Hello! I am new on the forum. I'm just starting to get back into working out after about 2 years off. I am on the forum to learn more about what I can do to reach my goals.

I'm 23, 5'7, 136lbs. My body fat % is 15. Ideally, I would like to get down to about 125lbs but I'm more concerned with toning up than how much I weigh.

I have a few questions if anyone has knowledge to share it would be greatly appreciated!

1. Has anyone taken carb blockers? Are they effective? What is a good brand?

2. Has anyone taken Dexatrim? Is it effective?

3. I have had 2 ACL reconstructions on the same knee, most recent one was Aug 06, and I still have atrophy because I have not been working out like I should. Are quad extensions, squats, leg presses bad/good for the ACL? Is one better than another? During therapy one PTA said NO quad extensions. Another said do them. I definitely feel stress in my knees but is it good or bad?

Thanks for any info you may have...

You dont need carb blockers. If you are concerned with carbs, eat low carb. You don't need dexatrim either. A solid diet and workout plan will take you to where you want to be. In terms of the knees, can't help you there as I am not a doctor, but I am sure you can still reach your goals with some careful planning. good luck!:tucool:

Are quad extensions, squats, leg presses bad/good for the ACL? Is one better than another? During therapy one PTA said NO quad extensions. Another said do them. I definitely feel stress in my knees but is it good or bad?

I hate when you get conflicting advice from professionals.

What you really want is to be able to do squats and deadlifts, both two and one legged versions. You also want lunges. But you want to make sure it's OK. Have a clear conversation about this with the PT that you trust more.

Frankly quad extensions and leg presses don't excite me, especially from a functional point of view, and also not for women.

As far as I have read, the ACL should not be threatened by squatting. There is a literature on this - you can read it using "PubMed". But you're paying professional phsyiotherapists to know this stuff as it applies to your specific condition, so you would really prefer to get your information from them. If you think they are not taking you seriously enough, you asking to get clearance for deadlifts should change that attitude on their part.

Thanks for the replies... I asked about dexatrim because I have some at the house my husband bought a while back and I decided to try it...
I am trying to stay away from carbs but unfortunately if I don't get to cheat a little I won't be able to stick to my healthy eating plan. (gotta have my chick-fil-a waffle fries :p) So, I want to use a carb blocker on occasion.

I was only able to do pt for 6 weeks post-op and then was released. At the time I wasn't into working out so I didn't bother to really follow up and research wether or not those exercises were good for me. I took a weight training class last semseter and told the teacher, he seemed afraid to answer my question wrong, just said if I was told not to do it, don't. So no help there...

zenpharaohs,
Also, out of curiosity, why don't you like quad extensions/ leg press machienes?

I took a weight training class last semseter and told the teacher, he seemed afraid to answer my question wrong, just said if I was told not to do it, don't. So no help there...

zenpharaohs,
Also, out of curiosity, why don't you like quad extensions/ leg press machienes?

Well most of us here are in the same boat. We don't know exactly what you had done to your knee and it takes things off the "generally recommended" table into the land of you will have to figure out how your specific situation relates to the general advice. It's actually quite likely that you can squat and deadlift and lunge, but we can't tell you that.

Quad extensions and leg presses are not awful, it's been found that squats and deadlifts are better in some ways. Especially in cases where you want to increase the knee stability. The quad extensions, and to some extent the leg presses, force a motion on your knee, so that your body doesn't have to stabilize it, so you get the worst of both worlds - you might be tracking your knee badly (especially problematic in women who seem to be prone to patellar issues) and you aren't stressing the stabilizing muscles which would help improve your knee health in the long term.

Another really big advantage of the free weight exercises is that they end up being a lot more convenient. If you travel, the hotel gym might have different machines than you are used to. But if you know what to do with a pair of dumbells and a bench, you can work out almost anywhere.

That makes sense... I do need to work on stabilizing.

I actually don't know how to use free weights despite taking a weight training class. I stayed on the machines the whole time. I regret it now, I probably could have learned a lot more. :o

That makes sense... I do need to work on stabilizing.

I actually don't know how to use free weights despite taking a weight training class. I stayed on the machines the whole time. I regret it now, I probably could have learned a lot more. :o

Stick with it, you will get a lot of help here. :tu: