Re: Fat to muscle testimonial

[Guest guest]

>> The numbers

on the scale sometimes makes women do/think crazy things <<

This bears repeating! The truth is, what we weigh does not matter, what matters

is how muscular and fit we are. I need to monitor my weight because I'm on a

weight loss program, but I have to constantly tell myself that what I REALLY

want is more muscle, less fat, and the number on the scale is just one small

part of a big picture. I also use my measurements and my overall sense of

well-being, as well as clothes size. And yet that scale has a scary power over

my mind. Days I lose are good days - and days I don't, I struggle with doubts.

It's nuts!

Christie

[Guest guest]

> This bears repeating! The truth is, what we weigh does not matter, what

matters is how muscular and fit we are.

Yes, and I don't think it's even been mentioned yet that muscle tissue is

about 5 times denser than adipose tissue. A good comparison might be a lb.

of lettuce vs. a lb. of meat representing fat and muscle respectively. And

the bones will get denser too as the muscle tissue increases/hypertrophies.

So it's most accurate to take bodily measurements and see how they change

over time, rather than step on the evil scale - Deanna

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info Betsy. I will check out the thread. I have been doing

the Body For Life exercise routine for six weeks now. I upped the cardio to

five times a week for longer duration last week. Now i'm questioning his

weight routine because there seems to be too many reps of lighter weights.

Is your routine quick? that is my main priority -- that it be quick and

simple as i have two kids in daycare at the gym. I got great advice on this

list for a weight routine but the trainer at my gym didn't think i could do

a squat properly. So i thought i needed to get fit some more routine way

first with dumbells before jumping into barbells.

I would like to know how long your routine lasts and how many days a week.

Elaine

Chris's workout and my version of it are work fast (you can

> find what I used as my guide under the " Scrawny Guys " thread).

[Guest guest]

Betsy wrote: Chris's workout and my version of it are work fast (you can

find what I used as my guide under the " Scrawny Guys " thread).

Raine replies: I searched the archives, and could not find this thread. Can

anyone give me some help?

Shalom,

Raine (Who is new, and will send an intro soon)

[Guest guest]

Betty,

That's great!

But one question. How did you start benching 10 lbs? With dumbells? The

bar itself weighs 45 lbs, so it would seem that would be the minimal weight

(unless you are doing a dumbell press.)

Chris

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/10/04 7:09:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,

bberg@... writes:

> and there are

> many exercises for which even most men would have trouble handling 45

> pounds. Dumbbells, as you say, are another option.

Really? Like what?

Chris

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/10/04 8:30:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

bettysmith997@... writes:

> Oh, that's my own accounting system. :-) My barbell only weighs 12.5

> lbs and when I count weight, I just count the added weight so I don't

> have to keep adding and subtracting 12.5 lbs.

Oh, interesting. You should include the weight when you're talking to other

people, since everyone else includes the weight of the bar, and since you'll

doubtlessly end up using a normal 45-lb bar before the end of the year.

Chris

[Guest guest]

Quoting ChrisMasterjohn@...:

> But one question. How did you start benching 10 lbs? With dumbells?

> The

> bar itself weighs 45 lbs, so it would seem that would be the minimal

> weight

> (unless you are doing a dumbell press.)

They make lighter bars, down to 15 pounds, I think. Bench-pressing 45 pounds

for more than a few reps, if at all, is, in my (somewhat limited)

experience, beyond the capabilities of the average untrained woman

(although ten pounds sounds too light for any healthy adult), and there are

many exercises for which even most men would have trouble handling 45

pounds. Dumbbells, as you say, are another option.

--

Berg

bberg@...

[Guest guest]

> Betty,

>

> That's great!

>

> But one question. How did you start benching 10 lbs? With

dumbells? The

> bar itself weighs 45 lbs, so it would seem that would be the

minimal weight

> (unless you are doing a dumbell press.)

>

> Chris

Oh, that's my own accounting system. :-) My barbell only weighs 12.5

lbs and when I count weight, I just count the added weight so I don't

have to keep adding and subtracting 12.5 lbs.

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: <ChrisMasterjohn@...>

> In a message dated 3/10/04 7:09:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> bberg@... writes:

>

> > and there are

> > many exercises for which even most men would have trouble handling

45

> > pounds. Dumbbells, as you say, are another option.

>

> Really? Like what?

One-armed curl, side press...uh...well, " many " probably wasn't a great

word choice, but there are some. And by " most men, " I meant most men in

the general population.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/12/04 12:21:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,

bberg@... writes:

> One-armed curl, side press...uh...well, " many " probably wasn't a great

> word choice, but there are some. And by " most men, " I meant most men in

> the general population.

Ok, but wouldn't they do well to do basic exercises to gain a basic degree of

strength before they move on to advanced exercises? Also, what's the point

of doing those exercises with a barbell rather than a dumbell, especially at

such low weights?

Chris