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  3. How long do I need to exercise for before I start seeing a difference?

How long do I need to exercise for before I start seeing a difference?

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  • O [email protected]

    It’s going to be an uphill battle to get in shape without proper gym equipment. Even among those who start going to the gym, most end up quitting because it’s a lot of effort and the results don’t come fast enough. Trying to work out at home makes it even harder. To gain muscle mass, you need to be lifting at the absolute limits of your strength - and that’s really difficult to achieve outside of a gym setting. It can be done, but I generally advise against it, because the odds are stacked against you.

    Also, keep in mind that you can’t effectively lose weight and build muscle at the same time.

    S This user is from outside of this forum
    S This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #30

    I disagree on it being difficult to build muscles without a gym. Most exercises with your body weight will be more than enough for the first years of training.

    For people who start at maybe being able to do 5 push-ups, hitting the point where push-ups wont train them for muscle growth will take a long while. Also what kind of muscles do you want? big packs that can do 10 reps at huge weight, but fail you while unloading a moving truck? Or muscles that are well trained for endurance and stamina? For being fit and healthy i recommend the second style.

    O 1 Reply Last reply
    2
    • P [email protected]

      I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

      All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

      My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

      I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

      I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

      The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

      Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

      S This user is from outside of this forum
      S This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote on last edited by
      #31

      I recommend you to try and ignore looking at your weight on the scale or how your belly circumference changes or the like for the first month or so. Your weight also is a rather broad metric. A kilo of muscles is not the same as a kilo of fat.

      Just focus on doing your exercises well and feeling how they will get easier/you can do more reps week by week.

      Another quick thing you will notice is your pulse going down. After a stamina exercise right when you stop, take your pulse on your neck. take it for 10 seconds and multiply by six to get your hearts bpm. Then after two minutes of rest take it again.

      Do this every week and you will see a difference right away as your body adjust into moving.

      Also i know most people want to build up big muscles and go with high weights. For getting fit i recommend looking for muscular endurance training first. This will help burn fat as you do many reps. It will improve your general endurance and it will help build muscles in a way that protects against injuries. Think of this like warming up your muscles before you enter into training to increase your max power. Alternate these two types of training over time.

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • P [email protected]

        I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

        All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

        My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

        I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

        I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

        The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

        Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

        G This user is from outside of this forum
        G This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote on last edited by
        #32

        That depends on a lot of varying factors, such as your metabolism, genetics, diet, physical activity, your daily routine such as work and what kind, and so forth. You may also initially gain weight when trying to lose it because muscles are more dense/heavier than fat, and working out for example obviously encourages muscle growth as well.

        Overall you will probably start to notice some improvements within the first 3-4 weeks, although it helps a lot to do before/after pictures since the gradual changes are easily missed if you see yourself every day in the mirror.

        1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • O [email protected]

          It’s going to be an uphill battle to get in shape without proper gym equipment. Even among those who start going to the gym, most end up quitting because it’s a lot of effort and the results don’t come fast enough. Trying to work out at home makes it even harder. To gain muscle mass, you need to be lifting at the absolute limits of your strength - and that’s really difficult to achieve outside of a gym setting. It can be done, but I generally advise against it, because the odds are stacked against you.

          Also, keep in mind that you can’t effectively lose weight and build muscle at the same time.

          G This user is from outside of this forum
          G This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by [email protected]
          #33

          I gained a reasonable amount of muscle mass from just doing pushups 100+ every day, no weights at all.

          Enough that my t shirts felt a lot tighter anyway, and friends noticed too.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • P [email protected]

            I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

            All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

            My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

            I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

            I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

            The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

            Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

            T This user is from outside of this forum
            T This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #34

            Take a photo; check back 30 days later. Rinse and repeat.

            Progress can seem slow, that if you look at yourself day-to-day you’ll not notice it.

            Scale isn’t the best judge either, because even if you weigh at the same time every day (first thing post BM is good) - your weight can fluctuate due to hydration and quality of sleep.

            Consider measuring your waist as an alternative, seeing as that’s what was your initial motivation.

            If you aren’t already, add walking to your daily routine - or even consider programs like Couch to 5K or ZombieRun if you want some motivation and a tougher goal. It’s great for your heart health, and will help contribute a small amount of additional burned calories.

            Lastly, diet is the most important facet of weight loss. I highly recommend logging everything you eat (at least for the first week or two to get your bearings) using an app like Cronometer.

            M 1 Reply Last reply
            4
            • P [email protected]

              I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

              All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

              My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

              I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

              I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

              The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

              Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

              magister@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
              magister@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote on last edited by
              #35

              It takes a long time to lose weight, and it's about 80% diet and 20% exercise. But after a few weeks your heart/breathing should already be better. I'm 55 and wen I started jogging I was without breath and heart in top after 400 yards. Now I can run 2 or 3 miles non stop without too much suffering 🙂

              1 Reply Last reply
              4
              • P [email protected]

                I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

                All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

                My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

                I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

                I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

                The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

                Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

                aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneA This user is from outside of this forum
                aussiemandeus@aussie.zoneA This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote on last edited by
                #36

                6 to 8 weeks for others to notice and 12 for you to really notice.

                But you have to be consistent.

                You can easily undo a week's work with a day of binging

                1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • P [email protected]

                  I am currently in the honeymoon phase and enjoying it. Apart from cardio on the exercise bike, because the daily squats turn my legs to jelly.

                  R This user is from outside of this forum
                  R This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #37

                  Squatting daily is too often. Your body needs time to recover. The older we get, the more recovery time we need.

                  M 1 Reply Last reply
                  2
                  • P [email protected]

                    I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

                    All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

                    My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

                    I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

                    I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

                    The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

                    Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

                    grrk@lemmy.mlG This user is from outside of this forum
                    grrk@lemmy.mlG This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #38

                    At least 5 minutes.

                    F 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • P [email protected]

                      I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

                      All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

                      My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

                      I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

                      I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

                      The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

                      Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

                      R This user is from outside of this forum
                      R This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #39

                      Measure your waist monthly. Yep just your waist. For me, I generally see weight loss over a few months of increased exercise. You will get better results with strength training, less weight loss but more lean, so just as much change in volume. Bodyweight will get you there but at some point you may want to pick up weights.

                      Remember that physical activity does a lot more than keeping your size where you want it. It's good for your mental health, your bones, your heart, digestion, it's an important part of a healthy life, be glad you are able.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      3
                      • S [email protected]

                        I disagree on it being difficult to build muscles without a gym. Most exercises with your body weight will be more than enough for the first years of training.

                        For people who start at maybe being able to do 5 push-ups, hitting the point where push-ups wont train them for muscle growth will take a long while. Also what kind of muscles do you want? big packs that can do 10 reps at huge weight, but fail you while unloading a moving truck? Or muscles that are well trained for endurance and stamina? For being fit and healthy i recommend the second style.

                        O This user is from outside of this forum
                        O This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #40

                        The issue isn’t that you can’t get a proper workout without gym equipment - it’s that most people simply don’t stick with it. They start training at home, but it becomes more and more infrequent until they stop altogether. Getting a gym membership tends to create more accountability, and I think going to the gym is actually an easier habit to build than working out at home.

                        Even for me, with a gym membership, I’ve noticed that if I go home between work and the gym, I’m much more likely to skip the workout. But if I go straight to the gym - having already decided to do so and with my gym bag packed - then I might as well do the workout since I’m already there.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • P [email protected]

                          I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

                          All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

                          My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

                          I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

                          I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

                          The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

                          Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

                          dzso@lemmy.worldD This user is from outside of this forum
                          dzso@lemmy.worldD This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #41

                          Make it to a month, and it will be come a new habit. After three months of dedication, you'll probably be able to look at yourself in the mirror and see real changes.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          1
                          • R [email protected]

                            Squatting daily is too often. Your body needs time to recover. The older we get, the more recovery time we need.

                            M This user is from outside of this forum
                            M This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                            #42

                            Basically 48 hrs between muscle groups. Mon - Wed - Friday is a reasonable pace if you do an "all in one" routine. If you want to do daily lifting workouts, you need to rotate arms/legs/core then repeat.

                            OP, it seems counter-intuitive to workout less to improve, but you have to realize that you gain muscle by straining and overworking current muscle. To build and repair, the muscles need rest, nutrients and time. If you don't give it to them, they can't build up.

                            Sleep, time and food are all as important as how much and how often you lift weights.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            3
                            • T [email protected]

                              Take a photo; check back 30 days later. Rinse and repeat.

                              Progress can seem slow, that if you look at yourself day-to-day you’ll not notice it.

                              Scale isn’t the best judge either, because even if you weigh at the same time every day (first thing post BM is good) - your weight can fluctuate due to hydration and quality of sleep.

                              Consider measuring your waist as an alternative, seeing as that’s what was your initial motivation.

                              If you aren’t already, add walking to your daily routine - or even consider programs like Couch to 5K or ZombieRun if you want some motivation and a tougher goal. It’s great for your heart health, and will help contribute a small amount of additional burned calories.

                              Lastly, diet is the most important facet of weight loss. I highly recommend logging everything you eat (at least for the first week or two to get your bearings) using an app like Cronometer.

                              M This user is from outside of this forum
                              M This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #43

                              Another thing to add on to why weight isn't a great measurement - You will put on muscle as you lose fat, especially if you shift your diet while you workout. It's fully possible that you lose 5 lbs of fat in a month while putting on 5 lbs of muscle. Both are great strides forward, but the scale will show no change.

                              If you are going to use a scale, get one that will do body fat analysis as well. They aren't 100% accurate, but its another measurement that gives a closer look at your actual fitness.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              2
                              • grrk@lemmy.mlG [email protected]

                                At least 5 minutes.

                                F This user is from outside of this forum
                                F This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #44

                                grrk@lemmy.mlG 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • F [email protected]

                                  grrk@lemmy.mlG This user is from outside of this forum
                                  grrk@lemmy.mlG This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #45

                                  Good thing I'm not here to entertain you, then! 🙂

                                  F 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • grrk@lemmy.mlG [email protected]

                                    Good thing I'm not here to entertain you, then! 🙂

                                    F This user is from outside of this forum
                                    F This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #46

                                    Only I'm allowed to be mean in replies sorry

                                    grrk@lemmy.mlG 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • F [email protected]

                                      Only I'm allowed to be mean in replies sorry

                                      grrk@lemmy.mlG This user is from outside of this forum
                                      grrk@lemmy.mlG This user is from outside of this forum
                                      [email protected]
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #47

                                      I didnt realize i was being mean. Did the fact hurt your feelings?

                                      F 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • P [email protected]

                                        I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

                                        All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

                                        My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

                                        I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

                                        I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

                                        The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

                                        Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

                                        sixtyforce@sh.itjust.worksS This user is from outside of this forum
                                        sixtyforce@sh.itjust.worksS This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                                        #48

                                        Abs are made in the kitchen, but you sound on the ball there already so:

                                        Yeah in 2-3 months without missing many days you'll start to notice.

                                        Edit: In my experience it's other people who see you often/semi often who notice external changes first. Not sure if that's just me or not.

                                        T 1 Reply Last reply
                                        4
                                        • P [email protected]

                                          I just turned 40, and for the past 5 or so years I have been unhappy with the way I look.

                                          All my life my metabolism has been insane, I could literally eat anything all day and not gain a gram, which has its downsides as well, but not the point.

                                          My weight went up to 80kg and I formed a pot belly which I didnt like. One night I decided enough was enough, started a diet and exercise routine.

                                          I did look at gyms but they are stupid expensive where I live, so I bought a resistance band thing from InnStar. Its like a Gymproluxe if you have been bombarded with Facebook ads. I use it every day for bench press, preacher curls, and some other things I dont know the name of.

                                          I also started using a body weight exercise app that claimed results in a month.

                                          The diet I thought would be hardest, but I immediately stopped all snacks and moved onto a weightloss protein shake which are amazing and I cant believe it took this long to taste them.

                                          Its been a week, and I feel better, Im not sleeping as much, I look forward to exercise, I am much more physically active than before, but I dont feel like I look any different. I am not expecting instant results and I havent booked myself into a Mr World contest this weekend, but I am curious to hear real experiences of when people started to notice their own changes.

                                          C This user is from outside of this forum
                                          C This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #49

                                          Exercise is going to have the least effect on your weight unless you’re wildly out of shape.

                                          It’s all about diet for the most part.

                                          You should try intermittent fasting.

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