ePlaya Fitness Club

[junglesmacks]

Lol..

My favorite so far is one medium beet, about 4 large carrots, half a pear and about a half golfball size hunk of ginger. Drink one of those in the morning instead of coffee and you'll feel like the incredible hulk and be full all day..

FWIW, I also supplement with 3 x garlic caps, 2 x flax caps, 2 x green tea extract, 1 ALA cap twice daily.. plus 2 x 50g whey protein shakes...

30 mins @ 20mph on the recumbent bike 5 days a week, upper body weight train MWF. At least.. I try. I surfed today instead, for example.

I live to enjoy myself and surf, wakeskate, snowboard, hike, etc.. and at 36 am working hard to make sure that I can always do what I want, when I want until the day I die..

[wh..sh]

Lol..

My favorite so far is one medium beet, about 4 large carrots, half a pear and about a half golfball size hunk of ginger. Drink one of those in the morning instead of coffee and you'll feel like the incredible hulk and be full all day..

FWIW, I also supplement with 3 x garlic caps, 2 x flax caps, 2 x green tea extract, 1 ALA cap twice daily.. plus 2 x 50g whey protein shakes...

30 mins @ 20mph on the recumbent bike 5 days a week, upper body weight train MWF. At least.. I try. I surfed today instead, for example.

I live to enjoy myself and surf, wakeskate, snowboard, hike, etc.. and at 36 am working hard to make sure that I can always do what I want, when I want until the day I die..

Wow. That's quite the regime you have there... Impressive! I would add milk/some calcium source and Vit D to that list... for bones, spine health.

[junglesmacks]

True.

As a side disclaimer, it was not always like this by a long shot. I grew up being able to eat whatever I wanted without gaining a pound.. I was 6'1" and 165 lbs until I was 28.. and then.. this magic thing happened. I lost something called a "metabolism". All of a sudden, I was 215 and totally out of shape. About 2 years ago, I had a little epiphany while flailing in 12 foot hurricane waves surfing. I realized that if I didn't turn a corner right now and start giving a serious shit, that I was going to stop being able to do what I wanted in life.. and that scared me.

That was August 2009 and by a little after Christmas I was down to 185 where I've held ever since. The big part of it was changing my diet to cut out anything fried or processed and focusing on "shopping the perimeter".. the produce and meat section only. Also, I picked up a recumbent bike off of CL for like $100 and would put that in front of my TV and play video games for an hour every day while maintaining 20mph.

It's a weird spiral both up and down where the better you make yourself feel and the healthier you get, the easier it gets to keep a lifestyle like that up because you're seeing such radical changes in your body and well being. You get a base down, and then just keep fine tuning. I picked up some free weights from CL as well in about March 2010 and started with those. Started on the whey protein then. Later in 2010 I learned about the PAGG stack (google it) and started experimenting with the green tea supplements and burned that final little chub off. You get so used to your routine that it's really no big deal. You wake up, grab your supplements with your coffee or juice. Before going to bed at night, you take them with some melatonin to sleep nice.

I slacked this summer a bunch.. badly.. from May until post-burn. All I did was drink a shit ton of beer, not work out once, and hang out on the boat all day. It showed. I gained some weight and a nice little beer belly flab. I've since kicked myself in the rear, done another about face, and gotten back on the train. A couple months in and I''m right back where I was plus some..

[forty_eight]

I'm in a similar quandry as junglesmacks (just lacking the ongoing initiative). Being 38, my metabolism abandonded me some years ago, and beer just goes straight to the gut. Despite a fairly active lifestyle (soccer, hiking, snowboarding, etc), I now have to do physical maintenance instead of just participating in the activities I love. Of course, work has finally dictated that I have arrived at full on weekend warrior status, so there is that. One thing I have done is eat a little better ... I still do fried foods, but I just mix in healthier stuff, control portions and drink fewer beers (during the week, ha). One thing I did was start eating breakfast, and it seemed to really help my metabolism from just slowing to a dead crawl the first half of the day.

I am thinking about doing a half marathon in May, so that should provide some motivation. I do some 10Ks without training, but the couple extra miles in the half marathon are pretty initmidating. I want to train for that. I had been actually training fairly consistently this fall (in preparation for winter), but now it looks like we may be in for a whack snow year (after a few big ones), so it's hard to use that as motivation. In 2008, I had a three procedure operation on my knee, so even though I desperately want to skate, I am a little scared. The injuries never bothered me, but the surgery SUCKED! I will session at Sk8 Kamp, though. No doubt about it! I keep telling myself to get back in the water and surf, but I am so out of water shape that's scary, too. Of course, paddling out during a big south swell after not being in the water for years probably isn't the best back-to-surf strategy. Duck diving set waves while hypervenitlating just feels dangerous!

It's funny because I am realizing that I am basically a little vain. Maybe not even a little, hell I don't know! But, like jungelsmacks, I intend to have an active lifestyle for years to come, so I really need to come to Jesus on the fitness regime and stay dedicated!

[wh..sh]

As a side disclaimer, it was not always like this by a long shot. I grew up being able to eat whatever I wanted without gaining a pound.. I was 6'1" and 165 lbs until I was 28.. and then.. this magic thing happened. I lost something called a "metabolism". All of a sudden, I was 215 and totally out of shape. About 2 years ago, I had a little epiphany while flailing in 12 foot hurricane waves surfing. I realized that if I didn't turn a corner right now and start giving a serious shit, that I was going to stop being able to do what I wanted in life.. and that scared me.

Cheeses rice!!! Thanks for the scare!
Lo and behold, I am going to turn 30 next month. I am 5'8" and weigh around 135 lbs. I know all that will change and the metabolism I am blessed with will get the better of me. I have been trying to eat healthy just for the sake of it. Being a vegetarian really helps... soda, beer, fried food, junk food has absolutely no place in my house. Being a rice person doesn't help, so I had to cut down on carb intake past couple of years. Yet, I have my own issues of dealing with shoulder pain, enhanced by nature of my work. Anyhoo, my therapist said no exercise until she puts me back together. Eventually pilates/yoga it is. So my goal is to eat healthy, be healthy, and not torture my body. It also helps that all my 60 + year old friends are extremely active, fit, and very positive people. There is hope

It's funny because I am realizing that I am basically a little vain. Maybe not even a little, hell I don't know! But, like jungelsmacks, I intend to have an active lifestyle for years to come, so I really need to come to Jesus on the fitness regime and stay dedicated!

Motivation is right here... start today. Winter is certainly a challenge. I would really watch what I eat when the activity level comes close to nil.

I am hoping to see all of your sexy asses at MnG next year.

[junglesmacks]

You know, I'm actually way more motivated to exercise in the winter than I am the summer. It's dark and cold outside, do why not channel that energy of wanting to be outside and looking great into transforming your body? The key for me at least is to have the equipment at home so it's easy and there's no excuse. I keep my weights right in the living room and flip on the tv while doing my routine. Watch the news at 6 or whatever and run through it in 45 mins.

For the weight stuff, I downloaded the P90X videos online and WOW.. let me tell you.. they are no joke and actually reallllllly good. I did research on what to do with weights and those videos showed me things that I had never seen elsewhere. I alternate with doing the arms and shoulders routine M F and chest and back W then flip it the following week. The abs when I feel like it but I'm going to try to start doing them regularly. I would highly recommend finding and doing these videos.. they're worth their weight in gold..

[AntiM]

I am the poster child for what a slow metabolism and inactivity does to a gal from a family whose women run to the heavy side. I never did like sports or running as a child. In the Navy I struggled with PT. I did become more active, sporadically, and I always was a walker, miles and miles. The surgeries for the ectopic pregnancies started my abs on the long slide of weakness, which culminated in a misplaced spine (also deformed, a birth defect never detected until I was in trouble) Once I developed asthma (which I may have had all along), and arthritis in my feet, and then cancer, two kinds, I'm playing catch up.

I can't ride a bike without pain, or walk for long distances without pain, haven't been able to for about ten years. I've become physically weak and my lungs betray me. I worry about my exceedingly fast heart rate. My nutrition is improved, but not great. Fasting and low calorie restrictive diets mess with my slow metabolism. I don't want to be on the dowhhill slide, and am trying to get back up, but there are days such as these, while I am miserable after surgery which is a direct result of a slacker lifestyle, these are the days when being tossed on the trash pile of health seems inevitable.

Getting up to pee should not be a chore, nor should coughing be cause for alarm. I'm sick of sickness, but literally cannot jump into a routine until I get this belly healed up. sadly, my very exercise routine may have initiated the new hernia this time. Makes me feel like I can't win.

Get up and move, consider what you are consuming, and be mindful of your family health history. So simple, yet so impossible some days.

[Sham]

AntiM, do you think a trip to a local mall to do some window shopping might give you a bit of exercise instead of sitting after dinner? You don't think of it as exercise, but being "up and out" and just standing and slow walking is better than sitting on a couch thinking about what kind of snacks are in the frig.

[AntiM]

Standing and walking this soon after surgery are part of the problem. And there aren't many snacks in the fridge, I do control what comes into the house! Mostly. Larry brought maple bars for breakfast though, which was funny, because he turned around and did a nice healthy supper for us.

[junglesmacks]

Juice, AntiM, juice! I'm telling youuuu..

Even if you can't exercise right now, doing a juice diet alone will do wonders for you. Try it for a week and just see what you think.

I literally crave the stuff and have to keep from drinking too much. It's like liquid crack.

[AntiM]

Juice, AntiM, juice! I'm telling youuuu..

Even if you can't exercise right now, doing a juice diet alone will do wonders for you. Try it for a week and just see what you think.

I literally crave the stuff and have to keep from drinking too much. It's like liquid crack.

The very phrase "juice diet" makes me leery. I don't want to do a week of nutrition which I would not normally do the rest of my life, and this includes feeding Larry. I've despised every veggie shake I've had in my mouth so far. I'm not even a fan of fruit smoothies! That Odawalla Stuff? I can't gag it down, even in the hospital I couldn't stand Ensure or Boost. Right now I'm concentrating on thick soups, heavy on the veggies. The red cabbage was terrific, and I got Larry to make a spinach-green pea-chickpea one which rocked.

[junglesmacks]

lol.. I hear you. If you have a natural aversion to it then yeah, that might be a problem.

It doesn't have to be a "diet" per se.. just.. adding something nutritious to the mix of things. Try some in the morning and see how you feel.

I just woke up still drunk from last night and feeling like my head was going to pop.. and I have to say after 8 carrots and a beet I feel pretty amazing compared to a half an hour ago..

[AntiM]

I like carrots and beets, but that looks ... well, not so tasty. I'm very big on texture and the feel of food in my mouth.
I've almost gotten the fat/salt/sugar trinity licked. LOL, you know what I mean. Still, I believe in real butter and real sugar in baked goods, I don't mess about with artificial crap. Most of my baking leaves the house right away, on the truck with Larry. Lots of whole grain, lumpy with good stuff cookies.

Larry has a metabolism which lets him eat several thousands of calories per day, even in his 50s. I have to cook for four people to feed the two of us. He runs on protein.

[wh..sh]

@AntiM -

Please don't fast or starve and let anyone give you that advice. It's the worst thing to do to your body. Eat small, healthy meals, maybe 6 times a day. I understand the juice thing doesn't sound good. My husband is very picky when it comes to veggies, but absolutely loves carrots, apple and ginger juice. So before you dismiss it, please, please try it. And trust me, the homemade fresh juice doesn't taste anything like Odawalla or any other store bought "organic" ones. Worst come worst, you will have to try different combinations of veggies and fruits before you find a mix that you like and will work for you. I will swear by the fresh juice! But again, it's only to be had in conjunction with a healthy balanced food and I don't think it should be replaced for actual meal.
Also, like 48_love said, eating breakfast makes a huge difference. My mornings are insanely busy, so my breakfast is a HUGE glass of Vit D fortified milk (sometimes 2 % even though I prefer whole milk with all the good fat in it) and some kind of fruit, usually bananas.

Us women are at big time disadvantage going through many stages of body changes and development. And it works very differently from men's body. Men can decide to lose weight whenever they choose to and it's relatively easier for them. For instance, my husband, who was not really fat, decided to lose weight and be fit this summer, he started biking and boy, he biked everywhere! At 38, he lost whooping 40 lbs in 3 months. I think for couple of days he looked 2 dimensional to me I can guarantee that we can follow many tips on here but we probably won't achieve the same results or atleast at the same rate as these guys. That's why I believe prevention is better than cure. Nonetheless, none of these tips (especially the juice) one can hurt us if we try.

I know what it is like to not being able to exercise. I mean, even thought I was never sporty or outdoorsy, I liked the option to be able to exercise if I want to. It's frustrating. But at one point, exercise was hurting me more than helping me. That's when I decided to go get the grass root issues fixed. Always listen to your body. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. My 68 yr old friend has been practicing gentle yoga for past 3 years and finally she is seeing some results in changing her lifestyle. It been a long, uphill journey for her and it took for what seemed like ever. I glad she stuck to her routine no matter how unproductive it seemed some days.

@Junglesmacks - Cheers!

[AntiM]

Very good advice. I never fast or go low calorie restrictive, unless I'm just not hungry. I will look at adding fresh juices. I always eat a breakfast, heavy on the whole grains. I don't do dairy anymore, it makes my arthritis scream.

And yes, women don't lose weight the same way as men. I can hardly wait for menopause.

[Elliot]

I'm reading all this with great interest. But why is it better to juice the fruits and vegetables? Why not simply eat them? Is it that many people find it difficult to chew things like raw carrots? I guess I'm lucky to have good teeth. To me, vegetables are to be eaten raw. I sometimes buy a head of cauliflower and eat chunks of it raw as snacks. Would that have the same benefit as juicing the stuff?

[theCryptofishist]

It's probably better--you get the benefit of the fiber.
Juicing just gets it into a concentrated form. It does get you the benefits if you drink what you weren't going to eat.

[wh..sh]

I'm reading all this with great interest. But why is it better to juice the fruits and vegetables? Why not simply eat them? Is it that many people find it difficult to chew things like raw carrots? I guess I'm lucky to have good teeth. To me, vegetables are to be eaten raw. I sometimes buy a head of cauliflower and eat chunks of it raw as snacks. Would that have the same benefit as juicing the stuff?

Ofcourse, nothing beats eating raw fruits and vegetables. All nutrients with fiber, heck yeah!
While I can eat raw carrots, celery, to think that I will have to eat raw turnips? Not really my thing... but I know I can juice it and get a high source of calcium, magnesium and potassium. Also, mixing different veggies and fruits enhances the flavor and makes it likable. This cannot be achieved while eating raw.

That doesn't mean all the pulp has to go to waste. There are several recipes out on internet that has instructions on how to use the leftover pulp while cooking. Idea is to not waste any part of the vegetable or fruit.

[FIGJAM]

When I experimented with making my own V8, I just threw everything in the blender.

Wound up with kind of a thin gaspatcho that smelled like a new mown lawn, but with a little salt and lime juice it was pretty good.

[maryanimal]

Very good advice. I never fast or go low calorie restrictive, unless I'm just not hungry. I will look at adding fresh juices. I always eat a breakfast, heavy on the whole grains. I don't do dairy anymore, it makes my arthritis scream.

And yes, women don't lose weight the same way as men. I can hardly wait for menopause.

Eeeekkk!!

[junglesmacks]

I'm reading all this with great interest. But why is it better to juice the fruits and vegetables? Why not simply eat them? Is it that many people find it difficult to chew things like raw carrots? I guess I'm lucky to have good teeth. To me, vegetables are to be eaten raw. I sometimes buy a head of cauliflower and eat chunks of it raw as snacks. Would that have the same benefit as juicing the stuff?

When you juice the vegetables, you are extracting the active enzymes and nutrients without the blockage of all the natural fiber. Fiber is a good thing, yes.. but.. you would never normally be able to sit down and eat 6 carrots and a beet in 5 minutes like you do with the raw juice. You're able to extract the nutrients in a concentrated form without all the filler of the fiber and vegetable pulp, and the raw vitamins and nutrients are in a readily accessible form that your body can uptake very quickly.

It's no joke.. it's seriously addicting. The instant burst of energy and feel-good that it gives you is quite a rush. It's also nice to be able to tailor your juices to what you want to accomplish health wise or even taste wise. There are some great websites with different recipes.. I like this one for the different areas of focus: http://juicerrecipesnow.com/

Again.. just try it and see what you think! I picked up this juicer for $30 and it works like a charm..


EDIT: I just woke up with a splitting headache and mild hangover after being on the boat all day and drinking copious amounts of beer and vodka. Juiced up an entire granny smith apple, large beet and a small chunk of ginger and wow.. up and at 'em! It's really incredible how good this stuff makes you feel. Complete liquid crack.

[remi]

My fitness program involves eating a lbs of bacon every day.

[theCryptofishist]

"a lbs"? That's interesting.

[maryanimal]

Thank junglesmacks for the link for juice recipes. I so agree with what you've been saying about juicing! I have to dig in my storage for my juicer...*groan* I can't wait to started!

They have that same juicer at WalMart too for the same price!! plus they have a wheat grass juicer too For $29.98.

[5280MeV]

My fitness program involves eating a lbs of bacon every day.

1 lb of bacon is roughly 2500 kcal, so that is about right for a reasonably active adult. You might want to spritz some lemon juice on it to ward off scurvy.

How do you space that out? 1/4 lb breakfast, 1/4 lb lunch, 1/2 lb dinner?

[5280MeV]

Fiber is a good thing, yes.. but.. you would never normally be able to sit down and eat 6 carrots and a beet in 5 minutes like you do with the raw juice.

I like to use this to my advantage when eating due to boredom. I can sit down with a two lb bag of baby cut carrots and even if I somehow manage to finish the thing after an hour of munching away like a cow I have only consumed the caloric equivalent of a 2oz snack bag of potato chips (~350kcal). Of course, I never get through more than a third of the bag.

[AntiM]

Very good advice. I never fast or go low calorie restrictive, unless I'm just not hungry. I will look at adding fresh juices. I always eat a breakfast, heavy on the whole grains. I don't do dairy anymore, it makes my arthritis scream.

And yes, women don't lose weight the same way as men. I can hardly wait for menopause.

Eeeekkk!!

Indeed,I'm at the high end of the average. Most people assume I'm through it already.

[maryanimal]

I'm a past the beginning, maybe in the middle, wish it were the end!

[robbidobbs]

I'm doing pretty well with just plain ol' calorie counting. I've lost 14 lbs since ttitd.
Guidelines are:
Pick a goal weight, something small that you have vivid memories being. Say to yourself: I eat and live like a (145) lb person.
Calculate how many calories to maintain that weight. Figure in your BMI and activity level (a multitude of sites for this)
Eat that many calories per day. Keep a detailed diet diary religiously. Calorie books are a dime/dozen at thrift stores.
if you want to splurge one day, lower your calories a bit on the days prior to this event. Don't try to "catch up"...it never works.
Think of it like a reloadable calorie pre-pay card. Nothing is forbidden, just accounted for.

After 30 days of this, add exercise to speed up the weight loss. Tomorrow I add exercise. Today I'm just tickled that I reached my first goal weight.

No bullshit, hype or promises. Just math.

And I agree, winter is the best time for me to lose weight.

[Savannah]

Kickass, Robbidobbs! At a sustainable pace, even.

Junglesmacks, that beet and carrot concoction is really pretty. I'm actually tempted to do what you do . . . 'cause I get a decent amount of vegetables, but fruit isn't a daily thing for me, & it really should be. And yet, I don't want to do without the yogurt I usually start the day with, so maybe a yogurt + fruit smoothie would make me happy. I'd have to do it on the weekends though*; on weekday mornings I'm just concentrating on getting out of the house on time.

* This would still be worth it, actually; my weekend breakfasts are a little ostentatious.