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Original poster

Two sessions a week at the gym - when can I expect to see results?

61 replies

fatsatsuma · 14/05/2010 19:04

Im following a standard programme each time I go ie. 30 mins cardio, 30 mins ?weights (not sure what to call it - various machines eg. leg press etc).

I'm pushing myself pretty hard every time I go, as am hoping to see some results before a special holiday in July. Am I being unrealistic to expect to lose a bit of weight and tone up somewhat in that time?

I've been going for three weeks now and have another seven to go before said holiday.

OP posts:
dinkystinky · 15/05/2010 13:36

Yes, you do get bigger muscles - but you'd have to be doing serious training to end up looking like a bodybuilder type! Lifting heavier weights is a great way to train - but you have to have the right technique or you could very well injure yourself - and you have to work your way up to it. A combination of cardio and weights is the ideal way to train.

LostGirl · 15/05/2010 13:43

No, you will not bulk up, you will be smaller, leaner and tighter. I don't know a great deal about this, have only been lifting for three months but in that time have dropped two dress sizes. It is actually really hard for women to build muscle. Increasing the number of repetitions merely increases the muscles endurance, not it's strength and if the muscles don't grow then they won't look any different to the way they do now.

Original poster
fatsatsuma · 15/05/2010 13:46

Thanks dinkystinky. I did appreciate your advice too - sorry I didn't acknowledge it.

I was just a bit that I had posted on this board about using the gym, and the first few comments came from people who are seriously into weight loss through dieting and implied that I would never tone up unless I did the same as them and ate less...

Thanks everyone for your comments though - all opinions appreciated

OP posts:
SuSylvester · 15/05/2010 13:47

you wont though
we have tried that that is why we are telling you
you dont go to the gym and lose through that alone
or maybe you ony waqnt us to agree with you?

CoteDAzur · 15/05/2010 13:52

My one big advice: Start running. In the gym, on the treadmill, as part of your gym program.

BUPA and C25K programs get you running with interval training, over a period of time, starting with "1 min running + 2 min walking" kind of gentle introduction.

I have done many different kinds of sports and been going to the gym over many years, but nothing has changed my body as quickly and visibly as running. I heartily recommend it.

pagwatch · 15/05/2010 13:54

fatsatsuma

I have NEVER Posted on the weight loss boards so not invading from anywhere .

Even if you are primarily trying to tone up you still need to watch your diet.

80% of weight loss comes from nutritional changes only 20%ish from excercise.

If you are slim and just looking to get a bit more sleek and athletic then just gym will tone and redistribute.
If you want to slim and tone you have to look at nutrition too.

SuSylvester · 15/05/2010 13:55

runnign doesnt do it for everyone though
mates who have done marathons say no diff

WhatsAllThisThen · 15/05/2010 13:55

If you can possibly bring yourself to run, it is the most effective exercise.

Otherwise heaps of (fast!) walking.

VoulezVouzCrochezAvecJACK · 15/05/2010 13:56

But they are right, you can't just exercise and eat whatever you want, you will just be fit and overweight (which is entirely possible)

LostGirl · 15/05/2010 13:56

cornsilk, if you google images of pro natural (ie non steroid users) female bodybuilders then you cannot describe them as bulky, their overall dress size looks tiny. Yes they look overly muscular but I imagine that's because they have dieted to such a low body fat percentage so that you can see all the definition.

And yes, 90% of weight loss is achieved in the kitchen, but through long term, healthy food choices, not low calorie restrictive diets which can do more harm than good.

SuSylvester · 15/05/2010 13:58

i do walking fast up a steep gradient at gym
treadddy goes right up to 10 and i walk at a pretty fast 7.2
is knackering and i have fab legs to boot

VoulezVouzCrochezAvecJACK · 15/05/2010 13:59

Nobody said 'low calorie restrictive diet'

LostGirl · 15/05/2010 14:04

I didn't say you did. OP said that she was eating in a healthy sensible way whilst going to the gym and after other response she said that it looked like she would have to be a full blown diet, which I took to mean as drastically cutting back which wouldn't be necessary if she was eating sensibly.

pagwatch · 15/05/2010 14:05

No. Not low calorie restrictive diets
I was talking about good nutrition..

LostGirl · 15/05/2010 14:05

Sorry, that didn't make sense at all, must proof read before posting.

SuSylvester · 15/05/2010 14:05

thinkg is oen persons healthy diet is starvation to a lot

VoulezVouzCrochezAvecJACK · 15/05/2010 14:08

Lost, ISWYM, but without knowing what OP is eating now we can't really give advice in a specific way. sorry for confusion, am feeling mega rough and extra grumpy today

LostGirl · 15/05/2010 14:12

Yes, I know, sorry, I was making assumptions myself and did not mean to suggest you were all suggesting she starve herself

cyb · 15/05/2010 14:16

fatsuma, sorry if you feel you've been invaded! I am a bit evangelical about keeping myself slimmer now and as an avid exercisier before I can only report what has worked for me which was really looking at WHAt and HOW MUCH I ate

exercise the cherry on the (low GI) cake

SuSylvester · 15/05/2010 14:17

yes
me to
was biffer who was fit.
ate less, excersied less9 as was busy in rl) dropped a stone

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 15/05/2010 14:17

Just to confuse thing further - people seem to be achieving great things on the 30 Day Shred thread.

20 mins intensive exercise a day with a trainer from 'The Biggest Loser.'

I started it today and was a bit pathetic, but I have high hopes for it and lots of posters swear by it, as I said.

Original poster
fatsatsuma · 15/05/2010 18:21

Wow, this has taken off while I've been watching cricket

I do eat fairly carefully, but not as restrictively as in the past when I did diet seriously to lose baby weight.

Sorry if I've offended anyone. I really am grateful for all your input, but as I said earlier, I posted on this board as was hoping for advice on using the gym rather than dieting

But I've taken your advice on board, and agree from previous experience that calories in must be less than calories out for serious weight loss.

OP posts:
popsycal · 15/05/2010 18:38

running
i lost tonswhilst eating likea pig

you dontv need to diet to lose weight imo and ime

popsycal · 15/05/2010 18:39

"But they are right, you can't just exercise and eat whatever you want, you will just be fit and overweight (which is entirely possible) "

totally disagree

desertgirl · 15/05/2010 20:17

fatsuma, I've been going to the gym, with a personal trainer, three times (most) weeks for about a year now. I'm a lot fitter (from a standing start!) but despite eating what I think is quite sensibly, have not really lost weight; actually I don't think I've lost weight at all though my clothes fit a bit better.

Have gone through patches of going to the gym, doing classes, etc in the past, and thought I was working hard. I have now discovered I wasn't

Trainer's view is if I want to lose weight I need to take the food thing more seriously - but I work full time and have kids of 2 and 3 - getting to the gym (in the evening) feels like a big achievement already (mutter mutter self-justification; now what is my excuse for having been back from hols for a week and not gone back to gym yet?)

Good luck - but unless you're a lot overweight you might need to look at the food thing more than you want to.

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