Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

My goal is to get to 240 by the day the Buckeyes kickoff their first football game. That's about 20 pounds in roughly 4 months which should be not only doable but easily doable. Easier said than done though as you all know, this 250 pound barrier for me has proven nigh unbeatable.

[Sting]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Meh. I don't want to put a date on it. Ideally, I'd like to get to 230 by about July.

That's perfect. Keep me updated on your weigh-ins. I usually force myself to post my weigh-ins here, lost or gained, and that keeps me motivated.

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

I'll post my weigh-ins as well. If i'm going to be disappointed I might as well have you all disappointed in me as well

[Sting]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

I'll post my weigh-ins as well. If i'm going to be disappointed I might as well have you all disappointed in me as well

Exactly. It motivates me when I know I have to post my weigh-ins and face the music so to speak.

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Yeah man, I face the music three times a week. Mondays @ fat club, then I post here, then Thursdays at the weekly contest at the gym.

Btw when i say fat club i meant www.tops.org - if you're looking for a support group which meets for about a half an hour a week then it's a great group and they probably have a local chapter. It's $1 a week and you pay a fine if you gain and nothing if you lose. They have prizes for the biggest loser (small money prizes). Last month I won $30. You're not going to get rich by any means but if you lose you get stuff and it's def. a good motivator.

Each week in front of the group you just say if you gained or lost weight is all (not how much) and then they announce the two biggest winners (1st place and runner up). Mostly it's older people, I'm the only young guy there, but they have been a huge help for me in "facing the music" and having someone to rally around that's in the flesh and blood.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

So you want to get to 230 by the day NCAA 2011 releases then?

LOL, so I can gain it all back by sitting on my ***!

No, it's just that I think I can get to 230 if I work my tail off at the pursuit of it, and by June it should be really nice and hot (plus my girlfriend will be leaving for Australia and her study abroad program) and I can do more things outside without being a giant tub of lard. There's really no rhyme or reason to the date. My main goal in all of this is to get somewhere around 200. If I can do that and keep myself there, this whole thing has been a success. For those who don't know, I'm 6'3", and being 200 would still put me overweight as far as BMI is concerned, but I know most of my fat would be gone at that point. It always bugs me though that I always end up having this exchange though:

Me: "I need to lose some weight."
Other: "No you don't, you look great! What are you, 210?"
Me: "I'm 260."
Other: "Wow, you can't tell that you're that weight."

BECAUSE I WEAR BAGGY CLOTHING! TO HIDE IT!

I always end up rambling when I post in this thread, lol.

Luckily, I think the cold I had is doing its last go-round before it heads out, so I'll probably be back in the gym today watching the Simpsons as I pedal furiously.

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

I know one thing, I think my stomach has definitely gotten as small as it's going to get. I feel like I ate at a freakin' buffet and all I did was eat a normal, 425 calorie breakfast 2 hours ago of cereal, banana, grapes and a couple of thin slices of deli ham.

I've heard fiber really fills you up and evidently that All-bran combined with the grapes and banana has done just that. I feel like the hour after Thanksgiving dinner now, LOL. Not sure if I'll even have lunch until much later in the day now.

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Hey Giggas, i see what you mean but from all i've read you should set a hard and fast date with a very clear goal! That's why i was recommending that day for you!!

That sucks about your g/f leaving man...are you guys done or staying together? Its none of my business, just wondering..

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Btw - anyone else feel a sense of guilt, when you get full, even if it's on healthy food? I feel like a pig who ate at a trough or something now even though I ate properly. I just don't like the feeling of feeling full anymore.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Hey Giggas, i see what you mean but from all i've read you should set a hard and fast date with a very clear goal! That's why i was recommending that day for you!!

That sucks about your g/f leaving man...are you guys done or staying together? Its none of my business, just wondering..

Oh, no, I'm proposing to her at the beginning of the summer. This is actually going to be good for us (she thinks so, because I'll be forced to grow up and learn how to take care of my living arrangements, lol). We've been together for 5 years this month.

I know I should set a hard and fast date, but I ALWAYS procrastinate on dates. Always have, probably always will. So my goals aren't about my weight, or dates. It's to eat heathlier, at a much lower calorie level (I'm trying to do about 1500 or so), and get some exercise. Once I do those things, the weight will reflect it (at least it has been, and I hope it continues).

[slimm44]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

For those who are having trouble noticing a difference in your "walking weight" even though you've lost some pounds, try this.

1. Take a walk, maybe 100-200 yards, preferably with stairs or up a hill. It should be pretty easy, especially if you have been doing at least a little cardio.

2. Then, hold a weight, dumbbell, or preferably wear a weighted vest that symbolizes how much you've lost, so if you have lost 20 pounds so far, take a 20 pound weight, then take the same walk. Pay attention to how your body feels, especially your legs and lower back.

This should help you see how much stress losing weight has taken off of your body. The older you are, the more you can notice the long-term benefit you are giving to your knees, back, and to a lesser extent, hip flexors. Hope this helps.

Also, the main way your body burns calories is through muscle contractions. The stronger and more rapid the contraction, the more calories you will burn, as well as using multiple muscle groups at once. If you go to a gym that has upper-body cardio machines, try using them more than you would a recumbent or stationary bike. Bikes are good, but you only use 2 or 3 muscle groups. If you can find a way to contract your triceps, biceps, shoulders, delts, lats, and chest, and possibly abs and/or lower back (core muscles) you're hitting more muscle groups. This is why programs like p90x and insanity are good, because you are hitting multiple muscle groups. Jumping rope and jumping jacks are pretty good cardio, also.

[Sting]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Btw - anyone else feel a sense of guilt, when you get full, even if it's on healthy food?

I do. I wish I could learn to not eat my entire meal, even if I'm full. I finish whatever is put in front of me. The low cal thing is helping me with that because of the smaller portions.

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

Yeah man, I'm the same way. I've learned to ONLY put on my plate a small amount, on a small plate and then force myself to go back if I want more.

Oh Sting, another tip for you: when you cook food, like a bunch of it, when you're done scooping out what you want, go ahead and right then box it all up and put it in the refrigerator. Don't wait until after you're done as you'll be more apt to get second helpings. If you have to lug it out of the refrigerator and heat it up you'll be less apt to eat anymore.

[ODogg]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

slim44 - great idea man, i'm going to have to try that. I've lost about 45 pounds so that should be dramatic. I also guess I should start using the arm things on the elliptical when I run on it. I've not used them in the past because i feel i want to put the onus on my legs but after reading what you posted I think i will try to involve my arms from here on out as well on that machine.

[slimm44]

Re: Weight Loss - Tips & Daily Check-in

slim44 - great idea man, i'm going to have to try that. I've lost about 45 pounds so that should be dramatic. I also guess I should start using the arm things on the elliptical when I run on it. I've not used them in the past because i feel i want to put the onus on my legs but after reading what you posted I think i will try to involve my arms from here on out as well on that machine.

I used to strictly ride a recumbent bike and good luck with it. For the past few years, though, my cousin has been a personal trainer at the National Institute for Fitness and Science in Indianapolis and has broadened the way I look at cardio workouts. He also gave me the idea about the "carry the weight you lost" idea. Sometimes it's the small things that give you the mental strength to continue, even when you want to give up, get discouraged, become impatient, have a hard time seeing the changes, etc.

Carrying a 45 pound plate would REALLY help you see how much you've lost. That's pretty dramatic in itself. Congratulations, bro.