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Post by gammonstark on Mar 10, 2015 21:16:04 GMT -7
I think I was fat in elementary school. Having a buzz cut did not help, just made me look round all over. I think I weighed the same amount in middle school that I did in elementary, meaning that I thinned out - probably too much. In high school I was somewhere between 150 to 175 (at 5'8). At 175 I felt a little flabby when I was swimming, but I looked fine in pictures.
Break ups did not seem to be a factor in weight gain for me. Rather, being in a relationship seems to cause me to put on pounds. I dated a girl right out of high school and probably gained 5 pounds a year for four years. The next 5 years or so, we had an off-again-on-again relationship, so I never seriously tried to drop the weight.
I never really kept track of my weight until I started dating the woman who is now my wife. She said I could lose 20 pounds and once I thought about it realized she was correct. My heaviest (since I have been keeping track, at the time I started keeping track) was 220lbs in 2010. I got down to 205 by just being aware of what I was eating. I definitely was not eating healthy, but just making decisions about when to eat and how much.
Getting below 200 was the toughie. It took a $50 bet with two other friends to eventually get 192 (and later to 185). I won the bet and stayed at 192 for two years. 190 became my new 200. When we realized we had a baby on the way, I planned to get to 175. That is my ultimate goal. Instead of going down though, I sympathy ate with my wife and began my current job (which requires lots of sitting - reading and grading) and have steadily crept back to 200. The worst was Fall 2014. I gained a pound a week for ten weeks while teaching.
Exercise never seemed to be a weightloss method for me. My success has been due to keeping a food journal. But all that can be discussed in different threads as time goes by.
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Post by dgunther on Mar 11, 2015 22:35:49 GMT -7
I come from a family of athletes, but I was kind of Black Sheep in my family since most of my formative years were spent in front of TV (see if you can guess why...) I started martial arts when I was 12 and was INSTANTLY hooked. I was never overweight, but I was definitely NOT in any kind of good shape. Because I enjoyed the workouts so much, though, within a year I was already seeing definition in my muscles, which was pretty cool.
I kept training during High School and then I started learning about nutrition and body building (food journals REALLY help, especially when you're getting started with nutrition). I Lifted religiously through High School and college, and started making better choices about what I was eating.
These days I don't really lift weights much since it makes staying consistent on Martial Arts Training much harder. I stay in pretty good shape now, but it's not a chore at all. I work out consistently, don't eat like crap (though I still have Pizza and burgers here and there), and that keeps me in really good shape (if I may say so).
Because of my job, I end up doing a lot of personal training and nutrition counseling. And what I tell everybody is that THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS CONSISTENCY. Small changes will bring BIG results. Don't try to uproot your life. You'll do it for two weeks, then quit. Start substituting foods for healthier options here and there, cheat once in a while, and make sure you're enjoying life. Exercise and nutrition are both important, but it should be FUN. My parents had me try pretty much every sport under the sun. It wasn't until I found Martial Arts that I was truly HAPPY exercising, and made it an enjoyable, healthy part of my lifestyle. You shouldn't have to give up one set of difficulties for another.
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Post by gammonstark on Mar 12, 2015 22:49:21 GMT -7
Where you watching Martial Arts on TV? (Trying to guess)
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Post by dgunther on Mar 13, 2015 0:05:55 GMT -7
Where you watching Martial Arts on TV? (Trying to guess) Nope! Playing Final Fantasy. LOTS of Final Fantasy... "Too much" according to my parents. Though I've realized that the grinding I learned back then applied to martial arts when I would practice and practice until I learned new skills and "leveled up." Usually with belt tests then eventually learned new jobs (jujitsu, karate, boxing, acrobatics, Krav Maga, etc) and grinded on those. Every battle (or kick, or thow, or rep on the weights,) you're getting stronger. Even if you can't notice it sometimes. Sorry I keep going on diatribes but being able to discuss fitness and JRPGs in the same discussion makes me giddy
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Post by oxbellows on Mar 13, 2015 12:08:31 GMT -7
Where you watching Martial Arts on TV? (Trying to guess) Nope! Playing Final Fantasy. LOTS of Final Fantasy... "Too much" according to my parents. Though I've realized that the grinding I learned back then applied to martial arts when I would practice and practice until I learned new skills and "leveled up." Usually with belt tests then eventually learned new jobs (jujitsu, karate, boxing, acrobatics, Krav Maga, etc) and grinded on those. Every battle (or kick, or thow, or rep on the weights,) you're getting stronger. Even if you can't notice it sometimes. Sorry I keep going on diatribes but being able to discuss fitness and JRPGs in the same discussion makes me giddy I'm definitely with you one this David, making the link between Final Fantasy and fitness was really beneficial for me. When I started lifting in high school it was because I wanted to look like Sabin! I can't quite suplex a train, and my body type is more of a Zack than a Sabin, but it certainly gave me the drive and it still does today. When I'm running or doing wind sprints I'll often listen to FF music and it gives that extra push. Like whenever "The Price of Freedom" comes on I think, "hey if Zack could fight a few hundred Shinra troops and not give up, than I can run one more measly mile." I'm also glad that I'm not the only one who calls going to the gym 'grinding'
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Post by gammonstark on Mar 13, 2015 15:11:25 GMT -7
Suplex a train...
awesome
Maybe that could be a segment on the other show: Inspiration from Final Fantasy. Or at least a question for the guys.
I think Final Fantasy taught me to be less of a douche. It's my connection to others that defines and creates the experiences in my life. Seeing the characters from VI in the World of Ruin lost and separated from their friends compared to what they feel and accomplish when they are reunited has definitely influenced how I view relationships.
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Post by oxbellows on Mar 13, 2015 18:52:36 GMT -7
Suplex a train... awesome Maybe that could be a segment on the other show: Inspiration from Final Fantasy. Or at least a question for the guys. I think Final Fantasy taught me to be less of a douche. It's my connection to others that defines and creates the experiences in my life. Seeing the characters from VI in the World of Ruin lost and separated from their friends compared to what they feel and accomplish when they are reunited has definitely influenced how I view relationships. Couldn't agree more! I think that my moral compass was largely inspired by FF, especially since I started playing them very young. But even today, something as simple as Zidane's quote, "You don't need a reason to help people", are words that I try to live by.
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Post by Shinryu on Mar 17, 2015 3:33:24 GMT -7
I always went against the geek stereotype lol I was pretty athletic in school and in goodshape I did Taekwondo and Fencing for a little bit but I forgot most of the stuff now but I do remember some of the basics that I can pull out and show people for fun.
What inspired me were watching R rated action films with actors like Jean Claude Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Bruce Willis and a bunch of others got me pumped to work out as a teen and it was great.
Anyway any free time I had and I would be playing videogames like crazy and I was really outgowing and not introverted so yeah that went against the geek stereotype
If FF inspired me to do anything it would be levelling up to get stronger so every day I would exercise knowing that it would make just a bit stronger than I was the day the before.
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Post by dgunther on Mar 17, 2015 9:58:42 GMT -7
I'm definitely with you one this David, making the link between Final Fantasy and fitness was really beneficial for me. When I started lifting in high school it was because I wanted to look like Sabin! I can't quite suplex a train, and my body type is more of a Zack than a Sabin, but it certainly gave me the drive and it still does today. When I'm running or doing wind sprints I'll often listen to FF music and it gives that extra push. Like whenever "The Price of Freedom" comes on I think, "hey if Zack could fight a few hundred Shinra troops and not give up, than I can run one more measly mile." I'm also glad that I'm not the only one who calls going to the gym 'grinding' Price of Freedom for the Win! I also don't know why, but "Will to Fight" and "Saber's Edge" from the XIII soundtrack gets me riled up every time I'm sparring or doing MMA I think there's something inspiring about the heroic journeys in a lot of these games. I think the music gives me an anchor of inspiration, just like you said. If they can do THAT, I can do this.
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Post by Shinryu on Mar 17, 2015 12:30:01 GMT -7
I really like Blinded by the Light from FF13 and Invisible Depths from FF13-2
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Post by banedrom on Mar 19, 2015 12:25:23 GMT -7
Alright, so I just finished the first 4 episodes of Getting PHAT. I grew up in the 80s/90s so I totally get the reference.
Here's my tale....
I was a skinny tall kid until I hit puberty. Then I exploded and turned into the big tall chubby kid. Think Baby Huey.... Super awkward and being into Comics and Anime in the early 90s was NOT all the rage like it is today, let me assure you. Then I went to college, where my dormitory served buffet for breakfast lunch and dinner. That was awesome for me, bad for my health. By age 22 I was 315. Granted I am 6'3" with a thick build. I carried it well and people were always shocked to hear how much I weighed.
I decided to get healthy. I can't remember why to be honest. There was a specific event I am sure, but I don't remember what it was anymore. I started dieting and exercise. I switched to diet soda and limited what I ate. This was early 2000s and smart phones didn't really exist yet. I quit playing Everquest and started jogging. Straight up big fat guy forcing himself to jog. After a year, I lost 100 pounds. I went from 315 to 215. I was 23 years old and literally in the best shape of my life.
That was during the two years in which I worked at a gym (for the free membership) 4 hours a day and was able to work out twice a day for a year. When reality came crashing in on me when I realized I needed to actually work to pay back the loans I took out for college, I got a real job. A sedentary job. I also moved in with my girlfriend at the time. This girlfriend supplied me with a constant daily supply of uhhh.. something that gave me the munchies while also zapping my motivation to work out. Four years later and I had gained all the weight back. This time thought I was now about 29 years old.
I started to realize just how crappy I felt. I couldn't sleep well and I felt depressed not about my appearance but about what I ate. So I downloaded myfitnesspal to my iPhone and started logging calories. I combined this with a general low carbohydrate diet. Not Atkins or no carb. I went for a realistic diet while managing my calories daily. I also began going to the gym again, focusing on stationary bikes (recumbent and regular). So I did cardio four days a week and core work (back and abs) two or three days a week. I still worked at the gym once a month to cheat the system and get free gym by the way. Another year goes by and I lost 80 pounds this time. I also stretch extensively after every workout.
So now, at 32 I am once again in the best shape of my life. I wear normal sized clothes (although still a challenge to find due to my height and general build). However, I have been doing squats and deadlifts for the past six months or so and that has put on weight in the thighs. It is really strange to have pants that are loose in the waist and super tight on the thigh/hamstring area. I am more flexible than I have ever been and I can full on put my hands flat on the ground with straight legs, which was a goal that I reached months ago and continue to push through it.
Ultimately, I have come to realize that I am a food addict. Or maybe it is an eating addict. Having lost the weight is much like quitting a drug. I still think about food constantly. It is a daily struggle to not give in and eat. I do allow myself one day per week as a cheat day in which I will crush a buffet or just eat a whole pizza or whatever. Do I feel good about it after? Nope. I feel like a pile of crap. However, the six days a week that I get up at 6AM to go to the gym and diet allow me to do that without a weight gain penalty.
All of that said, I have found the secret to be….. drumroll….. diet. Any weight I have lost comes down to diet. When I first started gaining the weight back, I was still lifting and exercising every day. For about a year I ate non-stop and exercised on average five days a week, but I gained weight like crazy. Working out does create a calorie deficit, but that is not offset by unchecked caloric intake. Both times that I lost all of the weight comes from a disciplined and balanced diet. I didn’t do a program or something that I read on the internet. I simply ate less crappy food and more healthy food.
Currently, I boil up about 4 pounds of chicken breast each week on Sunday. I pull that apart with my hands and end up with a nice big container of shredded protein that I can throw into a spinach salad, or use to make chicken tacos, or use for chicken salad. I also go through 2 dozen eggs a week, but I separate the yolks on a 4:1 white to whole egg ratio. I don’t really eat a lot of bread, but I do eat pasta. However, instead of eyeballing my portion, I measure it out with a little scale. Ironically, this is the same little scale that I used in much less healthy habits almost a decade ago…
Was this too long? Yeah probably. I dig the new podcast. Keep it up dudes.
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Post by gammonstark on Mar 19, 2015 15:19:13 GMT -7
Longer! I like the epic posts, especially when they have content. I like the idea boiling the chicken and using it for several dishes. When I did cook for the week, it was usually one dish I had to eat over and over again. Instead you offer a base ingredient that allows me to introduce variety.
Can you detail the boiling process? Are you boiling a whole chicken or boneless breasts or what? Thanks!
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Post by banedrom on Mar 19, 2015 16:59:40 GMT -7
I boil boneless but you could boil whole chickens if you wanted. Bone in imparts more flavor. However since I'm merely using it as a protein in dishes that will be well seasoned, I don't really mind less flavor in boneless. I don't buy frozen either. Fresh from the local butcher.
Anyhow, get a big stock pot. Add enough water to cover the chicken breasts by an inch or so. Cover and boil for about 45 minutes to an hour.
The shredding takes some time. You can use a food processor to do it fast but you'll get fine shreds. If that works for you then hooray. It can also be chopped up fast with a big sharp knife. It can also just be torn apart with hands. All produce different grade shreds.
Having easy access to essentially pure protein is key in my weight loss. I do toss in the occasional can of tuna but I don't dig the fishy flavor.
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Post by gammonstark on Mar 20, 2015 23:37:50 GMT -7
Thanks. I will try it soon. I will probably just pull it apart at first. I also don't dig tuna. I watch Good Eats a bunch, and I remember one episode where Brown talked about dropping a bunch of weight. He swore by fish for protein, but I am just not a fish guy. I'll eat sushi, but I can't do that every day appetite-wise or wallet-wise.
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Post by kefkapalozza on May 15, 2015 11:55:48 GMT -7
Okay after such a great experience with SSFF and UFFP i just uploaded the first 5 episodes of Getting PHAT figure has as good a chemistry as the other pod-casts i will love it. I guess we will see if it is worth a subscribe lol
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