The Fitness Thread

[dragonboy]

Runners, swimmers, cyclists & hammer throwers untie!

What's your sport? Do you belong to a gym? How far do you run? What's your diet like?

Impress everyone by telling us how many push-ups you do before breakfast! Post a photo of your peroneus longus if you so desire...but maybe not your gluteus maximus  ;)

You get the idea!

I'll get us started...I used to play a lot of sports in school (basketball, tennis, rugby, athletics) but then discovered drinking & got fat.
I didn't have many opportunities to play sport in Japan so I joined a gym. I started running a few months ago & really enjoy it (most days)
I do miss going to the gym - I need my endorphine rush  ;)

[mjkoehler]

Yeah, you know me.

Used to work at a gym in college. It was the greatest job for a drunken college student. I got paid to workout and do my homework.

I'm blessed in that my office has a nice gym in the basement with tons of machines and cardio equipment. Wish they had more free weights, but at this point in life, no need to bulk up.

Of course the running.....On off days, I do about 45 minutes on an elliptical we bought.

[Sparkle]

Nice thread... maybe it'll encourage me to get off my lazy ass  :-[

I used to be pretty active in my school days, got involved in hockey, squash, tennis, athletics, swimming and we had a girl's cricket team going at one point, haha!

Now when I can I swim on my lunch breaks as there's a gym at work... but not often enough and I can't bring myself to go when it's been as cold as it has. Of course there's no excuse for not going for a run at the gym, that's just me being lazy! I eat pretty healthily so not too concerned... yet!

[el_chode]

I'm on my pre wedding diet. But since I busted my back and had the mystery diagnosis in my head, I'm also on a "do not let the steroids blow you up and you need to lose the weight to be safe" diet.

However, I'm on strict no-activity orders from the doctors.

My solution: low-carb, high protien, diet combined with Wii fit plus. Since Christmas, I've lost 6 lbs from 231 to 225. My goal is to get as close to 200 as possible by October. Of course I'd still be considered Obese, but that doesn't mean shit to me.

[dragonboy]

Sorry to hear you put your back out, congrats on the weight loss.

Man, I must be the Oprah Winfrey of the MMJ Forum - my weight is always up & down!
At my fittest I'm about 83kg (183lbs) I'm 87kg now, want to try & get it back down to below 85kg.

I eat pretty healthily most days but probably drink too much beer + I do enjoy the occasional curry/pizza/tub of Ben & Jerrys  :-[

[ALady]

I played basketball, volleyball, track and golf in high school, but these days I'm not as much of a fan of traditional exercise methods (though I don't mind getting on the treadmill and zoning out with my iPod).  So I do various kinds of dance classes instead: Bollywood, bhangra, psychedelic go-go, and starting next week....line dancing   ;D

I've lost about 12 lbs since Thanksgiving by replacing my midday meal with a spinach salad, but I still have a ways to go.  

[Jaimoe]

I've been weight-training for over 20 years (3-4 times a week, including today), but my weight fluctuates 5-10 pounds depending on how much cardio I do - it's hard doing cardio such as running and biking in the winter months, so I hit the treadmill for a 20-25 minute run after my weight routine. My current weight is 170 lbs (I'm 5'7), but I've been down to as low as 163 a few years ago. I've stopped lifting heavy weights and I've upped my cardio, so I think I'll get my weight down again (163 is about as good as I can get it since I can bulk up, muscle-wise, fairly easily). I also think it's pointless to try to add muscle when adding weight isn't good for you no matter if it's muscle or fat. The bulkiest I've ever been was in the mid '90s when I was doing only power-lifting and I my weight was a very thick 195 lbs.

Currenly, I'm making a hockey comeback. I used to box and play basketball and baseball. I also ran track in public school.

[Soulshine]

In high school I ran track. I did short distances, relays and ran hurdles (that is funny b/c I'm really short.) I was a part of the dance teams in middle and high school. I did gymnastics for over 10 years. I did some kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do for a short time.

I went to college and in between practicing the fine art of the beer bong and La Bamba's at 2am I began taking Pilates, yoga and t'ai chi.

Now I run 3-4 miles 3-4 times per week and run a 5K or 2 each year. I do Pilates, yoga, PiYo, boot camp and bike. I'm a vegetarian of 9 years and I eat 100% organic when I can (dining out or at friend's houses make that tricky.)

I ride horses and used to show competitively for several years.

Overall, I know I'm healthy however I need to firm up and get moving more consistently. Winter months tend to bring lazy phases...I've already made plans for snowshoeing, snowboarding and other outdoor adventures upon my arrival in Boulder.

Andrew- I'm glad you started this thread. Hopefully we can inspire and encourage each other to get and stay healthy and fit!

[TEO]

I like to ski. I like to ride bike. I like to walk. I like to skate (4 or 5 wheel inlines). I get strong very quickly if I lift, but it hurts my joints in my shoulders (dislocated both, one ski, one skate). I am almost 52, need to lose about 25 pounds, and I will no matter what...(it will take awhile, but they say that is what is best)...

[mjkoehler]

I should preface that at this point in my life, I run and workout as mush as I do, so I do not have to deny myself any food. If I didn't work out, I would have to diet like a mofo as my weight would balloon, even with watching what I eat. In 2000, I was at least 250. There is a pic someone in the memberpic section that shows that. Lowest I got was about 170 in 2003 when I was running a lot and before knee surgery. Got down to about 180 this summer again for the marathon.

DB- the curry/pizza/tub of B&J's actually sound really good.

[el_chode]

Today I dipped under 225 lbs for the first time in about 4 years. 225 was my plateau when i dropped from about 260 through sheer hard work.

The last time I weighed under 225 for any amount of time was likely in 8th grade when I wrestled heavyweight, which had a minimum weight of 187.

Football made me bulk since I was linebacker and fullback, and that's what ultimately did me in with the broken back that haunts me to this day

[dragonboy]

So I do various kinds of dance classes instead: Bollywood, bhangra, psychedelic go-go, and starting next week....line dancing   ;D

Do you have all the gear? We need a photo of you with you cowboy hat & boots etc!

Dancing is an excellent way to keep fit. I used to go clubbing a lot in my 20s, it was great - I could drink whatever I wanted knowing that I'd burn it off later...is that cheating?  ;)

[dragonboy]

In high school I ran track. I did short distances, relays and ran hurdles (that is funny b/c I'm really short.) I was a part of the dance teams in middle and high school. I did gymnastics for over 10 years. I did some kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do for a short time.

I went to college and in between practicing the fine art of the beer bong and La Bamba's at 2am I began taking Pilates, yoga and t'ai chi.

Now I run 3-4 miles 3-4 times per week and run a 5K or 2 each year. I do Pilates, yoga, PiYo, boot camp and bike. I'm a vegetarian of 9 years and I eat 100% organic when I can (dining out or at friend's houses make that tricky.)

I ride horses and used to show competitively for several years.

Overall, I know I'm healthy however I need to firm up and get moving more consistently. Winter months tend to bring lazy phases...I've already made plans for snowshoeing, snowboarding and other outdoor adventures upon my arrival in Boulder.

[highlight]Andrew- I'm glad you started this thread. Hopefully we can inspire and encourage each other to get and stay healthy and fit![/highlight]

How fit are you?!!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

If we inspire enough people then maybe aMD will have to make sure the next Jacketfest is near an athletics track so we can hold the very first My Morning Jacket inspired olympics!

Put me down for the 100m dash - I iz well fast when I'm wearing my spikes!  ;)

[dragonboy]

DB- the curry/pizza/tub of B&J's actually sound really good.

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have posted that seeing as this is the fitness thread, not the fatness thread.

The point was to inspire one another to keep fit, not inspire one another to eat ice-cream (I know I did last night!)

[jones]

I played basketball, baseball, golf (I walked really fast), and ran track in high school.  I still periodically run, but I get bored after a few months of commitment, even with good tunes in the iPod.

I started mountain biking a couple of years ago and started racing last year. I even raced in a 12 hour race (two man team and we finished in 3rd place!) and logged about 57 miles in the woods in 6+ hours.  This year I am on an actual sponsored team and I couldn't be more excited.  I have even been riding on the trail year round as of late (the wind chill was 6 degrees last weekend and I'm riding in snow tomorrow).  It is a huge adrenaline rush and burns calories like crazy!

[Jaimoe]

Three things universally true regarding gyms: receptionists are dumb as posts; tunes on the soundsystems are horrifically bad; and most if not all big corporate fitness centres are corrupt.

[jones]

In high school I ran track. I did short distances, relays and ran hurdles (that is funny b/c I'm really short.) I was a part of the dance teams in middle and high school. I did gymnastics for over 10 years. I did some kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do for a short time.

I went to college and in between practicing the fine art of the beer bong and La Bamba's at 2am I began taking Pilates, yoga and t'ai chi.

Now I run 3-4 miles 3-4 times per week and run a 5K or 2 each year. I do Pilates, yoga, PiYo, boot camp and bike. I'm a vegetarian of 9 years and I eat 100% organic when I can (dining out or at friend's houses make that tricky.)

I ride horses and used to show competitively for several years.

Overall, I know I'm healthy however I need to firm up and get moving more consistently. Winter months tend to bring lazy phases...I've already made plans for snowshoeing, snowboarding and other outdoor adventures upon my arrival in Boulder.

Andrew- I'm glad you started this thread. Hopefully we can inspire and encourage each other to get and stay healthy and fit!

Are you in Colorado now Jennifer?  If so, I am so jealous.  I am a bluegrass boy (KY Kid), but Colorado is my favorite state.  The thought of their mountain bike trails makes me drool.

[Hawkeye]

Good thread DB.  If there is one thing I want to do this year, it is get in much better shape.  Weight has never been a big issue for me, no matter how much I eat or don't eat.  I never get huge, but I definitely have a beer belly.  I played baseball, basketball, and golf in high school.  I graduated weighing about 155 lbs.  I'm 6 ft tall.  I played basketball for one year in college, then just intramural basketball, but I weighed around 160 lbs. in college.  After school, I worked at a concrete factory, making formed concrete pieces.  I only worked 4 hours a day usually, but the high level of physical activity kept me at 165 lbs.  I then got a desk job.  In about 1 month, I put on 25-30 lbs.  I am now anywhere from 185-195 lbs.  I want to be at about 170-175 lbs.  

Quick question:  at what time of the day are you supposed to weigh yourself?  I've heard right when you get up, naked.  If I do this, I weigh 185.  By the end of the day, and with clothes on, I'm 195.

I know weight is not the only indicator of health.  I really need to stop smoking for good and to increase my cardiovascular fitness.  I can't run for much more than 5 minutes at a time without wanting to quit.  I HATE running for the sake of running.  Thinking about picking up basketball again.  I have the "P90X" workout DVD's that I got for cheap.  They seem like they'd work if you stick with them and follow the meal plan, but they are pretty tough workouts, and they do take a full hour to an hour and a half each day, which might be a bit much of a time commitment.  I really want to work on flexibility as well, and I might start trying some yoga.

Here's to good health!

[Crispy]

Hey Hawkeye, I am about in the same boat as you. 6'1", never really overweight, but I have a gut -- much less of one now. Last year at this time, I wasn't in very good shape, weighed about 220, and I couldn't run more than a mile without walking. Then I turned 40, decided I wanted to see 60, and with the help and some motivation from a very good friend, I changed a lot.

I never weigh myself -- I view fitness as being more about how you feel, not so much about what you look like. I play racquetball, do pushups, run some (not so much when it's cold), practice yoga, and I stopped eating so much. Anyway, I feel WAY better, and I know I look better too.

You should totally start playing basketball, and yoga is not only good for flexibility, it can be really strenuous too.

[NoVa_NoLa]

Hi Everyone.  My name is Sha and I'm a lapsed and out-of-shape former athlete.

I'm real happy to be in this group now and hope that you all can help me get back on the road to fitness.  I have a gym membership at the Y and a treadmill in my living room, but both are rarely used.  I also have a a 2-class yoga pass which will expire soon if I don't use it.  I love yoga.  Despise running, but am happy using an elliptical.  All I need is the proper motivation to sit on the sofa less and move about more.

What time is the next meeting?