Do You Guys Stay in Shape? If So, How So?

[Griffolion]

So I'm not happy with my fitness level and general look of myself. I'm about 5'11" and weigh just under 13st with a BMI of 26 (which is above the healthy range for my size). I work a sedentary job and don't work out a great deal. I wish to change that. I don't really have the money to join a proper gym, however I do have a pair of dumbbells and a treadmill (my parents have money). Most of my fat is in my abdomen area (which is typical to a male I think) and I wish to get rid of it.

Are there any particular types of exercise that are particularly expedient in this process? I am considering swimming as that is known to exercise more or less everything. Just for the record, I wouldn't say I eat nothing but crap, but at the same time I'm no culinary Adonis. I've taken to simply having an apple and a glass of water for breakfast, I've cut out chocolate at lunch time (so I just have a sandwich, crisps and a piece of fruit) and I'm trying to cut down on the amount I have in the evening for dinner and later snacks. So I'm genuinely making an effort with food.

So are any Escapists well versed in exercise? What would best aid my cause here?

(Like most other guys, I'm doing it because girls are a tad more shallow than they claim to be and are very much affected by how a guys physique is; I mainly know this because I've been rejected multiple times for a guy who's a lot more fit than me.)

 

[siffty]

Walk, ride bikes, general sports and eat heathy. Just the standerd stuff

 

[Angry Camel]

I'd say change to a labouring job. I switchd to one after highschool and my fitness shot up. It was a big change going from studying at desks to standing for over 7 hours a day, but it was great. Also, it's a good stress reliever when you get to hit stuff hard, since you get to vent a bit, plus stress can cause weight gain. Finally, no need for a gym; you're paid to workout.

On the topic of exercise outside work, remember for fat burning you need to favour longer, slower paced workouts verses short and fast. Swimming would be great for that, but even just walking more each day makes a huge difference.

One more word: burpees. These will kill you at first, but trust me, they work. Art Of Manliness can explain it better:
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/01/27/the-burpee-the-one-exercise-to-rule-them-all/

 

[Mariena]

I don't work-out, but I can say I'm in great shape. It pretty much comes down to staying away from the cake and don't eat when you don't need to (that includes seconds just because it is so delicious). Of course once in a while isn't gonna do anything..

I don't smoke at all, and don't drink often. I suppose that helps. My only exercise is in bed, which I can recommend daily. A lot more fun as well than jogging through the park.

 

[Kodachi]

DDR keeps my cardio up ^.^

 

[TheLoneBeet]

I cycle every day, usually have a protein shake for breakfast, try to eat healthy (but often fail) and otherwise do what I can to not be fat. I also do a series of pushups, situps and some dumbbell exercises every night. It works for me. I've been told I look a lot better now than before I did all this so I'm happy with the results.

Also, in my opinion everybody is shallow. Everybody gives good-looking people a chance over people who aren't so gifted in the looks department. It's unfortunate but it's true. Improving your physique will help a little, but don't let that be the only reason you do it. Do it for yourself, and let the rest fall into place around that.

 

[Griffolion]

I'd say change to a labouring job. I switchd to one after highschool and my fitness shot up. It was a big change going from studying at desks to standing for over 7 hours a day, but it was great. Also, it's a good stress reliever when you get to hit stuff hard, since you get to vent a bit, plus stress can cause weight gain. Finally, no need for a gym; you're paid to workout.

On the topic of exercise outside work, remember for fat burning you need to favour longer, slower paced workouts verses short and fast. Swimming would be great for that, but even just walking more each day makes a huge difference.

One more word: burpees. These will kill you at first, but trust me, they work. Art Of Manliness can explain it better:
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/01/27/the-burpee-the-one-exercise-to-rule-them-all/

I leave the sedentary job for college in a months time, and funnily enough I used to do a more manual job a year or two ago, and I felt a lot stronger then so there's definitely merit in what you're saying. So I may look for a more labouring job once I'm out of this one. And yes, I live quite rurally so I could get some walking done. Thanks.

 

[saucecode]

I am the skiniest person in the world.
Ok probably not, but i don't know anyone that is less meaty than I.
Im not even bragging, its totally true. I can walk up to people and stab them with my shoulder blades like ive got Ezio Auditore hidding in the back of my shirt.
I don't really know how i do it. I don't exercise, I eat less than most people. I fill myself up when eating then leave the table, i walk home from school every few days. Thats about all the physical activity i do. Im not concerned about it because im still as physically capable as most people my age, well in terms of stamina atleast. I just do what I enjoy doing, which, mind you, is very lazy and relaxed.
I can see my heartbeat on my chest actually. Like, that one bit of my chest slowly pumping the blood around mai body. Creepy right!

edit:
Oop, crap. You say guys.
Meh, thats my 2 cents.

 

[StormShaun]

Basicly I am at school at the moment and on Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning I work out at the gym and workout for a while, running machine (4kms), leg weight and then upperbody weights.

 

[unicron44]

I'd say change to a labouring job. I switchd to one after highschool and my fitness shot up. It was a big change going from studying at desks to standing for over 7 hours a day, but it was great. Also, it's a good stress reliever when you get to hit stuff hard, since you get to vent a bit, plus stress can cause weight gain. Finally, no need for a gym; you're paid to workout.

On the topic of exercise outside work, remember for fat burning you need to favour longer, slower paced workouts verses short and fast. Swimming would be great for that, but even just walking more each day makes a huge difference.

One more word: burpees. These will kill you at first, but trust me, they work. Art Of Manliness can explain it better:
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/01/27/the-burpee-the-one-exercise-to-rule-them-all/

Oh god I remember burpees, but we called them hit-its. I'm so glad I don't do those anymore.

OT: I just eat healthily for the most part. Stop eating when I get full. Exercise some, but should do more. I'm not in great shape, but it's passable.

 

[Rodrigo Girao]

I'm in shape. "Round" is a shape, isn't it?

 

[The Rockerfly]

Walk to uni for 30 minutes then back 30 minutes
Chicken Caesar for lunch
Shreddies for breakfast
and I go to the gym in the holidays when I'm back home

 

[Vrach]

Exercise isn't what you're looking for. It helps, but it's not the crux of the matter. You're gonna need to go on a diet if you're looking to lose weight.

Specifically, you're gonna need to reduce your daily intake to somewhere between 1200 and 1600 kcal. Here's my tips to doing that:
1) First and foremost - no sweets, no juices. These things don't sate your hunger/thirst in the least and are not at all hard to give up. Just stop buying them, if they're not around the house, you won't eat/drink them (want some motivation? Think of all the money you'll save not buying that crap). Freshly squeezed juice is a good replacement for normal juice, I found a glass of orange/grapefruit juice a day could usually keep me going for an hour or two before I was itching to eat something again.

2) Plan your meals. In meal sizes, you want your breakfast as the largest meal of the day, your lunch as the next large one and your dinner as the smallest. Don't kid yourself into thinking you'll be fine in between either - have some fruit around the house and eat some (but don't gorge yourself on it either obviously) if you're hungry between meals. Always plan your meals ahead, that way you don't end up in a situation thinking "oh well, I didn't have my breakfast today, I guess I'll just stop down at the bakery and eat some crap there", it's a very good way to fail at your diet.

3) Exercise is good - just don't expect to lose weight if you're not controlling your diet along with it. I can tell you this from both personal experience and you can read it on various sites. It's great for retaining your weight once you've lost it though so you may as well start right away (and it WILL help you lose weight, just not as much as a diet will). As for what to go for? Your choice. Weight loss wise, your best choices are running or swimming, but biking and walking will do the trick too. Note that the idea with all of them is not to trod around, but to push yourself, not too far, but as far as you can go. So if you're going for a walk, a stroll to the supermarket ain't the idea. Picking up a bit of pace and walking for a couple of miles is.

You can also do some standard exercises, I personally went for push ups, pull ups and sit ups, you can add some weights, crunches, whatever you like. Note that these will do more to tone your body than to help you lose weight. In fact, due to muscles being heavier than fat, working out will make you heavier - but this is not bad weight and is definitely something you wanna do if you're doing this for the ladies (tip, arms>ass>stomach), though I can tell you from experience, you'll feel good about yourself as well after a workout once you start seeing results

4) Speaking of results, don't expect any quick ones. You think you're gonna feel/see the difference after a few days? Forget about that. As far as your expectations go, I'd say don't expect a damn thing for 2-4 weeks. Just make a plan (and make sure it's a good one) and stick with it. This is especially true for exercise as people tend to expect their regime to become easier after a few days. Odds are, it's gonna become harder. Know why? You'll have the most motivation and your body will be as rested as it can be when you start. Don't despair, you'll be able to up whatever exercise regime you go with after a while, but just do it bit by bit, say every week a bit more and you'll be fine.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope it helps

 

[Gaiseric]

DDR keeps my cardio up ^.^

My older brother lost 20 pounds back when it first came out for home consoles.

 

[savandicus]

Well as someone who is in pretty good shape I just follow a few simple rules.

Its not what you eat, its how much thats matters. (Although that said I rarely eat fast food/high fat foods). Then simpley use excersise to balance out any perticularry unhealthy days.

However the important thing with weight loss is that you cant just do someone for 3 weeks and then go back to what you were doing before because your weight will settle to whatever your lifestyle is like. Simpliest way to lose weight (although it'll be slow) is to do and eat exactly the same things that your do now, but have a regular slot each week to go for a run/go swimming/do whatever excersise you want for an hour or two.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

Snip

if its the fat around your stomach, dont fall into the trap of going sit up crazy.
you'll just end up with large abs under the fat which will push the fat out more making you more unhappy with your appearance.
Treadmill and other cardio is your best bet to beat your stomach.

other advice, google mens health for some all round work outs you do with your dumbells or even without weights.
if you increase your overall muscle mass and you say you aint eating junk; your body fat will become less apparent. Also toned muscle burns body fat 24 - 48 hours after a work out.

i have a set up in my games room of a desk with my monitor, pc and 360. i have a punch bag in the other corner. a weight bench and some light weights i use to high rep/failure (failure a term to keep up the repitition until you cant physically complete the last rep) and manage to keep in decent shape

 

[Geekiest]

Be smart. Make time.

It's really that simple. And it's really that hard.

I got into shape after a pretty rough bout of surgery, and I found that starting from scratch on everything I considered 'work-outs' as well as appropriate food really got my body kicked into gear and ready for change. For food, make sure you set yourself some detox times. Things like fried foods and sugars will only cause you cravings so long as their lingering effects are still in your system. Swear them off for a month, and generally you find yourself not wanting them anywhere near as much.

Also: Soda. Just say no. You have no idea how many diets I've seen fail because people kept drinking things that weren't water or unsweetened fruit juice. Soda has some nasty effects for your health all around.

The rest has pretty much already been said.

 

[Griffolion]

Thanks to all the replies so far, I won't quote all of them, but all of you have said something very helpful, so thanks.

I think the main thing for me is motivation, sometimes I can suffer from a real lack of it. But I'm definitely going to continue swimming and will start some walking. As for tone on the arms, I'll put the weights to use. I'll also make some changes in what I buy, food wise. I don't mind a lot of the brown iterations of food (pasta, bread, grains) so I think I'll enjoy it, my other big Achilles heel is red meat, but I think I'm going to stay away for a bit.