First time working out tomorrow, I have a few questions...

OK, so tomorrow after getting used to the diet thing, I have decided that I will give this whole gym thing a go, and I have a couple of questions:

Is there a real Importance in a Pre Workout/Post Workout shake? I was thinking that I would have like my lunch after the workout (Breakfast at about 7:30, snacks at 1, Lunch/PWO meal at 5). Is this a bad idea or somthing that would work?

What should my schedual look like for a first time? So far I have a CV warm-up with some HIIT in there, but then I draw a blank at what too do after that, I asked at my usual workout board, but they were, not so helpful (all they said was SQUATZ and Stronglifts 5x5)

and finally, is HIT or HIIT a better idea?

thanks for any help anyone can offer :)

Yeah, you are in for a treat. Working out is the best thing ever.  After you get through the initial "get to know the gym" and "what works best for me" period you'll love it. 

My advise to you is this:

1. If your gym has classes (such as spinning or body pump) try those to begin with.

2. If you don't attend a class, make sure you know what you are going to do before you enter the gym (ie. run 5 km on a treadmill or warmup + a specific set of weightlifts). This way you won't wonder around the locale not knowing what to do and feeling self concious.

3. Most gyms have someone to guide customers around the locale.  Use that to familiarize yourself.

4. Always have a timeframe.  More time in the gym does not necessarily mean better results. Be effective.

5. Mix different types of training methods.  In my experience, bootcamp type training works best.  Check this site out http://www.rossboxing.com for idea

Reg

Bragi

I started a program called Couch to 5k to get me started. I didn't know what else to do and it seemed easy. I'm not completely finished with it but now I look forward to my workouts. You can find it on the coolrunning website.

Why are you spacing out your meals so far apart? If I don't have a snack or meal within 30 minutes after my workout my blood sugar drops and I get very cranky!

I'm supposed to eat 1450 cals a day to lose weight so I broke it up into 3 even meals and two snacks. I eat 400 breakfast-100 snack-400 lunch-100 snack-400 supper. That works great for me. Otherwise my energy is all over the place (and my moods too!) lol

Good luck to you! Maybe a workout book will get your started with weight lifting!

This may be a little late, but I thought I'd reply anywyas. I used to pay for personal training (a lot of money, but I learned a lot). If you can afford that, it is really an invaluable learning experience.

Basically, there are two basic objectives: losing fat or building muscle. If you want to build muscle, you should lose fat first, and this is done primarily through CV. You want to know your target heart rate and exercise at your target heart rate for 30 mins about 5 times a week (this means you don't start counting your 30 minutes until you have reached your THR). In this stage (the fat burning stage) you will want to do some weight lifting as well because muscle mass helps the body burn more calories- so do as much weight as you can comfortably lift about 3 sets of twelve reps. The most important thing for me is variety, and I got WAY into pilates- I think it's really effective and you can do it at home. After you've lost as much fat as you want to, then you will go into the muscle building phase. You won't want to do more cardio than it takes to warm up, and you'll want to lift as heavy as you can- the point is to expire your muscles, so they will rip, repair and build. WHat ever your objective is, remember to be effective- that means, really good posture. This will help your muscles develop symmetrically and help support your skeletal structure properly. Additionally, ALWAYS contract your abs and glutes-whether doing CV or lifting- it will support your back and build nice muscles. You will love your abs. trust me.

On meals, I was told that it is best to eat within about 1 hour after you work out b/c your body is still working. Of course, you also should not work out on a totally empty stomach. I usually eat breakfast around 9 and work out at 12 and eat lunch afterwards. As far as the space between your meals, I think it is personal. There are some studies that suggest that you should eat small meals (300-400 cals) every couple of hours, it keeps your blood glucose levels and energy up. That is what works for me. You DONT want to wait to eat until you feel hungry, b/c that usually means your body is past due for energy.

Hope this helps! Good luck to you

Pre and post workout meals are as important as the workout itself. The timeframe/window and type of meal really depends on your goal. Are you attempting to bulk or cut?