I'm gonna get skinny, then watchout! Wouldn't it be cool if there was a place where you guys could burn all your GEEK/NERD calories away? Wish me luck! Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!
Don't go to the Gym to "get skinny". Short answer is that it doesn't work. Go to the gym to get fit, tone muscle and relieve stress. In order to get skinny, you have to consume fewer calories than you are burning. Going to the gym and working out, say 5 hours a week, burns surprisingly few calories. Unless you are going to work out hard at a gym for several hours per day, or train for Ironmans and marathons, that won't make you skinny. And how does a working family man find that kind of time in their schedule? Going to the gym is great, and you should do it, and it should be your first option for a healthier lifestyle. It is healthier to be overweight and fit than skinny and unfit. To get skinny you have to slash your calories. We have had these threads before about dieting and there were lots of great tips. The first tip I always tell folks is to eliminate all liquid calories from your diet. No soda. No diet soda either - it keeps your sweet tooth alive and is full of nasty chemicals. No alcohol. No milk. Etc. Only water, and plain coffee and tea. Drinking just one latte, one soda, and one beer per day will pack on the pounds over time. Reverse that process with one change in lifestyle.
Thanks for the tips man. I have recently stopped drinking soda and it has been VERY tough! Got the shakes from not getting my caffeine fix. Just started going back to the gym. Starting slow on the treadmill and stair master. Burning calories. As out of shape as I am, it surprised me how many calories I can burn just by doing the stairs for 45 minutes. Recently I've been getting NO exercise, so my wife told me to start slow. It amazes me how good you feel after working out. Frustrates me that I don't do it more.
What are you crazy? I drink. I just make sure I burn it off. But, for folks that have a lot pounds they need to lose - you have to face the truth that it is pure empty calories. If you need to lose weight, and you refuse to give up alcohol, some folks on diets play a game with themselves - they can drink, but they have to jog off every single one of those calories. With our fitbits and smartphone apps it is easy to keep track. Now, how much do you want that beer? The first one - hell yeah. The second one, hmmm, maybe. But, when you have pledged to yourself you will work off every calorie, those extra drinks aren't as appealing.
The other thing is the idea that you have to go to a gym. Yes, do that. But also find ways to stay active in your day to day life. These are just ideas. Add activity to family time. Instead of the movies/mall, go for a hike (forest park!), play Frisbee in the park, go on bike rides. Use a bicycle for local travel when you can. Skip the elevator, take the stairs. Park at the far end of parking lots and walk. At a minimum, go for a walk in your neighborhood everyday you don't go to the gym. If you hate walking in the rain, get an exercise bike or whatever (craigslist) for the winter. You can watch tv while you spin. Have a trainer at the gym give you a set of exercises you can do in the hotel room while you are on the road. Get a short routine and an extended one. Even when you are at home, if you can't make it to the gym, do the workout at home. Incorporate activity in you daily life, and reduce barriers to working out. The gym is not the temple of fitness. It is a place where you can get fit so you can live an active life.
Thanks man. Ya, I have used my extensive travel as an excuse to not work out. Not going to do that any more. My main thing has been soda. Drink tons of it! I think me quitting that is already helping.
If you need Caffeine and don't want to drink soda/Coffee MiO energy is a great for it. I was able to quit soda by a combination of Soda stream then switched to MiO and didn't have any of the regular effects people have from quitting Soda.
I'll let others give advice. Instead, I'll just say good luck in accomplishing whichever goals you set. Having access to the Blazers' training staff is a huge help.
You guys all think HCP is really there to work out? He fooled y'all - he got himself a second job as the towel boy. Gotta pay for health insurance one way or another.
Mick is right. The more fat you can turn into muscle, the more calories you burn off even when you are not working out. Baseline metabolism increases. Weights are fine, but because of your travel, get a trainer to teach you how to work your major muscle groups without any equipment. Have the trainer teach you how to lift properly and safely too. You don't want to break or tear something. Then mix up your workouts.
HCP or anyone else, if you want to go for a good bike ride I'm down. I bike slow cause I'm fat and trying to lose weight, but I can do any hills and long distances if time isn't a factor. Every morning I bike to work, I live close in SE Portland and cross the river, go behind OHSU, bike up montgomery up to patton, zig zag and continue up to fairmont and then bike down to OHSU where I work. But if anyone wants to go for a ride on a weekend, maybe Mt. Tabor or Skyline, let me know, it makes biking more fun when we can talk Blazers and laugh at papag (just kidding papag).
