Thread of diets and exercise

[ioiiooio]

Lol. I'm pretty sure I don't have a worm, but I definitely seem to get away with eating a lot more than some guys - without packing on any weight. I definitely don't drink enough water though. I'm trying to improve on it and it's getting better, I've got myself to drink at least a litre a day now, and I just don't find anything as refreshing as water nowadays. I've been doing that for about three months now and I've gained about a kg or two I think (my digital scale can be a bit random so picking up on 1kg difference isn't a reliable reference). I've replaced coffee with milo so far, as a healthier alternative, but I drink a lot of milo and so my sugar levels are probably way up there. I've never had a problem with fruit and vegetables, and love to have a side salad with most meals. I'm no saint though. I manage to pack my lunch 80 percent of the time, otherwise I get a double quarter pounder with cheese; 5 extra dills; and large chips, or medium four seasons pizza and coke. Italian foods are my favourite; and they're supposedly the most fattening. Seriously, I might be skinny, but I reckon it's got nothing to do with not eating enough. The people I rent from have run B&Bs, restaurants, and do some catering at the moment for extra cash. So the food is very well prepared, and I get excellent variety (last night I had prawns, and tonight I had some butternut soup, followed up with a beef and veggie roast and cheesecake for dessert.) They often joke that I must have hollow legs. Sure, I could eat loads more and push weights, but it would be purely cosmetic. That said, I'm not getting any younger, so getting some cardio exercise would be a good idea. I'm very unfit, I'll admit that.

Thanks for the tips, that chart is very useful.

[Yuri]

@ Toi. Actually in terms of bodybuilding, low fat milk and peanut butter are awesome foods. Particuarly if you are bulking, then those calorie dense foods are exactly what you need. Obviously you combine that diet with alot of hard work in the gym.

[Toxxyc]

@ Toi. Actually in terms of bodybuilding, low fat milk and peanut butter are awesome foods. Particuarly if you are bulking, then those calorie dense foods are exactly what you need. Obviously you combine that diet with alot of hard work in the gym.

In terms of bodybuilding, yes. For just gaining a little weight, however, I'm not so sure... :)

Either way, peanut butter is one of the richest sources of protein available. I used to nom nom on it every day when I was still playing rugby, and I guess that's why I eventually got sick of it. I'll still eat it, just in very, very reserved amounts (and usually mixed with Lyle's Golden Syrup).

[Cranky]

to gain weight = BIltong .. nothing better than good protein :D

[Toxxyc]

to gain weight = BIltong .. nothing better than good protein :D

Hehe but with biltong prices easily at R180 per kg, I think USN shakes are going to work you out cheaper...

[dammit]

For the guys, one quick way to lose weight is to cut out any beer.

[Unreal Arbiter]

I definitely don't drink enough water though. I'm trying to improve on it and it's getting better, I've got myself to drink at least a litre a day now, and I just don't find anything as refreshing as water nowadays.

Holy **** man, I think water is the most refreshing thing too, but I drink 3-4 litres a day. I don't even think I could survive on 1, at least I'd be very unhappy.

[Toxxyc]

For the guys, one quick way to lose weight is to cut out any beer.

Actually, any alcohol should be cut out if you're to lose weight. The carbs in beer is but a fraction of the things that'll make you fat.

Holy **** man, I think water is the most refreshing thing too, but I drink 3-4 litres a day. I don't even think I could survive on 1, at least I'd be very unhappy.

When I was still playing rugby, I used to drink up to 8 litres of water a day on training days. Nowadays though that number has dropped to about 1-1.5 litres, and the bulk of my daily drink is either tea or coffee, depending on my mood.

[Toi]

Holy **** man, I think water is the most refreshing thing too, but I drink 3-4 litres a day. I don't even think I could survive on 1, at least I'd be very unhappy.

It's a very well known fact that in a dessert setting I'd be the first one to die. I also drink 3 to 4 Lt a day minimum.

[CrashHelmut]

Jesus, your poor kidneys.

Did you know more people die in the Comrades from over-hydration than dehydration?*

[Toi]

Why would water put strain on my kidneys?

I can imagine in a race though if you over hydrate with sports drinks.

BTW, I drank 8 Lt of water at one stage, that's more than what a Cortina uses on fuel.

[MonGooS]

Why would water put strain on my kidneys?

Water intoxication

Water can be considered a poison when over-consumed just like any other substance. The recommendation from the medical field is to drink at least 1 to 2 liters per day depending upon body mass. Water intoxication would only occur at levels far higher than that.

Water intoxication can be prevented if a person's intake of water does not grossly exceed his or her losses. Healthy kidneys are able to excrete approximately 1 litre of fluid water (0.26 gallons) per hour. However, stress (from prolonged physical exertion), as well as disease states, can greatly reduce this amount.

In other words, you don't have to worry about it happening to you on a daily basis.

[Toi]

^^ Cool. Thanks for the info though, never knew about it.

I just listen to my body, if I feel great then I know that I'm ok.

[Darkmag]

Not to mention that if you are dehydrated don`t hydrate using just water, since this will lead to a electrolyte imbalance because the ion that carries the electrical impulses from the brain is diminished/diluted, this is why at the end of nearly every marathon event they supply you with PowerAde/energade since there loaded sodium and potassium that restores that balance.

[Kensei]

Interesting thread...

Low GI stuff is good, I don't specifically look for it in shops, I just look for complex carbs... aint that the same thing?

I've hit a weight loss plateau at the moment - Losing body fat, slowly (at about 23% now) but the weight is the same... perhaps, finally, my muscles are starting to grow. But I was looking at my fellow kickboxing buddies, none of them are thin supermodels, so I will never been skinny.

Anyways, I echo what has been said already - most weight loss is more about nutrition than exercise. It is much easier to cut 300 calories out of your daily intake than burn 300 calories in exercise. The sad truth is, long term, there is no 'wonder' diet - ask every success story, they will say 'diet and exercise'

The south beach diet looks interesting, might try it when I am not preparing for a kickboxing grading though ;) Speaking of which, anyone have suggestions for a good complex carb snack to eat while I wait. We have class in the morning and then I have to sit and wait my turn for about 3-4 hours, perhaps more. I hate peanut butter (unfortunately)

It takes a lot of will power to go on a diet and stick with it - especially at the beginning when nothing seems to be working.... or, like me now, where my body is now used to the lower calorie intake and exercise regime and stubbornly refuses to lose the weight around my stomach :P

[Kensei]

So wisp, how is the diet going this week? Any progress?

I know that the first few weeks after making a dietary change is always the hardest, especially when you think that it is not working (then, presto, you have lost 4kg 'overnight')

[ioiiooio]

I've set up a home gym with the following equipment:

Bench with leg raise thingy
Barbells
Dumbbells
Punching bag

With a bit of research I've put together a 3 day full body routine, which I intend to follow for 8 weeks before moving onto a split routine.

My problem at the moment is finding a descriptive warm up; stretch; and cool down routine to go with it.

I'm a noob so I need something that describes how to do the exercises, and how long to do them for. I also need to be able to do them from home with the equipment available.

[Toi]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/index.html should have all the info you would ever need ioiiooio.

[Toxxyc]

I'm thinking of joining a gym to assist a great friend of mine. I'm gaining weight from the office job myself, and I can feel that I'm as fit as a tree. Toi, your post may help a lot, but I'll compare it to the trainers at the gym's advice. Thing is, I don't want to do bodybuilding, just gain a little weight in muscle and not in "reserve" as I am doing at the moment. Arms are thin as sticks and the belly is expaaaaanding. :(

[Toi]

I'm thinking of joining a gym to assist a great friend of mine. I'm gaining weight from the office job myself, and I can feel that I'm as fit as a tree. Toi, your post may help a lot, but I'll compare it to the trainers at the gym's advice. Thing is, I don't want to do bodybuilding, just gain a little weight in muscle and not in "reserve" as I am doing at the moment. Arms are thin as sticks and the belly is expaaaaanding. :(

But that's the beauty of bodybuilding. Your calorie intake determines how "big" you get. You can train like a mad man, if your nutrition isn't up to scratch you're not going anywhere. So medium calorie intake would mean, medium amount of muscle gained. ;)