Beach Body 2009 - Motivation thread

[bani-banan]

We all want a perfect body. We are all obsessed with our appearance. Some are worse than others. With only a few days left 'til new years eve (and soon to become broken new-years resolutions), how about a fresh start?

My hope is that for us, who supposedly live healthy lives post our training schedules, our food intake etc.

Start off by posting a short bio. Like, why you want to lose/gain weight? Why do you want muscles? Do you think you being overweight has caused bad things to happen to you? (Not medically, but personally). Dating, jobs etc.

I want to change that.

BIO:
I've been overweight my whole life. I've always cursed my parents for allowing me to weigh 220lbs at the age of 12.
But finaly. One day. Something happened. I don't know what. It's almost like a few blew in my head. I couldn't cope having lower self-esteem than a 13 year old emo-girl. Life didn't make sense.
In June I started using my google-fu. I "accidentally" stumbled across a vegan site. Everything looked interesting. They looked healthy. Nice skin, nice hair. (They even posted pictures of their blood tests. No signs of anemia etc.) So, I became a vegan. No meat, no dairy, no eggs - nothing. Pure nature.

To make this story short.
My daily intake was 500kcal (give or take). That's dangerously little. I was short on carbs, fiber, protein and vitamins. Not only did I lose muscle mass. I lost a lot of fat.
I have now lost 60KG (≈133lbs).

teh end.

Post your measures. So that you can keep track of yourself.


Sex:
Age:
Weight:
Height:
BMI:
Weist:

Goal:


So for me;
Sex: M
Age: 18
Weight: 104KG
Height: 183CM
BMI: 29.9
Weist:102

Goal:80KG / 5%≤ body fat, and a spartan body ;)

Schedule;
I do not go to the Gym - yet. But I will soon.

[phatlip12]

I'm planning on getting into some rock climbing. There's an indoor facility I'd like to attend. I would mainly be doing it for fun though.

[rabidbadger]

Bani, good call. I'm the biggest I've ever been and I can't stand it. Friend from these boards suggested I get a punching bag and a jump rope. Gave me links to tutorials and such. Nice way to get active without blowing money for a bike or gym membership. Gets the heart going, and the seratonin might help my mindset.

Also, can't really Jog/bike here in upstate NY in winter even if i wanted to.

[bani-banan]

Gym is unfortunately a luxury. You could easily take 2x gallons of milk bottles and use them as weights. Crunches, pushups, pull-ups etc.
The important thing is to get the heart going.
But, this only applies to muscles and fat-loss.

If you want a cardiovascular exercise, well... that's a bit trickier doing indoors.
You want to take long walks, jogg, run.

However! Exercising outdoors when it's cold is not recommended. Your muscles wont be warm, nor will they be as flexible as let's say - you were to be running on a tredmil, or in outside during the summer. There's always a risk.

@Phatlip; Rock climbing is awesome. You burn a lot of calories, and you get great muscles. Just look at K Rose. He was very doughy when he hosted TSS. Look at him now.

Some links;
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/articles-submit/gary-matthews/workout-without-gym.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Without-Joining-a-Gym

I wouldn't suggest you buying videos, since there are a lot of personal trainers posting videos on YouTube. Also, torrent trackers have enough of them as well.

There is also another compelling reason to join a gym. There are instructors and experienced members who can give you tips and point out what you're doing wrong. You could be lifting weights, but you have horrible posture -> Can cause severe problems later on.

Also, badger. Upstate NY? Suburbia? How about doing some dog-walking? You get some money and exercise. It's a win-win.

I should also note;
Contact your physician before you change your diet and start exercising.
Any previous medical conditions could have a huge impact on your well-being.

[metallicnitro]

I am definitely going to get back into shape. I went from 220 lbs (just hit obesity), went down to ~160 and up to 215 down to ~205. I lost most of the weight when I did cardio and free weight exercises. Also, eating reasonable meals helps A LOT. I lost 10lbs when I moved into my apartment because I was limiting my food intake to smaller, healthier portions instead of living off campus food which blew me up. I am going to buy some equipment and seriously get to work. My confidence is at an all time low and that needs to change quick.

[rabidbadger]

"Also, badger. Upstate NY? Suburbia? How about doing some dog-walking? You get some money and exercise. It's a win-win."
Great idea, but still means I gotta go out in the miserable snow. Oh, and not suburbia, inner city, folks don't pay for dog walkers in my neck of the woods. Cuts into their crack allowance. :)

[murphy1d]

I have a tip for all of you who want lose the weight, check out Livestrong.com (http://www.livestrong.com/) (ya know, Lance's place). They have a great site and there's a tool for searching out what you ate today and it automatically adds up the calories, fat, sodium, carbs etc. for you and graphs it out over the weeks.

I have been on it for two weeks and after you put in a few of your favorite meals its pretty easy. No, I don't have any connection and this isn't spam, just a site that I was pleasantly surprised with.

PS - I've lost 7 lbs in 2 weeks.

[rabidbadger]

dude. good job! I'll check it out. Mr Armstrong is a great rolemodel for so many reasons. Yellow bracelets aside, hehe.

[scoobydiesel]

this whole...being active stuff...it would kill me. Work is enough. :-p

[phatlip12]

My issue is gaining weight. I've been skinny my entire life. Everyone thinks its so easy to gain more weight but it's really not. For me at least.

People think nothing to call me skinny but don't realize I find that insulting. Would you call a heavy person fat? No. So please don't make comments about my weight either. Know what I mean? Thats my fitness goal. To gain more weight. I actually lost some weight a few months back when I got lyme disease. I finally gained it back though but it took a while considering it being difficult to gain weight as is.

[scoobydiesel]

Should look into what yours eatting bro, I mean dont just focus on junk food, you still need "healthy food" to gain weight and what not.

[rabidbadger]

Odd for a dude named "Phatty" haha, but yeah, pasta is your friend. And my enemy. haha

[scoobydiesel]

Rice is very good and yummie...i want sushi....

[radzack]

I love exercise :) and health :)

[bigshotprof]

"Also, badger. Upstate NY? Suburbia? How about doing some dog-walking? You get some money and exercise. It's a win-win."
Great idea, but still means I gotta go out in the miserable snow. Oh, and not suburbia, inner city, folks don't pay for dog walkers in my neck of the woods. Cuts into their crack allowance. :)

Not to mention the fact that these dogs aren't really responsive to strangers.


OH and Bani, god on you for the discipline upgrade. Keep at it!

[skyz]

Odd for a dude named "Phatty" haha, but yeah, pasta is your friend. And my enemy. haha

sophia loren said: 'i owe everything to pasta'

yes for you phatty unrefined carbohydrates are your best friend

try gia whole wheat pasta (does not taste like cardbord)

de boles is mostly in whole foods but i've seen it in supermarkets

try basmati rice stuff it is so good

lots of fruits and veggies and lots of high quality olive oil

under stress i lose weight so i have a clue about it being a real problem

there is a protein shake powder i love is called spiru tien is made by natures plus i have it with silk soy milk you can get it t whole foods or online

they have lots of flavors i am addicted to the chocolate one is really seriously chocolate

[skyz]

I love exercise :) and health :)


i love healthy foods you should see my refrigerator full of fresh produce

but i am a bit lazy actually more than a bit

i need to step up the exercise

but here is the sun that is a problem really bad for fair skin

i'd like to swim at night but is dangerous

[bigshotprof]

i love healthy foods you should see my refrigerator full of fresh produce

but i am a bit lazy actually more than a bit

i need to step up the exercise

but here is the sun that is a problem really bad for fair skin

i'd like to swim at night but is dangerous

Jaws said: I owe everything I am to sun-shy swimmers.

[skyz]

Jaws said: I owe everything I am to sun-shy swimmers.

i need a purified seawater pool no cholrine

[tokenuser]

i'd like to swim at night but is dangerous

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2513711109_81db8f35c1.jpg
A shark's view of Florida

[scoobydiesel]

some guy just got killed bya shark or something too, i read about it on the interwebs.

Its real.

[ariastar]

Heh, for 2007 I set the goal of 70 pounds, posted it publicly here. By the end of the year, I went from 300 on January 1st to 155 on December 31st. Not that that was all healthy, mind you. I wasn't eating (and threw up whatever I did eat) and spent hours at the track every single night, and I was popping 16 ephedra polls per day and sometimes caffeine pills on top of that, and in February of this year ended up in the ER, and got to 116.5 at the end of July. I'm 5'7". So this is underweight.

At 116.5, my ribs were visible in my back, as was my spine. My xiphisternum was easily visible (a piece of cartilage at the bottom of the sternum). My stomach was concave to the point that it receded up behind my rib cage. As for energy, I had none.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/ariaandcody/2008/07%20-%20July/28%20-%20With%20Kuku/bird.jpg?t=1230589249

But since starting IVF stuff, I've actually been eating again, am not obsessing over the scale ten times per day, and have gone from a size 0 (also was wearing a children's size 12) back to a size 3. I am 129 as of this morning, and that's okay. It's quite something to end my goal of reaching 100, but for babies, I gotta stop aiming for 100.

[skyz]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2513711109_81db8f35c1.jpg
A shark's view of Florida


it's not all about what might be in the water

strange people populate the dark beach at night

not a good place for a girl alone in a bikini

[phatlip12]

Heh, for 2007 I set the goal of 70 pounds, posted it publicly here. By the end of the year, I went from 300 on January 1st to 155 on December 31st. Not that that was all healthy, mind you. I wasn't eating (and threw up whatever I did eat) and spent hours at the track every single night, and I was popping 16 ephedra polls per day and sometimes caffeine pills on top of that, and in February of this year ended up in the ER, and got to 116.5 at the end of July. I'm 5'7". So this is underweight.

At 116.5, my ribs were visible in my back, as was my spine. My xiphisternum was easily visible (a piece of cartilage at the bottom of the sternum). My stomach was concave to the point that it receded up behind my rib cage. As for energy, I had none.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/ariaandcody/2008/07%20-%20July/28%20-%20With%20Kuku/bird.jpg?t=1230589249

But since starting IVF stuff, I've actually been eating again, am not obsessing over the scale ten times per day, and have gone from a size 0 (also was wearing a children's size 12) back to a size 3. I am 129 as of this morning, and that's okay. It's quite something to end my goal of reaching 100, but for babies, I gotta stop aiming for 100.

Wow, that pic really shocked me. I actually said "Oh my god" out loud. Glad to hear you're gaining some weight and aiming to get to a healthy weight.

Best of luck, you can do it! :)

[rabidbadger]

i love you both sooo much right now. and aria. yeah, get a few healthy pounds. But so nice to see your smile again!

[tokenuser]

I have a little over 8 months until I am 40 (yes, that old, but not as old as some around here).

Currently 267lbs on a 6'0" (183cm) heavy set frame. My ideal weight is actually somewhere around the 190lb mark.

So ... 80lbs in 8 months (36weeks)? 10lbs per month? 2.22lbs per week.

Doable? 2lbs per week puts me so close (195lbs) it makes no difference to my target (actually anything under 200lb would be fine).

I am going to hit this in stages of 10%.

First target goal - lose 10% of 267 = 240lbs (I am going to round these numbers).
Second target will be lose 10% of 240lbs = 216lbs.
Third target will be lose 10% of 216lbs = 195lbs.

Done. New me at 40 :)

I'll be taking body measurements (might post) and photos (will not post:) ) soon.

[ariastar]

Wow, that pic really shocked me. I actually said "Oh my god" out loud. Glad to hear you're gaining some weight and aiming to get to a healthy weight.

Best of luck, you can do it! :)

Thanks. :) I think my weight's pretty okay right now. I feel the best around 125, but a few extra pounds over that would be fat store for babies, I think. And that's more important. It's like, now that I know I can get down that low, it doesn't seem like the end of the world to gain back a little.

[ariastar]

I have a little over 8 months until I am 40 (yes, that old, but not as old as some around here).

Currently 267lbs on a 6'0" (183cm) heavy set frame. My ideal weight is actually somewhere around the 190lb mark.

So ... 80lbs in 8 months (36weeks)? 10lbs per month? 2.22lbs per week.

Doable? 2lbs per week puts me so close (195lbs) it makes no difference to my target (actually anything under 200lb would be fine).

I am going to hit this in stages of 10%.

First target goal - lose 10% of 267 = 240lbs (I am going to round these numbers).
Second target will be lose 10% of 240lbs = 216lbs.
Third target will be lose 10% of 216lbs = 195lbs.

Done. New me at 40 :)

I'll be taking body measurements (might post) and photos (will not post:) ) soon.

It's do-able...but may be tricky. Thing is, it's very very common to have times where you plateau. If you have two weeks where you lose nothing, will you aim for three or four pounds the following weeks? Make sure to eat enough, cut salt and too much starchy foods, and do it mostly with exercise. Don't forget that some exercising puts on muscle, which weighs more than fat, so you may get to a damned good size while weighing more than 195. Don't put all of your goal into the scale, perhaps also going by measurements.

[samureye]

Supposedly at 179 lbs right now, I'll be hitting the gym for reals in January.

[acidburn]

I'm headed to the gym right now. I think it is harder to stay motivated in the winter, at least I know it is harder for me.

In a typical week I go twice. I'd like to increase that to 3 or 4.

I've been working out for a while now, I haven't lost much in the way of total pounds, not really sure the exact number because I don't get on a scale ever. But I have lost inches and about 1 & 1/2 pants sizes.

[tokenuser]

It's do-able...but may be tricky. Thing is, it's very very common to have times where you plateau. If you have two weeks where you lose nothing, will you aim for three or four pounds the following weeks? Make sure to eat enough, cut salt and too much starchy foods, and do it mostly with exercise. Don't forget that some exercising puts on muscle, which weighs more than fat, so you may get to a damned good size while weighing more than 195. Don't put all of your goal into the scale, perhaps also going by measurements.I am not going to be ruled by the scales, and in the past (with exercise) it was the measurements that were more important to me than the weight. The goals will be adjusted (they are not fixed in stone), but are just serving as a stake in the ground. Being comfortable in a large shirt (currently XL or XXL depending on cut) and a pair of 34-36" (currently 38-40" - again depending on cut) pants would be a good start as well - and very achievable.

I do need salt in my diet though. I went for a time without adding salt to food, and found that my muscles cramped (charlie horses in the middle of the night so painful I would have tears) ... so salt stays (even though it retains water).

Of far greater importance to me than the weight loss is my blood pressure. It is high ... dangerously high when I am not on meds for it. I need to lose weight and improve my level of fitness to get off them. Because of the BP, I can't use the weightloss pills or anything like that ... I have to do it the old fashioned diet and exercise way.

Also, we (wife and I) are getting to the point were she could take a slight break in her career for kids. I would like to fit enough as a 40 yo to chase around a toddler, and at 50 be fit enough to toss a ball or play soccer with my kid(s), at 60 - screw them, they should have left home by then and be off at Uni somewhere.

[alaskalonewolf]

I think activities are key to being "in shape" though. Mind you, in the winter
it can be extremely challenging to remain 'fit' due to the weather. Don't get
me wrong, it's easy to fixate on the intake or 'food-side' or weight-loss.
For me, though, that perception has always been a mistake, and a huge
rollacoaster that's absolutely no fun.

I had to focus on what I wanted to do for fun. That was important. When it
gets cold, I find my motivation kinda disappears, not looking forward to even
going outside. But, as the days get longer, the seasons change, and there
are more options. Here's what I've found can keep ya' in shape:

Rock climbing (http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&q=rock+climbing&btnG=Search+Images)
Cross country skiing (http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&q=cross+country+skiing&btnG=Search+Images)
Weight lifting (http://www.google.com/search?um=1&q=weight%20lifting&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw)
Snowboarding (http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&q=snowboarding&btnG=Search+Images)
Ice Climbing (http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&q=ice+climbing&btnG=Search+Images)
Dog mushing (http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&q=dog+mushing&btnG=Search+Images)
Snowmachines (http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&q=snowmobiles&btnG=Search+Images)

...I suggest worrying about staying active. Worry about the quality of
the food and not so much on how much you're eating. For me it was
about finding something that I could stay interested in, and develop a
habit of getting into the mood every day to keep it going. Friends help though.

[samureye]

Supposedly at 179 lbs right now, I'll be hitting the gym for reals in January.

Heh, winter.

[murphy1d]

Trying to get from 248lbs down to 220 by summer. I'm at 240 as of today, but I never really FEEL overweight. When I see pictures of me I think my cheeks are getting chubby or that I have a paunch, but I never think OMG am I fat!

I have measurements that range from a 36 waist to a 38, and a chest that goes from a 48 jacket to a 50 and a neck that ranges from 17 1/2 to 18. Basically, I can gain weight, but it goes all over instead of just to my gut. That's why I can lose 30 lbs (did that 5 years ago) and very few people ever notice. So I never stress over the look, just the health (and yes it helps BP, cholesterol and stamina a lot to lose a few extra pounds).

[rabidbadger]

I'm headed to the gym right now. I think it is harder to stay motivated in the winter, at least I know it is harder for me.

In a typical week I go twice. I'd like to increase that to 3 or 4.

I've been working out for a while now, I haven't lost much in the way of total pounds, not really sure the exact number because I don't get on a scale ever. But I have lost inches and about 1 & 1/2 pants sizes.

Congrat, Ms. Burn. And 'cause I aint seen you on chat lately, let me just say here, Happy New Year to you and yours! (and the chickens, unless they were holiday dinner)

[skyz]

Heh, winter.

i've seen snow exactly once in late late november in nyc a flutter of flakes only never snow on the ground

we from the tropics semi tropics don't quite 'grok' winter

[tokenuser]

i've seen snow exactly once in late late november in nyc a flutter of flakes only never snow on the ground

we from the tropics semi tropics don't quite 'grok' winter Best part of living in central NC. Seasons ... and they start as scheduled. Summer hot (and humid), autumn golden, winter cold (occassional snow - never lasts), spring verdant. Rinse. Repeat.