Can an old man get a six pack?
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I've been following this forum for a while now and it's really inspired me to add more intensity to my workouts.<br />
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Basically I used to do quite a bit of running and squash, but screwed my lower back a few years ago and had to cut out high impact exercise (and anything that involves weights with a bent back). I was going through the motions in the gym, and it was not really having much effect - but have really upped the work rate since! <br />
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Over the last 6 months I've lost quite a few kgs and got down to my "fighting weight" of 80kg. I'm just over 6 ft tall so I haven't got a lot of fat, but there is a bit of blubber over the old guts that so far refuses to shift.<br />
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Given I'm in my mid-forties I realise it's harder to shift, but my next goal, for motivation and a bit of a laugh is to see if an old boy like me can get a six pack.<br />
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Currently I alternate between:<br />
interval training on bikes (anyone else used Trixter bikes? they're addictive) for 1 hour<br />
pull ups, push ups, dips, swiss ball, kettlebells (but not the swings) 45 mins <br />
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I'm looking at doing more boxing and swimming - basically want to get fitter/stronger but not put on mass.<br />
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Any tips on new exercises always welcome- I'll keep you posted as to whether I start seeing any muscle showing behind my wine belly. -
I think the exercises are fine but its more your diet that will bring out that dormant 6 pack. Unfortunately that means cutting out or cutting down on alot of the fun things in life (alcohol, cake, ice cream, chips, biscuits etc). Opportunity cost really: 6 pack in the gut or 6 pack on the gut.
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Your're probably right dammit. I don't tend to snack and I haven't got a sweet tooth. Problem is I think this gives me a free pass to tuck into roasts, curries, pies, fish and chips etc. I don't eat them regularly (eg I'll have a fry-up once every weekend) but probably still too often. <br />
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Can I forego them? No. Perhaps i can cut down on them a bit though -
portion size cookie. I went from a 120 kilo ex prop to an 80 kilo bodybuilder, with a 6 pack, and just clicked over to 41 this last January. So keep eating what's nice, just reduced portions, and make wise choices. If there's a low fat / low cal version of anything, use that instead of the full noise one.<br />
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There's an adage one of out lod trainers used, "you can't out-train your diet". Meaning at the end of the day it's what goes in the gob, not what goes into the workout. 80% diet, 20% workout I reckon. <br />
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And abs, don't waste time doing them 3 times a week, once a week is ample, your abs get worked out doing pretty much everything exercise wise. We probably do abs in every 2nd 4 week block of training. But they're still there, and not getting BIGGER, whcih gives you a bigger waist, which no one wants!!<br />
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so just watch your diet a little, and it'll all come good in no time at all.<br />
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OH, and in answer to your question, can an old man get a six pack - YES!! -
my lower 'abs' are the ones that are the best at hiding, I can see the top ones are keen to show themselves....
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[COLOR=#333333]"you can't out-train your diet" love it. In a nutshell, is exactly what I've been trying to do.<br />
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Yesterday - 1 hr on bike at lunch time, pool of sweat on floor, then went home ate toast, butter, pate followed by double espresso and a donut. It's not a typical lunch for me, but I think I can see where the problem might be...<br />
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Today is pull-ups, kettle bells etc<br />
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Tomorrow going for my first boxing session (god help me)<br />
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So plan of action - really cut down on the crap food in Feb, and hope to see at least the upper abs coming out to say hello. Then push on for the pesky lower abs in March.<br />
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Bart - ever thought of being a personal trainer for the rich and famous?<br />
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Thats the problem with intensive cardio. You're so ravenous afterwards that you could eat everything in sight. Pretty much negates the effect of that training. Best to have something right after training to take that edge off your hunger. Protein shakes or bars are good for this.
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Right - back from gym, mainly pull-ups and kettle bells today with a bit of Swiss ball work for the old back. <br />
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Guy there in his 60s or 70s was doing yoga in what can only be described as some frighteningly revealing shorts - thought his prunes were pop out at any moment. Upside: didn't eat much for lunch. <br />
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Home made turkey curry with brown rice tonight - pretty healthy. Back on the bike tomorrow, Rancid I'll try the snack bar approach, see if that keeps the beast at bay. -
as an additional exercise, check out my old thread;<br />
[URL="http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/showthread.php/12280-Ab-workout-on-pull-up-bar"]http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/showthread.php/12280-Ab-workout-on-pull-up-bar<br />
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b[/URL]asically, do a pull up, then while holding your torso still at the top, run/walk 20-40 times<br />
you can also do variations like up +10 runs, half down+10 runs, repeat.....<br />
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and you can do other things with your legs, and change the angle. basic point is to hold torso still.<br />
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good luck -
Morning session on the Trixter bike - burned off over 1,000 calories in 1hr 15 mins if you believe the machine (I don't). Rest day tomorrow.<br />
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Saturday treat - fry-up brunch. Then pick up son from footy, grab some beer and off to mate's to watch Six Nations. Ain't life sweet!<br />
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Kea - you are a lunatic, those exercises look haaaard. I'm gonna give them a go but I think I'll be a world of pain.<br />
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Bart - on the no carbs approach, what's your view on stuff like lentils, cous cous, chick peas etc - they're kinda carby and proteiny at the same time. <br />
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Right - Six nations time! -
I can attest to the diet being the main factor, I am not on a diet, but have just cut down massively on breads, eating loads more fruit and better in general (still have treats) at least 3l of water a day, I have lost 6.8kg since 01/01
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nearly 7kg is huge!<br />
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OK you've all convinced me about improving diet. Since Monday I have started a healthier approach and I'm going to post up what I have eaten the day before.<br />
It will be a good incentive to keep it healthy as possible and I can see what I've consumed over a week or so. I'm not going on a monastic diet but will try to cut out a lot of fat and some carbs, while still having treats. Feel free to chip in with suggestions!<br />
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Day one Monday 6th Feb<br />
B. Granola, zero fat greek yoghurt, stewed apple<br />
L. 2 slices wholemeal toast, 2 Ryvita things, CupaSoup. 1 biscuit<br />
D. 2 quarter pound chilli burgers home made from lean mince, curly cale, cous cous<br />
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No snacks, no pud! Have about 4 double espressos with milk a day, no sugar.<br />
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Gym - half hour on bike (pushed for time) -
my day usually consists of a coffee, bowl of cereal, then about 10am, have at least 2 peices of fruit, a cereal bar, by now I would have had maybe 1.5l of water, for lunch, having VitaWheat crackers (3 or 4) with Tuna, Tomato and cheese, another peice of fruit, then about 3pm I have another peice of fruit and a yoghurt, by the time I head home, at least 3l of water.<br />
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Dinners vary alot, this is my lazy meal...but have made sure I have veg at dinner, try to reduce carbs as well, then my guitly pleasure of a glass of OJ with a cube of frozen lemon juice.<br />
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total of 7.2kg lost this morning, plus another cm off the tum! -
Day Two Tuesday 7th<br />
B. Oatbran with milk, apple, cinamon. Tasted crap - the apple doesn't work! Surprisingly small amount keeps you full though so will try with banana next<br />
L. Toast, Cupa soup, bit of cheese. Coffee, home made biscuit<br />
D. Shop bought Chicken Tikka Massala (I know...) rice, homemade spinach bhaji<br />
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Woke up at 3.00 am feeling really hungry, but the shame of having to post it, prevented me from doing the fridge some serious damage.<br />
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Gym - pull-ups, press ups, dips, kettle bells and 10 mins on the punch bags (that hurt the most). <br />
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TR - You've lost nearly another half kilo in a matter of days - it's flying off. I was just thinking about what to eat for lunch instead of bread/toast - crackers look good to me! Any other suggestions welcome.<br />
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Bart - I've grown to love the hippy foods. If you add a good stock or spices to them while cooking they really absorb the flavour! I'm a bit of a chilli freak, heard it speeds up the metabolism - but it's probably BS. -
it is funny though, I didnt lose much last week, but this week it is falling off me...
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Day Three Wed 8th<br />
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b. Granola, yogurt, apple<br />
L. Tuna/cheese melt on toast. Crackers with cheese<br />
D. Homemade Moroccan style Chicken, wild rice. Bottle of wine - oops<br />
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Gym - 45 min boxing class. Never been to a class before, I thought it would be a bit poncy - wrong! The class started with punch bags, then on to 5 rounds of light sparring (body shots only). Supposed to be low power shots only, but once the adrenaline kicks in boys will be boys. Sparring was great as it forces you to keep going, otherwise you get pummelled. Going to a more sedate non-sparring class on Saturday - need to get my boxing fitness up so I can dish it out next Weds!<br />
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After class, arms and back aching, forearms sore from a few stray elbows. This morning though all good, no probs with my back, so will definitely be going again. Great all over body work-out -
Bloody clients have distracted me from my fitness programme. Idiots!<br />
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Right - Day Four Thurs 9th<br />
B. [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Granola, yogurt, apple[/font][/color]<br />
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]L. Out so grabbed a Salt Beef Sandwich[/font][/color]<br />
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]D. Hot ham, peas, sweetcorn, potatoes and a beer.[/font][/color]<br />
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[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Tied up in meetings, so ate much later than usual in evening. This meant I had a load of cheese and biscuits late afternoon (should have had some snack bars on me dammit!)[/font][/color]<br />
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[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Gym: I just about had time to squeeze in a session on the legs/abs as arms a bit sore from boxing the day before. Did a load of lunges, one legged squats, balance exercises on one leg etc. Despite all the previous cycling, my legs are absolutely killing me today. Hope they're better for boxing on Saturday. Will start a new training plan next to week to work more around the boxing.[/font][/color]
