Anyone pretty into exercise and nutrition?

[pjl2934]

By that I mean, are there any weight-lifters on PF? Women/men, squats/curls, anyone pretty into exercise and nutrition?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'm no beast, but I hit the gym twice a week and play soccer once a week. I like to keep thin but athletic build.

 

[dipole]

Do you really refer to yourself as a "beast"?

 

[pjl2934]

Lol, no. I lack the cockiness or the evidence to make a claim like that. I'm like Greg, thin but athletic. I'm not a "meathead" by any standards, haha. I do have ambitions to become somewhat larger than I currently am, though. I was wondering if there were others hanging around PF that are into the gym life. As an example, Tavi Castro was an aerospace engineering student.
http://tavicastro.nl/?page_id=39

 

[Evo]

I'm not into exercise, never have been. I always felt bad afterwards and wished I had done something productive with my time instead, even if it was walking through a museum or arboretum. I did a lot of heavy gardening and landscaping when I was younger, so I was very fit, but I would never actually spend time just exercising.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'm into nutrition and exercise. And, yes, I'm pretty.

 

[pjl2934]

The bodybuilding/physique competition lifestyle is pretty interesting. As are the people that do it. I know that it seems like a lot of science/math minded people don't get that into it, but I think we can all agree that being comfortable in your own skin is something that goes a long way in the overall satisfaction of life. Whether that comes from exercise and nutrition or not is independent to the individual, but it's still a fairly productive hobby, despite what others would have you believe. After all, it's not like being into health and fitness are contradictory to being into math and science. Breaking down barriers and misconceptions, bam!

 

[FlexGunship]

By that I mean, are there any weight-lifters on PF? Women/men, squats/curls, anyone pretty into exercise and nutrition?

Yes. About ten months ago, I changed gyms and started going five times a week. I don't consider myself a body builder, but I follow the same routine... mostly because I get my cardio from hiking.

My training partner insists I keep track of progress by photos. She thinks it's important, this is the first time I've considered sharing one. This is my 9 month entry.

I hesitated for a long time before posting. The "uncomfortable in your own skin" thing doesn't go away after only ten months.

EDIT: On the topic of nutrition, I follow two distinct routines:

1) Healthy, low carb, high protein diet with very few calories coming from liquids.
2) Eat absolutely anything I can at any moment.

I cycle between them when I feel like it. No set routine. If my weight drops below 175 I know I'm burning way more than I'm taking in. If it gets much over 185 I notice that I start to get a gut. But my body tells me when it's ready to switch cycles pretty much. It's a simple program, and being at the gym five times a week makes it easy to stay in tune with your health.

 

[pjl2934]

Yes. About ten months ago, I changed gyms and started going five times a week. I don't consider myself a body builder, but I follow the same routine... mostly because I get my cardio from hiking.

My training partner insists I keep track of progress by photos. She thinks it's important, this is the first time I've considered sharing one. This is my 9 month entry.

I hesitated for a long time before posting. The "uncomfortable in your own skin" thing doesn't go away after only ten months.

Way to freaking go, man! That's what I'm saying. Lifting weights and whatnot might not be for everyone, but I think it would probably help more people than realize it and in more ways than they realize. I guess you could almost compare it to meditation in that it is agreed that it is good for your mental/spirtiual health, but not everyone does it the same way or for the same reasons. Some pray, some reflect, and some just space out, but they all might experience similar beneficial results. There was a recent study that claims that exercise is in many cases as beneficial as medication (since we're on a science forum, here: http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f5577). That being said, how many PFers do you think are on medication for things like depression, blood pressure, diabetes, etc.? I would never claim that folks can just get off meds without a doctor's approval, but aren't there current major societal problems like overmedication, lack of self-discipline, lack of personal responsibility, etc. that could be at least decreased from an increase in the popularity and understanding of exercise and nutrition?

 

[pjl2934]

EDIT: On the topic of nutrition, I follow two distinct routines:

1) Healthy, low carb, high protein diet with very few calories coming from liquids.
2) Eat absolutely anything I can at any moment.

I cycle between them when I feel like it. No set routine. If my weight drops below 175 I know I'm burning way more than I'm taking in. If it gets much over 185 I notice that I start to get a gut. But my body tells me when it's ready to switch cycles pretty much. It's a simple program, and being at the gym five times a week makes it easy to stay in tune with your health.

That's one of (if not the biggest) the benefits of beginning to exercise. You more closely pay attention to what's going in your body and are more conscious of what food really gives you (like macros, vitamins, minerals). You also become much more in tune with what is going on with your body and can attribute any changes to specific habits/decisions. So what are your fitness goals?

 

[Tosh5457]

I don't have the patience for careful nutrition, but I exercise almost every day. I run and do some push-ups, just to keep my arms from getting thin.

 

[Dembadon]

I go to the gym about 3 times a week, but I'm a bit put-off by popular "fitness culture". I feel like there's a lot of people out there who don't know what they're talking about, and the zealots who're drinking the kool-aid of the myriad programs/paradigms aren't very accepting of those of us who don't think their methods are the one-and-only way to stay fit. I just try to eat cleanly and keep a reasonable level of strength and endurance. I prefer to do so without going to the gym (mountain biking and rock climbing), but during the winter months it's a good substitute.

 

[czelaya]

I work out 5 times a week and run 12-16 miles a week at a moderate 7 minute/mile pace. I've been physically active in the gym since my time in the military and I've acquired a level of understanding in weight training and nutrition that I'm able to minimize the time it takes to meet my goals. For instance, going to a lean body fat percentage to very low body weight for long distance running or to bulking muscle for strength competition(which I'm glad that I don't do anymore).

I train people for free, occasionally, as long at they're willing to give a substantial effort in meeting their goals. The whole point of me training others is that I want them to learn to be self sufficient when it comes to their health goals. While there's a lot that I've learned-I could of saved a lot time in learning proper techniques, nutrition, and scheduling activities through a novice trainer and self study books.

The one factor that amazes the most is that when you have the proper techniques and diet, going to the gym becomes a 25 minute exercise.

 

[pjl2934]

@Tosh: I hear that. Meal planning/prep is probably the largest time-consuming activity out of all other fitness-related activities.

@Dembadon: Isn't it amazing how people are so quick to tell you how to do something? Anyone who has been into fitness for a longer period of time will tell you that it's about consistency. Not perfection. Some tips you get might be valid, but in the long run the people that stick with whatever they're doing will see the most results. Props for taking care of yourself.

@czelaya: You're a lot more active than I am! I'm striving to more efficiently integrate my workout and nutrition routines into my already slammed-packed-busy life. That's so awesome that you like to help others reach their goals. The biggest complaint I've heard from personal trainers is that almost all of their clients like to talk the talk but don't want to put in the hard work and dedication it takes to walk the walk. I also totally agree that the amount of time that it takes in the gym is a lot less than people realize. 25 mins of doing the right exercises with proper form will do far more for your body than hours at a time in the gym.

 

[FlexGunship]

Way to freaking go, man!

Thanks. It's a huge motivator when people notice how hard you've been working. The first time my parents noticed it stuck with me for days.

I would never claim that folks can just get off meds without a doctor's approval, but aren't there current major societal problems like overmedication, lack of self-discipline, lack of personal responsibility, etc. that could be at least decreased from an increase in the popularity and understanding of exercise and nutrition?

It's only anecdotal evidence, but I always feel better when I go to the gym. I don't go for long. Just 45 minutes or so. It's my meditation (like you say). I get to be alone with my thoughts. Listen to music. Watch Jeopardy (because I don't have cable). But mostly, I like the positive effect it has on my life.

 

[pjl2934]

''When you want to be successful as bad as you want to breathe then you will be successful. Most of you don't want it bad, you just kind of want it. You don't want it as much as you want to party. You don't want it as much as you want to be cool. Most of you don't want success as much as you want sleep. You got to be willing to work with 3 hours of sleep. Some days you're going to have to stay up 3 days in a row. You got to want to be successful so bad that you forget to eat.'' - Eric Thomas

Talk about crossovers.. How much does that apply to everything in life? It's about putting in the work to get the results you want.

 

[Choppy]

What's been working for me lately:

Nutrition...
1. Limit portion sizes.
2. Avoid junk food. I was surprised at how much of it there really is where I work, and how much I used to eat. There's a birthday cake sitting in our common area right now - one of those jobs that's about half icing by weight, and there was a time when I would have two slices.
3. Half of what goes into my mouth should be a real fruit or vegetable.

Exercise...
1. Weights 2-3x per week.
2. Judo once per week.
3. A big cardio event once per week (other than judo.) All summer I was on my road bike training for the Ride to Conquer Cancer, but now I do runs when I can, and since it's getting a little colder, my wife and I are into "plyo"-Tuesdays, following the Insanity videos or the P90X).

Over the last four months I've lost about 30 pounds. This is largely due to the nutrition side of things. The exercise has been fairly consistent through most of my adult life, but I had always subscribed to the "just burn it off" theory. That changed when I began to actually do the math on all the calories I actually consumed.

 

[Choppy]

''When you want to be successful as bad as you want to breathe then you will be successful. Most of you don't want it bad, you just kind of want it. You don't want it as much as you want to party. You don't want it as much as you want to be cool. Most of you don't want success as much as you want sleep. You got to be willing to work with 3 hours of sleep. Some days you're going to have to stay up 3 days in a row. You got to want to be successful so bad that you forget to eat.'' - Eric Thomas

Talk about crossovers.. How much does that apply to everything in life? It's about putting in the work to get the results you want.

While the quote is inspiring to some degree and I understand where it's coming from, long term, that's a recipe for disaster.

 

[WannabeNewton]

I eat tons of junk food and watch sitcoms all day long.

 

[Borg]

I eat tons of junk food and watch sitcoms all day long.

Those 12 oz curls can work up a sweat.

 

[WannabeNewton]

Those 12 oz curls can work up a sweat.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[BobG]

I'm not pretty, but I do eat a nutritious diet of glazed doughnuts, potato chips, fried chicken wings, and bacon, plus drink at least 8 glasses of Jack Daniels per day, smoke at least 2 packs of cigarettes per day, plus take heroin for any minor aches and pains ...

... just as the Social Security Administration's nutritional guidelines for people over 50 suggest.

 

[Evo]

I'm not pretty, but I do eat a nutritious diet of glazed doughnuts, potato chips, fried chicken wings, and bacon, plus drink at least 8 glasses of Jack Daniels per day, smoke at least 2 packs of cigarettes per day, plus take heroin for any minor aches and pains ...

... just as the Social Security Administration's nutritional guidelines for people over 50 suggest.

 

[member 392791]

I eat very healthy, and at times I was an exercise aficionado. I'm working my way back into that part though, and the weight is being shed off.

 

[Chronos]

I have no idea how Flex got into my photo file. I'm just glad he didn't post the rubber ducky one. I do one sit up every morning and obsessively consume vegetable - peanut butter and chocolate are vegetables, right?

 

[AlephZero]

Nutrition is simple. Just consume equal quantities of the 5 major food groups: sugar, fat, salt, alcohol, and caffeine.

 

[FlexGunship]

Speaking of physical activity (was anyone speaking of that?)... went for a hike yesterday. The plan was to cover several peaks, but as rain set in, it seemed less like a good idea. So the first peak (a low one) became the only peak. This is Mount Roberts in New Hampshire.

 

[Dembadon]

Speaking of physical activity (was anyone speaking of that?)... went for a hike yesterday. The plan was to cover several peaks, but as rain set in, it seemed less like a good idea. So the first peak (a low one) became the only peak. This is Mount Roberts in New Hampshire.

Nice! I love hiking outside during the fall season before the snow hits. :!)

 

[BobG]

Speaking of physical activity (was anyone speaking of that?)... went for a hike yesterday. The plan was to cover several peaks, but as rain set in, it seemed less like a good idea. So the first peak (a low one) became the only peak. This is Mount Roberts in New Hampshire.

How do you breathe at that elevation? Isn't the air too thick?

Personally, I find Denver's air a little claustrophobic and Denver's only at 5280 ft.

I bet it takes a lot of beer to get drunk at that altitude.

 

[FlexGunship]

How do you breathe at that elevation? Isn't the air too thick?

Personally, I find Denver's air a little claustrophobic and Denver's only at 5280 ft.

I bet it takes a lot of beer to get drunk at that altitude.

Hah ha ha! Because NH is so close to the ocean, most of our mountain trails start only a couple hundred feet above sea level. This peak was actually the start of a mountain pass that goes across several peaks in the Ossipee range which form the outside of a 14km-wide ancient volcano caldera. Our original plan was to do as many as possible yesterday, but the rain kind of ruined that and footing was getting bad. (Truthfully, the best case scenario was Roberts, Faraway, and maybe Shaw... with all the mini-peaks in-between.)

It takes about a six-pack for me to get buzzed. I don't make it a habit to drink that much, of course, but I'm not sure what effect the elevation has on that number.