Fitness Advice and Inspiration - Need it? Got it? Want it? Come on in here...

witchofthedogs · #1 05-22-2008, 02:33 PM

I don't know if we have a thread for this already. If we do, I can't find it. And, I'm sure, if we do, Chase will chastize me and send me off to the corner, minus my bourbon, for a time out.

However, if we don't, I think we should.

It's May. Hell, it's the end of May. And many of us who, much to our chagrin, worked well through the fall may have fallen off the fitness wagon. I, for one, am one of them.

About sixteen months ago, I lost 35 pounds. I was healthy, I was happy, I was eating well, I was exercising, and then, last Fourth of July, in a moment of complete and utter klutziness, I wrecked while riding my mountain bike and suffered a concussion and separated shoulder. Since then, my exercise regime has been nonexistant.

I need to get out and move. I need to take my two very fat, very unsocialized dogs, out so that they can move.

But I am unmotivated and I'm looking for inspiration. Or, if you live in the Pike Creek/Newark area, a walking/running buddy.

But, really, I'm looking for people to share their tips and tricks on fitness, healthy lifestyles and healthy eating. I already strive to live a healthy life but I'm looking for others to share their experiences with me...

Help, anyone?

Chase · #2 05-22-2008, 02:36 PM

Good topic, I'll chime in soon.....

Me and Ang are swearing to ourselves to hit the gym (HAC) hard as soon as we free up some time.

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bubbies6 · #3 05-22-2008, 02:45 PM

i get up early and run every morning before work. it's become sort of my addiction. never thought i'd be a morning person, but i get up and get it done. i have free weights at home, so most evenings i just do that while watching a movie or something. it's hard, but once you get yourself back into the routine, it does seem much easier. as for the eating, well i try to eat alot healthier, but i just can't leave the sweets alone. i'm not far from pike creek if ya ever feel like walking or taking a run...hit me up.
good luck

witchofthedogs · #4 05-22-2008, 02:48 PM

I'm not a morning person, but I'm definitely making a commitment to get up and, rather than run the dogs around the building quickly, take a serious 30 minute walk with them to get us all awake and moving.

That's my first step. I'll get that one down and then work on the next one.

Bada Bing · #5 05-22-2008, 03:09 PM

Fitness:
Lift weights at least three times per week. You need to build muscle
to burn fat.

Do not do long slow boring cardio. Try interval training instead. Three times per week 20 minutes a pop. Intervals are alternating between sprinting speed and jogging speed. Example would be one minute sprint then two minute jog. 5 sets of those. 3-5 minute warm-up at start, 3-5 minute cool down at end. This can be running, biking, cross-trainer machine. whatever. But there is something about sprinting that helps your body burn fat more efficiently than long slow cardio.

Nutrition:
5-6 meals per day. about 2-3 hours between meals. 3 main meals, and 2-3 snacks. Focus on lean proteins (chicken, turkey, soy, fish, some red meat), whole grain carbs, healthy fats, and boatloads of veggies and fruit)

Never eat anything with trans fat, or high fructose corn syrup.

Supplement your protein with a good quality whey protein powder. If you lift weights, you need more protein intake for muscle recovery.

That was just a quick run through, and trust me, I can't stick to this plan all the time, but it is the foundation of what I do.

I learned this from men's health magazine "The Abs Diet". They have books out, and even an Abs Diet for women.

Chase · #6 05-22-2008, 03:14 PM

My friend, who was skinny as a rail, is doing pretty much what you just outlined Bada, and the dude is getting big......i was much bigger then him a few months ago, now he is bulked up.....the bastid.

Bada Bing · #7 05-22-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase

My friend, who was skinny as a rail, is doing pretty much what you just outlined Bada, and the dude is getting big......i was much bigger then him a few months ago, now he is bulked up.....the bastid.

I was skeptical at first, but I've gotten results. The hard part is being over 40, you don't produce as much testosterone while you're muscle building. So you really have to watch the diet. And add peanut butter. That stuff is magic I swear. And whey protein.

I wish I started doing this in my 20's.... but I was on the "booze diet" back then.

witchofthedogs · #8 05-22-2008, 03:31 PM

I have to be careful about the weight lifting (to make sure that I do it correctly) as I not only have a bad shoulder, but also a rather serious back injury (yes, I know, I'm a walking medical referral case). But your points are pretty much on par with everything I've read, Bing.

The whole issue for me now is mental.

Bada Bing · #9 05-22-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boundchaos

I have to be careful about the weight lifting (to make sure that I do it correctly) as I not only have a bad shoulder, but also a rather serious back injury (yes, I know, I'm a walking medical referral case). But your points are pretty much on par with everything I've read, Bing.

The whole issue for me now is mental.

The mental part is the toughest. I know you have injuries, and it's important to either find someone to teach you the right way to work out for YOU, or read about it somewhere. The older I get, the more I listen to what my body tells me. I used to ignore all pain and discomfort and move full steam ahead. Yeah, well youth can make up for alot of pain. But post-40, that kind of stubborn mind set puts you in the doctors office.

So, that being said, find what works for you and try to stick to it.

About the mental part.... EVERYDAY that I go to workout, I wonder HOW... how will I do it tonight... I'm exhausted.... but somehow once I get there and start moving around, the fatigue lifts and the motivation kicks in. This mental routine repeats itself every time...

Angela514 · #10 05-22-2008, 03:40 PM

In exactly 1 month from today I am going to the beach for the weekend with some of my very skinny girlfriends. They all have kids too so I can't use that as my excuse, so I really need to get my ass on that treadmill. I should have already been doing it for the whole year I have belonged to the gym already!

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