Work, Play, and Exercise

[jackfaire]

I am an overweight man. Not I think I am but rather everyone tells me to eat less know I am.

One quick note when I am eating as little or less than the skinny people around me they need to stop telling me to eat less cuz I am not overeating.

I have seen doctors and get my physicals and I am in good health. My cholestoral, blood pressure, etc are good.

I can run I am not a huge fan of it but my daughter takes off I can run after her.

To give you a picture of me I am 5'7 and I weigh 300lbs.

I also have a 2 hour commute to work and then a 2 hour commute home.

When I get home I have 2 hours to relax and grab dinner before I have to go to bed. If I get a full night's sleep I have an hour to get ready for work and eat breakfast. I want to look better and I want to prevent any future health problems that would keep me from walkng my daughter down the aisle.

It's silly I don't care what else I do in life but that means everything to me.

So anyone have any suggestions of little things I can do to work out to get some exercise in that might help me start losing weight?

I already eat healthy, I take the stairs instead of the elevator. I don't know what else to do.

[BroomJockey]

I already eat healthy, I take the stairs instead of the elevator. I don't know what else to do.

Well, since at this point, ever little bit helps, is there a healthy-option eatery near your work, that isn't too expensive? The walk to/from during lunch would add in more. Park at the far end of parking lots. Try getting some discrete ankle/wrist weights. Nothing too heavy, just something to add to the force necessary to move normally.

Beyond that, you're likely looking at needing professional nutritionist/physical trainer advice, or other people's nifty little tips they've found that help them. I don't have any of those, since I'm 6'6" and over 350, so I'm not any better off than you.

[jackfaire]

Park at the far end of parking lots. .

I don't drive so I walk a bit when I take the bus and such. Eating out is out of my price range right now every cent I have is going towards my little brother's legal bills and my back rent.

[IDrinkaRum]

Can you walk around your neighborhood?

Is there a local gym near you?

Your commute is similar to Mr. Rum's commute and though you're smaller than my hubs (he's 5 feet 10 inches and 460 pounds).

We have a membership at the gym that is run by our county.

Not sure what else to tell you as I'm in the same boat.

[jackfaire]

Is there a local gym near you?
.

Right now it is really fricking cold. We have a community center in our neighborhood that includes a gym I think I could work out there but only really on the weekends I get home around 8 in the evening.

[DesignFox]

I've tried the ankle weights. They seem to help a bit. I also spend a few mins doing sit-ups and push-ups in the evening. I started slow...10 a night...and have gradually worked my way up to 50. It only takes 10 or 15 mins to do 50 sit ups and 35 push-ups.

I found what helped me lose weight (there was a time I was 15 lbs heavier than I am now) was simple calorie counting and taking a walk around the neighborhood before or after work.

I also cut sugar soda out of my diet, and started watching my carbs. (seriously, nothing horrendous, just measured my portions of pasta and instead of eating a whole serving of dessert, maybe ate half and saved the other half for another day)

I'm a small girl, so working in an office, I did not need to be consuming 2000 or more calories a day...which is what I had been doing when I packed ON weight. By simply paying attention, and not eating bagels everyday, I was able to stop gaining. Adding the walking led to the loss.

Good luck! I know everyone is different, but that was all it took for me.

EDIT:

Oh, I forgot to mention. If it is really frickin cold, I highly recommend Under Armor. I horseback ride. My barn has an indoor so I can ride year round. Under Armor is a godsend. Better than long underwear. Get the compression fit stuff. It'll be a bit uncomfortable at first, but trust me it'll keep you so much warmer and wick away the moisture. Unfortunately, the stuff isn't cheap, but trust me when I say it was worth every penny I spent on it.

[BroomJockey]

Actually, being cold is a good thing. So is being hot. Your body burns more calories regulating temperature. Depending on circumstances, it can be another 100 cal. or more gone.

[Rapscallion]

Not sure this is really Fratching material, actually

Anyway, there's a good thread in the OT section of CS called "The getting back in shape thread". I'm on a temporary (hopefully) abeyance from it due to arthritis, but there's plenty of hints and tips in there.

Rapscallion

[jackfaire]

*a bunch of mechanics rush in and slap some stuff on the thread enhancing and shining and polishing and threadjacking while hopefully making it more fratching friendly*

Why do I have to lose weight? I am healthy and take good care of myself

I eat right and I walk where I can. I play sports with my friends when I want. So what is wrong if I am overweight?

Heck my dad was, my uncles both were all healthy. So why?

[Kimmik]

Jack,

For starters please remember that people do come in all shapes and sizes. I am 5'9" and normally can not get below 250. How ever My medical tests normally are in the Holy shit you have to be joking that is damn good... More then once I have had a nurse check my bp as fat people should all have high bp.

Now on to the advice....

Make sure you are eating at least 3 meals a day, and try and make your dinner the smallest as since you go to bed and it pretty much sits there. Breakfast is really the most important of the day.

Some people find that eating 4-6 small meals a day works better for them. Being Hypoglycemic and having PCOS I tend to eat smaller meals through out the day.
Like for breakfast I will have toast and generic raisin bran.
Then halfway before lunch I will normally have fruit or some yogurt... I buy bulk yogurt it is cheaper and then cheap little plastic containers that wont hurt if I lose them...
Lunch tends to be like healthy generic nuke food.
Then mid afternoon is normally a serving of a dry cereal that I like. Or more fruit or ooooo carrots... veggies are your friend.
Then dinner is something small and filling. I am fond of a little meat and rice with a veggie lightly cooked.

Veggies make good snacks.

sometimes depending if i have been very active I will have a piece of peanut butter toast and a nice glass of milk before bed..

As for exersise... try a walk at lunch, some stretches in the morning and if you can look for a stationary bike from a place like freecycle where you can find used but free stuff. On your days off go to the mall if you can and walk... I am in mich so it is to cold for me to walk outside as my hips are popping out due to pregnancy.. but wal-mart, best buy, the mall or any large store is a great place to walk... and look at stuff... window shopping for the win.. lol

[Rapscallion]

Damage over time, dude. I've been overweight for more than my adult life, and my knees are really feeling it (not necessarily as a result of the weight, but certainly a contributary factor). I'm strong, but a session at a cardio class as a guest proved I was hugely unfit (nearly needed to invoke my travel health insurance). I'm at a higher risk of diabetes and other illnesses because of the excess.

Statistically, the extra exercise and losing weight will add quality years to my life. That's why I have spurts of eating less every so often and I intend to get back to the exercise at some point.

Rapscallion

[BroomJockey]

Heck my dad was, my uncles both were all healthy. So why?

Because if you're asking what more to do, obviously you're not quite as happy with it as you'd like. Whether that's because of yourself or others constantly harping about it is a different matter.

There, fratchinged!

[jackfaire]

window shopping for the win.. lol

I love window shopping and yeah here it rains all the freaking time which I like but after a long day it's not fun walking in the rain.

Whether that's because of yourself or others constantly harping about it is a different matter.

Meh I was a skater boy before I joined the service I was thin. After I left the service all the extra working out that I stopped doing backfired and I ended up gaining a bunch of weight. I guess I kind of miss the looks I would get when I was skinny. That and not getting a raise eyebrow when I order a burger.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, Raps, it will probably veer into Fratching territory when I get finished.

"healthy" food is usually anything but. The government tells us what is considered healthy eating and it's a load of horseshit.

People are trying to do something about their weight. We are not an entire country of lazy overeaters. We are an entire country of horribly unhealthy people who have been lied to. We have been lied to to death.

So, dude, I believe you are trying. I believe you are trying to eat healthy. I just don't believe that you are going to be able to actually do that following conventional wisdom.

There, Raps. Fratching.

[Flyndaran]

...
So, dude, I believe you are trying. I believe you are trying to eat healthy. I just don't believe that you are going to be able to actually do that following conventional wisdom.

There, Raps. Fratching.

Smaller portions, and plenty of vegetables seems like conventional wisdom to me. What is this non-wise body of knowledge you are referring to?