16 years old, looking to start doing triathlons (probably sprint) this summer (I'm a runner)?

Someone

How do I train for a triathlon, especially the swimming and biking parts? I've never been a competitive swimmer or biker before. If I'm gonna be doing a sprint triathlon this summer, what should I do for the swimming? and biking, what kind of bike will I need to get (I don't have one I can really use, and not looking to spend a stupid amount of money on a bike...) and what kind of workouts should I do for that? Thanks

Answer
You'll want to start with a novice or sprint triathlon - and maybe think about investing in some swimming lessons as this is often quite an overlooked discipline in triathlons. A good swimming technique will save you a lot of energy and help you to increase your speed and endurance.

I've linked you a site below with lots of reviews on biking equipment etc. that you can get set up with - if you're really serious about triathlons a good bike will make all the difference, but if you're just starting out it's probably not worth breaking the bank until you're sure you want to commit yourself to triathlon training.

Spinning classes will get your endurance for biking up - but always make sure you know how to stretch properly and warm up and warm down, otherwise you could be looking at some serious strains and injuries. Hillwalking is also a great way to build up muscle tone and endurance too. There are tonnes of tutorials out there in books and on the web to help you out.

I WANT A BIGGER BUTT!?

keyla

Ok so ive recently been taking Maca Root pills. I have seen the reviews and side effects and what not some say it works others dont.
supposibly this makes ypur butt bigger? i wonder if it is true? has any one took them before ?? please let me noe thank you.

Answer
The right cardio exercise and weight training activities (like squats
and deadlifts) can make a difference in your backside and help you get
those buns of steel. Find out the best cardio and strength training
exercises for strengthening and firming up your rear.
1. Squats.
Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for your hips, butt
and thighs. Stand with feet hip-width apart and squat, keeping back
straight, abs in and knees behind your toes. Let your butt lightly
touch chair and squeeze butt to stand up. Repeat for 2-3 sets of 8-12
reps and add weights for more intensity.
2. Lunges. Stand in a split
stance, with feet about 3 feet apart. You want both knees to be at
about 90-degree angles at the bottom of the movement, so adjust
accordingly. Hold weights in each hand (or place a barbell behind the
neck) for added intensity. Bend the knees and lower the back knee
toward the floor, keeping the front heel down and the knee directly
over the centre of the foot. Keep the torso straight and abs in as you
push through the front heel and back to starting position. Don't lock
the knees at the top of the movement. Perform 1 to 3 sets of 10 to 16
reps according to your fitness level and goals.
3. Step Ups. For step
ups, you simply place one foot on a step or platform and push through
the heel onto the step. This is an excellent exercise for the glutes.
4. Hip Extensions. Lie on the floor with feet propped on the ball,
legs straight. Keeping abs tight, slowly lift your hips off the floor
(squeezing the buttocks) until body is in a straight line. Hold for a
few seconds and lower, repeating 10 to 15 times.
5. One-Legged Deadlifts. You should skip this exercise if you
have any back problems. To do this move, take the left leg back just a bit, lightly
resting on the toe. With the weights in front of the thighs, tip from
the hips and lower the weights as low as your flexibility allows. Keep
your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep the abs
contracted to protect the back. Squeeze the glutes of the working leg
to raise back up. Do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.
6. Hiking. Now the
exercises listed above aren't the only strength moves for the glutes,
but we often forget that there are cardio activities that will also
engage the backside. Hiking is one of those activities and it also
burns tons of calories. Also, walking up an incline automatically gets
your glutes more involved and, if you're wearing a backpack, you're
really getting a workout. A 140-lb person burns about 390 calories in
about an hour!
7. Biking. Riding a bike is great for your heart and it
also targets almost every muscle in your hips, thighs and butt. On a
stationary bike, alternate 3 minutes at 70-80 RPM with 2 minutes at
100-110 RPM for a calorie-blasting 30 minute workout. You can also try
Spinning at the gym or riding outside. Gear up to really work your
glutes! A 140-lb person burns 335 calories in 45 minutes.
8. Running. Running, like walking, is accessible, easy to learn, reduces stress,
helps in weight loss, and it makes you feel good. Plus, it really
works your butt, especially when you add a few hills to your regular
running route. A 140-lb person burns 475 calories during a 45 minute
jog.
9. Kickboxing. Kickboxing was a hot item back in the day, but it's
still a great workout. Controlled kicks work your hips, thighs and
butt while complex combinations that include punches will target your
abs to make them stronger. A 140-lb woman will burn up to 500 calories
with 45 minutes of kickboxing.
10. Walking. Walking is easy: you can do
it anywhere, anytime with no special equipment. There's no learning
curve and it's something you can incorporate all day long. If you walk
up hills, you can really target your glutes and, if you pick up the
intensity, you'll burn some of that extra flab off your buns! A 140-lb
person burns about 300 calories an hour during a brisk walk.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Is Winsor Pilates really effective? Especially if you're quite overweight?

Kelli

I'm sitting at home sick w/ a cold watching a Winsor Pilates infommercial. I keep seeing them referencing women going from size 12 down to small sizes. Do you think a curvier woman could really get in shape with this? I'd consider it if I knew it would really be effective.

Thanks!!

Answer
Make sure you read the fine print on the infomercial. The women who dropped down multiple sizes watched what they ate and added cardio activity. I've talked to a few people who were part of groups for infomercials, and it's quite common for them to be on regimented diets and to supplement the exercise video or equipment sold with additional exercise. That said, someone who is diligent about nutrition, cardio, and the exercise in question could have similar results, but remember that consistency is key.

Winsor Pilates is not significantly different from the other Pilates programs out there. All derive from the exercise system devised by Joseph Pilates. The benefits of Winsor Pilates are its availability and accessibility. Mari Winsor has her own sequence of exercises, tweaks the form, and uses a different form of breathing in comparison to more traditional Pilates, but that's not that big of a deal for most people. I've read about a few people who do find her manner of presenting the exercises helpful to them. (Personally I prefer other instructors and find that I tighten up during the handful of Winsor workouts I have, since I don't think she includes enough of the more flexibility-oriented exercises, but I've tried a ton of Pilates videos.)

Pilates is a great system of exercises that can work for any body type or size. (Good instructors will provide modifications for people with limits in flexibility, range of motion, or strength, by the way, so don't feel intimidated or discouraged.) Most people find that they don't get "bulk" while doing these strength- and flexibility-oriented exercises, but you can't completely change the body type that has been genetically pre-determined for you. Since Pilates focuses primarily on strength / toning and flexibility, you will need to supplement with cardiovascular activity (walking, running, aerobics, bike rides or spinning, kickboxing, etc.) in order to get into shape. Pilates primarily works your core, or abs and back, so make sure you get enough work in for your upper and lower body. There are Pilates videos out there, including a couple good ones offered by Winsor, that will help you there. Or you can supplement Pilates with other exercises. (I use traditional weights, too, in addition to Pilates, but that's my choice.)

I see no reason not to give Winsor Pilates a try. It may work for you. If it doesn't, know that there are so many other varieties of Pilates out there. I personally like to use a mix of Classical Pilates, Stott Pilates, other personal takes on Pilates, and even some fusion workouts.

If you're looking for more information on Winsor Pilates and other Pilates workouts, I highly recommend CollageVideo.com, where you can see previews of the videos they have in stock and read customer reviews; VideoFitness.com, where you can read consumer reviews of a ton of videos and ask questions on their forum; and YourExerciseDVDs.com, where you can read professional reviews of a number of videos.

P.S. Hope you feel better soon!

Getting back on the ice???

skaterquee

Well I have been off the ice since the beginning of August because I had a knee injury and the doctor told me to stay off the ice he said it was fine for me to go back now because it is feeling better I am planning to get back on the ice this weekend and I wanted to know what i should do to get back into the feel of my skates my jumps and spins 2 when i had to get off the ice i was just starting double toe loops if that makes a differance will just practicing jumps off ice help or should i be stretching out alot and what not?????????

Answer
I don't know what exactly your knee injury was, but I would take it slow and ease your way back into skating. It may not be difficult to go back to where you left off . . . you just need to build up the strentgh and stamina again. Just don't try to do too much at the beginning . . . if you overdo it, you might injure yourself again.

I had to be off the ice for 3 months. I had atrophy in my leg and I didn't bend my knee for that long, so I literally had to learn to walk again at first. I started from the beginning basically on the ice . . . edges, stroking, crossovers . . . just to get the feeling of skating period. Each move was a test to see if what I can handle (or not). After being off so long, even 3 turns and such felt a bit weird at first . . . so when you go back, the first session(s) may be about "review" and then you'll know better what you think you can handle. More than likely you'll be going back in full speed fairly quickly . . . just don't try to make up for lost time by cramming it all in!

Stretching and off ice will help greatly . . . but again no need to overdo it. Off ice can hammer your knees from the impact, so be careful, especially since you may still be healing! You may want to do specific knee strengthening exercises in the meantime (depending on what your injury was) - as well as for your quads and legs in general. A stationary bike helped me TONS (especially with resistance workouts) when I got the ok from the doctor.

Anyway, once you get the feel for the basics again, the jumps and spins should come into place. Do the "simple" stuff first and work your way up.

Welcome back to the ice - good luck!!

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16 years old, looking to start doing triathlons (probably sprint) this summer (I'm a runner)?

spin bike workouts reviews image

Someone

How do I train for a triathlon, especially the swimming and biking parts? I've never been a competitive swimmer or biker before. If I'm gonna be doing a sprint triathlon this summer, what should I do for the swimming? and biking, what kind of bike will I need to get (I don't have one I can really use, and not looking to spend a stupid amount of money on a bike...) and what kind of workouts should I do for that? Thanks

Answer
You'll want to start with a novice or sprint triathlon - and maybe think about investing in some swimming lessons as this is often quite an overlooked discipline in triathlons. A good swimming technique will save you a lot of energy and help you to increase your speed and endurance.

I've linked you a site below with lots of reviews on biking equipment etc. that you can get set up with - if you're really serious about triathlons a good bike will make all the difference, but if you're just starting out it's probably not worth breaking the bank until you're sure you want to commit yourself to triathlon training.

Spinning classes will get your endurance for biking up - but always make sure you know how to stretch properly and warm up and warm down, otherwise you could be looking at some serious strains and injuries. Hillwalking is also a great way to build up muscle tone and endurance too. There are tonnes of tutorials out there in books and on the web to help you out.

Is Winsor Pilates really effective? Especially if you're quite overweight?

Kelli

I'm sitting at home sick w/ a cold watching a Winsor Pilates infommercial. I keep seeing them referencing women going from size 12 down to small sizes. Do you think a curvier woman could really get in shape with this? I'd consider it if I knew it would really be effective.

Thanks!!

Answer
Make sure you read the fine print on the infomercial. The women who dropped down multiple sizes watched what they ate and added cardio activity. I've talked to a few people who were part of groups for infomercials, and it's quite common for them to be on regimented diets and to supplement the exercise video or equipment sold with additional exercise. That said, someone who is diligent about nutrition, cardio, and the exercise in question could have similar results, but remember that consistency is key.

Winsor Pilates is not significantly different from the other Pilates programs out there. All derive from the exercise system devised by Joseph Pilates. The benefits of Winsor Pilates are its availability and accessibility. Mari Winsor has her own sequence of exercises, tweaks the form, and uses a different form of breathing in comparison to more traditional Pilates, but that's not that big of a deal for most people. I've read about a few people who do find her manner of presenting the exercises helpful to them. (Personally I prefer other instructors and find that I tighten up during the handful of Winsor workouts I have, since I don't think she includes enough of the more flexibility-oriented exercises, but I've tried a ton of Pilates videos.)

Pilates is a great system of exercises that can work for any body type or size. (Good instructors will provide modifications for people with limits in flexibility, range of motion, or strength, by the way, so don't feel intimidated or discouraged.) Most people find that they don't get "bulk" while doing these strength- and flexibility-oriented exercises, but you can't completely change the body type that has been genetically pre-determined for you. Since Pilates focuses primarily on strength / toning and flexibility, you will need to supplement with cardiovascular activity (walking, running, aerobics, bike rides or spinning, kickboxing, etc.) in order to get into shape. Pilates primarily works your core, or abs and back, so make sure you get enough work in for your upper and lower body. There are Pilates videos out there, including a couple good ones offered by Winsor, that will help you there. Or you can supplement Pilates with other exercises. (I use traditional weights, too, in addition to Pilates, but that's my choice.)

I see no reason not to give Winsor Pilates a try. It may work for you. If it doesn't, know that there are so many other varieties of Pilates out there. I personally like to use a mix of Classical Pilates, Stott Pilates, other personal takes on Pilates, and even some fusion workouts.

If you're looking for more information on Winsor Pilates and other Pilates workouts, I highly recommend CollageVideo.com, where you can see previews of the videos they have in stock and read customer reviews; VideoFitness.com, where you can read consumer reviews of a ton of videos and ask questions on their forum; and YourExerciseDVDs.com, where you can read professional reviews of a number of videos.

P.S. Hope you feel better soon!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Workouts for my butt?

spin bike workouts reviews image

jade

I have a full round butt and have been doing squats. What else can i do to make it more firm and lifted? Also i have "fat" under my buttcheeks like in the photos in this link http://www.realself.com/review/lapex-lipolaser-small-results-lot-money how can i get rid of them?
Just to be more clear. That is not me in the photos, its a photo i found similar to my situation, like i said "like in the photos in this link" i would never go under the knife for something minor like that. Which is why i would like to simply improve my butt with simple exercises.

Answer
The right cardio exercise and weight training activities (like squats
and deadlifts) can make a difference in your backside and help you get
those buns of steel. Find out the best cardio and strength training
exercises for strengthening and firming up your rear.
1. Squats.
Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for your hips, butt
and thighs. Stand with feet hip-width apart and squat, keeping back
straight, abs in and knees behind your toes. Let your butt lightly
touch chair and squeeze butt to stand up. Repeat for 2-3 sets of 8-12
reps and add weights for more intensity.
2. Lunges. Stand in a split
stance, with feet about 3 feet apart. You want both knees to be at
about 90-degree angles at the bottom of the movement, so adjust
accordingly. Hold weights in each hand (or place a barbell behind the
neck) for added intensity. Bend the knees and lower the back knee
toward the floor, keeping the front heel down and the knee directly
over the centre of the foot. Keep the torso straight and abs in as you
push through the front heel and back to starting position. Don't lock
the knees at the top of the movement. Perform 1 to 3 sets of 10 to 16
reps according to your fitness level and goals.
3. Step Ups. For step
ups, you simply place one foot on a step or platform and push through
the heel onto the step. This is an excellent exercise for the glutes.
4. Hip Extensions. Lie on the floor with feet propped on the ball,
legs straight. Keeping abs tight, slowly lift your hips off the floor
(squeezing the buttocks) until body is in a straight line. Hold for a
few seconds and lower, repeating 10 to 15 times.
5. One-Legged Deadlifts. You should skip this exercise if you
have any back problems. To do this move, take the left leg back just a bit, lightly
resting on the toe. With the weights in front of the thighs, tip from
the hips and lower the weights as low as your flexibility allows. Keep
your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep the abs
contracted to protect the back. Squeeze the glutes of the working leg
to raise back up. Do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.
6. Hiking. Now the
exercises listed above aren't the only strength moves for the glutes,
but we often forget that there are cardio activities that will also
engage the backside. Hiking is one of those activities and it also
burns tons of calories. Also, walking up an incline automatically gets
your glutes more involved and, if you're wearing a backpack, you're
really getting a workout. A 140-lb person burns about 390 calories in
about an hour!
7. Biking. Riding a bike is great for your heart and it
also targets almost every muscle in your hips, thighs and butt. On a
stationary bike, alternate 3 minutes at 70-80 RPM with 2 minutes at
100-110 RPM for a calorie-blasting 30 minute workout. You can also try
Spinning at the gym or riding outside. Gear up to really work your
glutes! A 140-lb person burns 335 calories in 45 minutes.
8. Running. Running, like walking, is accessible, easy to learn, reduces stress,
helps in weight loss, and it makes you feel good. Plus, it really
works your butt, especially when you add a few hills to your regular
running route. A 140-lb person burns 475 calories during a 45 minute
jog.
9. Kickboxing. Kickboxing was a hot item back in the day, but it's
still a great workout. Controlled kicks work your hips, thighs and
butt while complex combinations that include punches will target your
abs to make them stronger. A 140-lb woman will burn up to 500 calories
with 45 minutes of kickboxing.
10. Walking. Walking is easy: you can do
it anywhere, anytime with no special equipment. There's no learning
curve and it's something you can incorporate all day long. If you walk
up hills, you can really target your glutes and, if you pick up the
intensity, you'll burn some of that extra flab off your buns! A 140-lb
person burns about 300 calories an hour during a brisk walk.

I WANT A BIGGER BUTT!?

keyla

Ok so ive recently been taking Maca Root pills. I have seen the reviews and side effects and what not some say it works others dont.
supposibly this makes ypur butt bigger? i wonder if it is true? has any one took them before ?? please let me noe thank you.

Answer
The right cardio exercise and weight training activities (like squats
and deadlifts) can make a difference in your backside and help you get
those buns of steel. Find out the best cardio and strength training
exercises for strengthening and firming up your rear.
1. Squats.
Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for your hips, butt
and thighs. Stand with feet hip-width apart and squat, keeping back
straight, abs in and knees behind your toes. Let your butt lightly
touch chair and squeeze butt to stand up. Repeat for 2-3 sets of 8-12
reps and add weights for more intensity.
2. Lunges. Stand in a split
stance, with feet about 3 feet apart. You want both knees to be at
about 90-degree angles at the bottom of the movement, so adjust
accordingly. Hold weights in each hand (or place a barbell behind the
neck) for added intensity. Bend the knees and lower the back knee
toward the floor, keeping the front heel down and the knee directly
over the centre of the foot. Keep the torso straight and abs in as you
push through the front heel and back to starting position. Don't lock
the knees at the top of the movement. Perform 1 to 3 sets of 10 to 16
reps according to your fitness level and goals.
3. Step Ups. For step
ups, you simply place one foot on a step or platform and push through
the heel onto the step. This is an excellent exercise for the glutes.
4. Hip Extensions. Lie on the floor with feet propped on the ball,
legs straight. Keeping abs tight, slowly lift your hips off the floor
(squeezing the buttocks) until body is in a straight line. Hold for a
few seconds and lower, repeating 10 to 15 times.
5. One-Legged Deadlifts. You should skip this exercise if you
have any back problems. To do this move, take the left leg back just a bit, lightly
resting on the toe. With the weights in front of the thighs, tip from
the hips and lower the weights as low as your flexibility allows. Keep
your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep the abs
contracted to protect the back. Squeeze the glutes of the working leg
to raise back up. Do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.
6. Hiking. Now the
exercises listed above aren't the only strength moves for the glutes,
but we often forget that there are cardio activities that will also
engage the backside. Hiking is one of those activities and it also
burns tons of calories. Also, walking up an incline automatically gets
your glutes more involved and, if you're wearing a backpack, you're
really getting a workout. A 140-lb person burns about 390 calories in
about an hour!
7. Biking. Riding a bike is great for your heart and it
also targets almost every muscle in your hips, thighs and butt. On a
stationary bike, alternate 3 minutes at 70-80 RPM with 2 minutes at
100-110 RPM for a calorie-blasting 30 minute workout. You can also try
Spinning at the gym or riding outside. Gear up to really work your
glutes! A 140-lb person burns 335 calories in 45 minutes.
8. Running. Running, like walking, is accessible, easy to learn, reduces stress,
helps in weight loss, and it makes you feel good. Plus, it really
works your butt, especially when you add a few hills to your regular
running route. A 140-lb person burns 475 calories during a 45 minute
jog.
9. Kickboxing. Kickboxing was a hot item back in the day, but it's
still a great workout. Controlled kicks work your hips, thighs and
butt while complex combinations that include punches will target your
abs to make them stronger. A 140-lb woman will burn up to 500 calories
with 45 minutes of kickboxing.
10. Walking. Walking is easy: you can do
it anywhere, anytime with no special equipment. There's no learning
curve and it's something you can incorporate all day long. If you walk
up hills, you can really target your glutes and, if you pick up the
intensity, you'll burn some of that extra flab off your buns! A 140-lb
person burns about 300 calories an hour during a brisk walk.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

16 years old, looking to start doing triathlons (probably sprint) this summer (I'm a runner)?

spin bike workouts reviews image

Someone

How do I train for a triathlon, especially the swimming and biking parts? I've never been a competitive swimmer or biker before. If I'm gonna be doing a sprint triathlon this summer, what should I do for the swimming? and biking, what kind of bike will I need to get (I don't have one I can really use, and not looking to spend a stupid amount of money on a bike...) and what kind of workouts should I do for that? Thanks

Answer
You'll want to start with a novice or sprint triathlon - and maybe think about investing in some swimming lessons as this is often quite an overlooked discipline in triathlons. A good swimming technique will save you a lot of energy and help you to increase your speed and endurance.

I've linked you a site below with lots of reviews on biking equipment etc. that you can get set up with - if you're really serious about triathlons a good bike will make all the difference, but if you're just starting out it's probably not worth breaking the bank until you're sure you want to commit yourself to triathlon training.

Spinning classes will get your endurance for biking up - but always make sure you know how to stretch properly and warm up and warm down, otherwise you could be looking at some serious strains and injuries. Hillwalking is also a great way to build up muscle tone and endurance too. There are tonnes of tutorials out there in books and on the web to help you out.

Is Winsor Pilates really effective? Especially if you're quite overweight?

Kelli

I'm sitting at home sick w/ a cold watching a Winsor Pilates infommercial. I keep seeing them referencing women going from size 12 down to small sizes. Do you think a curvier woman could really get in shape with this? I'd consider it if I knew it would really be effective.

Thanks!!

Answer
Make sure you read the fine print on the infomercial. The women who dropped down multiple sizes watched what they ate and added cardio activity. I've talked to a few people who were part of groups for infomercials, and it's quite common for them to be on regimented diets and to supplement the exercise video or equipment sold with additional exercise. That said, someone who is diligent about nutrition, cardio, and the exercise in question could have similar results, but remember that consistency is key.

Winsor Pilates is not significantly different from the other Pilates programs out there. All derive from the exercise system devised by Joseph Pilates. The benefits of Winsor Pilates are its availability and accessibility. Mari Winsor has her own sequence of exercises, tweaks the form, and uses a different form of breathing in comparison to more traditional Pilates, but that's not that big of a deal for most people. I've read about a few people who do find her manner of presenting the exercises helpful to them. (Personally I prefer other instructors and find that I tighten up during the handful of Winsor workouts I have, since I don't think she includes enough of the more flexibility-oriented exercises, but I've tried a ton of Pilates videos.)

Pilates is a great system of exercises that can work for any body type or size. (Good instructors will provide modifications for people with limits in flexibility, range of motion, or strength, by the way, so don't feel intimidated or discouraged.) Most people find that they don't get "bulk" while doing these strength- and flexibility-oriented exercises, but you can't completely change the body type that has been genetically pre-determined for you. Since Pilates focuses primarily on strength / toning and flexibility, you will need to supplement with cardiovascular activity (walking, running, aerobics, bike rides or spinning, kickboxing, etc.) in order to get into shape. Pilates primarily works your core, or abs and back, so make sure you get enough work in for your upper and lower body. There are Pilates videos out there, including a couple good ones offered by Winsor, that will help you there. Or you can supplement Pilates with other exercises. (I use traditional weights, too, in addition to Pilates, but that's my choice.)

I see no reason not to give Winsor Pilates a try. It may work for you. If it doesn't, know that there are so many other varieties of Pilates out there. I personally like to use a mix of Classical Pilates, Stott Pilates, other personal takes on Pilates, and even some fusion workouts.

If you're looking for more information on Winsor Pilates and other Pilates workouts, I highly recommend CollageVideo.com, where you can see previews of the videos they have in stock and read customer reviews; VideoFitness.com, where you can read consumer reviews of a ton of videos and ask questions on their forum; and YourExerciseDVDs.com, where you can read professional reviews of a number of videos.

P.S. Hope you feel better soon!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

swimsuit season!!!?

spin bike workouts reviews image

Q. ok, if i jump rope for 5 minutes a day, each healthy ----- no junk food. and have gym class every other day, FOR 5 MONTHS, will i be ready for swimsuit season....i have a belly (NOT HUGE) but annoying that i need to get rid of, and my thighs need toning......do you think i'll be ready if i do this?
jump roping also works out your whole body too.....my gym class is 90 minutes.

Answer
I agree with the poster who said "Crunches don't get rid of belly fat, they get stronger abs. You will need to do cardio if you want to lose weight."

First you don't need to lose weight to slim down. What you want to do is reshape your body so that you have more muscles and less belly fat. It's is not a question of losing weight but replacing the fat on your middle with muscles else where on your body.

You can't choose where fat will be reduced. You can't target fat. You can choose which muscles to build. Targeting which muscles you build is very easy, you just use them !!

To lose weight you need to build up your bodies need to burn energy every day. You need to increase your metabolic rate.

The best way to do that is to build your muscles and the most important muscles are your lungs and your heart muscle.
This is why people talk about doing cardio workouts. Workouts that exercise the heart and lungs for a period of time. That means running, spinning, biking etc.

You should start doing cardio it in short blocks of 5 minutes with a couple of minutes to recover and then another 5, recover, another 5 and so on.

Try to build up to the point where you are doing 45 to an hour. Then as you get fitter and recover faster, cut back on the recovery breaks.

5 minutes of high intensity jump rope is the wrong start. You can still do it, but you need to work on lower intensity and longer duration: Endurance.

To help you get the intensity and duration better balanced you may want to invest in a heart rate monitor, (and good running shoes). Get one with programmable zones and upper and lower alarms.

In the first few months rate your progress by your increased endurance.

Seek the advice and help of a school coach or personal trainer from a gym. Get them to help build you a personal exercise plan, and then review and expand it every month based on your progress.

Try finding the various running clubs in your town. Most offer free advice and free or very low cost training.

You already know what to do with food. Eat regularly at least three times a day. Eat lots of green and leafy stuff, (not lettuce) and lots of other veg and fruits.

Cut back on all junk food, fried food. No sodas or so called energy drinks like red bull. You can use a little gator-aid for workouts that last more than 40 minutes. (Both during and after.)

Try to eat some protein after long hard workouts, preferably within 30 minutes.

Add pliaties to help strengthen your core.

Keep a log of your workouts and your progress.

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