Good workout for 15 year old

[mistral]

Im in need of a good workout regime to trim the extra body fat that i gained these holidays. Id rather not use any tools or weights; just exercises i could do using my own body weight. Is there anybody out there that can help me with this?

[PJay]

A lot of people dont' work hard enough at exercises to make it worth the time. Whatever you do, you want to get your heart rate up to a decent pace (130-140). If you are already quite fit you can push it higher than that but the idea is to pick a pace that you can keep up.

Skipping - yeah you need some rope but its effective and easier when the weather is crappy or you don't want to be seen running or whatever.

Running is ok but you need to work at it.

Swimming and cycling are really good if you are very heavy : saves impacting joints too much.

[Wicked_Syn]

The ultimate exercise you can get it running on a treadmill. It is the best cardiovascular exercise out there. I suggest you run at a moderate pace each day for about 10-15 minutes for a week straight.

[PJay]

The ultimate exercise you can get it running on a treadmill. It is the best cardiovascular exercise out there. I suggest you run at a moderate pace each day for about 10-15 minutes for a week straight.

Ultimate - I'd disagree its as black and white as that. Running is bad on joints especially for heavy people. Overdoing it can very easily leave you with injuries.

Best for burning calories - yes, technically. Its definately the best for aerobic work out if you are already fit.

Thing is you need to be able to keep it going, and most amateurs are going to be doing 10 calories per minute or less at a pace you can keep going for 20 mins.

Swimming a breastroke at a good pace burns around the same calories (6-12.5 cals per minute) and gives you a full body workout, with one of the lowest injury risks of any exercise. So for fat burning its not quite as good, but you might find it better as an exercise if you don't have a lot of time to spend.

Cycling puts you into the same sort of range. Again, less impact and can be better for building strength for other activities like skiing.

If you really want to read up about this stuff, I recommend Physiology of Fitness by Brian Sharkey (ISBN 0873222679). Its kind of my bible at the moment :)

[mistral]

Thank you all for your awesome tips and suggestions! I love you all!!! (no homo)

I have also read somewhere that running full on and jogging in intervals for about 20 minutes is the absolute killer way to shed fat. Can someone confirm this?

[Wicked_Syn]

Ultimate - I'd disagree its as black and white as that. Running is bad on joints especially for heavy people. Overdoing it can very easily leave you with injuries.

Best for burning calories - yes, technically. Its definately the best for aerobic work out if you are already fit.

Thing is you need to be able to keep it going, and most amateurs are going to be doing 10 calories per minute or less at a pace you can keep going for 20 mins.



True, true...What I did though when I was running a lot was I would do intervals which helped, and I gradually worked my way up to longer intervals. And if you can properly run on a treadmill, you wont get bad joints. I see some new comers at the YMCA who just slam on the treadmill. When they run, the whole thing shakes. That's when you know you need to take it easier and start lower.


Thank you all for your awesome tips and suggestions! I love you all!!! (no homo)

I have also read somewhere that running full on and jogging in intervals for about 20 minutes is the absolute killer way to shed fat. Can someone confirm this?


Yes, intervals are awesome! After a weeks worth of running for me, I had a much longer endurance and I also got super toned calf's. You just need to be careful though, and make sure you're going at your own pace. Do not over do it, you will regret it. And always have a water bottle on hand!

[Skeptical Bear]

Jogging or running is much better than treadmill. The time makes it tempting to get off after a while so outside running is much better. Also you're running into different environments and have more motivation to keep going because you're not in one place for 30 minutes.

[PJay]

Jogging or running is much better than treadmill. The time makes it tempting to get off after a while so outside running is much better. Also you're running into different environments and have more motivation to keep going because you're not in one place for 30 minutes.

Good points yeah. This is kind of like the free weights vs machines arguments. Probably variety is a good thing and I think it has to suit the individual.

Outdoors you get fresh air, possibly more oxygen (unless you are running beside busy roads and stuff) and an interesting view etc. and its FREE. Downsides are the weather, uneven surfaces, traffic, crossing roads, escaping bullocks (yeah) etc and risk of injury.

Treadmills these days have tvs and internet and stuff, so that can be really good for taking your mind off it, and in a gym you can hop between kit to keep the interest going eg cross trainers, rowing machines, etc.

I've been made to run through cow pasture up to my shins in shitty mud, which put me right off running outside , but I'd rather be outside rowing in the fresh air than doing training indoors as we have to this time of year.

So I guess i'm trying to say to the OP don't be put off if you find you dont like using a treadmill or vice versa, just switch and it might work better for you.

[Josiah7]

Healthy Eating and Cardio like tredmill, jogging, skipping as stated by others.