what is best to get into shape? fasting/ gym? excercise/ cycling/ running?

[schooling123]

I have got a membership to the gym but wanted to ask general advice what si best to get to shape? fasting/ gym? excercise/ cycling/ running? I work full time so would need to do some at home and some in the gym. Please advise

I third the weights. Its completely changed my shape.

i do 5:2 when I want to loose a bit of squidge. i find it easier than constantly watching what I eat.

some HIIT sessions are also useful. i dont do any "steady state" cardio, no long runs on a treadmill etc. i find it makes me hungrier and I just eat more.

Yup, my trainer will give me the side-eye if I'm lifting something that she thinks looks "too easy". Weights have made a huge difference to my shape as well, I'm probably slightly heavier than I was a few months ago but I'm a totally different shape - limbs more toned, smaller waist, etc.

Weights are the way forward they will give you a toned, lean body used correctly and also mean you don't have to live on a salad diet!

Zoe Harcombe - keeping the Advertising Standards Authority nice and busy since 2014.

this was the first result that came up for the search 'Zoe Harcombe qualificiations' !!

If you think big weights look too scary, don't worry - a recent study found that lifting lighter weights for more reps gives the same results as heavier weights and less reps. Only thing is that you have to work until the muscle is fatigued. Of course, that's not so easy to do with little pink weights. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430105358.htm

Personally I do low-carb if I need to lose some weight - good thing about that is that this allows you to lose fat while maintaining muscle. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160127132741.htm

Heavy weights and some form of alternate day calorie restriction. Simple and effective. Like others, shifting to heavy weights was the key. It also rapidly increased my bone density.

Will body weight-type exercises cut it or do we need to use heavy weight down the gym?

What and how many exercises/reps with the heavy weights would you suggest?

Move more
Eat more
Eat well- THIS IS KEY, eat the right stuff!!

Eat less!!

Body weight seems to be the way to get going but once it feels easy and it will quickly if you're blasting 20 mins a day, then it's weights time and you'll see the results. Literally 3/4 weeks my skirts were loose

I do 3 sets of 12 say bicep curls, keep the muscle tense at say 3kgs to begin with building to 6kg. Less than 3 is a waste of time you'll get bored before tired ime

I'm only up to 6kgs by the way you don't stop there. I've got fantastic arms even if I say so myself, I won't get any bigger in terms of muscles but I don't want to loose what I've got so I guess I'll keep progressing

I agree that weights are definitely the way to go. If you're not particularly overweight don't rely on the scales to tell you you're looking good. I've not lost any weight but gone down two dress sizes when I started working out properly (once a week with a personal trainer, three or four times in classes-Zumba, yoga, Pilates and body combat).

Body weight is great to begin with for upper body. You can't beat a plank or s press up! Or a tricep dip for that matter!

Oh I hate tricep dips with a passion phoo!

The basic idea for weights is that as soon as you can do 3 sets of 10-12 reps relatively easily, it's time to up the weight.

God, I love a tricep dip!

You must be a sadist! Nothing hurts like tricep pain.

"It also rapidly increased my bone density."

How on earth would you know that?

It seems I need to do weights... But I really, really don't want to!

Serious question: does all this time at the gym make an inpact financially (that you notice)? And how does everyone find the time?

The body scanner at the gym told me, deadgood!
Pah! Purple, there is no pain like quad pain when going downstairs!

And the nice thing about heavy weights is you don't have to spend that much time at the gym to get it done. Way more time efficient than cardio.

Hmm, actually you could be right about quads phoo.

deadgood I joined a gym for £28 a month but I'm really lucky to be able to go in the daytime since I work part time. I really wasn't keen on starting weights but once I got into it I loved it. It's great feeling strong.

Phoolani you can tell I don't spend much time in gyms! Ha!

I like the idea of feeling strong but am sooooo lazy... It seems like time wasted to me. I know it isn't but I struggle to devote so much precious time to it :(

Deadgood - I don't know what to say; if you feel it's a waste of time, then you're never going to go! For me, gym/exercise time is the most precious. Purely for me. And for many years i went to the gym not for physical reasons but because it saved me mentally. You'll have to prise my gym membership out of my cold, dead hands! Give it a month of at least say 4 days a week and see how you feel about it then.