how to get in shape? any advice?

[MadJack]

so, 30 years of sales, either driving a car to somebody's house or having them visit my office while i sat at my desk and now THIS job sitting in front of the computer 18 hours a day for the last 3+ years has put me in.....let's say......bad shape.

hitting the big five-0 hasn't helped either.

i'm about 30 pounds more than i would like and want to slim back down a bit. like those 30 pounds.

i'm back to where i was 3 superbowl parties ago (rams/patriots) but want to get back to where i was 2 superbowl parties ago (tampa bay/ oakland), for those who have met me on both occasions.

what should an old guy like me do?

i don't want to starve and i don't want some vigorous workout program. just want to carve off those 30 lb's in a year or so.

let's hear from the experts.

thanks

 

[beertime]

You could drive around and pretend you shit the bed ?

 

[Sun Tzu]

you arent losing 30 pounds in a healthy way unless you do an exercise program. I guess the issue is how you define vigorous. 4-5 days a week for 30-45 minutes is sufficient

 

[BahamaMama]

her is some advice from a true EXPERT sweetie!!!! you are perfect as you are right now.......don't freaken worry about it and ENJOY the life you have!!!!!!


and yes, i have been at ALL those parties, and IMO, you looked the best at the first one i was at

 

[vinnie]

Are you afraid someone might mistake you for beantownjim :scared fatty ? :mj07:

 

[MadJack]

you arent losing 30 pounds in a healthy way unless you do an exercise program. I guess the issue is how you define vigorous. 4-5 days a week for 30-45 minutes is sufficient

that's what i'm talking about.

 

[MadJack]

her is some advice from a true EXPERT sweetie!!!! you are perfect as you are right now.......don't freaken worry about it and ENJOY the life you have!!!!!!


and yes, i have been at ALL those parties, and IMO, you looked the best at the first one i was at

awwwww. thanks anyway, mama but i need to lose a few

 

[djv]

MJ what ever you do start slow. Other wise you start to hurt and then you give it up. It took me a year to take off 35 pounds. First thing that started to feel better was my knees and back. And slow but sure by energy level. Ask your local hospital what they offer in classes and exercises. You may find your insurance will cover it. For DAM SURE do not start any heavy work outs without getting a stress test. I was happy I did. I found out I need three of those stents put in the ticker. Had I just start working out hard. I might have been done for good.

 

[BahamaMama]

Jack, for someone your height, there is no freaken way you gained enough weight from 2/05 until now to have to take off an ounce unless you eat an entire cow a day........ being in perfect condition after the age of 30 is only for those that pay to have doctors put them into that kinda condition!! just keep aging gracefully and perfectly as you have thus far, and don't make yourself miserable by dieting and not enjoying life!!!

 

[VaNurse]

I'm no expert and I doubt you want to hear this but alcohol and sodas contain lots of empty calories! Reduce the red meats and junk food and replace them with broiled chicken/fish and lots of fruits and vegetables. It is true that you're not going to lose weight and keep it off just by starving yourself on a diet. Chances are that you'll gain back what you lost and more.

As far as exercise, I see that you enjoy golfing. Try walking the course, at least for the 1st nine to start. Park in the furthest space from the Big Lots door. Take the stairs when possible versus the elevator or escalator. These are baby steps that get you started on your way to attaining a more healthy weight and lifestyle.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Got something so easy your not going to believe it --but trust me.

Pick any 2 days in succession you wish--I found Mon/Tue was good time for me. On those days eat nothing but salads-as much as you want--I put cheese--ham ect on mine.All the other days forget about diet and eat what you wish.

The salads slide right through you and by doing it 2 days in a row your stomach will shrink "a little" each week. After about 3 weeks you will find yourself getting full on less. You will lose about 10lbs 1st month and about 15 lbs the next.

For exercise--play more golf --and wager enough to make you sweat a lot

 

[MadJack]

Jack, for someone your height, there is no freaken way you gained enough weight from 2/05 until now to have to take off an ounce unless you eat an entire cow a day.

mama, i'm about the same i was 2/05 maybe 5 lbs higher. im 245 and like myself a lot better at 215/220. 6'4" guys carry a gut too. :cursin:
it's the beer gut that needs to go. everything else is fine, imo. maybe liposuction? lmao prob 5 dimes and no more gut. hmmmm

DTB....sounds good. definitely going to try it although i don't over eat at all. i think my problem is lack of activity.

and walking the golf course is out of the question.

 

[SixFive]

Smaller portions and less snacking. When you do snack, eat fat free pretzels (which are pretty good tasting). Drink diet sodas too if you have to have soda. I'm not sure about the alcoholic beverages, but I'm sure they have plenty of empty calories.

I got up to 225 last year, and I was really hating that. I did the above, and I found out that lots of times when I was going back for seconds and ESPECIALLY when I was bored or late at night I wasn't really hungry, it was just something to do. I bet you do a lot of your eating/snacking in front of the computer and late at night, don't you? Try to just eat at the table.

If you can find an exercise that you enjoy, it will be easier to do. It's also easier to exercise with somebody else rather than by yourself.

 

[yyz]

Whenever I want to lose a few pounds, I catch myself in the nick of time, and order a large pizza with everything on it!

 

[CrazyHorse]

Jack,

I am 6'4" and pretty skinny overall. However I am quite capable of getting too large of a beer gut myself. In the summer I am more motivated to work out but once it gets cold forget it. When I do I make sure not to overdo it. Jogging and basketball (even just shooting by myself) are 2 great ways to reduce that gut. Also I agree w/ what was said about empty calories. I still eat pretty much a un-healthy diet but I now only drink diet drinks or unsweetened tea. Also my main alcholic beverage of choice is rum and diet coke. Just eliminating those empty calories from soft drinks and beer (still gotta have my beer but now just not as much) is a great start. Now that the weather is gonna start cooling off I am thinking of investing in a treadmill since I refuse to jog/walk out in the cold but need to be better about getting at least a little bit of exercise during the fall/winter..

 

[snoozer]

Most doctor's/nutrionists will all tell you the same thing.... watch Calorie intake and exercise. a 30-45 minute walk 4-5 times a week, will do wonders, assuming you watch calories. You primary doctor should be able to do an evaluation on your body and tell you how many calories you can eat each day to maintain your weight. based on your exercising regiment, they can tell you how many calories to eat to lose x pounds in x weeks, or just the opposite gain x pounds in x weeks.

For example, my buddy is the same height/weight as me, he eats around 4000-5000 calories daily, but he works outside. I consume 2000 on average, I sit a desk.

I think a lot of the thing people suggest work in line with this... pop and alcohol have a lot of useless calories. If you start documenting how many calories you eat on a daily basis, you will notice this a difference.

I know there are a lot of application programs you can buy (fairly cheap) that list almost all major food and the calories in them. calorie king.com is one balace log.com is another.

The nice thing about counting calories is if you go over one day, it does not harm you as much as if you were on atkins (or south beach) and you ate carbs one day.

 

[Musca]

Jack- Without preaching-

YOur age means a few things-

Increase your intake of whole grains- Good for your heart and help clean out other things-

Decrease artificical carbs- WHITE BREAD, white pasta and WHITE RICE- These are big things-

Of course 15 minutes of cardio a day is all that is really needed- You do not have to kill your self working out- Stretch for 20 minutes, work out 20 minutes, cool down for 20 minutes- Will give you a complete workout- Cooling down is critical- Got to get your body back to equilibrium

More diet things- Intake needs to be higher with green vegetabls and lower with things like bananas- Bananas are great for you but the fat actually can outweigh the good-

So, recap-

Intake more whole grains, less modified grains
Increase Olive Oils, decrease butter or hydrogenated oils
Increase Green Vegetables, decrease candy and bananas
Increase Water, ORange juice, Decrease red bull or energy drinks

Glass of red win does help or a beer a day- But not a bottle and a 12 pack

60 minute full routine 3 days a week- Stretch, CArdio, stretch, shower

Increase as time permits and body gets into a routine-

Good luck and be safe-

Jason

 

[dawgball]

Jack--don't listen to people that tell you that you are in perfect health. We are all fat asses, but our society has made it okay to kill ourselves slowly by eating improperly, not exercising, and high consumptions of alcohol. I am personally guilty of all three, and I am certainly not the type of person that is going to become a "health nut". BUT what I can do for myself is realize that I can be better.

I am 5'10" and was about 205 three weeks ago. I got fed up. But the only time I can legitimately get on a regiment is first thing in the morning, and that means getting up earlier every day. So now I get up at 5:30 and walk to the gym. I do a light weights workout then hit the treadmill. I am onw at 197 (which most of my loss is water weight at this time), but I am already feeling better.

My goal (I have never been a distance runner at all!) is to run 3 miles in 30 minutes or less in 6 months. I have never straight run 3 miles in my life that I can recall. Even when I swam competitively, I was sprints only, and I usually slacked in practice on distance swimming.

Anyway, set a goal outside of your weight. mine is the 3 miles/30 minutes. The weight is not the problem or the solution; it is the result. I believe that a person's goals should be more based on feeling great and achieving something. Without that, then you get into the cycle of most Americans of dieting (the devil).

Damn, I feel like Tony Robbins!

 

[Scott4USC]

When you do excercise, try and excercise in the morning when you first get up. Before you eat anything. Wait an hour to eat your AM meal after you did your cardio. Another good time to excercise is at night "after" you ate all your meals for the day.

Don't eat late. If you go to bet at midnight, don't eat anything after 8-9pm.

On a regular basis, don't eat a lot of carbs at night. Especially late at night. If you like to eat big meals, try and make your big meals in the "AM" or early afternoon vs at dinner or late pm.

Don't starve yourself. Try and eat 4-6 small meals a day. Never starve yourself.

Not hard to do! You will see results. Good luck!

 

[Franky Wright]

Dawg,
Excellent response!

Jack,
I have been doing Atkins/South Beach/= Franky's own formula type diet. I work out about 2-3 times per week. But not at health club. I play soccer, or hockey(season), rollerblade my 2 year old around.
My high 2 mos. ago was 237 :scared . Now down to 217 and still workin at it. Energy level is up thru the roof! You have to find what works for you. I do the low carb watch, and my portions are smaller. And I will have pasta or a bread about once every two weeks. It helps with the cravings.
GL
Franky