Life The Getting in Shape Thread

[blai]

You can do it Agnes

 

[baboysai]

Thank you blai. you do not deserve the thanks button, you deserve a thank you post. Besides, this thread is what it's for, motivational crap. lol.

btw, are your abs showing now? Because of your running thing?

 

[Naomi]

Next week, I'm starting P90X...
Wish me luck and that I won't die by the third day!
I'm also getting into the swimming spirit. *sigh* I've been too lazy for too long.

 

[blai]

Is that one of the beach workouts? The one that's one step easier than Insanity?

 

[Naomi]

I don't know if it's a beach work out. o.o At least, I've never heard it called that. But dude it's pretty insane. It uses a technique called muscle confusion or muscle memory or something like that. My cousin was in karate for several years, and then he kinda stopped for a while on his brown belt (crazy). So he wanted to get his black belt before going off to college, and he used this program to get back in shape for it and passed the test.

I'm going to die. XDDD *whimp*

 

[blai]

Yeah, I was right, it was one of the Beachbody workout programs, the Extreme one (just below Insanity) with instructors such as Tony Horton (P90 series) and Shaun T (Insanity). I did Insanity myself for a couple of weeks but were forced to stop due to heart issues. I can tell you that if it's as half as hard as Insanity was you'll have an extremely difficult time to pass the first days but after that it gets easier. The best thing with Insanity was that it had a general design working with time (intervals) but at the same time putting so much strain on your body that regardless if you're in shape, or incredibly out of it, you'll be just as tired afterwards. Out of the two, Insanity is supposed to be the harder one as it's supposed to show the same results in sixty days compared to P90X's ninety days.

During my two-three weeks I already saw great results but that was, of course, combined with a good diet and proper amount of sleep so if you're going to try it out, give it 100% with right dieting, sleep etc. And remember, a top athlete will feel the same pain, strain and will be just as tired as you after.

In my opinion, Shaun T is the best motivator ever. Just check out the intro for Insanity - Dig Deeper and tell me you're not ready to just go through the program in one day.

 

[Naomi]

Thanks, Blai. I've never really gotten recommendations, feedback, or warnings from anyone about the program (besides the infomercial XDDD), so that's good to know. Although I do workout from time to time, I wouldn't exactly say that I'm in tip top shape or anything. So this P90X is really going to kick my ass for the entire time period I do it I'm sure. If it's too difficult at first, I'll just work my way up and go at my own pace. Anything's better than nothing I suppose.

Since I'm a vegetarian, should I be drinking protein shakes or something like that?

 

[blai]

Well, the shape you're in before you start doesn't matter - it's the shape you're in when you've finished :3
I think you'll do great and remember to dig deep and find the will to never give up nor lower the pace! It'll all be worth it.

You don't have to drink protein shakes if you don't want to as there are dozens of other things you can eat instead. For example, instead of chicken and turkey you can eat Quorn and other fungus extractions, seitan, rice, tempeh or pressed-tofu. As well as surimi.

I assume that you, as a vegetarian, are already aware of most of the protein food products and their effects, as well as what they replace.
I've been a vegetarian myself and I had no problem in keeping up with meat-lovers when it came to protein intake. On the other hand I had a lower fat intake whilst having about the same amount of calories. In short - it was awesome.

However, if you want to do the PX to build muscles then it wouldn't be a horrible idea to drink protein shakes. It all depends on why you go through with it. Muscle-building or burning of carbohydrates.

 

[baboysai]

darn!!!! I gained 3 kilos in the past month! It's so hard to control my diet at work. >.<

I often can't eat breakfast because I start work 5 am... then because there's so much to do, I really can't eat until about 2 pm. By that time I load up on the rice provided by the kitchen for the staff so that's a lot of carbs- but because I'm so hungry I could care less (until I regret it later of course).

I find that even if I do eat some breakfast, 9 hours straight of physical work without food will still make me veeeery hungry that I eat a lot when I get the chance. I can't choose the lunch food as well, as the kitchen provides the food. And I don't wanna cook any more when I get home.

I'd been trying to eat just that one time in the day, with the rest (breakfast and dinner) with fruits and juices, but then I wouldn't have enough energy to work out at all. So I begin to have problem areas (thighs, stomach). I'll still have to feel my way through this whole new lifestyle. There must be a way around it!

 

[Naomi]

That sounds really stressful. D: And stress is also bad for your health if you have too much of it. Well, first things first! Please make time for breakfast! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, of course. Even eating some fruit on the go is better than nothing. I can't believe you don't even begin to eat until 2! No wonder you're starving.

Since you say new lifestyle, do you mean that you got a new job? If that's the case, you probably need time to adapt and get into a routine. Whenever I start something new, it usually takes a while for me to fit in time for diet and exercise.

Hang in there!

 

[baboysai]

that is exactly true. I'm about a month and a half into my new job. I try to eat some fruit on the go, but it's not enough as the day goes by. Well, i'm still trying to figure things out.

 

[blai]

I don't want to sound sceptic but I've read your posts here over the years and I find it difficult to believe that you simply just gained three kilos of fat in a month. I mean, you of all people.

(I didn't even know that was generally possible though...)

 

[Zeltrax]

Uh..I find it hard to believe it too.
Sorry to butt in like that but is it true that if you starve yourself or some other method that make you lose weight fast,
you'll gain weight faster after you start eating more stuff again?
I'm not sure how that works.

 

[blai]

Uh..I find it hard to believe it too.
Sorry to butt in like that but is it true that if you starve yourself or some other method that make you lose weight fast,
you'll gain weight faster after you start eating more stuff again?
I'm not sure how that works.

When you starve yourself you loose weight very fast yes but you loose the "wrong" kind of weight. The reason why the weight loss is greater than when you exercise with proper diet is because you loose muscle mass instead of fat and muscle mass has a higher density therefore it weighs more than fat (counting same volumes).

When you start to eat after having starved yourself your body becomes unsure of whether it'll starve again or get a regular intake of calories, hence why your body won't "use" everything but start to store calories just in case you starve again. Therefore your metabolism gets (in common tongue) fucked up and you'll start to gain weight in terms of body-fat.

The best way to do "this" is to def/bulk. When you def you practically only do cardio while eating a diet that consists mostly of vegetables, mostly slow carbohydrates and second to no proteins. This, you do for a month or two, after that you start to bulk. Bulking consists solely of muscle training and you eat almost only proteins to build muscles.

This way you first a) burn your fat to get a slim body and then b) build muscles. That'll lead to a body with better textures and that looks generally better than someone who "only" works out.

 

[baboysai]

I don't want to sound sceptic but I've read your posts here over the years and I find it difficult to believe that you simply just gained three kilos of fat in a month. I mean, you of all people.

(I didn't even know that was generally possible though...)

It's actually possible, Blai. A kilo a week (some 2 lbs) gained is highly possible. So 3 kilos in a month is pretty much what happened to me.

Especially because of how my eating habits have changed drastically- starving for the rest of the day then eating much after. That pretty much puts my body in limbo and as you said, becomes defensive to the next starvation thus is reluctant to burn anything.

 

[blai]

On the subject of weight I just wanted to share that since 15th of May (when I started to write down a little training journal for myself) I've calculated that I've cycled & jogged over 373km's (adding another 47 over the weekend) and I've lost about two kg's of weight while building up additional muscles in my leg (not that much though, I already had pretty muscular legs before).

Either way I see this as a success and can't wait to see the result on the 15th of August when I'll quit my job and move. Hopefully I've lost more weight, built more stamina AND "travelled" over 700kms.

 

[BakaHaze]

Blai...that sounds like an epic workout...

Also, I have an 8 km race in a month Q_Q

Any Advice to help me finish that race??

 

[otomo20]

I wrote this, I think it would help people understand a bit more about weight loss.

http://game8review.blogspot.com/2011/06/basics-in-determining-healthy-weight.html

 

[BakaHaze]

Hm, yeah, interesting. If onlyyou would follow that up with how I would go from the 20%ish to the sub 15%...



Nice blog BTW.

Also, in another note, I'm deciding to alternate 10km light jogging and 5 km fartlek over the next 3-4 weeks, in prep for my 8km race. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[otomo20]

I'm thinking of doing something like that, It would take time though since I research things and stuff, but in the future I'll put something like that just for you buddy