Several questions from a new person

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  Aug 13, 2008 5:36 AM GMT

  I'm kind of new to working out. I was a fatty pretty much my elementary school years and high school, and I still am. I've just completed my first year in college, but over this summer since I stayed at my university and they have a fitness center available for use, I've been trying to put it to good use. I've been going to it about 3-4 times a week and doing some form of cardio (either bike or eliptical, my knees hurt like a total bitch if I use the trendmill) and then working on weights afterwards (I'm not good at keeping track on what machines I use and how much I use it, but I know that I've been using the abs machine way too much) Last time I weighed myself, I was about 220 (My height is 5'6", and I've been trying to bring it down. (I need to buy a new scale, I no longer have a scale since I've moved) In one day, I usually stay for about an hour to about an hour and 15 minutes.
  
  Anyways, several questions, I've just been wearing boxers when I work out, but sometimes it crawls up my crack, what *should* I buy to avoid this?
  
  And, should I just work on more cardio than weights? My main goal is to lose my stomach, and lower my waistline. (I'm at 38-40 right now, I'm obviously quite wanting this lower) I also want to gain strength as well though. I thought that more muscle helps burn more fat?

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• NursePractiti...
  
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  Aug 13, 2008 7:27 AM GMT

  Well it's hard to know where to start if you don't know where you've been. Start keeping a record of what you do and how much. Also putting a plan together with either/or a personal trainer and workout plans provided here on r/j. This should help set you on the path to your goals.

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• NursePractiti...
  
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  Aug 13, 2008 7:29 AM GMT

  Oh and I forgot to address your boxer question. I wear boxer briefs and don't have the problem you stated. Maybe someone else has some ideas?

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  Aug 13, 2008 10:13 AM GMT

  You'll want to reduce your stored bodyfat before you focus on building muscle. There's plenty of articles on here with nutrition plans and workout regimes for you to follow. My knees can feel a treadmill if I use them often. I like the elliptical crosstrainer for cardio. I can do that 40 mins a crack, twice a day, 6 days a week and never feel it in my knees. The underwear thing..I don't know.

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  Aug 13, 2008 3:02 PM GMT

  Don't just focus on Cardio! Do Cardio and weights. You are right that building muscle will help you burn fat faster. Your leg muscles are the biggest in your body, so I would focus on building muscle there. Don't worry about what your muscles look like yet; worry about your stored fat. But do try to build muscle, as it will help with the fat.
  
  To lose a pound of fat a week, you want to be burning 3500 calories a week. I don't know how intense your Cardio and weight sessions are. Figure that out first. For Cardio, most of the machines that you use can probably tell you. For weights, you can buy one of the Nike Plus things, which track your heart rate and tell you how many calories you've burned.
  
  My partner has been losing weight steadily over the last 6 months, and to do this, he had to cut his diet down to around 1500 calories per day, at least two 1 hour long runs a week, and two intense 1 hour long weight sessions (with a trainer that pushes him really hard). He has built up muscle and endurance now, and can go longer and harder for all of the above. He burned about 1.5 calories a week, to give you an idea of what reasonable progress you can/should expect.
  
  My own experience is that wearing boxers to the gym is a pain. I wear boxer briefs. I would suggest that, or freeball it.
  
  Hope that helps.

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  Aug 13, 2008 3:41 PM GMT

  blankspace said
  
  
  Anyways, several questions, I've just been wearing boxers when I work out, but sometimes it crawls up my crack, what *should* I buy to avoid this? I have solid quads and I wear spandex/lycra "sliding" shorts; like boxer briefs but longer, cause on me the regular boxer briefs still ride up, I need them to stay put!
  
  And, should I just work on more cardio than weights? No, do both; cardio burns at the moment of doing it, weight training will allow your body to burn throughout the day/evening. My main goal is to lose my stomach, and lower my waistline. (I'm at 38-40 right now, I'm obviously quite wanting this lower) I also want to gain strength as well though. I thought that more muscle helps burn more fat? YES!

  
  
  
  First off, CONGRATS for getting in there!! That's ALWAYS the hardest part! Now the rest is gonna be easy! Look, I weighed 260lbs and had a 40/42 waist and now just working on maintaining what I've achieved and tightening up more! A trainer may be too costly, so I would suggest looking for GREAT articles especially on this site as well as magazines. And if you ever need a kick in the ass, praise, or a question answered, you're in the RIGHT spot man!!
  Again, CONGRATS and keep it up man!!
  
  Rob

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  Aug 13, 2008 5:26 PM GMT

  a1972guy said

  blankspace said
  
  
  Anyways, several questions, I've just been wearing boxers when I work out, but sometimes it crawls up my crack, what *should* I buy to avoid this? I have solid quads and I wear spandex/lycra "sliding" shorts; like boxer briefs but longer, cause on me the regular boxer briefs still ride up, I need them to stay put!
  
  And, should I just work on more cardio than weights? No, do both; cardio burns at the moment of doing it, weight training will allow your body to burn throughout the day/evening. My main goal is to lose my stomach, and lower my waistline. (I'm at 38-40 right now, I'm obviously quite wanting this lower) I also want to gain strength as well though. I thought that more muscle helps burn more fat? YES!

  
  
  
  First off, CONGRATS for getting in there!! That's ALWAYS the hardest part! Now the rest is gonna be easy! Look, I weighed 260lbs and had a 40/42 waist and now just working on maintaining what I've achieved and tightening up more! A trainer may be too costly, so I would suggest looking for GREAT articles especially on this site as well as magazines. And if you ever need a kick in the ass, praise, or a question answered, you're in the RIGHT spot man!!
  Again, CONGRATS and keep it up man!!
  
  Rob

  
  
  Thanks for all the responses! I still feel intimidated at the fitness center, but it's not bad at my university compared to other gyms (mainly cause there are lots of people who go in alone who aren't familiar either) The most intimidating are free weights, so I don't usually use free weights cause I don't know how to use it properly. I usually use the weight machines, but hoping to start learning how to use the free weights... eventually.
  
  Anyways, thanks for helping me out! I'm hoping to get to the point where I can look like the hotties in here!

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