2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I've fallen off the past couple of weeks. I'm finally getting warn out from tax season and have gotten off of my Insanity routine unfortunately. Plus, trying to do "quick" dinners doesn't help any. Start again on Monday and do better dinners now that tax season is essentially over. Plus, for some reason, I tend to eat a lot healthier in the warmer months than during the winter. Looking forward to summer salads and lots of grilling.

[Phobia]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I've fallen off the past couple of weeks. I'm finally getting warn out from tax season and have gotten off of my Insanity routine unfortunately. Plus, trying to do "quick" dinners doesn't help any. Start again on Monday and do better dinners now that tax season is essentially over. Plus, for some reason, I tend to eat a lot healthier in the warmer months than during the winter. Looking forward to summer salads and lots of grilling.

I find preparing myself meals in advance is critical for me to stay eating good through out the busy week. Take Sunday and just cook 2 or 3 different things so you have food for the week. I never saw how people did this until I started doing it and wow did it make it easier. Simply wake up for work, grab a Tupperware with the meal, and walk out. No more scrounging for what you going to eat for lunch.

Also another tip Candy when it comes to shopping, just remember to stay on out skirts of the isles. Fruits, Veggies, Meats, Dairy, Water, etc all normally border the surrounding food area. It is when you venture inside the isles that you get into a lot of the stuff that is bad for you.

[Candyman5]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Yea like wharton said, it is not about comsuming less or making it happen fast. You can eat till your heart is content and still lose weight if you 1) workout and 2) Eat the right foods. If you are eating right, just your body having to use the energy to break down the food will burn calories and further aid in losing weight. A correct nutrition plan will have you eat till you feel full all the time, but this fuels the body and allows it to work at peak performance.

Lastly, your body is a smart tool and this is why the staving routine does not work right. You body knows it is not getting the right amount of calories TO LIVE so it adapts and goes into "storage" mode as much as it can to hold onto precious "fuel/energy". So you are really slowing down the process. Where a body that is fueled 24/7 of the health nutrients knows "ohhh I'm getting plenty of protein, carbs, and healthy fats, I don't need to store this excess fat layer. I'm getting fed regularly" and then the body will break down the least needed substance "fat" and keep the needed ones such as "muscle".

It can be a bit confusing cause it is opposite of what most people envision when it comes to weight loss. Easy way to look at it is this.

1) Drink water all the time, it helps you fill full, does not add empty calories, keeps your body hydrated and running in top shape.

2) Eat as many veggies and fruits as you want. Packed with healthy sugars that will help fuel your body without the crash. This is why a nice health fruit smoothie in the morning is better than say a cup of coffee, you get the healthy pick me up from the sugars and feeding your body.

3) Stick to the browns, brown rice, whole wheat bread, etc

4) Nuts are your friend like almonds, perfect snack for some healthy fats. Just portion control them.

5) Lastly, eat lean chicken breast, tuna, and other lean meats almost to the point of stuffing yourself and you will be fine as long as you put in a good workout each day.

Calorie counting, portion control, nutrient labels, etc all are to much to someone who has not done this for years in their regular life. It becomes to much of a shock to your "life style" to maintain. Someone who is aqustomed to eating healthy and wanna take their body fat percentage from 12% to 8 or 9% are the guys who are going to really focus on the labels and what they are ingesting.

For a rookie to eating healthy, just focus on cutting out the unneeded "bad calories" such as mayo, switch to mustard, White bread, switch to whole wheat, etc. It will be easier to adapt and something you can fine tune and get better at over the next couple months to years then it becomes just a regular part of your daily life.

I for one have not had a soft drink in year and half or two years. Its been a long time, but I consume only water day in and day out. I start each morning with a healthy fresh fruit/veggie smoothie, bring lean meats to work such as fish, tuna, chicken, hell even steak at time. Then I go home and sit on my butt with school work or playing video games. I dropped from 185 to 169 and was not even working out much the last 6 months or so. I do the kayaking regularly but as far as going home and getting in a real work out its been about a year since I did that, yet I was still losing weight. My body knows what is a healthy walking weight for my size and is naturally headed in that route. I just recently got back in the gym and been hitting the weights the last 2 weeks, but that is only because I want to shred up before my wedding in November. This way when we hit our honey moon ill be primed and ready for no shirt lol

Thats cool, thanks. Btw is the general consensus that any food with low calories from fat. Like Baked Beans and such that have low fat?

Also what the consensus on the Special K diet? My friends GF is doing that right now and lost a good bit of weight. Basically it involves eating 1 reasonable meal a day with about 3-4 snacks throughout the day. (Special K bar, fruits/vegies, bowl of cereal, etc)

Also switched to silk milk instead of regular milk if that helps.

[Phobia]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Thats cool, thanks. Btw is the general consensus that any food with low calories from fat. Like Baked Beans and such that have low fat?

Also what the consensus on the Special K diet? My friends GF is doing that right now and lost a good bit of weight. Basically it involves eating 1 reasonable meal a day with about 3-4 snacks throughout the day. (Special K bar, fruits/vegies, bowl of cereal, etc)

Also switched to silk milk instead of regular milk if that helps.

I'm not sure I'm understanding what your asking on the "low calories from fat"

Any of these "diets" are made for quick results that are not obtainable. I don't suggest or would not suggest anyone do them honestly. It does not promote the right change in anyway, if it does one thing it makes people hate losing weight and the chore that it becomes.

I personally drink Almond milk, nothing is wrong with silk. There is some debates about milk in general across the board, the best I can say is limit your dairy intake period whether it is real milk or a substitute.

[Candyman5]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I'm not sure I'm understanding what your asking on the "low calories from fat"

Any of these "diets" are made for quick results that are not obtainable. I don't suggest or would not suggest anyone do them honestly. It does not promote the right change in anyway, if it does one thing it makes people hate losing weight and the chore that it becomes.

I personally drink Almond milk, nothing is wrong with silk.

On the lables of items they usually say: Calories the under that or beside that it say Calories from fat.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I find preparing myself meals in advance is critical for me to stay eating good through out the busy week. Take Sunday and just cook 2 or 3 different things so you have food for the week. I never saw how people did this until I started doing it and wow did it make it easier. Simply wake up for work, grab a Tupperware with the meal, and walk out. No more scrounging for what you going to eat for lunch.

Also another tip Candy when it comes to shopping, just remember to stay on out skirts of the isles. Fruits, Veggies, Meats, Dairy, Water, etc all normally border the surrounding food area. It is when you venture inside the isles that you get into a lot of the stuff that is bad for you.

Lunch actually usually is not a problem. I typically will pack my two "snack" meals and some kind of wrap and carrots for lunch.

Coming home and deciding what to make for dinner is the problem haha.

[ubernoob]

Lunch actually usually is not a problem. I typically will pack my two "snack" meals and some kind of wrap and carrots for lunch.

Coming home and deciding what to make for dinner is the problem haha.

I'm actually in the same boat. It's when I was able to lift and made a strict meal plan that I treated every meal like lunch (everything was pre-prepared and bagged up.)

Candy, I advise against any "diets" with a name attached to them. The most effective diet is to eat healthy/smart and be active.

[Phobia]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

On the lables of items they usually say: Calories the under that or beside that it say Calories from fat.

All I got ya, all calories from fat is the amount of calories that are coming from the "total" calories that are coming from fat only.

Calories make up everything and calories from fat make up just fat. It is a good barometer to low fat foods, but there is some debate about "fake fats" and their "zero fat" approach as being just as bad on the body.

So in general I'd say just stick with organic natural food and less canned and you should not run into any problems.

[wwharton]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Yea like wharton said, it is not about comsuming less or making it happen fast. You can eat till your heart is content and still lose weight if you 1) workout and 2) Eat the right foods. If you are eating right, just your body having to use the energy to break down the food will burn calories and further aid in losing weight. A correct nutrition plan will have you eat till you feel full all the time, but this fuels the body and allows it to work at peak performance.

Lastly, your body is a smart tool and this is why the staving routine does not work right. You body knows it is not getting the right amount of calories TO LIVE so it adapts and goes into "storage" mode as much as it can to hold onto precious "fuel/energy". So you are really slowing down the process. Where a body that is fueled 24/7 of the health nutrients knows "ohhh I'm getting plenty of protein, carbs, and healthy fats, I don't need to store this excess fat layer. I'm getting fed regularly" and then the body will break down the least needed substance "fat" and keep the needed ones such as "muscle".

It can be a bit confusing cause it is opposite of what most people envision when it comes to weight loss. Easy way to look at it is this.

1) Drink water all the time, it helps you fill full, does not add empty calories, keeps your body hydrated and running in top shape.

2) Eat as many veggies and fruits as you want. Packed with healthy sugars that will help fuel your body without the crash. This is why a nice health fruit smoothie in the morning is better than say a cup of coffee, you get the healthy pick me up from the sugars and feeding your body.

3) Stick to the browns, brown rice, whole wheat bread, etc

4) Nuts are your friend like almonds, perfect snack for some healthy fats. Just portion control them.

5) Lastly, eat lean chicken breast, tuna, and other lean meats almost to the point of stuffing yourself and you will be fine as long as you put in a good workout each day.

Calorie counting, portion control, nutrient labels, etc all are to much to someone who has not done this for years in their regular life. It becomes to much of a shock to your "life style" to maintain. Someone who is aqustomed to eating healthy and wanna take their body fat percentage from 12% to 8 or 9% are the guys who are going to really focus on the labels and what they are ingesting.

For a rookie to eating healthy, just focus on cutting out the unneeded "bad calories" such as mayo, switch to mustard, White bread, switch to whole wheat, etc. It will be easier to adapt and something you can fine tune and get better at over the next couple months to years then it becomes just a regular part of your daily life.

I for one have not had a soft drink in year and half or two years. Its been a long time, but I consume only water day in and day out. I start each morning with a healthy fresh fruit/veggie smoothie, bring lean meats to work such as fish, tuna, chicken, hell even steak at time. Then I go home and sit on my butt with school work or playing video games. I dropped from 185 to 169 and was not even working out much the last 6 months or so. I do the kayaking regularly but as far as going home and getting in a real work out its been about a year since I did that, yet I was still losing weight. My body knows what is a healthy walking weight for my size and is naturally headed in that route. I just recently got back in the gym and been hitting the weights the last 2 weeks, but that is only because I want to shred up before my wedding in November. This way when we hit our honey moon ill be primed and ready for no shirt lol

Probably the best nut shell, wrap up of explaining things to the "average" person who wants to do better but is either overwhelmed by the options/labels/etc or thinks just eating less is a good place to start. I might print this out and hand it to some non-OS folk that could use the advise.

Candy, one thing ubernoob said that may not have been completely clear (and phobia did a bit of a better job of explaining) is not only why it's bad to eat as little as you are but why that doesn't work long term. I bring this up because phobia also just mentioned not doing any diets out there. Pretty much all "diets" are for quick results. What you are currently doing will get quick results also. But what it's doing to your body will make it expect you to maintain that level FOREVER to just keep the weight you'd finally settle at. Increasing calorie intake will be considered overeating.

So, for example if you really do eat 300 calories a day and your body adjusts to that, then eating 1000 calories (that's 2 slices of pizza... nothing else to eat or drink, all day) will be considered overeating to your body and force you to gain weight. Someone else can probably explain it in better detail than I'm doing right now. But your body goes into starvation mode and adjusts. You don't want that. You want to speed up your metabolism by eating a lot throughout the day, getting just enough intake to have energy until the next meal.

[Rules]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I've fallen off the past couple of weeks. I'm finally getting warn out from tax season and have gotten off of my Insanity routine unfortunately. Plus, trying to do "quick" dinners doesn't help any. Start again on Monday and do better dinners now that tax season is essentially over. Plus, for some reason, I tend to eat a lot healthier in the warmer months than during the winter. Looking forward to summer salads and lots of grilling.

I am all over the place with Insanity and other routines. My busy days are putting me behind. One day good then the next I am home late meaning no workout. I try to get up earlier in the mornings but lately I haven't been sleeping well at night. Catch 22..........

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Candy, I've posted a link two or three times in here to a PDF of Insanity's nutrition guide. Its a great place to start and use as a guideline. Its 5 meals broken into 300-500 calories each.

Rules,

My goal is to workout in the morning so I won't have my evenings squeezed together. I'm getting up at 6AM so once next rolls around and our hours are cut back down to normal I can keep that sleep schedule and get some energy in the morning.

[Holic]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Candy, I've posted a link two or three times in here to a PDF of Insanity's nutrition guide. Its a great place to start and use as a guideline. Its 5 meals broken into 300-500 calories each.

Rules,

My goal is to workout in the morning so I won't have my evenings squeezed together. I'm getting up at 6AM so once next rolls around and our hours are cut back down to normal I can keep that sleep schedule and get some energy in the morning.

I want to work out in the AM before work but I'd have to be up by 4:30-5:00 AM and I just can't get up that early. Maybe once my kids are out of school and the hassle of getting them fed and off to school by 7AM will give me the time to exercise in the mornings.

Right now I'm doing a hybrid program of Insanity/Jogging/DDP Yoga. Changed my eating habits for the better, haven't had a soda or any sweets in almost a month. Upped my water intake to 6-8 bottles of Dasani a day. Down 18lbs and really feeling good.

[Phobia]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I want to work out in the AM before work but I'd have to be up by 4:30-5:00 AM and I just can't get up that early. Maybe once my kids are out of school and the hassle of getting them fed and off to school by 7AM will give me the time to exercise in the mornings.

Right now I'm doing a hybrid program of Insanity/Jogging/DDP Yoga. Changed my eating habits for the better, haven't had a soda or any sweets in almost a month. Upped my water intake to 6-8 bottles of Dasani a day. Down 18lbs and really feeling good.

Make sure you replacing the electrolytes with that much water Holic. I ended up in the hospital about a year ago, I collapsed at work. I went to stand up from my desk and everything faded out and I went down. When I came to, it was extremely strange my hands felt like I was holding a weed eater wide open. They were just vibrating extremely powerfully. So I get rushed to the emergency room. The doctors then tell me my kidneys were on brink of shutting down and my blood pressure tanked or rose real high, I can't remember which one, but that is why when I stood up I passed out. They then tell me I had hyponatremia, I pushed out most the sodium from my system and my nervous system was in freak out mode.

I was drinking water all day, eating extremely healthy, and working out hard. My problem is I was not replacing the electrolytes properly and it really caught up to me and made me pay for it.

Hyponatremia is a hell of a thing. After they fill you back up with sodium it felt like I was hit by a truck. They compared it to a diabetic experiencing a low blood sugar. Bad stuff man, just don't get it like I did and you will be all good.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/hydrationandfluid/a/Hyponatremia.htm

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2013 FITNESS CHALLENGE

What is DDP Yoga? With evenings off I'd like to start doing a yoga routine a couple nights.

[ubernoob]

What is DDP Yoga? With evenings off I'd like to start doing a yoga routine a couple nights.

That's the workouts I do/am limited to, since I can't really lift and am limited in impact. Site is DDPyoga.com I believe.

Extremely good workouts to lose weight/tone/build strength/become healthier in general, to be completely honest. Check out some of the success stories - a couple of them are pretty crazy.

Doing it, I've never felt better in my life to be honest. If you buy the pack it comes with a guide book that breaks it down, and also has a food planner type breakdown. I don't follow that and still east quite unhealthy, but I'm not worried about that.