I know its a matter of opinion but...

[Rayfield]

im wanting to step up my work out habbits. I weight roughly 200 pounds and the gut is starting to hang down. This must stop! Diet aside, what should I be doing? I have a bike, jump rope, ab wheel, free weight bench( no room to use it right know), a pull up/dip bar, and various other items I use frequently. I want to lose 15 pounds, add to my endurance and strenght but not get bulky. I have did free weights while training in MA but at times I feel restricted on certain movements because I start getting bigger with the free weights. So forget the free weights. I have been doing pushups, situps, and other body weight exercises but I really find them boring for some reason. Would a Bowflex be a good item for me to invest in? At present I also do about a 5 mile ride on my bike that I do fast for some leg and endurance. I really feel like diet and cardio are what I need but dont want to miss out on strenght. Oh yea, I stretch more than anything else, I dont feel flexibility is an issue for me or the stlye I train in. Input is welcome.

Rayfield

[Tom Yum]

Lots of cardio work. Change in diet too.

Get into rope skipping routines, jogging, swimming and biking. Look into boxing/kickboxing too.

Eat low fat protein and high quality carbs; don't go atkins. Eat reasonably, but never overeat.

Start slowly, do your cardio work 2 times a week and strength training once per week. Bump up to cardio 3 times a week, while keeping strength training at 1 time.

It takes a lot of discipline. Good luck to you.

[osopardo]

Ditto. You have to increase your metabolic rate and the best way to do that is cardio. Go running.

Also, remember how long it took you to gain the weight. Don't expect it to just drop off overnight. It's important to stick with it, even if you plateau.

Good Luck!

[Yaberdaber]

I have a question... do any of you think the South Beach Diet works well along with martial arts training? I mean, it's almost like Atkin's, but it includes good carbs, so I was just wondering if this can work.