How long until you see results?

[Titania]

I've been going to the gym four days a week.

On the first and 3rd days, I do upper body and abdominal weight training using the gym machine, on the 2nd and 4th days I do lower body and abdominal (again on the machines.)

Every day I do 30 minutes of cardio, and I'm generally sweaty and tired when I'm done, my heart rate has been boosted to the correct ranges, etc.

I've been writing down my progress...Name of exercise, weight, reps, sets, etc. so that I can increase weight or reps as it gets easier for me. I'll also increase the intensity and duration of the cardio.

So, how long do you think, if I keep this up, until I'm like - whoa! Check it out it's working!

8 weeks, 12 weeks, something like that?

Those Bally's commercials say "30 days..." I don't buy it.

[Frenchie]

I've been going to the gym four days a week.

On the first and 3rd days, I do upper body and abdominal weight training using the gym machine, on the 2nd and 4th days I do lower body and abdominal (again on the machines.)

Every day I do 30 minutes of cardio, and I'm generally sweaty and tired when I'm done, my heart rate has been boosted to the correct ranges, etc.

I've been writing down my progress...Name of exercise, weight, reps, sets, etc. so that I can increase weight or reps as it gets easier for me. I'll also increase the intensity and duration of the cardio.

So, how long do you think, if I keep this up, until I'm like - whoa! Check it out it's working!

8 weeks, 12 weeks, something like that?

Those Bally's commercials say "30 days..." I don't buy it.

Actually, you will see some progress in 30 days. Don't expect to come out looking like the commercials if you aren't anywhere near that now, but you will see things. Even though I've been griping about no weight change, I already can see more definition in my arms and my waist is back. Believe me, you'll notice.

[LoneGirl]

I'm thinking that I heard 6 weeks somewhere before. That's how long it takes to start seeing a difference. When I lost alot of weight, I was frustrated because even though the scales said I was losing, I couldn't tell a difference. However, other people started commenting that I looked like I had lost weight. So, give it 6 weeks, and then even if you can't tell a difference I bet other people will!

[Loner]

I saw differences after 2-3 weeks, and was only down about 7 pounds, but had put on muscle. And moved down a pants size.

[Titania]

Thanks guys!

You just motivated me for the rest of the week!

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I've made palm-sized printouts of Excel worksheets with my exercises, reps, weights, sets. I have three different groups of groups of sets, as my workout program changes after a few weeks from, "Do two circuits for all muscles," to, "Do three pairs of supersets," to, "Do five sets of each exercise before going to the next one."

I've also added a column for how I need to adjust machines to fit me.

Just a small piece of paper that I keep for the next time I go, in order to move up in weights or reps each time.

[Loner]

I've made palm-sized printouts of Excel worksheets with my exercises, reps, weights, sets. I have three different groups of groups of sets, as my workout program changes after a few weeks from, "Do two circuits for all muscles," to, "Do three pairs of supersets," to, "Do five sets of each exercise before going to the next one."

I've also added a column for how I need to adjust machines to fit me.

Just a small piece of paper that I keep for the next time I go, in order to move up in weights or reps each time.
I just keep a little spiral notepad in my bag and write down what I did after each workout.

[Frenchie]

I just keep a little spiral notepad in my bag and write down what I did after each workout.

ditto...so i can see progress etc

[Titania]

How often do you guys increase weights/reps?

I assume, as a chick who'd like to remain feminine overall, I'd be increasing reps more often than weights.

I started this 3 weeks ago...

The first week I did a circuit developed by a trainer last year. I felt like I was going to die for a few days - I probably over did it.

The second week I did the same circuit, as much as I could, less pain.

Last week I tracked my weight and reps so I could track improvement, but I've just not gotten to where I can do the actual assigned circuit (I was in better shape last summer than I am now, apparently).

This week I should be able to do the circuit with little pain, I I'm thinking about increasing reps 20%. Sound reasonable?

[Frenchie]

How often do you guys increase weights/reps?

I assume, as a chick who'd like to remain feminine overall, I'd be increasing reps more often than weights.

I started this 3 weeks ago...

The first week I did a circuit developed by a trainer last year. I felt like I was going to die for a few days - I probably over did it.

The second week I did the same circuit, as much as I could, less pain.

Last week I tracked my weight and reps so I could track improvement, but I've just not gotten to where I can do the actual assigned circuit (I was in better shape last summer than I am now, apparently).

This week I should be able to do the circuit with little pain, I I'm thinking about increasing reps 20%. Sound reasonable?

I don't set a certain percentage increase, and usually I go for increasing weights, cause my target reps are 10-12. Sometimes, if it's a really bad exercise, I only squeeze out 8, then my next goal is to increase reps. Generally, you keep working with a certain rep/weight combo as long as it's challenging. That is one thing I also keep track of in my book. If I think I'm good where I'm at, I generally don't make a note. If I think I should increase, I note the target weight for the next trip. I also make note of particularly diff exercises so that I don't feel like I crapped out if I do poorly the next week.

[ACCtuary]

How often do you guys increase weights/reps?

Every day, until we look like your BF.

Seriously, depending on the muscle used and your age. When I can do 18 reps with good form and at the end I can still do more, I increase the weight. But I'm on a special program where I need to do more reps with low weight.

Usually, switch 18 to 12 in the paragraph above.

I assume, as a chick who'd like to remain feminine overall, I'd be increasing reps more often than weights.

You'll always be feminine in our eyes. Your genetics will keep your musculature from looking like a man's. Unless you are working out 6 days a week, 2 hours a day, you don't really need to worry about this problem.


The first week I did a circuit developed by a trainer last year. I felt like I was going to die for a few days - I probably over did it.


Don't get so comfortable that your body adapts. You want to change things up so that your body never adapts.


This week I should be able to do the circuit with little pain, I I'm thinking about increasing reps 20%. Sound reasonable?

Yes. You'll see functional fitness gains before you see the improvement in your body. Be sure to rest the muscle between workouts!

[Titania]

Thanks, guys...

Two more questions -

Is there any reason for me to ever do more than 12 reps?

I'm currently doing 2 sets of 10 reps, 1 minute rest in between. Would I ever want to get to 3 sets of 10, then 3 sets of 12? Or should I just be increasing weight and changing up exercises when 2 sets of 12 gets easy?

Ooops, 3 questions...

Is it true that you don't have to rest your abs between workouts (that is, can I do crunches every day?) I heard that from a friend.

[ACCtuary]

Thanks, guys...

Two more questions -

Is there any reason for me to ever do more than 12 reps?

I'm currently doing 2 sets of 10 reps, 1 minute rest in between. Would I ever want to get to 3 sets of 10, then 3 sets of 12? Or should I just be increasing weight and changing up exercises when 2 sets of 12 gets easy?

Ooops, 3 questions...

Is it true that you don't have to rest yo abs between workouts (that is, can I do crunches every day?) I heard that from a friend.

Whatever regimen you use, you want to fatigue your muscles at the end of your final set so you can honestly say you have at most one more rep in you - ideally none.

Ask yourself. If somebody was there encouraging you, could you have squeezed one more rep out?

My trainer says you can do abs every day, but do them differently from day to day.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

And, whenever you think about it, hold your stomach muscles in.

Like, right now.

[Tom]

I find it's easiest to put the scale in the closet, take a picture of yourself in your favorite swimsuit now and then take a picture later (like every 2 weeks) and look at the differences.

I think it usually takes about 8 weeks of no cheating, to see big results, but I always feel the results within a few weeks of healthy living. I can usually tell that I feel tighter and stronger.

[Minnesota Fats]

I find it's easiest to put the scale in the closet, take a picture of yourself in your favorite swimsuit now and then take a picture later (like every 2 weeks) and look at the differences.
I agree about the pictures. If you have access to a digital camera, taking pictures is a great way to go. The weight you lose will be gradual, so it'll be hard to notice the difference. I've lost about 15 lbs of flabbery over the last four months, and along the way I never thought gee, I really look thinner. But I have a shirtless picture I took pre-flab loss and, comparing it to the post-flab loss self, it's very evident in a great way. :tup:

[Gal Friday]

I'd agree with those who suggest taking pictures. Or get out a measuring tape and take your measurements. I wish I had done that. I lost a lot of baby weight over the course of about 6 months and though it crossed my mind to take pictures / measurements at the begninning, I didn't actually do it, and regretted it later. The changes are subtle and since you're looking at yourself every day, they will be harder for you to notice.