Do You Take Time To Exercise Daily?

PhilL

PhilL

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
6,490
A friend of mine was kind enough to send me this little reminder of how important it is to get regular exercise.

317262308.jpg


I think it does take a friend to remind you that those extra pounds that you’re packing aren’t very healthy for you. It may be a good time to get back in control. To start watching what you eat and to make getting regular exercise a priority.

I’ve had a couple of threads on my personal fight with Obesity

Hurrrrray! I'm just OBESE!!!
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347865&highlight=Obese

and from last year...Just Obese...Revisited
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=478512&highlight=Obese

For the record, last year I never made it to my Goal Weight of 180 lbs. I did get under 200, within 19 lbs of Goal. I have to admit that even with the best intentions I’ve let the pounds back on. I’ve got to lose 10 pounds to get back to just Obese. I’m back on a Low Carb diet, (it seems to work the fastest for me) and I’m walking between two and three miles a day. My First Goal is to get to my Obese weight 216 lbs. Switching from walking to running will be a lot easier with the pounds off.

I hope this little reminder inspires you take a few steps that will help you to lead a longer and healthier life.

Of course consult your Doctor before starting any exercise regime.

281681412.jpg
 
I started regular exercise a month ago, and lost ten pounds, I don't feel too good about it, I have not hit that point where I want to go, but I made a pact with myself the first month I would work out three times a week , and four days a week the second, and so far am on track. I started at 280 pounds and have no Idea where I want to end up. What triggered me to start was reading the efforts of a guy who started losing weight on another knife forum, (SRKW) and some of the points that were made struck home.
 
Bumppo, excellent work. You should be proud of yourself, ten pounds in a month should have you feeling better, even if you don't enjoy the effort. I'm a firm believer in Goal Setting. It doesn't sound like you have one. Let me ask you a question, at what weight did you look and feel your best?

In my adult life I've weighed between 145 and 245, that's a one hundred pound difference. At 145 lbs I looked like death, at 245 I could hardly walk a block. At 180 I felt and looked my best. I was in my mid 30's my wife and I worked out at a gym, and we ran and competed regularly in 3.5 and 5 mile races. I don't think I can get back to that shape at my age without a gym membership and a lot of hard work.
 
Good stuff to think about Phil...I recently went on Weight Watchers and in three weeks lost about 10 lbs. At 6'02" 280 lbs (270 now;)) it might not sound like much, but I feel better already, both mentally and physically. Eating the right foods in the correct portion sizes can really have quite an impact on just the way a person feels physically. Fast food, while delicious, always made me feel like crap after eating it. Now if I have to eat out, I make healthier choices, which also makes a difference.
Quitting smoking last October was perhaps the biggest step in my over all quest for better overall health. I had to conquer that before anything else, especially weight loss, was to occur.

Phil, you are absolutely correct about setting goals! Setting smaller more achieveable goals is what helps me. I only look toward the next 10 lbs. If I look any further it seems impossible. Of course the only thing that was stopping me from doing this stuff 15 years ago was...ME!

Thanks for your post Phil! I hope more people are motivated/reinforced by it! -Matt-
 
Congratz Matt, first of all for that 10 pound weight loss, but far more importantly is the smoking. Although I hope everyone who reads this finds some inspiration to be aware of what they're eating and getting off their duffs. Deep in my heart I believe that anyone that smokes and thinks they're healthy is just delusional.

Small steps are the answer. Not giving up eating, but reducing your calorie intake by just 100 calories will show results. You don't have to run a marathon, but walking for 15 minutes and then turning around and walking back is an excellent start. Just do something, you owe it to yourself.
 
I have a hard time keeping a regular gym schedule. I referee soccer games to keep in shape. I do anywhere between 2 and 10 games a week after work and on the weekends. It's great exercise and I love it.
 
Phil, and Grease-Man.
I will be fifty this year, never smoked, and work is either sedentary or at 100%, as I catch blimps for a living. Right now I am overseas, eat a lot of fruit and limited fast food, but regular food here in China is usually covered in sauces, fried or cooked in oil. Generally, the food is farm fresh, for want of a better word. Last nights chicken dinnerwas a fine and proud foul before I picked him out. Thanks for the portion control idea, Grease-Man, I do need that reminder now and again. And Phil, the goal setting is a really good idea. I can figure two goals, one short term, and one long term.
Morrowj, having a regular activity is a really good idea too, plus you are helping others while you improve yourself. That is not possible for my lifestyle at this time. But maybe I can get creative and find something as a substitute.
I have been fat for a very long time, but know if I get below 210 pounds, people start to really notice, and at 200 strangers comment. At least they did eight years ago when I lost weight for the first time. College weight was 180 pounds, possibly unrealistic at this time, so I will shoot for 200 as a long range goal. Short term goals, I will set on the eighth of next month, after seeing what I do on my second month of exercise. Thanks for the support.
Last month, i went to a gym three or four times a week, now it is four or five, plus I walk quickly for a half hour 5 times a week, in the morning. Oddly, I seem to be gaining weight, but I am not sure because the gym sent the scale in to be tuned, so there is some uncertainty.
 
Bumppo, I have no idea what catching blimps entails, but it sounds fascinating. At least it sounds a lot more interesting than riding a desk like I do. It sounds like you're getting plenty of aerobic and anerobic exercise. I wouldn't be concerned about a slight weight gain, it could be you're gaining muscle. Gaining muscle will of course result in burning more fat than you would from just aerobic workouts. I think what you may want to do is to take some measurements of chest, waist and hips, to see if you're losing fat. A good first goal is to get your waist measurement down to 1/2 of your height. For example, I'm 5' 10" or 70 inches, half of that would be 35 inches. Getting my waist size down to 35" is a good goal, not an ideal waist size, but a good early goal. Of course spot reducing doesn't work, so tons of crunches isn't the answer. Overall fat reduction is.
 
In 2004 I weighed over 300 lbs with a 5'11" frame. I was 40 years old and had Type II diabetes and moderate to sever Hypertension which I was having trouble controlling. I checked myself into a weight managment clinic through our local hospital and with diet and excersise lowered my weight to 220 lbs. In the process loweing my hypertension and kissing good bye to diabetes..( which for the record scared the living daylights out of me ) My wife and I go to the gym for a hour and a half to two hour work out at least 4 times a week and as the weather improves I also bicycle about 2000 to 3000 miles a season. I have never felt better.

Ren
 
Ren, you were the inspiration in my first Obese thread, doing something that was just amazing to me, which was to stop eating solid food for 12 weeks. I never wanted to get to that point and if a thread on BFC could keep anyone else from needing such drastic measures, it was worth posting about. I was happy for your results back then, but I'm far more impressed with the continued success you've had with your new body image and changed life-style.

Bravo!
 
Great thread. I've lost 22 pounds in the last 6 weeks and am now 3 pounds from my goal. It's amazing how many calories you can burn clearing trees from your property. It's also amazing how many calories you can eliminate by cutting back on junk food and pop. I watch what I eat six days a week and then go on a moderate binge one day. May sound strange, but if I don't plan for a binge now and then, I'm afraid I'll get discouraged when I do fall off the wagon.
 
Tracker congratz on your success, you're in easy reach of your goal weight.
The next challenge is to find and exercise program and diet that you can live with and maintain your weight loss. This is sometimes harder than losing the weight, at least it is for me. It's the long term lifestyle changes that's the true measure or success.
 
PhilL said:
Ren, you were the inspiration in my first Obese thread, doing something that was just amazing to me, which was to stop eating solid food for 12 weeks. I never wanted to get to that point and if a thread on BFC could keep anyone else from needing such drastic measures, it was worth posting about. I was happy for your results back then, but I'm far more impressed with the continued success you've had with your new body image and changed life-style.

Bravo!
Click to expand...

I just got back from a 2 hour work out at the gym...It feels great...

a suggestion for the masses..buy an Ipod Classic or Video Ipod and watch movies while you work out...It makes the time go by very fast..

Ren
 
I just got back from a beautiful 3 mile walk through Prospect Park. I always feel better after my walk than before. Walking to the Park, I can feel every ache and pain. Then I'll stretch and try to get loose and relax the parts that were hurting. It takes me about 10 minutes to hit my stride and before I really start enjoying being out and moving. I won't allow myself an excuse to not get up and out for at least a 30 minute walk a day.
 
Ren the devils trailboss said:
In 2004 I weighed over 300 lbs with a 5'11" frame. I was 40 years old and had Type II diabetes and moderate to sever Hypertension which I was having trouble controlling. I checked myself into a weight managment clinic through our local hospital and with diet and excersise lowered my weight to 220 lbs. In the process loweing my hypertension and kissing good bye to diabetes..( which for the record scared the living daylights out of me ) My wife and I go to the gym for a hour and a half to two hour work out at least 4 times a week and as the weather improves I also bicycle about 2000 to 3000 miles a season. I have never felt better.

Ren
Click to expand...
That is quite amazing Ren! I'm glad you got it under control and have a wife that will participate with you. I didn't know that diabetes would actually go away...I really don't know anything about diabetes of any type though :o I just know that if you are obese you are at risk, and I am at risk.

PhilL said:
I just got back from a beautiful 3 mile walk through Prospect Park. I always feel better after my walk than before. Walking to the Park, I can feel every ache and pain. Then I'll stretch and try to get loose and relax the parts that were hurting. It takes me about 10 minutes to hit my stride and before I really start enjoying being out and moving. I won't allow myself an excuse to not get up and out for at least a 30 minute walk a day.
Click to expand...

Phil, while I am working on losing weight and have quit smoking, the excercise is definitely the missing link in my daily regimen, and the original post was a great reminder! It is hard for me to find the time to do it,(you know when I work and what I do) but I'm slowly getting better. Taking more walks lately. It's not as fun while pushing a stroller and having to keep the 3 year old out of trouble, but that counts as exercise too! :D

Thanks again for the reminder! -Matt-
 
Matt, many health problems go away with diet and exercise, especially for those that are morbidly obese. As far as finding time to exercise, please refer to the cartoon and it's message at the top of this page. If you're overweight the place to start I think is walking a minimum of 30 minutes a day. It's not that long, 15 minutes one way and 15 minutes back. Or walk around the block for 10 minutes 3 times a day. Still don't have the time? Learn to jump rope, that will burn calories and get your heart going faster than you thought possible. There are even isometric exercises you can do while sitting at your desk at work. Not everyone has 2 hours they can spend on a gym workout, but everyone can find 3o minutes a day.

PS, today in the Park I must have seen a dozen joggers pushing a stroller in front of them while they got in their workouts.
 
Last edited:
About a month ago I started doing something that I had done for years in the past -- commuting by bicycle. It's a 28 mile round trip, which means about 2 hours of riding every day I do it. I've been doing it twice a week.

I'm lucky because 90% of my commute is one a bike path. The rest is on quiet residential streets. No busy trafic. I'm sorry, but otherwise I wouldn't do it.

I feel great when I ride. I hope to increase to 3 times a week, then 4, then riding most of the time.

Back in the day, I'd ride all year round. I would even ride when the bike path was covered with ice. I drive 100s of sheet screws into mountain bike tires and they worked on ice just like studded tires on a car. Anyway, that's how I'm getting most of my exerciise these days.

Here's the bike I ride, a titanium Airborne carpe Diem with Campagnolo Centaur components:

IMG_0130_1.jpg


When I drive to work, I walk up the 4 flights of steps to my office instead of using the elevator. I also go on walks with my wife.

I have a long way to go. I'm 5'10" and weigh 195 lbs. My doctor says I need to lose at least 15 lbs. When I was in great shape, I weighed about 160 -- very lean. II need to get back to that.

Keep up the good work guys!
 
Keith, that's a nice bike and you've found a great way to get your exercise. I would also think that you save some money on the the days you bike. It's real lucky that you have a safe path to ride. At 5' 10" your goal is exactly the same as mine 180 lbs. I expect you'll get there first.
 
For me, I don't have a lot of spare time due to work, but I've found that intensity makes up for not exercising as much. I ride my bike at full all out intensity from one end of my subdivision to the other, up a pretty significant hill, and in a high gear. If I do it right, I'm gasping for air at the end. This is the key for me. I find that when I lie down to sleep after a hard session like that, my lungs are cleaning themselves out all night, and I need to clear my throat a lot. I breathe in a lot of dust in the shop over a day's time, and the hard exercise is the only thing that really keeps me from getting run down. Once you go all out, the next day isn't nearly as hard, as you can absorb a lot more oxygen in your swept out lungs. You can do the same intensity workout without breathing as hard or as much perceived effort. As I said, that's what works for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top