I need a kick in the pants

[radoaos]

I do it for the sex

[Defying Gravity]

Originally Posted by yoyo

don't be afraid or embarrassed to log your food intake. seeing it in print could be very significant in sticking to the whole "better diet" thing.

ignoring it won't make it change.

Defying Gravity is so right on. What you are wanting to do is change the way the eat day in and day out. toss the word "diet" right out of your vocabulary. "dieting" as commonly understood usually leads only to up and down wt and no positive long term benefit.

- plan your meals for the week and shop accordingly
- EAT BREAKFAST
- pack a cooler for work with lunch and snacks, breakfast too if you don't eat it at home.
- include a small mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack
- if it doesn't grow, fly, swim or walk about on hoves, don't put it in your mouth
- water, water, water - drink lots of it
- don't drink sodas. drink black coffee or plain hot tea if you're addicted to caffeine like most of us

weigh yourself at most once a week. your clothes and the mirror will tell you what's happening.

walking may very well help the bp and cholesterol - mine is greatly affected by walking and jogging

drink a large glass of water 15-20 mins before each meal. most of us could use more water, we often mistake thirst as hunger, and it'll fill you up a bit before you eat, which is good since you'll be cutting down portion sizes.

best of luck to you - slow and steady is the key to progress and lasting results

If this wasn't so long, it would live indefinitely in my sig line.

[ditkaworshipper]

Originally Posted by Anitha Desai

Absolutely. Your average person who just wants to be healthy and be a normal weight will not undertake this level or intensity of exercise. Everything in moderation and all that.

I do applaud people who make this lifetsyle choice. But then, it's a CHOICE for a reason. Correct me if I'm wrong, ajs, but OP does not intend to workout 15 hours a week. So your advice about eating whatever she wants after getting really fit won't work for her.

It's really good to have young 20 somethings with endless time on their hands on this forum to give advice about exercise and keep it fresh with new ideas. But it is also frustrating to see these 20 somethings assume that ANYONE of ANY age can/will do what they are doing and it'll work for them.

Endless time? Sorry, not exactly. 15 hours a week is less than I want to do. Also, I mentioned I know a lot of 50 somethings that do this. They have kids and everything. It's a decision of whether you get off of work and crash on the couch or take an hour or two at the gym. I'm not saying anyone here is necessarily in this boat, but I know plenty of people who get off work and play video games or watch TV for a few hours instead of taking time away from that to exercise since they are "too tired."

I don't expect AJ is trying to do what I'm doing, or eat the same kind of diet. I was trying to give her hope at the other end. Getting in shape SUCKS. The idea of looking better, feeling better, and getting to have dessert a couple more times a week can be a motivation factor.

Originally Posted by ajstudies

I agree, it's a choice. Not a choice I will make b/c of my specific circumstances. I'm good with doing what I need to do to ward off high blood pressure and diabetes. I crave balance in my life and I'm ok about avoiding fries most of the time. Avoiding chocolate, OTOH, is more of an effort.

If you want to save time, start swimming. Full body workouts are much more effort, and hurt more. That also means you don't have to exercise as often. Swimming is no impact, but brutal on your muscles without killing joints.

Originally Posted by Defying Gravity

If this wasn't so long, it would live indefinitely in my sig line.

TWSS?

[Anitha Desai]

nm.

[yoyo]

Originally Posted by Defying Gravity

If this wasn't so long, it would live indefinitely in my sig line.

you could just edit it down to "Defying Gravity is so right on" and use that.

[ajstudies]

Originally Posted by ditkaworshipper

It's a decision of whether you get off of work and crash on the couch or take an hour or two at the gym.

Just bc you don't work out 2+ hours a night doesn't mean you crash on the couch every night. Sheesh! There are activities like cooking, shopping, taking care of the needs of your family, cleaning house, volunteering, etc. I admit to some amount of laziness, but it is rare for me to "crash on the couch". As if.

[Defying Gravity]

Hey aj, whatever happened to that $1,000 you were gonna loan me?

[ajstudies]

Originally Posted by Defying Gravity

Hey aj, whatever happened to that $1,000 you were gonna loan me?

oops, forgot about that. PM me your bank account info, SSN, etc., and I'll wire it.

[Defying Gravity]

DONE!!

.....

Profit!

[Anitha Desai]

Originally Posted by ajstudies

Just bc you don't work out 2+ hours a night doesn't mean you crash on the couch every night. Sheesh! There are activities like cooking, shopping, taking care of the needs of your family, cleaning house, volunteering, etc. I admit to some amount of laziness, but it is rare for me to "crash on the couch". As if.

This was kinda what I wanted to say in my long, now deleted post. I actually added up my hours last night:
8 hours - sleep ( yes, I'm one of those that need all 8)
work and commuting - 10
pooping, showering and other hygiene related stuff - 1 hour
exercise, (including driving to and from, shower etc): 1 hour
studying - 2 hours ( 8 months of the year currently)
cooking, cleaning, housework - 1 hour
Time spent communicating with my family, interacting with them, doing anything else that could qualify as fun - 1 hour


That's it. If you count the time I spend communicating with my family as sedentary time, that''s the only time I spend sitting down (apart from work and commuting).
I do multi-task, so sometimes I manage to talk to my son, check his homework etc. while I do the dishes or cook.
Where the heck am I supposed to find 2 hours a day to workout? And on days I skip my workout, I usually use that time to get extra housework doen, or because there's any activity related to my child that I have to be there for.
This is why I consider anyone who can work out 15+ hours a week to have endless time on their hands