[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAtKcwew8zY[/media]
Anyone here ever gotten on a good slimmin down kick?
Was just looking through some pictures from about two years ago--the summer that I worked in a good hot warehouse all summer. I was thinking I looked pretty much the same, but then I saw a side shot of me and realized that I was damn skinny compared to the belly I've got now. Bought a scale a few months ago and realized I've gained somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 pounds since then. Woah! I think it was one of those slow things where I honestly thought my cheap apartment dryer was slowly shrinking my clothes, but now I do in fact know that it's been the opposite way around!
So what have you guys done to get off your ass and lose some weight? There's way too many things out there that cost a lot of money and I'm working on a college sort of salary and not able to put too much extra money into the venture. Is the secret just to eat more greens, cut out fast food and run? Seriously, what's worked for you guys?
Here's the proof:
Then:
(http://photos-540.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v115/46/123/34102540/n34102540_31094751_4127.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/eiseyrokker/IMG_0907.jpg)
Now (my clothes need to fit a lot looser and I've been realizing how much I've been slowed down by carrying some extra meat):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/eiseyrokker/DSC03221.jpg)
Exercise and Weight-Watchers. It works wonders and will teach you to eat a proper diet unlike those idiot fad diets like Atkins.
I am a big fan of sparkpeople.com. It helps you track your daily calorie intake, which kind of forces you to really think about what you're eating. It's free, and the site also has a lot of other really cool resources.
kill the soda and fast food
is Diet Coke bad for you?
I just dropped 5 pounds by pounding the trails at Natural Bridge State Park in KY for the last 3 days in 90+ heat. I felt flushed and cleansed after each hike. I started with water with meals, only Ale 81 for soda, skip the fries and have a salad. I just have to keep it going once school starts!
Quoteis Diet Coke bad for you?
Maybe too much sodium? Could influence blood pressure and water retention.
QuoteQuoteis Diet Coke bad for you?
Maybe too much sodium? Could influence blood pressure and water retention.
Waaaay too much sodium and it's a diuretic, not to mention being loaded with caffine, plus Coke is an evil company. There's also studies that point to excessive Diet Coke consumption leading to the rotting of the lining of your stomach. But Diet Coke does taste awful refreshing when you are hung-over to the gills.
Quoteis Diet Coke bad for you?
diet soda won't really add weight but it will keep weight on (so yes, bad for weight loss) and like everyone said, too much sodium. the only good thing to drink is water. the chemicals in diet soda and other sugarless drinks (crystal light) are too complex for your body to break up, so they store them as fat.
keys to weightloss---exercise for good metabolism, fiber and drink a ton of water (and lay off anything that comes in a bag/bottle/can) when you go to the grocery store--only shop in the outside aisles except for low carb/organic/whole wheat pasta and high fiber cereals)
also try a juice or complete water fast everyone once in a while to cleanse the system.
2 summers ago, my dad called me for the first time in 23 years. I promptly lost 20 pounds over a 9 month period (I changed nothing in my diet or eating patterns). I have since gained it all back...
I lost 60+ pounds about 6 years ago. I was up to about 250 and got down to 170 at the lowest. Lack of exercise and portion control were major contributors. That and a 2 litter of Mountain Dew a day habit. Quit soda, period. Cut back on portions, not necessarily what I ate, and I exercised like a California Raisen on crack.
On the exercise, do something that you find fun. I started running and really enjoyed it for some strange reason. I had major motivation in a 5'2" blonde with ummmm a great set of assets. We ran together for 4+ years including 4 half marathons. She motivated me.....and I leave it at that. I felt fantastic those 4 years. I could get up early, stay up late, never felt tired, and the errr bedroom activities were better. I have since gained about 15-20 lbs depending on the day and how much work I did outside over the weekend. I have cut back on the exercise to 3 days a week and my portions have steadily gotten bigger again. I feel tired more, but that may be because I'm almost 36 and I have 2 kids. I need some kind of motivation to workout hard, again.
I'll have to see if I have some good before/after shots. It was alarming noticible. People didn't really think I was that big until they saw me afterwards....at the say the beached whale body I had at a pool.
Quote2 summers ago, my dad called me for the first time in 23 years. I promptly lost 20 pounds over a 9 month period (I changed nothing in my diet or eating patterns). I have since gained it all back...
Tracy, can you please have your dad call me? I havn't spoken to him in over 40 years....I figure that'll lose me somewhere around 30 lbs?!?! Thanks. 8-)
QuoteQuote2 summers ago, my dad called me for the first time in 23 years. I promptly lost 20 pounds over a 9 month period (I changed nothing in my diet or eating patterns). I have since gained it all back...
Tracy, can you please have your dad call me? I havn't spoken to him in over 40 years....I figure that'll lose me somewhere around 30 lbs?!?! Thanks. 8-)
yeah i'll even take a text message or email---anything
acidophilus/probiotic supplement every day for a billion reasons.
hoodia tea (natural appetite suppressant).
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/USA/Products/HoodiaSlimmingTeaUS.htm
stevia (natural sweetener/fiber supplement).
http://www.herbalremedies.com/stev50pacswe.html
aspartame in diet coke is poison (yes, I still drink it).
eat small meals more often to speed up metabolism.
chew your food! eating too fast makes you fat.
mangosteen (supplement that increases fat metabolism/regulates blood sugar levels).
and, not to get too oogie boogie, but the key to a healthy weight is feeling full emotionally, spiritually, etc. otherwise we try to fill that void with food and other things (I did this for years).
QuoteQuoteQuote2 summers ago, my dad called me for the first time in 23 years. I promptly lost 20 pounds over a 9 month period (I changed nothing in my diet or eating patterns). I have since gained it all back...
Tracy, can you please have your dad call me? I havn't spoken to him in over 40 years....I figure that'll lose me somewhere around 30 lbs?!?! Thanks. 8-)
yeah i'll even take a text message or email---anything
it's not worth it...
I've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
QuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
congrats, brad!! you're wasting away!!
i'm training for another marathon so hopefully i'll drop these alcohol pounds i've gained this summer---alcohol=not good for metabolism or calorie intake LOL
QuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
QuoteQuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
My clients assure me that an all-cosuming meth addiction will do the trick. You'll probably lose teeth in addition to pounds, so there's a trade-off.
QuoteQuoteQuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
My clients assure me that an all-cosuming meth addiction will do the trick. You'll probably lose teeth in addition to pounds, so there's a trade-off.
yep, my clients call it the "stem fast" diet; Guarantees you a whole new lifestyle on many different levels.
QuoteQuoteQuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
My clients assure me that an all-cosuming meth addiction will do the trick. You'll probably lose teeth in addition to pounds, so there's a trade-off.
yeah meth is always good for weight loss--if you lose your teeth then it's harder to eat so that's good--you also lose weight because your skin starts coming off in blotches and everyone knows skin is the biggest organ...you should really try coke for weight loss---and it's fun at parties and you'll always get invited back
QuoteQuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
I haven't looked for any good comparison shots, yet, but I've lost 4 inches off of my waist... so it definitely shows. I've been on the Bariatric program, which is basically a supervised fast - yes, I am eating, but I have to eat their food, which isn't very good, but it obviously works. I've been working out a lot, even when I got sidelined with a sprained ankle, and I think I'm finally starting to feel healthier. It's awesome.
Penny, I could NEVER run a marathon - you are herculean in spirit, my friend!
QuoteQuoteQuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
I haven't looked for any good comparison shots, yet, but I've lost 4 inches off of my waist... so it definitely shows. I've been on the Bariatric program, which is basically a supervised fast - yes, I am eating, but I have to eat their food, which isn't very good, but it obviously works. I've been working out a lot, even when I got sidelined with a sprained ankle, and I think I'm finally starting to feel healthier. It's awesome.
Penny, I could NEVER run a marathon - you are herculean in spirit, my friend!
You can Brad. Start with 1/2 Marathons. if you can do 8-10 miles, you can do 13. It took me about 8 months before I felt that I could do one. 1/2's really aren't too bad and they give you an obtainable goal.
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI've lost 30 pounds in 8 weeks or so. I look much better, I think.
very nice. what have you been doing? taken any comparison pictures?
I haven't looked for any good comparison shots, yet, but I've lost 4 inches off of my waist... so it definitely shows. I've been on the Bariatric program, which is basically a supervised fast - yes, I am eating, but I have to eat their food, which isn't very good, but it obviously works. I've been working out a lot, even when I got sidelined with a sprained ankle, and I think I'm finally starting to feel healthier. It's awesome.
Penny, I could NEVER run a marathon - you are herculean in spirit, my friend!
You can Brad. Start with 1/2 Marathons. if you can do 8-10 miles, you can do 13. It took me about 8 months before I felt that I could do one. 1/2's really aren't too bad and they give you an obtainable goal.
or you could start w/a 5K, then 10K--then half---it's very doable---it's all MENTAL--a good playlist helps the training runs, too--you don't have to run fast!
Quote
or you could start w/a 5K, then 10K--then half---it's very doable---it's all MENTAL--a good playlist helps the training runs, too--you don't have to run fast!
Good point. Last 1/2 I ran, I did it in 2 hours. I was in no hurry. Start with 5 or 10 K's. They are fairly easy.
what an inspiring thread!
i used to work out with a trainer a couple times a week. it's not in the checkbook these days, so i'm looking a bit of a sloth.
tomorrow i'm going to get on the bike early!
Quotea good playlist helps the training runs, too--you don't have to run fast!
I listen to Chris Cornell when I'm on my walk.
:-/
SUCCESS! I found some really good (and by good I mean really bad before pictures). I remember people at workin thinking i was sick for a while. I didn't understand why. Looking through the pictures, now I understand why. Jeez o pete did I chunk up. I'll post some tonight or tomorrow once I figure out how to use my scanner. i.e. I can convince my wife to scan them.
QuotePenny, I could NEVER run a marathon - you are herculean in spirit, my friend!
Angry Ewok, If I ran a marathon anybody on this planet can run a marathon. Truly. Baby steps will in fact (eventually) get you there, that and having training buddies always helps! Nothing like showing up for the Saturday morning group run and not being prepared to make you get your act together mid-week! I used the Galloway Method which is a run/walk combo. For my *cough* ability, I was told I should run for 4 minutes, then walk for 1 minute. It works and it's much less painful than you might think!
In case anybody's interested here's a link to Galloway's website: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/
PS - Good for you Christine, which are you running?
QuoteQuotePenny, I could NEVER run a marathon - you are herculean in spirit, my friend!
Angry Ewok, If I ran a marathon anybody on this planet can run a marathon. Truly. Baby steps will in fact (eventually) get you there, that and having training buddies always helps! Nothing like showing up for the Saturday morning group run and not being prepared to make you get your act together mid-week! I used the Galloway Method which is a run/walk combo. For my *cough* ability, I was told I should run for 4 minutes, then walk for 1 minute. It works and it's much less painful than you might think!
In case anybody's interested here's a link to Galloway's website: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/
PS - Good for you Christine, which are you running?
oh man! i love jeff galloway. My dad (CC coach) has a huge framed autographed poster of his. i've read some of his stuff. vespa-that's awesome --. --it's such a test of mental fortitude. what is the SF marathon like? i'm going to do Columbus in Nov; it's pretty flat and fast. (although i'm neither so we'll see LOL) i agree the training is the hardest yet most rewarding thing, i'm kind of a loner anyway, so i prefer to train alone. we should get a jacket training thread going ;-)
Dude, you couldn't pay me to run the SF marathon, not that I know for sure, but I'd imagine it's quite hilly. I've been told the Big Sur Marathon is a bear because of the number of hills!! I've done 3 marathons in total (plus a bunch that I've signed up for and then didn't do) :-[ : a "training" marathon of a mere 26 miles (no .2) through the hills of Griffith Park in LA; the Mardi Gras Marathon in NoLa; and the Honolulu Marathon. Flat flat flat. Me likey that way!! These were all back in 2004 and I've been trying to get motivated to another one ever since... :'(
WOW.... All you healthy fitness types. I wish I could get motivated to exercise. The only marathon I can do is the GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS on sunday afternoons.
QuoteDude, you couldn't pay me to run the SF marathon, not that I know for sure, but I'd imagine it's quite hilly. I've been told the Big Sur Marathon is a bear because of the number of hills!! I've done 3 marathons in total (plus a bunch that I've signed up for and then didn't do) :-[ : a "training" marathon of a mere 26 miles (no .2) through the hills of Griffith Park in LA; the Mardi Gras Marathon in NoLa; and the Honolulu Marathon. Flat flat flat. Me likey that way!! These were all back in 2004 and I've been trying to get motivated to another one ever since... :'(
Tater- ;D
vespa--have you read "ultramarathon man" (dean karnazes)? THAT will motivate you. i think we should train to do an ultra marathon--i would love to at some point. i can imagine the SF is super hilly--i've only done cols, cleveland and NYC--just pick up that book--you will be out the door at 6am bright and early the next day. you have perfect weather for it out there, too!!
Here ya go, try this one: http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/about.html
The Marathon des Sables, the most insane run I've heard of. My brother in law did this one a couple of years ago. But he's totally crazy (in a good way!)
"It covers 243km/151 miles (in sections similar to 25, 34, 38, 82, 42, 22 km) run over 6 days (7 for some) - equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons. That's a speed of between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78). In addition to that, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint."
"You will have to prepare all your own food throughout the race and I warn you that there is not a chain of Tesco stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. You will experience mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F, of running or walking on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15 - 20% of the distance being in sand dunes."
:o :o :o
QuoteHere ya go, try this one: http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/about.html
The Marathon des Sables, the most insane run I've heard of. My brother in law did this one a couple of years ago. But he's totally crazy (in a good way!)
"It covers 243km/151 miles (in sections similar to 25, 34, 38, 82, 42, 22 km) run over 6 days (7 for some) - equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons. That's a speed of between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78). In addition to that, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint."
"You will have to prepare all your own food throughout the race and I warn you that there is not a chain of Tesco stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. You will experience mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F, of running or walking on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15 - 20% of the distance being in sand dunes."
:o :o :o
wow-every day i see a new level of insanity--ultramarathon man's got nothing on that. that is CRAZY and probably physically impossible for most people--your bro-n-law is an animal!