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 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?

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]

Originally Posted by 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!!!!!!

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]

Originally Posted by 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!!!!!!

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

[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. 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?