Quote :

"is it too late to start contributing/join?"

most definitely not!

8/5/2010 9:50:52 AM

Course not. I would say this thread should pretty much just be perpetual. Of course there's the thread in Chit Chat but this one seems to be more focused on advice and routine...

8/5/2010 9:51:50 AM

Quote :

"I think you're truly healthy and in shape when you can eat what you want, not worry about your weight, not worry about getting so and so worth of grams in a day. All while getting plenty of exercise in."

It's nice to want things.

8/5/2010 9:52:06 AM

I mean i know plenty of people who just naturally eat healthy, eat a lot, and just get so much physical exercise that they're in great shape and look great. It's possible. It's just an entire life style. I don't think it's natural to be constantly worrying about food intake. Of course with all the shitty options at grocery stores these days most Americans should be watching what they eat. I had the advantage of not going to fast food growing up so i've got a slight headstart. It's just hard to counter the 8 hours of sitting at a desk each day.

Kind of made me think of this article:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/stand-up-while-you-read-this/?em

Quote :

"It doesn’t matter if you go running every morning, or you’re a regular at the gym. If you spend most of the rest of the day sitting — in your car, your office chair, on your sofa at home — you are putting yourself at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, a variety of cancers and an early death. In other words, irrespective of whether you exercise vigorously, sitting for long periods is bad for you."

8/5/2010 10:00:17 AM

So basically, if you work for a living in an office, you're fucked. Good to know.

8/5/2010 10:03:52 AM

Pretty much. I try to get up every 45 minutes. Move around in my chair a lot. I fidget/move all the time anyway. I really need to switch careers.

I was listening to NPR a few weeks ago and heard about the oldest US mailman who just retired at like 94. He's just so damn healthy because he walks all day every day. Think it said he didn't miss any days either. So basically the key to being healthy is just being active ALL the time. Working out for a few hours a day will help but still isn't as healthy as just being slightly active all day.

8/5/2010 10:08:08 AM

Time to become a demolition guy, like on Office Space

8/5/2010 10:11:05 AM

I've been thinking and i'd seriously take a big pay decrease to just have an active job where i was on my feet all day. I don't think humans were made to sit for long periods of time. Or maybe i'll just bring my stationary bike to my desk.

8/5/2010 10:13:25 AM

Regarding the naturally eating healthy thing, I'm kind of struggling with that right now. I want to get to where I can eat intuitively and keep my nutrition balanced. The vast majority of food I eat is very healthy, but I find that if I don't log my intake and make a conscious effort to get enough protein and fat, I just gravitate toward carbohydrates. Not bread or rice or things like that most of the time, but grains like quinoa and veggies, fruit, beans (and I know those have protein, but as much as I find myself wanting to eat daily, not all that much).

To make it worse, now that I'm used to eating a balanced macronutrient ratio, when I do drop my protein and/or fat a little for a couple days I get wicked sugar cravings. I've been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for about 15 years, but I decided last week that I am going to start eating fish or chicken when I'm not at home so I don't wind up eating nothing but carbohydrates and the wrong kind of fat when I'm at restaurants or someone else's house. I hope that will help a little bit.

I would just not worry about it, but I feel crappy now when I don't get balanced macros, and my progress in the gym suffers. I am not really sure what to do except log my food forever.

8/5/2010 10:28:20 AM

I too love carbs. Are they really that bad though? I grew up eating pasta/fruits/veggies daily. I don't know where else i'd get energy from if i didn't take in so many carbs.

8/5/2010 10:32:41 AM

It's not that I think carbs are bad at all. I hate carb-phobia. It's that balance is important, and eating only or nearly only carbs is not balance.

8/5/2010 10:33:56 AM

True. I'm around 60% carbs, 25% fat, and 15% protein. I need to get that protein up though. Although I do run a lot. I've heard that's a good split. I try to get the healthy carbs though. Fruits/veggies/whole grains. Pasta/rice is not horrible i guess just not as healthy as fruits/veggies.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/changingshape5.htm

Although I still don't know about the protein. That site is suggesting 77 grams of protein per day for a 210 pound person with exceptions. I guess it all depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

[Edited on August 5, 2010 at 10:48 AM. Reason : s]

8/5/2010 10:39:33 AM

Bread makes you fat.

[Edited on August 5, 2010 at 11:34 AM. Reason : Unequivocably!]

8/5/2010 11:34:11 AM

seems to do wonders for me

8/5/2010 11:40:59 AM

Quote :

"Bread makes you fat."

If you're lazy and don't burn it off.

8/5/2010 11:47:51 AM

Fight gone bad tomorrow

8/5/2010 12:02:16 PM

that 1 mile route I found for Gambit's walks is pretty intense... by the end of the 20-25 minutes I am sweating bullets and he is panting like crazy.. I didn't realize how many hills were around my apartment until I went on that walk, that's for sure

Ya know what's crazy though... since I started packing, then moving, then unpacking, my weight has stayed the same.. actually gone down a little.. and I have not been eating like I should. Maybe since I'll be walking around more with classes and such I won't have to worry about keeping my weight down (of course I'm not going to continue eating like crap but it seemed like when I was sitting for 8 hours a day it made it even harder for me to keep my weight down)

8/5/2010 2:09:05 PM

^ you're more active constantly - it'll increase your metabolism

rock on girl!

8/5/2010 2:10:06 PM

TKE-Teg, you get used to it. At least now I know which flavors of Powerbars I like and don't like. Which Gatorade drinks I prefer, etc. But, yes, I get urges to binge on real food sometimes. You just get a mental craving and you just have to have something. Like yesterday, I cooked an entire wok full of chicken noodles and ate it all.

Don't judge me

[Edited on August 5, 2010 at 2:44 PM. Reason : .]

8/5/2010 2:19:16 PM

^well...you a pro athlete or what?

8/5/2010 10:46:09 PM

Oh. Yes. I've been racing triathlons with a pro license since 2003.

8/5/2010 11:08:41 PM

weekends kill my diet. During the week it is so easy because each meal is scheduled, rarely with large groups, and I have complete control.

alcohol doesn't help on the weekends either.

8/6/2010 1:05:03 AM

My jeans are so loose on me now but I have not gone out of my way to try on new ones. I was excited to find that I went down a size when I tried some on today. I did not buy the jeans but I bought a belt! I am thinking I will reward myself with a new pair if I can go down one more size.

8/6/2010 8:52:02 PM

^ yay!! nice job

i have my final weigh in for my competition for with my sisters tomorrow morning. i'm in the lead by 2% coming into the last week... hopefully i can win it tomorrow

unfortunately my sister who has been having the hardest time losing weight - is not wanting to wake up when i need to weigh in so she's weighing in later. she is pissy that i kicked her ass! which annoys me that she's being a brat about it, but c'est la vie

8/6/2010 8:57:47 PM

Woohooo I won!!

Lost 8.56% of my starting weight

8/7/2010 6:49:29 AM

congrats! what do you get?

8/7/2010 7:54:53 AM

wtg Lunak

8/7/2010 8:09:53 AM

I've got a nice "staying active" routine now that I've found some basketball games next to my house. Leaving the house right now to ball (don't know why the fuck they play at 9 am on a Saturday morning).

Sunday - Basketball and/or Hockey
Monday - Workout
Tuesday - Hockey
Wednesday - Basketball
Thursday - Workout
Friday - Hockey or rest
Saturday - Basketball

8/7/2010 9:03:33 AM

30% as of this morning!

8/7/2010 9:04:54 AM

Quote :

"congrats! what do you get?"

$150 bucks new running cloths and new running shoes so excited.... And bragging rights of course

8/7/2010 9:57:39 PM

YAY LunaK!!!! You are the bestest!!

8/7/2010 10:02:02 PM

thanks punchmonk

8/8/2010 5:49:39 PM

Ok, update time. Here are my newest pictures.

The back picture is awful. It's the best I could do since I only have a tiny mirror in my room.



First off, I'm obviously doing a lot better in the back. That is, by far, the most defined my back has been in my life. I don't know if I'm to the point where I can say I'm getting that 'V' look, but I don't think it will be long before I am.

I pretty much have no noticeable body fat anywhere but the front and it's persisting in the stomach area and even with the chest a bit. I definitely feel like I'm getting stronger in the chest and abs but it's just that pesky stomach fat. Beer is my best friend and my worst enemy. I am really going to make a concerted effort to stop with the excess alcohol in the coming weeks and see if that does the trick. It may not even be the biggest culprit, though. It could be my diet more so than the beer.

I've really kicked up the lifting and cardio the last two weeks and feel like I'm pushing my body and it's working. I've definitely had the most gains during that time period, so I'm doing something right.

[Edited on August 8, 2010 at 6:01 PM. Reason : x]

8/8/2010 6:00:16 PM

8/8/2010 6:32:13 PM

Weighed in this morning at a dehydrated 201.0

Good definition, but I feel awful from being out in the sun all day yesterday

I took a pic but it's still on the camera.

[Edited on August 9, 2010 at 11:28 AM. Reason : awful spelling]

8/9/2010 11:00:36 AM

i really can't decide how to go about making fun of this thread yet

8/9/2010 11:02:30 AM

I try my best not to sit around all day at work, sometimes Ill even stand while working on the laptop or something. Kinda like I intentionally park at the back or parking lots and walk because even small stuff like that adds up I suppose.

8/9/2010 11:44:29 AM

starting P90X today

8/9/2010 12:00:57 PM

i hired a trainer, i take my training to the next level a week from today.

8/9/2010 1:56:26 PM

^started going to one like a month ago. Big difference on how much I can push myself. It's so much better when you have someone with you motivating you and making you believe you can do those extra reps.

8/9/2010 2:06:02 PM

where did you guys get trainers at?

8/9/2010 2:11:10 PM

I'm in Charlotte. Found this guy through a friend who's been going to him since February. He's a natural pro body builder and is all about circuit training with an emphasis in muscle confusion. He uses alot of medicine balls, kettlebell, tire flips, and hydrolic resistance machines as well as all the traditional weight machines.

http://www.personaltrainersincharlotte.com/

You really can't beat $200 for 21 sessions either. He's also sponsered by Beverly International and gives you wholesale prices on all their stuff.

If anyones interested PM me. You get 5 free sessions ($50) every time you refer someone.

8/9/2010 2:39:28 PM

Why would you pay someone to train you on machines?

8/9/2010 2:40:56 PM

Quote :

"Why would you pay someone to train you on machines?"

We really don't use that many machines. It's mostly free weights and circuit stuff. Plus a lot of it is about technique. I know you guys know how to use machines and do most of these workouts but a trainer helps people build technique, help with diet, and figure out routines.

How's it any different than anything else? Why would you pay someone to train you how to bike or run or play a sport? Professional athletes have trainers and they benefit immensely from them. Why can't non-athletes?

Why pay for any type of class? You can learn everything on your own right? Why pay for yoga class? Or martial arts class? Or swimming class? There's always a benefit from instruction and having someone watch what you do and help you improve your routine. If you don't think so then you must be the best at everything!

8/9/2010 2:50:01 PM

I didn't mean that in the super elitist way you took it. But I have seen plenty of people who have a trainer walk them around between the leg press, ab machine, hip ad/abductor machine and things like that, for weeks on end, and not have anything ever change. And at that point you know how to use them and I guess I don't see the point in paying for someone to walk around with you and just watch you do them, unless you can't motivate yourself to actually go unless you do that. (Note: this was more at my old gym, not LFF)

8/9/2010 2:57:09 PM

Yeah I see your point. No I wouldn't be paying for a trainer if he did that. He literally does a different routine every time I go in (twice a week). It's always something different. He likes to mix things up and try new things and see what I like. Last week we started working with kettlebells and all the different swings and lifts.

Plus it's helpful when you're doing circuit training and you physically can't complete a set because you're beat but you've got someone motivating you to finish the set. Plus a lot of the medicine ball work outs you need a second person for:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/schultz5.htm

8/9/2010 3:11:27 PM

Quote :

"where did you guys get trainers at?"

im in blacksburg VA. i hired this guy...

http://www.youtube.com/user/animal1622

those videos were taken at the gym where i train.

[Edited on August 9, 2010 at 4:39 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on August 9, 2010 at 4:39 PM. Reason : ]

8/9/2010 4:38:58 PM

Quote :

"I didn't mean that in the super elitist way you took it. But I have seen plenty of people who have a trainer walk them around between the leg press, ab machine, hip ad/abductor machine and things like that, for weeks on end, and not have anything ever change. And at that point you know how to use them and I guess I don't see the point in paying for someone to walk around with you and just watch you do them, unless you can't motivate yourself to actually go unless you do that. (Note: this was more at my old gym, not LFF)"

Some people just need someone to push them. I can motivate myself enough to workout on my own. But a lot of people need the motivation of paying someone to walk them through a workout. If they didn't have a trainer or a training session to go to, they would either not go to the gym, or dip out after a partial workout.

Some people are just different.

8/9/2010 6:57:19 PM

Im actually considering getting a trainer purely for the motivational factor. I know how to work out, but frankly, im lazier than i should be. If im paying for it, and i have someone pushing me, ill push myself more.

8/9/2010 7:10:44 PM

i dont really need the motivation factor. i already spend plenty of time in the gym. i just want to take this to the next level and see how far i can go. for that i need someone around that knows more than i do.

8/9/2010 7:25:45 PM