weights and getting in shape for men

[Guest guest]

My bf is now about 230 pounds so at 5 10 he is in the obese category.

I thought if I could find a way to get him to train he might be able to lose

some of that weight. Before he met me he used to row and weight train

(long before he met me I should add, but he only really started gaining weight

when we had kids and he started driving to work) I thought the weight training

might be the key for him, but I’m wondering what weight level I need to

buy to have him start. I’ve never really done much research into men’s

fitness so I’m a bit clueless, but I don’t want him getting hurt (about

once a year he goes out running and within 5 minutes pulls something in his legs

that takes about a month to heal) I know he is in desperate need of cardio

exercise too, but I think he will start feeling fitter with the weights and be

inspired to do something cardio when he feels better. I’d like to see him

ride his bike more often or go swimming or some other low impact cardio work,

but I think he needs to be reminded of how much fun exercise is. I see him

year after year gaining more weight and feeling worse and I just want to encourage

him in a way that will work. Weights are so macho male, I can’t imagine

him looking daily at a barbell and some manly weights (right now our exercise

room is our living room) and not wanting to work out. Anyway if anyone has a

clue on what a beginners set of weights would be I’d love to hear them

(he is still strong just hasn’t worked out in a long time) I was thinking

barbell and dumbbells and I know he wanted a (not sure what they are actually

called so I’ll describe it) barbell with dents in it as well as a

straight one. Does length matter (ok that sounds strange but what I mean is are

all barbells the same length and if not what is the best length we can both use)?

Any other suggestions on basic guy equipment the kind a guy looks to and

says I want to use that would be great (ok that’s a bit sexist but

obviously if I present him with a pink dumbbell and some resistance bands and a

stability ball he is going to say no way even if the dumbbells are 20 pounds

and the bands can give a killer workout and the ball is a fun and effective

workout) If I ever turn my attic room into a workout playroom I will probably

get a good rowing machine but I don’t want one in my living room lol

For myself I’ve been measuring inches lost instead of

pounds because my scale has two parts and one part has been hidden by my lovely,

wonderful but mischievous 2 year old daughter. I’ve been wondering why

they have ideal weight measurements everywhere but no ideal inches measurements

(well unless you are a guy) I’m clueless what a good goal would be, so I’m

goalless I just am hoping for inches lost lol They say my ideal weight is 105

pounds. I know I wear a size 2 or 4 at 105 pounds so I guess when I get there I

will be happy.

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[Guest guest]

,

just walking would be a good start for him...get him a book about how

to start running. I would think that for a man-- dumbbells 10 lb, 15

lb, and 20 lb should do it for a while. Bowflex makes a dumbbell set

that you can adjust the weight (5 pounds to 52 pounds) They are

expensive but may be worth it if you have keep buying bigger sets of

dumbbells (and you could use them too).

stacey

>

> My bf is now about 230 pounds so at 5 10 he is in the obese category. I

> thought if I could find a way to get him to train he might be able

to lose

> some of that weight. Before he met me he used to row and weight train

> (long before he met me I should add, but he only really started gaining

> weight when we had kids and he started driving to work) I thought

the weight

> training might be the key for him, but I'm wondering what weight level I

> need to buy to have him start. I've never really done much research into

> men's fitness so I'm a bit clueless, but I don't want him getting hurt

> (about once a year he goes out running and within 5 minutes pulls

something

> in his legs that takes about a month to heal) I know he is in

desperate need

> of cardio exercise too, but I think he will start feeling fitter

with the

> weights and be inspired to do something cardio when he feels better. I'd

> like to see him ride his bike more often or go swimming or some

other low

> impact cardio work, but I think he needs to be reminded of how much fun

> exercise is. I see him year after year gaining more weight and feeling

> worse and I just want to encourage him in a way that will work.

Weights are

> so macho male, I can't imagine him looking daily at a barbell and

some manly

> weights (right now our exercise room is our living room) and not

wanting to

> work out. Anyway if anyone has a clue on what a beginners set of weights

> would be I'd love to hear them (he is still strong just hasn't

worked out in

> a long time) I was thinking barbell and dumbbells and I know he wanted a

> (not sure what they are actually called so I'll describe it) barbell

with

> dents in it as well as a straight one. Does length matter (ok that

sounds

> strange but what I mean is are all barbells the same length and if

not what

> is the best length we can both use)? Any other suggestions on basic guy

> equipment the kind a guy looks to and says I want to use that would

be great

> (ok that's a bit sexist but obviously if I present him with a pink

dumbbell

> and some resistance bands and a stability ball he is going to say no way

> even if the dumbbells are 20 pounds and the bands can give a killer

workout

> and the ball is a fun and effective workout) If I ever turn my attic

room

> into a workout playroom I will probably get a good rowing machine but I

> don't want one in my living room lol

>

> For myself I've been measuring inches lost instead of pounds because my

> scale has two parts and one part has been hidden by my lovely,

wonderful but

> mischievous 2 year old daughter. I've been wondering why they have ideal

> weight measurements everywhere but no ideal inches measurements

(well unless

> you are a guy) I'm clueless what a good goal would be, so I'm goalless I

> just am hoping for inches lost lol They say my ideal weight is 105

pounds. I

> know I wear a size 2 or 4 at 105 pounds so I guess when I get there

I will

> be happy.

>

>

>

>

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1/11/2006

>

[Guest guest]

,

my dh thinks like that too. everyone who starts a running program

would have to walk a little. If he has a bike to ride that's a good

start. Swimming is excellent too--is there a pool near your house?

stacey

> >

>

> _____

>

>

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[Guest guest]

,

First of all, I'm surprised to hear that your SO is considered obese

at 230lbs. and 5'10 " . My martial arts instructor is about that same

weight buy shorter and by no means obese. But then I suppose it's

more a matter of bodyfat, and I can't see your guy.

Secondly, before you blow any money on weights, I think the real

problem sounds like motivation. And, unfortunately for you, that's

not a problem you can do much about. I think all of us here know that

we have to WANT to get healthy if it's going to happen. That's an

internal thing. Buying him weights and equipment won't give him the

desire to get healthy. Asking him to get healthy might be worth a

try, but it probably won't do much initially.

The trouble is that human beings are not rational beings; we are

rationalizing beings. (My martial arts teacher says that, and it's

sooo true.) For example, a person may know he should get healthy by

eating right and exercising. That's the rational thing to do. Ah,

but we are not rational creatures. That's why you can present someone

with all the reasons for getting healthy and he'll still say, " Yeah,

well...I just dont' have time " --or whatever other excuse he can come

up with. (And, by the way, I'm convinced the real reason is that such

a person just plain doesn't feel like it.)

I've been down this road myself. I grew up a geek in school who

didn't exercise. As I got older I found out I had high cholesterol.

Even though I knew I needed to change, it took me years of exercising

to reach the point where I now WANT to stay healthy. In fact, now I

can't believe there was a time when I didn't try to live the lifestyle

I live now. And I think making this change is even harder for men

because we men like to believe that we are indestructible and don't

need dumb things like diet and exercise as much as " other people " do.

So, I think it's back to motivation. Does he really want to change,

or is it more your idea than yours? Unless it becomes his idea too,

all the weights in the world will just end up collecting dust in your

basement.

[Guest guest]

,

It is painful to start!! Though it is probably easier for him because

you are watching the children. He just has to make a schedule for

himself and stick to it. Are there any guy friends that exercise that

he could swim or bike with?? My dh runs during his lunch hour at work.

He is in better shape at 35 than he was at 25:) I'm hoping he starts

his strength training again...he has lots of stress at work and the

exercise seems to help him with that and better food choices. It is a

process that will take a while!

Hoping that this is the year that your bf decides to get fit because

it seems you are very concerned about his health.

stacey

>

> Stacey,

>

> That is my bf's problem. He thinks if you go running you start

running you

> start by running and quit when you either hurt yourself, are tired

or end up

> back at home. He does have a very nice bike, he uses it once in a

while for

> transportation, but not often enough. The swimming pool is a 2

minute car

> ride or a 5 minute bike ride away. It isn't a matter of opportunity

for him

> but a matter of will. And he feels so bad all the time. It is hard

to get

> motivated if you are so out of shape you feel bad all the time. My

idea is

> to get him feeling somewhat better with weight training (I know I feel

> great after training) and then suggest more cardio work. Having kids I

> learned there is always a hook to get people motivated, find the

hook and

> they motivate themselves.

>

>

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From:

[mailto: ]

> On Behalf Of billsgirl93

> Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 1:01 PM

>

> Subject: Re: weights and getting in shape for men

>

>

>

> * ,

> my dh thinks like that too. everyone who starts a running program

> would have to walk a little. If he has a bike to ride that's a good

> start. Swimming is excellent too--is there a pool near your house?

> stacey

>

> --- In , " Sprague "

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> of Service.

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

,

For your husband, I would go with an Olympic bar and an EZ Curl bar (thats the one with the dents) and about 100 pounds of weight plates. An Olympic bar is pretty long, but that is because it is designed to rest on the bar rack on a standard weight bench. It is also long enough that a man is more comfortable with a wider grip for exercises like bench presses. It also weighs about 45 pounds on it's own, so it will give him extra weight. Don't be intimidated by using this bar yourself, though. Just remember that it weighs 45 pounds, so just add enough plates to get to the weight you normally use, not 45 pounds extra. The plates can also be used on the EZ curl bar for doing biceps and triceps without wrist discomfort. An EZ Curl weighs 25 to 35 pounds depending on the manufacturer, so check when you buy it. As for dumbbells, guys typcially start at 15 pounds and can go up from there.

Now, as for Ideal Weight.....there is no such thing. Those height and weight charts are antiquated and outdated. You need to get into the right range for your body fat percentage to be healthy because body fat is the risk factor for diseases, not how much you weigh. Remember, muscle is more dense then fat, so you can carry around more muscle and be smaller in size, even at the same weight. For most women, you should be between 15% and 20% body fat. As for your measurements, pick a size that you want to be and use the measurements for that size. For example, if you want to be a size 4, grap a pair of size 4 pants and measure the waist. Personally, I don't like the way I look when I'm that small because I look emaciated, but I love being a size 8 and 170 pounds (I'm 5'5"). I'm still have my curves, but I also have enough muscle to kick butt when needed. And no one can guess my weight, in fact, they typically guess 40 to 50 pounds lighter!

Tonya

weights and getting in shape for men

My bf is now about 230 pounds so at 5 10 he is in the obese category. I thought if I could find a way to get him to train he might be able to lose some of that weight. Before he met me he used to row and weight train (long before he met me I should add, but he only really started gaining weight when we had kids and he started driving to work) I thought the weight training might be the key for him, but I’m wondering what weight level I need to buy to have him start. I’ve never really done much research into men’s fitness so I’m a bit clueless, but I don’t want him getting hurt (about once a year he goes out running and within 5 minutes pulls something in his legs that takes about a month to heal) I know he is in desperate need of cardio exercise too, but I think he will start feeling fitter with the weights and be inspired to do something cardio when he feels better. I’d like to see him ride his bike more often or go swimming or some other low impact cardio work, but I think he needs to be reminded of how much fun exercise is. I see him year after year gaining more weight and feeling worse and I just want to encourage him in a way that will work. Weights are so macho male, I can’t imagine him looking daily at a barbell and some manly weights (right now our exercise room is our living room) and not wanting to work out. Anyway if anyone has a clue on what a beginners set of weights would be I’d love to hear them (he is still strong just hasn’t worked out in a long time) I was thinking barbell and dumbbells and I know he wanted a (not sure what they are actually called so I’ll describe it) barbell with dents in it as well as a straight one. Does length matter (ok that sounds strange but what I mean is are all barbells the same length and if not what is the best length we can both use)? Any other suggestions on basic guy equipment the kind a guy looks to and says I want to use that would be great (ok that’s a bit sexist but obviously if I present him with a pink dumbbell and some resistance bands and a stability ball he is going to say no way even if the dumbbells are 20 pounds and the bands can give a killer workout and the ball is a fun and effective workout) If I ever turn my attic room into a workout playroom I will probably get a good rowing machine but I don’t want one in my living room lol

For myself I’ve been measuring inches lost instead of pounds because my scale has two parts and one part has been hidden by my lovely, wonderful but mischievous 2 year old daughter. I’ve been wondering why they have ideal weight measurements everywhere but no ideal inches measurements (well unless you are a guy) I’m clueless what a good goal would be, so I’m goalless I just am hoping for inches lost lol They say my ideal weight is 105 pounds. I know I wear a size 2 or 4 at 105 pounds so I guess when I get there I will be happy.

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I so feel for you on this issue - my DH needs to

workout and lose weight, too. He hates exercise,

though so it is near impossible to get him to do

anything!! He'll take the dog for a walk, and hike if

we get the chance, and, he'll do heavy yard work in

the spring, but that is it. He is not consistent at

all and yo-yo's all the time - last year he did very

well w/ losing on the South Beach Diet, but he has

trouble sticking with the healthy habits over the long

haul. It is tough b/c I'm sort of at a loss......

His schedule is pretty tight - he commutes the better

part of 2 hours each way for work (we live in Traffic

H*LL here!) and then spends 8 hours there - so his

days are long and I can understand not wanting to

workout after putting in that kind of day - but I'd be

happy if he worked out for a longer session on Sat and

Sun and then fit in one or two shorter sessions during

the week. Before he took this job, though, he

honestly did have the time to workout - but he

honestly preferred watching TV to working out. *SIGH*

I haven't tried ' suggestion yet, so maybe that

will work! *WINK*

Take care,

Donna

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

i wish i could offer advice on the situation. all most of us can do is be supportive when they start on the endeavour. but unlike my dh who wants to focus on a goal but i swear has add when it comes to it, i am pretty harsh. he wants to compete in some powerlifting events but hasnt been to the gym in over a month. am i tough?you bet, not yelling but constantly on him that no one magaically lifts that much weight without good training and eating habits. and as a slight hand of God they changed the college gym hours so working to late is no longer an excuse, and its FREE for employees!!!! i even bought him a book on training to give him some ideas he might be lost on. i set the wheels in motion its his turn to hit the gas so to speak. and even though i know he tries to tune me out, i talk about fitness and how my workout day was all the time, so he knows how good it feels to do something even if it seems so little. kassia

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[Guest guest]

LOL The thought of using 45 pounds of

weight intimidates me. I doubt I would be able to lift the bar at this point

(well maybe once). I also would guess that I couldn’t do curls with

25 to 35 pounds either. But a manly looking bar would appeal to him lol

Especially one his petite wife couldn’t lift. I’m moving up to 8

and 10 pound dumbbells now so I’m not very strong yet.

I’m short and busty so tend to have

a fat look unless I have a small waist. I’ve never lost my curves no

matter how small a waist I have (I tend to be a 10 or 12 top and a 4 bottom

when I think I look good). I think I could wear a size 8 now, my 10s are

loose but I have no idea what a size 8 is because I’ve never bought a

pair before. I tend to wear my 10s until I get small enough for 6s. lol And now

I buy pants in European measure and that is just confusing. Actually I

try not to buy pants here because Dutch women are tall and I am short so I have

to hem and some pants just look stupid even hemmed. But all the pants I see are

in European sizes lol. I hear all this about how women tend to lose their bust

when they exercise but its never happened to me. Has anyone else had this

experience? I think maybe the bust fat is the last to go for me so I stop

actively losing before I lose there. Is that possible? My bf doesn’t seem

to complain so its all good.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Tonya -

Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006

7:08 PM

Subject: Re:

weights and getting in shape for men

,

For your husband, I would go with an

Olympic bar and an EZ Curl bar (thats the one with the dents) and about 100

pounds of weight plates. An Olympic bar is pretty long, but that is

because it is designed to rest on the bar rack on a standard weight

bench. It is also long enough that a man is more comfortable with a wider

grip for exercises like bench presses. It also weighs about 45 pounds on

it's own, so it will give him extra weight. Don't be intimidated by using

this bar yourself, though. Just remember that it weighs 45 pounds, so

just add enough plates to get to the weight you normally use, not 45 pounds

extra. The plates can also be used on the EZ curl bar for doing biceps

and triceps without wrist discomfort. An EZ Curl weighs 25 to 35 pounds

depending on the manufacturer, so check when you buy it. As for

dumbbells, guys typcially start at 15 pounds and can go up from there.

Now, as for Ideal Weight.....there

is no such thing. Those height and weight charts are antiquated and

outdated. You need to get into the right range for your body fat

percentage to be healthy because body fat is the risk factor for diseases, not

how much you weigh. Remember, muscle is more dense then fat, so you can carry

around more muscle and be smaller in size, even at the same weight. For

most women, you should be between 15% and 20% body fat. As for your

measurements, pick a size that you want to be and use the measurements for that

size. For example, if you want to be a size 4, grap a pair of size 4

pants and measure the waist. Personally, I don't like the way I look when

I'm that small because I look emaciated, but I love being a size 8 and 170

pounds (I'm 5'5 " ). I'm still have my curves, but I also have enough

muscle to kick butt when needed. And no one can guess my weight, in fact,

they typically guess 40 to 50 pounds lighter!

Tonya

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