HERE GOES..........

[FIRMITUP2001]

2 QUESTIONS: 1. I GAIN WEIGHT "ALL OVER". WHAT DO I DO TO LOOK SLIM AND LOSE MASS???? 2. NO MATTER WHAT, MY LEFT LEG ALWAYS HAS MORE FAT THAN THE RIGHT , WHICH MAKES THEM LOOK UNEVEN. DESPERATELY SEEKING EVENNESS. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!

 

[kelley111]

Excellent questions and I can't wait to hear the answers. When I gain weight, I also gain it all over which is good in a way as I always look well proportioned. My right thigh is a full inch bigger than my left and it is definitely fat and not muscle. Someone help us.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Firmitup! Increase your cardio days and intensity per session. Focus on your food intake making sure that it is good quality food in its most natural state. Add a day of running to your program and if you have access to spin classes add one to two days of spin. Assuming you have not already been doing these activities, they will DEFINITELY shock your metabolism and stimulate fat loss. Good Luck!

 

[FIRMITUP2001]

YOU SUGGESTED "SPIN" CLASSES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THEM. MY FRIEND SAID THAT IT IS RIDING THE STATIONARY BIKE. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO? (IF SO, I HAVE A STATIONARY BIKE THAT ALSO INVOLVES THE ARMS WHILE YOU ARE RIDING.)

 

[mogambo]

Spinning uses a special bike where you vary the tension using a knob. This gives the illusion of riding up steeper and steeper hills. You don't use your arms, but you can lean forward in a racing position, or upward in the seat.
In a spin class, many people are on bicycles facing the instructor, also on a bicycle, who leads you through a workout, where you pedal and different speeds, using different tensions on the knob (1 through 10), different positions. It is usually very very tough cardio and really builds your legs.
I have a bicycle like yours, probably a Schwinn Airdyne, right? I sort of fake a spin workout by peddling much faster and slower, leaning forward, standing in the peddles and what-not. But it is better with the spinning bicycle, I just don't have access to a gym anymore.

 

[likes2bfit]

I am just curoius. We have a semi-recumbent bike in our home gym. Can I get a good spin workout varying the intensity with this bike? I have put it in my cardio workouts once a week or so for variety. Origionally, we bought it so I could recover from Plantar fascitis and still do cardio with out impact.

I vary my cardio workouts from Cathes' tapes to walking outside to treadmill walking (always at 4 to 4.5 mph) with hills, to the bike workout. Since I build muscle easily, I aim for 2 strength training/endurance workouts per week and 300 minutes of cardio. And I always take one day off for rest.

Does anyone think that too much use of a bike bulks up your legs more than other cardio workouts? How much is too much? I also want to say that I really like step, especially with Cathe, and do at least 2 step video's most weeks.




Take time to enjoy those who matter most to you & do all things in moderation

 

[Debra]

re bike question

Cardio activities like Spinning, cycling, & even the Stairmaster engage the "slow twitch" muscle fibers. They don't bulk.

Heavy weight training, explosive but short activities such as sprinting & jumping engage "fast twitch" muscle fibers. They can bulk.

Check out pro cyclists. Lance has muscular legs but they're far from bulky. The sprinters & track cyclists have huge thighs - from fixed gear & explosive, big gear training. Wish I had some female examples, but they're rarely on tv.

Debra

 

[honeybunch]

You have to experiment....go the cardio route Cathe suggested, and also do two days per week of LIGHT WEIGHT AND HIGH REP strength training for your legs and butt.

I'm one of those birds who never responded to cardio in my legs, except kickboxing which worked wonders on my saddlebags. The weights worked more for me. You have to try everything and DON'T give up because it may take you a while to find out what works for you.