I need help making an exercise routine?!
Question:
I need help making an exercise routine?
I'm 5 feet 6/7 inches.I'm between 110-120 pounds.I'm 16 years.My aim is NOT to loose weight,but just to remain healthy,and my goal one day is to have toned muscles.
I love to run on my treadmill,but that alone gets to be quite boring.We have a Bowflex machine,but I don't use it.Should I be? I'm on holiday right now,so I can train everyday if possible,but I want a routine suited for me.
As for diet...my family and I dine on a LOT of mashed potatoes,pork,beef,eggs,bread.... always have meat.But I don't eat the pork and beef..I rarely do.
I don't drink soft drinks nor eat take out alot.If we do have take out,its chinese.I get sick when I eat something too oily..eek
I don't snack a lot..all I'd really snack on is bits of chocolate,twice a day at most.Honest.
Anyway..Any help to make a routine would be greatly appreciated!
Answers:
You definately don't need to lose any weight! However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to start using the Bowflex machine. It doesn't take a lot to tone up your muscles, and a little applied in a regular routine will go a long way in making you feel more healthy and energetic as well as toning your body.
I have a 6 day a week routine, which is more than you would need. I'd start by doing 10-20 minute routines 2-4 days a week. Generally, you want to hover your upper and lower body. It's harder to give you a more specific plan with the info you've provided, but here's a rough plan for a lighter 10-30 mins 3 day/week routine. You could spread it out to more days and less time too. I've never used a Bowflex, though I'm familiar with the general idea. I'm not sure how you'd do a leg press, so instead I've included just some general squats. Not all of these are done on the Bowflex- for info about the exercise, google the name I typed.
As far as weight is concerned, don't push it- you'll see more results by sticking to a routine over weeks and months than doing a few days of small-rep'd sets every once in a while.
When I say 3x8-12 it means to do 3 sets of between 8 and 12 reps apiece. When you are at the point where you can do 12 reps comfortably, without straining too much at the end, add a little weight (usually 5lbs). Repeat. You generally want to be at a weight where the last 1-2 reps are pretty hard.
This is pretty rough, off the top of my head- someone with Bowflex-specific knowledge or other tips might have some ideas to fill it out. I'm sure I forgot something! You could probably even find something meant for the bowflex premade online.
Day 1: Upper Body (would be better if broken up into two days, maybe a few moved to the Core/Back day)
* Bicep curls 3x8-12
* Tricep extensions 3x8-12
* Pec fly 3x8-12
* Bench press 3x8-12
* Row 3x8-12
* Lateral Raise 3x8-12
* Military Press 3x8-12
Day 2: Lower Body
* Squats 3x8-20
* Hamstrings 3x5-15 (standing on your tippie toes then lowering down)
* Glute extensions 3x8-12
Day 3: Core / Back
* Leg raises 2x5-20
* Crunches 3x10-30 (w/ or w/o a swiss ball)
* Obliques 3x8-12
* Lateral Pulldown 3x-8-12
IMPORTANT!
Wait 60-90 seconds between sets. That is often the hardest part about a weight training routine, the weight between sets. You'll get better results and less muscle damage if you do this. I find listening to music makes this a TON easier than sitting around twiddling your thumbs.
Remember to warm up your body some before working out. This can mean some general warming up or doing a set on a much lighter weight before you do your full weight sets.
Remember to stretch. You can find a lot of good stretches online by searching, complete with diagrams. You need to stretch, not stretching can be an easy shortcut with possibly nasty/annoying consequences.
Good luck and have fun!