25 & continually gaining fat every year .

Hi!

My name is Michelle and I just started going to the gym about a month ago. I am 25 years old and was very thin up until about the age of 20 and have continually been gaining fat every year and even more this year. My question is, in order to properly burn fat, how much cardio should I be doing? I have heard everything from 20 minutes to 60 minutes. I currently do about 25 minutes on the cross trainer about 4x a week and lift weights for approximately 30 minutes a day, anywhere from 3-5 days a week. Should I be doing more?

Thanks so much for your time and advice!

Hello Michelle:

Congratulations on your continued efforts toward working out and exercising, because that dedication is what will allow you to achieve the results you want! As far as your current routines and consistent weight gains are concerned I do have some helpful suggestions.

Realize, for both men & women that at about the age of 25, we notice our bodies are changing as we mature. My observations about this are that it is so consistent, I made the web site for my book www.25andUp.com. There is not enough room in this forum to go further with "why 25?" as there are numerous factors involved & your concern is "what to do?".

How much cardio should I do to burn fat?
20 minutes of cardio workouts on a treadmill, exercise bike, fast walk, etc.. is fine, provided #1) you warm-up for 10 minutes prior & #2) if you are just getting back to working out again or just beginning (for the first 3-6 weeks). The rest of us need up to an hour each day for 5-6 days each week.

How much weight training should I do to increase lean tissue & burn more fat?
30 minutes 3-5 times each week may be enough, but the type of training to shape the body is very specific to each individual, so your areas of emphasis and intensity are key. Though it may not be necessary, some trainers are familiar with sculpting & conditioning and may be helpful in keeping you on the right track.

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That's it for this time,

Be sure to Get my Book for One Buck (save $13.95!!!); FITNESS ADVICE & HEALTH TIPS


Good Luck & Keep it Up!

Darren Rieck

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