Getting into shape

[Jocephus]

i swear it's always the booze.

[Freed Roger]

thats great Bulldog.

and on the diet (which includes drinking) and exercise: I can also vouch that diet is key with weight loss/control. I've done some endurance stuff -with exercise for multihours (backhand humblebrag) and the garmin device will show like 3000 calories burned.

i definitely have some cushion and need to replenish after those days, but it is not double+ normal, as the calories burned indicates. body still processes calories at a fairly normal rate (or even less than normal rate if stuck in a conservation mode). Thus, I usually put a few lbs on a day or two after a long run etc (beer).

Also - I am enjoying probiotic drinks. not all of them Kambucha or whatever. Kevita makes some that taste pretty refreshing, feel like they good for recovery and burning clean. they costly, but so is my beer.

[thrill]

i swear it's always the booze.

Yeah that's the good news bad news if you like to drink but also want to lose weight. Good news - it's going to be very simple and easy. Bad news - you're going to have to be sober (unless you smoke).

[Jocephus]

i swear it's always the booze.

Yeah that's the good news bad news if you like to drink but also want to lose weight. Good news - it's going to be very simple and easy. Bad news - you're going to have to be sober (unless you smoke).

pretty much. i still remember vividly...i started last sept working out more, adjusting diet and actually putting an effort into making health changes but it wasn't until January when i did my regular "dry january" and the pounds just fell off (in combo with the diet and exercise i'd had in place for a few months). it actually worked out well because i felt like i wasn't making progress and then by the end of the month i was like "holy crap, i look and feel so much different'. since i saw so much of a change it's really reduced my desire to drink after completing my dry january. i'll have drinks on friday and sundays, maybe a saturday but otherwise nothing....and i try not to drink beer anymore. it's funny, the last couple years i was getting into the high ABV, IPAs, etc because they tasted so much better than like, a bud light but now i'm almost back to a simple lager as it's less filling and gives me a less bloated feeling. i would say though, now that i work out everyday my body can handle a booze infused evening but i still try not to over do it. although some days i feel justified with drinks if i've worked out and feel like i almost *need* to take in some calories but i try to remind myself how i will feel the next day/morning and i'll be mad at myself for having 1 too many, etc. i figure i've lost around 50 pounds since last fall...went from 36 to 32 waist, and actually 32 is starting to get big sometimes, it's crazy. i look back and remind myself how i'd drink during the week and just how it's not sustainable.

i do still enjoy my herb though but i don't notice it as a deterrent as much (although i know it doesn't help). i don't get munchies or anything like that so that helps and if i did i have better food on hand.

Also - I am enjoying probiotic drinks. not all of them Kambucha or whatever. Kevita makes some that taste pretty refreshing, feel like they good for recovery and burning clean. they costly, but so is my beer.

i really have gotten to enjoy kombucha but the fact is i can't afford to buy it and have it on hand multiple times per week. water, water, water for me.

and kudos to you FB, tremendous work.

[Jocephus]

another thing, i've gotten to the point where now i realize/get why some people have a "leg day" and a "back day" and a "cardio day". i've "developed" a good routine for me, about 30 mins of weights and 30 mins of cardio i try to do everyday but there are some areas that aren't getting worked as well and they need more focus, etc. i'm not looking to bulk up but just tighten things up and it's like, half of my body is tight with my current routine, but if i want to take it to the next level i'll need to start expanding to get these other areas. i worry about vanity and that's not my goal but i also do want to look and feel good for myself. it's a fine line i suppose, maybe, i don't know.

[Michael]

Congrats on your progress, Joc!

I agree, you should split up your routine to give certain muscles a rest. It also helps if you change your workout every few weeks. For example, use a bench press to work your chest. After 2-3 week change to free weights, etc. It's good for your body and helps keep your workouts more interesting.

[thrill]

when i did my regular "dry january" and the pounds just fell off

It's wild. I don't drink THAT much. I'd say I'd average a drink a day, but only because I'd have a lot on friday and saturday night. I rarely drink beer or cocktails. I'm a straight liquor or red wine guy. Because of my relatively abstinent week nights and not drinking anything "heavy" like beer or sugary like cocktails, when people would say that not drinking drops the lb's, I just assumed that was for people who drank a lot or drank a lot of beer and cocktails. I also don't drink soda because I just don't like it that much. Take my coffee black. Basically I drank liquor, some wine, water, carbonated water with lime, and coffee. But then for a month I cut out all alcohol and I lost 20 pounds. I didn't exercise. Didn't change my diet. Just cut out about 10 drink a week. That's how much sugar affects my metabolism and kicks it into fat storing mode.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Yup. I'm going to try and do a month without alcohol next January just to see what happens.

(TRY is the key word here)

[Michael]

On top of booze being lousy I make the worst food choices when I drink. Not only when I'm drunk but the next day even if I'm not hungover.

In the last 6 weeks I've had 3-4 booze slip-ups. I've only had spirits for low carbs but it still throws everything off.

[thrill]

On top of booze being lousy I make the worst food choices when I drink. Not only when I'm drunk but the next day even if I'm not hungover.

In the last 6 weeks I've had 3-4 booze slip-ups. I've only had spirits for low carbs but it still throws everything off.

Yeah it's stating the obvious but the chain reaction is a [expletive]. You eat terrible while drunk. You eat terrible while recovering. You're way less likely to be active when recovering. Last Saturday I started drinking chilled tequila by the pool at like 5. Went until midnight. Slowly took down almost the entire bottle mixing in waters. Had brats and jalapeno poppers delivered from a fancy hot dog place. Woke up. Had plans to bike along the canal here in Phoenix. Instead I just laid on the couch with the blinds drawn, ate a breakfast burrito, and watched movies all day.

Basically it ruled but was obviously unhealthy.