losing weight

[hrodbert696]

A few thoughts:

1) Have you talked to your doctor about your goals and program? Seriously, talk to your doctor.

2) Obviously eating less helps to lose weight, but if you cut your calories too drastically, your body will go into "starvation mode," which will mean slowing down your metabolism to conserve what nourishment it's getting. You then either end up stalling out your weight loss, or force the issue by eating even less, which puts you on the road to eating disorders and anorexia. DON'T go there. You probably need around 1200 calories a day just to keep vital organs operating, that's if you do nothing but lie in bed all day. Count in exercise and a normal day's activity and you should be eating something to the tune of 2000 calories a day. Those are a layman's estimates -- talk to a doctor or nutritionist to get the right plan for you.

3) 60 lbs in 6 months sounds too aggressive too me. It's possible, but that's likely to be a crash diet that would prove unsustainable over the long term and therefore end with you gaining the weight back. Someone who's starting at 300 lbs might do it, but you're not that overweight. I would guess that a more realistic goal would be to lose 1-1.5 pounds a week and lose the 60 over nine months to a year, not six months.

4) Weightwatchers really does seem to be the program with the best track record in our family, I'd totally encourage looking into it.

And let me say once again, I'm not a doctor or a fitness expert and I really think it's important that you do go over your plan with a doctor. These are comments based on having both needed weight-loss projects and anorexia in my family.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Don't starve if you're working out, I eat upwards of 4000 Kcals a day, but I work out enough for it to level off.

If going for heavy, I'd agree, that's why I was suggesting to keep it lighter while trying to loose weight, then once the weight is off, up the intake and the load

 

[CrispyDelicious]

And 56 pounds lighter in April 2009 (we got married in July '09)...

Dude.

Holy crap. That's awesome.

 

[spade2you]

Stay away from ALL workout programs and diets named after someone or something. Most programs will set you up to lose weight quickly, but not sustainably.

There really aren't any shortcuts or secrets to weight loss, but I think the better weight loss models have been replaced by get rich quick fads and impatience.

I think the weight loss goal is a little unrealistic. Gradual is key. This allows you to lose weight without feeling unbearable. It's also safer and can be sustained until you reach goal.

Do a LOT of fat burning zone cardio. Lower intensity workouts burn a greater percentage of fat. Higher intensity mostly burns glycogen (sugars). High inesnity may burn more overall calories, but the percentage of fat is much less and burning glycogen stimulates hunger much more than fat burning workouts. The downside is that this is VERY time consuming. There is no way around it.

Use a program like www.livestrong.com to track your weight, workouts, and daily calories.

 

[iamlowsound]

I disagree with that.

Loosing 60lbs over 6 months (say 26 weeks) is loosing less than 2.5lbs a week. You can easily loose 3lbs a week and over short runs I've manged to loose 7lbs a week.

I do agree that he needs a heck of a lot more excersise, 30 minutes - 1 hour cardio session regularly (preferably at least 5 days a week).

Other things that are worth doing:

- Track your daily calorie intake, so you know how much you really eat.

- Track your daily excersise, so you know how much you really do.

- Track your weight weekly and chart it, it's nice to see quantative benifits.

- Take one day a week to treat yourself, have a pizza or take away. If you are purely calorie counting, it may not make sense, but it helps stop your body going into full on starvation mode.

- Take up a sport, being part of a team can be more fun than training alone and you'll be more likely to keep it up, with most team sports that'd be covering at least 3 days a week in which you have 1 hour minimum cardio.

- I'd also recommend doing some weight training, if you are on a diet and new to it, keep it light with higher reps.

- Consistency, keep as close to your plan as you can, don't skip out a run because you're feeling tired or whatnot.

- Finally, when you reach your goal, don't fall back into your old life style!

I agree with everything, except for how fast you will loose the weight. Aim for a pound a week, anything extra will be a bonus. It is easy to loose 2 or 3 pounds a week at first, but once you get closer to your goal, it is much harder to keep up the pace because you have to keep cutting your calorie intake and upping your workout in order to keep the weight loss going.

lowsound

 

[UncleFluffy]

www.fitday.com

 

[Staccato]

Thanks Bassdude404 for the weight watcher's points idea.

WW updated their system in the last month for the first time in years. The new Points Plus brought lots of hits on google.
Invalid Link Removed some of the basics on scoring points based on eating chicken, or fruit, etc.

I've got a ton of clothes sitting, and want to lose about 25-30 to get back in them.

 

[iamlowsound]

www.scoobysworkshop.com has some of the best info out there and it is 100% free. Go and read all the nutritional info on the site and develop your eating plan. His calorie calculator is the best I have seen and breaks it down to what you should eat in every meal.

lowsound

 

[ZachOrem]

I'm not a noob to the gym - but just barely not. Let me share with you what I've expierenced results with, because it is a difficult process transitioning from sedentary life to fitness - but hear me: IT IS TOTALLY WORTH THE EFFORT.

#1 is stretching. You stretch those damn muscles before every workout for at least 15 minutes. Focus on your legs. You want your legs to be in great shape, because they are the key to you getting thin.

After stretching, drink 600ml of water. Water is important, and you need to drink it forever. If you can, ONLY drink water during the day - and lots. Water will make you feel like a superhero after your body finishes cleansing all the syrup and sugary juice out of your innerds.

Get a Wii-fit, if only to keep track of your weight. There is this graph feature that superimposes itself over a timeline that shows you your progress visually. The daily ritual of stepping on the Wii-fit scale every day will motivate you, I bet. PLUS THE GAMES ARE PRETTY FUN, TOO.

Lifting weights = more muscle.
Running = less fat.

Given the above being true; if you lift weights only you will build killer definition in your muscles, but the tone will be hidden underneath all your fat. HOWEVER! That being said, having more muscles means your body burns energy more quickly ALL THE TIME, so if you don't start eating like Goku, you'll start loosing weight passively throughout the day. Cool.

To put in simply; your body will burn the energy in your stomach FIRST, before hitting up your juicy fat cells for energy. To burn away all the available energy in your gut, you need to run for about 20 minutes. If you don't run MORE than that, and end up eating after your work out - you're basically back at square 1. If your goal is to destroy fat cells, you need to make your body think you're serious - you do that by running and running and running and runnning, even though running sucks.

Running. Is the best excersize because your entire body is moving. EVEN BETTER are those eliptical machines with the arm things that go back and forth, because if you set a decent resistance, you're working out your arms and your legs and getting your heartrate high at the same time, which is ideal for weight loss. You will feel yourself melt away into slimness if you eliptical it up, I promise.

Every 15 minutes or so you should stop for 1 minute and get some water. But don't stop too long or your heartrate will drop. Before long you will get endurance and... it will... impact many areas of your life.

After your running, lift some weights if you want. Do curls with dumb-bells, and be sure to ask strong people what they do to get fit. They know! And 99% of them are more than happy to talk about how they got as fit as they are. It's a point of pride, and it well should be.

Keep it up. I'm rooting for you.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

A good warmup >>>> stretching

 

[iamlowsound]

A good warmup >>>> stretching

This and the best time to do cardio is before you eat in the morning, because you won't have anything in your stomach and you body will go directly to burning stored fat cells.

lowsound

 

[jimc]

At the end of June my triglycerides were 650 (should be less than 200) and my doc was wanting to prescribe pills. I was reluctant to start pill popping and he gave me 3 months to do something about it.

After 3 months my triglycerides were 132 and cholesterol was in the normal range, I also dropped 35 lbs (like you I'm just under 5'10, I was 207lbs, this morning I weighed in at 169lbs).

First thing I did was to cut back on alcohol. If I really need a beer during the week I have an O'Douls or similar, they taste like crap at first, I'm normally a dark beer drinker, but you get used to it. I do allow myself a couple good beers at the weekend.

I started to buy some diet foods (the steamer meals are pretty good) and bbq salmon and chicken with salads during the week. Again at weekends I allow myself to splurge somewhat. I stopped getting fast food at lunchtimes and cut back on sodas.

Also I started walking. At least 3 miles most everyday. I can't run because I'm 55 and my old knees can't take it. Here's the thing, I now enjoy walking and get pissy if I don't have the time to go for a walk.

Here's what I think is key, I don't consider this a diet or a temporary measure, I see me continuing like this for good. By allowing myself a splurge at the weekends I don't feel deprived.

Now my wife thinks she has a hot hubby. I'm wearing 32" pants for the first time in 20 years and I'm never allowing myself to let go like I did before. The benefits far outweigh the pleasures we think we'll miss.

I have a buddy who has just signed up to do a sponsored 100 mile bike ride for a good cause in April and I've agreed to do it with him. The ironic thing is it's for Cure for Diabetes. If more people got off the couch and rode a bike there'd be a hell of a lot more people without diabetes. I'm still going to do it though!

 

[aborgman]

4. Caloric intake - make sure your caloric intake (how much you eat per day) is at a sufficient level. For an active male, aged 16, what you are eating is likely insufficient. Change the TYPES of foods you eat & eat healthier options. A starvation diet WILL work (it is how weight watchers works), but only to a point. You sound like you are very active - being active requires extra intake.

Actually if you starve yourself it actually SLOWS weight loss, due to the body slowing it's metabolism to cope the expected future lack of food.

Eat slightly less calories than you burn, and spread it over 6-8 small meals a day... that keeps your metabolism running at its weight losing peak.

 

[GeneralElectric]

Eat less than 2000 calories a day, walk everywhere.

I'm 6, 6'1 and I'm 215 pounds of pure sex.

 

[spade2you]

Actually if you starve yourself it actually SLOWS weight loss, due to the body slowing it's metabolism to cope the expected future lack of food.

Eat slightly less calories than you burn, and spread it over 6-8 small meals a day... that keeps your metabolism running at its weight losing peak.

In the starvation state, it's easy to plateau or start losing fitness since the body can't recover nearly as well.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

In the starvation state, it's easy to plateau or start losing fitness since the body can't recover nearly as well.

You also put on fat more easily.

 

[Absentia]

1. Get en exercise bike
2. get a streaming script to netflix
3. ride for 45min a day watching netflix

Lost 40lbs so far, in august

Also I was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance which keeps me away from those nasty empty (yet tastey) carbs and beer and keeps me eating fresh veggies.

I do notice I start packing on the lbs if I stop daily exercise.


My doc said get a cheap exercise bike ride it 30-45min a day and you will lose weight .... doc was right.
Fad diets are stupid and you will ultimately fail I've seen my mother do it hundreds of times. just be mindful of what you're putting in your body, they way I see it I have no idea what's in that prepackaged trash but I sure as hell know what's in a peapod, or carrot.

 

[spade2you]

You also put on fat more easily.

Also true. Other than quick, but usually temporary weight loss, there is no advantage of starvation type diets.

 

[spade2you]

I'm not a noob to the gym - but just barely not. Let me share with you what I've expierenced results with, because it is a difficult process transitioning from sedentary life to fitness - but hear me: IT IS TOTALLY WORTH THE EFFORT.

#1 is stretching. You stretch those damn muscles before every workout for at least 15 minutes. Focus on your legs. You want your legs to be in great shape, because they are the key to you getting thin.

After stretching, drink 600ml of water. Water is important, and you need to drink it forever. If you can, ONLY drink water during the day - and lots. Water will make you feel like a superhero after your body finishes cleansing all the syrup and sugary juice out of your innerds.

Get a Wii-fit, if only to keep track of your weight. There is this graph feature that superimposes itself over a timeline that shows you your progress visually. The daily ritual of stepping on the Wii-fit scale every day will motivate you, I bet. PLUS THE GAMES ARE PRETTY FUN, TOO.

Lifting weights = more muscle.
Running = less fat.

Given the above being true; if you lift weights only you will build killer definition in your muscles, but the tone will be hidden underneath all your fat. HOWEVER! That being said, having more muscles means your body burns energy more quickly ALL THE TIME, so if you don't start eating like Goku, you'll start loosing weight passively throughout the day. Cool.

To put in simply; your body will burn the energy in your stomach FIRST, before hitting up your juicy fat cells for energy. To burn away all the available energy in your gut, you need to run for about 20 minutes. If you don't run MORE than that, and end up eating after your work out - you're basically back at square 1. If your goal is to destroy fat cells, you need to make your body think you're serious - you do that by running and running and running and runnning, even though running sucks.

Running. Is the best excersize because your entire body is moving. EVEN BETTER are those eliptical machines with the arm things that go back and forth, because if you set a decent resistance, you're working out your arms and your legs and getting your heartrate high at the same time, which is ideal for weight loss. You will feel yourself melt away into slimness if you eliptical it up, I promise.

Every 15 minutes or so you should stop for 1 minute and get some water. But don't stop too long or your heartrate will drop. Before long you will get endurance and... it will... impact many areas of your life.

After your running, lift some weights if you want. Do curls with dumb-bells, and be sure to ask strong people what they do to get fit. They know! And 99% of them are more than happy to talk about how they got as fit as they are. It's a point of pride, and it well should be.

Keep it up. I'm rooting for you.

Running burns more calories, but most tend to fall in the glycogen category, thus not great for weight loss. Keep in mind that at heavier weights, running can be very hard on the knees. Even as a light weight, I could usually feel the wear and tear on my knees after running a lot, which is why I don't run very often. Elipticals often ski poles to keep the arms busy and there's no impact.

 

[ZachOrem]

Running burns more calories, but most tend to fall in the glycogen category, thus not great for weight loss. Keep in mind that at heavier weights, running can be very hard on the knees. Even as a light weight, I could usually feel the wear and tear on my knees after running a lot, which is why I don't run very often. Elipticals often ski poles to keep the arms busy and there's no impact.

Can't argue with results. I'm sorry, but I think you're wrong. Running is very effective at taking weight off, second only to liposuction.