#7400433 - 11/19/13 08:20 PM
Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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Quick backstory - I am pre-diabetic with asthma and a smoking habit. Or at least I was a month ago. I don't go back to the doctor for a blood sugar test for 7 weeks but I've replaced a *ton* of sugar and carbs in my diet and am down about 8 pounds in a month. My highest weight was 212 about a year ago. I am now down to 182. Most of that through diet only, no exercise to speak of. Quit smoking almost a month ago, on an e-cigarette now which I used to quit for 6 months a year and a half ago but fell into some adversity with my "gear" and found it easiest to go back to smoking. Nowhere in this thread will I pat myself on the back for being smart.
Anyway, 10 days ago I built myself a little pull-up bar downstairs. Downstairs is not finished and has 9' ceilings so I have plenty of room to work with. Used some wood I had lying around and a $10 pipe from Lowes. Wrapped it with athletic tape, made sure it was level, and done.
So I tried it out. I could do one. I could get about halfway up the 2nd try and didn't make it. I set my mind to doing at least 10 a day. I only do them after I get home from work, not a morning person... But I've persisted, and after about 10 days of doing 10 a day, just a few minutes ago I was able to do 5 in a row. Underhand for now, I can only do 2 overhand but I try to mix those in as well, knowing absolutely nothing about how they differ.
I started researching squat cages after seeing a few of the home gym posts in OT but I'm not quite to that point yet. I need to prove to myself that I can set aside a measly 5-10 minutes a day to stick with this habit and that it isn't just some phase I'm going through. I know I need to work out more, that's not in question. My diet is much improved since a month ago. Far more lean chicken, more vegetables, red meat only once a week, more fish, and lean pork rounds out our menus. We still make unhealthy items for dinner sometimes but I've learned better portion control. My favorite restaurant in town is a little hole in the wall Mexican joint. Huge portions for no money - we ate there the other day and my wife convinced me to cut my burrito in half and take the rest home and I was able to, no big deal. Little victories like that, inconsequential as they may seem, keep me focused.
So anyway, any tips or words of encouragement would be great. I'm not trying to get big/swole, I'm just trying to lead a better lifestyle as much as I can. I still drink alcohol, just not *tons* of light beer every week. Bacardi and diet, it's all I drink anymore unless I have *a* craft beer or something. I know I should go no-alcohol or something but that isn't going to happen.
Now, I guess it's time to read, thanks for doing the same if you made it this far!
Todd
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---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7400626 - 11/19/13 10:11 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: ElectronVtec]
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Sir Ironpool
Sponsored by Toyota
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Registered: 03/12/01
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Loc: Long Beach, CA
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#7400726 - 11/19/13 11:44 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: 2000SiRacer]
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gamby
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/01/99
Posts: 40865
Loc: RI
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New year's 2012 I'll play...
June 2013 (nothing current--roughly the same)
Still no abs, but much better than I was. Take pics--they will only encourage you as you stick with it.
Best of luck.
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___________________________________ gamby still have an EM1--go figure
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#7400927 - 11/20/13 08:06 AM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: Silock]
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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Thanks all. Lots of good advice that I should pin up on a wall somewhere. I knew I forgot something in my OP... my height is 5'9". Doc wants me at 170# so that's my target goal, however my motiviation is not so much "weight loss" in a strict sense. Yes my weight will come down with more activity.
We belong to the YMCA currently, so I'm hoping that as I start to do more at home that I will want to make the 20-minute drive out there and back to work out. That's my problem, always an excuse to not do something. Either I'd rather be at home or we have something social going on or what have you, that's why I decided to try and do something at home first. We have some very basic dumbbells at home, no bench but I'm sure I can figure something out.
I did run a little this summer but stopped after tweaking my knee (not while running). Now that it's getting cold out it's another excuse, lol. I'm just being honest about how I've approached this in the past, no point in acting like my reasons for not doing something before were valid or anything.
I'm not sure what's embarrassing about this. Sounds like you've made positive steps. Maybe join a cheap gym before building a home gym. Some people need that financial motivation or camaraderie you can get in some gym group classes. I'd hate to see you drop money on home equipment and then have it turn into a clothes hanging rack.
It's just tough to admit to others and myself that I could barely do a pull-up 10 days ago. Now I look back at that with just a tiny bit of pride, but I haven't really accomplished anything yet. Just need to keep at it. I'm very good at keeping habits, not so great at establishing them it seems. As to the last part, you're right, I don't want to drop a bunch of money into a home setup that gets used for a month or three and then sits and collects dust. With that said, for some reason I really do prefer to be at home or around the house when I exercise, just for the convenience factor. I'm going to reach out to my buddy though, also a member of the same YMCA we belong to, and try to set up some time to just go hang out and play basketball or something, maybe get in the habit of heading over there and then start using it to run/workout/swim, whatever.
Thanks again for the encouragement!
_________________________
---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7401070 - 11/20/13 09:07 AM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: 2000SiRacer]
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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Yea, our area isn't exactly wonderful for nearby gyms. Closest one is 15 minutes and it's a hole. I have tons to choose from 20-30 minutes away but er, it's been a deterrent, I won't lie about that.
Lean and trim is what I'm shooting for. Thanks Corey!
It's just tough to admit to others and myself that I could barely do a pull-up 10 days ago. Now I look back at that with just a tiny bit of pride, but I haven't really accomplished anything yet. Just need to keep at it.
Hey now! For my purposes I'm reasonably fit at the moment and I'm sure I would struggle to do a pull up! I really need to start climbing again
Whether you can do a pull-up or not is, IMO, irrelevant, your journey has honestly been inspiring. I've been following along, just hadn't been motivated until lately when you get that stern look from your doctor that, above all else, just says "time to grow up, dude."
_________________________
---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7410234 - 11/25/13 02:39 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: ElectronVtec]
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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Still doing my pullups, had to squeeze ten in late last night due to taking off for vacation for a few days. I managed to work in some pushups while I was in Vegas so as not to fall too far behind. I did lose a little momentum but I'll get it back.
I also decided to try the 100 pushup challenge. Day 1, week 1, tried to do "column 3" but my arms gave out on the 4th set. I was only able to get through 34 pushups on day 1. Decided I'd go to "column 2" and work my way up that way. No point in not being able to do the first damn set, lol.
Oh yea, had a bit of a food fail on the trip as well. All in all, I ate well, but our last dinner out on Saturday night was a salad, french fries, and an entire rack of baby back ribs. Derp. Ate the whole thing. They were so good... Had a light-calorie day on Sunday but ate some Wendys for lunch today. Need to get that shit back under control.
Edited by ElectronVTEC (11/25/13 02:40 PM)
_________________________
---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7411090 - 11/25/13 11:00 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: DieZel]
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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20 minutes is not "that far" from the gym... it's just a factor how bad you want to get in shape...
the whole "clean eating" isn't necesary, but allows you to eat more food and stick within a caloric range... but you can eat enough bullshit to satisfy cravings and still recomp your body...
Agreed, 20 minutes isn't that far. However I have to be honest with myself and realize that I am, at heart, a lazy mofo. Driving 40 minutes round trip for an hour - at most - isn't efficient and I don't have time for it. I do right now because I'm off for the week but I doubt I step one foot in the Y. Know your strengths, know your weaknesses, as a friend of mine put it. I go downstairs for basic shit, just taking something out of the freezer for tomorrow's dinner and I see the chin-up bar and I knock out a few. I'm not obese, I'm not trying to win some bodybuilding competition, but I know that some routine exercise would improve many things in my life. So, I need to have some options available in my house. That's all.
As far as clean eating goes, we're not totally clean, we're just trying to improve that aspect of our diet and it seems to help. I don't notice as much of a change but my wife has felt better for it so I'm sticking with it as well. We're just doing easy things like eating more vegetables and not getting pre-packaged side dishes and such, nothing major.
_________________________
---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7415396 - 11/28/13 12:37 AM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: ElectronVtec]
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Silock
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/23/00
Posts: 60326
Loc: Jayhawk Country
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Depends on your goals, and how much you weigh.
About 200 kcal per day under your BMR is good for steady weight loss.
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/
Use the formula that DOES NOT include daily activity. That's so hard to measure that's it's just not accurate and won't have a big impact on your caloric expenditure for most people (unless you just swing an axe all day, in which case, you're probably not fat to begin with).
Exercising daily, while good for you in a myriad of ways, just doesn't account for that many calories burned in relation to how many calories your body needs to stay alive. I mean, you might burn 200-300 calories running, and take 45 minutes to do so, but you can easily eat three times that amount in 5 minutes. Food restriction is far more effective for a weight loss strategy. So, by all means, exercise, and it DOES burn calories, but because it's so easy to offset what you've burned through food, it's just easier and more effective to keep the calories in check.
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#7415503 - 11/28/13 08:02 AM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: ElectronVtec]
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Euphoricuck
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
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I don't have time for it. yes you do. You make time for it. Make it a priority. 20 mins isnt horrid.
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#7415980 - 11/28/13 04:47 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: Euphoricuck]
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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I don't have time for it. yes you do. You make time for it. Make it a priority. 20 mins isnt horrid.
I appreciate the enthusiasm but I am trying to work up to a normal routine at this point using things I have readily available at my house. What can I say, I've become a homebody...
Thanks Andrew, I'll take a look.
Just looked, that site wants me at 1900 calories (1893 exactly) for my current frame of 5 9" 183 pounds. BMI is 27, it was 28.4 in mid-July from a wellness test at work. To get down to the normal range, I need to be at or under 169 pounds. I got work to do.
Edited by ElectronVTEC (11/28/13 04:57 PM)
_________________________
---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7417534 - 11/30/13 01:24 AM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: ElectronVtec]
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Silock
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/23/00
Posts: 60326
Loc: Jayhawk Country
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I don't have time for it. yes you do. You make time for it. Make it a priority. 20 mins isnt horrid. I appreciate the enthusiasm but I am trying to work up to a normal routine at this point using things I have readily available at my house. What can I say, I've become a homebody... Thanks Andrew, I'll take a look. Just looked, that site wants me at 1900 calories (1893 exactly) for my current frame of 5 9" 183 pounds. BMI is 27, it was 28.4 in mid-July from a wellness test at work. To get down to the normal range, I need to be at or under 169 pounds. I got work to do.
That sounds about right to me.
People are going to freak out about you mentioning BMI, but since you don't have a lot of muscle from working out all your life, it will be pretty accurate for you. However, if you stick with working out, the BMI number will gradually be more "off" and tell you to be unrealistically skinny for your height. But that's a long ways off. Just concentrate on hitting slightly under that calorie number and you'll see the pounds melt off soon.
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#7423954 - 12/03/13 08:43 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: Impulsive]
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ElectronVtec
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 10/30/99
Posts: 39192
Loc: IN
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My buddy came over on Sunday night who belongs to the same YMCA we belong to and we mutually agreed we'd both go workout on Tues/Thurs nights at 7 to start out. Went tonight for the first time, ran/walked a mile, probably a 10 minute pace or so, nothing crazy, I suck at running. So that definitely got everything warmed up.
Did just 4 machines today, starting slow. Today was back/chest:
3 x 10 Fly 3 x 10 Chest press 3 x 10 wide grip overhand lat press 3 x 10 narrow grip underhand lat press
And that was it. I can definitely feel it, but I need to push up the weight 5-10 pounds next time. I didn't struggle to finish on the last reps of each set and I think at this point I need to be there to figure out my safe limits.
Tomorrow is week 2 day 2 of the pushup program. Yesterday I was able to get through 51 pushups in about 10 minutes.
For my own knowledge down the road, I was pretty "even" on most exercises tonight but during the Fly reps, my left arm was decidedly weaker than my right. My right was perfectly fine and my left was fatigued to the point of not being able to finish that 10th rep at the end of the 3rd set.
Almost forgot, we're dragging the wives along as well, they worked out harder than we did tonight...
Edited by ElectronVTEC (12/04/13 11:00 PM)
_________________________
---------------------------------------------- Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other - GWB, 2017
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#7426894 - 12/05/13 12:54 PM
Re: Slightly embarrassing but we all have to start somewhere...
[Re: Impulsive]
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gamby
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/01/99
Posts: 40865
Loc: RI
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Pushup handles are easier on the wrists and allow you to do different types of pushups (wide grip, close grip for tris, even little dips).
Cheap and they take up very little space. They also take a bit more effort, which is good.
_________________________
___________________________________ gamby still have an EM1--go figure
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