat is the last to go because its makeup is different than regular fat tissue. I have heard of fitness athletes combining Yohime micro-crystiline with a transdermal cream like preperation H and applying it directly onto the skin over the problem areas. Its not a transdermal diuretic, but rather the Yoh, activates the receptors in these brown fat cells.
Be careful of this product TIGHT. I never usually listen to the dosages on the label of products, but with this one I have definitely been following them carefully.
No and no but I do have some very specific goals. That being said I actually typically go and do my weight workout first thing in the morning (5am) and then do an hour of cardio. By the time I get cleaned up it takes me till about 9pm to get to work. I'll work in the office till 430 or 5 pm then head back, do another hour of cardio, come home and have dinner then do some more work till bed time.
