Let's drop the weight challenge

Even though I haven't been able to work out like I wanted the last week due to working nights and watching my son during the day I weighed myself on Friday and weighed less than my previous low from January. I was really concerned I would be eating too much for my activity level and not sleeping enough but I feel better now.

Also my waist size is down 1/2 an inch. I feel like I might meet my goal weight before our beach vacation in September.

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Vacation was interesting. We prepped meals close to what we normally do. And I moderately watched what I was eating, although marshmallows every night and huggies one night were not part of our normal diet. lol I guess I picked up about 5 lbs for the week. But I can't "see" it. So thinking I might have picked up some muscle mass from the rest. But what has become my normal low is about 3lbs over what it was pre vacation. Fluctuating from 176 to 179 day to day, depending on eating, work out, working, etc. I watch the scale, but don't do measurements. Normally when I picked up a few pounds I could see it in my abs, they went away. But they are still showing for the most part. Still have not completely gotten back into our workout routine. When we do I'll see how things settle out. The reality is, I wouldn't mind picking up the weight if it's muscle. Changing up some of my exercises too lately.
 
If you want to add muscle you're going to need to start eating more than you think you need to. Maybe even more than you want to.

And you will probably soften up a little around the middle before it's over. But it'll be worth it.

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Alright guys! The wild ride for me starts today. Trying something I've never tried before.

Zero processed foods and organic vegetables when possible. Today's lunch consisted of sweet potato and kale hash.

Oh and for my own reasons, I'm going to try to go meat free. Wish me luck all.
 
amnesia said:
Alright guys! The wild ride for me starts today. Trying something I've never tried before.

Zero processed foods and organic vegetables when possible. Today's lunch consisted of sweet potato and kale hash.

Oh and for my own reasons, I'm going to try to go meat free. Wish me luck all.
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Good luck! You got this
 
Out of town and ate like a man that has not seen food in a long time. only gained 1.75 lbs. Something is not right. I should be up 5-7 lbs given the crap I have consumed.
 
Elenaidan said:
Out of town and ate like a man that has not seen food in a long time. only gained 1.75 lbs. Something is not right. I should be up 5-7 lbs given the crap I have consumed.
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Build some muscle and raise your metabolism and you can eat darn near anything for a short time with no change. That's why I didn't sweat cheating on vacation or special occasions. Just don't let I become a habit and all is good.


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amnesia said:
Alright guys! The wild ride for me starts today. Trying something I've never tried before.

Zero processed foods and organic vegetables when possible. Today's lunch consisted of sweet potato and kale hash.

Oh and for my own reasons, I'm going to try to go meat free. Wish me luck all.
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Good luck man, got a buddy at work that went vegetarian, he loves it and says he feels a lot better!
 
Elenaidan said:
Sometimes I think I should be on medication for my lack of self control around food and gun stores.:D:D:D
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same here

Day 2. Weird green smoothie for breakfast. Pretty good, not something I would have tried if my wife didn't make it.

  • Pour 2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk in blender.
  • Add full serving of smooth vanilla protein powder (20 grams).
  • Add 1-2 Tbsp. of almond butter (amount depends how full you need to stay…remember the goal with is to not eat for 4-6 hours if you can).
  • Add 1-2 Tbsp. of chia seeds (I typically always do 2 Tbsp. because I like the extra fiber).
  • 2 big handfuls of spinach.
 
GoWolfpack said:
If you want to add muscle you're going to need to start eating more than you think you need to. Maybe even more than you want to.

And you will probably soften up a little around the middle before it's over. But it'll be worth it.

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I'm not pushing hard to gain, but kind of tinkering with diet and exercise changes to see what happens. If I stay this size and just build lean muscle I'll be fine. Wouldn't bother me if I gained a bit either.

My breakfast is about 12-12:30 3 boiled egg whites, salsa, 1 oz cheese, 2 pieces of toast with PB and honey, banana, and every couple days bacon or sausage. I usually save the meat for days I know I'm going to do a lot. A day or two a week I'll do a seed bowl instead.

Lunch at 2:30- varies but nothing big. Meat if I didn't have meat for breakfast, no meat if I had meat for breakfast. Mainly for cholesterol reasons.

Dinner at 5:30- dinner is pretty big for me because I'm headed to work.

8:30- couple pieces of beef jerky and 1 oz cheese

11:30 trail mix or almonds, about 2-3 ozs

2:00 am 1 to 1.5 C vanilla greek yogurt and home made granola.

I've bulked up Bfast a bit, and added the snacks at night. On my evenings off I switch the snacks to a fruit smoothie as a post workout thing and usually end up eating pork rinds while having a drink after the kids are in bed.

I'm eating more on this "diet" than I think I did before. But I'm eating far better and less junk, plus the exercise and muscle keep all that in check. Hard to believe how much you have to eat to maintain once you get out of the junk food and get the weight off. If I slowed down on my eating I'd probably drop back to the 160's again. But some days I'm not sure I could eat more. lol
 
Yeah, I'm not working out that much. The main issue I have is I can't work out hard, then go work in a warehouse 6-8 sometimes 10 hours in the evening. If I go to work exhausted or worn out I'm there even longer. And I'm not working out at 2 am. One of the reasons I don't hit things too hard. But I dropped 40 lbs when I bottomed out, picked up about 8-9 lbs since then. Pretty happy with that overall. Each their own and all that. I'm probably better off reasonably rested, with better aerobic fitness and flexibility given what my job entails. Lack of flexibility gets a lot of guys hurt doing what I do.
 
chiefjason said:
Yeah, I'm not working out that much. The main issue I have is I can't work out hard, then go work in a warehouse 6-8 sometimes 10 hours in the evening. If I go to work exhausted or worn out I'm there even longer. And I'm not working out at 2 am. One of the reasons I don't hit things too hard. But I dropped 40 lbs when I bottomed out, picked up about 8-9 lbs since then. Pretty happy with that overall. Each their own and all that. I'm probably better off reasonably rested, with better aerobic fitness and flexibility given what my job entails. Lack of flexibility gets a lot of guys hurt doing what I do.
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Sounds like we need to buy more holsters.
 
amnesia said:
Sounds like we need to buy more holsters.
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I have an idea about how much more I would have to sell to make up for the real job. I don't see that happening. Benefits are expensive to replace.


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Haven't posted in a bit, been working and traveling. It's hurt me, but not as bad as it could of I guess.

Started at 173, low was 157 (2 pounds shy of my 155 goal), today I was... 159. Those first 13-14 pounds went really easy, the next few took 3x as long and now it's all I can do to not gain it back slowly. Not sure how to reach an equilibrium even when I hit my goal, but one thing at a time.

Some travel days were easy, spending all day on a plane or airport kept me from eating anything but the food I brought with me. BTW, the TSA got really cranky with my bag of baby carrots, got an extra screening for that one. The supervisor seemed pissed when they spent 5 minutes and 3 passes through the x-ray and the only contraband they could come up with was carrots.

Dinners out with friends/family were super hard. NO ONE supports you when you're dieting and most actively discourage you from doing the right thing. I think I said that before, but it's really frinkin' annoying to have to constantly explain your actions and refuse appetizers, dessert, alcohol, trips for ice cream, etc.
 
Add habaneros to everything. :D

Two weeks to go on this month in China. I generally try to use these month long trips to detox from my back sliding bad habits at home.
Seeing a Dunkin Donuts and a Pizza joint when I walk out of the gym after swimming 4 or more miles tests my Won't Power. But I just keep walking. Keeping carb low over all. Gas Station sushi is about the solid carbs I get. Peanuts are low GI carbs. I use them to get my fat intake up.
Pool was closed yesterday for monthly cleaning. So tonight I'll try to push to 8km (5mile) in the pool.
I have lost weight so far this trip but I don't know how much. Just know my ring is looser.
 
Swi
chiefjason said:
Yeah, I'm not working out that much. The main issue I have is I can't work out hard, then go work in a warehouse 6-8 sometimes 10 hours in the evening. If I go to work exhausted or worn out I'm there even longer. And I'm not working out at 2 am. One of the reasons I don't hit things too hard. But I dropped 40 lbs when I bottomed out, picked up about 8-9 lbs since then. Pretty happy with that overall. Each their own and all that. I'm probably better off reasonably rested, with better aerobic fitness and flexibility given what my job entails. Lack of flexibility gets a lot of guys hurt doing what I do.
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Swimming works wonders for low impact high capacity aerobic work. Works the whole body including core. I can swim 4 miles then go into a 1 hour spin class. :D
 
Doctor recommended a 1200 calorie diet. A rough guess puts me at about 2000 per.
Pre op for spine surgery in last week of June said 366 but I was in so much pain I was barely eating. When I started hurting from the stenosis I'm guessing I was more like at least 370, you can always tell by pants and shirts.
Anyway, however I count it, the last 9 weeks are the right direction.

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The Green Heron said:
Doctor recommended a 1200 calorie diet. A rough guess puts me at about 2000 per.
Pre op for spine surgery in last week of June said 366 but I was in so much pain I was barely eating. When I started hurting from the stenosis I'm guessing I was more like at least 370, you can always tell by pants and shirts.
Anyway, however I count it, the last 9 weeks are the right direction.
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Ounces are pounds, and pounds add up. Good job.

On Wednesday night the Durham Bulls started their play-offs, and had all you can eat burgers/hot dogs/nachos/pretzels/popcorn. Let's just say it wasn't pretty. Yesterday I farted, a SBD, my son said, "dad, I think the septic is backing up again..." No, son, just your old man.... I need to detox.
 
I reckon it's time I got back involved here as I started this whole ruckus way back in the day.

About a month ago I went in for a physical at work...had gained over 20lbs this summer, blood work came back sketchy and on track for diabetics. I'm already on cholesterol medicine for elevated bacon veins.

I turn 40 in November, so that's what was facing me. Turning 40 in the worst shape of my life, possibly including when I was still a pack a day smoker.

Around that same time, the facility I work in opened an on site gym facility. It has cardio machines, free weights, and offers different work out classes.

I made the decision that I didn't want to be the fat daddy any more. I didn't want to go into my 40s on my way to the grave.

So, as of today, based on the tracking metrics the gyms equipment employs, I have burned 21,000 calories, worked out for 1,223 minutes, traveled 142 km, and have missed only three total days the gym has been opened. On two of those days I swapped my hour on the elliptical machine for mowing the grass or running/walking in my neighborhood.

I go to the gym and work the elliptical machine for 65 minutes each day I am able and plan to continue to do so until I get my weight to around 250 and then I'll switch to a more varied work out routine.

My "plan" is to always burn more calories in the gym than I consume during the day at work, so when I get home at night dinner is the only real intake, and with that I am being more sensible. No ice cream, chips, cookies, or sweets.

On the weekends I relax a bit since I am out with the family, but I have traded burgers for chicken and salads where I can.

My body is constantly in some state of sore or tired, but it is the price I am willing/having to pay for 40 years of sucking down fats, sugars, and whatever else I can cover with cheese.

Not sure on the total weight loss I've had so far, my scale at home sometimes shows me that I've lost 10-15 or even 20 lbs. so who knows. My next "official" weigh in is in a few months, so that's where my mind is.

Good luck boys, let's do this.


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B00ger said:
My body is constantly in some state of sore or tired, but it is the price I am willing/having to pay for 40 years of sucking down fats, sugars, and whatever else I can cover with cheese.
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I used to just take off Sunday, even though I still work on Sunday. I've started taking Tue or Wed off too depending on my schedule of things to do. It has drastically cut my soreness towards the end of the week. Ultimately, your body does need time to recover. And if you are keeping it up the other days, your body usually deals with the calorie issue on it's own. I weigh myself every morning and not really change there with the extra day off.

Good luck with it.
 
chiefjason said:
I used to just take off Sunday, even though I still work on Sunday. I've started taking Tue or Wed off too depending on my schedule of things to do. It has drastically cut my soreness towards the end of the week. Ultimately, your body does need time to recover. And if you are keeping it up the other days, your body usually deals with the calorie issue on it's own. I weigh myself every morning and not really change there with the extra day off.

Good luck with it.
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Thanks bud. My main reason for going hard during the week is because the gym is on site here at the office. I work out during lunch so I don't give up any family time. Once I trim up some I'll ease off the intensity.


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B00ger said:
Thanks bud. My main reason for going hard during the week is because the gym is on site here at the office. I work out during lunch so I don't give up any family time. Once I trim up some I'll ease off the intensity.


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That's pretty much what I did too. Went hard for about 2-3 months. Then eased off. Not the worst plan. But not a long term plan either.
 
B00ger said:
I go to the gym and work the elliptical machine for 65 minutes each day I am able and plan to continue to do so until I get my weight to around 250 and then I'll switch to a more varied work out routine.
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I think you should consider trying to get strong first before you beat yourself up on an elliptical machine for an hour. I spent four years running every day and I never saw the kind of changes I wanted in myself until I stopped running and started training to get strong. All running did for me was make me a chubby guy who could run. Training for strength has made me leaner and harder than running ever could.

Where is @ForumSurfer anyway? He would back me up on this.
 
GoWolfpack said:
I think you should consider trying to get strong first before you beat yourself up on an elliptical machine for an hour. I spent four years running every day and I never saw the kind of changes I wanted in myself until I stopped running and started training to get strong. All running did for me was make me a chubby guy who could run. Training for strength has made me leaner and harder than running ever could.

Where is @ForumSurfer anyway? He would back me up on this.
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I appreciate the words, I really do, but so far its led to some pretty good gains in the short term. Also, it isn't a long term activity, I will be incorporating more free weights and the like very soon.
 
B00ger said:
I go to the gym and work the elliptical machine for 65 minutes each day I am able and plan to continue to do so until I get my weight to around 250 and then I'll switch to a more varied work out routine.
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Variety is the spice of life. Better to be fit; so elliptical is fine...with running (or any other cardio), weight training (be it with weights or body weight), and flexibility.
 
Lost at least 5 pounds so fat on this China trip.
Mostly hard boiled eggs, protein powder, veggie powder, and making a very spicy Chinese dumpling soup on the rare occasion I have time to cook.
Keeping up the swimming at the gym here. 6.4km last night. Hoping to make 8km or now today. I started getting smiles and thumbs up from the life guards as soon as I walk in to the pool area. [emoji38]

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Chuckman said:
Variety is the spice of life. Better to be fit; so elliptical is fine...with running (or any other cardio), weight training (be it with weights or body weight), and flexibility.
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My wife's favorite is the Octane seated elliptical. She has a form of autoimmune arthritis. This machine causes no joint impact. She can use it for an hour workout pain.

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Good job @B00ger I knew work (I believe we work for the same company) was putting in gyms at some locations but they haven't built the one in Wilson yet (or, at least, no one has told me where it's at). I would rather spend 45 min at the gym during lunch than spending money on lunch!

Chuckman said:
Variety is the spice of life. Better to be fit; so elliptical is fine...with running (or any other cardio), weight training (be it with weights or body weight), and flexibility.
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Yep, different things work for different people and it's good to mix things up. I lift, jog, jump rope, do HIIT workouts, etc. Everything has a place and helps in the overall goal of getting healthier.

I have slowed the lifting down this month and am focusing on cardio and stretching for the Spartan race at the end of the month. Weight is steady, nutrition is being tweaked, etc. After the race, I will be switching gears and doing a mass-building routine through New Years, then switching back to a strength program. After keeping my caloric intake to <2500 calories/day for the past 6 months, the mass program is going to be fun with the increase in calories. :)
 
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Darn. Just one second too long to score an OCD victory.
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