can i work out every day?

[peacepie]

hello!
i am so glad i found this forum. i have found out much already.
my question is;
i have been working out for two weeks now, and i love it. i am totally addicted. i look forward to it, every day. so should i be doing it, every day? i always hear, every other day, 3 days a week. i am aware that the muscles rip and heal as they build. am i being counter-productive? i feel guilty if i dont work out, i miss it; though i do feel it more.
should i stick to cardio one day and (light) weight training the next?
also i am doing this at home, with 2 x 5 pound dumb bells, one ten pound(bicep curls)... i do assorted arm excercises, a bunch of different tummy crunches, different excercises i find that look good, from pilates commercials, or different web sites; & thigh stuff like lunges, etc.
do i need more? will i be able to achieve as much at home? do i need to spend $ on a personal trainer? sooner than later?
i really appreciate any insight you can give me!
i dont really need to lose much weight, i dont even own a scale. 10 pounds would be nice; i just want to get rid of my 'baby gut' and 'love handle' area... so far i have seen great results in my thighs. none on my tummy!!!! what excercises do you all recommend, for the gut specifically?
thanks for your help! sorry if this is covered somewhere else, i am new here...
nancy
:)

[Sherrie]

Generally bodybuilders train each body part once per week. What they do is split there work outs up into different muscle groups over so many days. So one day they may train legs, another day arms and so forth.

The reason being is your muscles need time to recover, if you don't give them that time you may lose some. Losing muscle is the last thing you want when trying to lose weight.

But assuming you arn't going into it like a bodybuilder does you could probably just split your workouts in two so say one day do lower body and the other day do upper. Put a rest day inbetween.

Anyway I'm no expert on this stuff.

I do have some good sites though to help with choosing exercises that you can do with dumbells though.

You will find them in the Getting Started thread (in the begginners section of the forums) under 'Fitness Links'.

Welcome aboard and goodluck! :)

[Sherrie]

PS: no exercises will make you lose fat on your tummy quicker, it's all about diet.

I do have a link to a site though that has some good excerises for ladies who have had babies. They won't help you lose weight or anything, they are to help you bring your muscles back up towards your spine:


BLine:
http://www.helenhall.com/programs/bline.html

Pelvic Floor:
http://www.helenhall.com/programs/pelvic.html

The Bridge (advanced BLine):
http://www.helenhall.com/programs/bridge.html

Also swisse ball stuff if you have one:
http://www.helenhall.com/programs/swissball1.html
http://www.helenhall.com/programs/swissball2.html

[peacepie]

thank you so much sherrie!
that makes alot of sense. i will look into that link.& i will take your advice, a different part each day....
thanks for the welcome; i'll be back!
nancy

[peacepie]

wow thanks those are great links too! i'm 33 with three babies; i need all the help i can get!!
thanks again... darn i guess i have to give up eating ice cream every day ;P

[Moonie]

Hello Nancy and welcome:)
Thanks for those Helen Hall links Sherrie, they look great for those with tummies that want to hang around;)

[Sherrie]

Your Welcome :)

Oh and with those tummy exercises, once you have learnt to tighten the muscles and hold it start trying to do it all the time.
Even when your sitting at your pc, eventually you will be walking around with your tummy sucked in and not even knowing it. Come to think of it, I have been slack with it lately

*sucks tummy in*