Battle of the bulge

[NameGoesHere1066]

Who here is trying to lose some weight? Vent your frustrations here and share your stories.

I've always been fairly thin and still am for the most part but as of the last two years I notice the by belly is not so flat any more while every where else is still thin. Actually I'm getting a bit of a belly and I think as I inch closer to 30 (I'm 29 right now) my metabolism is puttering out on me. Seriously I can't get rid of it even though I've been exercising and eating like a rabbit. This isn't cool, I'm losing my firgure and I'm not even pigging out or had any kids!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[Redeemer]

Hey I know your fustration. I was big for most of my life. 5'6 225-230lbs started dieting and working out my sophmore year of High School and by the begining of my Senior year I had dropped down to 175lbs. I gave up fast food entirely. I did not eat pizza at all either.

By the end of my senior year I dropped down to 135lb 5'10 (Sick with bad gullbladder :-? )

Thats been three or fours years and I have kept my weight between 150-160lbs with proper dieting/ eating.

NOW IF YOU IGNORE THE ABOVE READ THIS PART
KEYS TO LOSING AND KEEPING WEIGHT OFF.

The 1st and most important this is Muscle! You might have lost muscle. Muscle is important bc for every pound of muscle it takes 150 calories a day just to MAINTAIN IT!
Do 3 sets of 6-8 reps of said exercise,
Squats are a great exercise sense it works 230 muscles in the body!
Do strength training 3-4 time a week, No more the two key ingrediants to gaing muscle are
Protien and Rest!
LIGHT Cardio is good for the off days not Jogging or running, but maybe a casual walk or a little swimming.
Side notes your Metabolism probably slow downed from muscle lost, more muscle=increase metabolism. Also drink green tea it increases metabolism
These are some basics I hope it helps

[Krutch]

I'm 28, 5'11, 192 pounds. More or less been that way since I was about 18. Before that I was skiiiiinny. Then I was in committed relationship for over 2 years at that point and just kind of gave up. Part of me secretly blames her though. French chicks, man :P Growing up I never cared about food; some tasted better than others, that was about it. But dating her she kept going crazy about food, like every food as an experience. Eventually I started learning to love foods, and that was what kinda killed me. I ballooned up quite a bit.

Around this time last year, my roommate and I were living in Vancouver and decided to get serious about fitness. Our apartment had an open 24/7 gym so we figured why not? Started eating healthy and drinking only water. Exercised 5-6 times a week for about 2 hours. In about 3 or 4 months I dropped about 30 pounds and gained a lot of strength. It was awesome :)

Then life happened, I got depressed, and just kinda gave up on everything. Grew a beard, longer hair, gained weight... Checked the scale yesterday. Back up where I started; a precise 192.

Guess its time to get serious again :(

[Michelangelo]

I always hated my stomach when I was a child, it was fat to me.
In old photos I can see I got fatter into my early teens.
Then I grew up and was exercising and eating well etc.
I can't imagine having to lose weight ever, as I sit around 50kg and have for many years now. I don't workout but i don't slouch around all the time.
If anything I'd look to gain a little weight, but I'm good.
I work in an office so not much physical work for me and when i get home it's the net or sitting down to do something.
I do eat a vegan diet, but even on it I know if I indulge in food too much I will and do gain weight.
I guess I've always had a strong mind to change the things I don't like in my life and my weight at one point was one such thing.
I wish all trying to lose some weight here the best and hope they can make a change in their lives they can accept and make part of their new selves.

[NameGoesHere1066]

huh...I kind of thought this topic would have had more posts. Are yoiu guys shy about discussing how you are getting older and fatter? :lol:

Any way as far as my situation is concerned I've decided to join a gym and maybe get a personal trainer.

[Krutch]

Starting up Insanity again on Monday. I've done it before. It was brutal. It's heavy on plyometrics which sucks but it does the job real well for me. Wish me luck, amigos. It's gonna be a rough 2 months.

[MrPliggins]

No weight issues here yet. 35, 5'11", 155 lbs. I've never had to deal with any of this so I commend those who work hard at losing weight. I've seen from family and friends that it's not an easy thing to do.
Still, I go to the gym and work out often because my doctor said "Don't think you're healthy because you're not overweight". He's so right. Besides, doing some cardio and lifting some weights, being sore all over feels good, right?

[Hazel-rah]

Who here is trying to lose some weight? Vent your frustrations here and share your stories.

I've always been fairly thin and still am for the most part but as of the last two years I notice the by belly is not so flat any more while every where else is still thin. Actually I'm getting a bit of a belly and I think as I inch closer to 30 (I'm 29 right now) my metabolism is puttering out on me. Seriously I can't get rid of it even though I've been exercising and eating like a rabbit. This isn't cool, I'm losing my firgure and I'm not even pigging out or had any kids!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Oh yes, I totally understand. I was thin all my life UNTIL I hit my 30's. Never had to diet. Than pow, something clicks off in the body and pounds add on. Now even with watching what I eat and with exercise it is a never ending battle. It only gets harder as you get older.

[Blossombrooks]

Ah it's a constant battle for me, I'm only 5ft tall and I swear I put weight on just looking at chocolate! I'm not what would be considered as grossly overweight but being this short every pound shows and just lately it's showing more. I hit 30 last year and its def harder, usually if I want to lose some I exercise or join a slimming club but I'm into a pretty intense exercise routine right now and it's not helping much (very enjoyable though, I love exercising!)

I'm sure I'll get on top of it soon, Christmas really doesn't help. Too many nice things in the house and too little willpower right now.

[Metalwolf]

Who here is trying to lose some weight? Vent your frustrations here and share your stories.

I've always been fairly thin and still am for the most part but as of the last two years I notice the by belly is not so flat any more while every where else is still thin. Actually I'm getting a bit of a belly and I think as I inch closer to 30 (I'm 29 right now) my metabolism is puttering out on me. Seriously I can't get rid of it even though I've been exercising and eating like a rabbit. This isn't cool, I'm losing my firgure and I'm not even pigging out or had any kids!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!Hmm...



maybe you could try and keep a food journal for a couple of weeks. It might give you a possible clue of why you're getting bigger, as it will show you what you're eating over time that could be throwing you off. It's often hard to see anything over a few days that would be causing this weight gain, but over a few weeks, sometimes a pattern emerges.

[shuriken]

I run and bike. That helps.
Sex can also be a really good workout. Just find a partner that you're really into and have at it.
OOH tennis. I find that sport more exhausting than soccer and basketball even.

[Krutch]

On day 3 of Insanity. Sore as hell but still 100% motivated. I'm trying to change a lot of things in my life so I'm doing some things I've never done before. On Friday I had what I call a "montage day". Went to Sunglasses Hut and asked for someone to help. A half hour of trying on dozens of sunglasses, bought a new pair. Same thing with shoes. Same thing with finding a new cologne. Weird but oddly fun times. I never spend much money on myself so that was a strange change of pace.

But yeah I'm getting off topic. How's everyone else doing?

[Blossombrooks]

Eating Oreo chocolate...so yeah, not good!
I was in a great exercise routine but then I injured my knee badly, the bruising is just about gone but its still sore after 3 weeks. I'm hoping next week I can start again and tone up.
Glad you're still motivated Krutch, sounds like you're doing great! :)

[Krutch]

yeah, its not the getting myself to workout thats the hardest... its definitely the trying not to eat chocolate Oreo's when you read someones eating chocolate Oreo's :P

[Storm Wolf]

Trying to lose weight was always a source of frustration for me...especially since in my teenage years I was pretty active and ALWAYS outdoors doing something.

It wasn't until about a year ago I was finally diagnosed with PCOS and treated. Dropped 50lbs in about 6 months with biking, walking, and logging food. I probably would have kept going if I hadn't gotten pregnant...BUT that was the intended purpose of treatment and weight-loss so I don't mind it so much.

I got 10 more weeks and I can get myself back on track. I was doing an easy 6 miles 3x a week before and I really can't wait to get back at it! First this winter crap needs to go!

[Jelly Bean]

something that has always annoyed people about me is the fact that i am supper skinny (I am not even 100 pounds) and I do not even try to be. I also eat what ever I want and regularly eat junk food, and I can pack it away too. If I was in a eating contest against Shaggy and Scooby I could eat them both under the table. I have no self control and am used to eating as I please and I'm still skinny. I have acually gotten crap for this over the years because people assume I must be bulimic or doing something to myself to eat the way I do and still stay so skinny. But the truth is I am this way naturally and always have been.

I feel bad for people who have to watch what they eat all the time, because eating and enjoying yummy food is one of the true pleasures of this life and I have been able to completely indulge in it without blowing up. I don't know what I would do if one day whatever keeps me thin regardless or how much I eat stopped working because I as a result of this I have no self disipline, and I could see myself becoming one of those 600 pound people you see on TV. I am a serious glutton, and I sometimes wonder if I have food addiction because I love eating so much. I have learned to curb this around people because people genuanly seem to hate me for it and act like I am rubbing my thiness in their face. I've actually had some people pick fights with me. People have told me to weait until I am close to thirty, that it will all change and I will blow up. I wonder if that is actually true or people just being nasty to me?

The truth of the matter is though, I wish I could put on some weight. I am not kidding you when I say i am so skinny I have no womanly shape at all. I have no curves or breasts and people constantly think I am a kid. I think that is one reason I dress in boys clothes alot growing up (and still do now), because I always looked like a boy because of my skinny shapeless body.

[Leo656]

Things definitely slow down big time between the age of 26 and 32. That's a scientific fact. I used to be able to eat literally anything - working out all the time helps - and stay thin, and I've never been overweight but since my late 20s if I'm not really careful I get a small gut pretty quickly.

A lot of people don't know this, but as far as genetics goes, the main part your genes play is in determining whether you gain body fat all over, or mostly in your waistline. I'm one of those people who only gets it in the waist, while some people "bloat" all over. Either way, when it comes to losing that last little bit of fat around your stomach, it's almost entirely about how you eat. That's why most people simply can't get that flat stomach or those 6-pack brick abs: You pretty much need to work out 5-6 days a week and mostly eat 5 meals a day of chicken, tuna, salad, and water. Because if your total body fat is any higher than 10%, you can have abs like a brick wall but nobody can see them.

And you can't make belly fat go away by doing tons of ab exercises, either, because those muscles are far too small to generate the energy needed to burn off that outer layer. Total-body exercise and strength training, mixed with a balanced diet, is key for taking fat off and keeping it off. Most people don't have the willpower to get rid of that last little bit, so as a trainer, I always tell people not to obsess, and focus more on being overall fit and healthy. You don't need a 6-pack to be in shape, and starving yourself or working to exhaustion to get there just because your body fat is 15% instead of 10% isn't healthy either. Awesome for those who can do it, but it's hard to keep it.

Easiest thing to do is focus on the common sense stuff. Eat less, move more. Avoid eating stuff that's blatantly bad for you. If it's not water, tea, iced tea or milk, don't drink it on any kind of regular basis (and even half of those things aren't great, but far better than the alternatives). You need the gym, but also find something you can do at home, like yoga. As others have said, keep a food journal, because it keeps you honest and you can establish patterns, which helps you eliminate bad habits easier. Get your BMI and body fat levels checked every few weeks. Your BMI should be between 20-25, and your body fat-to-muscle mass ratio should be Body Fat under 20%, Muscle Mass over 40%. Those are the Important Things to keep track of, far more than a number on a scale. Circumference measurements and keeping track of how your clothes fit are all good motivating factors, also. Don't be married to the scale; a lot of what's considered "Normal" is completely made-up.

Best of luck everyone. It's my job to help people with this every day, so I know how hard it can be. It's harder as you get older, so really, there's never any reason not to start right away.

[Krutch]

Finished week 3 of Insanity today. Lots of jumping around so my knees are sore as hell, but to be honest, I'm loving the daily challenge of getting another workout under my belt. Insanity, as crazy as it is, seems to be the right fit for me. I'm not worried about gaining muscle, I'm mainly concerned with losing weight and it seems to be doing the trick(I'm also following the nutrition guide which I'm sure has a ton to do with it. Like Leo said, I'm eating 5 times a day, lots of chicken, tons of water. I'm down to 180 from 193 in 3 weeks, so it's been nice to see my clothes begin to fit me better and better.

Hope everyone keeps it going. Stay motivated and try to have fun with it :)

[Leo656]

My knees couldn't handle Insanity or any of that, I don't think. It's weird, inside the ring I'm bulletproof and can do all kinds of crazy stuff, but for the purposes of just walking around in general, I'm pretty banged up. :lol: I try and do yoga to help put myself back together, and it definitely works. It's great cardio, too, especially for people who can't move very quickly, or run, or jump, or just don't want to do any of those things. I recommend it to everyone, although finding the right program can be tricky. I've been doing the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD, which has a Beginner and Advanced workout, and frankly the Beginner one is a lot tougher than some of the other beginner yoga programs I've seen, but at the same time there's lots of room for modification for "Real" beginners. I think it's great; I've done it a few times when I was exhausted and right afterwards I felt like I could run through walls.

I don't do it often enough, at all, but I seriously feel yoga is one of those things people should just "have" to do, like taking a shower or brushing your teeth. It's so essential just for being able to move and function properly, let alone get in better shape, that it should just be a Mandatory Lifestyle Requirement.

[Krutch]

Leo, have you ever tried DDP Yoga?

[Leo656]

Not yet, but it's on the list. I've heard and seen amazing things.

[Discogod]

I've got the opposite problem to some of you guys - I'm desperately trying to put weight on! I'm 6'3" and was always skinny, but for the last decade or so I've hovered around 180-190 lbs. I've been quite ill this year and the weight's just dropped off - I'm back up to around 170 right now, but seem to have plateaued. I don't eat a lot of junk food, but what I do eat I eat a lot of - my portions tend to be 2 or 3 times what everyone else I know eats.

I'm trying to bulk back up, but it's so hard, especially with not being able to take advantage of the gym - I've got pretty severe arthritis so a lot of the equiptment is unusable to me. I'd hoped that now I'm in my mid-30s I'd be able to pack on the pounds like I used to, but it seems that the more I eat & the harder I push myself, the less weight stays on...

Any tips?

[Leo656]

I'd have to do an evaluation with you to be sure, but I wouldn't go so far as to nix the gym. I'd say almost 80% of people who walk into my gym are over 35 and have at the bare minimum some arthritic issues. I'm currently working with two women who are over 70, with fairly severe arthritis as well as hip replacements and other issues, just as an example, and while they're not even close to trying to "bulk up", they have no problem with a lot of the equipment. Free weights are entirely more effective but not everyone can safely use them, but machine weights can still get the job done if you know what you're doing.

Does your gym give free fitness evaluations and orientations with a trainer? If not, scrap it and go somewhere else. I can't stress this enough: Any "Gym" without a training staff, that doesn't at the very least get to know the members and set up individual programs for them, isn't a "gym", it's just a box full of weights.

I'm only 31 (Sshhhhhh! If anyone asks it's just "Over 21"), but thanks to wrestling and too many dumb scraps as a kid I've got some arthritic issues of my own, a chipped C6 vertebrae in my neck, some knee issues, some minor bouts with shoulder separation, and all of that makes it tough, but not impossible. My current chest press max is nearly 300lbs, *after* my shoulder popped out and back in a few weeks ago. I'm not suggesting anyone put themselves at risk, but I am saying that a lot of the cats I work and work out with have a lot wrong with them, too, and they make it work.

Shortcuts to success:
1. Lift. Have a certified trainer look you over, explain ALL relevant medical issues to him in detail, find out your lifting max, and start at 60%. If you just want to gain weight and don't care as much about tone, work each body part on different days, and go heavier. 5 sets of 5 reps of the heaviest weight you can handle for that amount will absolutely swell your muscles. Rest 2-3 minutes in between. Drink lots of water and stretch, as you WILL feel that sh*t the day after for a couple weeks, but oddly, you'll feel fine as you're doing the set, because you're "only" doing a few reps at a time. Seriously, this is something I can't stress enough, is that ALL people, regardless of goals or general physical conditioning, NEED to do strength-training exercises, or your muscles, bones, and nerves all go to absolute sh*t as you get older.

2. Chiropractic. Find someone who's had neck or back surgery and ask them which chiropractor they recommend. Again, it's criminal that some insurance companies won't cover it, because having your spine and bones occasionally put back into place is like needing to brush your teeth every day. You CAN just not bother, but in the long run, you really should, it only helps. There are quacks, like in anything, so do the research before you let someone yank on your neck or anything like that. But it absolutely is essential once you find someone reputable. Thanks to my guy, I can even tell when my mood swings are related to my spine being twisted. We use words like "whiplash" and "pinched nerve" and such in a laughing manner when we converse, because frankly, serious as they are, this stuff happens to everyone, and it's mostly fixable. I'd be a mess if I didn't go once a week at least. Even severe arthritic symptoms are usually much more easy to manage with chiropractic, and it's scientifically proven to be more effective than painkillers and such.

3. Yoga. Again, it is mandatory for putting your body back together from not only strength training - which, as necessary as it is, DOES wear your body down a bit along the way - but just gravity and everything else in life that weighs you down. When I do yoga, no sh*t, ALL my arthritic joints feel like they're being somehow "healed" or put back together, and I feel bulletproof for days afterwards. Doing yoga after a heavy workout - or a match - can be the difference between feeling sore and banged up for a few days and feeling perfectly normal.

4. Eat. "Steak and eggs and eggs and steak," as they say. Protein, protein, protein. To keep any muscle mass on a person, they need to take in one gram of protein per pound of body weight, per day, for as long as they're training to get bigger. 170lbs = 170 grams. Which can be tough, and some people don't eat meat. You simply can't sustain lean mass without protein to stimulate growth AND burn fat, so some folks need a shake or two per day with a protein powder. Don't go to GNC, go to www.americanpurewhey.com it's not even half as expensive AND their protein tastes like ice cream and not chemicals like most shakes. They're a supplement company that ships direct to the consumer, thus the low cost. Highest possible recommendation on their protein powders: chocolate powder with milk is better than an ice cream shake, no BS. Ships in about ten days, can't go wrong.

Other than that, try and eat "real" food every 2-3 hours. Real as in nothing out of a box or fast food wrapper.

5. Supplements. Most people don't eat right, and regardless what "news" articles people pass around, if you're not getting certain nutrients in the food you eat, you gotta get 'em in another way. No, pills and powders aren't ideal, but if you're not ingesting huge amounts of beef, chicken, fruits and greens, you're likely missing something. Fish oil's good for the joints, one pill in the morning with breakfast is good enough, but if you don't eat with it you will get pukey. Other than that, topping off your protein shake with some creatine monohydrate will give you more energy to exercise and "bloat" your muscles a little bit, too.

Most people have a hard time following or sticking to ALL of this, but that's a general guideline to being more fit. I mean, we were discussing how to "bulk up" but really, the only thing that changes depending on goals is how heavy a person should lift. Even a person trying to lose weight still needs to up their protein intake, lift, and all that other stuff. So basically, anyone reading this can cherry-pick it and tailor it to suit their needs.

Indeed, this is how I make my living beyond face-punching guys in gaudy spandex.

[Memphis]

I don't have a problem with weight, but I've got a bit more fat than I'd like.

Back in July I was at 22% fat. Checked for the first time since then last week and I was at 18% so I was pretty proud of that. Goal is 12%.

It would probably move faster if I didn't eat like a garbage disposal, but dieting and I just don't mix. I've put on some really nice muscle though.

[Leo656]

Gettin' there, dude. Takes time. 4% is already a good start and 22% isn't that bad to start with at all. Nice work.

[NameGoesHere1066]

I am half way there! I have lost 10 pounds, but I still have a bit of a belly. My goal is twenty so I have ten more to go. But it seems I have hit a plateau. I hate when this happens because typically this is the point I ushually start back sliding. :( But my goal is to drop this and maybe more before I turn 30 in May. :)

[Krutch]

Nice work, NameGoesHere1066! When you start plateauing, change things up. Do exercises you're not used to that triggers different muscle groups and change up your diet so you're eating things you're not used to.

I just finished week 1 of Month 2 of Insanity. This is gonna be a long freakin' month lol but I can't argue with the results. In just under 6 weeks I'm down to 174 from 193, and my jean size went from a 36 to a 32. So that's been fun to see :)

[NameGoesHere1066]

I have a question, when did having "curves" or being "curvy" come to mean "rolls."

Seriously, when I think of curves or curvy I think of a woman who is slender and shaply enough where you can see the nautural curves of her figure, the waist, the hips, thighs, and natural shape of the buttocks, and legs...now people who say they have "curves" they mean anything from a muffin top to have serious rolls. When did this change? I would never describe myself as "curvy" if I wasn't actually thin enough to have them.

And for some reason people get pretty damn defensive over this issue to. "SKiny people do not have curves they are straight as a ruler--THAT WHY THEY'RE SKINNY! WE BIG PEOPLE HAVE CURVES WE GOT MEAT!"

Ah, no you don't honey, rolls are not curves it is the opposite of curves, and not all skinny people have the shapless lollipop figures, and can infact have meat on their bones with out being over weight. Just like Big people, skinny people come in kinds of shapes and sizes.

And just so people know where I am coming from, I'm not some judgmental size zero bitch, I just find it weird that "curves" now means over-weight to some degree when (as far as I knew) it meant someone fit slender/shapely.

I realize I probably stepped on some toes with this one and am going to experience some backlash.

[Bossa Nova]

I have a question, when did having "curves" or being "curvy" come to mean "rolls."

Seriously, when I think of curves or curvy I think of a woman who is slender and shaply enough where you can see the nautural curves of her figure, the waist, the hips, thighs, and natural shape of the buttocks, and legs...now people who say they have "curves" they mean anything from a muffin top to have serious rolls. When did this change? I would never describe myself as "curvy" if I wasn't actually thin enough to have them.

And for some reason people get pretty damn defensive over this issue to. "SKiny people do not have curves they are straight as a ruler--THAT WHY THEY'RE SKINNY! WE BIG PEOPLE HAVE CURVES WE GOT MEAT!"

Ah, no you don't honey, rolls are not curves it is the opposite of curves, and not all skinny people have the shapless lollipop figures, and can infact have meat on their bones with out being over weight. Just like Big people, skinny people come in kinds of shapes and sizes.

And just so people know where I am coming from, I'm not some judgmental size zero bitch, I just find it weird that "curves" now means over-weight to some degree when (as far as I knew) it meant someone fit slender/shapely.

I realize I probably stepped on some toes with this one and am going to experience some backlash.

I don't have much to say on your rant since I'd rather not get into that sort of issue, but just wanted to point out that calling people "honey" when you're trying to point out the flaws in their logic is extremely condescending. You might not be intending to offend, but that word alone is very belittling (and probably makes people less willing to listen to you), especially in this type of conversation.

[Krutch]

I always considered Amanda Seyfried and Scarlett Johansson "curvy", so take that how you will...?

How's everyone else holding up?

About to start my final week of Insanity. Can't believe I've made it this far. After Insanity, I'm taking an easy week(work out only 3 or 4 times a week) then gonna dive into Insanity: The Asylum Vol 1. I'm loving the results I'm seeing so far and Shaun T is a great motivator.

[Redeemer]

I always considered Amanda Seyfried and Scarlett Johansson "curvy",

I have the same definition. I have never heard the term curvy to mean "muffin top" or having "rolls"

I am actually going the opposite. I have gained 10lbs :lol: due to a back injury I don't get to what I want.

As soon as my back is healed I will be starting up my exercise regiment and I plan on going full force.:flaming:
:thumbsup:

[Jelly Bean]

I don't have much to say on your rant since I'd rather not get into that sort of issue, but just wanted to point out that calling people "honey" when you're trying to point out the flaws in their logic is extremely condescending. You might not be intending to offend, but that word alone is very belittling (and probably makes people less willing to listen to you), especially in this type of conversation.

I'm sorry but are you serious here? Is that the only thing you can pick out in her rant is her use of the word "honey?" I can tell you do not like what she had to say but why not actually make an argument against what she has said instead of picking out something completely trivial to discredit her?

As a skinny girl I can tell you that full figured women are by far more condesending and rude and belittling then anything NGH said. Being asked if I am bulimic or sick in some way all the time is ****ing rude. Picking on how I am too skinny while grabbing their rolls proclaiming "this is how a real woman looks" is beyond annoying and completely elitist. I don't get this attitude some full firgured women have, it is like you are trying to change the perception of what is considered normal or attractive. Which is fine I guess but why act so condesending to a skinny person? I too have heard fat women decribe their bodies as "curvy" and i do not get why. I am not shapely. Not one bit and I hate it, but hearing a self conscience (and I know they are projecting their own insecurity onto me) say how their body is how a woman "curvy" :trolleye: should look while mine is freaky and gross is completely out of line.

[Bossa Nova]

I'm sorry but are you serious here? Is that the only thing you can pick out in her rant is her use of the word "honey?" I can tell you do not like what she had to say but why not actually make an argument against what she has said instead of picking out something completely trivial to discredit her?

As a skinny girl I can tell you that full figured women are by far more condesending and rude and belittling then anything NGH said. Being asked if I am bulimic or sick in some way all the time is ****ing rude. Picking on how I am too skinny while grabbing their rolls proclaiming "this is how a real woman looks" is beyond annoying and completely elitist. I don't get this attitude some full firgured women have, it is like you are trying to change the perception of what is considered normal or attractive. Which is fine I guess but why act so condesending to a skinny person? I too have heard fat women decribe their bodies as "curvy" and i do not get why. I am not shapely. Not one bit and I hate it, but hearing a self conscience (and I know they are projecting their own insecurity onto me) say how their body is how a woman "curvy" :trolleye: should look while mine is freaky and gross is completely out of line.

Ummmmm, what? I said I didn't really want to get too much into what she said as it can very easily insult BOTH large and thin women and I don't like getting into that territory. Personally speaking I'm a pretty "average" size (around size 8/10 I think) so I never even know which side I fit in. All I was trying to point out is that if you find it frustrating when large women use the word "curvy" to describe themselves, how about discussing it in a way that isn't belittling to them?

I'm not going to make an argument against her because I'm NOT against her. The only thing I don't like about her comment AND yours, is that you're both obviously very frustrated about being attacked for your body shape, yet you're using attacking words on the people who hurt your feelings. In turn, all you're doing is hurting their feelings and fueling the fire on body shaming. Two wrongs don't make a right, so why not be a part of the effort to actually allow people to love their bodies however they choose? Clearly you would like if people stopped implying you have a mental illness for understandable reasons, but it's going to be very difficult for that to stop when you're likewise describing large people as "grabbing their rolls". Do you see what I'm saying?

[Metalwolf]

I am one of those folks that when I put on weight, a lot of it goes to the hips and thighs. I also get a big butt. I am 5'0 and I am 142. Unfortunately I am also one of those people who appear to be sensitive to carbs (and these have an effect on my hormones. I'm one of those females that produce too much androgens.)

I'd like to be 120, not because of beauty standards but because it seems to be a 'safe' weight as far as medical issues, but can't really seem to get there. I can eat the most fattening low carb things known to man and actually lose, but as soon as I eat too much fruit (besides cherries and blueberries, which are 'low carb') my weight goes up. And I love lots of different fruit. :ohwell:

[mysterycolor]

I am definitely not trying to lose weight right now (i am 25wks pregnant!) but it is crazy watching myself gain weight as it has never before been considered a good thing to do lol i am sure that by the end of July I will be back on this thread trying to figure out how to lose the baby weight...

[Krutch]

Finished Insanity on Sunday 8)

This week I'm going to "taste test" a few programs: DDP Yoga, T25, and P90X. Then next week i'm going to dive into The Asylum Volume 1.

[blindturtle02]

Last year when I was doing night classes, I did a bit more fast food than I probably should have. I'm now trying like crazy to get that extra weight off. I think it's going alright so far. My shirts are feeling rather baggy like they used to. Since I left college, I'd managed to lose the weight I'd gained there but keeping it off hasn't been easy. I have a granola bar for breakfast, some kind of fruit for lunch, and doing the baked chicken and green beans thing for supper more often than not. It's getting nice enough outside to walk the neighborhood, which I love doing, so planning on starting that soon.

[Redeemer]

I am definitely not trying to lose weight right now (i am 25wks pregnant!) but it is crazy watching myself gain weight as it has never before been considered a good thing to do lol i am sure that by the end of July I will be back on this thread trying to figure out how to lose the baby weight...

Congrats, Let me give you the 5 lbs I am trying to lose :lol:

Cutting out fast food, pizza, hot dogs, and any high fat foods. which is all the good foods :lol:
My back is starting to heal finally, hopefully in two or three weeks I can begin weight training again.

[Leo656]

Running into the same problem I always do. Trying to lift heavier to look bigger for wrestling, which leads to eating more for sustainable energy through heavy lifting workouts, which can also lead to retaining more fat than I would like. I confess, I'm lazy with cardio, but the last two weeks I've been getting back into it. I'd rather just lift, but lifting alone doesn't do it. I just hate doing cardio.

[blindturtle02]

Yeah I hear ya Leo. I don't like exercising alone if I can help it. I think I could get to like lifting weights but I'd hate to eat more, then retain fat if I end up getting bogged down with teacher stuff. I guess I'm being the less daring and adventurous sort and sticking with cardio. I just get so damn hungry after bench pressing, curling, and all that. Best to stick with cardio because I can tell I'd probably eat a tun otherwise. All I want when I get back home from an extremely long and speedy walk is water.

I don't have to worry about gaining any weight this upcoming Easter. I don't like ham, peach cobbler, deviled or boiled eggs. That's what my fiancé's family is having. I'll be eating like a bird, which is what I wish I could be EATING! haha If anyone has to stomach chicken on Easter and despises this food, beam it over to our place, please. I'll trade ya my ham! For the record, I like baked chicken much better than fried. You can get away with eating that sans the skin. Baked chicken has definitely become one of my dieting staples.

[Leo656]

Well, everyone really needs to lift weights anyway. It keeps your bones and joints from getting brittle, if nothing else. Lifting light-to-moderate weights for a half hour or so just to stay fit and then recovering with a healthy lunch won't make anyone gain weight or fat. I'm just walking a tightrope of, "trying to get noticeably bigger, and heavier, by eating a lot and lifting as heavy as I can, while still keeping relatively lean." Not everyone has to worry about stuff like that. If you're just trying to keep generally healthy, well, that's easy. Getting noticeably bigger without getting bigger "all over" (gut included) is the tricky part.

It also doesn't help me that my genetics are such that, most of my body fat only collects around my waist, so even if my body fat goes up a tiny bit, it all goes right there. I've been really good with cardio all week, though. I hate it but I have to do it. When I was younger I could just lift and eat and look just fine, now I have to actually work at it. Ah well, luck runs out I guess.

Regardless of the type of workout, you gotta recover afterwards with a protein-based meal or snack. Protein is your body's primary building blocks, and you rip through a ton of it for energy when you exercise, which is partly why people get so hungry when they work out. It's absolutely essential to refuel with a protein-based meal or snack, or at least a protein shake, within an hour (at the most) of any kind of workout, both to repair damaged tissues and to stimulate muscle growth while burning fat. Without it, your body just eats stored protein from your muscle and organ tissue, which totally isn't healthy at all.

Same reason breakfast is so important. Your body simply cannot function after 6-12 hours of no food and no protein. It starts to "eat itself" in your sleep if too much time goes by between meals, which is why people often wake up feeling exhausted even if they slept well. Skipping breakfast in such a condition and then simply trying to function at all is like starting your car on barely any gas.

I'unno, regardless of goals, it's all a balancing act of important stuff. Eat, sleep, lift, run, repeat. Gotta hit it all or none of it works.

[Krutch]

Decided I'm gonna do p90x starting Monday. If anything, to have a base to draw comparisons from. Because I'm gonna do a few more programs as well and generally most peoples first question is "how does it compare to p90x?"

[Krutch]

...and I hate to say it but after my first day, I felt that P90X sucked. As in its uninteresting and Tony Horton is annoying(this is my first experience with the guy.) He also doesn't seem the least bit interested in teaching anyone anything and more focused on making lame jokes.

...Not sure if this programs for me. I miss Shaun T's intensity.

[Krutch]

Sorry if its just me keeping this thread alive; just keeping myself motivated. (and hopefully all of you, too!)

Bailed on P90X. I screwed up my arms middle of the week and couldn't do much with them. And I just didn't feel into it. So I did T25 & DDP Yoga the rest of the week and on Monday I started The Asylum Vol.1. Only a 30 day program but it looks like fun. 2 days in and I'm in love with it.

Today I hit a milestone: Lost 30 pounds since I started back in the beginning of February. Suddenly my unrealistic goal of looking good for summer doesn't seem impossible.

Everyone else doing okay? It's like a graveyard in here...:ohwell: