Getting into shape

[tlombard]

I keep saying it is time to get my stuff together but always fall off. I did just walk to work today. It is only 3 miles but I woke up early this morning and figured why not? I'd always wondered how long it would take and how bad it would be and the answer is exactly an hour and not bad at all. Takes longer than it probably should needing to constantly stop at every intersection to wait to cross, lights on busy streets, etc. but it wasn't a bad walk at all.

I probably won't be walking home though. I need my reading time on the bus and I want to be home in time to catch the entire Blues game.

[Michael]

And here I am just trying to get south of 325. But considering I was pushing 375 a year ago, I'll take it.

That's a lot of weight. You should be quite proud of yourself.

Thanks. I was a little too proud for a while and slacked off. I stalled out for the last couple of months. I'm trying to refocus again, and just had my first drop of ~5 lbs this week.

I hear you. Since my weight loss post above I've stalled out a bit. Like you, I'm getting back on track.

I keep saying it is time to get my stuff together but always fall off. I did just walk to work today. It is only 3 miles but I woke up early this morning and figured why not? I'd always wondered how long it would take and how bad it would be and the answer is exactly an hour and not bad at all. Takes longer than it probably should needing to constantly stop at every intersection to wait to cross, lights on busy streets, etc. but it wasn't a bad walk at all.

I probably won't be walking home though. I need my reading time on the bus and I want to be home in time to catch the entire Blues game.

Working in downtown Chicago is great because there's a lot to see. I recently purchased a pass to the Chicago Art Institute and it's a fun way to stay active during my lunch break.

[Freed Roger]

You've all probably heard this-managing stress will do a lot towards health/fitness/weight. I'm a firm believer.

It does something to your metabolism. More stress causes you to blow thru the easy energy in your body -from Carbs, sugars - and never tap into the fat. Stress screws with willpower to make good health choices.

Can't really avoid stress alltogether - and to some degree, a controlled situation like a hard workout can help you build more tolerance of it. Mainly just do whatever works for you with stress -and that can mean something other than exercise. i.e. Sleep helps lose weight. And ask yourself this. Are you having enough sex?

Whatever helps you to relax is good - and this may be counterintuitive - but I find a beer and indulging in something I like food-wise is generally a positive trade-off - it makes me happy reduces stress level, and thereby helps fitness. I don't want to waste too much of my willpower capacity and stress myself out about food/drink.

Another weird thing that has happened since I came to this ^ realization where I shouldn't try too hard to live a monastic health life - I enjoy the indulgences more now, instead of mindlessly grabbing the beer or 4 to have the moment I get home from work. It may sound fancy, just being conscience of it all keeps me in check[usually]. Isn't this what the French do?

Anyways, it sucks that my office is at least 20 min roundtrip drive to the closest lunch option (and it's only a Subway). But on the good side, I am a lazy ass and forgetful about packing/making food to work, so often I get by on a piece of fruit, nuts, and Snowpiercer protein bars. And back to my above comments - this situation with lack of food at work is not always to my benefit - because sometimes I get home and tend to mindlessly shovel in whatever I have available. got to find balance- humunahumuna

i think Jim put it better a few pages back- calling us pussies for not being able to keep fitness under control, while having some fun.

[lukethedrifter]

Really seems to be about creating good routines for yourself. Which is what the hell I need to do to get going to the gym regularly.

[jim]

You've all probably heard this-managing stress will do a lot towards health/fitness/weight. I'm a firm believer.

It does something to your metabolism. More stress causes you to blow thru the easy energy in your body -from Carbs, sugars - and never tap into the fat. Stress screws with willpower to make good health choices.

Can't really avoid stress alltogether - and to some degree, a controlled situation like a hard workout can help you build more tolerance of it. Mainly just do whatever works for you with stress -and that can mean something other than exercise. i.e. Sleep helps lose weight. And ask yourself this. Are you having enough sex?

Whatever helps you to relax is good - and this may be counterintuitive - but I find a beer and indulging in something I like food-wise is generally a positive trade-off - it makes me happy reduces stress level, and thereby helps fitness. I don't want to waste too much of my willpower capacity and stress myself out about food/drink.

Another weird thing that has happened since I came to this ^ realization where I shouldn't try too hard to live a monastic health life - I enjoy the indulgences more now, instead of mindlessly grabbing the beer or 4 to have the moment I get home from work. It may sound fancy, just being conscience of it all keeps me in check[usually]. Isn't this what the French do?

Anyways, it sucks that my office is at least 20 min roundtrip drive to the closest lunch option (and it's only a Subway). But on the good side, I am a lazy ass and forgetful about packing/making food to work, so often I get by on a piece of fruit, nuts, and Snowpiercer protein bars. And back to my above comments - this situation with lack of food at work is not always to my benefit - because sometimes I get home and tend to mindlessly shovel in whatever I have available. got to find balance- humunahumuna

i think Jim put it better a few pages back- calling us pussies for not being able to keep fitness under control, while having some fun.

Not just because you quoted me, but I agree 110% with this.

[Maclowery]

Yeah, as usual, I tried for about a month to work out here and there. I'm so far on the other end of the see-saw - I stay up til 4, 6am, am always tired all day, drinks, etc. I'm not sure I'll ever be a fit person as long as I am in this career. At least I am on my feet 50 hours a week. I just can't run 3/4 of a mile without having to stop to sit for awhile.

If I ever want to have arms again (as opposed to my beanpole frame), it's going to take a complete life change. Half-assed isn't going to cut it. Now that it's the holiday crush, there isn't time for anything active anyway.

[jim]

I keep a very regular schedule, and I think I(and most people) would really struggle with exercise if that were not the case. For me, I have to workout first thing in the morning before work. It starts the day off on the right foot. If I ever have to miss I don't feel right.

[tlombard]

That's what I need to do, alter my schedule entirely and stick to it every single day instead of trying to fit it in here and there. I am single, live 3 miles from work and don't really do anything after work during the week most of the year so it isn't even a matter of needing to cut out anything other than sitting on my butt time. I was much better off a couple of years ago when I would take the ten minute walk each way to and from the Metrolink and work every day but then I found out that they altered a couple of bus routes and I could get dropped off right in front of the building and that ended. Heck, within two months of starting that and ditching regular soda at work I dropped from 320 to 280 without making a single change. That was about six or seven years ago though. I haven't made that walk to the train in probably three years now. Good lord I'm a lazy SOB.

[jim]

Habits, both good and bad, take time to develop. Sooner or later, they all become part of how you live your life.

[Freed Roger]

I've never really been able to have a regular schedule on weekdays. But I always look ahead to when I can get some exercise in. Just leaving it open to when you will get around to it won't work.

Having an endgame or reason for why I'm exercising helps me lock in. Also -the family is more on board/understanding with my regiment when I tell them I'm "training" har-har for something. Hell, as an xmas gift -my wife set up a trip for my brother and me to do a trail race in Lake Tahoe area. Was able to have fun, while having a whole lot of good beer -food.