Quote :

"yea but how do you eat less of a Five Guys cheeseburger? can't be done."

haha well yes there are certain things that i give up completely... but i honestly haven't had a craving for 5 guys in a LONG time

plus i gave up fast food completely for lent... so i've kind of kept that going - cut out that kind of stuff almost completely but not because of a "diet"

6/24/2010 10:23:39 AM

yea plyometrics shouldn't be put in the same boat as other fad exercise programs IMHO

6/24/2010 10:24:07 AM

Its just a case of misguided elitism.

6/24/2010 10:24:34 AM

Quote :

"They gave me this 120 page article on basically how marketing tricks us into thinking we are actually eating healthy and explains what and exactly why "

I'm not sure I buy into that...Personally, marketing has 0 bearing on what I eat day to day. Its really not that hard to determine for yourself whats healthy and whats not...It's the choice to actually stick to consuming healthy food that's tricky (in most cases, it's more expensive, more time consuming and just generally not as 'easy')

Quote :

"yea but how do you eat less of a Five Guys cheeseburger? can't be done"

split it with someone.

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 10:31 AM. Reason : .]

6/24/2010 10:28:45 AM

^ The fact that you're reading this thread puts you ahead of most people in the "determine for yourself" department

Or just eat the cheeseburger once in a while, not every day. Moderation

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 10:32 AM. Reason : .]

6/24/2010 10:31:52 AM

here is my thing...when it comes to eating properly it's a game of balance. you can't deprive yourself of everything you love and crave because eventually you will end up binge eating and completely overdo it. since 8 i have been on a low/no fat, low/no sugar, low/no calorie diet due to a metabolic blood disorder. i still eat the things i love within moderation and on nights where i feel like eating a burger or pizza i usually make up for it the next day by eating overly well. for some people this may not work but it's something to try. everyone slips up on diet but there is a way to manage what you eat without feeling guilty.

of course exercise is pertinent to this but dammit if i want a burger i'm going to eat it. the next day i'll just have some veggies, yogurt, nuts, etc. and hit the gym that much harder.

6/24/2010 10:36:40 AM

You can also do things to help meet your craving while still being healthy. If you crave a burger, try a bison or turkey burger. It's similar but may be (depending on how it's made) much healthier than a regular beef burger.

6/24/2010 10:39:26 AM

^^^^exactly. I had a 1/2lb bacon cheeseburger and fries for lunch yesterday, followed up by half of a meatball pizza for dinner and chased down with 2 large glasses of high alcohol (i.e. high calorie) beer. That's not a typical day for me but when I feel like eating those things I will. It'll slow down my progress a bit but I enjoy eating these things so I don't care

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 10:41 AM. Reason : d]

6/24/2010 10:39:36 AM

Yeah, its all about training yourself to a new lifestyle of moderation. Eating ridiculously healthy is just too much to ask of the general person in my opinion, and not worth it unless you're a professional athlete.

6/24/2010 10:41:38 AM

One of the hardest things ever was giving up sweet tea and cherry coke and lots and lots of bread... butttttttt I did it, and I'm not at risk of getting diabetes now, and GOOD LORD that Bojangles sweet tea is amazing when I get to have some makes it even more worthwhile .. AND you appreciate it a lot more

6/24/2010 10:48:30 AM

Pro-tip: When you go "man, I really want a hot dog, but they're really bad for you", don't grab the Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Hot Dogs.

They're terrible.

As far as the whole P90X thing goes -- I see nothing wrong with it for beginners. Since most are interested in just shedding a few pounds, it's a very accessible way to start and will easily help them meet their goals. Is it the most efficient way of getting into shape for everyone? No. Will it help a large majority of people get lose fat and get into better shape? Yes.

Comparing it to something like the Thighmaster is absolutely retarded, but that's about all that can be expected from God's posts in this thread. Everyone I've ever seen who has completed all 90 days of P90X has been happy with the results and looked significantly leaner and healthier.

For all the talk that God does about how much research he's put in, how easy education is, etc. he's lacking the one thing that all his supposed research is supposed to get him:

Results.

Quote :

"cherry coke"

Both Cherry Coke Zero and Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi are awesome. Harris Teeter also makes their own Diet Cherry Cola which is pretty good as well (and like $0.89 a 2L)

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 10:53 AM. Reason : .]

6/24/2010 10:51:44 AM

I freaking LOOOOOOVE Cherry Coke Zero Regular Cherry Coke makes me now (yay!)

6/24/2010 10:53:57 AM

Sprite zero any good? I have a small addiction to Sprite...but I've cut it out completely cause it's so damn high in sugar and carbs

6/24/2010 10:55:27 AM

^lunaK i've had it and i'm not really a big fan. it goes flat pretty fast

6/24/2010 10:56:23 AM

booo

well thanks for the info... c'est la vie i suppose

6/24/2010 10:56:58 AM

Quote :

"Pro-tip: When you go "man, I really want a hot dog, but they're really bad for you", don't grab the Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Hot Dogs. They're terrible."

lol, my roommate loves these.

6/24/2010 11:01:58 AM

Sprite zero tastes fine. Not exactly like Sprite but close enough.

6/24/2010 11:01:59 AM

I don't drink soda that often, but when I do I go for the real thing. All that diet/zero cal stuff has the worst aftertastes

6/24/2010 11:04:17 AM

i'm addicted to pepsi max..... seriously

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 11:05 AM. Reason : ^ you get used to it after a while]

6/24/2010 11:05:02 AM

Quote :

"lol, my roommate loves these."

Is this the same one that ran into the house?

Because those two things combined could be the early warning signs of some sort of mental trouble

6/24/2010 11:06:33 AM

^^^

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 11:06 AM. Reason : ]

6/24/2010 11:06:45 AM

^^ thanks, that made me laugh

6/24/2010 11:07:43 AM

^^^lol, nah the other roommate.

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 11:10 AM. Reason : ^]

6/24/2010 11:09:26 AM

Quote :

"Pro-tip: When you go "man, I really want a hot dog, but they're really bad for you", don't grab the Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Hot Dogs. "

Good to know...I've never tried them.

The Oscar Meyer 98% fat free dogs are edible, but kinda rubbery and very lacking in flavor.

The Ball Park turkey dogs are pretty good to be honest. I don't miss traditional hot dogs much thanks to these guys. Check the package though...They sell one turkey dog ("Oven Rosted Turkey Dog" or something) that is 45 calories and another turkey dog that is 115 calories. I'm not sure what the actual difference is in the ingredients, but my recommendation is actually for the 45 calorie dog. I've never had the 115 calorie one.

6/24/2010 11:11:27 AM

The reason I said they ruined food for me is because not only does that article go into what is and isnt healthy for you it also explains exactly what is going on internally when you do eat certain things and that is what ruined stuff for me haha. But yes like you said if your goal is just not to be obese and fit into clothes just eating healthy should do that for you. It went into a phsychological breakdown as well of why foods we consider good for us in the end are bad and how diets get trainwrecked by them. Has to do with chemicals they cause to be released in the body and such. It was just an interesting read if nothing else that made sense in my mind when I thought about how I felt after eating certain things.

Now Im not saying I am going to adhere or actually go with this diet, but I may try it out for a while and see how I feel afterwards. Pretty much it breaks it down to what the human body was actually meant to consume versus what we actually do now and hence why I said its like 90% of what we eat gone Ill try to find a link to the article and post it for others to read.

6/24/2010 11:15:50 AM

^I can't connect the dots between this post and another post...?

6/24/2010 11:20:05 AM

Quote :

"Yeah, its all about training yourself to a new lifestyle of moderation. Eating ridiculously healthy is just too much to ask of the general person in my opinion, and not worth it unless you're a professional athlete."

That's the way I look at it as well. I enjoy eating that stuff from time to time and I have a high metabolism and my genetics will never allow me to blow up anyway... While I am trying to limit my intake of wasteful sugars and fast food (though I am cheating today on that) I'm not going to go from eating shitty to never cheating in a week or even in a month.

** Do the guys in here find it as difficult to hit their calorie requirements with "healthy" foods as I do? I actively seek out whole foods that are NOT low in calories because if I eat a low calorie meal I will never meet my caloric goals for the day.

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 11:24 AM. Reason : x]

6/24/2010 11:22:04 AM

yes. very tough to eat 3-4,000 clean calories / day, for me, at least.

6/24/2010 11:37:53 AM

Getting good calories is hard (if youre trying to get 3500 consistently). I ate 600 calories of pepperidge farm cookies and a 480 calorie bacon egg and cheese biscuit from mcds this morning. You can only eat clean for so long!!!!

6/24/2010 11:45:13 AM

^ I'm calorie restricted right now so I don't have that problem, but yea... I've looked at the calorie requirements for maintenance and wondered how I'll ever get that many calories once I enter maintenance/gain phase.

6/24/2010 11:49:06 AM

Quote :

"Seriously son, fuck this P90x & Insanity bullshit... There should be a separate thread for that shit ahah. If you're dedicated, it's just as easy to get the goal of a "beach body" by doing it the oldschool way."

It works for me because it's structured and not complicated. To some, that's not what they're looking for, to others, that's what they need.

6/24/2010 11:51:21 AM

going bathing suit shopping during lunch! putting them up on the mirror as motivation for the 4th

anyone else do little things like this??

6/24/2010 11:52:24 AM

I'm not reading all 43 pages, but I'll at least join this. I'll post pictures later. I'm actually working on bulking up as opposed to losing weight. I'm a little skinny runner boy.

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 12:01 PM. Reason : Also, what ^^ said]

6/24/2010 12:00:19 PM

Quote :

"anyone else do little things like this??"

haha... no i can't say i ever hung my swimming trunks on my mirror

6/24/2010 12:16:17 PM

haha...i guess it's a little different for girls .....orrrrrr it really could just be me

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 12:21 PM. Reason : .]

6/24/2010 12:19:52 PM

Quote :

"going bathing suit shopping during lunch! putting them up on the mirror as motivation for the 4th"

You gonna buy a bathing suit that's too small for you?? Because I can't see it as motivation if it's the same size you are now and you're trying to lose weight/inches. Because if it's the same size your are now, then it would just be motivation not to put on weight.

And if it's smaller, then that's kind of bold/risky to buy a bathing suit that you're going to try and fit into just a week later.

6/24/2010 12:32:54 PM

^ not if she loses water weight.

cut out salt, put on a rubber suit, go ride a stationary bike inside a sauna... you'll fit in that suit no problem

6/24/2010 12:39:16 PM

^^ i guess it's really more about feeling confident in it and to keep up the progress and hard work

i've always been the same size in a bathing suit regardless of weight...how it wears is another thing

^god! if only it were so easy to give up salty foods...that's what i crave the most!

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 12:40 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 12:47 PM. Reason : ..]

6/24/2010 12:39:37 PM

well i mean its only for a week and that one day u gotta wear the swimsuit

oh, stop drinking water entirely 48 hours before the 4th also

6/24/2010 1:06:42 PM

25 elliptical

3x10x160 leg press
3x10x60 dead lift
3x10x45 clean and press
2 1/2x10x20 squat clean and press (I did this one at the end and was so exhausted that I could not push to finish the set)

I will get better!!!!

6/24/2010 1:14:11 PM

Quinn


Stein


come take my class on Sunday at 11:30

6/24/2010 1:25:46 PM

Alright, I have a nutritional question. In the gym I go to, there is a free drink bar of different sodas. They have Pepsi Max, Pepsi, Sprite, some orange drink, and I think straight up carbonated water . On each label they have the amount of energy in each drink. I think Pepsi is 118 kJ/250 mL, or kcal, I dunno. For dispensing they have little cups you would get out of a water jug, so its not a lot.

Why would they have these in a gym, where 80% of the people in there are there for cardio? Running, biking, all that crap. Cheap energy from the high kJ and caffeine? It seems counter intuitive to me to have people drinking soda as a recovery drink.

--

Also there's a very weird machine that is a vibrating platform. What in the hell is that for? People do ab work and all sorts of random exercises on it...no fucking though. At least not during business hours

6/24/2010 1:44:05 PM

so I just ate 1,026 clean calories at lunch

is it bad to eat fewer large meals as opposed to smaller, more frequent meals? (real question)

6/24/2010 1:44:44 PM

are you sure its a gym?

Quote :

"is it bad to eat fewer large meals as opposed to smaller, more frequent meals? (real question)"

popular opinion would say that it is better to eat smaller more frequent meals

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 1:45 PM. Reason : s]

6/24/2010 1:45:03 PM

I know that, but is it bad to eat larger meals if the macros are still in check?

6/24/2010 1:48:14 PM

so long as your macros are in check it doesn't matter

I just had my first meal of the day (after my FASTED weightlifting session) and ate about 1400 calories


still have another 1400 for later, which I'll break up into 2 meals

6/24/2010 1:50:39 PM

I think I'll contribute to this thread. I've been on a maintenance program for years now. I focus more on lifestyle and don't really bust my ass at working out or eating a really controlled diet. These pics aren't super recent but not much has changed:




I don't really work out like I did a few years ago. I lift weights (or do calisthenics) twice a week: once for upper body, once for lower body. I do compound muscle groups. Currently I don't have a gym membership so my workouts are this:

Upper body (usually on Monday)

-- Pushups (a couple variations to hit different muscle groups)
-- Crunches and other variations of ab exercises
-- Pullups
-- Some calisthenics I do for my shoulders and back muscles

Lower Body (Usually on Thursday)

-- Wall sits
-- Squats (without weights)
-- Some isometrics for my hamstrings
-- Lunges

I've been doing this or a variation of it (using machines or freeweights) for years. It's a very sustainable maintenance workout--30 minutes twice a week. Cardio is limited as I've had a nagging ankle injury for almost a year. I do use elliptical machines sometimes. I have two weekly reminders on my Google Calendar (which works on my Android phone) to work out. That keeps me on track mostly.

I think I'm 5'10" and about 167lbs right now. My weight has crept up about 10 lbs in the past two years. A good portion of that has been muscle but I'm sure at least some of it is fat. I was really skinny growing up and then when I finished highschool I tried to put on some muscle. I'm 25 now and I can definitely put on weight from overeating now but until I was 22 I struggled to put on weight.

My goal is to maintain these proportions for as long as I can. If I look like this when I'm 35 I'll be happy. It's not a super impressive physique but it's sustainable. My older brother and my dad just let themselves go and I don't want to do that. My diet is complicated by the fact that I have to eat on a very tight budget recently. I eat a lot of oatmeal, eggs, and pasta (all of which are cheap). I'll eat fast food probably once a day on average--I do try to track the calories I eat every time I go out.

6/24/2010 1:52:23 PM

Thanks!

6/24/2010 1:52:31 PM

I was talking to a nutritionist today and she said that when working out, you should eat carbs every 60 minutes while working out.

Also I asked about the milk. It is one of the best things for carbs and protein needed after a workout and you should drink it between 30-60 minutes after your workout.

[Edited on June 24, 2010 at 1:55 PM. Reason : ...]

6/24/2010 1:55:21 PM

Isn't the theory behind eating small meals that it'll keep you from getting super hungry and binging when you do eat? So if you aren't going to pig out more than you should at your big meals, go for it. There's the "it keeps up your metabolism" argument, but I am fairly sure that's pretty negligible.

ThePeter, is it one of these?

6/24/2010 1:55:31 PM