Help getting in shape.

[Cobraman]

I'm a pretty lazy seventeen year old, but I've decided its time to change.

I'm 6'2" 205lbs, and have a good amount of belly fat that I need to lose. I have tried everything I can think of. I just can't stay motivated because I never see any results, and I can't get in a routine. School starts at 7am so I can't run in the mornings, and because it starts so early, I don't have much time for breakfast. What/how much should I be eating? What would help me lose the weight the quickest. What is more benificial? cardio or weight lifting? I'm just looking at putting together a plan that I can stick with, and that works. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[jdgregory84]

Do you have a job? If not, here's an odd suggestion from somebody with experience. If you don't have a job, go apply for a porter job at Five Star Ford. If I remember right, you're in Keller so it's not too far away. You basically just walk all day. I know that you probably think that walking isn't gonna get you in shape, but when you're walking 4-5 hours a day you'll be sore as fuck the first couple of weeks. Do that, and join a gym. Spend about 30-45 minutes a day lifting and another 30 doing cardio. When I moved back to Fort Worth a couple of years ago, I started jogging, and could manage about a mile non-stop. After a couple of months of working there and excercise, I was running 4+ miles without no problem. I went from being 205 to 180 in about 4 months and was in crazy good shape. Best of my life.

Like I said, it's an odd suggestion, but it's a decent job. Actually a really good job for a kid your age and you'll burn calories like a mofo. Also, there's a 24hr right across the street so as soon as you get off of work, it's very convenient to just go to the gym right after work. I swear that by summer, you'll be in great shape. It's really hard to build your cardio if you sit on your ass all day and then expect a couple of hours in the gym to completely change your body.

[Cobraman]

I live in carrollton, but I'll look in to a job like that. thanks for the advice.

[Slowhand]

2nd semester of my senior year of high school I just decided to start running one day. I was a bit chubby at 180 and 5'10 or so and hadn't done much exercise since I quit playing baseball the year before.

Started watching what I ate and running (walking a lot of at the beginning) 3 miles a day in March of that year and was down to 140 or so by May. At first it's a pain in the ass but after the first few weeks it's really not bad at all. The best part is that it only takes 30 minutes or so at the most and you can do it anywhere.

I've been doing 3 miles 5 or so times a week for going on 3 years now and still weigh about 140. I'm skinny as hell and it's readily apparent that I don't lift at all, but I'm lazy and running a few miles is easy and I'm healthy.

The toughest part is just getting up to do it, but it's a good way to develop a little discipline.

[jdgregory84]

Just be active man. If you're not in to sports or whatever, that's fine. Hell, take up disc golf. Good fun, and super relaxing. You're too young to be out of shape. You're obviously in to cars so let me share a conversation I had as a service writer with some old black dude that worked out at the same gym as me. Excercise is nothing more than maintenance for your body. Just like a car, if you don't maintain it, you're gonna have catastrophic failure...it's just a matter of time. Of course you're gonna have shit break no matter how hard you maintain yourself/your car, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do what you can to keep it in working order.

I'm only 26 and that probably made me sound old as hell, but that's what he told me. One of the best lectures I've ever had from anyone. Much less a person I had only shared nods with at the gym.

[jdgregory84]

2nd semester of my senior year of high school I just decided to start running one day. I was a bit chubby at 180 and 5'10 or so and hadn't done much exercise since I quit playing baseball the year before.

Started watching what I ate and running (walking a lot of at the beginning) 3 miles a day in March of that year and was down to 140 or so by May. At first it's a pain in the ass but after the first few weeks it's really not bad at all. The best part is that it only takes 30 minutes or so at the most and you can do it anywhere.

I've been doing 3 miles 5 or so times a week for going on 3 years now and still weigh about 140. I'm skinny as hell and it's readily apparent that I don't lift at all, but I'm lazy and running a few miles is easy and I'm healthy.

The toughest part is just getting up to do it, but it's a good way to develop a little discipline.

Great advice. One of my favorite things to do is to get a new CD, burn it to by Ipod, and the first time I listen through it all is during a workout. Kill two birds with one stone was how I looked at it.

[jakesford]

Also just eat multiple small meals a day, and you really need to make your self eat something for breakfast. Keeping your metabolism going will give you more energy and will knock that weight off quickly.

[jdgregory84]

Also just eat multiple small meals a day, and you really need to make your self eat something for breakfast. Keeping your metabolism going will give you more energy and will knock that weight off quickly.

He's seventeen, and going by his height and weight, he doesn't have a metabolism problem. He has a laziness problem.

[ELVIS]

Excercise is nothing more than maintenance for your body. Just like a car, if you don't maintain it, you're gonna have catastrophic failure...it's just a matter of time. Of course you're gonna have shit break no matter how hard you maintain yourself/your car, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do what you can to keep it in working order.

i like that!! i mean prolly not enough to go set this beer down and go outside and exercise, but i like it nonetheless.

god bless.

[bjtheman1]

I didn't start working out until the summer before my senior year. I mainly lifted and did some cardio. I took creatine and I think that was about it. I ate turkey sandwiches daily, turkey and I that summer were good friends. I remember I could barely bench
150lbs at the beginning, by the time my senior year started I was lifting harder/stronger and was putting up 215lbs. Plus, chicks dig guys who look good!

[FunFordCobra]

Really @ age 17-20 your body is naturally going through a stage where it naturally wants to build muscle.. If there's a right time it's now because you will have to put forth way less effort to gain lean mass then say the average 28-35 year old.

Just get on a high protein diet and start being very active. That's all you have to do..

If you decide to hit the gym and lift weights then it will just be that more apparent that you are.

Just dont expect immediate results..

You will REALLY start noticing the difference 6 months or so into it. Eventhough everyone else around you will notice it sooner.

[dville_gt's girl]

I'm a pretty lazy seventeen year old, but I've decided its time to change.

I'm 6'2" 205lbs, and have a good amount of belly fat that I need to lose. I have tried everything I can think of. I just can't stay motivated because I never see any results, and I can't get in a routine. School starts at 7am so I can't run in the mornings, and because it starts so early, I don't have much time for breakfast. What/how much should I be eating? What would help me lose the weight the quickest. What is more benificial? cardio or weight lifting? I'm just looking at putting together a plan that I can stick with, and that works. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Get on bodybuilding.com, they have some GREAT nutritional advice. Dont be deceived, it doesn't matter if you want to look like a bodybuilder or just be lean, they have exercising articles and they can create a nutritional plan for you based on what info you input.

[bpawl]

i like that!! i mean prolly not enough to go set this beer down and go outside and exercise, but i like it nonetheless.

god bless.

lol

[AnthonyS]

Cobraman, you are seriously in a very good position since you are still young.

My advice is to find something you like to do. Try every fitness hobby you can think of and find one you like and stick with it. Try cycling, running, swimming, basketball, softball, rock climbing, weight training, everything.... try them all! Just get active and you will start seeing changes fast since you are young.

The best thing you can do is find a race or tour and sign up for it. Tell you friends and family about it too. That incentive will be all you need to see your goal through. Losing weight is a by product of exercising and trying to be fit. Make your goal getting fit and finding a hobby you enjoy in the meantime.

Cardio is almost always better for weight loss. If you are weak or having sports specific weaknesses then strength training is great. I do specific exercises and weight lifting for my own weaknesses and sports I like.

Weightlifting is a great sport unto itself though, and might be the one that works for you.

[samuel642000]

Run before school on an empty stomach. Just suck it up and do it, shouldn't take 30 minutes for some good cardio.