Weight Loss Help/Ideas

[Escapist Account]

Good day to you gentlemen. I have just recently decided that I do not want to be another fat and useless American. So here I am. Does anyone here at the Escapist have any exercise routines, dieting plans, or any other sort of weight loss tips? Thanks in advance.

 

[Gaiseric]

Do you have any budget limits? Goals on how much you want to lose? Time frame? Current weight? Medical conditions? Motivations?

I can give some advice depending on your answers. Sorry for the all the questions, I just want to give usable and safe advice.

 

[Jamash]

Find an active hobby that you enjoy, like learning a martial art for example.

I lost a shit load of weight learning Judo and Muay-Thai and I didn't even view it as exercise.

Alternatively, get an active or physically demanding job, even if it's only part time like a paper-round or going door to door delivering flyers. That way you'll be earning money while exercising.

I've worked as a Porter in hospitals and the miles & miles I used to walk every day, up and down the corridors pushing heavy trolleys and beds kept me in good shape and help me to develop actual useful and practical muscles, rather than pointless showy gym muscles.

I suppose you could also exercise, but I find exercise for exercise sake is really boring and undesirable, for me it was much better to get my exercise as a side effect of learning a skill or earning some money.

 

[The Man With the Soap]

If you exercise with a Marine DI, I garentee you will trim down.

 

[endnuen]

If you have some cash to spend on it, pick up a martial art.
Else, find a friend and start running or biking. Both great exercise.

Also, diet, weight loss is 60-70% diet, and maintaining that diet. Cut down on carbs and keep your calories intake less than your spending. Aim for around 15-1600 calories a day, combined with running or biking 2-3 times a week and you will see the results quick enough.

 

[SiskoBlue]

No one system fits everybody. The important thing is to keep trying stuff. I did martial arts as a kid. Pretty good but after 3 schools with all 3 heads of schools being psychos I gave it up. Tried the gym, boxing, tennis, yoga, etc. but getting into a regular routine is tough. Something always comes up, gets in the way, instructors move on.

The things that really worked for me;
1. Tai-bo. The Zumba of the early 00's it's basically aerobics mixed with boxing and martial arts moves. The main reason I liked it is because I could already do the martial arts and the side kicks really toned my waist right down when nothing except running did before. Being able to just follow a video/DVD along means I don't have to go anyway or think too hard about it.

2. Getting up early and doing it. Motivating yourself to do it is hard but I got around that by making myself get up at 6am, changing into a pair of shorts and then starting the tai-bo DVD while I'm still half-asleep. I'd just keep telling myself the mantra over and over in my head. I'm going to feel alot better in 10 minutes and I know I feel really energised for the rest of the day if I do this. So that would get me through those 5 minutes where my brain wants to say 'no'

The main rules to remember when attempting to achieve any goal;
1. You must believe behaviour A (exercise) will led to goal B (feeling healthy). Have a goal in mind and if you truly believe doing behaviour A will get you goal B, and you really want goal B, then you will have the "will power", because that's all will power is.
2. Baby steps - Don't over do it. Everybody wants the best rewards in the quickest time. It doesn't work like that. Do a little bit each day, make it part of your normal daily routine and it will no longer feel like "extra work" and the changes will happen in due course.

Good luck.

 

[dmase]

If you need some help you can message me. But mostly distance RUNNING will help. Thats what you need to do to lose weight. Thats most important second is body weights excercise. pushups, wide push ups, dips, and correct crunches(thes ones your gym teacher taught you are a lie). I can give you a good workout routine but right now I'm shit faced so just message me and i'll help dont feel embarresed and please come back to this thread to realize there are people with similar goals and want to help.

 

[ZtH]

I'm with Jamash on this one. Find something you enjoy doing that includes exercise, if you view it as just work you'll be less motivated. A good friend of mine lost over 50 pounds by dieting and playing DDR, no joke. If you have something you like doing that will keep you active go for it and enjoy yourself the pounds will come off as an added benefit.

 

[Zantos]

I've found that just by watching what I eat I've lost quite a lot of weight without realising it. The biggest difference I've found are pay attention to what you're drinking, be it alcohol, soft drinks, tea and coffee, and see where you can cut down or replace them. Also, think about what you eat. It might be easier to get a takeaway or ready meal, but it really pays off to cook from scratch whenever you can, as long as you make sure to buy some decent ingredients.

 

[Shio]

No one system fits everybody. The important thing is to keep trying stuff. I did martial arts as a kid. Pretty good but after 3 schools with all 3 heads of schools being psychos I gave it up. Tried the gym, boxing, tennis, yoga, etc. but getting into a regular routine is tough. Something always comes up, gets in the way, instructors move on.

The things that really worked for me;
1. Tai-bo. The Zumba of the early 00's it's basically aerobics mixed with boxing and martial arts moves. The main reason I liked it is because I could already do the martial arts and the side kicks really toned my waist right down when nothing except running did before. Being able to just follow a video/DVD along means I don't have to go anyway or think too hard about it.

2. Getting up early and doing it. Motivating yourself to do it is hard but I got around that by making myself get up at 6am, changing into a pair of shorts and then starting the tai-bo DVD while I'm still half-asleep. I'd just keep telling myself the mantra over and over in my head. I'm going to feel alot better in 10 minutes and I know I feel really energised for the rest of the day if I do this. So that would get me through those 5 minutes where my brain wants to say 'no'

The main rules to remember when attempting to achieve any goal;
1. You must believe behaviour A (exercise) will led to goal B (feeling healthy). Have a goal in mind and if you truly believe doing behaviour A will get you goal B, and you really want goal B, then you will have the "will power", because that's all will power is.
2. Baby steps - Don't over do it. Everybody wants the best rewards in the quickest time. It doesn't work like that. Do a little bit each day, make it part of your normal daily routine and it will no longer feel like "extra work" and the changes will happen in due course.

Good luck.

Very sound advice and a well written post.

I suggest taking head of those suggestions, OP.

 

[frjiolefrito]

So the no brainer is run! That's right get on your shoes and run for 30 minutes. Doesn't matter how far or how hard.. just how long. I'm talking don't walk EVER. Even if you are jogging slower then you'd walk.. JOG/RUN the whole time. Also set a goal for everyday x amount of pushups. I'd start with 100 but you pick what you feel you can do. Weigh yourself once a week and shoot for a pound a week. That's it.. simple! Once you actually can commit to a workout routine then you can go for the counting calories. Research it online and if you can't figure it out join weightwatchers.

AFTER you can do that... Join a gym! Start mixing hour work out on the elliptical with weight training. It doesn't even matter what machine or how hard just be in the gym for about an hour to an hour and a half. Then after that you can start doing the faddy crap like zumba and tae bo because you have an active body.

Finally you don't have to have faith in anything you are doing. You just need to get used to working out and adjust to what you need. Always make yourself push harder and if you aren?t at least a little sore the next day you are doing it wrong. You don?t have to get up early but for me it?s easiest to work out without even the smallest trace of food in your tummy.

STOP SNACKING. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner ? regardless the portion size but that?s it. NO any other food but water.

Summary:

Okay first commit to a workout. Second learn how to count calories. Lastly repetition and self control.

 

[grizzlyAssuager]

There is some really good advice on here, I'm adding my little bit and wishing your good luck :]


-Drink water instead of softdrinks, coffe, and whatnot. This is easy once it becomes a habit, and can make quite the difference.
-Don't pick some sport just for the purpose of loosing weight, because chances are high you will get sick of it. Some people here gave good tips on how to put movement into your daily life, I personally think it's worth it to find a sport that you love, so you have fun and stay motivated to use your body for doing fun stuff.
-don't be hungry. hungry people feel bad and can't do sport and gain muscle and all that niceness.

 

[HotPocket]

Good day to you gentlemen. I have just recently decided that I do not want to be another fat and useless American. So here I am. Does anyone here at the Escapist have any exercise routines, dieting plans, or any other sort of weight loss tips? Thanks in advance.

Dieting doesn't work nearly as well as exercise does. Obviously you should eat healthy, but withholding your body needed calories makes your body really mad.

 

[frjiolefrito]

Good day to you gentlemen. I have just recently decided that I do not want to be another fat and useless American. So here I am. Does anyone here at the Escapist have any exercise routines, dieting plans, or any other sort of weight loss tips? Thanks in advance.

Dieting doesn't work nearly as well as exercise does. Obviously you should eat healthy, but withholding your body needed calories makes your body really mad.

Okay WRONG! The simple math is consume less calories then you burn in a day. It works the same no matter how you slice it.

The reason why it's suggest working out and a healthy diet is so you don't rob your body of nutrients. It works well when you do them BOTH. Not one or the other.

 

[Suarga]

Nutrition is key. Exercising is a supplement to this. I'd say ~100g of carbs a day. Don't skimp on fats and protein, its what your body runs on. Keep it between 1200 - 2200 calories a day, but never lower than 1200. Simple as that.

Sugar isn't evil, its a good pick-me-up after a workout and is properly utilized then, but that's its only practical use. Remember, sugar is a carbohydrate. Fresh frozen veggies and fruit are comparable to fresh.

 

[HotPocket]

Good day to you gentlemen. I have just recently decided that I do not want to be another fat and useless American. So here I am. Does anyone here at the Escapist have any exercise routines, dieting plans, or any other sort of weight loss tips? Thanks in advance.

Dieting doesn't work nearly as well as exercise does. Obviously you should eat healthy, but withholding your body needed calories makes your body really mad.

Okay WRONG! The simple math is consume less calories then you burn in a day. It works the same no matter how you slice it.

The reason why it's suggest working out and a healthy diet is so you don't rob your body of nutrients. It works well when you do them BOTH. Not one or the other.

Can you read? I said to eat healthy. Not diet. There is an implicit difference, one that you seemed to miss.