Like you mentioned you need a routine but every time I start getting into one something happens that interrupts it and it upsets me so much I don’t bother starting it again.

One day when things quietens down some I’m gonna join a gym because once I spend money I make sure I get my money’s worth, that and I don’t mind looking at hot chicks.

Yes, my gym has about 30 different cardio machines and 20 bikes in the spinning room. I don’t often use any of those machines because my hips hurt and therefore I usually last only 5 minutes or so. That, plus it wouldn’t have made as impressive a picture as me pushing weight. lol

There seem to be a lot of rules about losing weight. Your comment about it taking 2 years isn’t a great selling point to almost anyone, even if it’s the truth. The people at my health club said that if I wanted to reach my intended goal I’d have to go to the gym 6 times a week for 18 months; not only isn’t that going to happen, but it’s the type of thing that makes people want to stop going.

And yet I continue going, mainly because of the other things about the health club that make for pretty good stories. That is, when it’s not too humid, like it’s been lately with multiple days over 90°F in a row; their air conditioning isn’t strong enough to overcome that.

I live in Portugal. I workout at Holmes Place. They have gyms in many countries. There’s always someone keeping an eye on what’s happening, but if you do need a guide to help you with your exercises and weight loss, you have to pay an extra fee to get a personal trainer. I don’t know if that’s how your gym works…

I see a a few photos of you doing weight training. Don’t you have cardio workout at the gym? I would recommend doing treadmill workout, fast walking, NOT running, and if you can cope with the extra resistance, just add some inclination (running will hurt your knees). And other cardio workout exercices.

If you have more muscle, you will loose more weight. But you should focus on losing calories at the gym. And improving your stamina. Let’s imagine that you’re not in your top form. You will only loose 200 calories in a 1 hour cardio workout. But in 12 months from now, you will have more stamina and you will loose 500 / 600 calories per hour. So, I guess I’m saying: build the tools to loose weight and you will eventually loose it. Build your stamina.

Be reasonable on setting your goals. You will not loose the weight in 3 months. Think 2 years… And if you don’t quit, you will eventually loose the extra weight.

You’re 100% on target. You have to change your eating habits. Most of us need to look at what we eat. And it’s not a loose weight moment… It’s a life change. It’s not a diet. It’s about eating healthier. Eating more vegetables and fruit.

I’m going to be a little controversial. Stomach crunches are about gaining muscle. If you want to loose those extra inches in your stomach, you will have to do cardio exercices and loose calories. You will only loose wait by burning calories. And when you compare exercices, stomach crunches will not make you loose as many calories and you will loose in a treadmill or step exercise in a 1 hour period.

Did you check your heart before joining the gym? Do you have indoor cycling at the gym? Something called RPM? That will make you loose quite a few calories per hour.

I enjoyed your post. Especially your socklets resistance. I use socklets.

Have a great weekend.

Rui