Need serious advice… Fitness question 10 points for well given answer?
I started working out 2 months ago. Since I have lost around 25 pounds. I am 19 weigh 155-160, I have a gut (love handles). I run 1 mile every monday, wednesday, and friday. 2 miles every tuesday and thursday. On these 5 days I lift some weights maybe about 10 min. of lifting weights and oblique workouts. I want to get a six pack as well as gain muscle on my arms faster. Will protein do the job? If so which protein, from where? GNC? What food? Will it slow down my getting abs? Should I get the abs first or will the protein help?
Protein is excellent for building muscle. The only thing that you have to watch is that a lot of foods which you get protein from can be high in carbs or fat, which does not help you build muscle. Beef is a prime example of this. It is high in protein but also high in fat, Some alternatives that people tend to recommend are chicken and turkey – both are low in fat and carbs and good sources of protein. Fish, shellfish, eggs, milk and some nuts are also good sources. (Nuts are high in fat also though, so you have to be pretty selective with the types you eat)
As far as non food solutions, protein shakes work well as long as you use them the way they are recommended. They are easy to take too much of and you end up gaining fat instead of muscle.
Losing weight was a good first step. Getting rid of a gut is tough though and it requires a lot of work on that entire abdominal area. Running and cardio are good but it doesn’t always target those muscles on it’s own. Crunches and sit-ups, etc. basically something that hits those lower muscles in conjunction with the running and cardio will be the most effective. You can actually have great abs UNDER the Belly Fat that’s why you kind of need to work on both issues and one goes with the other.
Your body burns fat as a whole and not in specific sections. (it is a myth that you can use this food to Burn Belly Fat or this pill to get rid of love handles) That is where the proper diet comes in. You burn calories/cut calorie consumption, you Burn Fat. You likely already know that from having lost a bunch of weight. Next, with the exercise, you work on keeping the fat off and building lean muscle. Then you work on toning what you have to get to your goal.
So really that’s the trifecta.
Good luck!
