# 2017 Diet and Fitness Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778 "2017-01-10T00:00:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/21 "2017-01-18T20:55:31Z")
I joined Anytime Fitness in August last year. I was going very steadily and had dropped from 220 lbs to 206. Then the holidays came. I’m a sucker for sugary sweets and there was constantly free food and snacks all over the office throughout December. Also, the weather turned cold. Funny, the lower the temperature, the further away the gym is. Anyway, started back up in January, and found I was back up to 213 :eek: So, I’m back at it five days a week. M,W,F is cardio and strength. Tu and Th are cardio. Cardio on Saturday usually consists of lawn work. If there’s no lawn work I hit the gym. My first goal is to get below 200 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/22 "2017-01-19T16:15:50Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Holy carps, **The wind of my soul** , I don’t know what your standards are but body fat percentage in the teens is generally regarded as “Athletic” for women, better than “Fit” or “Acceptable”. Yeah, about that … my body fat is no longer in the teens. The holidays happened. So my goal now is to get to 20% body fat or lower within the next twelve weeks. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/23 "2017-01-19T21:51:28Z")
Boot Camp is making my muscles hurt in new and exciting ways. However, I am able to jump on and off steps now (I had a phobia about that before, fearing my ankle would laugh weakly and go hide in a corner) and burpees aren’t NEARLY so awful (by just a little. But I’m getting better at doing them.) It’s funny how when you first start a weight exercise, you think, “Oh, this is easy! I can up my weight!” Then after a few sets it’s all God Kill Me Now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/24 "2017-01-20T19:33:35Z")
No kidding, ivylass. My arm-pits still hurt from last Wednesday’s workout. At least the number on the scale is headed downward for the first time in months. I’m 8 pounds from my personal “Acceptable” and 14 pounds from “Happy”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/25 "2017-01-22T19:47:38Z")
Its been just over a year since I started trying to lose weight. Last January 1st I got on my new digital weight scale and it read 177, OMG! I’d never been in the 170’s. I immediately cut out any form of bread and eliminated the “Cs” from my diet. NO candy, cookies, cake, cream (as in ice cream), coke (all sugar drinks including fruit juice) or cheese. Breakfast: tiny amount of cereal topped with a generous amount of fruit and non fat milk. Lunch: Large chicken breast spinach salad with non fat dressing. Dinner: Kale salad with black beans. I also started working out every day. I got up an hour early (5 am) for a 60 minute workout. MWF upper body dumb bell weightlifting and intensive ab work. TThSa incline treadmill. Sundays just ab work. Workout is done in front of large mirror. Finally, I got a huge one year calendar that I placed on the wall next to my scale in the bathroom so I could track my weight loss progress. I wrote my weight on it every day. After 5 months I dropped to 147 with a 31 inch waist. At 5’11" this was getting too thin, so I started taking a protein/ creatine powder concoction with non fat milk. I wanted to gain a little weight back, but in muscle not fat. Today, my weight is steady at around 153. Still no bread or “Cs” in the diet and still drinking the protein powder. Much stronger and better toned body. Nothing like “results” to act as an incentive to continue. (Male, 63 yo) ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/26 "2017-01-22T20:16:23Z")
Way to go, **Mangosteen**! My gym is bringing back the Friday 5:30a Body Pump class. So this means I will be going to the gym five days a week. 1. Monday Boot Camp (it’s an eight week course, so when that’s done I will go back to Body Combat) 2. Tuesday Spinning 3. Wednesday Boot Camp (Body Pump when it’s done) 4. Friday Body Pump 5. Saturday HIIT and Body Pump I think that’s a good mix of cardio and strength training. Next Saturday, depending on how I feel, I may do HIIT but not Body Pump. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/27 "2017-01-23T13:47:24Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Sorry to be Captain Obvious, Sir T-Cups, but gyms are well-lit and open late. If a gym isn’t possible for you, consider some hand weights to use with squats and deadlifts in your apartment. There’s lots of instructional youtube videos. Yes, this is very true. However running on a dreadmill doesn’t work for me. In fact, I end up getting super dizzy and lightheaded, running outside is the only thing that works for me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/28 "2017-01-23T20:02:47Z")
Bummer, Sir T-Cups. Does that rule out an indoor track as well? At least we’re past the shortest day of the year, so hopefully the sun will start to cooperate with you soon. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/29 "2017-01-23T20:17:32Z")
Since April of 2016, I have lost about 40 lbs (from about 265 to about 225 – I’m 6’, male, and in my 30s). I had a minor health scare which motivated the weight loss. I’ve only slightly changed my exercise habits (just a bit more consistent moderate exercise about 4-5 times a week, in addition to the 10,000+ steps I do every day to get to work). The major change was diet, and it was relatively simple (and I plan for it to be permanent, since temporary changes would mean the weight loss would be temporary) – almost every lunch and dinner is either soup or salad. About once or twice a week I’ll have something else for a meal, and I’ll allow myself junk food in moderation once or twice a month. I’m close to my target of 215 lbs, and when I meet it I’ve promised myself a present. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/30 "2017-01-23T20:29:03Z")
I’m down to 212-213 now, which is a solid 30 pounds lost since late September (almost exactly four months). I saw my doctor a week ago and she was ecstatic: not only is she happy about the weight loss, but all of my numbers are really good. My blood sugar A1C is the lowest it’s ever been – almost normal for a nondiabetic (I’m type 2) – and she expressed amazement at my cholesterol level. I’m starting to get random compliments from people who don’t see me every day, and while I’m not dropping clothing sizes as quickly as I’d like I’m starting to see a difference in how things fit. I’m \*almost \*down to just 1 chin, and I feel like I might actually have collarbones under there somewhere! 😃 > [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > At any rate, my husband and I are both going to set a goal for ourselves to reach by the end of March, and if we fail to reach that goal then we have to go vegetarian for the month of April. OMG the idea of having to go vegetarian as a punishment made me laugh out loud!! 😃 > [@beowulff](#): > > I benched 200 lbs. (1x) yesterday, which was my 1-rep max when I was in my 30’s, more than 2 decades ago. WOW. Go, **beowulff**! > [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Again, if I’m replacing this fat with muscle and I end up at a net ~15 pounds lost but I can fit into my jeans again…I’m not going to complain! I think that’s an excellent way of looking at things! > [@Daddypants](#): > > So, I’m back at it five days a week. M,W,F is cardio and strength. Tu and Th are cardio. Cardio on Saturday usually consists of lawn work. If there’s no lawn work I hit the gym. I can’t seem to get off my ass at all, so I have a ton of respect for this. > [@](#): > > My first goal is to get below 200 lbs. Same here! _fist bump_ 🙂 > [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > At least the number on the scale is headed downward for the first time in months. I’m 8 pounds from my personal “Acceptable” and 14 pounds from “Happy”. So close! That’s awesome!! > [@Mangosteen](#): > > Today, my weight is steady at around 153. Still no bread or “Cs” in the diet and still drinking the protein powder. Much stronger and better toned body. Another “WOW” here! Very inspirational! > [@ivylass](#): > > So this means I will be going to the gym five days a week. You and **Daddypants** … :eek: That’s just so impressive to me. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m close to my target of 215 lbs, and when I meet it I’ve promised myself a present. You’re so close! That’s amazing! I am all about rewards. 😉 Sometimes they still involve food – e.g., if I don’t eat X right now I can have Y the next time I’m out to dinner – but I’ve started setting some non-food ones. Like, when I get down to 199 I’ll reactivate my online dating profile. (Which may seem like a punishment to some, but it’ll be time to start getting back out there.) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/31 "2017-01-23T21:45:46Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Bummer, Sir T-Cups. Does that rule out an indoor track as well? At least we’re past the shortest day of the year, so hopefully the sun will start to cooperate with you soon. Nope, indoor tracks work perfectly fine. As long as I’m physically going somewhere I am golden. That brings me back to what I was originally saying: Orlando literally has zero indoor tracks or well-lit outdoor tracks (like a school or something). But it’s ok. It’s still running season down here so I have 5ks and 10ks and half marathons for days! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/32 "2017-01-24T18:53:02Z")
I did 205 today. I’m not sure it counts, because I think that my spotter helped me (it felt surprisingly easy). I’ll try again in 3 days, and see if I can really do it on my own. If so, it’s a new personal best. Nice to hear all the positive stories in the thread - keep up the good work, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/33 "2017-01-25T14:32:31Z")
**Misnomer** , I just want to say that your most recent post in this thread is something I aspire to. I can be distressingly competitive, and when I read through threads like this, I’m tempted to congratulate myself whenever I’m in better shape than someone, and make excuses whenever someone else is in better shape than me. I would love to attain your mindset of being so sincerely happy for everyone who is getting closer to their goals. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/34 "2017-01-25T15:29:17Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer;19943970 You and **Daddypants** … :eek: That’s just so impressive to me. [/QUOTE] I’ll have to try next week. Ivylad seems to think it may be too much, working out five days a week. Tue was my spin class, but I was (uncharacteristically) wiped out from work that I went straight home and crashed. But we did bandwork today in Boot Camp. At least there were no burpees. Push ups and sprints and front loading squats, though. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/35 "2017-01-25T19:30:53Z")
My biggest challenge remains getting off my ass. I am losing weight through diet alone, but I know I would reach my goals so much faster if I were also exercising. Not to mention that I could really use [del]more[/del] any upper body strength. I keep saying – to myself and others – that I’ll figure it out, but I think the only real solution is just to buckle down and start forcing myself to get out of bed 30-40 minutes earlier. > [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I can be distressingly competitive, and when I read through threads like this, I’m tempted to congratulate myself whenever I’m in better shape than someone, and make excuses whenever someone else is in better shape than me. I think that’s only natural. Don’t be too hard on yourself. 🙂 There is so much riding on our weight/health that I am all about people doing whatever works for them: some find it helpful to be cheerleaders, while some can support others but need to retain a little competitiveness in order to be successful. I don’t think either approach is better or worse than the other. > [@ivylass](#): > > Push ups and sprints and front loading squats, though. :eek: Just reading those words makes me sad… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/36 "2017-01-25T20:40:54Z")
Keep in mind that some kind of exercise or physical activity should be a normal part of your life regardless of your weight. Weight loss is one benefit of exercise, but there are many other benefits as well. Your body is made of many highly complex systems that all work better when you are more fit. It’s like brushing your teeth. One benefit is fresh breath, but that’s not the only benefit. If you stop brushing your teeth because your breath is fine, your teeth and gums will start to fail. Exercise is the same way. Without exercise, many of the components in your body will atrophy and decay regardless of what your weight is. If you are trying to get into exercise, the hardest part is making it a habit. Commit to doing some form of exercise at least 3x per week of at least 30 minutes. Pick definitive times for working out rather than “when you have time” or “when you feel like it”. There are always distractions that can fill your time, and exercise often gets pushed to the side and eventually forgotten. So make a schedule like to go walking M/W/F at lunch. At first, be very rigid about your workout schedule. That will help develop the habit. After a while, you can be more flexible since you will genuinely want to make up the workout at a later time (e.g. work out at night instead of at lunch). Try to get away from thinking that exercise is just for weight loss. Even if you’re overweight and never lose a pound, you’ll be much healthier if you exercise than if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/37 "2017-01-25T21:10:17Z")
Yep, **filmore** , I know all of that – but thanks. 🙂 My problem truly is not ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/38 "2017-01-25T22:45:57Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Try to get away from thinking that exercise is just for weight loss. Even if you’re overweight and never lose a pound, you’ll be much healthier if you exercise than if you don’t. Quoted for truth. My primary motivation for exercising is “I want to be able to walk when I’m an old lady”. My dear mother can’t walk much farther than across a parking lot and I really don’t want that to be my future. Comparison is the thief of happiness. It’s tempting to compare myself to other people at the gym, but that doesn’t do me any good. I’ll never be like the girl with the perfect butt even if I copy her workouts; she’s probably half my age and got lucky in the genetic lottery. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/39 "2017-01-26T14:31:46Z")
I’ve gotten to the point where I feel guilty if I miss a workout. I have friends at the gym (we even have a Facebook group) and it’s a wonderful social event. Last Saturday I lunched with some of my Fitness Buddies. The only person you have to be better than is yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778/40 "2017-01-27T02:49:05Z")
5½ months after a nasty injury the doc cleared me to start running again Dec 28th. Listening to the radio while driving to work on Tues Jan 3rd when they said something that made me realize, I’m one of _them_. It’s the beginning of Jan, I’m fat (gained a lot, for me) outta shape, no cardio stamina, low muscle tone; I look like a friggin’ Resolutioner. :eek: Doing a modified C25K, I’m now up to two miles non-stop. My times are pathetically slow, about 2 min/mile slower than last summer, but I realize I need to build a base under me before I can think about speed again. This week I tried to get back into real training but couldn’t (Thanks, Trump! :mad:) At least the PT worked me this morning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-diet-and-fitness-thread/776778.md?page=3)