[britEl]

Ok so my height is about 5 foot 5 and I weigh (ughhh) 150 pounds and I'm 18 (and a half!) I am thinking of joining a gym and taking up running (like on a treadmill) Is this a good way to lose weight/fat (other then the obvious eat healthier which I might add is a pain in the butt! )? How many miles a day should I start with (I am a beginner). Should I buy some running shoes and a sports bra? Also how many times a week would give me good results. I want to be toned but not all muscley I just don't want the excess fat that I have on my body (which is alot) I'm looking to be around 120-125 pounds.

[HamAtom]

Hello there!

I commend you for setting goals to get fit and healthy and all that. I agree. It is a pain in the butt. Lol.

Aerobic exercise is a great way to get your heart pumping and your body into fat-burning mode. What I would suggest is start running three times a week. The thing to remember about running, especially for the beginner, is that it can get discouraging and very tempting to quit because it takes a while to build up those endurance muscles. What I suggest is, instead of setting a distance goal as you are starting, set a time goal. Say, "I'm going to run for three minutes at this speed without stopping." And once you can meet this goal relatively easily, increase it to five and then ten minutes. Eventually, work up to twenty-five or thirty. Don't worry so much about running fast as running at a consistent pace for an extended period. Once you meet your time-endurance goal, gradually increase your speed as well. And it's important to remember that running isn't exactly easy on the body. Be very careful with your knees. You may want to take glucosamine chondroitin to help keep your joints healthy. You can find it at any Wal-mart or Aldi or you can order it online if you need to. Also black cherries are good for that, too.

And remember, while it's good to challenge yourself, don't be frustrated if you don't meet your goals as soon as you'd like. If you get in the mindset that you're changing your lifestyle rather than "I just have to run until I get these pounds off and then I can stop", then you'll be able to settle into a routine that you may soon find you enjoy.

And I think joining a gym is a great idea. You may want to see if they offer any group classes. Like step or interval, etc. These can be a great supplement to your workouts because they'll work other muscle groups that get overlooked by a runner. Also, they'll break up the monotony. It's hard to do the same thing every day. And they're pretty fun, too, and can help you feel more connected to other people at your gym. A lot of times, especially as beginners, we tend to be kind of excercise-shy, like "Nobody look at me; I feel weird being here!" But finding other people who have similar goals can be a huge motivator--which people in general tend to need. I tell you, sometimes the workout itself is the easy part. It's getting in the car to drive to the gym that's the real challenge.

In any case, enjoy your road to a healthier you!

Hammy

[britEl]

Wow thank you so much this is extremely helpful! :)

[summer7]

I agree with Just Looking. Pilates gives you a long, lean toned look. No bulk!
All good advice though.