Help! I'm Fat - *** Official Exercise and Weight Thread ***

BWRhasnoAC

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That's kind of the challenge, finding aerobic stuff that suits you as an individual and isn't too boring to you personally.

I've never had to run or bike with music or anything, got enough going on in my head to keep myself entertained. Plus I don't personally like being acoustically isolated from what's happening around me. Think it helps to be running or biking in the city though, especially the lakes region where there is always something to see around you. Same for running or going walkabout in nature areas. Keep seeing peeps with ear buds in and wondering why they bother coming to a wildlife refuge or nature preserve for a walk and than totally tune out and become completely oblivious to their surroundings. Not judging, to each their own, but I do not understand it but than again I've been a park and refuge fan since I was a little kid.

I get the need for distraction more for indoors workouts. Road stationary bike yesterday and that is less self entertaining. Had a TV screen so watched the second half of one of the WBB NCAA games. Still other things to track like time, resistance, distance, cadence, heart rate etc.....workout stuff. If nothing is on the TV, the music they pipe into LifeTime is pretty decent, no need to pack in my own tunes.
I would have killed for water proof ear buds when I swam in high school. On the other hand, being in your own head for 500 m (20 laps) gave me more mental toughness than football, baseball, basketball and wrestling combined. Nowhere to hide.
 

BoxsterCy

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Two months and no one weighing in (pun intended)?

Mirror test has been telling me the lack of biking this winter took a toll but I did get back late winter to gym for the lifting of the weights after a mid-winter Covid avoidance hiatus. I put myself on the scale this morning, with and without my Nikon and a big lens....was curious what it weighted as a combo and it was seven pounds. Not a big scale guy but still a bit a bit bummed to see I gained weight, not a lot but I'm a biker/runner sized guy so a little goes a long ways.

Will hit the bike paths this afternoon. Bird photo walkabout and the weather (wind blows like CRAZY almost every day) have me way behind on biking. Done a **** ton of walking this spring and that plus da weights probably have me in okay shape but not good as my hill struggles on the bike can attest to. Not going to give in and blame my age, at least not yet.
 
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3TrueFans

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Two months and no one weighing in (pun intended)?

Mirror test has been telling me the lack of biking this winter took a toll but I did get back late winter to gym for the lifting of the weights after a mid-winter Covid avoidance hiatus. I put myself on the scale this morning, with and without my Nikon and a big lens....was curious what it weighted as a combo and it was seven pounds. Not a big scale guy but still a bit a bit bummed to see I gained weight, not a lot but I'm a biker/runner sized guy so a little goes a long ways.

Will hit the bike paths this afternoon. Bird photo walkabout and the weather (wind blows like CRAZY almost every day) have me way behind on biking. Done a **** ton of walking this spring and that plus da weights probably have me in okay anaerobic shape but aerobic, not so much as my hill struggles on the bike can attest to. Not going to give in and blame my age, at least not yet.
I've also tried to get out walking more now that the weather is nice, golfing helps, I try to walk when I play unless it's just unbearably hot.

I weighed in at 190.0 this morning, down a total of about 32 pounds since around Thanksgiving, 9 pounds down from my last check in here about 11 weeks ago.

It's nice not getting tired from just doing basic things, going up stairs, walking up a hill, running around playing soccer with the kids, but I think how much harder everything was with a 30 pound dumbbell strapped to my back all the time.
 

throwittoblythe

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It's nice not getting tired from just doing basic things, going up stairs, walking up a hill, running around playing soccer with the kids, but I think how much harder everything was with a 30 pound dumbbell strapped to my back all the time.
I was at a golf outing for work last week. There was a guy there, probably mid-60s who was very overweight and probably has been most his life. He could barely bend over to put his ball on the tee. Really hit home with me about how important it is to care for your body and what toll that takes over time. After years of that wear and tear, even the simplest tasks become difficult.

I also have a relative who has been overweight his entire life. He’s in his 70s now and his body has been breaking down for the past 10 years. Knee/hip replacements, can’t do stairs anymore, etc.
 

BoxsterCy

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I was at a golf outing for work last week. There was a guy there, probably mid-60s who was very overweight and probably has been most his life. He could barely bend over to put his ball on the tee. Really hit home with me about how important it is to care for your body and what toll that takes over time. After years of that wear and tear, even the simplest tasks become difficult.

I also have a relative who has been overweight his entire life. He’s in his 70s now and his body has been breaking down for the past 10 years. Knee/hip replacements, can’t do stairs anymore, etc.

Talking my age group. It's hard if people let things go for decades. Been doing weight training since the early 1980's when I also picked up running 5K/10K races. Maybe easier for me on the wear and tear stuff since I've always been pretty lean but even after years of running and now biking (no longer run) my knees and hips are pretty good. Some of that is good luck, maybe some fortunate genetics, but definitely also from not weighing a lot. A small boned guy like me would not be in as good a joint shape if I had weighed another 30-50 pounds over the last thee decades.

Yesterday I figured at age 70 I could justify a couple ibuprofens after biking 24 miles which is my generic fitness ride distance. Still getting some of the winter rust off. I mean I do take good care of myself, but also consider myself a little lucky on the aging thingy. Heck my hair isn't even salt and pepper let alone gray which is totally lucky genetics. Parental units lived into late 80's and 90's without terrible joint issues, so gotta credit that some. But they also left me genetically giftless for any sports other than running so there is that!
 

carvers4math

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Talking my age group. It's hard if people let things go for decades. Been doing weight training since the early 1980's when I also picked up running 5K/10K races. Maybe easier for me on the wear and tear stuff since I've always been pretty lean but even after years of running and now biking (no longer run) my knees and hips are pretty good. Some of that is good luck, maybe some fortunate genetics, but definitely also from not weighing a lot. A small boned guy like me would not be in as good a joint shape if I had weighed another 30-50 pounds over the last thee decades.

Yesterday I figured at age 70 I could justify a couple ibuprofens after biking 24 miles which is my generic fitness ride distance. Still getting some of the winter rust off. I mean I do take good care of myself, but also consider myself a little lucky on the aging thingy. Heck my hair isn't even salt and pepper let alone gray which is totally lucky genetics. Parental units lived into late 80's and 90's without terrible joint issues, so gotta credit that some. But they also left me genetically giftless for any sports other than running so there is that!
My 69 year old brother has had knee replacement. My 70 year old brother has had hip replacement and desperately needs to go get a knee replaced. They are both 6’2”, both weigh around 160-165, neither has weighed more than 170. Both very active and I think they wore their joints down. Both coached and officiated for years. Both are lettermen from ISU, one in tennis, the other baseball. One still plays competitive club tennis.
 
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madguy30

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My 69 year old brother has had knee replacement. My 70 year old brother has had hip replacement and desperately needs to go get a knee replaced. They are both 6’2”, both weigh around 160-165, neither has weighed more than 170. Both very active and I think they wore their joints down. Both coached and officiated for years. Both are lettermen from ISU, one in tennis, the other baseball. One still plays competitive club tennis.

I think these things are possible no matter how good of shape someone's in, age, whatever.

One side of my family's genetics are full of hip and back surgeries...I've had hip and lower back stuff creep in the last several years. A big issue though is the same side fails at the fact that the PT that follows may have to be a lifelong thing to maintain it, and it's OK to continue to exercise in general instead of just saying 'it is what it is' and letting it get worse.

It's good motivation to continue with my own PT and keep searching for positive outcomes.
 

carvers4math

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I think these things are possible no matter how good of shape someone's in, age, whatever.

One side of my family's genetics are full of hip and back surgeries...I've had hip and lower back stuff creep in the last several years. A big issue though is the same side fails at the fact that the PT that follows may have to be a lifelong thing to maintain it, and it's OK to continue to exercise in general instead of just saying 'it is what it is' and letting it get worse.

It's good motivation to continue with my own PT and keep searching for positive outcomes.
Having been pregnant so many times, my big fear is osteoporosis, which my mother started visibly showing before she died.

I do have trouble with my knees a bit at age 61 even though my doctor continually harps on me that I need to gain weight. I had a meniscus issue in one knee that seems to have resolved well without surgery. I tore my ACL 40 years ago when I was a crime victim. I don’t think surgery for that then was as good as now. I have a feeling there is probably some arthritis going on in that knee too. Pregnancy isn’t particularly easy on joints either. So a lot of factors go into mobility later in life that are not necessarily related to genetics, exercise, or weight.

One thing that worries me about the health of society in general is watching people climb the stadium stairs at JTS. We sit at the top, and many people in their 20’s are gasping by the time they get to the top. They are not even all necessarily overweight.
 
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BoxsterCy

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My 69 year old brother has had knee replacement. My 70 year old brother has had hip replacement and desperately needs to go get a knee replaced. They are both 6’2”, both weigh around 160-165, neither has weighed more than 170. Both very active and I think they wore their joints down. Both coached and officiated for years. Both are lettermen from ISU, one in tennis, the other baseball. One still plays competitive club tennis.

Yeah, that's why I noted my luck with genetics and recognize I am fortunate. I was also never able to run the mega training miles that some amateur runners did so even though I ran for years I never put in the wear and tear miles some peeps do. If I got up much past 25 mile weeks I'd end up with stress fractures in my metatarsals so that became sort of a built in governor on my miles and limited me to non-marathon training distances. So, in a way, da bad foot maybe saved my knees. BTW, as a six minute mile guy I was never any good, just competed against myself. BTW, the stress thing has never really gone away completely. My right foot metatarsals ache this morning and at 70 won't put up with running, that's for sure.

My niece runs a LOT of marathons and runs crazy long distance training runs all of the time, year after year. I am continually preaching the gossip and beauty of shorter distances to her without much success. I wish she'd idle back now that she got to run Boston.
 
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CascadeClone

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I think these things are possible no matter how good of shape someone's in, age, whatever.

Your genetics kind of set a baseline - good or bad. But what you do to take care of yourself can move that baseline up or down quite a bit. That goes for joint wear, cholesterol, osteoporosis, weight, all of it.

Anything is better than nothing, and don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
 
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CascadeClone

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I do some yoga but only instruction I have had is videos. And definitely need the dog protection, that poor lady bludgeoned with a baseball bat just reaffirms that.

I think I probably need some weight work again. I need to put on some good weight, and last time I gained was when I was lifting more.

Somewhere between yoga and martial arts is Tai Chi. My mom tried it and liked it, but she was just watching videos and it didn't stick. Does some muscle toning and helps with core / balance a lot.

They also have those water classes where they use pool noodles and such for weight resistance. Maybe doing that with a little swimming would be a good low-impact way to build some muscle, esp if you like swimming anyway.
 
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carvers4math

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Somewhere between yoga and martial arts is Tai Chi. My mom tried it and liked it, but she was just watching videos and it didn't stick. Does some muscle toning and helps with core / balance a lot.

They also have those water classes where they use pool noodles and such for weight resistance. Maybe doing that with a little swimming would be a good low-impact way to build some muscle, esp if you like swimming anyway.

I am finally back swimming again. Only doing outdoor pools since pandemic. When my boys were lifeguards they would always let me bring them lunch between swim lessons and pool opening so I could lap swim by myself. I seem to be a tradition as the current pool manager and guards let me do it without bringing lunch. I will have to investigate the Tai Chi. My muscles are getting some work from gardening now too. Eating just doesn’t help me put on weight so I think more muscle is what I have to do. I walk the dog between 2.5-4 miles a day so my legs have a lot of muscle but arms and core have issues.
 
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cowgirl836

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I've been able to run 2 to 3 times a week and started getting back into a better rhythm for diet/intake. Starting to pay off and feels really good to get some cardio in.

Hey do you have a running shoe store you like in our area? Trying to get to movin shoes this week. Last new shoes were 3 yrs ago eeeek. Wear pattern is different from prior pairs too, seems like two babies changed my gait which is interesting. Or the pt corrected things, idk. Either way seems like a good time to get a new fitting. Did solid 30 minutes last week, longest run in several years.
 
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carvers4math

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Hey do you have a running shoe store you like in our area? Trying to get to movin shoes this week. Last new shoes were 3 yrs ago eeeek. Wear pattern is different from prior pairs too, seems like two babies changed my gait which is interesting. Or the pt corrected things, idk. Either way seems like a good time to get a new fitting. Did solid 30 minutes last week, longest run in several years.
Definitely get a fitting. There is research indicating your feet get larger in length and width with pregnancy. I went from 8 to 8.5 to 9.

Oh and spinny rides become a ***** too.
 

madguy30

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Your genetics kind of set a baseline - good or bad. But what you do to take care of yourself can move that baseline up or down quite a bit. That goes for joint wear, cholesterol, osteoporosis, weight, all of it.

Anything is better than nothing, and don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Yep, it's OK to have a balance but also still seek out what one can do.

I used to run 5-6 days a week, 4 miles minimum and since I've gotten back into it, I'm currently accepting that 3 days a week along with plenty of walking each day, fasting if full, etc. is attainable.
 

madguy30

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Hey do you have a running shoe store you like in our area? Trying to get to movin shoes this week. Last new shoes were 3 yrs ago eeeek. Wear pattern is different from prior pairs too, seems like two babies changed my gait which is interesting. Or the pt corrected things, idk. Either way seems like a good time to get a new fitting. Did solid 30 minutes last week, longest run in several years.

For running shoes, Fleet Feet. They do some evaluations of your feet etc. that I think help (or at least looks like it does). Lots of higher cushion brands like Brooks. I'm not quite to Hoka level but I'd guess that will be next.

If you know what you're looking for, Rogans is kind of a dive but tends to have decent deals and I go there for every day/walking.
 
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KnappShack

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Venting......

Doing Liift4 again. 4 weeks in and I'm gaining weight.

Son of a *****. I'm tired of doing cardio heavy workouts but they do make me drop lbs