Getting in shape rant/rave

[heyzeus]

Good luck, Dreamer.

I'm one of those people that overweight people hate - thin, and incapable of gaining weight despite a pretty mediocre diet. At a certain point, though, that I realized I was still in really bad shape; I got winded just playing softball. So I started running (which is hard to do now that it's a million degrees), with music, and it gives me that feeling you described - having energy, sleeping well, etc. Good luck, and keep at it.

[Freed Roger]

With combatting the boredom of exercise - particularly the running part - music helps. So do podcasts*. When I am unmotivated, I will head to somewhere like Forest Park - usually there is something interesting to look at while you run.

*bernie show

[letsgocards89]

I can get behind this R/R. My gym has a certified nutritionist and I scheduled a consultation with her last fall. I asked for a 7-day meal plan that tells me what to eat and when. I had gotten to the point where I was just making bad food decisions. If I had a food plan, it removed the decision-making piece. Coupling the meal plan with some exercise, I've dropped about 25 pounds and am wearing clothes I haven't worn in probably 5 or 6 years.

The rant piece is based on getting older. After shaping up I decided to set a goal of running a 5k this year. My buddy and I decided to run in the Warrior Dash. My gym has a walk-to-run plan that essentially begins with basic walking and builds you up to running a 5k in 13 weeks. Of course, week 3 I start getting insane pain in my foot/ankle, and now I'm forced into staying off of it for a while. I wasn't even over-doing it like I have a tendency to do. Frustrating.

[IMADreamer]

Watch the documentary Fat Head if you have netflix instant. It totally reinvented the way I look at dieting.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out tonight if I get the chance.

Thanks for all the support guys. I definitely feel like I can do it, it's just going to be tough.

[Freed Roger]

I never used to understood why people write down calories/what they eat and track their exercise. In my head, I can generally remember the weights I lifted, how fast/far I run, or how much I've eaten ...But there is something pyschologically useful gained in separating that information from your head. Your objective side can thereby better control your impulsive side.

And with the food - the planning helps. Just by packing your lunch and snacks, you are committing to what you will eat that day, rather than winging it.

To be honest, I don't keep a physical record of these things -usually I am just trying to maintain - but when I am in the mode of attempting to get in better shape or lose weight , I am always churning this information in my head - what have I eaten? How far/slow did I run? I have a busy day tomorrow, how can I make time to exercise? And if I were really serious about getting in shape, I would write it all down.

[letsgocards89]

And with the food - the planning helps. Just by packing your lunch and snacks, you are committing to what you will eat that day, rather than winging it.

This.

Having my lunch already prepared has saved me from eating out multiple times.

[IMADreamer]

So this has been a mother [expletive] battle. I should have started this ten years ago not two or three. Per typical of me sometimes I'm really serious about it and sometimes I'm not. I'm down like 25lbs in the last year. It's not much, it's kind of sad that I only made it down 25lbs, but buying a bunch of new blue jeans and a smaller belt size was kind of awesome today.

Ok, no I have to get serious about this. Michelle is studying pretty hard core for school and she will be done in December. I told her to pick a spot and next summer we would go as a graduation present of sorts. I thought she'd pick some place romantic like Italy or maybe Paris. Nope, she wants to go hiking in Colorado. [expletive]!!! Now I have to get serious because I'm a long way from hiking in a mountain shape. I need to drop probably 100 lbs by summer.

[jim]

Day at a time and you will get there. If you have a bad day put it behind you and get the next one.

Good luck.

[Numbers]

Yeah the old athlete is still there, hiding under the surface and ready to bust loose, you got this

[Freed Roger]

Like jim said, steady progress forward is the way to go. 25lbs in a year, that seems pretty good. Congrats. Sounds like you've been able to keep it off. Losing a lot of weight in short time period is typically not a sustainable plan. Those people get it back.

And yes - you will fall off the wagon. Think it out, and have a game plan on how to accomplish it. I typically loathe a journal - but it and fitbit and gps devices, calorie counting apps can be helpful. It externalizes the process and you get feedback on what works, instead of letting impulses dictate your diet and exercise.

Mornings are best for working out. Admittedly, I rarely do mornings, but it does kickstart the metabolism. If you wait until later in the day, and all day you take in calories on the assumption you will be working it off later, then later doesn't happen- then there you are, with a Cardinal Cafe chicken fried steak on your gut.

Get to know those backroads with a bike. I've heard you can virtually compete with others using GPS - Strava. establish some routes, and chart your progress.