Do You Take Time To Exercise Daily?

It's amazing how much of a difference diet makes.

After a couple semesters with no exercise and an extremely poor diet, I hit about 220 pounds. I'm about 5'10".

After another semester or two with no exercise and but a better diet, I got to about 180 pounds.

I took Fitness Center last semester, and now I'm at the low 170's, except now I can actually see some muscles when I flex, my biceps are noticably larger, and I can actually see some of my leg muscles without flexing.

I still have a bit of a belly, though.

I've actually been meaning to get an exercise plan together for the summer. My brother has some weights in the garage, and I guess I can walk and jog until I get an exercise bike.

My goal is to get to the point where I can feel good about taking my shirt off.
 
I'm a firm believer in whatever works and Bruce it sounds like you've found something that works for you. It sounds like you're more of a sprinter in your exercise regime. Sprints are more of an anerobic exercise and with increased intensity can build muscle. Added muscle burns more calories even while the body is at rest, burning more fat. Aerobic exercise only burns calories while you're doing it. Anerobic execise (like sprints) does put more initial stress on the body. For example; walking is easier and less stressful than jogging, and jogging is less stressful than all out, full speed 100 yard dashes.

My plan for reaching my fitness goals are; first to start out walking a known distance (like 2 1/2 miles) at a comfortable pace. Next is reduce the time it takes to walk the distance with each walk. Next is to add short joggs into the walk, and walking again whenever needed. When I can run the whole 2 1/2 distance continue to increase the overall pace and reduce the time it takes to do the course. Finally is to add wind sprints short all out runs for 50 or 100 yards during the course, and to also to finish the course at top speed. It's always nice to finish strong. For me to be able to run 2 1/2 to 3 miles at a good pace will give me a very good level of fitness. Adding strength training at a gym would be my ideal workout regime.
 
Aerobic exercise only burns calories while you're doing it.
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Not true. Go for a run and your metabolism will be higher for hours afterward, burning far more calories than you burned while you were actually running.
 
Cougar Allen said:
Not true. Go for a run and your metabolism will be higher for hours afterward, burning far more calories than you burned while you were actually running.
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Interesting, I've always thought there was little or no carry over effect from aerobic exercise, with regards to weight loss. But I guess it makes sense that it would increase metabolism, and that would also burn additional calories.

I wonder if it has a predicted amount of benefit. For example if you burn 100 calories for each mile run, how many more calories are burned in the carry over?
 
I'm about 6' 0" and dropped from 215 down to about 175. I'm still trying to drop more of the fat and build up more muscle. I'm 17 so this is far easier for me than some of the older guys here. Good luck to anyone who takes the effort to improve their body and health. I work out 45 minutes 3 times a week at a private gym, and I am about to start running daily to get that extra cardio in there.
 
This thread is oddly timely. I've been trying to lose weight since March. Started at around 215 and now I'm down to around 202. My goal is to get under 185 (I'm 6'0") or hit 17% bodyfat, whichever comes first.

Been doing a lot of cross training to make it happen -- biking 20 - 30 miles at a crack, speed walking 4 - 5 miles, stairmaster and elliptical machines at the gym, lifting weights for aerobic effect (NOT for building big muscles) and so forth. In the next couple of weeks I'll get back into the pool (was a competitive swimmer for years) and once I get down around 190 I'll start running again.

The important thing for me is to workout twice a day (morning and evening) and struggle to not take a break unless my body absolutely demands it.

Of course, I'm also watching what I eat very carefully.

I think I might have pushed it too fast, though, because I caught a nasty chest cold a few days ago. So at the moment I'm on a rest break, but I'll start hitting it again Tuesday or Wednesday this week.

I see a lot of people walking around way overweight, and my opinion is that if they're happy being that way more power to them. But I find that the extra pounds just makes my back and knees hurt and so the pounds must come off.

It's good to see others fighting the good fight on this one....
 
I work out 5 days a week or more. Over this summer my goal will be to keep a track of my run, bike, and swim distances from the beginning to end of summer.
 
bulgron said:
I see a lot of people walking around way overweight, and my opinion is that if they're happy being that way more power to them. But I find that the extra pounds just makes my back and knees hurt and so the pounds must come off.

It's good to see others fighting the good fight on this one....
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I'm not happy when I'm overweight, and I doubt very strongly there are many happy obese or morbidly obese people. I think people can be resigned to their being overweight, having tried many ways to shed the pounds and failing. I think many will become defensive and make excuses for their fat, "I'm not fat, I'm big boned". Have you ever seen a fat skeleton? Big boned my ash. I know that I'm responsible if I'm overweight and unhappy about it. I know I have to watch what I eat and get regular (daily) exercise. The hard part is starting, the good part is it actually gets easier every day.
 
No I don't and man am I feeling it now!!!!!
I've always been big but never been weak and could always work hard but after 5 years of sittin on my butt I can't do squat for 5 minutes without having to take a break! My back gets tired real quick and even my arms get tired too! I gotta get a weight bench or something and start working out daily or I'm not gonna be able to walk!
 
L6steel said:
I gotta get a weight bench or something and start working out daily or I'm not gonna be able to walk!
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Mikey My Brother, forget the weight bench, just get up and start walking. Walk every day, don't let anything stop you. Start slow, go a little farther or a little faster every day. Do some stretching, touch your toes, do deep knee bends, some pushups and crunches. Please, start slow, but start tomorrow.

Email me I have other suggestions for you where you won't need to buy anything, or have any reason why you have to wait.
 
Started working out again, 2x12's stretches, my endurance is shot right now, and the weight has to come off for reasons Bulgron mentioned, knees and back.

Plan on riding a bike to work and limiting fat intake to 60 or 70 grams a day or right around 400 fat calories a day, and of course, beer is going off of the menu...:(
 
I mentioned in my first post that"I don't feel too good about it, meaning I keep hearing that if you exercise regularly, your mind and body will "miss it" if you don't do it. For i variety of reasons, ( Murphy's law, work and soft knee) I just missed two days of exercise, and now, I get it. I really am craving the workout. I should be able to get to the gym tonight, But I missed my 30 minute walk yesterday and today, and have not been able to get to the gym either. I also must say that reading the posts here on this subject gives me a bit of motivation as well. I am lucky enough to be starting my workouts at the gym, but at any time I could be transiting to an area that does not have the luxury . I do have a jump rope with me, so when i don't have the gym i can do that, and of course i will be fast walking in the mornings. Many of the places here in China have parks set up for exercise, with public machines, and that is pretty cool, and of course there are places for Tai chi, fan exercises for women, and martial arts practice. It really is conducive to keeping in shape. Keeping with the "Blade theme here, the people even practice with swords, pikes spears, and a variety of edged weapons. Right in public. The park for that here is under reconstruction, and I have not found the places where it is done now. Many of the building complexes have their own little courtyards where this can be done. To bad the US is so litigious and fearful, public ares with exercise equipment would be nice to have.
 
I've seen groups of people working out with Chinese weapons right in Prospect Park, Brooklyn , NY, USA. I stopped to watch the first time I saw them, but I never questioned for a second if it would be illegal or not, or if anyone else would have a problem with them. I guess people didn't because I've seen them several times since.
 
is a subject near and dear to me
i,m 57 soon to be 58
ive lifted weights off and on since i was 10
stoped working out last time about 6 yrs ago
when i had to do the hospice care for my mom who had cancer
at the time i was 240 5,11"
was working with 5 set of 20 reps w 300 lbs on the bench
fast forward.....
after laying in bed doing chemo for a yr and eating the refrig for 4 or 5 years before that
i, was 420 and stiff as a board.
started dieting last dec
i started doing yoga
and started working out with weights again about 4 mos ago
really an ego crusher
i work out now w what id warm up with in the past:(
but
i,m now 340 and workouts r going great
my goal??
240 or 250 and i,ll be happy
harley
pumped up possum
 
Great topic. I used to have the opposite problem from the majority of guys in this thread. When I first started working out, I was 5'11" and weighed 115lbs. Currently I'm at about 182lbs. When I plateaued at 135lbs I become a personal trainer and that technical knowledge helped break that and get closer to the level I wanted to be at. I've help dozens of clients lose plenty of weight (at least 20 people lost 80 to up to 160lbs).

If I can give any advice about the successes of my clients, it would be to focus on instilling habits over the long run. Stop looking for short term answers, ingrain small and doable daily habits that will guide you in the direction you want until they become almost unconcious efforts. One day you'll wake up and realize how significant the changes are. If the unconcious habits you have cause you to progress, then the only thing you need to do is let time pass.
 
Larry congratz on your success so far and may your path to your ultimate goal bring you joy.

Kaizen, excellent advice, it really does come down to small and permanent changes that we make, that leads to long term success.
 
PhilL said:
Larry congratz on your success so far and may your path to your ultimate goal bring you joy.

Kaizen, excellent advice, it really does come down to small and permanent changes that we make, that leads to long term success.
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to me the thing about working out is kinda like makeing knives
itys not the goal u must focus on its the journey
u gotta get into the journey
and kazin
u can come sew my lips shut any time u like
wire my jaws shut
wield up the door on the fridge:)
harley
portley possum
 
Great advice all.

Just turned 40 late last year and thinking the same thing. Been in the upper 220s for a while. At 5'9" that's definitely over wieght by a lot. Although I do not have a lean build, 190 would be optimum. I'm down to around 218 now. Play basketball 2 - 3 times weekly, and try to watch what I eat most days. Breakfast is my weak spot at least a couple times a week, otherwise I have a Myoplex - Lite shake with fruit in it about 4 - 5 times weekly for breakfast.

This week started riding my bike to work. Only 4.5 miles each way, but every bit takes you further away from that sedentary lifestyle. Hoping to be under 210 by mid-August and down to 190 - 195 by years end.

A few things I try to do diet wise that have a huge effect on Energy and also help with a little weight loss (two different nutritionists at my gym and my wife's gym said to me):
1) Eat a substantial breakfast or source of protein within the first hour of waking up. This keeps your body from going into more of a fat storage mode for the rest of the day and your body will burn more of the calories you consume during that course of the day.
2) No processed carbs, whole grains only.
3) Try to minimize or eliminate carbs all together after the lunch time meal.
4) Smaller more frequent eating habits.

:thumbup:
 
I exercise daily but this wasnt always the case. A couple years ago I weighed in at 243 lbs which at 6'2" was at the obese range. Currently I weight a little under 180 lbs. Im working on getting a little leaner but I am in great shape now. I just ran a half marathon today in fact=). Its part of my life now and Im never going to go back.

Its all about lifestyle change. Thats what worked for me anyways. Good luck all.
 
Time for my end of the Month report. I started out on May 6th 236 lbs. When I tried to walk 2 miles I had to sit twice because of pains in my shins, muscle cramps. I’ve been on a strict Low Carb diet, I wouldn’t call it Atkins, because I’ve kept the carbs down as much as I could. On May 24th I weighed exactly what I weighed on May 24th of last year. This morning I weighed in at 221 lbs. That’s 15 pounds in 25 days. I’m still fat, but I sure am happy. I’ve still got another 5 pounds to get to Obese at 215. That’s my first real goal.

My second goal is be able to jog/run a mile. On my last workout I jogged slowly almost 1/2 mile. I don’t see any problem being able jog/run a mile in June. After that first mile, it’s just a matter of a little farther and a little faster each run.

On KTO Chat Tues. nite, I said it for the first time, “I’ll be 60 my next birthday and my real goal is to get into the shape I was when I was in my 30’s...that’s not asking much, is it?” I hadn’t really thought of it before, but I am really trying to regain my youth. To get into the shape I was when I was at my best. Ed Fowler, warned me to take it easy. Good advice and I certainly am, and I feel GREAT! I really am taking it slow, and I really believe I can reach my goal weight. Not however without a gym. I couldn’t do it without a gym when I was younger, it would be foolish to think I could without a gym membership now.

I stayed on a Low Carb diet for 4 months last year, I will probably be on it for only a month this year. I don’t really feel deprived on low carb, but I know I’ll be a lot healthier by adding more carbs, and particularly more fibre to my diet. I did switch to the ABS Diet last year and it was a nice change from the low carb. I may switch back to low carb if I hit a plateau on the ABS.

How are the rest of you doing?
 
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