It starts today! Challenge?

[ForresterModern]

About 5-6 years ago I had a medication induced rise from my long time weight of around 230 up to 289 over about 18 months, despite activity including cycling about 150-200 miles a week in season. Unfortunately I was living in Wisconsin and season starts around late April and ends around late September (I don't do indoor very well---too boring). Then after my son was born it has been even harder, although I did train up for two long distance charity rides this summer (used to do about 10 per summer). Now stuck just under 280 for the last couple years, but would dearly love to lose 25-30, so yeah, count me in. Even if it means all my kilts need to be drawn in a bit I will suffer that cost.

I agree with Rex that controlling diet a little at a time is the best first step, followed by increasing your activity and muscle mass, which burns off the calories faster than just starvation. And it makes you feel better along the way too. Just tough in the winter to keep up the activity level for me for a whole variety of reasons.

jeff

[David Thornton]

It is far easier to eat a bit less than it is to burn the extra calories, look it up if you have any doubt. But, some increase in activity is absolutely essential to facilitate a change.

Rex also hit on one of my pet peeves, I'll explain. While he can make decisions both about what is available and what he eats, a married person cannot. My wife viewed my getting back to my goal weight as folly at first so she kept snacking at night-a major no no. As the weight came off, she along with her mother and my sister in law saw my weight loss as an indictment of their inability to do the same, so I was battered with negative comments.

I've held ideal for 12 months now. So it can be done. Good luck to each of you.

David

[Lachlan09]

Go for it !

I had to start a diet too. Since late October-early November, I've lost 8 kilos (about 18 lbs) and I'm still doing an average of about 2lbs a week (inshallah !)

Long way to go, but trousers I had tailored just before Eid-al-Adha (just after I started) are now slack and look like a bag tied at the top !

[Tiny]

The girls at work came up with a biggest loser contest and were suprised when I joined. they were also suprised when I told them i was 275 lbs. Count me in. I'd like to be down to 250 or atleast lose 2 inches off the kilt belt.

[Packhound]

Okay, I'm in for a pound (or 25 in my case). My wife and I both have been discussing this very thing after the holidays (Spending Christmas through New Years with the in-laws and LOTS of snack foods) I find that the most difficult part of a weight loss program is finding encouragement. I expect that will not be a problem with this bunch of guys (and gals).

[B R Gordon]

Over the last year I've lost about 25 lbs, by eating less and watching the intake of carbs. I biggest problem is that I love bread.

Rowing and cycling are my main physical activities, but with winter here it's harder to get the exercise needed.

I've gone from 215 to 185 and eventually want to reach 175, last seen in 1979.

I'm in for the last 10 lbs.

[Tatonka]

Thank you ChubRock! I am in for 36! I just talked it over with BamBam (my son) and he is in for 15. He is breaking out our kettlebells as we speak. Man, there is a lot of dust on those things...

[GDub]

I weighed in at somewhere between 180 - 185 from my early 20s until my early 40s. I tipped the scale at 200 at 45, 220 at 50, and have been hovering between 220 - 230 for the past 5 years. I'd like to get back under 200 in 2010. So I'll need to up my running miles from 10-15 to 15-20 miles per week and drink less beer (Oh, how I dread the less beer part ). Doable? Yes! Count me in for 25 lbs.

[Nighthawk]

So, in the spirit of this thread, I would like to introduce the Golden Eagle Shotokan Karate School 30 second workout (given the fact that increasing muskle mass helps burn calories). In the school, we do 4 pushups and 5 situps as our basic exercise regimen. For the pushups, the 4 positions are:

Hands out at a 45 degree angle, hands straight forward, hands in at 45 degrees, and diamond in front of you about 8 inches stretched from your forehead. For each rep, you drop until your upper arms are horizontal and hold there for a count of 30 seconds.

The situps:

Start out on your back (of course!) and hold your feet about 6 inches in the air. Crunch at your abdominal muscles until your shoulders are off the ground. Next, put your feet flat on the floor with your legs apart and crunch at the middle so your shoulders are off the ground. Third, stick your feet in he air, keeping them together, about 45 degrees to your waist. Get those shoulders off the ground. After that one, roll to one side, bend your legs at the knees, lift your feet about 6 inches off of the ground, and reach for your toes. If you're on your left side, reach with your right hand, or if you're on your right side, reach with your left hand. Roll over and repeat on the other side. Hold each one for a count of 30 seconds.

Think it sounds easy? Let me know how you all like this in about 2 weeks when you start to notice the muscle definition in your arms and the hardening of your abs. It's incredible- my instructor is a genious.

***EDIT*** I just finished my pushups. I should mention that if your muscles aren't trembling from strain, then you're not down far enough, or crunched up high enough. Your muscles should burn.

Thank you ChubRock! I am in for 36! I just talked it over with BamBam (my son) and he is in for 15. He is breaking out our kettlebells as we speak. Man, there is a lot of dust on those things...

Wat the heck are those?

[be da veva]

and diamond in front of you about 8 inches stretched from your forehead.

Cannot SEE that one in my mind..... Diamond I get, but the positioning of said diamond...



So where do I put my hands??