The first is here, time to shape up!

[GreenDoberman]

I set October 1st as my official date to start my new fulltime "job" of getting my fat ass in shape. I'm serious about this and hope that those responding will offer tips or encouragement.

I am going to weigh myself and take my body fat in about 3 minutes (Midnight Pacific Time). Then I will set my goals and attempt to be disciplined enough to follow them.

Props to 5teamparlay, xpanda, and Mr. Hognuts for similar threads that inspired me. Anyone who saw me at either Bash will know that I gained quite a bit of unwanted weight in the past year simply by being lazy and poor eating and drinking habits.

Well now is time for a change.

 

[GreenDoberman]

I did go grocery shopping today and bought some healthy foods that I think will aid in the process. Also, I intend to up the water intake and lower the soda/beer intake as that is a key in the process.

For the next two weeks I will be using one of those cleansing products to try and get my body in shape. I will also be doing some light cardio and weight training to get my body back used to that as well before I plunge full-bore into the exercise regimen.

 

[GreenDoberman]

Weighed in at 215 pounds.
Body fat is 31%.

I am embarrassed to even post that considering 6 years ago I was around 155 and had a body far of 6.5%. But I guess the embarrassment is a good thing instead of being content with being a slob. I went to the DMV last week and got a new license because I moved and got a new picture. I hardly even recognized myself because I was so far.

Time to get it started and "keep the continue".

 

[quantumleap]

Hey, are we going to go to Fireflys tapas place the next time I'm in town???

 

[5teamparlay]

Best of luck, I know you can do it. I'll post my body fat #'s as well as my doctor has kept track of all that. Do you have a short term goal/ ideal weight. The beer was a killer for me, replaced it with a diet mixed drink. Lost 4 sizes in the waist so far.

Cut out french fries, pizza, bread etc. , plenty of alternitives (green veggies, salads, chicken, etc) even when going out. Replace bad with good.

With the old habits out and new habits 'in' the first few pounds should drop right off considering what your body is used to. Share your goals with your sig other / friends so they can support and help (eat right, motivate etc).

 

[GreenDoberman]

Damn right, QL. I went there for lunch one day. Plus with my new car and new place there are a ton of great places around here to eat as well.

 

[GreenDoberman]

I would say my waist size is 37 right now. Considering when I was in top shape I could get into 30's and 32 is ideal. I look like a pregnant woman expecting twins and I have man-boobies Phil Mickelson would be jealous of.

Short-term I want to get under 200. I never hit that and when I did I exploded for another 15-20. Ideally I'll take 165 and 12% or less body fat. If it takes a year, so be it. I have the time. Right now I have two months of hardcore discipline and mental toughness to get decent. Come December I am visiting the family and hopefully heading to Costa Rica. I want people to be able to tell me I look like I've lost weight and say it honestly.

 

[GreenDoberman]

I went back and looked at my records. On January 1st, I weighed 197 lbs. and had 25% body fat. Certainly I am going in the wrong direction.

 

[RobFunk]

The weight training is the key. Short reps and high weight. One muscle group per week with many sets for each.

This will boost the metabo and make you look buff.

And then you can drink and eat whatever, you will be on easy street.

Best of luck with however you decide to reach your goals.

 

[Presto]

Weighed in at 215 pounds.
Body fat is 31%. I am embarrassed to even post that considering 6 years ago I was around 155 and had a body far of 6.5%.

Holy shit. That's a bodog spread. 6.5% means you were hitting on all cylinders and running premium.

I did go grocery shopping today and bought some healthy foods that I think will aid in the process. Also, I intend to up the water intake and lower the soda/beer intake as that is a key in the process.

Shopping? Shopping? Shopping? I mean we're talking shopping. Must be serious. Call me weird, but I love shopping and looking at all the wonderful products in the market.

I am not sure I can tell you anything you don't already know as far as what to avoid. Some things I have heard and practiced over the years:

1. eat something small an hour after you get up (avoid sugar except in whole fruit)

2. make lunch the largest meal of the day

3. if you like apples in general, try several varieties to see which one you like best. Peel and slice an apple an hour or two after lunch.

4. sleep is underrated as a health practice. Get a fair amount of rest every night.

5. don't waste your money on "cleanses," vitamins or so called supplements. All of that can had through a quality diet.

You know it won't be easy. Your quest will test your endurance and will power. Keep your frame of mind right and never lose sight of your goals.

I will look forward to reading your progress reports.

 

[mrhognuts2]

Weighed in at 215 pounds.
Body fat is 31%.

I am embarrassed to even post that considering 6 years ago I was around 155 and had a body far of 6.5%. But I guess the embarrassment is a good thing instead of being content with being a slob. I went to the DMV last week and got a new license because I moved and got a new picture. I hardly even recognized myself because I was so far.

Time to get it started and "keep the continue".

greendoberman,gettin on the internet,and announcing to the the world,that i was sick of myself and was goin to do somethin about it,was one of the most eye opening things ive ever done.....being fat,uh,,obese,is depressing as hell....i didnt know that,until i became unobese...i thought it was the weather,these fkn ballgames,my kids,hehehe....greendoberman,be proud of yerself,for drawin a line in the sand.....bein fat,changed who i was,and i did not like it......buuut,eatin right,and gettin out on the trails every day,also changed who i was.....i got my mojo back!...im a staunch member,of alcoholics annonymous..they taught me,that if i could quit drinkin,bygod anything was possible....ive gone from 295-212....no pills.no frills....because,that short term stuff,(pills)didnt address my problem...i needed to learn how to eat and exercise,in a healthy way...that sounds simple,and it is...buut,it aint easy to get out of old habits..but a habit,is just that,a habit.somethin we do,cause we are used to doin it.....gd,grocery shoppin,is under-rated..if it aint in my house,i cant eat it...just remember,we're all in this together,and hognuts is pullin for ye..and by the way..'keep the continue'

 

[GreenDoberman]

Presto,
At the time I was in top shape, I was working at a gym, running 40-60 miles a week and doing 5k's and half-marathons. It is a far cry from where I am at today.

Agree on the sleep part.

The cleanse is also partly because I have abused my liver with the drinking over the last few years and I think it is worthwhile to try and get that back to normal since this will no doubt be a shock to my system.

 

[GreenDoberman]

great post hognuts. Think we have some similarities as to our path. I hope I can be as successful as you.

This morning got up and did a 21-minute walk around the neighborhood first thing. Not a lot, but just baby steps at this point.

Drinking the water at a good pace today and having small sensible meals.

It is a good start and I'm trying to lay the groundwork now so I can take bigger leaps later.

 

[mrhognuts2]

great post hognuts. Think we have some similarities as to our path. I hope I can be as successful as you.

This morning got up and did a 21-minute walk around the neighborhood first thing. Not a lot, but just baby steps at this point.

Drinking the water at a good pace today and having small sensible meals.

It is a good start and I'm trying to lay the groundwork now so I can take bigger leaps later.

greendoberman,i just had to post this,after you wrote tht you 'ONLY'did 21 minutes...please dont ever compare what you are doin,to what you did,10 yrs ago..its a different ballgame...but more importantly,dont compare what youre doin,to what anybody else is doin...only compare,what you did today,with what you did last week,or last month.....,my first day out,i did 1/4 mile,and it liked o killed me...i was so fkn tired and sore...i really really,wanted to quit,but i would have almost,rather been dead,than to have stayed in that condition.....annnd,the worst thing in the world you could possibly do,is exercise too much,right off the bat,or expect to lose too much,too soon....just read my thread...i dont know how many guys have come in there,proclaiming that they were goin to look like jack lalane,in 3 months...next thing ye know,theyve dropped out of sight...they meant well,but their expectations were too high,and they did too much,too soon.....just get up every mornin.and do what you can,no more no less....the barometer that i use is this...when i lay my head down on that pillow at night..do i feel like my actions,during that day,were the actions of a person who cared about their health...have i done the best i could reasonably do?..if the answer is no,im ashamed of myself..if the answer is yes,i sleep like a mfer,and wake up feelin as proud as a guy who calls himself mrhognuts can feel..hehehe.....for a few months,i had to force it,but now i love the hell out of gettin up in the mornin,and feelin good..nothin like it..just remember one thing...we're all in this together,and old hognuts is pullin for ye....'keep the continue'

 

[quantumleap]

Damn right, QL. I went there for lunch one day. Plus with my new car and new place there are a ton of great places around here to eat as well.

I thought maybe it would be too tempting and you would go off your diet. After all, I am an enabler.

:nohead:

Seriously though, I'm doing the walking and also lifting weights. Water is good too. Lots of good advice in this thread.

I would like to impart something I've learned. I've been walking 3 or 4 times a week since 1989. The critical part is to not get discouraged if you miss a few days or even a few weeks. Once you get in the habit it's yours to keep. I just hope I keep up with the lifting weights for another 18 or more years. I would hate to be a fat old man with skinny arms and skinny legs.

Good luck.

:toast:

 

[xpanda]

GD, it's great to see you doing this! I'm wondering, are you still not drinking?

I'm going to follow this thread with you, and borrow some of your ideas. Since I quit smoking (nearly three weeks now) I've turned into a human goddamned blender. I'm lucky that I'd dropped a bunch of weight before quitting so I had some room to grow, so to speak, but want to hold at the weight I'm at now, about 135.

So if you don't mind, instead of a wager against you, I'd like to piggyback your run.

Starting with: today I finally opened Hip Hop Abs - one of those late-night infomercial videos that looked like fun, but that I bought five months ago and tossed in the closet. Made it through the full 45 mins, lungs survived okay, a nice bonus I must say.

Now, to keep me away from the licorice....

 

[GreenDoberman]

Agree Hognuts. I could have gone more, I wasn't winded or tired but I did not want to overdo it. I have in the past and like you said you end up giving up too soon.
I'd rather start slow and finish fast than start fast and finish slow.

 

[GreenDoberman]

Xpanda,
I had my goodbye night at my old local watering hole before I moved. It is really not in my best interest to drink right now and it would only impede the progress that I need to make.

Went to a friends house tonight to watch Monday Night Football and the others were having many adult beverages but I stuck to water.

I intend to have "cheat days" where I can eat some junk food, maybe even have a beer or a glass of wine. Eating too healthy can be a bad thing if you don't shock the system and stray or indulge once in a while.

As for now, like Hognuts said, I can go to bed and play back the day knowing that I made progress by eating and drinking the right things and staying away from the things that would keep me or get me right back to where I am.

 

[5teamparlay]

GOING on my diet was something that I finally did for myself, being a good dad and husband I often cut out the exercise (going out to the gym) and ate what was easy (but not healthy) and convenient to eat. Yeah you might be out walking and not posting here or out at a party, but ultimately this is something you do for you.

I also would space weigh ins more than 6 days apart to see progress and provide for general daily fluctuations.

 

[quantumleap]

Xpanda,
I had my goodbye night at my old local watering hole before I moved. It is really not in my best interest to drink right now and it would only impede the progress that I need to make.

Went to a friends house tonight to watch Monday Night Football and the others were having many adult beverages but I stuck to water.

I intend to have "cheat days" where I can eat some junk food, maybe even have a beer or a glass of wine. Eating too healthy can be a bad thing if you don't shock the system and stray or indulge once in a while.

As for now, like Hognuts said, I can go to bed and play back the day knowing that I made progress by eating and drinking the right things and staying away from the things that would keep me or get me right back to where I am.

GD, I believe "cheat days" are essential. Whenever I've made progress on a diet it was when I allowed for those. Your body feels deprived during a diet and kicks in extra hormones to compensate so that you are made to feel hungrier to make up for the food deprivation. An occasional cheat fools your body into thinking that you will supply it with enough calories and it doesn't have to put out hormones to compensate.

Remember, diets are a change in life, not a temporary fix. You must continue on the diet to keep weight off, not just lose it.