Sick of being unfit and overweight?

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Then lets do this together!

My father and I have a bet on to reach a certain weight first. He's trying the diet method. I'm going for exercise and calorie control. I'm goignto make notes on where I'm up to and screw it, everyone interested, lets do this together and encouage one another if you need to.

Post what you think you need to, to help you stay on track. Post where you started from and keep at it, dont miss a day.

I am right now 78.5 kg. The bet is 73kg. I have bran and sultanas for breakfast, usually a crappy take away lunch and a fairly decent dinner at night. No alcohol, no smoking. Lack of sex.

I do 8 circuits of the local lake on a mountain bike - that distance is about 12km a day. For variety, I'm going to drop in some swimming.

Rightio, join in with the fun and more importantly - KEEP GOING.

[Pierce Tondry]

I am not trying to hit a certain weight, but I am trying to hit a certain distance. I am in training for a 10k (6.2 mi.) run at the beginning of April, so my goal is to be able to do that running constantly all the way through. My farthest distance run thus far is 1.5 mi. Only took me about fifteen-twenty minutes to do it, but man was I hurting at the end.

So that is me.

[Mu Satach]

Originally posted by Jaime Tomahawk
Sick of being unfit and overweight?


Why yes oh guru of late night TV... err... internet.

The starting point - I can't walk up 2 flights of stairs these day's without nearly passing out. :p

The BIG goal - Be able to run the homecoming 5K in Oct. and have a completion time of under 30 min. I have a lot of crap to take of so I figure it will take me several months to get even back to where I could start a beginner's running program and then a few more months to be able to get the time down to under 30 min.

the mini goals for Feb
- hit the gym 3 times a week work out on the eliptical machine for 30 min. so's not to re-injure meself
- a cup or two of dark veggies everyday
- a good 6-7 hours of sleep everynight

[Mitch]

Been trying to get down to 180 pounds since the beginning of the year. Started art 210, and now I'm at 202. Working at it, but dang if I'm not busy and eat terribly.

Still, want to hit 180 by May.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Working on losing about 90 or so pounds. Little steps here. Been eating very well, and when time permits I work out. I'm burning 500 calories each workout session, so its nothing too strenuous.

[Mu Satach]

Originally posted by Mitch
Started art 210, and now I'm at 202. Working at it, but dang if I'm not

Way to go! 8lbs is a great amount of progress. :)

[Leten Snat]

5 months ago I was at 109kg (240 lbs) and I am now down to 103.5 kg (228 lbs), and begining of the week I just got a Gym membership, so let's hope I can get it down faster. I'm aiming for at LEAST 90.5kg (200 lbs) by this time next year. I'm hoping for more than that. :) I'm hoping to get to a healthy weight by Feb next year.

Please keep in mind that I am about 1.88 meters tall (6' 2"), So an optmal weight for me is between 72.5 kg (160 lbs) - 86 kg (190 lbs)

[Ryan Pode]

I'm trying to gain weight. But, the key is 30 minutes of physical activity a day. That way you get your heart pumping and your metabolism up and thus you burn calories faster. So whether its biking, running, walking or lifting weights, as long as you get around 30 minutes a day you can get healthy.

[JMK]

The thing most people have not mentioned is diet. And I don't mean any particular diet, I mean what you eat on a day-to-day basis. Most people don't, a lot of people actually believe that you can eat whatever you'd like so long as work out *a little*. You can exercise all you like, but there has to be at least an equal effort in to improving diet. Usually that means a diet high in fibre and loaded with veggies, as Mu said she would do for herself. If you still pound a whole row of cookies or slam a gallon a Sunny D, you're not going to help yourself much at all.

If you really wanted to get healthy, you'd cut out hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. That stuff will sabotage any efforts you make to get in shape, and it is absolutely everywhere. When I visited GA/FLA this past summer I was stunned to see how many foods HFCS was in: breakfast cereals, juices (hence my Sunny D comment), ketchup (never got that one), hell they couldn't even leave honey alone. They had to amp it up with that stuff. Do yourselves a favor and skip that stuff.

Of course I would never discourage you from working out regardless of what you decide to eat, but obviously you'd get far better results from doing both.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

I always watch my fat grams. Of course, I used to be really anal retentive about that, and when I was in great shape back in football, I was taking in only 10 grams or so a day.

That helps, but here's another one:

Be concious of when you eat your carbs. Don't cut them out, because you need them to burn for your daily energy. I'm not saying go wild on them, but its okay to have them.

Myself, I make sure to eat most of my carbs for breakfast. Cheerios, a tangerine, and a banana usually. Its light stuff and keeps you going well into lunchtime.

At lunch, have some more carbs, but not as much. Lunch really should be the most balanced meal you have. Carbs, meats, vegetables, etc.

Dinnertime, avoid carbs entirely. Eating carbs late means storing them. You aren't going to need that energy when you go to sleep, so don't bother. For dinners, hit meats and vegetables almost exclusively. This works great for me because I'm a huge sucker for greek food and that means late night kebabs ;)

Work out when you can. Its tough for me because my schedule is crap, but I try to at least squeeze a few workouts in a week. Don't burn yourself out. You want progress, but don't expect to go out and do crazy Rocky Balboa type stuff. Since my time's at a premium, I know I can belt out a good 500 calorie bike or elliptical routine in about 20 minutes, so that's what I do. Once that becomes boring, I increase how much I want to burn. Last year when I was consistent, I was burning 750 a night, well over half my caloric intake for the day.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Originally posted by JMK
The thing most people have not mentioned is diet. And I don't mean any particular diet, I mean what you eat on a day-to-day basis. Most people don't, a lot of people actually believe that you can eat whatever you'd like so long as work out *a little*. You can exercise all you like, but there has to be at least an equal effort in to improving diet. Usually that means a diet high in fibre and loaded with veggies, as Mu said she would do for herself. If you still pound a whole row of cookies or slam a gallon a Sunny D, you're not going to help yourself much at all.

If you really wanted to get healthy, you'd cut out hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. That stuff will sabotage any efforts you make to get in shape, and it is absolutely everywhere. When I visited GA/FLA this past summer I was stunned to see how many foods HFCS was in: breakfast cereals, juices (hence my Sunny D comment), ketchup (never got that one), hell they couldn't even leave honey alone. They had to amp it up with that stuff. Do yourselves a favor and skip that stuff.


I've given heavily caffinated drinks and soft drinks away because I found they undo a lot of my efforts. If I need a drink, now have a lot of water, Gatorade and heavily watered down cordial if I feel like somethign sweeter.

But on exercise tho, I've also just try to do something every day - light as you cant have heavy exercise every day. Stretching as well is important.

[Ryan Pode]

Milk and water.

[JMK]

Yep. Milk and water is where it's at. I go through about 3 liters of water a day (3/4 of a gallon), among the other stuff that I drink...milk mostly.

But I pigged out tonight, tostitos and flaming salsa. Oops.

[Trilby Benedetta]

I've been trying to cut out most of the "bad" things I eat. I have been eating wheat instead of white bread - I eat less wheat bread because I don't really enjoy the texture of it, and when I do eat it, it's as a sandwich or with pasta. I eat a lot more fruit now, but I know I still have horrible eating habits overall.

Mark can attest to how picky an eater I can be - I don't really like vegetables, I eat a lot of pasta/bread/grains and a little meat on occasion. I don't drink enough diary, either, because it makes my stomach ache. I'd eventually like to cut diary from my diet all together; organic soy milk is good, surprisingly good. :lol

So, my goals for february are to
- eat more "real" meals (Don't cook, so I'm going to have to start.)
- cut down on the Black Death (ugh, will kill me or cause the murders of thousands)
- work in some walking for exercise

[Ryan Pode]

And for those in college and/or alcoholics, liquor is less fattening than beer if you can manage.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well I am trying to lose weight myself, trying to go down from 185-165. I been trying to walk 2 miles 3-4 days a week and I have cut down sweets, and soft drinks. I have been drinking a lot more water. Since I have started I have lost 4 lbs so I think I am doing good. I am thinking about joining gym to help me work out more though.

[Mu Satach]

Progress for today -

the mini goals for Feb
- Walked home from work, over 1.5 miles, uphill... 36 minutes.
- had brocoli at lunch and some green beans w/dinner.
- got the 7 hours, but it wasn't that good, kept waking up every few hours from crazy nightmares.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Swimming was a lot harder than I expected. Ugh. I feel dead

[Rutabaga]

Last March, I switched to a low carb, no junk food diet, and so far, I've lost 75 pounds :). I'd like to lose some more, but I've hit one of those dreaded plateaus that I'm struggling to get through. I just have to have patience :).

I know I'd lose more a little more quickly if I exercised more, but I'm completely lazy.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Here's a good tip for you health junkies:

Salads are good, but aside from ranch, honey mustard, or sesame ginger dressings and such, I generally hate salad dressing. Vinegarettes are way too acidic, and I don't like them for the same reason I don't like white wine.

If you're in the same situation, try salsa on your salad instead of dressing :) It is very good and still cuts your intake of the bad stuff

[Sudoku]

Originally posted by Jaime Tomahawk
Swimming was a lot harder than I expected. Ugh. I feel dead


Just remember, Mark, you did have a month "off". Don't push yourself too hard.

Mini-goal for today - walk to the mall instead of taking the bus (in the rain :uhoh).

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Picked UP weight, 79 kg

But around the lake 10 times in about an hour, which means I'm working at a good speed, as the total distance is close to 11 km. The first five laps definatly easier to do.

I think I've worked out why the increase, so I'm not bothered. What it tells me is there's not much body fat except around the stomach and I dont HAVE enough fat to go to 73 kg purely on diet. 75kg is a more realistic goal

[Sanis Prent]

Being sick helps to lose weight :\

I've been on a binge of hot cider, head-cold medication, and chicken soup. I figure a week of this and I'll drop 10 pounds.

[Natia Telcontar]

Like Leten, I've also just gotten a membership at a gym.

My goals:

1) Keep my weight up around 170 lb where my doctor wants it again.
2) Go to the gym three times a week.
3) Drink less pop at work and more water.
4) Start eating 3 meals a day instead of 1-2 meals. (If I work swing, I only eat 1 meal a day which is not good. Late night's been getting better because I'm starting to eat 3 meals a day then. If I'm not working, I snack and have 1 meal)

Now, does anybody have any suggestions on how to make water taste good so I don't get the urge to spit it out as soon as I taste it.

[Sanis Prent]

I have no idea because I love water. Maybe your local tap is just awful and you need bottled selections?

Thats one great thing about Alabama, we have some amazing tap water. Every other place's water is gross and foreign to me.

In fact I just drank 2 liters from the tap just now. Uh oh gotta pee.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Originally posted by Natia Telcontar
Like Leten, I've also just gotten a membership at a gym.

My goals:

1) Keep my weight up around 170 lb where my doctor wants it again.


170lb for a female? Your either taller than I thought or somethings not right, I'm 5'10 and that's just a bit below me - and no one would say I'm exactly thin. Not fat, but fairly solid.

I'm with Charley on the Alabama water, it's good stuff. Almost on par with Sydney which is more than acceptible.

[Rutabaga]

Originally posted by Natia Telcontar
Now, does anybody have any suggestions on how to make water taste good so I don't get the urge to spit it out as soon as I taste it.

Drink bottled water, or get a filter for your tap...I have one of those PUR filters on my kitchen tap, and it makes a big difference.

Or, if you like the flavor of lemon, put a slice or two of lemon in your water.

Or, there are plenty of flavored waters on the market as well. :)

[Mandy with an I]

Flavored waters can have sugar/sweetener, so read the label if you're trying to cut down on that. Canada Dry makes a decent flavored water without any added sweet stuff, though.

[Sanis Prent]

Propel is also fairly good stuff. There are added calories, but they're not of the empty type so its not a crime or anything.

[Natia Telcontar]

Wow, I never thought I was taller the Marcus. I was at 170 lb 10 years ago and I wasn't fat. I went from being a skinny twig weighing 90 lb and being 5' 8", to being 5' 9" and weighing 170 lb in grade 8 (ten years ago) just because I started to ride my bike everyday except on weekends and even then I usually did. I was thinner then than I am now and I was less then 170 lb.

As for bottled water, to me that's even more gross then tap water. Flavoured water, now that I will have to try.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Let's see. I'll jump in on this game. I don't have a number for weight loss. I just know that there are 2 or 3 pairs of pants that I want to fit into again.

That and I'm doing martial arts again, so I want to get stronger.

10 pushups/day
30-40 situps/day

Martial Arts classes 2 times a week

Ballroom dancing (very low impact, but you'd be surprised at what your legs feel like after repeating the same quick steps over and over for an hour).

Oh, and for the diet.

No Sugar.

[Sanis Prent]

If you're going to do pushups and situps, go higher. That stuff is toning-intensive, so you want to do high repetition, high set.

[JMK]

Yeah, if you're going to be doing pushups and situps, you need to get in to the 10 reps / many sets each exercise.

Also, sit ups won't burn fat around your midsection. It will tone your muscle, but it won't eliminate the fat that surrounds it (if there's any there).

[Sanis Prent]

I used to have a fairly evil ab routine that heavily involved some kind of self-induced torture called the Iron Cross, which were a series of sustained leg elevations that worked all of the abs. Even when I was in good shape they hurt like hell.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Hmm, how about if I lower my fat intake, try to cut out as much soda as I can ( had a bad day today with that, watching the Super Bowl ^_^; ), have NutraGrain bars for desert, and do 100 sit-ups a night and as many push ups as I can before I just can't? (currently that number is.... 5?)

I have no will power at all.

[Charley]

Got to start somewhere.

And hell, if you didn't ruin your diet today, you aren't human.

2 bowls of chili and 2 slices of sugar free lemon icebox pie :D

[Jaime Tomahawk]

I'm not human :-p

5 times around the lake, noticably easier and feeling less stuffed afterwards. And also a decent chicken lunch and salad dinner.

[Sudoku]

Nurtagrain bars are like, pure sugar.

I think I might start keeping a food journal again. Not eating because you don't want to write it down and feel like a pig = fun! ;)

[Rutabaga]

I've become a major label reader since I changed my eating habits. I'm one of those people who avoids sugar and flour as much as I can. And do read labels, because you'd be surprised what things have sugar in them that you would never suspect. And be extra careful about things that label themselves as "reduced sugar" or "low sugar," because a lot of times they're not that reduced or that low. "Sugar free" is a much better bet, although not always foolproof.

I am admittedly having a wee bit of sugar right now, because Valentine's Day just isn't Valentine's Day without conversation hearts :). But only a half-dozen or so at a time. I can make one of those little tiny boxes of conversation hearts last a week when I used to be able to polish off a whole bag in just a day or 2.

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Nutri grain bars are natural sugars and whole grain carbs, so they're a good thing to start your day on. Just don't eat like 2 or 3 for dinner dessert or anything ;)

And avoid artificial sweeteners, sorry Jinn. You're tricking your body into taking something that isn't sugar in the place of sugars that diet or not, your body does need. You will do more harm than good if this is your only source of the sweet stuff.

Avoiding high fructose corn syrups and the nasty junk food sugars like that is always a good idea, but if you need sweets, get something with natural sugars in it.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Originally posted by Jaime Tomahawk
I'm not human :-p

5 times around the lake, noticably easier and feeling less stuffed afterwards. And also a decent chicken lunch and salad dinner.
You also dont' live in the US or watch 'grid-iron' so, yeah, I guess you're not human. ;)

[Rutabaga]

Originally posted by Anbira Hicchoru
Nutri grain bars are natural sugars and whole grain carbs, so they're a good thing to start your day on. Just don't eat like 2 or 3 for dinner dessert or anything ;)

And avoid artificial sweeteners, sorry Jinn. You're tricking your body into taking something that isn't sugar in the place of sugars that diet or not, your body does need. You will do more harm than good if this is your only source of the sweet stuff.

Avoiding high fructose corn syrups and the nasty junk food sugars like that is always a good idea, but if you need sweets, get something with natural sugars in it.

When I say I'm not eating sugar, I mean processed stuff. I'm not doing hardcore Atkins or anything like that, I think Atkins is way too strict. I do eat "good carbs," like fruits, especially grapes, apples, oranges, and bananas. So it's not a sugar free diet, by any means, it's the good sugars, not the processed junk.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Originally posted by Lilaena De'Ville
You also dont' live in the US or watch 'grid-iron' so, yeah, I guess you're not human. ;)

Nah, just got some common sense :-p

8 times around the lake, potatos for lunch. Not sure that was a good idea.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

Originally posted by Jaime Tomahawk
Swimming was a lot harder than I expected. Ugh. I feel dead

Swimmimg is great!!!! It works the whole body.

[Mu Satach]

Originally posted by Jinn Fizz
so far, I've lost 75 pounds :).

nice job! I keep trying to follow a better diet, but my lifestyle completely runs contrary to it.

Progress report -
veggies today
have been getting the 6 hours (but more to sleeping in than going to sleep earlier :nyah)
am behind on the 30 min. excercise (gag)

[Jaime Tomahawk]

78 kg. Ten times around lake. Feeding myself some good homemade stuff. And no sugared softdrink for a week.

[JMK]

So where do you hide your gills Aquaman? ;)

Here's a decent 'troubleshooting' link if you're having trouble shedding some weight:
http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=weight.loss&category=diet.strategies&conitem=9be999edbbbd201099edbbbd2010cfe793cd____&cm_mmc=BellyOffNL-_-2006_02_09-_-Weight_Loss-_-8_Reasons_You're_Still_Fat

[Wei Wu Wei]

Originally posted by JMK
Yeah, if you're going to be doing pushups and situps, you need to get in to the 10 reps / many sets each exercise.

Also, sit ups won't burn fat around your midsection. It will tone your muscle, but it won't eliminate the fat that surrounds it (if there's any there).

I did not know that. So what are some good ab exercises that will get rid of fat?

[Mu Satach]

have been taking the stairs at work as much as possible, and can now go up 2 flights without stopping... still out of breath when I reach the top, but not as much as before and I'veI shaved about 25 seconds off the time it takes.

[Ryan Pode]

I have stress marks on my shoulders. :(

[Sanis Prent]

That's pretty normal, if you get on a good workout run. You should see my friend with his shirt off. He bulked up so fast around his pectorals that it looks like he's been stabbed a few times >_<

[Ryan Pode]

Yeah. I thought I got attacked by some sort of cat thing. Never had 'em before so I was like screaming around my room.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

As I am a fairly serious swimmer, I do have some training equipment. I have thence some hand paddles that really work the swimming muscles and especially the back. 1km of THAT and anouther 20 laps doing walking / jogging and I am offically stuffed

[JMK]

Originally posted by Wei Wu Wei
I did not know that. So what are some good ab exercises that will get rid of fat?

Cardio, my friend, cardio. That's the best way to burn the spare tire around your midsection. :)

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Dunno if you call 10km up the bloody hills this place has as your idea of relaxation and recovery. More like WHEN THE HELL IS THIS HILL GONNA STOP?!?!

[Blade Bacquin]

I will post here although my story is a little funier then most. Over the past year I have lost aproximently 60lbs. I weighed about 260 and am now at a 200.

I didn't even try at losing it eather it just sort of heppened because of my job. I work nights an 8 hour shift lifting heavy objects and walking and standing allot, Manual labor. I got to the point where i was eating one meal at the lunch hour on over nights because when i got home I just wasn't hungery i wanted to sleep.

Funny part is most itmes I didn't eat healthy at the lunch eather I ate mcdonalds or taco bell. That has changed some now manily because MCdonalds makes me sick to my stomach.

Now all i need to do is tone myself. But as for the eating health part it would be a good choice though and regular exercise is better then working yourself to death anyday.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

1.5 hours in the mountains again, well over 10km, probably approaching 15km, but this time in the forests and generally offroad. Somewhat tougher to do as you would expect trying to climb 300m in altitude. My place is about 250m above sea level. lots fun going downhill of course.

[Morgan Evanar]

I need to pratice changing tires, it's a good workout.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Originally posted by Morgan Evanar
I need to pratice changing tires, it's a good workout.

Battery powered impact gun. Rally driver's best friend

<img src=http://alliancemotorsport.org/pics/marcus/IMG_1660.jpg>

New bike. 24 speed, front suspension, 19" frame, aluminium. Somewhat heavier than the bike I have been using, but better offroad and rock hopping, but the gearing and weight makes it a harder thing on the road. Sure it can drop down to 16 billion pedal rpm at walking pace, but that's for real serious mountain climbing. The top gear is a few sprockets larger/smaller F/R so the it's a higher ratio. Gotta get used to this before stretching the distance - still the lake was done five/six times (lost count). Much nicer over the bumps and a few areas got turned into jumps.

I also have had for a while a proper biking backpack, but now also have a better fitting helmet while keeping the same gloves.

Harder but more fun.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Fun? Hell yes. Lake laps are much more fun with some controlled air action now and a bit of dipping down the mountain and working back up. 15km...? Something like that.

[Mu Satach]

well... was doing good at my goals... until tonight... I'm pulling an all nighter at work... >_<

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Take half hour out and go for a walk. Just do something is better than nothing

No idea how far, all I know is spend about 2 hours in the valleys doign some serious mountain bike riding. If you can access a map of Sydney, the area is close to Lennox Bridge, west of Penrith. Then about 2 km back up hill, loop, then back home. I stink

[Mu Satach]

Good idea, I might do a few sets of stairs in a few hours... I can do 2 flights in under 50 seconds now.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

I lost ten pounds within the last week.

But it was because I was sick. Does that still count?

[Anbira Hicchoru]

Sure does ;)

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Wet, muddy, stank. That's what you get going offroad in the rain. No idea how far, 1.5 hours however. Peeled my clothes off and wrang them out. However, it's beginning to become noticable my waistline is decreasing.

Now I need to get more sleep.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Mate and I decided to try on a few of the tracks around Homebush Bay, where they held the 2000 Olympics. There be more hills around Meadowbank than we realised. 15km+ and pretty sweat drenched afterwards.

Also noticed no one unfit rides around Homebush. Wonder what that means?

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Another 15km+ around Penrith Rowing regatta. Weighed myself and I'm now 76 kg - Right smack bang on maximum recommended weight. Huzzah, just on the line of not being medically defined as overweight

[Wyl Staedtler]

Today I... well, I didn't actually do much exercising as I was stuck at the gallery all day but I walked home which was about forty-five minutes. Then I made a lovely dinner of gluten-free pasta, ground soy "meat" with meso gravy and avocado shavings.

Tomorrow morning, up for a jog with my pup and then down to the beach because I'm just that lazy.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"rest day" This was supposed to be. Pah. Did some running adjustments to the bike, then I just had to go test... right?

*sigh*

Some rest day

[Natia Telcontar]

Between work and appointments, I haven't been to the gym in over a week. But I will be going back again this week. Have to force myself to get into a good routine where I am going regularly.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Down Lennox Pass, around to Penrith, north to the Penrith Regatta centre, lap the centre (9km) then back to Penrith, then up to Old Bathurst Road. Up to then that's about 18-20km, Old Bathurst itself tho is 2km of hell for a bike rider. You rise 200+ meters in that 2km with the worst being a 1 in 5 about halfway up. Had to pause once at that point when the road briefly turns a corner and on a bike it's more like 1 in 3. After the breath is back after that, head up hard, then 3+ km back home. 23+ km, pulled up pretty well.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Legs need a rest. I've promised them one tomorow. Did the lake ten times and I know I need the day off. Tomorrow.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

The lake is a lot further around than I realised. It's more like 1.6 km, rather than 1 km as I presumed. And my legs hate me, I did a 5 lap sprint.

[Wyl Staedtler]

Been swimming the last few days. I run around the beach, three miles in total, and then swim until it hurts (in the good way).

Had a nice smoothie for breakfast yesterday, but then forgot to eat the rest of the day until now when I had some sourdough rye crisps with soy butter. I feel gross after eating them, that whole pre-hurling salivation thing going on.

Thus, I am not going for my swim tonight. I'm going to curl up in bed and be pitiful.

However, there is some mouth watering tofu in the fridge which is going to be so good tomorrow at lunchtime.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

TOFU?!?!?!

Ugh. I feel the need to eat a hamburger.

You know those outragous steep climbs mountail bike riders like to go up and down? 25km in total.

I think the 50km road course would have been easier.

[Wyl Staedtler]

Don't diss the 'fu.

Slice it thin, stick a heavy pan on it to drain overnight, then coat it with a bit of olive oil and allspice before you stick it in the oven for an hour. All sorts of yum :D

[Jaime Tomahawk]

It's plastic without the taste. No thanks. Now a decent chicken curry, that's where it's at. Get some real taste!

[Jaime Tomahawk]

30 laps of Homebush Olypmic pool. Used the actual Olympics pool, cold, felt heavy. We switched to the warmer and more chlorinalted 'public' pool and it seriously felt like I was swimming downhill.Great example of what 'fast' water is. At the end of the laps, managed to pull a 33 second lap

[Wyl Staedtler]

Did free weights at the gym for thirty minutes, and then remembered I was supposed to take my nephew for the weekend and his preschool was letting out in twenty minutes. Rushed to pick him up, and then spent the rest of the day with a completely adorable and utterly unexhaustable three-year-old. "Do it again!", "Catch me!", "Look what I can do!", and "Race me!" pretty much sums up the night. Seriously, kids don't stop unless they're sick or sleeping (which he is, thankfully). I'm dead tired. |I

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Havent forgotten this thread....

Saturday - 20 km bike
Sunday - 5 km walk / runn
Monday - rest (Enforced)
Tuesday - 20 km bike up to Springwood
Wednesday - 20 km bike around Penrith Lakes
Thursday - 25 km Penrith Lakes.

30 km a day will be enough, getting close to being ready for that now. And.... weight hasnt dropped, in fact back up to 78 kg despite obvious loss in waistline. Converting fat to muscle will do me.

[JMK]

That's the goal isn't it? Nice work!

[Park Kraken]

*Joins thread*

I soo need to do this. For starters I need to exercise more, I've cut down on my eating, but I still need to lose about 200lbs.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

If I didn't fear being run over, I'd buy myself a new bike and ride to work. Mark can attest to road conditions in my neck of the woods (almost literally), and when it's dark you can't see a thing - let alone some scrappy girl on a bicycle.

I do want one though - I miss riding alot.

[Sanis Prent]

Oh man I've fallen off this apple cart >_<

Lent throws a nice curveball in my ability to eat healthy at times.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Originally posted by Sanis Prent
Oh man I've fallen off this apple cart >_<

Lent throws a nice curveball in my ability to eat healthy at times.

Bah. Just eat alot of fruits and veggies during the week; maybe some fish, drink water and/or juice, and tuna sammiches on the weekend :)

[Park Kraken]

Bah. Just eat alot of fruits and veggies during the week; maybe some fish, drink water and/or juice, and tuna sammiches on the weekend

OMG. You've just described in good portion my regular eating habits, to a degree that is. I normally whip up a good tuna salad (tuna, miracle whip, sweet relish, hard boiled egg), and have a couple of sandwiches, plus I'll normally eat bananas for a snack. Now I just need to lay off the sodas. Last week I drank 2 x 24 packs and 1 x 12 pack of Diet Dew, Diet Dr Pepper, and Diet Coke canned sodas.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

There's alot of your problem right there. Stop drinking soda and you'll be amazed at the difference. Stick with gatorade, water, and juice.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Originally posted by Park Kraken
Last week I drank 2 x 24 packs and 1 x 12 pack of Diet Dew, Diet Dr Pepper, and Diet Coke canned sodas.

Good God. You really need to cut down and cut down now. Limit two a day and hold yourself accuntible to begin with.

I will say tho, if I need a cola fix, I'll just have a can of say Coke Zero a day. No more. The switch from sugared to fake sugar has worked just by itself but you really dont want to be doing more.

[Byl Laprovik]

Yeah, coke zero is a great soda proxy to have instead of the real thing. There's also vault zero :mischief

But I can't have soda either, because I gave that up for Lent too!

[Wyl Staedtler]

Originally posted by Park Kraken
Last week I drank 2 x 24 packs and 1 x 12 pack of Diet Dew, Diet Dr Pepper, and Diet Coke canned sodas.

My stepdad does that with Coke, but he's in the navy and that keeps him in pretty good shape (that and the fact that he practically starves himself and lives in a sauna for a week and a half every three months, before he goes out to sea)

Bloody heck, today was payday and so I went and got some more of the mock chicken tofu (seriously, so good. No, really.) and I was hoping to have some for lunch tomorrow but I ATE IT ALL. I haven't done any exercise for um... anyway, but I was sick and hurling so that helped with some weight loss. :D

[Byl Laprovik]

Well, I had some great crawfish etoufee, until I found out it had like 24 grams of fat!!!

Oh well. I should be able to get a few miles between work and the Shield tonight :)

[Trilby Benedetta]

Originally posted by Byl Laprovik
Yeah, coke zero is a great soda proxy to have instead of the real thing. There's also vault zero :mischief


No diet / "zero" pops taste like the real thing, IMO. They all have that bad cancer-causing after-taste :x

[Byl Laprovik]

Well some are better tasting than others and to be honest, a lot of the "regular" ones are too sweet for me anyways.

This reminds me. I miss Coke2, a lot. I could actually drink that stuff on a hot day, which I cannot do with the real thing.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Friday - 36 klaps Olymic pool
Saturday - Walk
Sunday - Walk + five laps lake on the bike
Monday - Cursed at car
Today - 7 laps bike + walk

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Got a new circuit of approx 5-6 km. Bot of bush riding, a major uphill and some good flat sections to work hard on. In think 20 km today.

[Park Kraken]

Well, I've switched over to drinking Sweet Iced Tea, which I suppose can have similar amounts of sugar as compared to coke, but I don't drink nearly as much tea as I do Coke. I would drink, say, about 4 glasses of tea on an average day.

Still haven't gotten into a good exercise program yet. Of course I'm still recovering from the flu, but I'm planning whatever I do to be in the outdoors, because I love nature and despise indoors exercise. I'll probably end up hiking and bicycle riding as my main forms of exercise.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Biking can really make some big changes. Just do it regualrly, even if you felt like me tonight - awful, frustrated, not in the mood.

Still stayed out there for over an hour.

[JMK]

The biggest key (and the hardest part) to getting your exercise routine down is simply getting started. Most people won't get up any earlier than they already do to fit in an hour or even 30 minutes of exercise, so that leaves after work. Then there's either kids/homework, or dinner to cook, and other things to get done. Plus, you're just flat out tired after work and don't feel like working more. But if you have the time after work, but just don't feel like it, just suck it up for 10 minutes and try it. If you haven't gotten into it after 10 minutes then you probably shouldn't bother. But after 10 minutes, even after your most tiring and awful day at work, you're quite likely to go ahead and put in your 30 minutes - hour. What happens is that you awaken your body and stimulate your muscles after a day of sitting in front of a computer terminal all day.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

I get my workout every night at work. Between lifting 15-20 pound filler packages constantly all night long, I walk the equivilent of 1 to 3 miles a night along my line. Most of that is something akin to power-walking since I'm almost always having to run between machines that have gone down. And that doesn't even include all the mystical voodoo acts of contortion I have to twist my body into when crawling under or over a loom for one reason or another.

All of this I've morphed into a set pattern; for instance, when I handle packages I treat them as though they were actual weights in a gym and not just scrabbling or pulling them out of their boxes. In the near two years that I've been at this, I've lost weight, gained definition in my upper body. and my hips are more to my satisfaction.

I've no desire to 'bulk up' no matter how slightly. I'm just out to tone the muscle that I already have.

[Mu Satach]

Inspiration for the cause!

http://www.stupidvideos.com/rejects/Fitness_Club/

[Dasquian Belargic]

I don't have any money at the minute, but I'm going to join the university gym once I do. A couple of my housemates said they also would, once summer comes around, so hopefully we can get a regular thing going there.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Okay, have a laugh

On the mountain leg of my ride, there is a creek. I came into the creek too slow, front wheel wasnt pulled up in time and it stopped. Which resulted in me going forward while bike was not.

And that meant my groin met the gooseneck rather hard.

So after that, I got back on and them a few meters later lost traction, resulting in the bike yet again giving away and me going forward. This time, managed to leap off safely.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

yesterday was an interesting change to the scenery.

Charging downhill in the mountain bike leg, I turned a corner at rather high speed and damn near ran into a nude girl being photographed by some fat guy. Not exactly what I was expecting.

[JMK]

Pretty sweet nonetheless. :)

[Park Kraken]

Lost some weight the other day at the beach. Water was a tad chilly for comfort, but did a lot of swimming.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Aint been a point updating, but generally the bike gets work everyday. Swimming for variety. I've got myself down to 77 kg, so weight loss is slow.... but it s counter of fat burn and muscle growth. Reduction of stomach from 37" to 34". I'm happy

[Wyl Staedtler]

I got free membership to 24 Hour Fitness and so I am once again a gym rat. I've gone every day the last two weeks except for Sundays, when I swim. It's awesome. That in-control feeling you get when your body is toned is really great. Today was upper body and so tomorrow I'll do core and lower body.

[Park Kraken]

Funny thing. The first week I started excercise and eating healither and less, I gained 4 pounds, the first weight I've gained in months. :cry

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Why is that a problem? It's your body beginning to adjust and make muscle, which is three times heavier by volume than fat. I too picked up weight when I got serious, it's just simply muscle.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

<img src=http://alliancemotorsport.org/gallery/d/17888-1/IMG_3983.jpg>

I dont update I know but I've been still at it, tho not as heavily with the racing going on. However the effects I think are now highly noticable. Where the hell did my stomach go?

[Ryan Pode]

So after a summer of doing nothing, I am back to running again. I've found this nice little trail that runs about five miles along the a lake and by the James River (think John Smith) thats quite pleasant. Everyone else keep to it or get lazy like me?

[Pierce Tondry]

I jog off and on.

You're talking about the James River in Virginia?

[Park Kraken]

I've been exercising a little bit, but my eating habits spiraled out of control when I got the job as a security officer and used eating as entertainment to pass the time. I've since brought my eating habits back under control.

[Ryan Pode]

I jog off and on.

You're talking about the James River in Virginia?

Correct. THE James River.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

So after a summer of doing nothing, I am back to running again. I've found this nice little trail that runs about five miles along the a lake and by the James River (think John Smith) thats quite pleasant. Everyone else keep to it or get lazy like me?

I havent stopped since the last update. I do at least 1 hour a day, 4 days (usually 5 days) a week on the bike or run. I've been stepping it up now to 1.5 hours on the bike (So somewhere near 20 km on this bloody hills), plus 8 mins stretching and 8 mins on arms to keep some body structure balance.

I also try to at least once a week do something that would be a serious fitness test - last week it was a full four hours on the bike and a load of kms. This week, paintballing took it out of me and I ended up a bit too bruised to really try to push myself (This paintballing IS pretty good for fitness!).

I'm planning on the 22nd to do 50 kms, whouch will be pretty easy - it s a major bike day in Sydney, they close some roads and you get to go from North Sydney to the Olympic centre at Homebush.

What I will do this weekend is take on the real hills in the mountains and see if I can get past the 25 km point - which isnt much distance but Ive also got a general elevation change from 200 meters above sea level to 750 meters and more, which shows it's got some real steep bits I need to get through. At the 30 km mark, it's 800 meters above sealevel and at 32 km there's a very vicious hillclimb that I seriously doubt I'll get past, if I get that far. Then I turn around and coast back. Total I hope to at the least do is 55 km there and back.

[Pierce Tondry]

Correct. THE James River.

I'm not up to par on my national rivers. Didn't know if there was another one in some part of the globe.

Whereabouts are you located? I'm in Richmond myself.

[Ryan Pode]

I live in Woodbridge (Near Manassas) but I go to school at Christopher Newport, in Newport News.

[Pierce Tondry]

Oh, neat. It's not like we'd accidentally run into each other out on the town, but I know pretty much exactly where that is. If I am heading that way I will try to make arrangements to say hello.

[Ryan Pode]

Which part of Richmond do you live in?

[Pierce Tondry]

The West End. I'm about three minutes from Short Pump mall.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

I am battered from being hit by a car (or more precisely, he stopped in front of me and I ran into it full tilt) and also very, very sore and sorry from going close to 90km. Went from Blaxland, across ANZAC Bridge and then across Syndey Harbour Bridge, stopped at North Sydney, turned around and went back to a train station.

I'm definantly in anyone's language very fit but I am also very dumb for pushing that far. Especially after the accident at 30 km. I'm sooooooo going to hurt and be a sorry mess tomorrow.

[Jedieb]

Some pretty impressive distances JT. Hope you're not too sore tomorrow.

I've actually been working out now for well over a month. The wife and I have joined a local gym that's right on the way to work. I go almost every morning at about 5AM. I get into the gym 5-7 times a week, lifting one day, biking/running on off days at the gym. It's slow going, but it's a great way to start the day and the first serious exercise I've done since the Army.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Some pretty impressive distances JT. Hope you're not too sore tomorrow.


I'm still sore, but I think it's more to do with the crash. But I'm about to spend a bit of time after this post stretching and light weights which will help.

[Wyl Staedtler]

OMG I AM SO SICKENLY DISGUSTED BY MY BODY RIGHT NOW THAT I WANT TO HURL AND CRY AT THE SAME TIME.

Seriously, I've gained twenty-five pounds. Twenty-five! And I'm very curvy anyways so it's all just perching on my hips and thighs and bum and it's awful and I just want to hide under a blanket and die.

So I'm going back to the gym tonight and I'm going to see what I can do without going crazy and hurting the baby. I have absolutely no desire to go, but this is just too ridiculous. :(

[Ryan Pode]

Eight-minute abs really does work.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I've lost about 35 pounds since December 23rd. For the first time in years, I'm on a routine that is not only posting results, but has me obsessed. I got a belt and pair of jeans for christmas. The jeans will fall off me without the belt, and the belt is only wearable on the tightest notch, and will be unwearable by the end of the month. I started off four pegs higher on it.

My mile times are improving. My weight training is starting to spike. My abdominal endurance is almost back to what I'm comfortable with. I'm not satisfied. This is only the beginning.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Liz, you're expected to gain weight, what with the baby and all. :hug Don't worry, breastfeeding will melt the baby weight right off, honest.

and Charley, congrats! :D

[Natia Telcontar]

Weight Gain is a side effect of being pregnant which also means my clothes don't fit me anymore. But come this summer, I'm getting a Personal Trainer at the Gym which I go to in order to help get the weight off.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Save the personal trainer fees and just get a membership and start buying wholesome food. A trainer is either going to try to sell you a gimmick, or tell you something you can learn for free.

[Natia Telcontar]

I have the membership and I already eat wholesome food. I just need help forming a routine which I can handle. I've got a couple of old injuries which I need to work around, one of which is in my right wrist.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Describe the wrist injury. Motion-limiting? Restriction on load bearing and strength application?

If you're not averse to lifting weights, it's a sure-fire method to lose the fat. Increasing musculature is going to demand that your body consume more calories for energy, and you'll burn far more doing incidental stuff like cardio, or even just horsing around if you keep your muscles healthy and in some state of growth and renewal.

[Park Kraken]

I am about to embark on a new method of weight loss. Part of it will be eating, part of it will be exercise via walking and climbing up stairs. My starting weight as of right now is five hundred fifty pounds. Being 6' 8" tall, my target weight is to get down to at least three hundred, if not two eighty.

[Natia Telcontar]

Lifting weights is out of the question for me at this stage in the game because of my wrist. As for the injury, got diagnosed with Tendonitits summer of 2005 and it's still restricting what I can and can not do.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Personally, I really recommend Kinetic (http://www.eyetoykinetic.com/). It's for the PS2, and you can get the eyetoy/kinetic pack for 50 bucks at Target or wherever.

It's got yoga, cardio, and combat training sessions plus others. I usually do the cardio routine followed by the combat, and for the first few days of doing it I was actually really sore - mainly due to the combat sessions; they're surprisingly intense, but a lot of fun. The 'Cascade' bit in cardio has really helped my balance.

All of the routines are fun to be honest, and they help a lot. At least for me they do :)

[Khendon Sevon]

I am about to embark on a new method of weight loss. Part of it will be eating, part of it will be exercise via walking and climbing up stairs. My starting weight as of right now is five hundred fifty pounds. Being 6' 8" tall, my target weight is to get down to at least three hundred, if not two eighty.

You, Sir, are roughly equal in weight to 4.074 of me.

My current training regiment is simple: climb, run, paddle, hike, and ski 'till something threatens to fall off. Mix in a healthy amount of shadow kickboxing, pushups, crunches, and healthy eating habbits and you have myyyyy workout routine.

[Nilk]

My workout routine is something along the lines of walking (to the bus-stop and home again when it drives me back) every school-day and limiting myself to three cookies. :p


My metabolism is freakishly good. I'm not fat at all. It's being tall and fairly muscly that puts me in at 175. That and NOTHING ELSE. :cool:

[Zem-El Vymes]

Lifting weights is out of the question for me at this stage in the game because of my wrist. As for the injury, got diagnosed with Tendonitits summer of 2005 and it's still restricting what I can and can not do.

Chronic tendonitis? I've never heard of it staying around for almost two years. That is bizarre. If I ever get it, it's there for a week or two, then gone.

[Khendon Sevon]

I've heard of some rock climbers complaining of chronic tendonitis. Err, then again, they're also rock climbers. Difficult climbs call for the utilization of tendon strength alone.

Anyway, don't lift weights. Use your body's own weight for resistance.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Why do you say that? There's nothing at all wrong with weightlifting, and it will most certainly accelerate weight loss. Body weight resistance is fine for some things, but it becomes a useless motion very quickly for others. You get stronger by increasing resistance.

[Ryan Pode]

Anyway, don't lift weights. Use your body's own weight for resistance.

I've done both, but with lifting weights I've noticed better and faster results with weights.

[Zem-El Vymes]

That and things like crunches become useless after a point. People with rippling and defined abdominal muscles didn't get them by doing a zillion unweighted crunches. They got that way by either doing core lifts like squats, or by isolating their abs on a decline and adding weights to their abdominal iso's.

I saw a guy who was in decent shape the other day doing 3 sets of 25 on the pull-up bar, and he had a belt on with a 25 pound weight hanging from it. Even bodyweight work will eventually demand weight augmentation if you wish to improve.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

That and things like crunches become useless after a point. People with rippling and defined abdominal muscles didn't get them by doing a zillion unweighted crunches. They got that way by either doing core lifts like squats, or by isolating their abs on a decline and adding weights to their abdominal iso's.

I saw a guy who was in decent shape the other day doing 3 sets of 25 on the pull-up bar, and he had a belt on with a 25 pound weight hanging from it. Even bodyweight work will eventually demand weight augmentation if you wish to improve.

Exactly. There's only so much you can do without deliberatly going out to increase core body strength - I would dare anyone to outride me up hills for instance, but even if I can tackle hills that would leave everyone on this forum fainting in low crawl gear while I'm still able to work hard in a high ring gear, I am beginning to resort to some weight training to incease core strength and as well help remove the last few kg. Do 10km on a bike to warm up with a decent sprint at the finish, row machine to get the upper body woken up and ready, then even light weights are going to help.

What that means is that even just one day a week, I now have improved from 3/3 (High gearing ring on the front, lowish gear ring on the rear) to 3/5 to 3/7, depending on steepness and speed I wish to acsend. 3.8 is my top gearing. I'll need to go to a larger front ring if I want to improve my speed, but that takes not just fitness, it takes an increase in core strength that no amount of uphill riding (and when I mean uphill, I mean anything from 1:10 to 1:3) can give. Increasing in core strength also leads to better endurance, because your just not straining at the limits of yourself for as long. The difference in a bit of core body strength increase is that 40-60km becomes a doodle on the bike, even if I am actually going faster. Muscles are just not being tested as they once were because they are physically stronger, thence I can simply do more. It also helps in body efficency.

Plus, I need to go to the gym as like most serious bike riders, I've gotten somewhat lopsided. I have hugely powerful legs and one hell of a butt (No word of a lie, for the ladies it's something you can really feast your eyes on :) ), with absolutly not a scrap of fat on them, but the arms and upper torso are somewhat less defined and strong - still okay but the mis-matching there.

These days I try to mix the fitness up between the bike and running, with some gym and swimming, min an hour a time, then push it to two hours when I have the time. My diet sucks but I'm trying to work on it - difficult tho when I am single, spend a lot of time working or doing other things.

[Khendon Sevon]

Actually, there are techniques to follow that make resistance workouts work. If you can do a set of 20 of anything straight and without nearly dying you're doing it wrong. The way I do crunches, push ups, lunges, dips, etc. is very limiting in the amount you can do. Add to that full body techniques from Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and you've got an intense workout without weights or special equipment.

There are a billion ways to increase core strength through only body resistance. Pilates, for instance.

I'm not a fan of weight lifting, of course. Primarily due to the type of muscle it generates. You have to run or do some sort of other complete workout to trim down the ugly, almost flabby muscle you get from weights. Why not just go straight for the good looking, thin, tight muscles?

Additionally, you really have to weight lift 3 times a week to maintain any muscle you get from lifting. Want to get big? You have to lift 5 or more times a week and eat protein like crazy.

It's all a myth. It's just not worth it. For regular people it's just easier to do resistance workouts.

Or, you can mix in light weights into what you already do. That's great, too. Carry 3 or 5 pound hand weights when you run. You'll notice a difference. I do that occasionally when I shadow box, it changes it up nicely.

Anyway, to all their own.

Oh, and as for eating: I'm a college student and I eat healthy ;) You can do it! Just plan ahead.

[Zem-El Vymes]

You're still not going to be able to modify the resistance on targeted muscles and have full control of what you're targeting if you use body resistance alone. Sure, you can probably change your technique to a degree for some things that will increase resistance, but even that bound is fairly limited, and changing technique is also going to affect what muscles are being stimulated and how.

Pilates are great for cardiovascular endurance and light weight resistance, but they still aren't going to significantly help a person to gain muscle mass in an advanced stage.

Also, I have no idea what you're talking about with types of muscle. That sounds like something out of a girl's fashion magazine, where they believe that things like "toning" are possible. They aren't. Toning is a myth, and the only kind of muscle you build is the hard, red kind. If you're bulking and you want to reduce the residual fat on your body that was either there before or a byproduct of a high calorie intake, then modify your cardiovascular work or trim the calories in your daily intake. I don't get the fuss over fitness and diets. Calories are an input/output sort of thing. You get fat from taking more in than you use, and thin from the opposite. That's really about it.

As for the repetition and eating habits for weight work, that is true. Lifting weights isn't a knitting circle. It's hard work and you have to stay on top of it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I take almost a half dozen supplements, lift weights four times a week, and I'm just getting back into it. If somebody is looking for results and wants to skirt the effort, tough luck. When I lost all my weight as a younger lad, I did it the wrong way and ate a calorie deficient diet. Sure I dropped the fat like crazy, but I also struggled to keep my muscle mass, and even though I worked my butt off in the gym, I only made very small increases, when my friends were posting gains way beyond my work. It takes both work and food.

[JMK]

Boys, there's one exercise that works your entire body and leaves you totally gassed.
The bear.

I don't really have a definitive weight that I'd recommend, nor a # of reps, but I use roughly 90-100 lbs depending on how I'm feeling and shoot for 5 sets of 12 reps. You can adjust to your own preferences, but when you find the right mix, the results are definetly there.

http://www.menshealth.com/media/images/cma/quicktime_thbear.mov

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

I watched that expecting a bear to come into the frame and sucker punch that guy :mad

[Zem-El Vymes]

Boys, there's one exercise that works your entire body and leaves you totally gassed.
The bear.

I don't really have a definitive weight that I'd recommend, nor a # of reps, but I use roughly 90-100 lbs depending on how I'm feeling and shoot for 5 sets of 12 reps. You can adjust to your own preferences, but when you find the right mix, the results are definetly there.

http://www.menshealth.com/media/images/cma/quicktime_thbear.mov

That's awesome. I was just reading up on the bear. I'm not quite high enough in the saddle to start adding olympic lifts to my routine, but that day may come quickly. I'll be starting deadlifting at the end of the month, so we're fast approaching hardcore zone.

[Xia Koil]

For the past three weeks I've been keeping a food diary, which is a pain in the bum but has really made me stop to think about what I'm eating. Which isn't tons of junk food anymore ^_^; I have all of my "healthy" snacks in plastic baggies (so I have one serving per bag) and take a lunch to work with me.

[Ryan Pode]

Boys, there's one exercise that works your entire body and leaves you totally gassed.
The bear.

I don't really have a definitive weight that I'd recommend, nor a # of reps, but I use roughly 90-100 lbs depending on how I'm feeling and shoot for 5 sets of 12 reps. You can adjust to your own preferences, but when you find the right mix, the results are definetly there.

http://www.menshealth.com/media/images/cma/quicktime_thbear.mov

Part Romanian dead lift, part squat. While I bet it works you good, I'll stick to doing them separately. Although, not that I dead lift very often.

[JMK]

Part Romanian dead lift, part squat. While I bet it works you good, I'll stick to doing them separately. Although, not that I dead lift very often.

It's the combination of doing both exercises in one that completely crush you. If you deadlift, your legs can stay relatively rested, but the bear makes you kill your legs, your core and your upper body all at once.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

If you really want to lose weight, go low-carb. My sister and her husband have lost 31 and 50 pounds respectively simply by cutting out carbs and sugar since October. Yes, it can be done right, so don't post a bunch of stuff about how low-carb is bad for you. They were both pre-diabetic as far as their blood sugar goes, so this was mandatory for them. But my sister who has physically given birth to 12 children has gotten down to a size 2 with no exercise.

Well, no more than usual running around after kids all the time. ;)

Anyway, I don't reccomend not exercising, you should always try to build up muscle to help you burn off the fat - plus being all flappy and saggy is not attractive.

[Ryan Pode]

But my sister who has physically given birth to 12 children has gotten down to a .


TWELVE?!!?!?!?!

JEESUS!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Yes, one set of twins, the oldest kid is 21 and the youngest just turned one. But she's gone down from 141 in October (at 5'5") to 110 in only four months.

[Zem-El Vymes]

If you really want to lose weight, go low-carb. My sister and her husband have lost 31 and 50 pounds respectively simply by cutting out carbs and sugar since October. Yes, it can be done right, so don't post a bunch of stuff about how low-carb is bad for you. They were both pre-diabetic as far as their blood sugar goes, so this was mandatory for them. But my sister who has physically given birth to 12 children has gotten down to a size 2 with no exercise.

Well, no more than usual running around after kids all the time. ;)

Anyway, I don't reccomend not exercising, you should always try to build up muscle to help you burn off the fat - plus being all flappy and saggy is not attractive.

What are their energy levels like? I briefly tried this sort of thing and while you can certainly burn fat in a state of ketosis, you feel like crap and have zero energy unless you're downing caffeine and uppers.

Also, what is the rest of their intake like? I've seen so many people cut complex carbs and still eat lots of saturated and trans fats and it blows my mind. I just don't get it.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Their energy seems normal, if not up some because they've lost unneeded weight.

http://lowcarbforlife.blogspot.com/ this sort of details the diet my sister is on. Its basically the diet her doctor puts his diabetic patients on, because she is trying to not become a diabetic which is how this whole thing started.

[Wyl Staedtler]

I speed-walked six miles!

(and promptly died in the locker room. so i am now the undead.)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Don't overdo it! ^_^;

[Zem-El Vymes]

Speed walking confuses me. It pushes cardiovascular endurance about as much as a light jog, but it causes my calves to overexert to failure, which is just weird. Do you cramp often doing that? Is there a reason you give that preference over jogging?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Since she's like six months pregnant, that might be it.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Wouldn't cycling be a better cardio and just as low impact though? I mean, needing a lower impact alternative to jogging and running is understandable for some, but critically failing because a calf locks to hell and back and faceplanting on the track probably is a bad day too.

That, and is it even safe/recommended to be on a cardio regimen like that when you're headed to your third trimester?

[Wyl Staedtler]

I've never had my calfs cramp with speedwalking, though when I was still running I had to slow for a break after about 45 minutes or else they would. :)

As far as safety, my doctor says its fine. There are a lot of myths out there about what women should and shouldn't do when they're pregnant. I'm not going to be running any marathons (my sister-in-law ran the Boston Marathon at eight months and attended spinning classes until two weeks before her (very healthy) daughter was born) because it's been a difficult pregnancy thus far but it feels really good to exercise. I'm just going to listen to my body. :)

[Zem-El Vymes]

Well to some degree, muscle cramping is controllable. You hydrate, stretch, cool down, rest, and intake enough potassium, and you can reduce your chances of a lockup. As long as you're doing that, you should be less risky in general, no matter what you're doing. I'm not sure how you're cramping on a run and not on a power walk though. I can run for miles with no protest down there, but I can't even do a mile on a power walk without my calves feeling like they're full of battery acid. And I don't have weak calves either, so it's not for being unaccustomed to work or load bearing.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Wouldn't cycling be a better cardio and just as low impact though? I mean, needing a lower impact alternative to jogging and running is understandable for some, but critically failing because a calf locks to hell and back and faceplanting on the track probably is a bad day too.


Cycling? As low impact as walking?????

I wish!!!!!

(Especially after the fact I lost 3 kg's total on Saturday. That's not a typo :(

It was my mistake, I mistimed the ride and got caught on the road with 7 km to go with the temperature soaring to 30+C and who knows how how reflected off the tarmac. That was very unpleasant)

[Ryan Pode]

Cycling? As low impact as walking?????

I wish!!!!!

(Especially after the fact I lost 3 kg's total on Saturday. That's not a typo :(

It was my mistake, I mistimed the ride and got caught on the road with 7 km to go with the temperature soaring to 30+C and who knows how how reflected off the tarmac. That was very unpleasant)

I think what he means is that in cycling, I can bike thirty kilometers and be about as tired as I would be if I can nine.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Cycling? As low impact as walking?????

I wish!!!!!

(Especially after the fact I lost 3 kg's total on Saturday. That's not a typo :(

It was my mistake, I mistimed the ride and got caught on the road with 7 km to go with the temperature soaring to 30+C and who knows how how reflected off the tarmac. That was very unpleasant)

Impact doesn't mean intensity. Cycling is considered low impact because there isn't as much visceral and/or joint shock as a walk, jog, or run. Especially on a fixed cycle machine, which is what I was referring to.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Impact doesn't mean intensity. Cycling is considered low impact because there isn't as much visceral and/or joint shock as a walk, jog, or run. Especially on a fixed cycle machine, which is what I was referring to.

Agreed about a cycling machine, but for serious road biking, that's not the case. And if you go off road, your going to really notice how hard on the body it can be.

Cycling machines != road biking by an absolute mile - yes you get a cardio workout and it's fat burning, but it does not promote the muscle and strength - or the full cardio real biking achieves. I only use them to warm up or to help cool down.


I think what he means is that in cycling, I can bike thirty kilometers and be about as tired as I would be if I can nine.

Come out biking with me - you'll be singing a different tune for sure :evil Just cruising on flat ground isn't really doing much. You have to keep your pace up and also to pick a route with rolling hills or a few big sharp ones. If your on the flat, step up to the highest gear and <i>push</i>. Dont cruise.

[JMK]

The bottom line when you're exercising is this:

If you get your heart rate in to the target range, you're doing what your body needs you to do. If that's cruising around on a bike on flat ground, then for now that's fine. At the point Marcus is at, cruising on flat roads burns about as many calories as sleeping does. But if you always look to push your target heart rate to the next level then eventually you will shed lots of weight and burn off loads of fat.

[Byl Laprovik]

Right, no argument there. Obviously that is the path to cardiovascular endurance is to push that envelope. My point was more in terms of an orthopedic observation, and maybe an aside to whatever the hell special issues a woman would have when pregnant, because that bouncing bundle of joy could also shake your rafters I guess.

So really, as long as you want to push that envelope, you're doing that much just by choosing your flavor. Secondary to that, you take other considerations. Your shaky knees, your wobbly back, a living monster in your belly drinking off of your life essences, you know that sort of thing.

[Zem-El Vymes]

Just dropping in to say that I've lost 43 pounds in 3 months.

[Jedieb]

Since I started working out in October I've lost around 15 lbs. My gut is pretty much gone and I can actually make out some abs. I really only have about 5 more lbs to lose before I start losing too much weight. I also know I've lost more than 15 lbs of fat because I've gained some muscle. But old age is still mocking me. I pulled my hamstring coming around 3rd base last week. I almost tore the damn thing. I'm walking comfortably now and I can do some light running, but diving for grounders is still too damn painful. Stupid hamstring.

[Zem-El Vymes]

I got nicked by my left abductor a month ago. I know how you feel. It made me furious that such a namby pamby muscle would keep me grounded on my lower body lifts. I'm back and lifting strong, but it still was annoying.

Strains suck. Not because they hurt, but mainly because they get in the way of progress.

[Ryan Pode]

I've dropped twenty pounds since December (from 195 to 175) and I know it's more than that, but I've been building muscle out the butt. I <3 youth.

[Jedieb]

I got nicked by my left abductor a month ago. I know how you feel. It made me furious that such a namby pamby muscle would keep me grounded on my lower body lifts. I'm back and lifting strong, but it still was annoying.

Strains suck. Not because they hurt, but mainly because they get in the way of progress.

Isn't that the truth. The pain is practically gone, but the muscle is still weak enough that I can feel it mocking me whenever I try to make any quick moves. I did some more running today during my team's baseball practice today (I'm coaching my school's baseball team this year) and it felt better but I know there's no way for me to go all out yet. It's damn frustrating. But I'm still lifting at least. I'll be back at the gym at 5am tomorrow and then another baseball practice after work. :cool

[Jedi Master Carr]

I've lost about 30 pounds in the last 6 months. I was 188 last year and now I am 158. Now I am mostly trying to get fitter.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I won't even comment on how you weigh less than I do now.

Whoops. >_<

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

I weigh less than Carr. But not by much :\

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well I am only 5'6 if that makes a difference. Maybe you are taller than me.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Yeah, by three inches. Ok I feel a little better. ^_^;

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah, by three inches. Ok I feel a little better. ^_^;

That is good then :)

[Sanis Prent]

An update for ya

http://panicked.org/sa/fat.jpg

December 26th 2006, 340 pounds. Bench, 105, squat 115, unable to even jog a mile.

Four months later:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/weight1.jpg http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/weight2.jpg

290 pounds, bench 200, squat 265, dead 250, 60 pound dip assist, yadda yadda. I can run a 5k - barely.

So I've upgraded from a wad of chewed bubble gum to a mound of cookie dough.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Congrats! :D

[Callomas Savoc]

Update:

I failed my first repetition on bench press. The last rep on my final set, at 200 pounds. While I wish I didn't fail on this particular weight, I am glad to be hitting enough resistance to really push me to my best.

To balance it out, every other lift I did tonight, I beat my personal best. My lat pulldowns were exceptionally mighty.

[Ever Talbot]

I have no idea what that means (in spite of living with two people who work at gyms) but yay :)

I bought a bike, and rode it to work on Monday. I was actually excited about riding it there too ^_^;

[Callomas Savoc]

Basically what it means is that I do a warmup set of 135 pounds on bench, very light weight, just to make sure I feel okay and get my blood working.

After that, I do a set of eight reps on 175, wait a minute, a set of six reps on 185, wait a minute, and then a set of four reps on 200 pounds. I may fail this last set, or if I beat it with sufficient strength, I will continue on additional reps until failure occurs.

If done right, I should fail on my last repetition of my last set. That means I'm exerting my maximum strength on this lift. Since exertion on heavy lifts is what will build muscle, this is preferable to putting up weight that you are certain to lift and complete, because in that case, you aren't working as hard as you can.

[Sanis Prent]

I broke 200 today.

Not broke, shattered. Went beyond four final reps and hit six until failure.

I am 25 pounds away from my all-time personal best single rep max. Now I start getting intense.

[Yog]

That is awesome! Congrats!

[Mu Satach]

That's awesome!

[Wyl Staedtler]

Way to go!

I'm starting out slow, with a goal of losing about twenty-five pounds. Since I won't be able to get to the gym for another few months (children have to be three months to be left in the nursury provided) I'm going to be using the pool in my condo complex.

Plus, no more chocolate. =(

[Lilaena De'Ville]

No more chocolate!? The inhumanity.

[Wyl Staedtler]

Yeah, well, that's already shot because I ate two squares of Dove dark chocolate today. :mischief

[Wyl Staedtler]

Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh.

THERE IS A BLACK HOLE SUCKING UP ALL MY MOTIVATION. >.<

[Turbogeek]

Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh.

THERE IS A BLACK HOLE SUCKING UP ALL MY MOTIVATION. >.<

I dont have that problem. My problem is for the last 8 weeks being forced to do bugger all due to shoulder and ankle ligament problems. That motorsport thing I love so much did my shoulder in and I tore foot ligaments while of all things, doing the mowing.

Now I've regained some health points.... ugh. Hills I didnt even think twice about are suddenly sheer cliff walls. That's not fun :(

So, looks like I have to almost start from scratch and also redelop soem ankle strength. As well as being mindful of the shoulder and knee and neck..... in fact pretty much since the rally crash in late February, I've been a walking wounded.

[Sanis Prent]

I had a pretty ratty chest and back workout yesterday. I didn't post gains on any lift except seated rows. I felt really tired and weak for some reason.

I made up for my crappy weights performance with a blistering cardio routine though so I guess thats something.

[Mu Satach]

Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh.

THERE IS A BLACK HOLE SUCKING UP ALL MY MOTIVATION. >.<

Don't think, just go do something for 10 min. A short walk, a flight of stairs, 10 sit-ups or pushups or even stretching. Just do something short and quick to kick start your motor again.

I had a slight victory this week. A pair of jeans lurking in my closet finally fit me.
I started running (again) back in Feb, broke my foot in March and just restarted 3 weeks ago at square one. So, nice to see something positive after so long. :)

[Ryan Pode]

3 weeks ago I ran 4 miles in about 50 minutes. This past week I covered 4 miles in about 35. Hooray.

[Sanis Prent]

That's pretty hardcore. I love distance running. Keep it up!

[Mu Satach]

3 weeks ago I ran 4 miles in about 50 minutes. This past week I covered 4 miles in about 35. Hooray.

SweeT! I hope I'm up to that by the end of the summer.

[Hartus Kenobi]

I'm not overweight, but I've lost a lot of my muscle definition. Didn't get to exercise much in college, and definitely don't have the time now tht I'm working. But I still eat horrible foods so I'm getting a bit of a tummy here. I think as long as I can resist the sweets, I'll be okay. But that'll be hard....

[Vega Van-Derveld]

I'm going to have to start a workout come summer, I think. I'm getting a little flabby around the edges :|

[Mu Satach]

My edges ceased to exhist several years ago... :p

[Wyl Staedtler]

Ow. >.<

While I was in the hospital my good friend and coworker signed us up for this new fitness club in our neighborhood that's run by a former marine. I fractured my wrist upon my return to half-days at the vet clinic and so I wasn't going to go to the first class (which was today), but my friend reminded me that if you were a 'no-show' your spot would be filled by someone on the waiting list.

When we got there this lady with the most incredible body I've ever seen in my entire life, in Hollywood or out, looks at the entire class and says, "If you're going to complain, leave right now."

Then she looks at my cast and says, "If you can't use both arms and want special treatment, leave right now."

What followed was the most grueling forty-five minutes of cardio and strength training I've ever experienced, and I had to jog through most of the moves because of my wrist. It was crazy intense and the most fun I've ever had in a class. OORAH!

[Sanis Prent]

I'm not overweight, but I've lost a lot of my muscle definition. Didn't get to exercise much in college, and definitely don't have the time now tht I'm working. But I still eat horrible foods so I'm getting a bit of a tummy here. I think as long as I can resist the sweets, I'll be okay. But that'll be hard....

You can structure a workout routine that doesn't take a huge amount of time, and do it three times a week. Depends on what you're after and what your schedule is like.

[Hartus Kenobi]

You can structure a workout routine that doesn't take a huge amount of time, and do it three times a week. Depends on what you're after and what your schedule is like.

For me a question of whether or not I have the energy to exercise intensely after work, at which point it can be pretty late into the night. I think ideally I would like to start lifting weights each morning for 15 minutes before I shower. All I do right now is take walks. I work in New York City, and rather than take the subway, sometimes I'll foot it from point A to point B (usually only if I expect to walk for ~20 minutes.

And I guess it's just because I'm super lazy, but sometimes I avoid exercise because although I have time to go on the stationary bike or lift weights, I don't have the time for a shower afterwards. Right now I'm not exercising because I took a shower earlier today and I don't want to have to take another one. Sounds silly, I know.

[Sanis Prent]

Energy comes from the way you eat. Your meal size, your meal content, your meal frequency. When you throw a little activity into the mix, it speeds things up, but you can control your energy rather easily.

I eat about 7-9 times per day, on 3500 calories and 200 grams of protein. I eat small, calorie dense meals with whole foods and little artificial filler. You will start to know what your body needs if you do this. If you feel down, hit some fruit or juice and kick your blood sugar. You don't need a lot when you make your metabolism burn hot.

Mind you this is me. I have ramped up my calorie demands and protein intake significantly since I started heavy weightlifting, but the theory still works for somebody who isn't trying for a raw bulking diet.

[Hartus Kenobi]

Yeah, I definitely need to put in the effort to improve my diet. Lately I've been eating smaller portions (mostly as a result of where I order food), but also eat fewer meals. Plus, a lot of the meals I DO eat are definitely making me feel sluggish rather than energized.

But the reason why I'm not eating much is because I wouldn't mind shedding a few pounds, but I want to do it without exercising. Once I've taken the LSATs and don't have to study for those anymore, then maybe I'll return to some regular workout routine.

But MAN... 7-9 meals a day? That's hardcore!

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Big difference fitness makes to life - just the last few months with injuries have taken a lot of the edge of fitness I did have. I felt it today - dust and heat really were energy sapping.

http://alliancemotorsport.org/gallery/d/32531-1/IMG_9472.JPG

HD is my co-driver and we're working on this fitness gig together. Much easier to motivate when someone is pushing you a bit

[JediBeldarine]

But the reason why I'm not eating much is because I wouldn't mind shedding a few pounds, but I want to do it without exercising. Once I've taken the LSATs and don't have to study for those anymore, then maybe I'll return to some regular workout routine.


Hart -- you can lose weight without exercising, but both together are the best option.

I didn't read everything, but I wanted to mention a great way to start limiting what you eat and how many calories you intake by trying to gravitate towards healthier (read: organic) versions of old foods. Cut out fast food, hydrogenated oils and corn syrup. Those just add calories and fat without providing any sort of nutrition at all. You'd be surprised at the number of foods that list hydrogenated oil in them -- everything from bread to frozen pizzas. Becoming a compulsive label reader definitely helps, though my Publix (grocery store) has healthy/natural/organic foods lumped together on each aisle.

Personally, I've cut all fast food and soda out of my diet. I've switched to organic dairy already (milk and eggs without the added hormones, pesticides and antibiotics) and I'll be making the meat switch as soon as I can balance our monetary budget. I will admit to running 2 miles, three times a week... but I was losing weight far before I took up that habit.

I'll admit it -- I weighed 183 lbs when I had Aidan (140 prepreggo and 43 lbs gained during preggo). Now? I weigh 126. My goal is to get to 120 -- less than I weighed when I graduated college (I'm 5'4''). Actually, I think my exact words to my hubby were "I want to be a hottie again."

Another thing to be said about running -- I know how it feels to have no time or energy. Running around after an active 18 month old boy tired me out enough, but I feel SO much better running with him every morning. First, it gives me some solitude and quiet in days usually filled with loud yelling and second, it ramps up my energy for the rest of the day. I know it sounds crappy, but exercising really is a great way to burn off those extra calories. :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Good lord. I played a couple of games of rounders (it's like softball) on Monday, and now two days later my legs are still aching from the sudden exercise. :x

[Hartus Kenobi]

Hart -- you can lose weight without exercising, but both together are the best option.

I didn't read everything, but I wanted to mention a great way to start limiting what you eat and how many calories you intake by trying to gravitate towards healthier (read: organic) versions of old foods. Cut out fast food, hydrogenated oils and corn syrup. Those just add calories and fat without providing any sort of nutrition at all. You'd be surprised at the number of foods that list hydrogenated oil in them -- everything from bread to frozen pizzas. Becoming a compulsive label reader definitely helps, though my Publix (grocery store) has healthy/natural/organic foods lumped together on each aisle.

Personally, I've cut all fast food and soda out of my diet. I've switched to organic dairy already (milk and eggs without the added hormones, pesticides and antibiotics) and I'll be making the meat switch as soon as I can balance our monetary budget. I will admit to running 2 miles, three times a week... but I was losing weight far before I took up that habit.

I'll admit it -- I weighed 183 lbs when I had Aidan (140 prepreggo and 43 lbs gained during preggo). Now? I weigh 126. My goal is to get to 120 -- less than I weighed when I graduated college (I'm 5'4''). Actually, I think my exact words to my hubby were "I want to be a hottie again."

Another thing to be said about running -- I know how it feels to have no time or energy. Running around after an active 18 month old boy tired me out enough, but I feel SO much better running with him every morning. First, it gives me some solitude and quiet in days usually filled with loud yelling and second, it ramps up my energy for the rest of the day. I know it sounds crappy, but exercising really is a great way to burn off those extra calories. :)

Ooh, I'm already way into the organic foods kick. Mostly because that's what my parents have been getting for years, and they've sorta forced it into my head that it is not only healthier, but also tastier. The only supermarkets I'll show my face in are places like Whole Foods and Wild Oats.

Fast foods is less clear cut. I don't frequent fast food chains, but I still eat fast food-"like" foods semi-regularly... definitely those bad oils are pumping through my system. Soda, fortunately, I just can't stand. But I have started buying more alcohol since I graduated college... hopefully not enough to give me a belly.

Basically, when I do work out, it's mostly some medium-heavy weights, just until I start to feel a burn. I want to try to do that every morning or every night before I take a shower, but so far I haven't really gotten to it. I'm hoping to start that routine today. I don't like running because I don't like sweating too much if I can help it anymore :(

And it sounds like you're doing great with your goal weight. That must take a lotta effort when taking care of a young child. Good for you!

[Mu Satach]

I love Wild Oats.

[Hartus Kenobi]

How could you not?! Well, I actually didn't know it existed until I went to college. But it sounds like Whole Foods is making a huge push right now to buy Wild Oats, so it might be going bye-bye.

[Mu Satach]

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww wwwww!!!

Leave my funky store alone!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Whole Foods did buy Wild Oats.

[Sanis Prent]

I buy my health food at a little shop in our college town called Manna. It's pricey and the selection is rather niche, but if its weird and/or healthy and you need it, you can probably find it there (unless of course you're looking for black mustard seeds!)

[JediBeldarine]

I love me some Whole Foods... but they're over an hour away from me, so travel time prohibits any sort of weekly shopping trip there. Publix has been doing a great job in introducing organic/natural foods. They have huge sections of each aisle devoted to organics, and have even come out with their own organic meat and dairy products. If I had a choice, I'd shop Whole Foods... but when Publix is 10 minutes away and Whole Foods is about 75 minutes away...

I'll take Publix :).

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Oh FFS, I've done my knee in AGAIN. Tripped up on a suspension piece and now I'm hobbling yet again.

Looks like it's time to hit the pool and weights once the pain is died down and the doctor gives it the all clear.

AGAIN.

I cant believe how many ankle / foot / knee injuries I've got for stupid accidents.

[Parsideon Denix]

Watch where you step ;)

I've started my cutting routine this week >_< you have no idea how insane it is to go from eating 3500 calories a day and unregulated carb intake to 2000-2500 calories and a 75 gram carb cap. I don't feel tired, just different. Combine that with doing HIIT cardio work instead of medium intensity work and I am going to have a WILD ride for the next two months. I just hope that I can keep my lifts heavy. I'm struggling at breaking 205 pounds on bench and it's gonna be another week or two before I'm over it.

[Eve]

I have lost 30 pounds since February. I just go hungry and yet I feel very good. I really had no idea how much I ate before and its hard to switch from that - I still have "big eyes" and some hard days. I mean, I am hungry most of the time, but I kind of get off on it. I have no more headaches, more energy, and sleep less. It's weird.

I switched from mostly running to cycling classes too. Helped a bit and more fun, but I only go once or twice a week, maybe.

I have more to go.

[Crystal]

I mean, I am hungry most of the time, but I kind of get off on it. I have no more headaches, more energy, and sleep less. It's weird. .

I experience the same kind of thing when I don't eat for long enough. I think I normally eat so much I weigh myself down through the day, if that makes sense. However, I like food so I usually end up eating before I get too hungry. :|

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Well I don't think anyone should purposely starve themselves, but smaller portions are a good way to go if you want to lose weight. Eat slowly, and stop when you're full. And don't eat until you're hungry again. :)

[Zem-El Vymes]

I have lost 30 pounds since February. I just go hungry and yet I feel very good. I really had no idea how much I ate before and its hard to switch from that - I still have "big eyes" and some hard days. I mean, I am hungry most of the time, but I kind of get off on it. I have no more headaches, more energy, and sleep less. It's weird.

I switched from mostly running to cycling classes too. Helped a bit and more fun, but I only go once or twice a week, maybe.

I have more to go.

Be careful with crash starvation. Muscle gets cannibalized as well as fat stores, and muscle weighs more. I would strongly suggest getting a lot of protein in your system, however is best. Also, essential fatty acids!

[Heir Raktus]

Welp, I'm meeting someone in PA in 3 months for the King Tut opening exhibit and I need to lose 60 lbs and some width around the love handles... so Lets see what this threads got to offer....

Height: 6' 1"
Current Weight: 240lbs
Target Goal: 180lbs
Current Unfit Status: 6/14/07 Dont Click Ever (http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/Raktus1/unfit.jpg)

EDIT: Oh and I used to have a Fitness Instructer I talked to all the time who told me balancing yourself on your side over a drop and doing sideways sit ups both ways would tone the region far better than anything else. Paraphrasing of course, but thats about what he said... and he looked amazing (I Like to think Im still a good judge of men).

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Just remember that you need to do it consistently. If you exercise binge and drop off, you will put it all back on quick. You want to develop it so your body becomes used to the reduced size. And changing diets cant be temporary

The constant exercise has meant that I feel lousy with the much lesser activity I've been forced with lately, but on the other hand I havn't really picked up much weight. And I find that picking up exercise after the latest injury heals wont be too hard. That's pretty much what you want to be able to do.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I have been without soda since Friday. Thats three whole days. ^_^;

No caffeine either. :uhoh

[Parsideon Denix]

Well, I finally got back on the deadlifting roller coaster after taking a few weeks off to heal my torn hands.

Yeah, it hurts like hell. I suddenly remembered I have traps and lumbars. Also they hate me.

[Cat X]

My bike got a fright - I finally got back on it for the first time since March and the ankle ligament tear.

Have I really slipped that badly in fitness? Sure, probably fitter than average, but what happened to being able to take these hills flat out? Good thing I've been ramping up my walking so as to get some sort of knee / ankle strength back.

However much it hurt, it was good to be finally able to ride again.

[Charley]

I have a nagging sharp soreness in my right forearm and lower right tricep near the elbow. I'm going to take it easy on that muscle group for a week and see if it works itself out. I'll just doubletime my lower body lifts and add a bunch of heavy cardio to compensate.

I've lost ten pounds on my cut, woop woop I guess :)

[Jedieb]

Height: 6' 1"
Current Weight: 240lbs
Target Goal: 180lbs
Current Unfit Status: 6/14/07 Dont Click Ever (http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/Raktus1/unfit.jpg)


I'M BLIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been working out since last October and I'm finally back in decent shape. The last couple of months have been tough because of the endo the school year and a visit from my parents but I still managed to hit the gym at least 1-3 times a week. I'm teaching summer school right now and starting a new routine at the gym so I'm set up to have a good July. What I'm really excited about is that I'm getting the chance to play tennis again. I'm playing after work with some guys from work. I knew I was in decent shape when I was actually able to walk the next morning after our first day on the court. At 36 my legs are a shadow of what they use to be, but I actually think I'm as good if not better than I was in my early 20's because I'm definitely smarter. Slowing down has forced me to think out points instead of just trying to smash winners all the time. I'll be hitting the gym 3 morings a week and playing tennis 2-3 times a week for the rest of July. I think I'll actually miss summer school once it's over.

[Cat X]

9 km quick walk with a 8-9kg backpack = legs feeling like they will drop off.

Follw with 20 pushups, 35 situps, 20 knee squats to kick off a bit of a newish routine - my aim is to hit 100-200-50 respectively within a few weeks. Should tn be too much of an issue if I dont go being stupid with the backpack / quick march again.

[Ryan Pode]

Down 17 pounds since May 1st.

[Charley]

Burned over 1000 calories on elliptical today doing HIIT work :cool

No weights today. Nursing a bummed forearm and want to give it time to rest. Will do lower body lifts tomorrow.

[Wyl Staedtler]

HIIT = high intensity interval training?

[Zem-El Vymes]

You got it!

Also, I just ordered 120 milligrams of clenbuterol. Time to rev up my core metabolism with SCIENCE!

I also tried using lifters straps on friday and they work great! I had no idea how well that would end up. I got up to 315 on dead lifts before my grip finally gave out. Not a bit of hand trauma at all!

[Wyl Staedtler]

Ugh, fell off the train a bit on this one.

Been running every other day, though not really putting much effort into it. :(

As of today however I'm back in the game. Starting an experiment, and in September will post pics - so hopefully it's successful!

[Sanis Prent]

I ended my cut and went back to eating a complete diet.

And my lifts have EXPLODED :D

My arms are getting thick. I'm curling 55 pound dumbbells right now :)

[Laodice Laos]

As of today however I'm back in the game. Starting an experiment, and in September will post pics - so hopefully it's successful!

It will be successful, because I am a genius. I promise you will be in top shape by September, if you listen and grunt through the pain. If it's good enough for Laird Hamilton, it's good enough for you. ;)

What do you mean by EXPLODING lifts Charley? They sound exciting.

[Cat X]

Rallying absolutly pounds the living hell out of you unless your fit. Suffered badly as a result this weekend..... so screw it, FITNESS CAMPAIN.

[Sanis Prent]

Exploding = very good gains. I lift heavier and heavier by the week. For instance, I am on schedule to blow past 350 on squats and maybe break 325 on dead lifts tonight.

[Knight Staedtler]

Holy cow that's like over two of me! Impressive!

I sort of feel like my life and my health are spinning out of control and that the entire world is going to follow, which is made increasingly worse by the fact that I'm not on a regular sleep schedule and days sort of drift into one another with no real distinction.

It would really help to get on something of a regular schedule, especially diet-wise because I don't end up eating until the evening and by then I'm so hungry that whatever is closest/easiest is the first thing that gets eaten.

Does anyone have a basic schedule for light weights? I do cardio every day, but it would be great to find an effective weight routine for the evenings.

[Sanis Prent]

Why light weights? If you are going to lift, you want to lift low rep, as heavy as you can safely handle.

[Knight Staedtler]

Because light is all I can handle at this point. ;)

(and won't heavier weights make me all bulky?)

[Mitch]

My road to buff has been detoured. Seems I re-split my sternum the other day at the gym. Mitch no lifty for a while, now...

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

My road to buff has been detoured. Seems I re-split my sternum the other day at the gym. Mitch no lifty for a while, now...


Boy does that take me back. Weren't we talking about you possibly having it rebroken due to some sort of bad healing or some-such? My memory is a bit hazy though, since those were the dark days. The days... of her.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Why light weights? If you are going to lift, you want to lift low rep, as heavy as you can safely handle.

She's a girl, dude. She wants lean, tone muscle.

[Sanis Prent]

Because light is all I can handle at this point. ;)

(and won't heavier weights make me all bulky?)

No it won't. Getting bulky is hard as hell, and you won't do it unless you plan on it.

The whole idea of lifting weights is that you are destroying muscle tissue in the act, which your body must repair, and then some. The result is that you get stronger. You can make good strength gains doing this, but the demands on both your intake and outputs get very high when you are actually trying to bulk. You most certainly don't get there by accident.



She's a girl, dude. She wants lean, tone muscle.

Toning is a myth that should die in teen magazines, because you are either burning kCals in cardiovascular exercise, or in heavy resistance work. There's no halfway about it. If somebody wants to sling 5 pound weights around for 20 reps, they should just stick to a harder aerobics routine, because they really aren't getting any benefit from the small resistance.

Weights have to hurt to be effective, even if you want small results. That is simple biology.


My road to buff has been detoured. Seems I re-split my sternum the other day at the gym. Mitch no lifty for a while, now...

I don't now if that's what I did or not. I had my chest pop really bad on dips a few months ago. While I can work out just fine, it still hurts a little if I reach both arms up and behind my head just the right way.

[Cat X]

I for one disagree with you well and truly. You do NOT need to lift big weights to gain the real advantages of pushing iron - I go for a good weight that I can do plenty of reps with because it does exactly what I want it to do and I suspect what most people want - it builds cardio and aerobic fitness and muscle fitness, with the abilty to get your muscles working when you need them. Saying they have to hurt to work is absolutly wrong.

Just even the simple light workouts have a very marked difference in the simple strength and speed I can extert going up hills on the bike, which cant be done with just simple riding. And frankly, lighter weights I find is better for guarding against thte knee and ankle problems I seem to run foul of lately.

[Sanis Prent]

Don't get me wrong, you can burn calories in a light resistance workout, but you aren't going to improve strength and muscle comp in any significant way. It just trains your endurance. That "burn" you get in a low weight, high rep workout isn't from attrition, it is from exhaustion and lactic acid buildup.

But that isn't what people who are interested in toning really want, which involves some manner of both destroying fat reserves and building muscle mass to arrive at a happy medium. If you want to do that, you've got to lift heavy. Otherwise, you are maintaining your muscular comp at best (assuming you are eating to maintain).

[Mu Satach]

I've lost another 4 lbs. Starting September I'm going to add weights. Hopefully, I can start hitting the gym regularly here in another week or so.

I hate moving. >_<

[Park Kraken]

So far I've lost about 70 lbs over the past two months or so. Right now I'm at 515 and hope to lose another two hundred fifty lbs or so before I'm at where I want to be.