Help please

[Bambito]

My wife and I quit smoking about 3 months ago! We are very proud of ourselves cause it has been tough but we feel great about it, and we should! Now we are at a phase where we have started to gain weight. We are both in our upper 20's and really would like to stay in shape. She wants to lose weight and I would like to build muscle. We are looking at getting a home gym machine, is there any you guys and gals would recommend for our situation? We don't want to spend over 500 and also not interested in signing a one year contract on a membership at some gym. Thanks

[mrklean]

depending on where you are most gyms allow month to month now which is really nice and pricing isnt to bad at all

[TR21HP]

My advice initially is to get out and walk or maybe run once a night. Changing your diet is paramount to either losing weight or gaining muscle. Just getting a home gym and training a couple times a week or more is not going to get you or your wife where you want to go. If you're dead set on getting the home gym I would suggest getting something at a second hand fitness store, that way you aren't paying as much for something that, honestly, won't get used much.

[delcecchi]

Sometime soon it will be nice enough to get outside and walk or run. Add a few dumbells or some body weight exercises like push ups and pull ups and some others and that will do the trick.

In the winter, a gym is nice and often cheaper than buying a treadmill or elliptical machine.

[mattrd]

My advice would be the same as some of these guys. Get outside and do some of that stuff. I would use the $$ and get a membership instead of a piece of equipment. It's easier to talk yourself out of exercising at home than it is about going to the gym. At a gym you have a bigger selection of equipment to use. For ex. say you buy a treadmill and a month down the road you find out it's hard on your legs and you hate it. Now you have an extra clothes hanger atleast at a gym there is other options.

[Ufatz]

First, congratulations on getting off those dam cigarettes! You will soon notice how much better you feel. And DO NOT waste money on a big fancy machine. Do what the other guys have already suggested....MOVE.....walk, get some small hand weights and MOVE, MOVE MOVE.

Get the weight off NOW because every year older you are the harder it is to get it off.

MOVE!

[upnorth]

find some sort of activity you can do and enjoy. Hiking, roller blading, walking, running X cross country skiing. Or a combination of any or all. Quitting the nicotine does affect your metabolism, but you will be healthier not smoking even if you do gain a few pounds. Be active. Muscle gain, get some dumbells to start.

[nofishfisherman]

I agree with everyone else. I'd venture to guess that the bulk of all exercise equipment sold ends up as nothing more than a place to hang laundry. It is very difficult to get into a routine of working out at home with all of the distraction present, even more so if you aren't already in a workout routine.

If you want to use equipment I'd suggest starting out with a gym membership. Most are month to month so you aren't locking yourself into a contract. Once in the gym you'll have access to everything so you can find out what you like, don't like, what works, and what doesn't. It will also give you access to trainers that can help get you on the right track. Once you have established a good routine and built the commitment to continuing the workouts then perhaps purchasing some home equipment is worth the investment.

If you REALLY want some sort of equipment now I'd suggest a set of dumbells and a bench. It will take up a lot less room and there isn't much you can't do with a set of dumbells.

Also like others have said getting out and being active is also important. Get out for a run, starting riding a bike, go for walks, etc...

[CANOPY SAM]

Congratulations on quitting, and both of you doing it at the same time! There's really no more successful way to do it.

This group offers some of the best advice I've EVER heard, anywhere! I completely agree with everything said above, and I can speak from experience.

If you're dead set on buying something to work out on, buy a decent recumbent stationary bike, that's well used, from a second hand store, and that's VERY comfortable for both you and your wife. Some of these are initially comfortable to sit on, but once you ride em' for 30 minutes a day you quickly realize they're not nearly as comfortable as they were in the store!!! Take your time and get one that really fits.

To lose weight and keep weight off you need to be doing strenuous aerobic exercise. A stationary bike will build leg and core body muscle, be terrific for your now smoke free lungs, and rebuild a lot of heart strength.

Everyone is spot on about home work-out equipment, and I'd bet the farm that these folks have gone down the same road, so they're not filling you full of hot air. Gym memberships aren't too bad for price, and you get SO much more variety, and like what's been said repeatedly, once you're there you're committed to spend some time at it. At home it's just too easy to walk away, or not even start.

I'd also add, now that you've quit smoking the oral fixation is the biggest hurdle to get over. The reason you're gaining weight is you're replacing the cig in your mouth with bites of food. It's fine to eat, but make sure you're eating low fat, low sodium, healthy "live" or fresh snacks and meals. When I say "live" I mean veggies, fruits, etc. Eat a high fiber cereal with skim milk in the morning, and a handful of unsalted peanuts, dried fruit, or fresh fruit between meals.

Healthy snacks, smaller portioned healthy meals, lots of water, and regular aerobic activity and you'll be back to your desired weight in no time.

Congratulations again, and the best of luck to you in the future!

[EBass]

Sounds like you two can put your minds to anything.Ever thought of martial arts to get in shape? The conditioning drills will get you into shape in no time. Well OK it takes some time, but when I was in my youth I went to the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy and got into the best shape of my life in mere months. Good luck on whatever you decide and congrats on beating the habit. Heck if you two did that, anything else should be easy.

[delcecchi]

One more thing. Exercising outdoors is way more interesting. I do elliptical at the gym and treadmill at home. I have to watch tv or something to get through the workout. Netflix, amazon prime, or a laptop with angling edge shows get me through an hour on the tread mill. Likewise the exercise bike would also be boring.

Many of the gyms have various group things like spinning or other classes that you might enjoy. Here in Rochester you can get by for as little as 10 to 20 bucks per month, for a basic gym deal. More if you want a pool and sports on top of it.

[tacklejunkie]

Congrads on dropping the smokes. It is common to gain weight after quitting because food tastes better and you find yourslf needing to do something with your hands and mouth because you develop a habit with bringing hands to mouth with a cigarette for so long that you have to now break that habit.

Like some have said. Join a gym. There are benefits to doing that verses your own home gym. Even if you get locked into a one year contract.

[DrJuice1980]

obtain a P90x program or the Insanity program. That will allow you to work up to levels that you are burning that fat and working to re-gain your lung capacity.

[Ufatz]

No disrespect, but you wouldn't just happen to be peddling the referenced "programs/tonics" would you.

If so,it would help us understand things from your perspectivve and fully appreciate your willingness to help.

Thank you.

[DrJuice1980]

Ufatz, its pretty simple, no disrespect, for $500 you aren't getting anything good. You might as well save some money and just buy or "obtain" one of those programs. As far as the "working up" comment goes, being a heavy smoker for years will limit ones time in the target heart rate. These programs work you up to those levels over time, you wont be lost if you cant keep up the pace.

Buying a bowflex, weight machine stand, chuck Norris system, and may other wont do to much to drop the LBs.

No I am not a peddler for either, but thank you for your Ricky Bobby like statement. It gave me a chuckle.

Also I would advise against a home gym. Why? Because that home gym was not made to your specific dimensions. I know they have height and length adjustments however they most likely are not for you or your wife. They are typically 1-2 inch setting changes which leaves a lot of room to compensate to get into position.

[delcecchi]

The most important way to lose weight is those push-aways. Push away from the table, push away from the bowl of ice cream or chips while watching TV, Push away from more than like 1 (not a triple either) drink or beer a day...

Control portion sizes, keep food diary for a week or so in order to have an idea of what you are eating.

Then, as someone earlier said, find something you can stand to do nearly every day or every other day that involves moving around. Swim in a pool, walk around the neighborhood or in the woods, maybe lift a few weights, run, use a machine, ride a bike.

At this point it is more important to do something rather than nothing. These programs that are like Basic Training don't seem to me to be something that a guy could do for the next 20 years. Walking, running, swimming, lifting, biking, are all things that people can and have done for long term. (cross country skiing or snowshoeing in winter, if you are ok with that also)

Going to the gym lets me use the weight machines and is ok when weather is bad. I am not into classes etc.

That's how I look at it and what works for me. YMMV.

[Ufatz]

Okay Dr. I agree with you. Thanks for the clarification.

[DrJuice1980]

Or like others have said get a pair of good running shoes and get outside, pick up a few dumbells if you want to as well. cheaper than $500.

[Bambito]

WOW! I am shocked at the response and thank you all for your responses! To be honest the only way my wife and I could have quit is if we did it together which we did and are very proud of!! I can tell you right now my job consists of LOTS of walking!! Im a sales rep for Frito Lay. So Delcecchi...I have to agree with you on push away from the chips!! Dont worry after 10 years of working for them I am kinda sick of chips!! But with that, I have a very active job and probably walk more in one day then most ppl do in 7! The walking thing my wife has covered as well as she is in retail. But from all your responses i do believe we will be going with a gym membership! Thank you all!

[upnorth]

There is a huge difference between short casual walks at works and a Brisk 3 + mile walk in about 40 minutes. Even better if you can add some hills to it too.

[graybeard2]

My advice is join a gym, at least to try it out. I joined Anytime Fitness 2 years ago, and stop a minimum of 4 times a week. It costs me 38 bucks a month, which seemed like a lot at first, but that's less than a pop a day. I drive right by it on my way to work, so it's easy to stop. I just get up an hour earlier every day and work out, shower and head to work. Now if I miss a workout in the morning, I just don't feel right. Nothing like a good workout first thing in the morning to get your day going! I normally do from 25 to 40 minutes of cardio, rotating between the treadmill and elliptical, and finish out with a little weight lifting. That plus being careful what I eat helped me go from 295 lbs down to 230 so far. I can't believe how much better I feel.

[CANOPY SAM]

Good job, Graybeard2! 65 lbs. is doing really, really good! I couldn't agree with you more. That morning workout is really addicting. It just wakes you up, gets the furnace pumping, and starts your day with a big shot of endorphins = feel good hormones! Without it the morning can really drag on.

Also agree whole-heartedly with the previous post. Although being on your feet all day is healthy and good for you, a brisk, cardio-challenging walk will likely burn as many or more calories than simply work related walking.

Now I gotta just get myself motivated to practice what I preach!

[delcecchi]

Just start, One day at a Time, as the sobriety folks say.