Getting in Shape

Mike McC · 12-09-2009, 02:42 AM

Figured I might as well get a jump on this, because a thread like this tends to pop up around this time of year anyway.

Anyway, general thread about getting in shape and losing weight, via any means. Offer suggestions/routines, ask for help, get feedback, get the warm hug of community support, please, go wild.

I'm going to open it up with this very promising looking routine I was linked to earlier this week.

Couch-to-5k

Outlined there is a workout program designed to get people from not running to running 3 miles in 2 months. It looks very promising, and I'm planning on starting it this week, so I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Seil · 12-09-2009, 03:24 AM

Here's what you do: wait until after Christmas and New Years.

Then, in January, give yourself a routine, be it jog for twenty minutes three tines a week, cut down on alcohol and caffeine, or just simply take the dog for a walk.

I sleep in past noon if I can, and am currently unemployed, so I need a reason to drag my butt out of bed in the mornings. The jogging thing usually works, but then I stop for a coffee and a smoke, so I don't know if I'm going backwards on this exercise thing.

Mike McC · 12-09-2009, 03:32 AM

Why wait? I find it better to start doing things immediately; waiting only increases the chances that you'll never start in the first place. If you miss a day or two in the routine in the holidays, that's not so big.

***Fenris*** · 12-09-2009, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike McC

Why wait? I find it better to start doing things immediately; waiting only increases the chances that you'll never start in the first place. If you miss a day or two in the routine in the holidays, that's not so big.

You wait because once you get into the holiday season, you start getting force-fed meatloaf by relatives you never want to see anyway.

Fifthfiend · 12-09-2009, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenrisWolf

You wait because once you get into the holiday season, you start getting force-fed meatloaf by relatives you never want to see anyway.

He's got a point though in that usually it's when you start getting force-fed meatloaf and such that's when you start thinking "I should go to the gym" whereas if you wait until January you'll probably get to January and go "ehhhhhhhhhhhh" and not do shit until like May.

Mike McC · 12-09-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifthfiend

He's got a point though in that usually it's when you start getting force-fed meatloaf and such that's when you start thinking "I should go to the gym" whereas if you wait until January you'll probably get to January and go "ehhhhhhhhhhhh" and not do shit until like May.

PRetty much. Best to strike while the iron is hot. Hell, only reason I didn't start tonight was because I had to crawl around under the deck here to try to get a dog (who was hiding from the vacuum) back inside and out of the very cold rain. My knees and legs were not happy with me after that, and I'd rather not fuck myself up on the very first workout.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkChocobo

After the new year starts, i plan on cutting carbonated drinks out of my diet completely... i did this when i was trying to get into the Army and i helped cut a lot of weight back.

Seconding this course of action. I've got about 3 liters of ginger ale left in this house, and after those have been consumed I'm on tea, juice, and water with the occasional soda, probably only when I go out to eat.

TheDarkChocobo · 12-09-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike McC

I've got about 3 liters of ginger ale left in this house, and after those have been consumed I'm on tea, juice, and water with the occasional soda, probably only when I go out to eat.

i stuck with water only... course i was doing PT's for the army physical exam also and needed it.

katiuska · 12-09-2009, 05:36 AM

I should cut out soda, but it's one of the few pleasures I have while enduring the boredom of the night shift, so right now I'm content to cut back and forgo a lot of other excesses.

Sithdarth · 12-09-2009, 05:50 AM

Sometime around the middle of last June I was informed that I would be going for my black belt test. It takes some time to get everything set up so I haven't actually gotten to the test yet but pretty much that day I gave up soda. Now for perspective I used to drink at least 2 liters of Mountain Dew on an average day. Between that and my little bit of extra training I now have like 3 inches of space in my jeans. I recently got into a pair of my old 34 in jeans from my senior year of high school. Moral of the story soda is the devil. I actually tried some a few days ago because it was the only thing around to drink and I couldn't stand it. It tasted like cough syrup.

As for what I normally do for a work out. Well I can't exactly run outside all the time. (Currently we're in something of a blizzard right now.) Instead I usually head over to my dojo at the Y. There I do two stories of stairs then 20 push ups and 20 sit ups and then a kata and repeat 20 times. (I know like 18 kata at this point so I redo one and then throw in an extra set of stairs and such after it to make everything even.) Its taken me from flabby with no arm definition to somewhere near flat with actual definition in my arms. Haven't had time to do that lately because it's nearing finals week and I'm moving but I hope to get back to it soon. Usually takes about an hour and a half or maybe two depending on how fast I take the stairs.

katiuska · 12-09-2009, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike McC

Why wait? I find it better to start doing things immediately; waiting only increases the chances that you'll never start in the first place. If you miss a day or two in the routine in the holidays, that's not so big.

That, and it makes things easier if you don't have a "screw it all" period every year that you have to come back from. Having come this far, I'd be pissed if I threw my plan to the wind for a week or two just to gain half of it back. Thanksgiving was surprisingly not bad, I just had to plan out what I was going to eat and trade out what I was willing to give up for something healthier. Also, if you go out for a walk or something after the meal, it not only gets you moving, it gets you away from the food and allows some time for your brain to realize that you're not hungry anymore, which helps for dessert.

I've been borrowing my mom's books which help me figure out how many calories, etc., are in every food and how much I should be getting per day. I should throw exercise back into the mix, but I don't have easy access to a gym right now... I ought to get on that, though.

12-09-2009, 02:42 AM	#1
Mike McC Time is something else. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wherever I am needed, I will be there. Posts: 5,065	Getting in Shape Figured I might as well get a jump on this, because a thread like this tends to pop up around this time of year anyway. Anyway, general thread about getting in shape and losing weight, via any means. Offer suggestions/routines, ask for help, get feedback, get the warm hug of community support, please, go wild. I'm going to open it up with this very promising looking routine I was linked to earlier this week. Couch-to-5k Outlined there is a workout program designed to get people from not running to running 3 miles in 2 months. It looks very promising, and I'm planning on starting it this week, so I'll let you guys know how it goes. __________________ WHERE MIKEY IS IN 2022! tumblrs - http://werewolf.zone twitters - @itmightbemikey

12-09-2009, 03:32 AM	#3
Mike McC Time is something else. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wherever I am needed, I will be there. Posts: 5,065	Why wait? I find it better to start doing things immediately; waiting only increases the chances that you'll never start in the first place. If you miss a day or two in the routine in the holidays, that's not so big. __________________ WHERE MIKEY IS IN 2022! tumblrs - http://werewolf.zone twitters - @itmightbemikey

12-09-2009, 05:36 AM	#8
katiuska Unlicensed Practitioner Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 801	I should cut out soda, but it's one of the few pleasures I have while enduring the boredom of the night shift, so right now I'm content to cut back and forgo a lot of other excesses. __________________ If I try too hard my brain explodes, so don't expect me to be witty on purpose.

12-09-2009, 03:24 AM	#2
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Here's what you do: wait until after Christmas and New Years. Then, in January, give yourself a routine, be it jog for twenty minutes three tines a week, cut down on alcohol and caffeine, or just simply take the dog for a walk. I sleep in past noon if I can, and am currently unemployed, so I need a reason to drag my butt out of bed in the mornings. The jogging thing usually works, but then I stop for a coffee and a smoke, so I don't know if I'm going backwards on this exercise thing.

12-09-2009, 05:50 AM	#9
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	Sometime around the middle of last June I was informed that I would be going for my black belt test. It takes some time to get everything set up so I haven't actually gotten to the test yet but pretty much that day I gave up soda. Now for perspective I used to drink at least 2 liters of Mountain Dew on an average day. Between that and my little bit of extra training I now have like 3 inches of space in my jeans. I recently got into a pair of my old 34 in jeans from my senior year of high school. Moral of the story soda is the devil. I actually tried some a few days ago because it was the only thing around to drink and I couldn't stand it. It tasted like cough syrup. As for what I normally do for a work out. Well I can't exactly run outside all the time. (Currently we're in something of a blizzard right now.) Instead I usually head over to my dojo at the Y. There I do two stories of stairs then 20 push ups and 20 sit ups and then a kata and repeat 20 times. (I know like 18 kata at this point so I redo one and then throw in an extra set of stairs and such after it to make everything even.) Its taken me from flabby with no arm definition to somewhere near flat with actual definition in my arms. Haven't had time to do that lately because it's nearing finals week and I'm moving but I hope to get back to it soon. Usually takes about an hour and a half or maybe two depending on how fast I take the stairs.