I am a 19 year old female trying to lose weight. I am currently 5’9” and 226lbs but according to my friends look much lighter. My doctor says it’s because I’m very muscular. I have PCOS which makes it difficult for me to lose weight but since he put me on metformin I have dropped 30lbs. So now I’m steadily losing weight but wonder what my goal should be. My doctor guessed I should actually weigh 170-180 because of my muscles but I think that still sounds like too much. What do you think?
I’m a 61-year-old man who recently had surgery to repair a ruptured disc in my lumbar region. I want to get back my old levels of strength and flexibility but am concerned about pushing too hard. Are there any exercises I should absolutely avoid?
My 16-year-old son is addicted to working out. He’ll spend up to three hours in the gym on weekend days and after school he’s there at least two hours. It’s actually beginning to affect his studies. He’s not training for a sport, but says he wants to become Mr. Olympia. I know that you are considered the father of modern bodybuilding, but I’m concerned that he’s overdoing it.
I’m 52 and going through menopause. In addition to the occasional hot flashes and mood swings I’ve been told by my ob/gyn that I’m at increased risk of bone loss. I currently take a multivitamin that’s designed especially for women, so it’s enhanced with extra calcium. Other than taking supplements (I don’t like swallowing pills) what else can I eat to help boost my calcium levels?
I’m a 52-year-old woman and I’m very upset over the backs of my arms. Like my mother and grandmother, I’m beginning to get that turkey wing effect. I’m so self-conscious about it that I don’t even want to wear a short-sleeved shirt anymore! Being that I live in Tampa this isn’t much of an option though. Joe, what can I do??
Is it possible to shape and build my muscles while losing fat at the same time? I’m a 47-year-old male who’s probably 30 pounds above my ideal weight. Ideally, what I would like to do is lose the belly and reveal a nicely developed set of abs underneath. Is this double the work? Should I wait to lose the fat first?
I’m a woman who’s interested in sculpting my glutes. I need to lose about 20 pounds and I do know that I’ll need to diet and do cardio to help with this, but once those pounds have been shed I want to have “buns of steel” to show off. What, in your opinion, is the #1 glute exercise?
I know that you’re against taking steroids for athletics, but I’m 61 and am considering getting hormone replacement therapy. I’ve watched as my body has begun to decline with age and I don’t like it. I’ve heard about the amazing things testosterone can do and would like to try it. What are your thoughts on it?
I’m a 21-year-old guy and am interested in adding some weight to my frame. Currently I’m 6’1” and only weight 160 lbs, which is obviously too light. Here’s my concern though – if I add, say, 30 pounds of muscle now what will happen to it when I’m 60 and don’t want to train anymore? Will it turn to fat?
I’ve heard that fruit, despite being natural, is mostly sugar and that it can raise your blood sugar levels. I’m currently on a weight loss plan that includes fruit. How can this be?
I’m 16 and starting to get into MMA. I have been taking karate since I was 10 and now am learning jiu jitsu. I am 5’8” and only 135 pounds and I want to add at least 20 pounds to my frame. I want to start lifting weights to bulk up but my jiu jitsu instructor told me that too much lifting could lead to stiff muscles. Is this true?
I’ve always heard the phrase “No Pain, no Game.” While working out, I feel the pain, a few hours after, my muscles feel tired. The next day, I feel nothing. Should I increase my weights, my reps, or is this normal?
I am your age Joe. I am an 84-year-old woman and I think I’m doing pretty well for my age, all things considered. I walk almost every day for 20 minutes and do my stretching exercises each morning. I would like to know if you think I could begin lifting light weights. I don’t want to become Arnold Schwarzenegger of course, but I think I would like to see some new muscles on my arms.
I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m succumbing to an old wives’ tale, but I remember hearing as a girl that there were certain exercises one could to increase their bustline. Is this true, or have I fallen for another one?
This guy at school challenged me to a bench press contest and of course I accepted. I’m a pretty good bencher, but I want to make sure that I do my best. I don’t want to look stupid in front of everyone after school. What kinds of tips can you give me for improving my bench fast? I only have two weeks.
In your opinion, what’s the best supplement for gaining muscle? Also, what’s the best for losing weight? I don’t always have the time to eat and exercise the way I want, so I’m hoping the right supplements will help make up the difference.
I want to workout, but I’m too tired after getting home from work and I can’t exercise before work because I have to get my three kids ready for school. I can grab a half hour of exercise at my company’s gym during my lunch break however. What do you suggest I do to maximize this time?
Is there any way in which I can firm up my face? I see ads for facial tightening systems but am skeptical. I’m 69 years old and would love to see more firmness in my face, especially around my jawline. Is this even possible?
I hear the term all the time, but I’m not exactly sure what “core training” means. Could you please explain and tell me how it’s different from ab training?
I’ve always had a rather straight up-and-down figure. I’m 24 years old and in very good shape, but I would like a bit more in the way of curves. Can I build them into my body through exercise?
I know that the squat is supposed to be the king of lower body exercises, but I injured my knee playing high school football and ever since feel a pop in my left knee whenever I reach parallel. Should I continue to squat, only not go so low, or should I totally give them up for a different exercise?
Is there any way I can trim down my thighs without losing too much weight around my arms and shoulders? I’m a 38-year-old woman who has had two babies and I’ve noticed since delivering my second that my thighs hold fat more easily than before. So I want to trim them down but I don’t want my upper body (which is leaner) to look too stringy. Does this make sense?
How do you feel about taking supplements? I’m 17 and looking to get big as quickly as possible. I see a lot of things at the health food store that are supposed to put on muscle fast. Is it possible to live on these for a few months to put on the size, then go back to eating regular food?
I’m a 51-year-old man who got back into skiing last winter and really enjoyed it. My main problem was that I didn’t have enough muscle endurance in my legs to stay on the mountain as long as I would have liked. What exercises can I do to help with this?
Do you think it’s better to be strong but not necessarily look it, or to look strong but not be as strong as you look? My friend and I disagree on this issue. Thanks Joe.
What are your thoughts on all the “superfoods” that are being advertised today? I’m talking about acai, goji, noni and mangosteen, among others. These are all supposed to be nutritional miracles, able to cure anything and everything that ails you. Do you know anything about them, Joe?
Hi Joe – I’m 19 years old and I’m trying to get my shoulders as wide as possible. I’m 6’ and 180 lbs, so I’m trying to put on about 20 pounds of muscle anyway. But beyond that I want really wide shoulders. That looks impressive even in clothes. Problem is, it seems my shoulders structurally aren’t very wide. So is there anything I can do to actually stretch them out and make them wider? Thanks Joe!
Is there a way to tone the muscle of my arms without increasing their size? I like the look of Michelle Obama’s arms, but I wouldn’t want them bigger than that. Is this possible?
How often can I have a “cheat” meal? I’ve seen diets where they allow you one once a week, as a reward for dieting the rest of the week. Do you think this is a good idea? If so, can I do more than one a week if I spend extra time doing cardio?
It seems that more and more restaurants are offering egg white omelets as an alternative to regular ones. I know that egg yolks have fat and cholesterol but they make omelets taste so much better. Is it okay to include one yolk in with the whites?
I have tennis elbow and find it difficult to perform certain exercises, particularly for chest and shoulder training. Usually it’s movements in which I’m pressing the bar, either above my head or off my chest.
What are your thoughts on stretching? Is it as important as some say, and if so, when should it be done – before, during or after a workout? Also, how can I tell when I’ve stretched enough? I don’t want to pull a muscle.
Joe, can you give me a good arm routine? The other day my girlfriend actually commented on how skinny my arms are. She was only joking but it really bothered me.
I’m a 45-year-old woman who’s an avid yoga practitioner who takes class three times per week. I’m considering starting a workout routine in addition once or twice a week, but am afraid I’ll make myself too stiff to do all of my yoga moves. Is there any way to avoid this?
What are your thoughts on all the “superfoods” that are being advertised today? I’m talking about acai, goji, noni and mangosteen, among others. These are all supposed to be nutritional miracles, able to cure anything and everything that ails you. Do you know anything about them, Joe?
Is it possible to get a good workout using only bodyweight exercises as opposed to going to the gym and lifting weights? I have rheumatoid arthritis and sometimes it’s hard enough to move and grip things, let alone lift weights.
Do you have any thoughts on cross fit training or the “300” workout? It seems that kettlebells, bands and unusual lifts with names like the Turkish Getup have overtaken traditional weight training in terms of popularity.
Joe, I have a complaint about fitness magazines (yes, even yours) and all those TV commercials for home gym equipment and diet pills and the like. They all feature people with perfect bodies – bodies I know are beyond my reach. I was born to big-boned parents and no matter how I try, I can’t get down to a size 4. I’m a size 8, which makes me the smallest woman in my extended family. I guess this isn’t so much a question as a comment. Thanks for reading it!
Joe, what do you think about the bodybuilders of today when you compare them with guys like Steve Reeves, Larry Scott and even Arnold? They are obviously a lot bigger now, but do you think they’re also better?
I’m trying to decide whether to join my local gym or purchase a Bowflex home gym system, or possibly another kind. I’m a 38-year-old father of two who works a 9-6 job five days a week. Although I enjoy going to the gym (it’s a chance to “get away from it all”), the extra driving takes away from quality family time. Any recommendations?
Should I be taking an amino acid supplement? I see so many of them on the shelves of the health food stores, from BCAA’s to individual aminos like arginine, glutamine and carnitine. I exercise five days a week and eat a healthy diet, so do I really need to buy amino acids?
What are your thoughts when it comes to listening to music while working out? An old timer I know says it destroys concentration. At the gym where I train they often play “light” music, which really kills my energy. I often ask them to change it and when they do I feel my energy rise. Could this really be happening, or is it my imagination?
Can you give me your list of the single best exercises for every bodypart? I’m pressed for time all the time, but figured if I could create a circuit in which I hit every bodypart with one exercise and did it three times I could train my whole body this way two or three times a week. So, what do you think?
I’m a mother of three young children and don’t have the time to go to a gym but I want to get back into the kind of shape I was in before I had my first child seven years ago. So is it possible to get toned exercising at home with a minimum of equipment? I don’t have the resources to buy one of those home gym systems or the room.
Everywhere I turn I see an article on EFA’s here, a report on the benefits of fish oil there. I know that certain fats are important but could you give me a simple explanations of what EFA’s are, the best way to get them and how many I need in a day?
I am 43 years old and have had two knee surgeries this past year. I used to love to take walks but can’t do that now. I have gained so much weight from lack of movement that I can’t stand it. What can a morbidly obese asthmatic with bad knees do to get control of her weight? I used to be a very attractive woman and I want that back!
I hate dieting. I’ve tried every major one out there, from South Beach to Atkins to grapefruit, and the list goes on. But I always find that after just a few weeks I’m craving certain foods and once I decide to endulge, it’s easy to fall off the wagon completely. Am I just lacking discipline, Joe?
How do you feel about coffee, Joe? Are you a coffee drinker? I’m 66 and have recently gotten a clean bill of health from my doctor. He told me that a cup or two a day isn’t going to do me any harm, but I’m really trying to be on my best behavior. Should I cut it out of my diet completely?
I’m a 28-year-old woman and I’m trying to build up my shoulders. I think nicely developed shoulders on a woman is sexy. Unfortunately my bodyfriend doesn’t want me to develop them because he believes women should look soft and “feminine” and not lift weights. I know he respects you, Joe. Could you please set him straight? His name is Todd.
