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[iand123]

I joined a gym for the first time this week. Main aim is to lose some weight but would like to improve for cricket too. Sure the general work out will help but are there any recommended areas to work on or specific routines anyone would recommend?

I'm a batsman if that helps

[countycricketplayer]

Hi Mate,
I try to go to the gym 3-4 times a week
my main areas :
biceps
triceps
shoulders
core
cardio
glutes

[iand123]

I'm aiming for 3 days a week. Need to shift the weight first which will be a challenge in itself

[Gingerbusiness]

When weight training, the half life of fat burning is 6-8 hours after the exercise.

With Cardio, it is about 1-2 hours.

If you weight train properly, you will lose weight (As long as you don't give into the carb cravings!) while adding size/definition.

Train in cycles - 2 weeks of cardio, 4 weeks of weights, 2 weeks of cardio etc just to keep your body guessing.

Most explosive exercise will help with cricket, but remember to do something like yoga/Pilates. Cricket is alot about flexibility (ESP if a bowler).

[compstallcc]

as said as well as your cardio and weights try and incorporate some time on balance boards or anything else that will improve balance that will have a direct effect on your batting

[gdb19]

I'm aiming for 3 days a week. Need to shift the weight first which will be a challenge in itself

Not as manly as lifting weights but I've found that using the myfitnesspal app has helped me lose weight. Feel a bit daft logging stuff I eat every day but I've lost over 15kg in 6 months and its helped - just makes you realise how bad things are for you. Not been to the gym yet but eating less and better along with plenty of walking and kettlercise has made a load of difference.

[OwzatOllie]

I too joined a gym this week! Went along for the first time today!

Pretty much because I want to shift a bit of weight really!

[ijmorgan]

Started back in the gym this week after a lay off of 10 months, had lost around 5-6 kilos of muscle. As this was my first season back in 20 years i really noticed a dip in my performance through the season as i started losing muscle due to work commitments. Aim to get it back through the winter months to hit my second season with a bang. Generally do a lot of body weight exercise plus core and flexibility stuff.

[Gingerbusiness]

During the cricket season, I train twice a week and play twice, if not three times, a week - not much need for the gym.

As a teacher, I always shut down from the end of the season to the first half term (8 weeks), just to let my body have some sort of rest.

Although the results when I return to the gym will be nothing short of horrific! Love how ten mins on the treadmill suddenly becomes the most painful thing in the world!

[CrickFreak]

I joined a gym for the first time this week. Main aim is to lose some weight but would like to improve for cricket too. Sure the general work out will help but are there any recommended areas to work on or specific routines anyone would recommend?

I'm a batsman if that helps

I dont think cricket demands heavy weight training. As the legend (Wasim Akram) once said - Bowlers need to build 'bowling muscles' and likewise for batsmen and the best way to do that is to practice as much as you can. Thats what Waqar and he did rather than spending time at the gym.

Even if you look at todays cricketers - Anderson, Morkel, Bhuvaneshwar, Rohit, Virat, Broad, Sachin, Clarke etc., they are all fit cricketers not big (muscular) cricketers.

I guess gym is good to keep you fit, flexible and develop stamina. Rest all gets built on the cricket pitch.

Practice, practice and more practice.

[Jogetnz]

Get back to basics, learn to do 4 main exercises, dead lifts, squats, standing military press, bench press. (Check out Mark Rippitoes book Starting Strength 3rd edition for lifting techniques). Base  your workouts around these, go 4 times a week doing one of these exercises each workout with some additional complimentary exercises. Start off building strength (slow and steady movements) then as the season gets closer  aim to increase your power with the same exercises but done more explosively. This will build a much stronger core and overall body strength. No need to do anything fancy, try and avoid spending too much time on isolation exercises and focus on large compound movements.

[ajmw89]

My current plan is 3 workouts a week.  Twice down the gym and go swimming once.  In the gym, I'll do about 20km on the bike on a moderate uphill setting, keeping between 70-80 rpm the whole time.  One gym session I'll end with core and flexibility work and the other I'll do weights.  With the swimming, I find anywhere between 1.5-2km is sufficient for a cardio and strength conditioning workout.  As the pool is only round the corner from home, I usually jog there and back too

[Bruce]

Hi Mate,
I try to go to the gym 3-4 times a week
my main areas :
biceps
triceps
shoulders
core
cardio
glutes

How come you dont train quads, hams and chest?

[mdg20]

I dont think cricket demands heavy weight training. As the legend (Wasim Akram) once said - Bowlers need to build 'bowling muscles' and likewise for batsmen and the best way to do that is to practice as much as you can. Thats what Waqar and he did rather than spending time at the gym.

Even if you look at todays cricketers - Anderson, Morkel, Bhuvaneshwar, Rohit, Virat, Broad, Sachin, Clarke etc., they are all fit cricketers not big (muscular) cricketers.

I guess gym is good to keep you fit, flexible and develop stamina. Rest all gets built on the cricket pitch.

Practice, practice and more practice.

That said i know England, Surrey and I would imagine most other counties do a fair amount of gym work including heavy weight training.

[ijmorgan]

How come you dont train quads, hams and chest?

Would have thought by doing cardio 3-4 times a week would be sufficient to build enough muscle in your legs as glute training helps stabilise your core and hips. Training chest doesn't really have a massive cricket benefit. Just my 2pence worth