For the weight lifters or gym rats out there

Joined a gym, utilized the trainer and he gave me a solid workout for the big muscle groups(boost that fat burning). I am slowly upping my weights on most. I just cannot get past my starting weight on the chest incline. I need suggestions for something at home and maybe another exercise. I am not embarassed to say I have little upperbody strength and am only at 20lbs on it.

Are you using a barbell or a dumbbell? If you are not using dumbbells try them. On the negative(bringing them down) go until you feel the stretch in the pec. On the positive(going up) squeeze your pecs at the top of the motion. Good luck.

Gypsy one of the best things you can do at home for chest and tri's is close stance pushups and also make sure you stretch.

Doing an incline press, be it dumbbell or barbell, utilizes 3 main muscle groups: Chest, Triceps, and Deltoids.

Your primary focus for chest should be the flat bench press, incline press, and chest flys. If you're not doing any one of these you're missing out.

With that said, any exercise that develops chest, triceps, and deltoids will improve your incline press. However, the incline press utilizes the deltoid more than any other chest exercise you do. So any shoulder exercise like military press, Arnold presses, delt flys, upright rows, etc. will help get that up.

The chest incline I am doing is the Hammer machine. If any of you know Planet Fitness at all. I use dumb bells for my lateral and front raises. Chest press I am at 45 and same on fly.

Kandice, I don't know why I forgot about picking your brain.

Joined a gym, utilized the trainer and he gave me a solid workout for the big muscle groups(boost that fat burning). I am slowly upping my weights on most. I just cannot get past my starting weight on the chest incline. I need suggestions for something at home and maybe another exercise. I am not embarassed to say I have little upperbody strength and am only at 20lbs on it. Originally Posted by GypsyHeart

Here's the deal. Do basic movements with either straight bar or dumbbells or a combination of both. You may also benefit by mixing up your workouts with cables which will help achieve constant tension. The most important thing is for you, since you're new to weight training and it's obvious fat loss is a priority, is to do lots of reps like 15-20 and three sets with 10-20 seconds rest in-between. Trying to lift heavy will be a detriment to your progress. I would also suspect a complete diet and lifestyle change would benefit you a lot.

Jim

My diet has no issues other than carbs. But I was raised on meat, potatoes and bread. No junk food and rarely eat out. Have cut out soda.

The cables I see used, a lot. Will have the trainer show me how.

My diet has no issues other than carbs. But I was raised on meat, potatoes and bread. No junk food and rarely eat out. Have cut out soda.

The cables I see used, a lot. Will have the trainer show me how. Originally Posted by GypsyHeart

You may not realize it but your diet has issues. You just mentioned Meat, Potatoes and bread. That maybe issues for you. If you aren't eating three to five portions of vegetables everyday that's something you might want to start doing. Sugar might also be a problem for you. In fact its a problem for everyone, being processed sugar is one of the most toxic substances you can consume.


Jim

My diet has no issues other than carbs. But I was raised on meat, potatoes and bread. No junk food and rarely eat out. Have cut out soda.

The cables I see used, a lot. Will have the trainer show me how. Originally Posted by GypsyHeart

Potatoes and breads are killers. They turn to freaking glue in your system. If you do carbs outside of your cheat days, go with rice. You can have a damn Big Mac if you want just don't eat the bun lol.

My diet has no issues other than carbs. But I was raised on meat, potatoes and bread. No junk food and rarely eat out. Have cut out soda.

The cables I see used, a lot. Will have the trainer show me how. Originally Posted by GypsyHeart

Moderate amount of meat isn't bad. Just make sure you get plenty of fruits and veggies. Meat shouldn't comprise most of your diet.

If you drink a lot of soda cutting that out can make a big difference. Nothing but junk calories there.

If you have to eat bread try to stick to organic whole grain. Most white bread is junk.

Really try to avoid all processed foods. If you can afford it try to go organic. Much of today's foods are less nutrient dense than they were 50 years ago.

You want to burn serious fat try some HIIT workouts with your weight training.

I can recommend a great program you can use at the gym or at home. Its not free but excellent for shredding and weight training. Its a different kind of workout. Workouts are only 20 minutes long in three week cycles for the first 90 days. Its geared for women 35+ because of our hormones changing. We start losing muscle.

Since your 38 dont do long cardio, long cardio at 35 + actually adds fat. 20 minute HIIT Cardio is where its at.


Potatoes are fine to eat if they have been cooked then refrigerated for the night and eaten the next day.

In general stay away from anything white, even rice. Brown rice isn't as bad. Meat is just fine to eat.

Pushups!

To add I recommend organic as well as much as you can. Cut your sugar too if you consume anything besides soda. Sugar turns into fat particularly at our age. Also dont calorie count/cut food, just eat good.

^^ I agree, HIIT work outs are amazing.. i usually set my own hiit work outs up.. they can be done anywhere.. hotel rooms, in the gym, at home, and on the beach..

For me to stay consistent in the gym I have to have a goal.. it requires me to be participating in some kind of outside activities... I love aerial dance and pole.. it is such a rush to do a new move, when your body could not do it before..

As far as eating... mhmm... there are so many good things that are bad things.. and bad things that are good things..

Somes rules that help me are...

1. Only light eating after 5pm..
2. Eating one salad a day..
3. 5+ minute plank variations minimum first thing in the morning..
4. Drinking enough water..
5. If you eat carbs eat them before midday..
6. I have to watch my protein, I am picky with... meat..
7. Having one monthly weigh in.. not checking all the time.!

Everybody is different, but if you find what works you can achieve your goals.

I had my first wtf, with getting older when i stopped dancing full time.. within a year i went from 125 to 150lb, it sucked!

But, being a little more conscious, I have managed to get my weight back down..

And looking forward to getting more toned!! If you ever need a motivation buddy, I am here!! Lol

Posting taint photos always helps, too.

Gotta love that 3sides guy!

Turned in my 3 week food diary to a dietician and nutritionist both. Apparently, I am not getting enough red meat. My whole grain bread is fine as it is only toast for breakfast. Potatoes are fine at 3 days a week. We try to avoid anything processed and yes I am getting my veggies.

On the weight plateau, my trainer suggested I may be fatigued from rest of workout so to start with the incline first at a higher weight less reps. 30lbs and 8 reps.

Gotta love that 3sides guy!

Turned in my 3 week food diary to a dietician and nutritionist both. Apparently, I am not getting enough red meat. My whole grain bread is fine as it is only toast for breakfast. Potatoes are fine at 3 days a week. We try to avoid anything processed and yes I am getting my veggies.

On the weight plateau, my trainer suggested I may be fatigued from rest of workout so to start with the incline first at a higher weight less reps. 30lbs and 8 reps. Originally Posted by GypsyHeart

You actually don't need red meat at all you just need enough protein. Protein is VERY important. Specially for people/women 35+. If you eat it, try to eat lean red meat like filet and lean ground beef. Also organic. Red meat can be fatty.

I love me some red meat but I dont eat it often, seafood and chicken, they are lower in fat than red meat and protein filled.

A good nutritionist should actually tell you... you dont need meat at all to have a healthy diet and intake enough protein, fiber, etc.

Also for a plateau, change the workout. If you have been doing that same workout/exercise for at least three weeks you should change it up.