The Fitness Thread

[Jack of Hearts]

Hi! Let's share fitness goals!

Right now this reader has a short term goal and a long term goal. The short time is lose bodyfat. This reader is 17 percent body fat right now and his target is approx 13 percent body fat. Hopefully this will occur between the next 1-2 months. Yay.

The long term goal is to add 10lbs lean body mass. This will be done based on a calculated caloric intake of 3,000kcals per day with much protein and fat and low glycemic index carbs like broccoli and lentils. Also compound lifts for resistance training. This reader isn't confident in his ability to gain mass though. Losing body fat has been ridiculously easy though.

What are your goals?








J

[BookBeauty]

I have recently taken on a vegan lifestyle with some vegetarian concessions. This can be an incredibly healthy lifestyle if you're in the know about nutrition.

Lately I have been more interested in doing cardiovascular activities, such as jump rope, but have begun doing high intensity interval training again because I have noticed some great results in the past with this.

I know I should continue with strength-training, but I'm starting to lose interest. I find that I need to change up my routines and type of fitness training, or I get bored, because it doesn't feel as challenging mentally. It's not so much that it's not 'fun', it's just that I can't stick to a routine that is structured. Strength training is incredibly structured.

I wilt within structures, and I have accepted that this is just the way I am. I need to continue to mold different systems, always throwing out something new and different, to keep the challenge there, and the novelty. I lost interest in jogging after a couple of weeks, so started jump rope, and may switch, for example.

This week has been a lazy week for me though! Hopefully I can get back on track.

My ultimate goal is to be as fit and healthy as possible. I'm at a healthy weight, but I know I can be healthier. I have a particular problem with food. Even though I eat 97 % healthy, I have a tendency to overeat healthy food. This isn't as difficult as it sounds.

[MANICHAEAN]

My goals at my age is to make it through the night Jack!

[Neo_Sephiroth]

My goal is to wake up and motivate myself to workout at least an hour in the morning. If not morning than in the eve'n. It will be mostly cardio for now and then I'll get into the sculpting.

[Sancho]

Jack, you’re an animal… an ANIMAL.

I’m shooting for a sub-six hour century in the North Georgia Mountains this September – 6 Gap Century in Dahlonega. (it’s a bike ride)

Probably try for a sub-four hour marathon after that. Maybe California International in December (it’s downhill), maybe Austin in February (good music), maybe Avenue of the Giants in May (big trees). I’ll see how the bones are holding up.

I may try to get my sorry butt to the top of Mount Rainier this summer. Donno. I’ll see.

[Jack of Hearts]

I have recently taken on a vegan lifestyle with some vegetarian concessions. This can be an incredibly healthy lifestyle if you're in the know about nutrition.

Lately I have been more interested in doing cardiovascular activities, such as jump rope, but have begun doing high intensity interval training again because I have noticed some great results in the past with this.

I know I should continue with strength-training, but I'm starting to lose interest. I find that I need to change up my routines and type of fitness training, or I get bored, because it doesn't feel as challenging mentally. It's not so much that it's not 'fun', it's just that I can't stick to a routine that is structured. Strength training is incredibly structured.

I wilt within structures, and I have accepted that this is just the way I am. I need to continue to mold different systems, always throwing out something new and different, to keep the challenge there, and the novelty. I lost interest in jogging after a couple of weeks, so started jump rope, and may switch, for example.

This week has been a lazy week for me though! Hopefully I can get back on track.

My ultimate goal is to be as fit and healthy as possible. I'm at a healthy weight, but I know I can be healthier. I have a particular problem with food. Even though I eat 97 % healthy, I have a tendency to overeat healthy food. This isn't as difficult as it sounds.

That’s a great goal. It sounds like you’re doing really great. This reader vehemently dislkikes veganism though (as a perosnal choice). He would never give up meat. Or cheese. Or eggs.


My goals at my age is to make it through the night Jack!

That’s a great goal, you golden oldie, and slightly similiar to one of this readers’: make it through the night with as many beautiful women as possible.


My goal is to wake up and motivate myself to workout at least an hour in the morning. If not morning than in the eve'n. It will be mostly cardio for now and then I'll get into the sculpting.

Is this the same for you? when you workout in the morning do you feel great for the rest of the day as well?


Jack, you’re an animal… an ANIMAL.

I’m shooting for a sub-six hour century in the North Georgia Mountains this September – 6 Gap Century in Dahlonega. (it’s a bike ride)

Probably try for a sub-four hour marathon after that. Maybe California International in December (it’s downhill), maybe Austin in February (good music), maybe Avenue of the Giants in May (big trees). I’ll see how the bones are holding up.

I may try to get my sorry butt to the top of Mount Rainier this summer. Donno. I’ll see.

You are one active hombre. That’s awesome and enviable. You seem like you got a kickass lifestyle there, the Sanch, with yer Lousiana blues and your jetsettin’ and all that we’ve seen you mention.

Thanks for the encouragement. Long ways from animal yet (6’4”, 178lbs currently).






J

[Neo_Sephiroth]

6'4?! Good grief! That's huge! Anyway, yep I do always feel great afterward. :) That is, if I don't overdo it.

[JuniperWoolf]

My goal is to get my BE hunter up to lvl 85. It'll be a challenge, a lot of hard work and diligence, but I think I'm up to it.

[Buckthorn]

I do a lot of swimming, in a morning before work I do 2.5 K, my goal is to get my time back below 55 minutes. I used to be able to do it in just under 55, but it has gone up to around 58 at the moment.

I planning on no alcohol, lots of coffee & water, warming up before starting (I found on Friday after walking to my sisters house to let her cat out before going that I swam more quickly) and a bit of extra protein.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Sancho is the animal, on any given Sunday you might find him running with Bison in Oklahoma, making his way up Mt. Rainier followed with a margharita on 6th Street in Austin.

Running has been my primary mode of exercise. Lately, my rotuine has been Saturday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. Depending on temperature and how much ale was consumed the previous night, I aim for 4 miles each run. Sometimes I will opt for a brisk hike in lieu of a run, particularly in fall and winter.
I couldn't tell you what my bodyfat percent is or even my weight at this point, I'm just trying to keep the spare tire from pushing me into the next size up in my britches.

[Calidore]

20-some years ago, in my very early twenties, I joined a health club to try to gain weight (6'3" and 155). A year of weights and protein drinks later, I'd gained a whopping five pounds, and as my discouragement grew, my working out became more sporadic and then ended altogether.

Time passed, and I turned 30, then 40, and now I'm about 230 pounds and need to get back to the gym. But, being middle-aged and without insurance, I need to make sure I do it safely and gradually. The hard part, as with most people I'm sure, is motivating myself to actually do it.

[Sancho]

6’3”, 6’4”! What’re they feeding you guys? I’m a little guy by comparison, and yet I’m a giant within the Sancho clan. You see, I come from short people. When I was growing up, they thought I was freak of nature. The whole family started getting excited thinking I was going to be the first of us to top six foot, but then I came up an inch short (story of my life): 5’11” 165lbs, and not of particularly athletic build. Here’s my simple-minded fitness theory:

Keep moving. And when in doubt, pretend like you know what you’re doing.

It works okay for me. If I have to stay in one place for too long, I get cranky, like a baby.

[Silas Thorne]

I've got to the ideal weight for my size. I'm 5'11", now 79kg, but at one point I got up to 86 kg, and was really unfit. I lost the weight in the last few months through daily Shaolin forms training (well, daily when I could), prefaced by a little run. I find the shaolin forms a really good workout.
The next plan is to build up my flexibility so I can drop down quickly into low stances, and to work on my speed and balance doing the forms I am learning. I figure in a few months I'll have some time to do some Sanshou (kung fu sparring) which will increase my reflexes and timing against a real opponent, although of course there are a number of techniques that I am learning which I can't really apply in sparring, due to my own limited time training in them, and due to the fact that some of the techniques are not designed for sparring with gloves.

[JuniperWoolf]

I don't consciously work out, but I stay healthy by just doing what I do. In the winter, it's walking to school through three feet of snow or building snowmen or walking up sled hills. In summer, I wander around through the woods fairly often (it's really hilly obviously, being mountains and all), and I like to play tennis. And stuff.

It's been raining all week, so yesterday on my way home from work I noticed that there were a lot of earthworms drowning in puddles or crawling out on the road and getting run over. "Poor worms," thought I, so I spent a couple hours playing worm rescue. I put 109 of them in my lunch tupperware, then I brought them to my mom's garden because it's covered and the soil isn't mud (worms don't like mud). Now my legs are really sore, so I can tell I "exercised."

You know, stuff like that.

[PoeticPassions]

My goal is to trim some fat as well... I am pretty fit right now, but I would like to lose about 8-10 lbs more (or about 4kg). Also, I am striving to get to the gym about 5 times a week. Last week I made it 4 times, and the week before 5... so around that range is good. But I am generally also active on the weekends. I like to go hiking, ride my bicycle, roller blade, etc. And now that the weather is finally nice, I can actually do this more... and will not then need to go to an indoor gym as often.

I commend your goals, Jack! Good luck. Living healthy has to be a lifestyle choice, and that's what I am striving for more, rather than some kind of diet plan and workout regime that I can stick to for a month or two and then generally abandon...

[PoeticPassions]

Jack, you’re an animal… an ANIMAL.

I’m shooting for a sub-six hour century in the North Georgia Mountains this September – 6 Gap Century in Dahlonega. (it’s a bike ride)

Probably try for a sub-four hour marathon after that. Maybe California International in December (it’s downhill), maybe Austin in February (good music), maybe Avenue of the Giants in May (big trees). I’ll see how the bones are holding up.

I may try to get my sorry butt to the top of Mount Rainier this summer. Donno. I’ll see.

Good luck. Sounds pretty hard core. And Mr. Rainier is amazing. I'd encourage you. It might be worth it just for the scenery. I miss living in the Northwest...

[YesNo]

I'm 6'0" and 191 lbs. I got the weight from a bathroom scale that I haven't used in a year or more. From what I can see from the data provided by some, I might be a tad overweight, but I don't feel overweight. My diet is mainly vegetarian. I drink coffee daily.

I walk every day for an hour or two mainly because I enjoy the activity. There is no physical goal involved to reduce weight or some other measurement. I don't know how to easily measure anything else that is likely to change besides weight. However, I try to see how long I can pay attention to the environment without my mind drifting. That's more of a mental training. The mind drifting is not really a problem. I just want to have more control of this process and enjoy what I am experiencing while on the walks.

[Sancho]

Good luck. Sounds pretty hard core. And Mr. Rainier is amazing. I'd encourage you. It might be worth it just for the scenery. I miss living in the Northwest...

So do I. Peak bagging Rainier is just an abstract thought right now, and it violates Ed Abbey’s 1st rule of the wilderness: If you can’t walk there, you probably shouldn’t be there. (Rainier requires ropes and ice axes and stuff) If I could put enough days together, I’d probably have more fun backpacking Wonderland Trail – it circles Mount Rainier and runs for 93 miles or thereabouts.

[Jack of Hearts]

Anyway, yep I do always feel great afterward. That is, if I don't overdo it.

Yeah, nothing like moving some weight, taking a shower and feeling refreshed all day. Ahhh...


My goal is to get my BE hunter up to lvl 85. It'll be a challenge, a lot of hard work and diligence, but I think I'm up to it.

Nerd alert.


I do a lot of swimming, in a morning before work I do 2.5 K, my goal is to get my time back below 55 minutes. I used to be able to do it in just under 55, but it has gone up to around 58 at the moment.

I planning on no alcohol, lots of coffee & water, warming up before starting (I found on Friday after walking to my sisters house to let her cat out before going that I swam more quickly) and a bit of extra protein.

If you're saying you can continuously swim for an hour straight, this reader is impressed. Swimming is hard. But this reader always feels amazing after 30 - 60 mins of messing around in a pool (not continuous exercise, obviously, but a little bit).



Running has been my primary mode of exercise. Lately, my rotuine has been Saturday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. Depending on temperature and how much ale was consumed the previous night, I aim for 4 miles each run. Sometimes I will opt for a brisk hike in lieu of a run, particularly in fall and winter.
I couldn't tell you what my bodyfat percent is or even my weight at this point, I'm just trying to keep the spare tire from pushing me into the next size up in my britches.

Yay for hiking/wandering aimlessly through fall (this reader's favorite season). Good for you for running. This reader prefers bike riding, but it's all equally uncomfortable one supposes. Good luck managing the spare tire, that's a worthy enough goal.



20-some years ago, in my very early twenties, I joined a health club to try to gain weight (6'3" and 155). A year of weights and protein drinks later, I'd gained a whopping five pounds, and as my discouragement grew, my working out became more sporadic and then ended altogether.

Time passed, and I turned 30, then 40, and now I'm about 230 pounds and need to get back to the gym. But, being middle-aged and without insurance, I need to make sure I do it safely and gradually. The hard part, as with most people I'm sure, is motivating myself to actually do it.

When this reader was in high school, he weight lifted for 3-6 days a week. Never gained any mass. It was so disheartening- so much effort was put in, this stuff wasn't done halfassed. In hindsight, it really seems like a nutritional problem, maybe even overtraining (through probably not enough food, though this reader ate like a horse!). Point is, it's easy to relate to your story.

This reader would encourage you to look at your diet first and foremost, and do the gym when you're ready. But he's no professional, so grain of salt. It just feels good to weigh less (in this reader's opinion). You never know how bad you feel as a baseline until you get a little weight off.


6’3”, 6’4”! What’re they feeding you guys? I’m a little guy by comparison, and yet I’m a giant within the Sancho clan. You see, I come from short people. When I was growing up, they thought I was freak of nature. The whole family started getting excited thinking I was going to be the first of us to top six foot, but then I came up an inch short (story of my life): 5’11” 165lbs, and not of particularly athletic build. Here’s my simple-minded fitness theory:

Keep moving. And when in doubt, pretend like you know what you’re doing.

It works okay for me. If I have to stay in one place for too long, I get cranky, like a baby.

That seems like great advice Sancho. You seem like a really good height/weight, but people differ so much, there doesn't seem to be a standard. Read in some thread that you can't eat red meat. (Look at that sentence, it's like a poem!). That is such a bummer. Red meat is delicious.


I've got to the ideal weight for my size. I'm 5'11", now 79kg, but at one point I got up to 86 kg, and was really unfit. I lost the weight in the last few months through daily Shaolin forms training (well, daily when I could), prefaced by a little run. I find the shaolin forms a really good workout.
The next plan is to build up my flexibility so I can drop down quickly into low stances, and to work on my speed and balance doing the forms I am learning. I figure in a few months I'll have some time to do some Sanshou (kung fu sparring) which will increase my reflexes and timing against a real opponent, although of course there are a number of techniques that I am learning which I can't really apply in sparring, due to my own limited time training in them, and due to the fact that some of the techniques are not designed for sparring with gloves.

Good for you for being active and choosing a sport that considers both body and mind. How exactly does one increase flexibility, anyways? Just gradual stretching maybe?


I don't consciously work out, but I stay healthy by just doing what I do. In the winter, it's walking to school through three feet of snow or building snowmen or walking up sled hills. In summer, I wander around through the woods fairly often (it's really hilly obviously, being mountains and all), and I like to play tennis. And stuff.

It's been raining all week, so yesterday on my way home from work I noticed that there were a lot of earthworms drowning in puddles or crawling out on the road and getting run over. "Poor worms," thought I, so I spent a couple hours playing worm rescue. I put 109 of them in my lunch tupperware, then I brought them to my mom's garden because it's covered and the soil isn't mud (worms don't like mud). Now my legs are really sore, so I can tell I "exercised."

You know, stuff like that.

Yeah, that's good stuff. That's what Sanch said. Just do your thing and keep moving. That's exercise and fun all at once. This reader will factor this more into his own daily life, he hopes (through he's prone to reading and writing. Writing he can do while walking/moving, maybe even hiking, but reading not so much).


My goal is to trim some fat as well... I am pretty fit right now, but I would like to lose about 8-10 lbs more (or about 4kg). Also, I am striving to get to the gym about 5 times a week. Last week I made it 4 times, and the week before 5... so around that range is good. But I am generally also active on the weekends. I like to go hiking, ride my bicycle, roller blade, etc. And now that the weather is finally nice, I can actually do this more... and will not then need to go to an indoor gym as often.

I commend your goals, Jack! Good luck. Living healthy has to be a lifestyle choice, and that's what I am striving for more, rather than some kind of diet plan and workout regime that I can stick to for a month or two and then generally abandon...

PP, you seem to get it. We've got to change our minds, change our lifestyles. This reader would say though, for him, the exercise was done mostly for happiness/feeling good- the main thing he's done to keep losing weight is change diet. Is it the same for you?


I'm 6'0" and 191 lbs. I got the weight from a bathroom scale that I haven't used in a year or more. From what I can see from the data provided by some, I might be a tad overweight, but I don't feel overweight. My diet is mainly vegetarian. I drink coffee daily.

I walk every day for an hour or two mainly because I enjoy the activity. There is no physical goal involved to reduce weight or some other measurement. I don't know how to easily measure anything else that is likely to change besides weight. However, I try to see how long I can pay attention to the environment without my mind drifting. That's more of a mental training. The mind drifting is not really a problem. I just want to have more control of this process and enjoy what I am experiencing while on the walks.

You seem like you're doing great YesNo. Again, it's hard to say whether someone is overweight or not just based on reading a scale. In this reader's opinion, only body composition percentages can tell you that (not 'weight' or BMI). Your walks sound excellent. This reader enjoys a good walk, especially at evening or at night. And your mental presence exercises seem important as well- this reader does them too, sometimes. It's very zen, baby.








J

[The Comedian]

Me? I run four miles, four times a week: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. And then I do some minor lifting: arm curls, two types of sit ups (with a Swiss ball) and two types of push ups, three days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday. This lifting I do when I'm watchin' The Food Network or reading. This is going to sound totally too much, but I often mute the TV and read during the ads, then unmute the TV and do my exercises during the programming.

And when school is in session, in addition to my runs, which I always do. Always, I do 100 push ups every morning.

That morning push up routine is funny. I do it when I get ready for work: brush teeth, 25 push ups. Wash face; 25 push ups; get dressed, 25 push ups; bathroom, 25 push ups.

In the summer I can the daily push ups, however, because I work/play outside a lot: I go canoeing, biking, DIY projects, swimming in the lake. . . .

Did I mention that I smoke cheap cigars? That's got to count for something too, right?

[qimissung]

Yikes, you all are fit. I'm impressed.

I used to walk about three times a week, but somewhere in the last year or two I quit. So this summer I'm trying to start walking again. Maybe I'll try running a bit. I used to get shin splints, so I'm afraid of it, but I'm a little older now and the weight doesn't fall off like it used to. I also might try swimming, I just have to get up the nerve to put on a suit. I'm 5'3" and I weigh about 116. I used to weigh 110, that's my optimal weight, so I'd really, really like to lose a few pounds. I have quit eating a Hershey's chocolate almond bar every day, but I haven't noticed any difference. Since I'm at home now I'm trying to eat about two meals a day. My caloric intake usually hovers at about 1200-1400, even when eating three meals, and even if the food I ate wasn't that great. When I do one of those BMI things it says I can eat up to 2000, which I can't even imagine.

So I'm gonna try to add some more fruits and vegetables. Good luck, everybody! Let the games begin (for some of us anyway :D)!

[PoeticPassions]

PP, you seem to get it. We've got to change our minds, change our lifestyles. This reader would say though, for him, the exercise was done mostly for happiness/feeling good- the main thing he's done to keep losing weight is change diet. Is it the same for you?


J

Exercise won't do much in the weight department unless you change your eating habits (unless of course you are exercising hard core for three hours a day). Though I have noticed that if I do exercise regularly, I won't gain weight and can even lose a bit without really changing what I eat. But for big results, nutrition is key.

But I also exercise for the way it makes me feel... generally more energized, happier and less stressed.




And when school is in session, in addition to my runs, which I always do. Always, I do 100 push ups every morning.

That morning push up routine is funny. I do it when I get ready for work: brush teeth, 25 push ups. Wash face; 25 push ups; get dressed, 25 push ups; bathroom, 25 push ups.



You must have some great pecs :D

And running is one of the best ways to exercise. My problem is that lately I cannot run consistently, as I get really bad pain in my tendons around my ankles... so bad I have to usually stop running. Or take a break from running for a couple weeks and then I can go at it for a week straight before the pain returns :(

[TheFifthElement]

Lately I have been more interested in doing cardiovascular activities, such as jump rope, but have begun doing high intensity interval training again because I have noticed some great results in the past with this.
Hi BookBeauty - what sort of HIIT do you do? I am looking to start a routine (as I need to lose weight and have heard this routine is good) but can't do it via running/walking as I have flat feet amongst other foot problems and running is pretty bad for me.

Do you have any programmes you could share?

[TurquoiseSunset]

I'm not over weight but I would like to lose at least 5 to 7 kilos. I'm 1.7m tall and currently weigh 68kg. So I have a couple of wobbly bits I want to get rid of. My goal is not to be a bikini model, I just want to be toned and healthy.

My problem: a habit of snacking and a lack of motivation to do exercise.

How I'm going to fix it:
- Eat less sweets, cakes, puddings. Lately I find myself eating them more out of habit than anything else.
- Doing at least 15 minutes worth of exercise a day. I'm going to aim for more anyway, but I think doing something is better than nothing, so on the days I don't have time or really don't feel like it I will at least have done something.

[Sancho]

I absolutely HATE going to the gym. I’d rather just go outside, rain or shine. And for some strange reason, my GPS doesn’t seem to work on the treadmill.

That said, though, Shaun T’s Insanity workout series is intense interval training and a lot of fun, and he doesn’t give you enough time to preen in front of all those mirrors at the health club.

[Buckthorn]

If you're saying you can continuously swim for an hour straight, this reader is impressed. Swimming is hard. But this reader always feels amazing after 30 - 60 mins of messing around in a pool (not continuous exercise, obviously, but a little bit).


Yeah I continuously swim for an hour, I used to do 2 miles (about 130 lengths) but that was when I only started work at 10, now I have to start at 9 and have had to cut it down to 100 lengths

[Jack of Hearts]

Yeah I continuously swim for an hour, I used to do 2 miles (about 130 lengths) but that was when I only started work at 10, now I have to start at 9 and have had to cut it down to 100 lengths

Great, man. You must be doing pretty good healthwise.






J

[JuniperWoolf]

I absolutely HATE going to the gym. I’d rather just go outside, rain or shine.

Yeah, me too. "The Gym" is a weird environment. I actually don't think I could conciously keep up with doing something just for the purpose of "exercise," that doesn't sound fun at all.

[qimissung]

I agree about the gym. Having said that I might, might join one this winter. I really need to um, strengthen my core; I don't think just walking will do that. My son has some knowledge of how to do this so he can help me. Otherwise, gym=boredom to me.

Anywho, I did walke three days this week, for about a mile each time. Yippee for me!

[YesNo]

Years ago, my wife and I would drive a few miles to a YMCA to use their pool and sauna. It was nice, I guess, but then we figured walking or bicycle riding was more enjoyable and didn't use any gas nor require a membership fee and it was outside activity. Since the Chicago Botanical Garden and Forest Preserve is a short bike ride away, that's one of the things we do now. It isn't so much for physical fitness as the enjoyment of doing it.

[Jack of Hearts]

Setback! Pigged out on Chinese food with family. Lot of sugary, starchy things. Good company and conversation. Maybe should have shown a little more moderation, but it was fun. Back on the wagon with healthy food this morning. 13 percent body fat in 5 weeks? Here's hoping that this reader meets his goal.






J

[qimissung]

Hey, me too. I was doing fine until I went to Whole Foods yesterday and among other things got a bag of vegan chocolate chip cookies, which I've eaten about half of at this point. I think they are upsetting my stomach. Can that be possible?

[Calidore]

Hey, me too. I was doing fine until I went to Whole Foods yesterday and among other things got a bag of vegan chocolate chip cookies, which I've eaten about half of at this point. I think they are upsetting my stomach. Can that be possible?

What's in chocolate chip cookies that would need to be removed to make them vegan? Besides flavor and texture, I mean. :devil:

[qimissung]

lol. Bad calidore. I have no idea. I was at a Whole Foods, and the sign said "Vegan cookies." They are really, really good. A little too good, if you know what I mean. :D

[JuniperWoolf]

Milk, I guess. I think you put milk in cookies, and in chocolate chips. I wonder what vegans use instead...

[Buckthorn]

Milk, I guess. I think you put milk in cookies, and in chocolate chips. I wonder what vegans use instead...

Soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, hazelnut milk, coconut milk. Also cookies can be made without any type of milk.

For chocolate chips - dark chocolate chips, "milk" chocolate chips made with the above milks, vegan white chocolate made with the same :biggrin5:

[Calidore]

Coconut milk sounds great for cookies. Then you can dunk them in what's left over when you eat them.

Here's another question: Why is vegan pronounced veeg-an instead of vej-an. You don't eat veegtables.

[Buckthorn]

Here's another question: Why is vegan pronounced veeg-an instead of vej-an. You don't eat veegtables.

I actually saw something about this on TV a while ago, apparently Vegetarians are not called vegetarians because they eat vegetables, its derived from the word vegetus meaning lively or vigorous.

With regards to how to say vegan, I think its the way Donald Watson invented it. He wanted it to be said Veegan (spelt as V*gan by some) so it is, its one of those weird things like the Live-er Building in Liverpool. Really it should be the Liver Building as in the body part.

Coconut milk is great, not a fan of the plain stuff, but the chocolate one is brilliant.....
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l560/firestorm2011/Kara_DairyFreeMilk_1Lsquare_chocolate.jpg

[Calidore]

I actually saw something about this on TV a while ago, apparently Vegetarians are not called vegetarians because they eat vegetables, its derived from the word vegetus meaning lively or vigorous.

You know, it never occurred to me to check the dictionary. According to Merriam-Webster:

Origin of VEGETABLE -- Middle English, from Medieval Latin vegetabilis vegetative, from vegetare to grow, from Latin, to animate, from vegetus lively, from vegēre to enliven — more at wake
First Known Use: 15th century

Origin of VEGETARIAN
vegetable + -arian
First Known Use: 1839

Origin of VEGAN
by contraction from vegetarian
First Known Use: 1944


Coconut milk is great, not a fan of the plain stuff, but the chocolate one is brilliant.....

Wow. See, vegan can be just as unhealthy as everything else. That does look very tasty, though. Anyone know if it's available in the States?

[PoeticPassions]

I miss Whole Foods. But that place really could make you go bankrupt. So many overly-expensive choices. I generally preferred Trader Joe's because of that, and also because they have much better business practices. Whole Foods uses a lot of false advertising. Still, I miss it... and particularly their salad and food bar. Or the cheese. Yes, mmm, the cheese.

[JuniperWoolf]

:( I don't get a choice, there's only one grocery store within 400 square kms. They NEVER have good tomatoes.

[Buckthorn]

Wow. See, vegan can be just as unhealthy as everything else. That does look very tasty, though. Anyone know if it's available in the States?

Yup, vegans certainly can be unhealthy. A quick google of "Vegan junk food" always reaffirms that. I don't think that brand of coconut milk is available in the States but this one is: http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-beverages/chocolate

Back to fitness - I managed to get my swim time down to 56:54. Its only 6 seconds off my best time this year but it all counts!

[qimissung]

I agree that Whole Foods is expensive. There are actually only a handful in the area I live in, so it's always a trip. I shop there only rarely as a result.

I did see an article where a woman compared shopping there with "regular" grocery store and was pleasantly surprised to see that Whole Foods was not as exorbiant as she feared.

I'm interested in Trader Joe's. I've heard of it and may be able to shop there soon as they are just now opening a few stores in the city I live in.

Congrats, Buckthorne. I took the day off. Boy, I really needed to rest. It's just that I've been busy. My workout is hardly arduous.

[Sancho]

Qimi, I think we’re leading some sort of weird, parallel life. The same day you went with the vegan chocolate chippers from Whole Foods, so did I – almost. I was standing in front of the bakery case at the Whole Foods, in a trance, maybe a stupor, and for a long time, so long in fact that the security guy came over and asked if he could help me. That snapped me out of it and I said, “I reckon not.” And then I dejectedly walked over to the salad bar…but then I grabbed a big ole handful of bon-bons at the check-out stand. Woo-hoo! I ate ‘em all before I even got out of the parking lot.

By the way, I always thought they pronounced it Vee-gan instead of Vay-gan so it wouldn’t rhyme with bacon.

[qimissung]

Qimi, I think we’re leading some sort of weird, parallel life. The same day you went with the vegan chocolate chippers from Whole Foods, so did I – almost. I was standing in front of the bakery case at the Whole Foods, in a trance, maybe a stupor, and for a long time, so long in fact that the security guy came over and asked if he could help me. That snapped me out of it and I said, “I reckon not.” And then I dejectedly walked over to the salad bar…but then I grabbed a big ole handful of bon-bons at the check-out stand. Woo-hoo! I ate ‘em all before I even got out of the parking lot.

By the way, I always thought they pronounced it Vee-gan instead of Vay-gan so it wouldn’t rhyme with bacon.

:banghead::lol: Thank you for a good laugh, Sancho, something that's as good for ya as a salad and sweeter than the sweetest bon-bon or cookie.

Umph, I'm STILL laughing. I wasted not a bit of time over my decision. I was walking by, there they were, and right into my cart they went. I ate three on the way home (one does work up an appetite while shopping, doesn't one?).

[Jack of Hearts]

Busy here, but everything is going great. Eating is back on track. Working on natural tan (anyone know anything about tanning?). Emotional health seems ok-- two glaring failures in terms of intimacy in the last week or so (refer to 'Intimacy' thread in Serious Discussion sections). Threw out old clothes, bought clothes that showed off leanness. Mostly preparing for/apprehensive about trying to gain healthy body mass now. End report.





J




PS Does anybody else just feel fantastic after 30mins of swimming? What is with that?

[PoeticPassions]

Busy here, but everything is going great. Eating is back on track. Working on natural tan (anyone know anything about tanning?). Emotional health seems ok-- two glaring failures in terms of intimacy in the last week or so (refer to 'Intimacy' thread in Serious Discussion sections). Threw out old clothes, bought clothes that showed off leanness. Mostly preparing for/apprehensive about trying to gain healthy body mass now. End report.





J




PS Does anybody else just feel fantastic after 30mins of swimming? What is with that?


I'm a tanning expert haha. Well no, but I used to tan a lot, and I have reduced it now due to the health hazards... still, in the summer I do tan quite a bit. Just ALWAYS wear sunblock (UVA and UVB protection) and really you do not need SPF beyond 30 (small difference between 30 and 50, or even 80... only 1% or so better coverage with the really high SPFs).

I always rotate along with the sun (as the sun moves or er, the earth is the one moving... so does my towel) and that seems to give me the most even tan... :)
Not sure what else you wanted to know about tanning.


I stopped with my nutritional plan (diet) because I was ultra sick last week, and had food poisoning before that, and it was generally really making me weak and taking up too much time and mental and physical energy. But am resolved to eat healthier.. salads for lunch and all that. Back to the gym as well now...

[Jack of Hearts]

Tanned, sunburnt, 170lbs and 15 percent body fat. Little further to go.





J

[Sancho]

Well done, Jack!

So, I took my nephew (aged 13) mountain biking yesterday. And then I took him over the emergency room to get his leg sewed up. On a rapid decent, his front wheel got wedged in a rut and he went Superman over the handlebars. The nurse told him that chicks dig scars. I added that while chain-ring tattoos are cool, chain-ring scars are badass. I think he bought it.

At any rate, when the nurse left the room, he said, “Tio Sancho, that nurse has some big ole knockers, doesn’t she.”

I said, “Yes she does, Chico. Yes she does.”

[Jack of Hearts]

Well done, Jack!

So, I took my nephew (aged 13) mountain biking yesterday. And then I took him over the emergency room to get his leg sewed up. On a rapid decent, his front wheel got wedged in a rut and he went Superman over the handlebars. The nurse told him that chicks dig scars. I added that while chain-ring tattoos are cool, chain-ring scars are badass. I think he bought it.

At any rate, when the nurse left the room, he said, “Tio Sancho, that nurse has some big ole knockers, doesn’t she.”

I said, “Yes she does, Chico. Yes she does.”

Haha brilliant! The first step is acceptance. Yes, dear lad, there are big ole knockers in the world. Now go forth and make bad decisions!

This new generation may just have a chance.




J

[DocHeart]

Well done, Jack!

So, I took my nephew (aged 13) mountain biking yesterday. And then I took him over the emergency room to get his leg sewed up. On a rapid decent, his front wheel got wedged in a rut and he went Superman over the handlebars. The nurse told him that chicks dig scars. I added that while chain-ring tattoos are cool, chain-ring scars are badass. I think he bought it.

At any rate, when the nurse left the room, he said, “Tio Sancho, that nurse has some big ole knockers, doesn’t she.”

I said, “Yes she does, Chico. Yes she does.”


I love it :D

I remember having an accident of this sort when I was a kid. The challenge was to race down the road that leads to the beach in under 10 seconds. My brakes failed, and I ended up tumbling across the sand and into the sea. The knockers of the nurse who took care of my gashed eyebrow were really nothing to write home about.

I've been going to the gym again in the last couple of weeks. I say "again" which might give you the impression I only briefly neglected my fitness, but in fact it had been 4 long years. I wouldn't have bothered, either, but I read somewhere on the internet that regular aerobic exercise can alleviate the symptoms of my most annoying ear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9ni%C3%A8re%27s_disease) more than cortisone and beta-histine.

I go there after work, which means I don't get home till 8 pm. I don't have much energy afterwards, and my evenings now consist of watching the news drinking juice, very little smoking (if any), and little or no poetry writing.

As for my ear, the tinnitus does go away after my gym sessions; but it's usually back as soon as I wake up the next morning.

Jack, keep going, man. The fitter you are now, the more capable you will be of partying after you're 40 :)

Best,
DH

[Sancho]

They truly were world-class. I feel a smile creeping up on me just thinking about ‘em. No worries about the younger generation, Jack - El Chico is going to be a Tom Cat.

Yeah, Doc - go man go. I’m glad you can hit it after work. I’ve always been a morning-exercise man. A good endorphin rush can carry me through the whole day.

I also enjoy a more-or-less permanent tinnitus – not the result of Ménière's disease, but rather the result of a misspent youth, hanging out in road houses, listening to loud music, tuning up turbo charged engines, all the while considering hearing protectors to be gear for sissies. My solution now: just crank up the volume some more.

[Darcy88]

I do martial arts for fitness. I also bike and walk but I consider those activities to be transportation, not exercise. Right now I am very absorbed in the art of Thai Boxing. I had a lesson at a local gym a month ago and since then I've been doing thai boxing for at least an hour a day. Its a very efficient martial art. Not to knock other martial arts, but if you youtube thai boxing you will see thai boxers utterly annihilate practitioners of other martial arts. Its not as fun as karate or tae-kwando, that I will admit....but as far as self-defense, sheer power goes....its a tough martial art to beat.

[crusoe]

I'm lifting weights and stay lean

[Sancho]

...Right now I am very absorbed in the art of Thai Boxing. I had a lesson at a local gym a month ago and since then I've been doing thai boxing for at least an hour a day. Its a very efficient martial art. Not to knock other martial arts, but if you youtube thai boxing you will see thai boxers utterly annihilate practitioners of other martial arts. Its not as fun as karate or tae-kwando, that I will admit....but as far as self-defense, sheer power goes....its a tough martial art to beat.

I dabbled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but it made my face hurt.

[Scheherazade]

I dabbled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but it made my face hurt.Their waxing style is quite painful too, I hear.

[Jack of Hearts]

Well, we all learned something there.







J

[RicMisc]

I have a somewhat hard goal to achieve (hard for me). I have 7 percent body fat right now and my goal is to get a little more bulky by going to the gym and working out a lot. The problem lies in the fact that first of all that due to me not having to lose any weight I don't have any discipline and second of all that I have no idea what I am supposed to eat to gain muscles quickly.

So the goal's there but it's not coming along really well atm.

[Sancho]

Their waxing style is quite painful too, I hear.

I wouldn’t know. But I have been on a website where they all had…Mmm…Oh never mind.


I have a somewhat hard goal to achieve (hard for me). I have 7 percent body fat right now and my goal is to get a little more bulky by going to the gym and working out a lot. The problem lies in the fact that first of all that due to me not having to lose any weight I don't have any discipline and second of all that I have no idea what I am supposed to eat to gain muscles quickly.

So the goal's there but it's not coming along really well atm.

RicMisc, I’m guessing you’re a young guy. If so, what you’ve probably got going on there is a metabolism that eats, on average, about twice as much as what you eat. Here’s the rub: as you age, your metabolism slows down, but your appetite does not. So, if it were me, I’d avoid any rapid weight-gain program, and just let your body find its own center of gravity.

As for resistance training – probably not a bad idea, but ease into it, and try for a resistance program that works the muscles on both sides, e.g. bi’s then tri’s, abs then back. I had a friend in college who thought it’d be cool to have big biceps, so he did a bunch of curls, and he did wind up with big biceps, but his triceps were disproportionally small by comparison, so much so that he couldn’t straighten out arms. He’d walk around campus with arms bent at the elbow at around 30 degrees all the time. It was a crack up.

[RicMisc]

RicMisc, I’m guessing you’re a young guy. If so, what you’ve probably got going on there is a metabolism that eats, on average, about twice as much as what you eat. Here’s the rub: as you age, your metabolism slows down, but your appetite does not. So, if it were me, I’d avoid any rapid weight-gain program, and just let your body find its own center of gravity.

As for resistance training – probably not a bad idea, but ease into it, and try for a resistance program that works the muscles on both sides, e.g. bi’s then tri’s, abs then back. I had a friend in college who thought it’d be cool to have big biceps, so he did a bunch of curls, and he did wind up with big biceps, but his triceps were disproportionally small by comparison, so much so that he couldn’t straighten out arms. He’d walk around campus with arms bent at the elbow at around 30 degrees all the time. It was a crack up.

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely make sure to train all of my muscles instead of just training one.

[Jack of Hearts]

If anyone is interested in resistance training, this reader is starting to work with Starting Strength by Rippletoe- an emphasis on compound lifts, esp squats.






J

[Adolescent09]

I'm a novice at fitness training. I've suddenly put on a lot of weight because I've been driving to school a lot more recently instead of walking and my diet consists of Pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and soda. It's the quintessential college life but it is posing a deleterious impact on my health.

My goal is to walk to school more often and take up a vegan diet, sprinkled with venison on occasion. I like salmon too and there are plenty of healthy salmon dishes out there so I should try those as well. But.. walking, keeping active, listening to music, writing poetry, writing short stories, reading genetics, histology, calculus, and biochemistry text books... this is the way to go!

[The Comedian]

Several weeks ago, at a local fundraising run, I ran a 5K in 21:42 -- first place in my age group. Not too shabby. . .

[qimissung]

Congrats, Comedian!

I'm having a really hard time giving up sugar.I was doing ok for a while there, but now I've regressed badly. Help! Any ideas, anyone?

[billl]

Congrats, Comedian!

I'm having a really hard time giving up sugar.I was doing ok for a while there, but now I've regressed badly. Help! Any ideas, anyone?

"Sugar" stuff is a big category of food. But, if sugared beverages are a challenge, well... Unless you HATE tea, you might try becoming a tea aficianado. Of course, if you can't imagine tea without sugar this won't work. But: if you think tea is OK, and could maybe have it without sugar, I think it's a way to get away from sweetened beverages. I didn't have a problem with sugar drinks, personally, but I did enjoy exploring the world of tea. The variety, and "having a favorite" could maybe distract one from the sugar angle (i.e. taking on the opinion that sugar interferes with the tea appreciation...). It's kind of like getting into wine, maybe--there's a chance to look for subtler pleasures, besides a massive sugar hit, and then crave/appreciate those instead. I think coffee could work like this too, but it has so much more caffeine--tea is much less likely to lead to a problem in that regard, and a person could even get into herbal teas with no caffeine. Collect maybe a half-dozen different types, and try to match moods, find a "regular" maybe, have some "change of pace" types, get a special one for Christmas, work a green tea or two into the daily mix... There's a type from So. America that's good for exercise (Yerba Mate), some Koreans used to gift me with excellent Ginseng Tea (an acquired taste... this is what I'm talking about!).

Sometimes I have to step back and wonder at how worked up I can get about tea. I think this is honestly more about me wanting to talk about tea than it is about providing useful advice, sorry.

And, actually, straight up getting into wine would work just as well, and be more obviously enjoyable--but tea works throughout the day, and is better for reading, imo. Anyhow, I can't get excited for sugar in a drink at all anymore. Oh, god, I'm about to get started on unsweetened iced tea now... They have a type that's dehydrated (crystals of 100% tea), and you can dump a scoop of it into a big cup of orange Juice with a lot of ice, just great on a hot day....

[TurquoiseSunset]

Congrats, Comedian!

I'm having a really hard time giving up sugar.I was doing ok for a while there, but now I've regressed badly. Help! Any ideas, anyone?

Don't beat yourself up, Qimi. This happens to me too. Forget the regression and just start again. Just try to scale down slowly and allow yourself a cheat day every now and then.

[Sancho]

I'm having a really hard time giving up sugar.I was doing ok for a while there, but now I've regressed badly. Help! Any ideas, anyone?

Eat a pickle.

Really, just eat a dill pickle.

I’ve got a sweet tooth a mile long, so when that Snickers Bar is calling my name, I’ll eat a pickle and *POOF* I’m good to go. The other night at around 2am I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and picturing in my head the Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup in the pantry – just sitting there on the shelf in its crinkly orange wrapper, saying “Sancho, you know you want me, Oh Sancho...” I could see myself peeling the pleated brown paper away from the cup and then licking that little patch of chocolate/peanut butter that always sticks to the bottom. Anyway, I knew I wasn’t going to get back to sleep with that kind of tension hanging over my head. So I staggered into the kitchen, but went to the fridge instead of the pantry and ate a pickle. Ha ha, take that, Reece, you shameless hussy!

And so I slept happily and soundly until sunrise.
*
*
*
And then I returned to the kitchen and constructed an architecturally unsound stack of flapjacks, which I smeared with huge pads of creamy butter and drowned in maple syrup. Mmm-Mmm good.

Ah well, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I’ll burn it off on the bike.

[TurquoiseSunset]

Eat a pickle.

Really, just eat a dill pickle.

I’ve got a sweet tooth a mile long, so when that Snickers Bar is calling my name, I’ll eat a pickle and *POOF* I’m good to go. The other night at around 2am I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and picturing in my head the Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup in the pantry – just sitting there on the shelf in its crinkly orange wrapper, saying “Sancho, you know you want me, Oh Sancho...” I could see myself peeling the pleated brown paper away from the cup and then licking that little patch of chocolate/peanut butter that always sticks to the bottom. Anyway, I knew I wasn’t going to get back to sleep with that kind of tension hanging over my head. So I staggered into the kitchen, but went to the fridge instead of the pantry and ate a pickle. Ha ha, take that, Reece, you shameless hussy!

And so I slept happily and soundly until sunrise.
*
*
*
And then I returned to the kitchen and constructed an architecturally unsound stack of flapjacks, which I smeared with huge pads of creamy butter and drowned in maple syrup. Mmm-Mmm good.

Ah well, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I’ll burn it off on the bike.

Sancho, you fiend! :D

[crusoe]

If anyone is interested in resistance training, this reader is starting to work with Starting Strength by Rippletoe- an emphasis on compound lifts, esp squats.
J

I'm hooked on Deadlifts. Normally I train 3 times a Week with additional Excercises, but in moment it's much toooooooooooooooooooo hot.

You're on the right track, Jack of Hearts, Deadlift - Squats - Benchpress and Bicep-Curls. That's the way to go. Have fun and don't forget the Protein.

[JuniperWoolf]

My arms are too skinny to donate blood. My veins are too small. :-/ The nurse lady told me to lift stuff more often, so today I did actual "exercise" and lifted some things.


Eat a pickle.

Really, just eat a dill pickle.

Hahaha, that just might be the greatest two sentences of advice I've ever read.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Finished my Wednesday night run, 3.8 miles by the light of a half moon. Cooling down with a Boddington's pub ale.

[Paulclem]

The cycling I do is good, but I need to do more. The gardening and walking I do also help, but I need to do more on the upper body. My daughter runs many a morning, but I have a dicky ankle - it would put me out of action if I turned it again. It's a pity as it's more interesting than the gym.

[YesNo]

I told my wife about the 191 pounds that I reported earlier in this thread and she said I needed to go on a diet. It also turns out I wasn't weighing myself right. I guess you have to do this early in the morning the same time every day. It turns out I lost 2 pounds without having to do anything. I'm now 189 pounds.

Unfortunately, now my assigned goal is 180 pounds.

[DocHeart]

Thoughts of a 40-year-old man on the treadmill


In an attempt
To postpone keeling over
For a few decades
I jog and jog and jog
And risk keeling over
Every afternoon.

[liza]

Thoughts of a 40-year-old man on the treadmill


In an attempt
To postpone keeling over
For a few decades
I jog and jog and jog
And risk keeling over
Every afternoon.


keeling over..?? why are you postponing that .. what would be next.. ?? :smash::smash:

[Jack of Hearts]

Whoa whoa whoa. Doc doesn't get to keel over. This reader needs a travel guide when he attempts to navigate Greece next year (gotta stay out of the regions that still practice pederasty, you understand).








J

[byquist]

Short term goal: continue recovering from a speed running day three days ago (overdid it) such as today's 1 3/4 very easy bike ride.

Long term goal: beat my Half Marathon time of 4 years ago.

What it will take: long easy runs of 15+ miles (3 hrs.), 1+ weekly speed days, lose 10 lbs. in 3 1/2 months.

[Buckthorn]

Because I'm off work I did 3k in the pool this morning instead of the usual 2.5. It should have been 120 lengths but I might have done 124 - after 30 I think I miscounted as the timing was out by 2 1/2 minutes meaning I had either swam VERY slowly or missed counting 4 lengths - everything was normal after that so I think it was my counting that was out but did an extra 4 lengths just to make sure.
I did the 120 in 70 minutes and the 124 in 72 minutes 37 seconds. I'm not impressed, I used to be much faster. Will try harder on Friday

[Sancho]

Held a 9mm for 15 miles this morning. Right Achilles tendon hurts just a tad more than it should. Big toe callus tore off.

Shucks.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Held a 9mm for 15 miles this morning. Right Achilles tendon hurts just a tad more than it should. Big toe callus tore off.

Shucks.

Was it a Walther?
I can only assume you were tracking down feral hogs, but a hand gun isn't going to do much against that hide, except anger them.

.

[Sancho]

Was it a Walther?
I can only assume you were tracking down feral hogs, but a hand gun isn't going to do much against that hide, except anger them.

.

Ha!

Nope, for hogs I use my 88 magnum.

[Jack of Hearts]

I'm hooked on Deadlifts. Normally I train 3 times a Week with additional Excercises, but in moment it's much toooooooooooooooooooo hot.

You're on the right track, Jack of Hearts, Deadlift - Squats - Benchpress and Bicep-Curls. That's the way to go. Have fun and don't forget the Protein.


Almost missed this. Yeah, compound lifts are awesome.






J