Getting In Shape.

[Tim]

greetings fellow TIF'ers. before i start im 17, skinny and desperate to get in shape, hence the title.

 

 

 

for a while now i've laways had a skinny body, but whats the point in being skinny without being healthy as well? so i come to you (on off-topic) to ask of a good way to get in shape, keep motivated and also to get a set of abs because a flat stomach just plan sucks. also thought this thread would be good for other TIF'ers wanting to either get in shape or learn different ways, sorta like a "help each other" kinda thing.

 

 

 

(hopes it doesn't turn into flamebait :pray: )

[Star_Fox]

exercising and eating fit can gain you some muscles and increase a few pounds. if you want to ask me, i'm at 185. i never exercise, but i go out when i need to, i mostly eat the foods i want, and i still maintain healthy weight. it's an easy life. :P

[gonpost]

http://hundredpushups.com/

 

 

 

That's right, push ups. They're good for you.

 

 

 

There's a set routine that you can follow and motivate yourself to do. No more than 3 days per week. Oh, and you'll probably want to eat a little more than you do now.

[Sam]

Do the exercise all these government health agencies tell you to do. I'm sure it'll work. Personally I do things that use to top half of my body, anything from push-ups to pull-ups.

[Stephen9o3]

http://hundredpushups.com/

 

 

 

That's right, push ups. They're good for you.

 

 

 

There's a set routine that you can follow and motivate yourself to do. No more than 3 days per week. Oh, and you'll probably want to eat a little more than you do now.

 

 

 

Ah, yes. Another forum I frequent had a topic about 100 pushups. Basically you follow a short routine 3 times a day (takes less than 20 minutes each day), and after 6 weeks, you should be able to do 100 consecutive pushups. I was thinking about trying this but I've been working too much this summer to be able to do it. I sometimes do cash, sometimes do pushing carts at a grocery store, so I don't want to tire out my arms and then have to go push carts for 8 hours :P. Maybe in the coming school year I'll give it a shot.

[InkofDeath]

Push-Ups every other day.

 

Sit-Ups every other day.

 

Stretching every time.

 

Running for 20-40 minutes every other day.

 

 

 

All you need...No magic numbers, just do as much as you can, and then a bit more.

[ThurinEthir]

I have a similar problem, I'm way too skinny. My doctor/nurse/whatever told me that I have to gain a few pounds...Eh.

 

Basically, get more protein (I think that was it, I forget... #-o ), but also exercise. Don't just eat fatty foods, but eat things like meat and yogurt. (Once again, I think that's what I was told...Not sure.) Basically, eat more in general, while keeping a good balance. And yes. Exercise. Push-ups, sit-ups, just running around...It'll help.

[The Observer]

I have a similar problem, I'm way too skinny. My doctor/nurse/whatever told me that I have to gain a few pounds...Eh.

 

Basically, get more protein (I think that was it, I forget... #-o ), but also exercise. Don't just eat fatty foods, but eat things like meat and yogurt. (Once again, I think that's what I was told...Not sure.) Basically, eat more in general, while keeping a good balance. And yes. Exercise. Push-ups, sit-ups, just running around...It'll help.

 

 

 

That's the same problem with me. I'm too skinny. There's nothing that I can do about it because the gas prices are hitting hard on my family. #-o

 

 

 

Anyway, I'd suggest eating more of protein than you do now if you want to build muscle. But not too much, you'll hurt your kidneys.

[Faux]

Sit-ups are pretty useless. Do a thousand and them and they still won't do much for your abs (which people think they're targeting). Do crunches instead.

[deloriagod]

Push-Ups every other day.

 

Sit-Ups every other day.

 

Stretching every time.

 

Running for 20-40 minutes every other day.

 

 

 

All you need...No magic numbers, just do as much as you can, and then a bit more.

 

 

 

As Shadow said, swap sit-ups for crunches and throw in a few other abdominal exercises to work the sides of your abs instead of just the front. There might not be magic numbers, but there are some numbers to work with. Here's a few tips:

 

 

 

-Right before a run, do a 5 minute walk and slowly increase the pace throughout those 5 minutes before you break into a run. It gets you heart rate up and going before you start pushing your body. A 5 minute walk after you run (a "cooldown") is always nice and relaxing as well.

 

-Try to run for more than 30 minutes every time you run. 20 is fine for starting, but you have to really push yourself to get good results.

 

-Do your abdominal workout right after you run. I've always found I'm pumped and ready for anything after a run so pushing 500+ crunches is easy.

 

-When you do pushups, try putting your feet on higher surfaces to target different areas of your chest/arms.

 

-Make sure you eat at least as many calories as you're burning. Make sure they're good calories as well (less than 30% from fat). Calories = easy energy

 

-Carbs are awesome energy as well and a good idea to get some before you run

 

-Fats are energy as well, but avoid them because they're bad for you. Having a little fat is fine and your body needs it, but don't over do it unless you like to work harder than you need to

 

-Protein will help you build muscle faster. I hope you know where you get protein from but if you decide to start lifting weights you might want to consider protein shakes. They taste terrible, but damn that protein helps.

 

-Pick a goal, aim for that goal. Make sure it's fairly small though. Once you hit it, pick another small goal and go for it. If you aim for one huge goal, you're likely to fail.

 

 

 

 

 

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.. Good luck to you, be sure to let us know how it goes :

[Rebdragon]

Sit-ups are pretty useless. Do a thousand and them and they still won't do much for your abs (which people think they're targeting). Do crunches instead.

 

Leg lifts are better. Forcing your abs to lift up half your body weight is a decent workout for them.

[mmmcannibalism]

for leg strength for after running find a somewhat long staircase you can use

 

 

 

run sprints up it hitting every step about 5 times depending on length

 

 

 

next run skipping every other step a few more times

 

 

 

next skip two steps a few times(this will be more like walking speed since you cant run with that big of gap

 

 

 

then hop up steps with both feet

 

 

 

or find a nice hill and sprint up it then jog down till you cant move lol

 

 

 

for ab strength lay down flat on your back hands to sides and try to hold both legs up about 6 inches off the ground or hold off ground moving up and down

[Poopingman]

eat...eat....EAT. Otherwise you will never put on muscle.

[hellbellz]

Sit-ups are pretty useless. Do a thousand and them and they still won't do much for your abs (which people think they're targeting). Do crunches instead.

 

Leg lifts are better. Forcing your abs to lift up half your body weight is a decent workout for them.

 

I find that doing "the perfect crunch" is a better workout than 6 inches, a.k.a. leg lifts. When you do crunches, you want to aim for the ceiling, not your knees, and a good way to keep going toward the ceiling is constantly look up, while keeping your hands at your side.

 

 

 

But if you really want to get fit, you should go see a professional at a gym such as Gold's Gym.

[magekillr]

Sit-ups are pretty useless. Do a thousand and them and they still won't do much for your abs (which people think they're targeting). Do crunches instead.

 

Leg lifts are better. Forcing your abs to lift up half your body weight is a decent workout for them.

 

 

 

There's two parts of your abdominals though, so you'd need to work both.

[Solidus_77]

Erm, go to the gym and do an exercise routine? That's what will actually give you some muscles as opposed to just staying in shape. For the past month I've been going to the gym every day on an exercise plan. (I train different muscles each day obviously in a cycle that repeats every 4 days giving the muscles enough time to recover) and my muscles have at least tripled in strength and can actually be seen now. It's also important to do cardio before and after you train, otherwise your muscles are cold. Best of all, I get to meet people who work out there everyday.

 

 

 

If you also want to get more muscles, get a special diet which consists of high protein and carbohydrates. That means lots of meat and additionally try getting some protein powder for a supplement.

 

 

 

As for motivation? Chicks dig guys with muscles, you'll feel more confident. If that's not enough motivation, then it feels damn good and satisfying to feel exhausted after a hard day at the gym.

[Zeddude]

I recently bought the Wii fit! Ive only had it for a week but im feeling better already, ive lost a few pounds and its fun, i know its not as great as a gym and can be limited to what you do but say you do it for a year its very cost-effective and it works!

 

 

 

So if youve got a Wii, And cant afford a gym, get the wiifit!

[How2PK]

I just started 'getting in shape'. I felt like I was a bit on the heavy side, so obviously my traning schedule is different to yours. But I could really recommend investing some of your monthly income in a good gym. With this you get a trainer who is qualified to give you advice, make a fitness programme that fits your body and that is best to reach your goals, and you have got good equipment to train on. I live in Europe, so I don't know what the costs are whereever you live. But calculated from Euro to Dollar, I pay 50 dollar a month, then I have unlimited access to the gym, and the swimming pool. I am going three times a week, first I do fitness for an hour (10 minutes on the bike, cross trainer, skating machine, step machine) and then twenty minutes in the power part of the gym. After that we're going for a swim, and I try to do 20 lanes (25 metres each) before I quit.

[amoeba_009]

If you want to get serious about bodybuilding or jsut pack on some muscle pm me what your hopes, ive been doing it off and on for 2 years and 1 year dedicated. Just drop me a pm. Also check out bodybuilding.com, not the store but the site, its really good, saves you alot of money in terms of getting a trainer.

[Boris5000]

I'm quite skinny myself, and I've got a little muscle here and there, I'm actually Under-weight... But I eat till I'm satisfied, (small stomach)

 

 

 

Anyway, I walk at a fast pace everywhere so I'm burning those calories at a slow and steady pace... Also I do around 20 push-ups and sit-ups a day or every few days... And I've stayed fit for awhile... Oh yeah... Don't have lots of junk food in the house, or you will be tempted to eat and Don't have any money too, you will be tempted to go to the shops :x

[JeremyM]

im also skinny and going to start heading to the gym starting monday. my goal is at least 4 times a week til school starts. also, i read your post right before i ate dinner and it made me eat the extra piece of chicken! \

[Rebdragon]

There's two parts of your abdominals though, so you'd need to work both.

 

I'm pretty sure hanging leg lifts get the entire core mate.

 

 

 

I find that doing "the perfect crunch" is a better workout than 6 inches, a.k.a. leg lifts. When you do crunches, you want to aim for the ceiling, not your knees, and a good way to keep going toward the ceiling is constantly look up, while keeping your hands at your side.

 

Better than hanging leg lifts? Dude, those things hurt like hell from the get-go.

 

 

 

And hanging leg lifts force you to move your lower body an entire 90 degrees, so it's a little more difficult than the one you're thinking of.

[deloriagod]

There's two parts of your abdominals though, so you'd need to work both.

 

I'm pretty sure hanging leg lifts get the entire core mate.

 

 

 

Hanging leg lifts are going to focus on your lower abdominals. You might feel the burn in your entire stomache, but you're going to see nice tone abs showing up in your lower abdominal region and very little results in your upper abominals. Crunches along with hanging leg lifts would give you some nice abs.

[Rebdragon]

Really? 'cause my upper abs looks much better than my lower :|. I do sit ups/crunches as well though, and more fat is in fact stored over my lower abdominals. I guess because of that I'm even over the entire abdominals, and that makes it seem like leg lifts do get the entire core :|.

[Powman3]

I do five sets of 25 crunches/push-ups/curls and some exercise that targets your triceps as well as your forearms every day (well usually). I try to run every now and then as well, that's more for cardio though, though it could help your legs out just as well.

 

 

 

It's all about being dedicated and eating right. You could have the looks, the muscle, but it doesn't mean you're healthy at all. So just starting eating more meat, yogurt, and stuff with protein to gain weight, but just don't eat those. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grain is important as well.

 

 

 

And Reb I'm going to assume that's what the problem is.