What Do You Do For Exercise?

[ArlyA]

Agree too hard to maintain or lose weight,

How are you working to do this now?

 

[gsganzer]

Since January, I've been a little sporadic and missed a few weeks for family vacation (OK, also a few weeks after vacation), but I've got into a combo of weights and cardio. I've lost 20 pounds, which is decent, because I gained some muscle and haven't worked on the diet much yet. But I think I could probably lose 10 more, maybe if I become a total health nut 15 more. I just need to get more determined with my diet and start decreasing carbs. I dropped all alcohol from my diet last Thursday, so that will probably make a big difference. Alcohol in any form is about the equivalent of a sugary drink. I also started a men's multivitamin and some glucosamine (joint health). And I also started some protein shakes as a healthier snack/meal replacement and a Creatine/amino acid drink to help muscle recovery. As part of my physical in another month or two, I want them to do a complete metabolic blood workup to make sure everything looks good.

My weightlifting is a 3 day cycle; Day 1 is chest and back, Day 2 is shoulders and arms, Day 3 is legs and abs. I then take a rest day from weights.

With the cardio, I do 30 minutes each weightlifting day on the treadmill in a "weight loss heart rate program" with max heart rate set at 135BPM. I take a very low dose of a beta blocker, so doing cardio is a real chore for me. I do the cardio after the weights.

On my off day from weights, I do 60 minutes on the treadmill and stretching.

I know they say to take some rest days, but right now I find I get lazy even taking 1 day off. It's too easy for 1 to turn to 2, to 3, to 4. So, I'm really trying to make it a daily routine and maybe I'll just go lighter on "rest days" and maybe concentrate of lots of stretching those days. I've also found that if I take a break from the exercise, it really affects my mindset. It almost makes me feel worse than if I never started exercising.

 

[masseyrider]

Does this count?

 

[MossRoad]

I loaded my kid's 3 bedroom apartment into a 26' uhaul in pittsburgh, drove it to indiana, and unloaded it over 3 days. That's enough for the month.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Since January, I've been a little sporadic and missed a few weeks for family vacation (OK, also a few weeks after vacation), but I've got into a combo of weights and cardio. I've lost 20 pounds, which is decent, because I gained some muscle and haven't worked on the diet much yet. But I think I could probably lose 10 more, maybe if I become a total health nut 15 more. I just need to get more determined with my diet and start decreasing carbs. I dropped all alcohol from my diet last Thursday, so that will probably make a big difference. Alcohol in any form is about the equivalent of a sugary drink. I also started a men's multivitamin and some glucosamine (joint health). And I also started some protein shakes as a healthier snack/meal replacement and a Creatine/amino acid drink to help muscle recovery. As part of my physical in another month or two, I want them to do a complete metabolic blood workup to make sure everything looks good.

My weightlifting is a 3 day cycle; Day 1 is chest and back, Day 2 is shoulders and arms, Day 3 is legs and abs. I then take a rest day from weights.

With the cardio, I do 30 minutes each weightlifting day on the treadmill in a "weight loss heart rate program" with max heart rate set at 135BPM. I take a very low dose of a beta blocker, so doing cardio is a real chore for me. I do the cardio after the weights.

On my off day from weights, I do 60 minutes on the treadmill and stretching.

I know they say to take some rest days, but right now I find I get lazy even taking 1 day off. It's too easy for 1 to turn to 2, to 3, to 4. So, I'm really trying to make it a daily routine and maybe I'll just go lighter on "rest days" and maybe concentrate of lots of stretching those days. I've also found that if I take a break from the exercise, it really affects my mindset. It almost makes me feel worse than if I never started exercising.

I would love to have the discipline it takes to stay on the routine you're on but I don't. I've managed to lose about 12 pounds with just diet over the last few weeks after a slightly high cholesterol report.

I'm curious though, how old are you and have you exercised like you are now throughout your life or is this a relatively new thing? I've made halfhearted attempts in the past but have always failed in a very short time.

 

[ArlyA]

I would love to have the discipline it takes to stay on the routine you're on but I don't. I've managed to lose about 12 pounds with just diet over the last few weeks after a slightly high cholesterol report.

I'm curious though, how old are you and have you exercised like you are now throughout your life or is this a relatively new thing? I've made halfhearted attempts in the past but have always failed in a very short time.

Find something you love to do, that happens to bring your heart rate up.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Find something you love to do, that happens to bring your heart rate up.

There's only one thing and she won't let me do it more than a couple of times per week. Oh, and gambling but I can't afford it.

 

[gsganzer]

I would love to have the discipline it takes to stay on the routine you're on but I don't. I've managed to lose about 12 pounds with just diet over the last few weeks after a slightly high cholesterol report.

I'm curious though, how old are you and have you exercised like you are now throughout your life or is this a relatively new thing? I've made halfhearted attempts in the past but have always failed in a very short time.

In my earlier years, 20's through my early 40's I was very health conscious. It's been sporadic ever since as life, work, family took over, but I maintained moderately decent fitness just staying active and eating right. The past 7 years or so, I started to really take on an unhealthy lifestyle, becoming less active, eating rich foods and more alcohol than I should at meals and relaxing.

I'm 57 now and decided my health and lifestyle needed a jumpstart, so back in January I started the fitness again. I haven't been stellar and completely consistent, yet. I started out good and was real dedicated preparing for our family vacation in early June, but then got off track during, and the weeks following vacation. Last Thursday, I re-engaged, and I've felt better every day since. It's amazing how fast your body will snap back shape, after a short lapse.

A couple of observations.
#1: Alcohol makes me lazy. It can be just a single beer and I feel like doing nothing but lounging around relaxing. So, I've cut out alcohol entirely, not even wine with dinner. Now, I find myself piddling around on projects more and doing things to keep myself busy. I might even tackle a workshop cleanout in the 100 degree heat!

#2; Taking a day off from the gym comes with the risk that it will turn into 2, 3, 4. I don't know why, but I need to find a way to prevent that from happening. As soon as I go back to the gym, everything is good again and I can't understand why I slacked off. So, for now, I plan to make it a daily regimen until I find the solution.

I'm still trying to get consistent, and I've started to focus on my diet now. From all my years traveling, I'm a bit of a foodie and love cooking. I spent last evening surfing for healthier recipes and will see if I can find a weekly repertoire of meals that work. I also bought some protein shake powder, with the expectation that if it isn't a healthy meal, I'll just substitute a protein shake. The rest of the family can eat whatever the meal is.

 

[ArlyA]

Allow me to reiterate.

Many people can't get off the couch and get regular exercise on there own. So they find something that is fun and accidentally gets their heart going. For some this is cycling, golf (not in a cart) basketball or hiking. Anything that is brisk, will work, but gambling is not one of them. Going with other people helps many folks to go further or faster.

Your good or bad diet? We like to think we eat "reasonably" healthy foods but are quite tasty. Again that is the trick. Consuming more healthy foods that happen to great tasting and heart healthy at the same time. Plus moderation of the less healthy ones.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Allow me to reiterate.

Many people can't get off the couch and get regular exercise on there own. So they find something that is fun and accidentally gets their heart going. For some this is cycling, golf (not in a cart) basketball or hiking. Anything that is brisk, will work, but gambling is not one of them. Going with other people helps many folks to go further or faster.

Your good or bad diet? We like to think we eat "reasonably" healthy foods but are quite tasty. Again that is the trick. Consuming more healthy foods that happen to great tasting and heart healthy at the same time. Plus moderation of the less healthy ones.

Of course my post was in jest, I find dieting easy. Example: yesterday I had a cup of coffee with creamer and sugar for breakfast, a snack bar at 10am, sardines, crackers and cheese stick for lunch, apple on the drive home, carrot sticks, celery sticks, pickled beets, strawberries, and crackers for dinner. I'm thinking I was under 1400 calories for the day.