RSVP Blog

(Taekwondo is what got me into losing weight and I have so far lost 3kg.Posted by: cuddlemenow at August 15, 2008 3:29 PM )

Cuddle.. I can relate to what you say about Tae Kwon Do as I felt incredibly fit the both time I did it .. first in my 20s than took it up again in my 40s with my teenage daughter.
Tho I still know all the forms and one step attacks and have often found the self defence moves to be useful over the years .. I just know that at 61 I'm not likely to be trying it again.
Instead I walk and do a few light exercises at home as well as maintaining a healthy diet with lots of fruit and veg.
Currently Gluten free, sugar free, yeast free, caffeine free, alcohol free and meat free diet!
That may all go to hell a bit on my 2 weeks holiday starting next week but I've an order in for a fruit & veg delivery again as soon as I return! So back to the diet when I get home again! :-)

Posted by: waternymph47 at September 12, 2008 8:50 PM

waterbombe at August 24, 2008 7:44 PM: Just read yours.

The dozen or so recent diet books that I read before I wrote my own in 2004 suggest that when you're living an active lifestyle with hours of physical activity each day, you do't eat so much as would weigh you down, and divert too much blood flow to the stomach for digestion.

The exercise also speeds up your metabolism, so you burn extra calories day and night, keeping your muscles warmed up ready for more action at a moment's notice.

Then if you have a couch day, that night the unconscious decides you've now arrived home from walkabout, and switches all the muscle heaters off. So you notice the cold more, that night.

If all your days are couch, the unconscious guesses it's winter stuck in the igloo, and thickens up your heat-insulating layer of blubber, every chance it gets.

So the trick for weight loss is enough exercise every second day to depress your appetite and so reduce your calorie intake, and to keep your muscles idling, which uses up extra calories.

And the fatter you are, the less exercise it takes to get you losing weight.

Posted by: timewarp1 at September 5, 2008 5:09 PM

Hey WB, I have no idea, why you don't feel hungry when you ski. But I get the same kind of thing, I kite surf and rock climb. And drink heaps to keep my fluids up.

But in the end I don't eat there, and when I get back arn't usually hungry either, I find that I eat more at other times during the week, but still have no idea why when in theory I am burning heaps of food I don't really eat. It's good to know it's not just me.

Go the skiing it's awesome fun :-)

Posted by: livethelife49 at August 31, 2008 3:11 PM

Posted by: laughsandtalks at August 24, 2008 8:54 PM ~*chuklz*~

Posted by: heart2heart57 at August 25, 2008 7:46 PM

alphaflambe August 24, 2008 7:44 PM

Probably because you are confusing your hunger reflex with your talk/brag reflex and are meeting your most compelling need first.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at August 24, 2008 8:54 PM

Wow, good for you WB - I would love to learn to snow ski. I havent seen snow for many many years.
Maybe its the adrenaline rush filling you up?

Posted by: willow29 at August 24, 2008 8:45 PM

I have started cross country skiing this year...have been on 3 weekend trips, and plan on a full week shortly. I'm reasonably fit for my age (55, female, I go to the gym and I can go on a 6-hour bushwalk and feel good). What I find odd is that I don't feel thirsty or hungry when out skiing for the day. I do keep drinking but i hardly eat. Does anyone know why you wouldn't feel hungry, given that you must be expending a huge amount of exercise?

Posted by: waterbombe at August 24, 2008 7:44 PM

Posted by: tyfelmingham at August 18, 2008 9:33 PM - Dude - great profile!

Posted by: heart2heart57 at August 21, 2008 11:25 PM

I just eat dog food. It provides me with basic nutrients and my coat is shiny as.

Posted by: tyfelmingham at August 18, 2008 9:33 PM

I am 27 and the way that i have been losing weight is by cutting down the amount of food that contains fat and sugar. I allow myself one reward a week. I also do taekwondo and haidong gumdo every thursday. I practice my kicking at home regularly as well as my gumdo patterns. I also avoid alcohol as my religion does not allow it. And I try to walk as much as possible. I have become fitter through taekwondo as it is a contact sport and there is sparring involved. Even the game of dodgeball that is played as a warm up gets my heart going. Taekwondo is what got me into losing weight and I have so far lost 3kg.

Posted by: cuddlemenow at August 15, 2008 3:29 PM

I am 52 but my body moves just as easily (maybe even more easily) than when I was 20-25. Age should not be the reason for slowing down and giving up excercise. My two daughters (both fit and gym members) are not more fit than I am - they cannot beat me in cardio or strength excercises, which they find annoying and I find it very encouraging! I am at the gym 3-4 times a week after full time work, and what motivates me to go regularly is the energy I get and the good feeling that comes from balanced brain chemicals, toned muscles, let alone the clarity of mind! I found that when I excercise regularly, I do not crave bad food - like sweets and fried food...I am careful though and try to avoid injuries - I excercise moderately, strech before and after excercise, and avoid running - to save my joints.... Fast walk is excellent for keeping the weight off and having toned legs and bottom part...when you walk in the sun, the benefit is even better - the sunshine is a natural source of Serotonin - the mood chemical in the brain! I drink green tea regularly (speeds up the metabolisam, good for the brain), drink a lot of water, I do not drink alcohol at all (very high in calories), It's rare that I have a coffee or a soft drink (water is my choice) and I avoid take away foods. I take supplements regularly - Fish oil, Vitamin B complex, Glucosamine, Magnesium, natural calcium and Spirulina..I think my lfestyle is responsible for my youthful energy and for the fact that I have not seen a doctor since my third child was born (23 years ago). I do not know about dreaded menopause either - thank God for that...healthy lifestyle is soooo important for staying young 'forever'...well that's my ultimate goal - to stay young in body and mind...

Posted by: piscesgirl56 at August 10, 2008 5:45 PM

I'd love to read about and be INSPIRED by people's health..lifestyle and nutritional tips or busting myths.. from drinking water to eating leeches for breakfast....ok..that's a bit extreme..would prefer Carman's muesli..but you get my drift??..

I am probably preaching to the converted
but..feel good changes..a very basic example but one that DEFINITELY has an immediate impact..on me anyway.. is drinking two very large glasses of water..almost equivalent to 750ml water..or more!...nothing less..or your body will think it's a joke! ..upon waking up..to rehydrate and flush the bod..common knowledge..but i had never done that before..would just down a mug of coffee.. which dehydrated you even more!!..

and now that i have made the quantum leap ..can't ever imagine not doing it again..so simple..but how many do it?
clears that foggy feeling in the head..add a little convenient squeeze of lemon from a bottle if you like..and voila..your body will thank you for it..nw

Posted by: naturalwoman08 at July 31, 2008 12:55 PM

If the lifestyle choices you have made bite you, don't expect a doctor or a drug to fix things, that won't happen.

Posted by: koolkurl1950 at July 31, 2008 11:51 AM

thelynathdiary at July 24, 2008 10:45 PM

O MY GOD!!.....thanks to your post..am seriously considering purchasing tena's LOL.. sorry..not a terribly glamorous image..please don't dwell on it people..!!

Lynath..you so have a bit of the julia roberts look about you..anyway..loved that post!..nw

Posted by: naturalwoman08 at July 31, 2008 11:47 AM

Just be who you want to be but remember lifestyle choices usually have consequences. If you're happy with the choice AND the consequence, then go for it.

Posted by: woodnwine at July 31, 2008 10:28 AM

What a load of rubbish. Booze, fish'n'chips, and pizza is the only way to go!!!

Posted by: heart2heart57 at July 30, 2008 11:33 PM

Definately fit!! I joined a local gym in January 2007. I have learnt so much about how to do my exercises correctly and about eating healthy food from the trainers at the gym. I have reduced my body fat and lost weight to now concentrating at improving my fitness level. It's not easy, you need to make the commitment to go to the gym and to cut down on take away foods. It is worth it but you have to make exercise part of your lifestyle.

Posted by: downtoearthlady14 at July 28, 2008 8:36 PM

Lynath,
Great post re the gym. Thank you.
rgds grego

Posted by: grego7 at July 28, 2008 12:58 PM

jeebus... there are way too many tl;dr posts here...

the first word any of you walruses would probably do well to memorise when choosing to lose a few kilos is: NUTRITION.

Get that right, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your waistline starts shrinking and your libido goes back up.

Amazing that we live in a society that is as shallow as it is when it comes to self image, that it lacks most of the time, the fundamental knowledge on how to achieve this aim, ie body mass composition.

I would also suggest that if you were to maintain sound nutritional habits, you wouldn't have to give undue concern to your internal well-being as this article has alluded to...

NUTRITION, then EXERCISE... always in that order. Remember to get enough sleep (8 hours) too.

Posted by: voicebox at July 27, 2008 4:35 PM

At most of our ages we all know how to exercise and get fit in the gym or on the road, my question now is how do I keep going? The novelty is wearing thin, yes I might be on the shelf again, but it doesn't feel the same as in ones 20s. I have ached for years from hours in the gym and sweating on the roads. I remember my 30 year old medical, slim, fit, torn sternum and groin muscles and everywhere else sore from daily training. I have never had an ache or injury whilst sitting in a quiet bar anywhere in SE Asia. So from where do we now get motivation in a bottle? Yes I know the Doctor is tittering at the mid-life test results, should this be a good enough kick in the pants to get ones act together again? What is the secret? Somebody must have the answer! Yes I love being out on the bike with other sun lovers cycling around Melbourne's developing network. Can we now make exercise fun instead of disappearing inside our thoughts for hours of solitude only to watch it waste away in weeks if we stop for whatever injury or change in routine. I agree with thoughts of wasting money with trainers, we simply need a mate to pull us out of our ruts. I wish it wasn't a black art to work out when moons are aligned so that I felt like Superman every day instead of those magical sessions when you feel like you can go forever.

Posted by: itsnotjustme at July 27, 2008 12:24 AM

TLD at 10.25pm on Thurs: Best blog laugh this week. Ta.

Posted by: timewarp1 at July 26, 2008 2:12 PM

Fantastic Lynath, brightened up my day!

Posted by: amberlight58 at July 25, 2008 9:57 AM

Thelynathdiary: very funny!

Posted by: willow29 at July 25, 2008 9:05 AM

Got this in the fun mail today....I like it..I like it a lot....

For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear)
purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Brad, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Brad waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Brad gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Brad was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!

TUESDAY:

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.

Brad made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Brad's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Brad was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Brad put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Brad told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.

THURSDAY :

Brad was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.

Brad took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

FRIDAY :

I hate that Brad more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little #@*. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Brad wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher.

Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

SATURDAY :

Brad left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

SUNDAY :

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds.

Posted by: thelynathdiary at July 24, 2008 10:45 PM

Exercise and dietary change to lose weight is one thing. Many people combine it with strength training and get the benefits of a higher metabolic rate, fitness and the aesthetics that go with muscles. Most of us like to know how we rank. I came across this awhile ago to give a guide to what a fit and reasonably strong person can do on some common exercises.
Yoga elbow plank exercise. Male 90 seconds. Female 90 seconds.
Push ups. Hands flat, up on toes, rest permitted up only; male 30. Female 5.
Barbell or dumbell bicep curl Male 80lbs. Female 40lbs.
Pull ups. Male 10. Female 1.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at July 22, 2008 4:27 PM

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 22, 2008 12:04 AM

TW- i have no idea why they edited most of my post additional to your comments - but to summarize again...

The extra motors being added overnight mean you end up losing more weight, as they start working together, they will burn more energy all the time - hence as you add more motors with every workout ( only if you work the muscle to complete failure , not "can't be bothered" failure) your metabolism 'speeds up' and up . Yep, the bodies very efficient - use it or lose it ! ( its a genetic mechanism designed into out bodies; from the good old days when we had to starve for a few days until we had a successful hunt )

Its all rather easy - just eat, fight, or run as fast as you can !

Now why would you need a trainer to tell you that ?

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 22, 2008 2:59 PM

I agree , personal trainers are a waste of money. You have to find the drive in yourself to succeed at it.

I lost 32 kilos in a year with no trainers or fitness classes. My metabolism is now so high I'm still losing weight even after cutting down gym visits. Here's how...

- 35 mins cardio 4 times a week. Start off slow, just do what your semi comfortable with, but push it a little each day.
My fave was cross-trainer machine as it's low-impact.
- find out your max heart rate based on your age and weight.
- but a heart rate monitor to keep your heart rate 80-90% of maximum. They're about $60 on ebay.
- vary the routine, eg. set the machine to cross-country mode. Sticking to the same output level just gives your body a chance to adapt and store fat to accomodate the workout it knows is coming.
- find something to focus on other than the pain, eg fave music on mp3 or the opposite sex in the gym :)

Diet - I basically went vego, I love it now :) Keep up those small lo-fat treats as a reward , non-sugar organic choclate was my fave ! I tended to defeat hunger by filling up on liquids.

Posted by: takes2toembracelife at July 22, 2008 12:49 AM

Posted by: timewarp1 at July 21, 2008 7:43 PM

>>>>The weight loss from the actual exercise is disappointingly small. But if a muscle has had a good workout, the subconscious mind assumes that it may be needed again at any moment, and keeps it warmed up for instant response - like leaving the motor idling in the robbers' getaway car. >>For how long? For the rest of that day, all that night, and all the following day. But during the second night, all the "motors" that were left running the day before, but weren't needed again that day are switched off.>If you want to shed pounds then get stuck into some cardio workouts<<

Cardio workouts are different . Cardio just means you may be able to exercise for longer. So its helpful in that way, but you wont lose weight that way . Cardio workouts are great for high intensity stamina - such as sprinting, boxing , bonking etc

And whats great about them is they are accumalative ! 20 flat out sprints of a football field ( and walk back) will be way better than any 20 min treadmill jog.

PS- There are plenty of cut big men (either via juice, or hard work) ; who can't run for 10mins without throwing up. If they have the right genes, they just eat -build-sleep, and eat- shape- sleep for a few years, and eventually they get that V shape and that ridiculous grin !

The fittest-strongest guys imo are boxers - their stamina and speed is totally amazing - try non stop flat out punching for 3mins x 12 rounds- all whilst another super fit guy is trying to knock 'ya block off' with everything hes got. Just the adrenalin alone would kill/KO most normal guys after 10mins.(and the bigger they are the harder they fall)

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 22, 2008 12:04 AM

IF YOU WANT TO GET FIT AND STRONG - DONT GET A TRAINER !

Oh no not more helpful advice:) Lol

Posted by: tassiedude1 at July 21, 2008 7:52 PM

I decided to lose weight in 2004. Read a dozen different recent diet books over a coupla months, and listed any clues that were accompanied by a biochemical explanation that I understood and believed.
Rechecked all the clues and looked for patterns. Stitched together a diet and exercise programme and lost one kg a week for 4 months, without ever being hungry. It's hunger that busts diets.
Wrote a $10 diet book that I haven't started trying to sell yet, called "How to lose weight without getting hungry." The first chapter explains how to start losing weight, without changing your diet.
The most surprising fact I learned was the strange way that exercise helps with weight loss.
The weight loss from the actual exercise is disappointingly small. But if a muscle has had a good workout, the subconscious mind assumes that it may be needed again at any moment, and keeps it warmed up for instant response - like leaving the motor idling in the robbers' getaway car.
For how long? For the rest of that day, all that night, and all the following day. But during the second night, all the "motors" that were left running the day before, but weren't needed again that day are switched off.
What does this mean?
1) The weight loss from keeping the motors running till the second night, just in case, is much more than the loss from the actual exercise.
2) Appetite is slightly reduced - especially the desire for diet-defeating sugar. And the feel-good endorphins kick in after significant continuous exercise.
You feel young and dangerous. After tennis I'm hyper for at least 3 hours, and if I'm not strict with myself that night I'll work or blog till about 3am.
3) Exercising at dawn gives you an extra 10 or 12 hours' afterburn time, compared with exercising at dusk. Worth getting up earlier to get an extra 30% afterburn from the same workout.
4) So exercising every day is a luxury for athletes with time on their hands. But exercising every second day is absolutely essential.

Posted by: timewarp1 at July 21, 2008 7:43 PM

dean lukin was full of stanisol a steroid many body builders and athletes use to build muscle mass . if you are training for any sport you will hit a plateau and should change your routine to get past it or stick a needle in your backside at the gym

Posted by: chad1958 at July 21, 2008 6:42 PM

Or as Tassidude would say -
IF YOU WANT TO GET FIT AND STRONG - DONT GET A TRAINER !

They just want you for your body !
(PMSL !)

;~D

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 21, 2008 5:50 PM

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 19, 2008 9:35 PM

PART 2

Getting FIT and Strong vs Getting Big

So you've all been dieting and going for those hour long walks right ??
Good to hear!

But your not getting anything like the 8 pack you see on the side of that BUCKET of whey protein mixed with 256 nutrinos !

Well thats the hard part .
Genetic plays a major role - but heres the rest .
The muscle is actually a bundle of long fibers wrapped together - rather like a packet of spaghetti ( arrrggggg sppaagggg-didly...dooh !)

Anyhow , attacked to those fibres are 'motors'. The 'motors' act like winches pulling the fibres back an forth as you move.
To build strength ( and later, muscle BULK) , what the body does as you work out to muscle failure is , put a extra motor on the muscle for next time( during recovery)
If you lift a weight that again fails the muscle; ie. you cant lift it the 8th time - it just adds another motor; until the muscle fibre length is completely covered with motors !

At this point you'll have notice that your heaps stronger , but you haven't bulked up at all - as the muscle hasn't really grown - it just got stronger!
Depending on your genetic makeup - ie hormone levels- to get to that point - the fully loaded point can take weeks to months to achieve !
Most people give up before that point occurs because they weren't getting the results they were hoping for.
Damn that label ! they never said it was going to take so long !

After this point, IF you continue to raise the fail weight, you will start tearing the muscle fibre apart and then it adds more motors to these splits !
Its a very odd thing to want to do to yourself IMO !!

And heres th worst bit . The body is very efficient . It won't allow the food energy to be wasted on motors that aren't being used every day . If it senses that you aren't using them - it quickly removes them again !

Stop training for a few months and all the muscle bulk that took a year to build will quickly disappear.
So you have to train all the time - if you wan to keep up that 6-8 pack
( i know - the picture - they lied !)

Remember Dean Lukin (?) heavyweight Aust GOLD MEDAL power weightlifter - hes a thin as rake these days - stopped training...

Nowdropandgimme 500 ! umm lets start with hindu squats, and then ....chinups !

Good workout ppl !
(your wheelchairs are waiting for you at the back of the room)

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 21, 2008 5:39 PM

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WASTE MONEY ON PERSONAL TRAINERS

you do not need them - there is a wealth of information on diet/exercise etc available FREE on the internet

personal trainers are for people who can not find the self discipline to work out hard - in the end you will be paying someone to count your reps for you and say things like "come on one more"

YOU DO NOT NEED THEM AT ALL

I joined a free online forum once for body builders when I was starting out - I asked a few questions and got the right answers FOR FREE from other people who were once in my shoes - a novice just starting out

Try this - go up to the guy who is the biggest and fittest body builder in the gym - introduce yourself and ask politely for advice - 99% are the most friendly and knowledgeable people and more than happy to assist

think - is it better to copy success or create mediocrity

They may seem aloof and conceited - but this is people stereo typing them -- when you see some one that is hard core in a gym remember they are their with a purpose and a very high level of discipline as such to them the other people etc in the gym are "not there"

I myself never notice any one in my gym or talk to them as I am focused 100% - however if someone was to approach and speak to me before or after my workout I am more than happy to assist

Posted by: yaahmulegiddyup at July 21, 2008 5:06 PM

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WASTE MONEY ON PERSONAL TRAINERS

you do not need them - there is a wealth of information on diet/exercise etc available FREE on the internet

personal trainers are for people who can not find the self discipline to work out hard - in the end you will be paying someone to count your reps for you and say things like "come on one more"

YOU DO NOT NEED THEM AT ALL

I joined a free online forum once for body builders when I was starting out - I asked a few questions and got the right answers FOR FREE from other people who were once in my shoes - a novice just starting out

Try this - go up to the guy who is the biggest and fittest body builder in the gym - introduce yourself and ask politely for advice - 99% are the most friendly and knowledgeable people and more than happy to assist

think - is it better to copy success or create mediocrity

They may seem aloof and conceited - but this is people stereo typing them -- when you see some one that is hard core in a gym remember they are their with a purpose and a very high level of discipline as such to them the other people etc in the gym are "not there"

I myself never notice any one in my gym or talk to them as I am focused 100% - however if someone was to approach and speak to me before or after my workout I am more than happy to assist

Posted by: yaahmulegiddyup at July 21, 2008 5:06 PM

The comment by sweetas on 20.07 was an excellent example of irony. Here, the topic is on fit v fat. She describes her body type as 'slim' and is a member of 'Fitness Fanatics' and yet is 'trying to quit' smoking and here she is giving advice to all. Perhaps we can shed a little compassion for those who are 'trying to' lose weight.

Posted by: anhsi at July 21, 2008 11:21 AM

If you really want to lose weight and get back in shape then you can't go past what was posted by yaahmulegiddyup.

Diet is absolutely critical to how your body looks - the more natural, and less processed, the food the better. If you want to shed pounds then get stuck into some cardio workouts- get a personal trainer for a few months. You'll learn heaps from them and they'll really get things going. They'll push you to the point that you'll see results within weeks.

Once the weight has started to fall off the best way to get the best out of your shape is to do weights. Its also a wonderful way to bond calcium to your bones and stave off osteoarthritis.

As a female, a couple of diet tips that have worked for me include:

eating porridge for breakfast - no milk or sugar - if you need some sweetness saok sun-dried sultanas and apricots in it the nite before. It takes a lot of energy to digest porridge - you'll feel full but no calories.

I only eat 3 times a day (I don't have the time to eat 6 times a day) and have only one meal that has carbs for the day - usually lunch. Although in winter I allow myself the occasional rice dish. Pasta however is a once a month meal!

Good luck. The most important thing however is to match your intake with your output. It just takes a little thought and you can still have the occasional chocolate and wine with dinner.

Posted by: sweetas3870 at July 20, 2008 12:22 PM

My wife split from me because she said i was too fat and i didn't look after myself. She on the opposite hand was always thin but now is very thin. I am sure that it was not a case of me wanting to be fat. I would have loved to just be average.

Since she has gone i have not eaten properly and i have lost weight but i would not say i am any healthier than i was before. I have tried the diets over many years and the only way i have ever been able to loose real weight was to do alot of exercise every day.

Posted by: patc111960 at July 20, 2008 8:42 AM

Its been a long time since i've trained, but a remember a few things that could help-

Diet is VIP- the CSIRO DIET works - i lost 15 kg in 3 months and put on heaps of body muscle ( i workout out as well as the diet - its designed to help peoplto lose wait even with a sedantry lifestyle)

The main thing with exercise for losing weight is the time duration - you have to exercise for a long period of time to trigger the fat burning process.

The first 10 - 20 minutes of exercise typically ONLY runs off the glycogen in your blood stream (ie the digested food you ate that day/hour) .

After the body exhausts that "quick and easy" fuel supply, it starts to cannibalize/liquify the tissues of your body to run itself.

This is know as the Catabolic phase, as opposed to the Anabolic phase of rebuilding this tissue after a workout

Unfortunately muscle liquefies easier than fat, so some of the inital weight loss will also be due to muscles loss - the more intense the exercise the worse the damage. So exercise slowly, and you still burning fat .

(A balanced training program will also include resistance work to help trigger new muscle tissue growth; and as that requires fats to convert into hormones - you have to use diet very carefully to balance and trigger the right biochemistry in the body for optimum results)

At about the 1/2 hr to 1 of low-med intensity workout minimum, and you are burning fat.

And its also a matter of the type of exercise you are doing - the heart rate and the duration determines the type of blood chemistry your running on . Weight loss needs a slow burn - hence brisk walking (you need to raise the body temp to melt the fat ! but only a light sweat) is actually pretty good for it.
BUT YOU NEED TO DO IT FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR. ( thats the catch!)
10 mins won't any burn fat - only glycogen, but at least it will prevent that glycogen from being turned to fat i suppose...

Cardio is a completely different thing - and is actually accumulative - so you can do short bursts of high intensity - sprints , and they add up to one great cardio workout.
Mixed up will those brisk walks, and diet and you'll be tight and terrific in no time at all !

Life be in it.

Posted by: eatsrootsandleaves at July 19, 2008 9:35 PM

Size is irelevant in this day and age...girls now average heights of nearly 6ft and they feel obliged to fit into what magazines say is attractive...eg...8 or 10....that makes the tall girls overly skinny and the average girls obessive to try to be that size and the shorter girls are labelled overweight/obese....For crying out loud, can't we all just be comfortable with ourselves and try to live happy and healthy...
All of this is how I see society, and I know I am not in a position to change that but I will encourage anyone I know to love themselves and look after themselves as best they can.
Cheers,
B.

Posted by: bm1960 at July 19, 2008 8:18 PM

Well, some of us can't help being fat because we eat too much and can't be bothered excercising.
A few like to be fat..it is there protection from the male of the species and gives them the confidence they need to convince themselves that the guy that isn't worth dating .

I have to ask though why is it the well proportioned young girls end up fat when they are in their 40-50 and the skinny unattractive ones in their youth end up skinny and highly in demand for their youthful appearance and delicate looks ?

Posted by: jogalonga at July 19, 2008 7:38 PM

I get the bus to work each morning and have started getting off at a stop further away from my destination each week. I now walk for over half an hour each morning mostly up hill to reach work. I wear joggers to do this, very expensive very clean I might add. I find it disappointing to have to change these shoes when I get into the office as that stops me from using the stairs during the day instead of getting the lift. I have been very careful and selective with my footwear over the past few years and therefore do not have any problems with I am loathe to walk up and down flights of stairs in 'business shoes'. I wish businesses could come to a compromise for people like me who would like to run up and down the stairs but would have to change their shoes each time to protect joints and posture.

Posted by: iaminperth at July 19, 2008 4:42 PM

Forget the diets, eat small healthy meals regularly and get a bit more active during the day. Some of the things I do to keep active at work include:

Walk the stairs instead of taking the lift. I work on the 10th floor and try to do the stairs at least twice a day.
Walk over and talk to people rather than send an email or phone. Walk more quickly to get that healthy lunch. Get a small group of colleagues together and start your own fitness regime before work or at lunch. I have joined a group recently and it's great We all work at our own levels and have great fun. We just walk, jog, box, do core body work, hit the stairs what ever we decide on the day.

By doing some of these things the occassional "bad" office treats can then be enjoyed SURELY?.

Posted by: sn11 at July 19, 2008 3:41 PM

Important Dieting Tips
1. If no-one sees you eat it , it has no calories.
2. If you drink a lo-cal drink with a chocolate bar -they cancel each other out.
3. When eating with someone else , calories don't count if you both eat the same amount.
4.Movie-related foods such as popcorn, Jaffas,and scorched almonds don't count because they are simply part of the whole entertainment experience and not part of one's personal fuel.
5.Broken biscuits contain no calories - the breaking process causes calorie leakage.

Posted by: margie18 at July 19, 2008 3:03 PM

I have a great Diet to share with all who want to lose weight - It's called 'The Duna Diet.' It works on the premise that if you're in bed you're not eating (well not normally.) So when you feel that hunger pang you go you know where. Also Sex is a great calorie burner - so once again, head to the bedroom. (Not sure how this works if you're on your own - I guess you have to work a bit harder. ) It is also thought that lack of sleep upsets the mechanism which monitors hunger: and thus if you're sleep-deprived you can confuse fatigue with hunger, and head for the sugar-fix. After all this I'm about to head for the bedroom - alone I might add.

Posted by: margie18 at July 17, 2008 9:59 PM

yahamule.
So what you are saying is that if Cadel Evans needs some extra power in the Alps then he should drink Nail Polish remover (acetate)
is this detectable in random drug testing and what will this do to his stomach as opposed to drinking a Petit Chablis.

I don't doubt for one minute what you are saying and as a drinker would it make any difference to my weight gain if I drank without food.

oh BTW I did 10 minutes today at 10 degrees for a total energy burn of 94 Calories.at 4.6km per hour.My heart rate was 132 .

If I had done nothing and sat on my bum i would have burned 60 Calories.
Instead of the grazing 6 meals a day would it be more beneficial to do 6 10 minute burns.

Posted by: jogalonga at July 17, 2008 6:02 PM

Forgot to mention that alcohol consumption does not affect my weight.....I lose weight whether I drink or not...:-). When I don't drink on purpose, I don't lose weight....
I am a great believer in my body monitoring my metabolism. There is probably no scientific substance to that statement, but it is a fact for me and my genetics.
Moral of the story....I may as well enjoy a tipple...:-) (Ok...it will affect my health in other ways, I know that...but misery is just as bad for me!!!)
Cheers,
B.

Posted by: bm1960 at July 17, 2008 5:30 PM

When I try to lose weight, I don't...when I let Mother Nature take her course, she lets me drop kilos with little effort...I have a tall and broad shouldered frame and it needs flesh on it!!
Cheers,
B.

Posted by: bm1960 at July 17, 2008 5:02 PM

Why Alcohol makes you a FATTY

Alcohol is consumed generally at the same time as food

Alcohol enters the body and is converted into acetate ( yep - nail polish remover) now this acetate is a very very potent source of energy a little of it goes a long way

So what your body does is use this as an immediate source of energy as it can not be stored

So the food you eat is digested and stored as fat

That is it in a nutshell.

Posted by: yaahmulegiddyup at July 17, 2008 4:05 PM

hiJen@7.21am
Yeah, I dig the boob situation and it's stopped me before (I'm an E cup - if I were to hang my bra sideways on the line, birds would nest in it). But this time, somehow, I just felt I had to do it - both for weight, and to manage my stress level - it was my doc's suggestion. So I bought a new sports bra that fits well, and wear several layers of lycra over it. (I read about a similarly endowed lady who wears a wetsuit top to jog!) And now I'm addicted... getting started is often hard, but 15mins into the run, it's like a little door opens in my head, I slip through it and I'm free! Gotta love those endorphins! It has the advantages also of being free, once you've got the shoes, and outdoors, nicer than a gym. I am a little cautious about long-term joint effects, but when I say 'jogging' I'm pretty slow and not real prancy. Cheers,
pH

Posted by: playfulhelen at July 17, 2008 3:11 PM

....oh,I forgot to say.........

drink lots of green tea....personally I hate it,but i let it cool and drink it,at least 4 cups a day

I believe it helps,somehow..........

I have gone a week without it,and noticed a difference.

Posted by: musicteacher at July 17, 2008 11:41 AM

Don't eat in between meals...no biscuits.
Don't eat anything after 7pm
Don't waste your money on fruit juice....drink water and EAT fruit

Cut out "white" starches.......eat brown bred(tastes better anyway),brown grain bread,yeast free as much as possible.....

my only exception for me to this is pasta.

Don't cut out oil......I have extra virgin olive oil with my vegetables rather than butter,generous amounts in salads.

In general......eat food that metabolises easily and don't drink alchohol on a daily basis.

This works for me anyway,and I love eating....no small portion for me,and I don't have an excercise regime.....just a little walking and stretching.

Posted by: musicteacher at July 17, 2008 11:18 AM

yaahmulegiddyup I admire your disipline!
My problem is not eating "junk" just not enough excercise and liking good food too much! Being single doesn't help me either eat for pleasure. I always find loosing weight easy when I have a partner.

Then there is that weight is tied to fit and healthy when indeed they are three separate things.

I have a brother who if you looked at him you would say he is a good example.

But whilst his activity regime means he can eat anything his diet sucks and so two years ago he had very bad health problems with dangerous colesterol levels and other problems..

Whereas I need to loose 20kgs (and am gradually doing that to ensure a healthy future) but am currently healthy (100% at recent medical) and indeed quite fit too, often able to perform physical tasks far longer than many who are much slimmer than me.

And as far as assumptions go... I have already clearly expressed there is far too much of that going on.

yaahmulegiddyup you are also spot on about Jogging and running. cycle, row, swim, walk, anything but those that strain the joints as you say!

Posted by: creativestuart at July 17, 2008 10:21 AM

Fascinating isn't it how consumed we are with body image? T

The reality is that fitness and weight loss is about changing lifestyle and habits for good.

It takes 21 days to form a habit - not long compared with a life time.

Posted by: reddaizy at July 17, 2008 10:15 AM

Change your diet

cut out pre prepared foods totally

on a cutting diet ( for ripping up )

I eat the following things

tofu ( you can cook it in a pan quickly with some spices to improve flavour) it is something like 80 % protien virtually no fat and the carbs are low gi

steamed vegetables and salads - lots of them - flavour with some spices

Rice - again flavour with spices

chicken breast - grilled and flavoured with spices and a choice of freshly squeezed citrus juice

tuna in spring water - cut up some onion to add to it and use some spices or citrus juice to flavour it

NO CEREALS - Bread is okay now and then only if it is dark type bread - again eat it sparingly as you get all the fibre you need from vegetables

My typical contest prep diet is as follows

Breakfast - sweet corn kernals

mid morning - protien shake small tin equivalent tuna - a few raw vegetables like carrots

lunch - grilled chickenbreast (1) or tofu and green salad

mid afternoon - protien shake

dinner lean red meat or chicken and tofu with steamed vegetables

stay away from pasta and stay away from sauces based on dairy to flavour your food

before bed - protien shake

break up your meals into 6 per day - portion sizes of the complete meal not to be bigger than the size of your hand - eat regularily small ammounts and your metabolism will improve

Build lean muscle - the more lean muscle you have the more your body burns calories ( even when you sleep ) to keep the muscle alive - you dont have to build big muscles just lean muscle tissue remember that muscle is half the physical size of fat but weighs twice as much - so your scales may not be a good indicator of fat loss - rely instead on your clothes and tape measure to show you are changing your body composition

In the morning train before you eat -

after training try to wait 60 mins before eating dinner - give your body a chance to keep burning stored fat before introducing any new calories

Posted by: yaahmulegiddyup at July 17, 2008 9:50 AM

yaahmule

Thanks for that.

I have a Tunturi T90 sitting in the 3rd bedroom I have not used for over 12 months, because of that reason.
Even put extra mats beneath .
Result...bloody sore knees, so sore I could not walk.

I will try what you say ,I have not got a cross trainer,any recommendations?

Posted by: jogalonga at July 17, 2008 8:42 AM

Helen - Your plan is a good one and I have tried that. But ouch! Depends on the boob situation. I sometimes do a slow jog, but doesn't last long -back to the walking. Much nicer and easier on the bod. I would love to be able to do that though, because then you can get home earlier and do other things.

Walking is one of those great times for thinking, affirmations, goal setting, and yes listening to music. I walk most days, and love it. But then, I live in one of the most beautiful places in Vic. hehe.

A few kilos have slipped on over winter. Now gotta get them off before October when I meet my favourite singer. (Refer to other blog.) I want those photos to look good!!!!

Have a great day all!

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at July 17, 2008 7:21 AM

DO NOT JOG

It will kill your knees and ankles in the long term

I have never jogged because at over 100kg it is too much strain on my joints as at times I am known to do cardio for 2 hours non stop

I use a treadmill

BUT HERE IS HOW TO GET IT TO WORK FOR YOU

set the incline as high as it can go, hang on to the bars and walk constantly uphill at a pace that is the fastest walk you can do before you have to break into a jog/run

do this for 15 minutes

then immediately swap over to a cross trainer machine but ensure the settings are on a incline/decline setting ( with a level of resistance that makes it harder to push and do that for 15 minutes - this really lifts your ass and tightens it up by the way )

IF YOU USE A TREADMILL OR A CROSS TRAINER MACHINE SET AT A ZERO DEGREE INCLINE (OR FLAT ) ALL YOU ARE DOING IS IMPROVING YOUR LUNG AND HEART CAPABILITIES ( CARDIO VASCULAR)

You need RESISTANCE to burn fat

Posted by: yaahmulegiddyup at July 17, 2008 12:57 AM

yaahmuleqiddyup

Tell me how to do it?

I am 92KG and fluctuate about 2kg's

My target weight is 86kg under that I look drawn and tired in the face.

I am medium build to athletic carrying at least 4kg of fat on mid

I am 6'0"

I have played sport all my life and represented at state level.
I was as skinny as a rake and had speed to burn.

I am 55

I have a degenerative condition of the spine which has stopped me from doing anything strenuous for the last 15 years.

I have great stamina even now ,and even the fittest woman cannot keep up with me in bed, and ask me for mercy after two hours.
But I could not run out of sight on a dark night ,because the nerves in my left leg are being compressed by my lower spine
degeneration.

How do I lose this weight without injuring myself?

Posted by: jogalonga at July 16, 2008 11:08 PM

whoamuleslowdown! not everyone wants to be as 'pumped' as you! kudos, by the way, you look good (and your profile made me laff so hard, tea came out ma nose)... but I, like many peeps, will settle for fit-enough and slim-enough.

my tip would be (provided you're reasonably healthy, no injuries) to get some good running shoes ($100 will do, maybe less) and start slowly working up to jogging, using a technique called 'fartlek' - Norwegian or something for 'fastslow'. Basically, you walk some paces, then jog some - how much of each varies with your fitness level, but you need to push yourself a little, and build it up so you're jogging more, walking less. I started doing this every second day, and after only 4 times I could jog for 5 mins non-stop. After 3 weeks, I was able to keep going for 1/2hr pretty constantly, which amazed me. I now do this 6 days a week. Revs me up, sheds weight, and best of all it feels great (especially when you stop, but sometimes before :-). If you're struggling with motivation, either taking a friend along, or listening to bouncy music helps.
Yours in diminishing adiposity,
pH

Posted by: playfulhelen at July 16, 2008 10:57 PM

Do you have any health tips to share with those trying to lose weight whilst keeping healthy?

I could tell you all the truth about weight loss etc

but you can not handle the truth because maybe 1% have the dedication needed

Posted by: yaahmulegiddyup at July 16, 2008 8:58 PM

blueyedblond at July 16, 2008 7:01 PM

Muscle is about 20% heavier than fat and other tissue.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at July 16, 2008 8:10 PM

Fit or fat... An article in the Courier Mail after the last State of Origon said that almost half of the Broncos team would have been considered overweight if BMI was the only criteria measured.

Posted by: blueyedblond at July 16, 2008 7:01 PM