"Opening up a Little" or, show a little

[Spike]

I'm pretty damn boring. Best I got is a weight loss story. Went from 235 to 160 over one summer, and now back to a healthy 175ish.

How did you do that Bob?
I am 205 and want to get down to about 180 ... being a stress eater sucks, even worse when you are aware of it.

[Bob Barker]

I did it the wrong way. Starvation and a full length mirror!

Can't remember exactly, but I started running regularly, pretended to workout at the gym and literally starved myself until the weight was gone. Since then I've been in stuck in a rubber band syndrome, where I'll pack on heavy fat and then cut it all out again. It's not by choice, I just get really bad lazy streaks and depressed cause I'm being lazy and fat and that makes it harder to break out of the mess!

I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat... It's a vicious cycle...


Just to continue the Austin Powers theme

Now though I'm a tryathlete (emphasis on the try part!), and there is enough variety in the workouts for at triathlon to have kept me interested for a while now. I get bored with "daily grind" workouts and give up on them usually!

[Leah]

Are those two items related somehow? :P

So, if you are a natural blonde, does that mean most women today have hair lighter than yours? (this bleached platinum blond trend really overdue for going away)

Hmm...related...you mean, like cousins?

[Marlin]

I have webbed toes on one foot, and my brother has a gill. Well, not really a gill, but he has what looks like a freckle on his neck, but if he has a cold, he plug his nose and make snot dribble out. Its connected to his sinuses...next kid would have been a frog or something.

[circmand]

I have webbed toes on one foot, and my brother has a gill. Well, not really a gill, but he has what looks like a freckle on his neck, but if he has a cold, he plug his nose and make snot dribble out. Its connected to his sinuses...next kid would have been a frog or something.

Or a mermaid

[Ascinder]

How did you do that Bob?
I am 205 and want to get down to about 180 ... being a stress eater sucks, even worse when you are aware of it.

Awhile back I read an article saying that if you restrict your workouts to less than 30 minutes each, you are five times more likely to stick with a regimen. Worked for me. Also it's the same old story it always has been: diet and exercise. If you make a solid promise to yourself to simply eat at home and only at home(excludes stuff eaten in the gym like workout shakes) then you'll lose weight just from that-if you eat healthy to boot, probably even more. Also people tend to think of weightloss by exercise in terms of cardiovascular type stuff like running and biking and such. I hate that stuff. Most people are shocked to find out that you burn as much or more doing strength training-i.e. weights and machines. Muscle also burns fat even while you're just standing still or sleeping so once you have more muscle, you automatically have less fat and you don't have to lift a finger expect to get the muscle and maintain it in the first place. It's one of the reasons people in shape tend to stay in shape-that genetics stuff is a load of bull. A couple things I've found to mix up the routine are kettlebells and the rowing machine. The rowing machine is great because it works almost all your muscles. You use your legs(largest muscle), back and shoulders(largest muscle group), arms, and to a far lesser extent abs. Bottom line is a rowing machine will crush you on the right settings. It's also low impact.

[Bob Barker]

Umm... genetics has a HUGE amount to do with what kind of shape a person can get into.

[Triathlete]

Awhile back I read an article saying that if you restrict your workouts to less than 30 minutes each, you are five times more likely to stick with a regimen. Worked for me. Also it's the same old story it always has been: diet and exercise. If you make a solid promise to yourself to simply eat at home and only at home(excludes stuff eaten in the gym like workout shakes) then you'll lose weight just from that-if you eat healthy to boot, probably even more. Also people tend to think of weightloss by exercise in terms of cardiovascular type stuff like running and biking and such. I hate that stuff. Most people are shocked to find out that you burn as much or more doing strength training-i.e. weights and machines. Muscle also burns fat even while you're just standing still or sleeping so once you have more muscle, you automatically have less fat and you don't have to lift a finger expect to get the muscle and maintain it in the first place. It's one of the reasons people in shape tend to stay in shape-that genetics stuff is a load of bull. A couple things I've found to mix up the routine are kettlebells and the rowing machine. The rowing machine is great because it works almost all your muscles. You use your legs(largest muscle), back and shoulders(largest muscle group), arms, and to a far lesser extent abs. Bottom line is a rowing machine will crush you on the right settings. It's also low impact.

Sorry, but nope, nope, and nope.
Genetics play a very big part in fitness! No matter how hard I train I will never be capable of running a 2:05 marathon, bench pressing 400 pounds, or... Yes, anyone can get to a certain level but only a select few have the genetic makeup to reach that next level...otherwise we'd all be living that Olympic dream.
As far as fat burning...there are many, many studies that show that done for the same amount of time aerobic activity burns more calories than strength training. Trust me I know...as an aerobic machine I put away a LOT of calories per day!
The simple factor to lose weight is to consume less than you burn. Simply cutting/limiting processed food, fried food and soft drinks from your diet will make a world of difference. Not saying you have to cut them out completely...it's okay to reward yourself occasionally!
And yes the rowing machine is an excelent all around workout....but it is aerobic.

Okay, I'm done jacking this tread...if anyone has any questions PM.

[CrnCnn]

I screwed up a friendship in Reno.

I have not had a soda in 1 month and one week.

I realized how much I love my wife after moving back to AZ.

[samneil2000]

I had a shattered L4 replaced with donor bone. Thanks to whoever that guy was that gave up some bone for me...

[RickOKC]

I have webbed toes on one foot, and my brother has a gill. Well, not really a gill, but he has what looks like a freckle on his neck, but if he has a cold, he plug his nose and make snot dribble out. Its connected to his sinuses...next kid would have been a frog or something.

Hmmm, I wonder if frog-brother's VX would have been a Dragon.

With my family tree, I'm lucky I don't have both eyes on one side of my head like a flounder. My hair started turning gray when I was 12, I have mandibular tori and a whole extra vertebra. The upside is that I'm slightly taller than I should have been, but my back hurts one-vertebra-more when it goes out.

[Ascinder]

Umm... genetics has a HUGE amount to do with what kind of shape a person can get into.

Genetics play a very big part in fitness! No matter how hard I train I will never be capable of running a 2:05 marathon, bench pressing 400 pounds, or... Yes, anyone can get to a certain level but only a select few have the genetic makeup to reach that next level...otherwise we'd all be living that Olympic dream.

Sorry, let me clarify my statement as it was taken out of context. What I meant to say was that genetics is no excuse for being out of shape as so many people use it as the red herring for their poor physical conditioning. No, I will never be the fastest, strongest, or most competitive guy in the world in any sport, but I sure can get off my butt and go workout and eat right, and genetics has nothing to do with that(unless they find a gene for lazy).

As far as fat burning...there are many, many studies that show that done for the same amount of time aerobic activity burns more calories than strength training. Trust me I know...as an aerobic machine I put away a LOT of calories per day!

Yes, time for time, I'll agree with you, but we are talking about weight loss(and fat loss in reality). I would agree that yes if you spend an hour of cardio against an hour of strength training the cardio is slightly ahead. But, people with exclusive cardio don't tend to pack on muscle the same as those who strength train. You as a triathlete focused athlete are lean and light because your sport almost demands it to be competitive and because the cardio oriented nature sculpts your musculature that way. On the same token those who lift weights tend to be stockier and bulkier because they are putting on mass instead. So where am I going with this? Like I mentioned before each pound of additional muscle burns calories all the time whether resting or not so if you add them all up at the end of the day, I think the strength training is ahead long term.

The simple factor to lose weight is to consume less than you burn. Simply cutting/limiting processed food, fried food and soft drinks from your diet will make a world of difference. Not saying you have to cut them out completely...it's okay to reward yourself occasionally!

Couldn't agree more. You don't have to be extreme in your diet, you just have to find ways to eat healthier and make it taste good. It's harder than it sounds and takes a really long time to actually make yourself a comprehensive enough menu that you can stick with it.

And yes the rowing machine is an excelent all around workout....but it is aerobic.

Yep, I was just throwing it out there as a good exercise to do that I personally really get a lot out of. I wasn't trying to say that I don't like cardio- I just don't like running My boss out at guard however does and has been an avid exercise nut for years. He's now had 5 knee surgeries, has collapsed(broken) both the arches in his feet a total of four times, and is wearing an ankle brace right now. I pretty much got that message.

[JHarris1385]

Alright with this diet and nutrition talk...I won't completely hi jack the thread, but since I see there are some interested I will posting a new thread about what I know and can provide. Lets just say its unreal.....AND I was informed by my doctor who was introduced by a triathlete.

[vt_maverick]

I learned (the hard way) at a very early age that you should NEVER hit a basketball with a baseball bat.

... and I learned not to chase a soccer ball across a horse-shoe pit in mid-throw.

[vt_maverick]

My boss out at guard however does and has been an avid exercise nut for years. He's now had 5 knee surgeries, has collapsed(broken) both the arches in his feet a total of four times, and is wearing an ankle brace right now. I pretty much got that message.

Similar issue for me, I played soccer for about 17 years and ran track for another 6, so I was conditioned to pursue cardio/aerobic/running based exercises. I started having shooting pains in my knees at 22, which I have since learned is due to a loss of cartilage and fluid in my knees; the doctors estimate I'll need one or both knees replaced by 50. I also have chronic lower back aches that the chiropractor tells me were caused by the millions of footsteps and kick-plants I did over all those years, which now causes me to carry about 30 lbs. more on my right foot than my left. So I definitely can attest that high-impact cardio/aerobic workouts can do long term damage.

Unfortunately low-impact aerobic workouts tend to require a machine of some sort (elliptical, rowing machine, etc.) which would force me to actually go to a gym. I was too lazy to do that before I had a kid, let alone now. Fortunately I still have a pretty high metabolism so I'm only 20-30 lbs. overweight, but I'll be happy to hear suggestions on stuff that can be done at home.