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Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

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Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

unh_hockey said:
My question to you is this: what are your goals from working out? (anyone else can chime in, might as well start the new thread with some opinions on this!)
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My CrossFit coach has a funny answer to that - he says that the goal is always to look good naked. ;)

Personally, I want to be in the best overall physical shape possible. The obvious result of that is physical characteristics, but that's not my primary goal. I want to be able to lift more, run faster, skate faster, increase my stamina, etc.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

unh_hockey said:
I hear people online talk about their amazing lift numbers, but often when I see people my size or larger than me do the same lifts I do ( bench aside), my bar usually has more plates than theirs do. it leads me to believe most people exaggerate greatly. For example, people my size don't even come close to squatting nearly what I do, but people who have 50 lbs on me usually do more. a raw number of 1000 for the big 3 for someone at 170 isnt bad. They say that being able to 1 rep your body weight on bench is good; I usually do 8-10 reps of 175+ lbs just for warmups.

My question to you is this: what are your goals from working out? (anyone else can chime in, might as well start the new thread with some opinions on this!)
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yeah, it could be that my perceptions are warped by people trying to make themselves look more impressive than they are... also, people who tend to report their progress are those who are doing well... people aren't so apt to talking and highlighting their mediocrity.

None of it is really an insult... if i weren't so **** fat I could have possibly made it to 300 pounds squatting before switching the program up... I don't think I'm anything special. I remember having trouble with the bar on the bench press in HS. Mostly I'm probing for understanding.

-----

My goals. The general amorphous goal is to be "in shape" but this is a means to an end in itself. The end is that my physical appearance is one that others will accept on some level... I also wouldn't mind being seriously able to play sports as opposed to not doing much at all. Right now, at least physically, the goal is to get to some level of seriously strong over the next two years and then switch that to gaining size by high-rep weights. Generally, I'd like to be a 5'8" 190-200 pound monster in the end with enough fitness abilities to play sports on a recreational basis. The overall goal, however, is to affect how people perceive me and the general desire to be in shape is but one element of this.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

To answer my own question, I work out first and foremost to be in good shape. Secondary is looking good. There is a huge difference in the way people treat you when you look good. When I was in high school, I was like you and couldn't bench the bar more than a couple of times and was really skinny. Looking good and feeling good exude confidence which is what most folks need when interacting with others professionally or socially.

don't worry i don't take offense to what people think of my numbers. I just love hearing about huge numbers and seldom seeing it in person. There are no doubt some freaks of nature out there who can put up more weight on bench than I can on squats. Elite level athlete status will unlikely be attained by folks here, but it seems most of us are past the beginner stage and some like sloegin are advanced given their background and where they are going. Either way, its great seeing all levels mingle in a fairly civilized forum especially considering most threads on USCHO degrade into egotistical flamefests. actually this might be one of the only active threads I post on anymore.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

I work out because I never want to look like this again. I was tired of looking like a bum and feeling out of breath after I climbed two flights of stairs, so I said "ENOUGH!" and decided to make a change.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

Brutally honest time: I hated the way I looked and felt about myself. I'm in my mid-30's, and my daughter is 9. She's at the age where I can tell that she'll have the extra snack if she's bored, because that's what my wife and I have done. At the same time, she is really interested in playing softball, and want's to go out back and play catch, etc. She pitches, and I had a hard time with crouching, and playing for an extended period of time. So, with the movtivation of my co-worker, I've done something about it.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

moose97 said:
Brutally honest time: I hated the way I looked and felt about myself. I'm in my mid-30's, and my daughter is 9. She's at the age where I can tell that she'll have the extra snack if she's bored, because that's what my wife and I have done. At the same time, she is really interested in playing softball, and want's to go out back and play catch, etc. She pitches, and I had a hard time with crouching, and playing for an extended period of time. So, with the movtivation of my co-worker, I've done something about it.
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My daughter pitches too. Get yourself a bucket. They have softball buckets (usually sold with softballs in them) with nice soft tops on them.

Sit on the bucket and catch for her.

No crouching then. It's saving my knees.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

ShirtlessBob said:
I work out because I never want to look like this again. I was tired of looking like a bum and feeling out of breath after I climbed two flights of stairs, so I said "ENOUGH!" and decided to make a change.
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Pretty much the same thing here.

Plus, I don't particularly want to die of a heart attack at age 40. If I die young, I want it to be because of something exciting, like a bear attack or ninjas. Not a heart attack.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

Goals and wants....

I started this journey about 10 years ago, when I saw myself getting bigger and bigger- all with a low fat diet, and Jazzercise 3-4 times a week + playing hockey. Highest recorded by me was 230 (which was probably 235, since our scale was bad). My family has a history of Type 2 diabetes, and heart problems. And my wife was having similar issues.

So we both lept, and jumped on the low carb lifestyle.

Which got us going in spades- both dropped 30 lb pretty quickly, and our blood chemistry got a lot better- especially mine.

Oddly enough, I must have gotten bored, since we dropped jazzercise at the same time. But kept hockey.

After a few years, we kind of went up again, and I decided that after Christmas break (where FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD is always a focus), that we would return to Jazzercise.

Back on track. back down to the 190's pretty easily.

A few times, Mrs Alfa was challeged at work with a "Smallest Winner" thing- one challenge, she rocked- and dropped 40lb, and won the whole thing- and she's been great about keeping it off. Which lead her to be in one of the American Gladiator kind of challenges at work- and amazed herself on what she COULD do.

bear with me- I'm almost done here, but see a trend in where I'm going with this.

We went to her home one christmas, and needed some way to keep working out, so we joined her dad in his morning walks- we'd jog and try other things. Well, there was this older gentleman- had to be in his 70's, jogging around this short dirt track. Well, if he could do it, why couldn't we? By the end of the two weeks, we were jogging slowly, cool.

Which then changed my wife's work outs from speed walking (surgury recovery) to jogging. And one morning, which was the end of another smallest winner competition, she ran a half marathon on a treadmill! Being so excited, she called, and we agreed to the first DX-AA- she ran half, I ran 10k.

Now we are runners. And I'm feeling better than ever- once I started running, I have lost another 20lb, and feel great.

Long term- if the marathon goes REALLY well, I may make long term plans to attempt to qualif for Boston. If not, my goal is to be able to run a half marathon once a month (not to actually do it, but to be able to, so if we go somewhere, and there's a race- it's a done deal whether we do it or not).

I never was all that down on myself, but I sure feel better now. And it's still pretty amazing that a year ago, it took me the better part of a day to recover from a 6-8 mile run, and now I can do 12-14 without problems. When I get to 18, I'll check back with you all.

Needless to say, it's great to have a running partner share my bed. She's the best (and a lot faster than me).
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

ScoobyDoo said:
My daughter pitches too. Get yourself a bucket. They have softball buckets (usually sold with softballs in them) with nice soft tops on them.

Sit on the bucket and catch for her.

No crouching then. It's saving my knees.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've started using a bucket. I was more commenting on the extra weight on my knees and that I had a hard time playing with my kid...
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

I'll post my journey later...for now, I'm going to go walk around NYC and explore. :)
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

inspiring post about your wife and you taking some action. if I ever get married, thats the dedication I hope to get out of the S/O.

20 reps 160 lbs - perfect form, not overly difficult. Thank god for the easy ramp up in weight! I can already see some healthy weight being put back on mostly due to the diet. Aim is 185 LEAN.

lastly, who is going to step up and create part duex of this thread? patman? alfablue? i'm looking in your general direction!
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

I'm good for a creative title, but given that I've posted here now 7 times and haven't said a single thing of significance, I'm not sure it's my place.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

BUT09 said:
The past two days have absolutely sucked for CrossFit. We did Helen yesterday, and I totally dogged the runs. I got the exact same time as the last time I did Helen, which was a month ago. I was just so tired and sore from this weekend, and I wasn't mentally prepared to be there - definitely ****ed at myself.

And this morning was 100 wall balls for time, which is basically my nightmare incarnate. Took me just shy of 10 minutes. Pretty pathetic.
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Yeah last week was a tough week at Crossfit for me. Definatly a "come to jesus" type week of how I let myself just get way beyond healthy. Between the Fility Fifty, Helen, and Nancy I really wanted to cry after each workout. I think mostly over how overweight I have become.

This week is better, started off with a Crossfit total.
So 1RM max of back squat, press and deadlift.
Ended up with a 570 lbs total (225 backsquat, 100 press, 245 deadlift).

And i was siked that I am at that top of the leader board, I talked to the trainers about what will happen as I lose more weight. Then again, I would rather be fit and healthy, and able to lift a little less than how I am now.

But I have always been freakisly strong, In college I would pick people up over my shoulder and spin them around, heaviest was someone at 315 and I was 80 pounds lighter, so I have a feeling most of the strength will stay.

ShirtlessBob said:
I work out because I never want to look like this again. I was tired of looking like a bum and feeling out of breath after I climbed two flights of stairs, so I said "ENOUGH!" and decided to make a change.
Click to expand...
I have to say Bob your story is inspirational, when ever I have a moment where I dont want to bother anymore I think of you.

Sooo what are my goals?
first off is to lose the weight, I have gained alot of weight over the last 5 years, and while I have a whole host of excuses why bottom line is it makes me unhappy. I hate that i cant just go be active, I hate it takes my energy and I am angry at myself for letting it get this far.
Of course anger can be a great tool in the gym. :)
Long term goals.
I want to run a marthon
I want to compete in a triatholon
I want to wear cute dresses
I want to meet a guy who likes girls in cute dresses after that finish their triatholon and have cute active babies
( I also want to be the hippie with the garden and chickens in the back yard and that is sort of related to the diet part of this thread).

I know I can do it, I have been an active and fit person before. And I am glad I stumbled into my crossfit gym, because the community there is supportive and will not let me fall short of my goals while protecting me from being stupid. The last couple of years have been tough on me mentally, but I have learned alot and now I am even stronger mentally. Now its time to give myself the body that the rest of my awesome self deserves.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

moose97 said:
Yeah, I've started using a bucket. I was more commenting on the extra weight on my knees and that I had a hard time playing with my kid...
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So I have a pretty funny dad/ daughter softballe moment.

My dad was paralyzed when I was in 3rd grade, at age 34. So still a pretty young and active guy.

So he would pitch softballs to me in the backyard and I would hit them, I was a young player, no really control in terms of ball placement.

Well I hit a line drive right back at him, and of course what do you do? Well he puts his glove up and catches it, the momentum was enough that it knocked him clear backwards in the chair.

I was too young to be able to pick him up, (or really just flip him back) so I had to go in the house to get my mom.

Funny now I just toss him around like a wet rag. (He also only weights 120 lbs soaking weight because of the years of muscle attrophy in the bottom half).

Anyways, talking about softball in the backyard made me think of that.
 
Re: Diet and Exercise 2010: Whatever it takes

Sloe Gin said:
cause my hotel is in Queens and not really a safe area to run.

Any other questions, Mr. Nosy? :p
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weak. ;)

Should be fine to run. As long as the cops don't take you for a suspect.

Besides, you can head to central park and run there. :D
 
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