Thainitty
Super Freak
That's excellent batfan! Mr. Green I'd have thought you were a fan of any green things...I'm assuming diet mtn dew is green anyway
I never really posted in this thread before; probably on account of me not doing **** for most of my life, but I figured "**** it." I've developed enough of a healthy lifestyle that I can insert myself into the conversation. Since last year, I just decided it was time for a change. Honestly, it wasn't anything dramatic. I started walking my dog, then I started exploring the neighborhood with him, and, before I knew it, I was walking a mile and a half with him every night. I quit drinking regular pop, though I have developed an affinity for Diet Mountain Dew, though I try to drink three bottles of water for every glass of it I have, I still eat what I want, mostly, but I've also found that my tastes changed significantly since I actually started trying different things.
If somebody'd have told me 5 years ago that the way to get me to eat a salad was to eat it with fruit in it, I'd have told them they were full of ****. Anyway, I'm down to 223, as of my last weigh in, having lost 74 lbs since my last visit to the doctor over a year ago. My goal weight is around 190, so, I've still got a ways to go, but I've already noticed a significant shift in my self-esteem, self-image, and, frankly, my capabilities. I ran my first mile without stopping tonight, so, that made me kind of happy.
Congratulations, man! I used to be heavy myself, but got into bodybuilding a few years ago after I lost all the weight and then I'm told I'm too skinny. It's easier than you think to get fit.
I've been trying to lean out for a vacation in August and I checked today (I do every Saturday) that I lost a pound this week. That makes a total of 5lbs thus far in about a month. I'm surprised I can still lose weight even with my amount of calories.
If I can cut another 5-10lbs off, I'm happy. In August I planned to cut 200 calories off my total just to make sure I'm cut before I leave for the beach.
Thanks! Yeah, I have to say: I'm a firm believer in the power of calorie counting. Carbs, sugar; I probably should pay more attention to that stuff, but I just watch my caloric intake and it seems like it's done a hell of a lot of work in my favor, and that's great! I turn 22 next week, and, honestly, this is probably the first time in my life that I feel capable. I wasn't fat all my life, but, even as a kid, I was the athsmatic kid in the class who couldn't do a push up, and that sort of compounded as I gained more weight.
I just started going to the gym not too long ago, and it's one of those things where I'm still trying to figure it out. I do 35 minutes of cardio each time (10 minutes of running, followed by 25 minutes of power walking at a steep incline), but I'd really love to develop a full body routine that I can knock out each day I go (I try to go at least three times a week). Right now, it's just basic stuff like leg presses on leg day, bench presses, curls, and rows, but, again, I still feel kind of like a babe in the woods trying to figure out what's worth doing, what's most effective, etc.
I also really need to find a gym buddy of some sort to act as a spotter and/or motivator.
Thanks! Yeah, I have to say: I'm a firm believer in the power of calorie counting. Carbs, sugar; I probably should pay more attention to that stuff, but I just watch my caloric intake and it seems like it's done a hell of a lot of work in my favor, and that's great! I turn 22 next week, and, honestly, this is probably the first time in my life that I feel capable. I wasn't fat all my life, but, even as a kid, I was the athsmatic kid in the class who couldn't do a push up, and that sort of compounded as I gained more weight.
but, again, I still feel kind of like a babe in the woods trying to figure out what's worth doing, what's most effective, etc.
Macros may be considered important, calories are always #1. So it's good that's where your focus lies. Good job on the success.
Gym buddies can be good but also a distraction. Okay for spot on bench but other than that, I need people to be out of my gym space.
Awesome man, I always loved how eating right and working out gives you a tremendous feeling of control over your life. I just recently started cutting out the sugar, its amazing how your appetite just flies out the window when you get off the stuff. I havent had a craving for so long. Ive also had some chronic problems that feel like theyre starting to go away. That sugar is some toxic stuff- kills your liver, shuts off your "Im full" meter, and opens you up to heart trouble and all kinds of diseases. Been switching to liquid stevia, date paste and other fruits as sweeteners. Gonna try not looking back!
I always took the Jeet Kun Do method with weightlifting. Make it personal, do what works best for you and discard the rest. Also, protect your joints at all costs. Any of you guys ever heard of MAPS? I just self diagnosed recently after reading some articles and never knowing what I had. I miss pullup marathons soooo much
Thanks so much, and I must say, I'd probably have to agree with you. In the past, I was one of those guys who used them as a crutch; "oh, he's not going to the gym today; I guess that means I won't," and, ultimately, you're doomed to fail with that kind of mindset. All of the progress I've made to this point has been my own doing; it's been a solitary activity (unless you count my dog as a gym buddy, which...he certainly keeps me on my toes ), and it has to be because it's your life, and your lifestyle, and the only one that can change it is you. Music is my number one gym buddy, though. The right song can be an incredible motivator.
It really does. I'm not totally sugar free, but one of the best decisions of my life was cutting out regular pop. The Diet stuff gives me a fix when I need it, though I realize it's probably ****ing up my liver, but there are periods where I'll drink nothing but water and you just feel so much better. I realize there are other things about soda that are terrible for you, but the sugar was always just a massive weight, and, if I'm being honest, that was probably the biggest contributor to my weight over the years.
Thanks! Yeah, I have to say: I'm a firm believer in the power of calorie counting. Carbs, sugar; I probably should pay more attention to that stuff, but I just watch my caloric intake and it seems like it's done a hell of a lot of work in my favor, and that's great! I turn 22 next week, and, honestly, this is probably the first time in my life that I feel capable. I wasn't fat all my life, but, even as a kid, I was the athsmatic kid in the class who couldn't do a push up, and that sort of compounded as I gained more weight.
I just started going to the gym not too long ago, and it's one of those things where I'm still trying to figure it out. I do 35 minutes of cardio each time (10 minutes of running, followed by 25 minutes of power walking at a steep incline), but I'd really love to develop a full body routine that I can knock out each day I go (I try to go at least three times a week). Right now, it's just basic stuff like leg presses on leg day, bench presses, curls, and rows, but, again, I still feel kind of like a babe in the woods trying to figure out what's worth doing, what's most effective, etc.
I also really need to find a gym buddy of some sort to act as a spotter and/or motivator.
Random comment but I always found that when I was at my biggest (muscle wise) it was really hard on my heart. My doctor told me that my heart didn't really notice a difference between muscle and fat with regards to BP. I had always assumed that if I was more muscular, that it was good for my heart. I mean it made sense later as I looked at how many big athletes and bodybuilders died early due to cardiac arrest (though that can also be attributed to chemical enhancements).
Being more muscular does nothing for your heart. It's your energy output that does. So things that get your heart beat up like the annoying HiiT training, jump rope, jogging. Etc. Those are the things (cardio) that aid in a healthy heart.
It's good that you're getting confident with it. It really is a state of mind once you put your time in it, and then you'll wonder how you lived any other way. I've been dealing with injuries off and on the last couple years, but I got a routine I'm good with and I'm currently changing things up since I feel I hit a wall with it. Bodybuilding really is an art. It takes time to find the right workouts that fit you. You'll get more self aware of your body as time goes on so you can work yourself to the fullest. The more muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn through the day to maintain it. So when you hit your goal weight, you could start packing on size by increasing your calories. But just be careful with that or you'll get fat like I did just do it gradually.
There's plenty of Youtubers that give you full ranges of routines and different workouts for each muscle group. That's kinda where I got my first bit of information.
I don't really count calories religiously anymore. I know what I get roughly and I'm still trimming down, so it's working. It seems like you got a stranglehold on your weight loss so I don't think I could give you any advice in that area since if it's not broken, don't fix it.
Where were you when I needed to know this back then?
I actually really liked lifting when I did it before and it was one of those things that felt really good to get back into, upon going to the gym again. It's kind of funny because, maybe it's growing up the fat kid, but I always dreamed of being the dude with the 6 pack; yet, in my mind, it was always somebody else looking back at me in the mirror; like I was stepping into somebody else's shoes, but, for the first time in my life, I look on the mirror and I feel like that could be me; I can see that being me. I realize getting to that level with such a low percentage of body fat takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication, but I just feel like, for once in my life, I would like to tap into whatever potential there is and just, like, use every ounce of it.
Calorie counting is one of those things that I feel like you get good at over time. I have My Fitness Pal and stuff like that on my phone, and there are some weeks where I'll be logging every meal religiously and others where I can eyeball it and tell pretty accurately if I've had enough. I'm 6', so, my goal is to get down to 190 and then build myself back up to about 200.
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