Get rid of that spare tire, who's up for the challenge??

[Oster]

I'm in.

I was a stocky little kid despite all that energy & activity that goes with being young, so in some ways it's been harder for me to stay fit.

As a young adult I was very thin but no longer athletic.

I'm 6' and my ideal weight is about 180. I'm fairly active now - lots of cycling and softball - but my weight teeters at about 220. I've been trying to lose weight lately and have gotten down to 210. I'm 35.

My goal is 180, even 190 would be a huge victory. I think marriage put the weight on, as it often does. My wife and I are both trying to lose weight but we're both battling a sweet tooth.

I know what the culprits are: starch and sweets. I've cut out soda, cut down on beer - switched to light beer. Snacks are still hanging on, though. It's going to be tough!

[Paul in Colorado]

Count me in. As of yesterday I weighed in at 206. I'm 6'1 and in good shape except that belly that keeps getting bigger. With gas prices the way they are, it's more cycling, walks and any resistance exercises I can do. I can't afford a gym right now. I'm also eating more raw food as opposed to processed or cooked foods. I'm shooting for one meal a day of nothing but raw foods. It's a good thing I like vegetables!

[11 Gauge]

i'm currently 6' & 200 lbs. not too obnoxious, but as a kid i was always on the thin side, could eat anything i wanted - you know - the kinda person you hate for that.

enter my mid-30's, and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and all the medications that go with it. i already had a 'pouch' by my early 30's but my weight skyrocketed from around 175 to 200 lbs. or more.

problem with these meds is a MORE than healthy appetite - especially for all the garbage foods late at night.

good news is the major culprit med will be removed at the end of this week...

i'll see how it goes and try to report in down the line...

[reverbbb]

My nephew told me a weight loss secrete that not only made sense, IT WORKED!

I was a steady 170~180 for about ten years. Then during 6 months of a new job that fed us free food, I shot up to 192 lbs. I was complaining about how bloated I felt and was lacking energy to my nephew (who worked at a health supplement store and studied nutrition as a hobby). He said stop eating everything except baked fish or canned tuna (high protein ratio food). Don't season it. You are going to be hungry the first few days. After about two or three days, switch that to tuna for lunch and a small low carb dinner. If you can swing it, try to only eat carbs every two or three days, the rest of the time eat fish and tuna.

It was hard the first couple of days, but I started feeling healthy within three days. So much so, that I was encouraged to keep going. After about three weeks, I began to increase my carb intake with mostly pasta and marinara sauce. I avoided eating other meats except maybe thrice a week for dinner. After a month, I had lost about 15 lbs, felt good and with lots of energy. I continued for another month, but it became increasingly difficult to stay solid on the tuna because I was getting burned out. My wife hates ALL forms of seafood and fish, so I was on my own for most of the dinners.

But in 3 months time I was back to 170, looked great and felt great. That was 8 years ago. Now I am back up to 195 (all in my stomack). Just tonight, I bought me a supply of tuna so that I can start that again. My goal is to reach 180 by Thanksgiving and stay at 175 for as long as I can. Wish me luck.

BTW, I walk lots of places and ride my bike often. I just need to step up the specific exercise for my stomack.

[Caper]

This is my 3rd nite for no food after supper and believe me it makes a difference knowing others are doing the same. Here's to better health and well being.

[weelie]

Originally Posted by stantheman

For Me - I became a Vegan.
I eat a bowl of "Good Friends" with WHOLE MILK everyday at night.
I have a simple Breakfast of Coffee with 1 sugar and evaporated milk
For Lunch either 2 tubs of LowFat Yoghurt

So you are a vegetarian, not a vegan, as far as I understand.

Wikipedia says:

Veganism; Vegetarians who avoid consuming all animal products (including eggs, milk, cheese, and honey) are commonly called vegans, though some reserve this term for those who additionally avoid usage of all kinds of animal products (such as leather and some cosmetics), rather than just food.

Lacto vegetarianism; Lacto vegetarians do not eat meat, but may consume milk and its derivatives, like cheese, butter, or yogurt.

I have been gaining for the past 7 years or so. Lack of exercise is my problem. I am not fat yet really, but I should do something about it before that!

...and I am rooting for all for you in finding a real solution to weight problems!

[Tim Bowen]

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

I really don't think of dining as a social event, like so many folks do.

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

I really enjoy going out to eat, whether it's with friends or just with my wife. It is sort of a "social event" for me, so it's tough for me to go very long without eating out.

I've played a couple of jobs at Hooters restaurants over the past few weeks... and in addition to the base pay, the musicians receive a $25.00 Hooters gift card. So I suppose I'll be needing to make enough trips to Hooters to consume fifty bucks worth of grub! I'll just be going to obtain nourishment though, and it's not like I'll be enjoying the scenery or anything like that... but hey, I wonder if The Mrs. would enjoy soaking up the Hooters ambience with me?! Nahhhh... 8)

[Togman]

I've known for some time now that I am not tall enough for my weight. As I am in my mid 40's I don't suppose I will be getting any taller now! It look like weight loss is the only option.

The thing that concerns me is that I have noticed that some of the best players on this forum are not (how to put this without offending anybody) of a slight build. I was wondering that if a gained a few more pounds it might improve my playing...

OK then, weight loss it is.

[John E]

.. as this subject is as "subjective" as it gets lol. I actually am an ex-certified personal trainer and quasi-nutritionist. My only other extra-curricular interests beside guitar playing and more guitar playing, is fitness. I (like someone else that posted) am an ex-powerlifter, and I still lift very heavy 3x per week, and do cardio 2-3x per week. I am pretty short at 5'3, but I weigh about 170 lbs and I am not fat. I can tell you if you look at something as a diet, it is very hard to stick with that... and there is a difference between being optimally healthy and being thin(thinner). If all you are looking to do is be thin, it's really mostly about the calories you take in and the calories you burn. If you want to eat cake and have beer every day, you can still lose weight if you take in less calories than you burn (but PLEASE don't do this!!!). That is why pretty much any "diet" that you may go on will yield some type of results if you truly follow it.

In my experience, the people that I have personal trained, trained with, etc. that have the most steady success are people that live a healthy lifestyle but give themselves some flexibility in their diets... ie. they are strict every day but give themselves a treat at some point during their day(or at some other point). If you totally deprive yourself from the things that you truly enjoy, it is very difficult to stay with something like that. Better yet give yourself what you want, but BE SMART about it.

Here is what I do for my food intake, (I was never one to measure and count things out, that drives me nuts):
During the week, I stay pretty strict, which basically means this: I never eat over processed foods (WHITE BREAD, SODA), or foods with high sugar content. The worst offenders are things with High fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and preservatives. These things wreak havoc on your body if you eat them every day... READ THE LABELS!! Also I eat Organic fruits and vegetables every day... 2-3 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of veggies.
Here's the thing though, if I ate like this every single day I would either go insane, or have a huge binge every other month. So, on the weekends I pretty much eat what I want. Now granted, that doesn't mean that I hit Angelina's bakery and eat a box of chocolate Eclairs... and hit the local pub at nite and drink myself into oblivion(or Bolivian as Mike Tyson would say) but I will go out to eat once or twice on a weekend(and eat what I want), have a glass or two of wine or beer, have pizza, desserts etc. I find that this works VERY well for me...

There are variables though... I work out so much that I need to make sure I take in enough good fats and complex carbs(Oatmeal, whole grain breads) otherwise (believe it or not) my guitar playing suffers BIG TIME. Most people don't look at it this way, but playing the guitar is a physical activity, and I treat it as such... especially since I like to play really fast. This is why a straight Atkins type diet does not work for me, I just work out to much. I also make sure to take at least a multi vitamin and eat as much organic food as I can. You would be amazed(or maybe you wouldn't) at the RIDICULOUS amount of chemicals on non-organic fruits and vegetables... and even in meats. Your liver's job aside from breaking down fats and proteins is basically to filter the toxins you take in on a daily basis... the more you take in the harder your liver has to work and the more inefficient(bogged down) it will be. Also the fat cells are where many of the toxins you take in are stored, so the more fat cells you have(or more correctly the bigger they are) make it that much harder for you to lose weight. Ever diet or lose weight and you feel crappy? Well that's why, as you lose weight (ie shrink your fat cells) the toxins are re-released into your body. That is a big reason why it is CRUCIAL to have enough water intake, as it helps to flush the newly released toxins from your body. Anyway, guess I've rambled enough... anybody feel free to email if you're at all interested in whatever else I have to say about that lol.

[timspong]

I am in also,

I also have fairly hight collesterol, so I need to cut down on fatty foods. BTW, I lost a lot of weight on the Atkins diet, but put it all back on when I stopped. Plus that kind of diet is really bad for you.

I have a pool and a tennis court so I am trying to exercise regularly. I also want to try eating more fresh fruit and veg, instead of eating less of the same crap.

Cheers and good luck

[genelovesjez]

I think John E has given some excellent advice above. I haven't been trying to lose weight (I'm about 6'3, 200lbs with an athletic build), but at 38 with two young kids, I have tried to get the junk out of my diet. My biggest weakness was Dr. Pepper. Until I give it up this past January, I used to drink at least 2 litres of it a day, not to mention all the stuff that went with it - chips, popcorn, crackers, lots of salty foods that I really didn't need. Because I'm fairly active, I got away with it weight-wise, but I got concerned about the long-term effects, especially given my family history (my dad recently had quadruple bypass, despite the fact he doesn't smoke, and is not overweight).

In January, I decided to stop eating all "non-nutritive" foods. Not just for my own health, but also for the example I will set for my kids (apparently the best predictor for how children will eat is how their parents eat). Giving up the Dr. Pepper basically eliminated my desire for salty snacks. What worked for me also was finding good foods that I really liked, such as 100% fruit juices (grape and apple), whole grain breads that taste good (yes, they're out there), and lots of fruit for snacks(I'm still not big on vegetables, but I'm trying). Other than that, I continue to eat "normally", but I do find my tastes for high-fat food is declining and my portions have gotten smaller. I have lost about 10lbs, although weight loss is not my goal.

It is difficult at times, and I still get the cravings (especially late at night), but I try to remember why I'm doing it, and yes, I do slip on occasion. One way I try to manage the cravings is I allow myself to "cheat" when I'm out of the house (at restaurants or bars, for example), but the junk is never allowed in the door. Since I eat most of my food at home, this works for me.

Also, I never go grocery shopping when I'm hungry!

Good luck everyone!

[teledude66]

well i hit the weights last night, just a lil, and my 12 year old did a lil too (we're talking maybe 30 lbs of bench press) so he had a good time, now if we can keep it going....

in defense of the atkins diet it gets a lot of flack for being a bad diet, but a lot of people think it's no carbs forever, when technically it's for 14 days and they suggest adding back carbs til your weight loss starts to level out, and if it does you restrict more carbs til the weight loss starts again, bigger people may need longer time....now i don't know who would argue that a total rest of your life diet of eggs and bacon is good, but think of this situation. most people over 300 lbs are not eating right as it is, and most are not going to excersize, but if they had a way to eat "normal" to them that is, and do with out certain foods all while losing weight then i'm sure you can see the appeal and for everyone that you can show that failed there are many who succeed...

[rkwrenn]

Originally Posted by agent2x4

I have Crohn's disease which flares up about 2-3x a year. It's not uncommon for me to lose 20-50 lbs at a crack because of it. I try to keep a few extra lbs on...I'd hate to be already "thin" and go through a session of it.

I had the same condition and a couple of surgeries later I am left with 4 feet of small intestine. So I have the exact opposite problem with weight gain.

If anyone figures out a way to send me the extra 'tonnage', I'll take all I can get. It is as difficult for me to put it on as it is for those to take it off.

So to everyone, good luck achieving your target weights, I am always striving for mine.

Cheers,

Bob

[popthree]

i'm in too.... @ 5'9" x 160 lbs, I have a flabby belly issue. I could probably stand to love 5 lbs. primarily by cutting out the after dinner snacks, and drinking more water....both of which I've been doing for the most part already. but I need to start working out, and try to tone my gut. I plan to do sit-ups 5 times a week... I can do about 80 of them now. I need to work up to where I'm doing about 200 or so. anyone have a better idea for toning the gut?

[PraiseCaster]

Or should I say I've been in?

A little less than 2 years ago, I weighed in at a whopping 363 pounds, and I'm only 5'8"!!

It all started with a lot of joint injuries to the knees, ankle, hip. Add a horrible muscle tear (requiring a little surgery) to the back, and your lookin at a dose of The Inactive Blues!

Up till about 1991, I maintained at 180lbs. After the last back injury put me on my back for 6 to 9 months, I blew up to about 260lbs by about 1992.

Then I started going on diets, but i was still gaining, and the Dr's couldnt figure it out. My metabolism was in the basement, and I was getting worse all the time. Finally figured out that my Sleep Apnea had finally taken its toll on me, and was slowly wearing me out. Got surgery to correct that, and a CPAP Machine, and now my sleep is perfect, my metabalism is way up, and now that I'm watching my intake (no special diet, just watching the sizes of the meals, and not eating after dinner), and I walk agressively 5 times a week (up to 2 miles each time) I am now happy to anounce that I weighed in today at 290lbs. I've lost 73 pounds! If I can loose 100 more, I will be the happiest little camper out there, and I figure I'll be able to see my toes again too!

Caper, very cool you started this ball rollin bro!

[agent2x4]

Originally Posted by rkwrenn

I had the same condition and a couple of surgeries later I am left with 4 feet of small intestine. So I have the exact opposite problem with weight gain.

If anyone figures out a way to send me the extra 'tonnage', I'll take all I can get. It is as difficult for me to put it on as it is for those to take it off.

So to everyone, good luck achieving your target weights, I am always striving for mine.

Cheers,

Bob

My mom had it worse than you...less than 3 feet left after 6 resections. Aside from the meds, her doc advised her to eat like a pig. She did, and never really gained much weight...but she finally didn't lose any either. When she passed away, it wasn't because of the crohn's.
(She was 5'8" and 100 lbs for the last 15 years of her life.)

[Joe-Bob]

Well, so far no luck...I seem to have gained 5 pounds. :(

[Rick S]

Originally Posted by popthree

i'm in too.... @ 5'9" x 160 lbs, I have a flabby belly issue. I could probably stand to love 5 lbs. primarily by cutting out the after dinner snacks, and drinking more water....both of which I've been doing for the most part already. but I need to start working out, and try to tone my gut. I plan to do sit-ups 5 times a week... I can do about 80 of them now. I need to work up to where I'm doing about 200 or so. anyone have a better idea for toning the gut?

Pop, I've been there, got rid of it, let it get away and now back there again. I'll tell you what a doctor told me about this that really helped me.

He said that as you enter middle age your body naturally starts to lose some muscle mass. Instead of losing weight with the muscle loss, your body starts trying to maintain it's weight by storing fat. This is why you see so many men from middle age on up that may not be over their target weight, but have a spare tire hanging over their belt and have no ass.

In females it's similar, but the location of the accumulation starts in the butt and thigh area. (ain't mother nature cruel?)

The location of the fat has nothing to do with a lack of muscle tone in that area. If you can do 80 situps I would think that you probably have a six pack under there already.

Back to what the doctor was telling me, spot weight loss, all the bunns o' steel, area focus stuff is a myth. You will have better results by getting your muscle mass back up starting with the larger muscle groups, legs and upper body. In other words, walking, biking, etc. can actually have more effect on the middle than situps.

The older you are, the more difficult it gets to maintain muscle mass, no way to get around that. It seems that most women over 40 that still have a bikini figure and men at that age that still have six pack abs are usually pretty much fitness fanatics, but it can be done.

[genelovesjez]

Originally Posted by popthree

anyone have a better idea for toning the gut?

Cardio, cardio, cardio.

Rick S is right - spot toning won't do it. You may already have great ab muscles, but you won't be able to see them until you get rid of the flab, which you can only do by burning more calories than you take in.

[stantheman]

The most important thing is The Breakfast for Me
and the most important part of The Breakfast is the 4-6 pieces of Garlic Toast which is:
1. Any kind of Market Bakery Bread (I'll always try to get the "day old" bread - seeing how it's going in the oven) and only runs me a buck for three days worth. 8)
2. Margerine coated with Garlic Powder on top and finally
sprinkled with Extra Virgin Greek Olive Oil.
3. Bake in Your oven until crisp @ 250F - 20 minutes.

This kills all My cravings for Junk Food.

[CharlieO]

Originally Posted by stantheman

the most important part of The Breakfast is the 4-6 pieces of Garlic Toast ... This kills all My cravings for Junk Food.

And probably does wonders for your social life, I imagine. :D