Weight loss - your thoughts?

[Blaze163]

Lali ho!

As you may know, I've taken the plunge recently and invested in a gym membership. The reason is simple, years of stress and crap food have left me with more stomachs than any man is entitled to, so I resolved to trade them in for store credit with God in the form of a few more years without a cheese-induced heart attack. What disturbs me though is how many empty machines there are at my gym every day. I see some real colossi waddling around the city with that walk that only feels right when accompanied by a tuba, yet I never see them in there despite them being in much more dire need of the treadmill than me. I'm in that 'chunky, better get this looked at' phase of fat instead of the 'could body double for the boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark' phase. It's not all that expensive to join my gym. £25 a month gets me unlimited access to two full gyms, both swimming pools, all the classes are free except any run by outside contractors like the karate classes, my own personal trainer and a complete work-up and exercise plan drawn up and checked every few weeks to make sure I'm doing well. Seems like a bargain to me.

I'm not saying losing weight is easy and that it's for everyone. For a start, healthy food is disturbingly more expensive than anything with flavour. Vegetables are concrete proof that even God has no fucking imagination some days. Thousands of different vegetables, none of them taste of anything. I reckon he used all his original thoughts making bacon and was just winging it when he made potatoes. Then he realised he'd fucked up by making the boring stuff healthy and hid them in the ground hoping we wouldn't notice. Kind of like when he made Justin Bieber, realized that he should never create while high as a kite, and hid him in some backwater town in Canada hoping nobody would notice.

But it seems to me that people who openly acknowledge that they need to lose a few pounds, which let's be honest is probably the a pretty high percentage of people, is relatively low. So what are your thoughts? Do you think you need to shed a few pounds? Do you go to a gym or get any regular exercise (masturbation does not count), and if so what do you do to keep fit? Do you eat healthy food or have you developed a stomach that could be painted grey and go cosplaying as the Death Star? Are you prepared to sacrifice the one true gift that is bacon if it means you won't die in your thirties?

So, thoughts? Opinions? Meme pictures (can't expect everyone to have original thoughts)?

 

[Deboog]

You know going to a gym doesn't equal weight loss, actually getting exercise equals weight loss. I have never been to a gym, but I am pretty skinny and I get exercise walking a mile every day to get around campus and practicing ultimate frisbee twice a week. I guess I'm lucky, because I've never loved the taste of red meat, so I eat a lot of fruit and bread and dairy products. Also tbh I probably have a digestive system that doesn't gain much weight. =P I have friends who weigh more than me, or aren't as athletic, and many of them go to the gym, but for some reason whenever we go hiking to do athletic stuff together I have more stamina than them. It makes me wonder what they do there... I've always thought everyday physical activity is better than gym training, because it makes the parts of our bodies related to everyday tasks stronger. Like being able to run a couple miles comes in handy very often when I'm late, but being able to lift a 100 pound weight over my head is rarely ever useful. I guess my point is if you see someone and think they should go to the gym, 1) they may still be physically fit in their own way and 2) maybe they are trying to lose weight in ways outside of a gym.

 

[Arras]

In addition to what Deboog said, many people simply do not give a shit, can't be bothered, or feel they won't be able to change it anyway.

 

[Blaze163]

Not saying going to the gym is the only way to lose weight, I go for a run most mornings and I walk all the time. I just feel the gym helps me to maintain focus. It's not for everyone and some people flat out don't need it (my wife inhales ice cream and midget gems like she's Kirby, not an ounce of fat on the girl, she defies logic) but in my personal situation it's the better choice. It gives me a focus I'd lose otherwise, gets me better support and better facilities (unlimited access to the pool is a huge bonus). To each their own, I guess. I know a lot of people just don't give a damn. My 'father' is diabetic and yet he still eats crap, gets no exercise, eats multiple tubs of Pringles a day, and yet wonders why his diabetes is always a problem.

 

[Zerousen]

I want to lose weight, but it's pretty hard to change your habits after you've spent the majority of your life sitting at a computer all day like I have, pretty much just came home, grabbed a snack, and shut myself into my room to play Runescape or Maplestory or whatever I was into at the time, since first grade. I don't really have any motivation left for anything anymore, and when I do, It's usually just for short periods of time. Every once in a while I may decide to do some pushups or situps, maybe join my friends once in a while to lift weights and jog, but after a while I just get tired of that too and stop. Rather than just weight loss, this is how I feel about everything in general, whether it be school or games or whatever, so I'm sure I have some other underlying issues besides this, but I guess I just don't really care as much anymore in general.

 

[DinohScene]

Stop eating sweets n snacks etc.
Also, walk more.

I'm thin as a stick, only food I eat is a bit of breakfast and dinner.
Loads of pineapple n fruits lol.

 

[Deboog]

Stop eating sweets n snacks etc.
Also, walk more.

I'm thin as a stick, only food I eat is a bit of breakfast and dinner.
Loads of pineapple n fruits lol.

Yeah I think eating the right foods in important. You said that vegetables don't taste like anything, well I fricken love kale. Also when I'm hungry I go to the fridge, and snap off half a carrot, or walk over to the fruit bowl and snarf down a banana. If you can find a plant you like, and get addicted to it, I think it goes a long way.

 

[Depravo]

I have an exercise bike to burn excess calories. I'm currently unemployed and I know from experience that extended periods of inactivity will cause me to gain weight. The last time I had to lose around 20lbs to get back in the 'healthy weight' BMI rating. My youthful speedy metabolism is naught but a memory.

 

[Ralph1611]

I lost a bunch of weight last year and it was pretty easy.....well easy for me. This may be dangerous for some, so talk to a doctor before you do what im about to say.

1) Drink 1 to 2 gallons of water a day......everyday.
2) Walk at least 8 miles a day....everyday(I made fun for myself by mapping a place I like 4 miles away and then walking back, sometimes with a different route)
3) Fasting. Dont eat anything for 48 hours. Do nothing but drink water. Break teh fast by eating a banana, an apple, some raspberries or blueberries. You should also do your walking.

I went from 203 to 154 in 3 months.

 

[FAST6191]

All I can say is if you think healthy food and vegetables taste bad or of nothing then you probably want to start this by learning to cook rather than the folly contemplating the huge perks (that 95% of their clients will never use) of gym membership.

Also what is with this God squad stuff? You get a revelation in a near death experience or something?

 

[Issac]

Banana is a fruit that contains a LOT of sugar though, so don't eat too much of that one thinking it'll be healthy

But one thing that's quite easy to quit and makes wonders on your weight is Soda (Pop, Coke, whatever you call it). And don't change it to Juice or something (many fruit drinks have a lot of sugar), but water. If you want to feel bubbles, sparkling water is great.

Exercising is great, as long as you mind your food habits as well. It's easy to work out and feel that you "deserve" some junk food... you don't.

What it all boils down to in the end is: Spending more energy than you get from food. Just by living you burn calories, thinking (homework or puzzles) makes you burn a little extra, working out burns a lot! Eating smaller servings of food is a good first step (along with working out).

This got really fragmented, but I have a killer headache right now.

 

[ComeTurismO]

There's a limit to eating the junk, control it, but let the others kick in more; 70% of your weight loss program you developed for yourself needs to be fully exercising, while the rest is 30% in your diet.

 

[Yeniaul]

I had my tonsils out at 14, and lost 45 pounds. Before: 210 lbs After: 165 lbs

 

[Hungry Friend]

Last year at this time, I was 275 lbs and completely fucking miserable, and now I'm down to 160 without any bullshit surgery or drugs, minus caffeine. Diet is the most important part; I eat once a day, but it's a huge meal with anywhere from 1500-1800 calories. Lately I haven't even been working out and I'm still dropping a bit of weight and at the very least maintaining, so while working out will help tremendously, you have to calorie count and eat tons of protein. Also, protein shakes are your friend; get the stuff that has 30g per scoop, and make sure it doesn't have creatine in it as it's much better to use creatine separately, especially since people respond to different forms of it in different ways.

I give myself 1-2 pigout days per month, but generally speaking I'm on a very strict diet and much of my intake is meat, but I mix things like salads in as well because fiber fills you up. Another trick is to buy some Metamucil(psyllium fiber powder) and take 1 tsp of it right before you eat your largest meal(I only eat once, but I don't know anyone else that uses my method) with 3 8oz glasses of water. You'll get full much faster. Caffeine helps too, but don't overdo it.(I drink too much coffee)

EDIT: One thing that really pisses me off is when people say they're fat for genetic reasons. I actually do have a slow metabolism and gain weight much faster than most people, but with proper diet/discipline, you WILL lose weight.[/rant]

 

[the_randomizer]

Eating right, getting the right portion sizes, and exercise equate to losing weight; pretty much, burning more calories than you consume. Something I really should do as I'm overweight, but not necessarily obese, I should weigh about 85 kg max, if that. The extra weight around your waistline puts extra stress on your organs and so on.

 

[Hungry Friend]

I lost a bunch of weight last year and it was pretty easy.....well easy for me. This may be dangerous for some, so talk to a doctor before you do what im about to say.

1) Drink 1 to 2 gallons of water a day......everyday.
2) Walk at least 8 miles a day....everyday(I made fun for myself by mapping a place I like 4 miles away and then walking back, sometimes with a different route)
3) Fasting. Dont eat anything for 48 hours. Do nothing but drink water. Break teh fast by eating a banana, an apple, some raspberries or blueberries. You should also do your walking.

I went from 203 to 154 in 3 months.

Congratulations on being tough and disciplined enough to pull that shit off, but that sounds like a rather dangerous way to lose weight. With a low calorie diet, the first month or 2 will be a huge pain in the ass because you'll be eating less than you're used to, but after a a month or 2 your body will adapt to your new diet and it will feel much more natural to eat less. Cut things like sugar, bread, chips(carbs in general), cheese etc completely out of your diet or at least minimize them. If you're not into meat, drink lots of protein shakes as protein keeps you full for a long time, and the metamucil trick really does work on days when I feel like pigging out.

Are you an athlete who was cutting weight or something?

 

[Ralph1611]

Congratulations on being tough and disciplined enough to pull that shit off, but that sounds like a rather dangerous way to lose weight. With a low calorie diet, the first month or 2 will be a huge pain in the ass because you'll be eating less than you're used to, but after a a month or 2 your body will adapt to your new diet and it will feel much more natural to eat less. Cut things like sugar, bread, chips(carbs in general), cheese etc completely out of your diet or at least minimize them. If you're not into meat, drink lots of protein shakes as protein keeps you full for a long time, and the metamucil trick really does work on days when I feel like pigging out.

Are you an athlete who was cutting weight or something?

Nope. Just an average guy. I just went to weight myself one day at a supermarket and I saw I was 200 lbs and wanted to get rid of it fast. I thought it was fun to be honest, and maybe thats why I stuck with it. Fun is very important when you are trying to lose weight, otherwise you are going to look at it as a chore. But I reached a point where I couldnt lose anymore weight, no matter how much I tried.

Oh, and its not like I didnt eat some junk food during this time, but I made sure it was after a fast, or even if I wanted a pizza, I would walk the 3 miles to the shop, eat some pizza, and then walk back.


Im confident he can do this. Start with a 48 hour water fast. Then when its time to eat.. just eat something normal... a sandwich...not too much... I would say if he can go through the first fast, he may be able to pull it off.

 

[Joe88]

I was getting up there too then decided I cant live like that
I mainly practiced portion control and eating healthier (grilled chicken no skin, brown rice) I didnt go into extreme diet mode and still enjoy junk food time to time
Also cut out soda and all suggary drinks, I only drink water now

Since january I have already lost 55lbs without really exercising, going for another 50

And dont starve yourself like someone else mentioned, you body will break down muscle and not fat

 

[VinsCool]

doing some exercises everyday and eating healthy food does well for me. I am 5.6 and 155lbs, no belly or excessive fat.

I drink a lot of coffee or tea though.

 

[jonthedit]

I had my tonsils out at 14, and lost 45 pounds. Before: 210 lbs After: 165 lbs

Best comment here

I am not really concerned about weight.
I just need to be able to go my day without my heart sounding crappy.
If it gets bad then I know I am not exercising enough and so I exercise more.