At age 23 I hit the gym for the first time and in 8 months I was in pretty good shape. Well off to school, got my degrees, the girl, the job the kid and bang here I am, 6'4" and weighing in at 270 lbs. The arms and legs are in pretty good shape considering but the gut is bad. So I got a gym membership last week and it feels good. Now the routine includes light cardo for 25 min on incline bike--I'm not going to give myself a heart attack in the first week. Also I know enough to go light on the weights. My routine is as follows

Day 1. Back and Biceps
4 sets 10 reps each
Back
cable pull downs
incline cable rows
decline cable rows
bent over barbell rows
Biceps (lots of different exercises) for example
barbell curls
Incline Angled Dumbbell Curls
seated preacher curls (cable)
decline dumbbell curls

Day 2. Chest and triceps
bench press
fly machine
decline dumbbell press
dumbell pullovers
incline press

nose busters
close grip bench press
rope pushdowns
single reverse arm extensions using cables

day 3 legs and shoulders
squats
hack squat machine
leg extension machine
leg press machine

seated Two Arm Dumbbell Raises Over Head
One Arm Front Deltoid Dumbbell Raises
Standing Low Cable Deltoid Raises
Reverse Incline Dumbbell Flyes

Day 4 calf and hamsting
Seated Single Leg Calf Raises
Leg Press Machine Calf Press

One Leg Lying Curls
Barbell Deadlifts

I'm going to sub HIIT for my cardio staring next week. I need advice on diet and supplements. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Heavypieces

8 am Starbucks coffee cake 210 cal
11 am 1 zero carb isopure protein drink 220 cal
11 am workout quads and shoulders and HIIT -1000 cal ?
1 pm turkey and jack on whole wheat lettuce, tomato and onion 421 cal
3 pm 1 zero carb isopure protein drink 220 cal
6 pm chicken breast, wing with skin rice and beans and 2 tortillas 1162 cals

by the way since I am focusing on my waist--I wear size 42 right now. My goal is to be wearing 38s in 6 months.

Now thats a good days worth of clean High Protein diet right there...

Thanks--I'm going to dump the coffee cake starting tomorrow. It's hard to let go.

today was back, biceps and 15 min HIIT on the reclining stationary bike. interval = 1 min moderatae fast 30 sec full speed.

I ran into my buddy JJ at the gym today. I use to work out with him. Dude is huge and ripped now.

7 am breakfast 2 cups Cheerios with one cup 2% milk 220 cal
isopure protein shake 50 g protein 220 cal
8 am hit the gym
10 am banana 105 cal
isopure protein drink 220 cal
glass of orange juice 100 cal

12 pm
2 rubio's fish taco especial 340 cal total

4 pm dinner 1102 cal
2 chicken breasts
1 wing
rice and beans

Rest and Refeed

fat 116 g
CHO 215 g
Protein 205 g
Total Cal 2200

Any advice is appreciated.

Congrats on deciding to live longer and stay healthier! I am such an advocate of HIIT. It proved itself to me. Good luck to you.

Originally Posted by keeper

Congrats on deciding to live longer and stay healthier! I am such an advocate of HIIT. It proved itself to me. Good luck to you.

Thanks!! I have a 4 year old son and I want to live a long, active life with him.

H

It would be better if you get your calories spread out a little more. 2200 is a little on the low side but not horrifying, but with more than half of it being the last meal of the nite isn't optimal.

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

It would be better if you get your calories spread out a little more. 2200 is a little on the low side but not horrifying, but with more than half of it being the last meal of the nite isn't optimal.

Breakfast

Oatmeal 2 packs 260 cal
isopure protein drink 220 cal

mid morning snack

granola bar 180 cal
raisins 130 cal


Workout at noon

isopure protein drink 220 cal

Lunch

Turkey sandwich on whole wheat 360 cal


Dinner

2 chicken breast 375 cal
1 wing 83 cal
pinto beans 77 cal
4 oz rice 160 cal


fat 56 g
cho 230 g
protein 220 g

Today I felt weak in the gym. I couldn't finish sets and strength was way down. Switched my HIIT to after weights.

One more thing I weighed in this morning 265 lbs. Down 5 lbs. Not bad for 10 days in the gym and changing my diet.

H

Stick with it. You will never regret it if you do. It's hard at first, but soon you will feel off-kilter if you have to miss a w/o.

2 big questions. Are you using a pre-w/o stimulant? What supplements are you using to support your plan?

Originally Posted by keeper

Stick with it. You will never regret it if you do. It's hard at first, but soon you will feel off-kilter if you have to miss a w/o.

2 big questions. Are you using a pre-w/o stimulant? What supplements are you using to support your plan?

No stimulants except coffee in the morning and I am only using the protein supplement right now. Isopure whey. I've been reading and trying to educate myself regarding exercise, supplements and diet.

i think your entire approach is pretty solid. sure, you could tweak a few things here and there (don't lock yourself into 4 sets, 10 reps) for all your exercises..mix it up based on how you feel- diet looks pretty good.. workouts- variety of exercises, cardio, looks good as well. just stay focused, get your rest, and the results will follow. look forward to some progress posts.. any chance of before, during, and after pics?

Originally Posted by swollwilliams

i think your entire approach is pretty solid. sure, you could tweak a few things here and there (don't lock yourself into 4 sets, 10 reps) for all your exercises..mix it up based on how you feel- diet looks pretty good.. workouts- variety of exercises, cardio, looks good as well. just stay focused, get your rest, and the results will follow. look forward to some progress posts.. any chance of before, during, and after pics?

Thanks. I swap out different excercises but keep the theme constant. I have pics but I want to make some progress first.

Originally Posted by heavypieces

No stimulants except coffee in the morning and I am only using the protein supplement right now. Isopure whey. I've been reading and trying to educate myself regarding exercise, supplements and diet.

I'm not that savy on male sups, other than what I have learned from reading here, so I hope the guys will tweak this list of suggestions:

* a good multi-vitamin
* BCAA's
* fish oil gelcaps
* creatine (I suggest powdered KreAlkaline,)
* appetite suppressant such as Anabolic Extreme's SlimX
* pre-work out stim such as Jack3d

The pre-w/o stim will increase your energy level resulting in a longer, more intense w/o and better focus. It makes a huge difference. Don't take it within 4 hours of the appetite suppressant, though. There are online discount supplement companies where you should be able to get everything you need all in one stop. These products will make a huge difference for you.

legs and shoulders today followed by HIIT. I felt pretty good in the gym.

breakfast
2 cups of wheaties w/ milk 460 cal
isopure protein drink 220 cal

lunch

chicken breast 232 cal

preworkout isopure protein drink 220 cal

workout 3:30 pm

post workout isopure protein drink 220 cal

dinner

chicken breast and thigh 250 cal
apple 95 cal
peanuts 300 cal

started triple omega supplement and multi vitamin today.

fat 60 g
cho 135 g
protein 278 g

2100 calories

I posted some "before" pics on my profile.

Back and shoulders today. Didn't sleep well last night and felt tired in the gym.

Breakfast

Wheaties and milk. 264 cal
banana 121 cal

Lunch

La Salsa overstuffed chicken burrito 1200 cal

preworkout snack

isopure whey drink 220 cal

workout

post workout

isopure whey protein drink

dinner

Wheaties and milk 460 cal.

Fat 82 g,
CHO 280 g
protein 21o g

Not a good day for my diet. I didn't know the burrito was 1200 calories until I finished it off. I won't do that again.

H

Moved from size 42 Levi 501's to size 40 today. It's been 3 years since I wore a size 40. A month ago I was looking at size 44's.

Progress.

chest and triceps and HIIT yesterday.

Fat 66 g
CHO 227 g
protein 218 g
2310 calories

legs shoulders and HIIT today.

Fat 55 g
CHO 204 g
Protein 239 g

2140 calories

can I get some guidance on the ratio of fat to CHO to protein.

Originally Posted by keeper

I'm not that savy on male sups, other than what I have learned from reading here, so I hope the guys will tweak this list of suggestions:

* a good multi-vitamin
* BCAA's
* fish oil gelcaps
* creatine (I suggest powdered KreAlkaline,)
* appetite suppressant such as Anabolic Extreme's SlimX
* pre-work out stim such as Jack3d

The pre-w/o stim will increase your energy level resulting in a longer, more intense w/o and better focus. It makes a huge difference. Don't take it within 4 hours of the appetite suppressant, though. There are online discount supplement companies where you should be able to get everything you need all in one stop. These products will make a huge difference for you.

I have high bp so I can't take a stimulant.

Okay so scratch the SlimX and Jack3d. The other sups will help as far as muscle recovery and such.

been a couple of days--however I am still working out.

today

Legs and HIIT

fat 53 g
CHO 201 g
protein 242 g

2200 calories

I weighed in at 264 lbs today but I am bouncing between 264 and 268 lbs.

So here is the plan now. Continue what I am doing now. Lift, HIIT, good diet 2100 calories 40, 40, 20, omega supplement and a multivitamin. In the next few weeks I will add creatine and see what that does.

Originally Posted by keeper

Okay so scratch the SlimX and Jack3d. The other sups will help as far as muscle recovery and such.

I'm just going to have to deal with being hungry. It's a problem after dinner usually. I'll just have to suck it up.

That's the hardest time of day. Keep goodies like celery, carrots, cucumbers, and cauliflower washed and cut up for dipping in a low carb, fat-free ranch dressing. Having them washed and handy will make them more appealing. There are also some good sugar-free ice creams, but watch the carb content. Apples are good, but bananas, oranges, and even grapefruit have a lot of sugar. I have a friend who has a bowl of Special K in skim milk when the night time munchies hit. Just don't use a big bowl!

Congrats on your loss so far. Hang in there.