Health & weight management thread

[RubyCamaro]

I don't dislike cardio, or running, or working out with weights or calisthenics. I actually like them. I don't like doing things the wrong way, doing things in ways that can easily cause injury (ignorant instructors). I don't like exercise classes done to music with instructors who have absolutely no clue about rhythm & staying on the beat (the music background in me just can't handle that). I do dislike using those elastic band thingies. I don't like machines. I'd rather go up & down the real steps or run the track. I am not a happy camper when I attend a class that I don't feel like I am getting much benefit from. Yeah, I have a few pet peeves, but mostly, I want a class that has an instructor who knows what he/she is doing. I really don't think that is too much to ask. They are out there & I will find them!

Foods, I am not a picky eater. I am capable of developing new tastes. But I am not going to eat stuff that tastes like crap. I don't think I need to, to achieve my goals. I think healthy, clean, properly balanced eating can also be satisfying & tasty. I have done that before & will be getting back on track.

[69supersport396]

There's some good stuff in the thread Jan. However, you really have to want to achieve your goals, and do what it takes to get there.

On July 15, 2014, I decided I was too damn fat and decided to do something about it, and I really wanted to do something about it! As of today, I have lost 62 lbs. I drastically cut out carbs and do some sort of exercise every day, whether I spend an hour on my eliptical, walk around the block during my lunch break, swim (weather permitting), or clean the floors (big house). Brushing the interior of the pool is great upper body exercise. But every day, you have to do something. As cold as it is on that side of the country, shivering is good exercise and can be done easily.

And instead of trying to reach a grandiose goal, begin plans to reach small goals every week, month, or whatever. Mine was losing 10 lbs a month. Some months I achieved it and some I did not, but it made me want to work harder the following month. I am now to the point where I am lucky if I lose 5 lbs a month. However, I was warned this would happen and have adapted. I want to lose 10-20 more lbs and re-evaluate my target weight goal. I'm an older guy and have been told a little fat is OK. But I am concentrating on losing 1 lb at a time.

[Normagene]

Like the way you look at it Rick. Good attitude, very realistic. Most people don't want to ever join a gym, but they know they need to exercise, walking or an easy paced jog is perfect.

The basics, old school, like pushups, deep knee bends, jumping jacks and plenty of stretching is great. Then a nice 30 to 60 minute walk, increase time and pace slowly.

As far as food goes, everything in moderation. Lots of veggies, and not those american size portions of saturated fatty carbs. Life is governed by Desire, that fudge brownie looks-tastes great, but which is more powerful? Your desire to get in shape or your desire to stuff yourself with sweet sugary junk???

I enjoy exercising, and I love to eat. It's funny how things change whenever you change. I no longer can order most restaurant desserts, they're just way way too sweet. But I remember when they tasted like heaven, sugar is definitely addictive.

[richard200593]

Originally Posted by Normagene

Like the way you look at it Rick. Good attitude, very realistic. Most people don't want to ever join a gym, but they know they need to exercise, walking or an easy paced jog is perfect.

The basics, old school, like pushups, deep knee bends, jumping jacks and plenty of stretching is great. Then a nice 30 to 60 minute walk, increase time and pace slowly.

As far as food goes, everything in moderation. Lots of veggies, and not those american size portions of saturated fatty carbs. Life is governed by Desire, that fudge brownie looks-tastes great, but which is more powerful? Your desire to get in shape or your desire to stuff yourself with sweet sugary junk???

I enjoy exercising, and I love to eat. It's funny how things change whenever you change. I no longer can order most restaurant desserts, they're just way way too sweet. But I remember when they tasted like heaven, sugar is definitely addictive.

This is so true. I used to be addicted to soda, at least 6-12 cans a day and tried to drink diet soda just didn't like it. Decided this time around I'm done haven't had a soda since December and it's amazing how much I don't want one anymore and how much I can taste the food I'm eating now compared to before. Taste buds are defintely blocked by sugars and makes you just crave more sugar.

[Normagene]

Originally Posted by richard200593

This is so true. I used to be addicted to soda, at least 6-12 cans a day and tried to drink diet soda just didn't like it. Decided this time around I'm done haven't had a soda since December and it's amazing how much I don't want one anymore and how much I can taste the food I'm eating now compared to before. Taste buds are defintely blocked by sugars and makes you just crave more sugar.

You should see it (sugar) at the microscopic level. Sugar, once absorbed into the blood stream, looks and acts like little razor blades. Super sharp edges that nick and scar the blood vessels as it courses it way threw the body.

So the body reacts quickly to repair the nicks and cuts by covering them with plaque/cholesterol. Once you got a gob of it, like chewing gum, more and sticks to it and over time it grows bigger and bigger. Eventually leading to a blockage. May take years/decades, but sugar greatly increases that time frame.

Congrats on beating a really bad addictive habit. Oh, and diet soda is even more addictive and harmful.

[69supersport396]

Pretty much anything labeled "diet" should be avoided or used in moderation. I also used to drink gallons of Diet Vanilla Coke and Diet Doctor Pepper. Now I drink gallons of water, unsweetened iced tea, and an occasional red wine.

I've replaced snacks with honey crisp apples. Learn to replace carb-filled food with protein-filled food. Micro-waved pepperoni slices are a great substitute for potato chips and Doritos. I've learned to like almonds too.

[richard200593]

How healthy are drinks like the cascade zero calorie sparkling water with juice drinks? I mostly drink Unsweet tea and water now but these are really good and have caught my Interest as of late

[69supersport396]

Depends on what type sweetener is used in them. I don't know much about sucralose, if that is indeed what is in Cascade.

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by 69supersport396

There's some good stuff in the thread Jan. However, you really have to want to achieve your goals, and do what it takes to get there.

On July 15, 2014, I decided I was too damn fat and decided to do something about it, and I really wanted to do something about it! As of today, I have lost 62 lbs. I drastically cut out carbs and do some sort of exercise every day, whether I spend an hour on my eliptical, walk around the block during my lunch break, swim (weather permitting), or clean the floors (big house). Brushing the interior of the pool is great upper body exercise. But every day, you have to do something. As cold as it is on that side of the country, shivering is good exercise and can be done easily.

And instead of trying to reach a grandiose goal, begin plans to reach small goals every week, month, or whatever. Mine was losing 10 lbs a month. Some months I achieved it and some I did not, but it made me want to work harder the following month. I am now to the point where I am lucky if I lose 5 lbs a month. However, I was warned this would happen and have adapted. I want to lose 10-20 more lbs and re-evaluate my target weight goal. I'm an older guy and have been told a little fat is OK. But I am concentrating on losing 1 lb at a time.

That pretty much sums it up. I have no patience and can not tolerate those that complain yet CHOOSE to do nothing about it.

Might I ask, how much did you weigh and how young are you?

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by RubyCamaro

I don't dislike cardio, or running, or working out with weights or calisthenics. I actually like them. I don't like doing things the wrong way, doing things in ways that can easily cause injury (ignorant instructors). I don't like exercise classes done to music with instructors who have absolutely no clue about rhythm & staying on the beat (the music background in me just can't handle that). I do dislike using those elastic band thingies. I don't like machines. I'd rather go up & down the real steps or run the track. I am not a happy camper when I attend a class that I don't feel like I am getting much benefit from. Yeah, I have a few pet peeves, but mostly, I want a class that has an instructor who knows what he/she is doing. I really don't think that is too much to ask. They are out there & I will find them!

Foods, I am not a picky eater. I am capable of developing new tastes. But I am not going to eat stuff that tastes like crap. I don't think I need to, to achieve my goals. I think healthy, clean, properly balanced eating can also be satisfying & tasty. I have done that before & will be getting back on track.

Then why aren't you doing the things you supposedly like more?

You want an instructor? Be your own instructor. You are searching for someone to tell you what to do when, in reality, you know what to do. Again, I've made the offer before, Monique and I would happily drive over and spend the day, the weekend, whatever you feel is needed to be comfortable. But don't waste our time.

You need to get out of this programming of "going to classes". Classes are set up to fail.

[Normagene]

Originally Posted by 69supersport396

Pretty much anything labeled "diet" should be avoided or used in moderation. I also used to drink gallons of Diet Vanilla Coke and Diet Doctor Pepper. Now I drink gallons of water, unsweetened iced tea, and an occasional red wine.



I've replaced snacks with honey crisp apples. Learn to replace carb-filled food with protein-filled food. Micro-waved pepperoni slices are a great substitute for potato chips and Doritos. I've learned to like almonds too.

A real healthy addition to your daily water consumption is squeezing in a half lemon to every eight ounce glass of water. You could make a larger amount ahead of time, but I prefer adding it to each glass.

Lemon has multiple benefits. Brings down your body's acid level, the more acidic you are the higher risk of illness. Also helps cut/thin the fat absorption into the blood stream. Plus all kinds of nutrient values! Win Win

[richard200593]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

Then why aren't you doing the things you supposedly like more?

You want an instructor? Be your own instructor. You are searching for someone to tell you what to do when, in reality, you know what to do. Again, I've made the offer before, Monique and I would happily drive over and spend the day, the weekend, whatever you feel is needed to be comfortable. But don't waste our time.

You need to get out of this programming of "going to classes". Classes are set up to fail.

the last part is something so many people would benefit from. My wife tried weight watchers for years, lost a little weight but nothing drastic. I finally talked her into quiting and her and I just working together and in a couple months she's slready lost almost double what she had in years of ww. The biggest difference is accountability. If your using the excuse "I have a bad teacher" you will never lose weight. It's not a diet it's not a program that you can do for a while and stop. It's a lifestyle you change forever. When you realize that you have won the battle. I'm still in the beginning phases of this process so I know I can't speak to much, but I feel so much better this time around than I ever have and it's because I've finally realized I'm not on a diet or a fast track program

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by richard200593

the last part is something so many people would benefit from. My wife tried weight watchers for years, lost a little weight but nothing drastic. I finally talked her into quiting and her and I just working together and in a couple months she's slready lost almost double what she had in years of ww. The biggest difference is accountability. If your using the excuse "I have a bad teacher" you will never lose weight. It's not a diet it's not a program that you can do for a while and stop. It's a lifestyle you change forever. When you realize that you have won the battle. I'm still in the beginning phases of this process so I know I can't speak to much, but I feel so much better this time around than I ever have and it's because I've finally realized I'm not on a diet or a fast track program

Excellent post.

Yes but in addition "classes" of any type, even when stuck with won't produce results that will be beneficial as you get older.

Are there some skinny people taking classes? Sure, but really who wants to be skinny? Hadn't you rather have muscle that is able to function at a high level day in and day out.

Go a gym, a real gym that has an ample sample size. Look at the people "in the classes" and that just do "cardio" then go to the free weight area. What you will find is that a majority of the people in the first two categories are either fat, or skinny.

[RubyCamaro]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

Then why aren't you doing the things you supposedly like more?

You want an instructor? Be your own instructor. You are searching for someone to tell you what to do when, in reality, you know what to do. Again, I've made the offer before, Monique and I would happily drive over and spend the day, the weekend, whatever you feel is needed to be comfortable. But don't waste our time.

You need to get out of this programming of "going to classes". Classes are set up to fail.

I have learned from experience that it really helps me to have a good instructor who will push me beyond the place where I will push mysellf. I will also add things I do on my own in addition to the classes, but I need the comradare of class mates & instructor, pushing each other, encouraging each other, holding each other accountable. I really enjoy attending good classes. I need that scheduled appontment, that enjoyment of my exercize time in addition to things I do on my own. I
don't have anyone to be a work out buddy for me. I know classes are not the be all/end all but they make a big difference for me.

I looked into joining the YMCA today & their schedule of classes as well as meeting with someone to orient me to the facility & equipment & help me plan for my personal training routine. I will go on Friday weather permitting & get set up. That little local gym just was not meeting my needs but joining was a good thing because my husband did like it & he goes now.

Once I get set up at the Y I will take you up on your offer & happily accept any help you can give me in getting myself moving in the right direction.