The VFRW Weight Loss/Fitness Challenge Thread!!

i JUST SWIM AT LEAST 1500-2000 METERS EVERY OTHER DAY

 

Last Fall 09, I was speaking to a fellow friend and track rider (he's actually a Control Rider for NESBA) and Barry said the one mod he sees me nned more than anything is exercise.

I had to sit out two sessions last year becasue I was just physically exhausted. As some of you know, track days are not only mentally demanding, they are physically draining.

So I picked up an exercise bike last Fall for 14 bucks in great shape LOL! I am amazed at the nice equipment for cheap. Anyway, I started riding it last November and eating healthier. I am 6'1" and started at 187lbs. As of this morining I am at 174. My goal is 170 when I hit the track in May.

I told Barry "this exercise thing better work". He laughed and said " you wait, you already 'feel' better, you won't be sitting out sessions anymore".

If anything I do feel alot better and am really looking forward to some track action.

BZ

 

Tink:

I took dance lessons for 2.5 years a few years ago and part of the warm up was yoga based. Still to this day one of the hardest and best workout routines I have ever done. I still do a small portion of it with the exercise bike. Once your body gets used to it, it has phenominal benefits. Their are yoga classes in Delaware, but not close enough for me to make it worth my while with money and family obligations.

The othe rthing to mention, if I miss a workout, I don't beat myslef up for it. If I have to take care of something important I do so. Remember, this is a whole lifestyle change and sometimes the family vehicle oild change before vacation will take precedence over the 45 minute workout LOL!

BZ

 

Great thread! I just started an exercise/weight loss routine this past Monday. I'm 6'1" and 225 lbs. My goal is 6'6" (just kidding) and 180 lbs. It will be a long haul. I've already encountered two temptations. First, my daughter's boyfriend buys me a box of my favorite cookies; I threw them away (sigh). Then at work they celebrate a birthday a couple of times a week with a cake, cookies, and other good stuff. So far I have managed to resist.

Discipline is the key. I gave up both cigarrettes and alcohol (not at the same time) about 17 years ago, both on a cold turkey basis, and have never cheated once since then. Of course, that's when I started gaining weight.

Losing weight by avoiding my favorite foods is going to be much more demanding for me. This thread should help keep me on course. So, thanks to all!

By the way, in high school I was 6'1" and weighed 140 lbs. Hard to believe I was that skinny. But with eight kids in the family, food was apportioned and eating wasn't a social event. Then I met my later-to-be wife and spent lots of time with her family and relatives who worshiped food and served plenty of it!

 

Yesterday I met up with a guy from a Craigslist ad and purchased the p90x from him. The money that I saved buying it "used" (it was brand new, still in the plastic wrap) I put towards a basic set of dumbbells. Had every plan of starting this morning with the first workout.

Well, two days ago the basement flooded so all the carpeting is ripped up and the furniture moved and electronics unplugged, punching holes in drywall now. That was supposed to be the workout room :doh:

And FedEx mistakenly delivered my dumbbells to the wrong house :doh: though the "trace/claim" I made yesterday did pan out and they are at my house now.

Those, amongst other things, caused a slip up with a pack of cigarettes for the first time in almost 4 months. But that was a one-time thing.

Anyway, I'm looking to get started soon.

I'm currently in a holding pattern at ~200lbs. I'm 5'10".

Strictly looking at weight loss, I'd ideally like to see myself at 175lbs. But, I'd be very very happy at 180lbs. If I were to gain some muscle, I wouldn't be upset at a solid 10lb loss. Basically, I don't care what the scale actually says I just want to look better and feel better.

My biggest problem is food. I'm not the most active person in the world, but I'm outside for work now and then and generally try to keep somewhat active. Being 24 y/o helps some... but I sure love to eat. Problem isn't quality, it's quantity. I'm not one to eat a whole bag of potato chips and dip and chase it with a 2 liter bottle of soda and a Snickers bar. But I can wolf down a huge sandwich like it's my business!

 

Last March I tried on a Vanson Jacket and found that I could barely zip up a 48, that was at 247# (I'm 6'2"). By July I was down to 197. The sad thing is that I rode about 2000 miles last year on the VFR and Mean Streak, but 4000 miles on my Cannondale. The winter has me back up about 15#, but I have only gotten about 400 miles in on the cannondale so far this year. Ironically I still wear a 48 Vanson, those things are cut small...

 

Im still thinking about Bubba and dance lessons.................

 

I don't recall seeing him on Dancing With The Stars. Was he the winner?

Wait a minute! I found the footage... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2949508997989707181##

And here he is without the costume... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2949508997989707181#docid=-8150851430181575117

I'm sorry, Bubba. Had to do it!

 

Yeah, I dare ya start with the busts!

You all laugh till I'm danicing with your wives/ girlfriends

BZ

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwvA1UZgq8

yeah, we all need a guy like you around

 

For those of us that tend to, shall we say, live life to the fullest.

I lost 45lbs throughout the course of 2008 by doing nothing more than basically 86ing fast food and alcohol. Went from 223 peak lbs to 180lbs now. No more excersise than I was doing previously (golf and motorcycling) and I'm eating more now then ever. Fast food was never huge for me but it's gone nonetheless. Drinking was different story. Consumption was nightly (even dailly) ,had been ongoing for 15 years, and wasn't what the lay person would call a reasonable amount. So that more than anything else is probably the biggest reason for the loss. In all honesty I will still take part in an adult beverage from time to time, against the recomended program for a guy like me, but it's more like once every 3 or 4 months.

 

I have to not look at the scale since I seem to be just a heavy person. When I was at my lightest, I weighed 170lbs and looked like I had been in a concentration camp. And it may go without saying but I believe one of the best execises I can do is just get on the damn bike and lean it over for a while. Riding aggressively is as good a workout as I've had while still having fun. Not to mention as you go you slowly upgrade your skill level.

 

Did someone say something about a hardcore work out? Seriously...check out Crossfit...

This is a pic of me squatting 225 on the 13th or so rep. We were to do 3x5 (3 sets of 5 reps) at 82% of our on rep max weight. Since i didnt have a one rep max weight, I had to work up to this, and then do the sets. This was something like my 33 or so squat for the day (i did 135, 165, 185, 205, then 3 at 225).



Then after that, the conditioning part of the workout was 10 minutes of AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) 10 pull ups, 200m run, 10 push ups. Sounds simple/easy...but an ass kicker, especially after the squat work.

I will be starting a blog with my workouts and results. I usually got Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday so expect updates. You will see what a 'real' work out is!!! :flex: :bootyshake2: :tongue2:

You will look at some of them and think i'm :crazy: especially when i post my 3x5 of deadlifts at 295lbs (done last week)...

 

Good stuff bweiss. There was a time when squats were on my agenda, but like some others here, Mr. Knee said you better lighten up on the old squats. I still have the full power rack downstairs though. 225 for that many reps is impressive.

Crossfit sounds very interesting. As far as "real workouts" try P90x for a while heehee. There is also a new DVD series out by the makers of P90x called Insanity. Ive seen the DVDs, and that is just what it is...insane.

 

I fuckin hated The Man Show, but the skit did entertain beta.

BZ

 

Well, in my younger years (much younger...teens) I was 5'11" and 125 pounds. If I turned sideways in the wind I whistled. Well now my weight has almost doubled ranging anywhere from 205 to 215 and up and down weekly. Back in the early 90's when I was 220, doc wanted me to loose one shit pile of weight to deal with a back injury. He sent me out to get a book titled "The new aerobics" by Dr. Cooper. And he told me to pick a form of exercise from this book and follow it to the letter. Don't do anything greater than what the book said.

He also told me to get my fat intake down to 20 grams a day and sent me out to get another book that listed foods and burgers and the such, and what calories they had, and the fat content. He did not care about the calories.

When I looked at that book I saw that I thought I could not eat. But when I really looked at the foods I could eat a lot of, I was able to eat really well(healthy) and not be hungry all the time. There are foods I could eat regularly as snacks. I ended up getting my fat intake down to 14 - 15 grams a day. In 30 days I went from 220 down to 190, then after another 2 months down to 180.

Now it is time to start that process again. I can't do the weight lifting and running sue to joint issues, but I can certainly do a lot of walking. And the diet change is probably most important, cause it is also good for my diabetes.

SO here's to trying!

 

Psh, that's nothing. Every time I crouch down and stand up with NO weight on my shoulders I'm squatting 200lbs!