FR Diet, Exercise, and Fitness Thread

[ncpatriot]

One more tip: lose weight before you are 40. It is hard to do after 40.
Another tip: quit smoking before 40 (weight gain).

[irishtenor]

Never counted, but stayed away from bread, rice, pasta, corn and potatoes. I would eat almost any kind of veggie, and fruit, and they contain some carbs, but lots of fiber. I basically stayed away from simple carbs. (I slipped every once in a while and ate bread, my downfall)

[Spiff]

I started my diet in late September of last year. I can go into more detail later, but essentially I just started eating right, watching calories and especially calories from fat, eating more whole grains and avoiding empty calories. I started exercising for less than 30 minutes every day on a treadmill. Nothing trendy, nothing fancy, just pure simple eating right and getting a little exercise.

As FReepers who haven't seen me since October said this last weekend when I FReeped with them at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, I've lost a bunch of weight. I've lost a total of 54lbs and at least 6 inches off of my waste. My health is greatly improved as is my energy levels and basic outlook on life.

I used FitDay to track everything I ate until I got myself trained to eat the right foods.

My goal is to lose a total of 80lbs and I'm almost there. My wife did this with me and she's already exceeded her weight loss goal - losing 32lbs already.

Anyone can do it. The trick is you have to DO IT!

[irishtenor]

Yikes! I'm almost 52!!!!!!!!

[retrokitten]

The trick is you have to DO IT!

Amen to that. There is no great trick to losing weight. We all know how to do it. We must choose health and fitness.

[irishtenor]

And I quit smoking at 26 years old.

[retrokitten]

It is hard to do after 40.

It's hard to do at any age! LOL

[mikemc282002]

Hello all,

Thanks for adding me. I'm trying to develop my own diet/workout routine. It's based mostly on the Body For Life book. I'm doing weights 4 times a week and cardio twice a week. The key to the Body for Life workout is to train or run using peaks and valleys. You do an exercise with progressively more weight/difficulty until failure. It can be draining but I'm feeling results pretty quickly.

As far the dieting part, I'm TRYING. I quit smoking recently (two months this coming Sunday) so I have trouble at night when I crave a snack. I think I've finally licked the smoking addiction but now I have to give up the bad food habit that's replaced it. I'm trying to lose about 70 pounds in the long run. I just find it very difficult to count calories or plan meals every day. I'm pretty convinced that diet is a bit more important than exercise in my case. I have no problem gettting to the gym and really love putting on my ipod and working out. It's a nice stress relief. The diet needs work though.

Does anyone have thoughts on whether it's better to strictly follow an "official" diet or to design something that fits the individual?

[retrokitten]

I do better when I have something structured to follow, but that is just me. Some others have been having great success with customized plans.

IMO, the best diet is something you are going to stick to and that works with your lifestyle. I did fabulous on Atkins, but it was really difficult for me to stick to.

No matter what plan you go with, though, you are going to need to plan your meals a bit. I know it sucks, but it really does help to plan and track what you are eating.

[Coldwater Creek]

Just how low carb is this pasta. I have not had a bite of pasta, bread, rice or potatoes for 2 1/2 years. No sugar either, except at Christmas I thought that I would cheat and eat a piece of fudge. I found that after being off of sugar for long, I could not stand the sweetness, and spit it out.

[ncpatriot]

If your tag line is correct, then you have nothing to worry about. LOL

[Dad yer funny]

Please add me to this health thread/pingList

... I walk alot , ... also own and use a Samson GB-9001 juicer [did it today]

... I'm 56 , 5' 10"" , 171.5 lbs [ate a bit too much at my Dad's 77th Birthday party yesterday]

... more later [ I smoked for 29 yrs , quit for 12 yrs now]

[retrokitten]

You're added!

There are a few other juicers on the list, too.

[Coldwater Creek]

I am a grazer, so Atkins is really easy for me. I do not care for cooked vegetables much so I eat my quota raw. Peanuts can take a long time to eat. It is simply a life style for me. I do not have to cook for a family, just my husband and he is a Celiac, and on a special diet a nyway.

[retrokitten]

I felt like I was in this never ending cycle of cooking and washing dishes while on Atkins. I had really great results, but it was just hard to work in to my lifestyle, I guess.

Even though I do WW I still use Atkin's ideas. I have to get a good amount of protein and veggies or I stop losing. I have cut much sugar out of my diet, too. On Valentine's Day I had some Lemonheads (lemon drop candy) and couldn't sleep! LOL! I hadn't had candy or that much sugar at one time that I had a complete sugar buzz.

[Dad yer funny]

thanks , I'm on here everyday , and a few weeks ago,...

... I was telling of the benefits I've seen from juicing [added to a good normal diet]

... well , out of nowhere a FReeper I'd never posted with[or read posts of before] ,...

... starts in on me about "you're just drinking sugary wishwash"

... I just responded with a sarcastic "Doctor,thank you" type post ,...

I was 1st exposed to raw juice therapy in 1970 , and three friends of mine were doing it as a group

[retrokitten]

... starts in on me about "you're just drinking sugary wishwash"

Ah yes. I think we've all run into that type now and again. Things have been really hostile on FR lately. I'm hoping this thread can keep clear of that and be supportive.

[A knight without armor]

""NO VERBAL ATTACKS! NO NAME CALLING! NO BASHING! THE OVERWEIGHT! NO NASTY PICTURES POSTED! This will be a thread about getting healthy and no attacks will be tolerated."

All these threads should be looked upon as such... "

I agree. It is a shame you have to tell adults this. Or even children for that matter. Since people seem to be respecting this, then are gross names or gratuitous pictures of persons with problems ever necessary? Shock. You are proving there can be a dignified discussion about weight.

[A knight without armor]

I wanted to be a juicer once but I could not drag home the pounds and pounds of carrots for my daily glass! It would be great if one could have a big garden and grow their own juice foods.

[Born Conservative]

185 lbs lost since January 2002. My "secret"? Gastric bypass surgery and more recently, kidney failure (the latter is NOT an ideal way to lose weight). Had I not had the gastric bypass surgery, I would literally have been dead by now (I'm at 215 lbs, so I can still afford to lose a couple of more lbs).

The reason I'm posting is because of my WIFE'S weight loss success. After my gastric bypass surgery, my wife changed her eating habits, and started exercising. She is down 90 lbs, and has kept it off (for the most part). Her secret? Cutting down on portions, cutting out ALL sugared drinks, and daily exercise.