Health Discussions

Jo said…
and yes round is a shape!

What do you do if any to become healthy or stay healthy?

 Buy light beer instead of high test.

Do you think overweight people can be fit?

I don't know, but they sure are huggable.

What motivates you?

Chocolate.

Why don't you do anything including walking around the block?

Have you been stalking me again Jo?

What would get you off the couch?

A hot guy. Oops. No. That would probably get me ON the couch.

What's your favorite piece of workout equipment?

The tread mill. Very good for hanging jackets up and preventing wrinkles.

Home or the gym?

I'm easy. Happy either place as well as at McDonalds.

Have you ever hired a personal trainer?

No. Do you have the phone number of a really good looking one?

Make up your own answers to your own questions - have fun. Jo

I love Jeopardy!

The Answer is: pink and fuzzy with buttons

The Question? GOOD LUCK!

Hiya Jo! You know I'm pulling your leg. My doctor said I must do better, and I have been. I cut my cholesterol in half. I'm exercising more, but I tend to do "real world" stuff like yard and heavy house work (like paint rolling) for that.

Interesting questions. I'm sure you'll get much better answers. Me? I have to keep laughing or I'll cry, because I do so love good food and good times. That's OK. I'm having a blast with my new steamer and have learned to love herbal teas over sodas.

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Yes round is a shape....and clear is a color...lol

Lets see here.......

Exercise......Does getting up to get a beer count? (light beer is diet beer therefore I do not diet) Seriously though I ride my mountain bike and work in the yard when I can. I changed how I ate but not what I ate and lost 38 lbs. in 8 months. In addition it lowered my cholesterol, triglycerides and my blood pressure (wasn't high to start with but my Dr. is pleased) The only thing I changed was the oil I use to cook with, I now only use either Canola or Olive Oil. ;)

Does chasing a 2 year old and lifting a newborn count as excersise? 

 I've heard that it's just as good to do purposeful movement as it is to "excersise"  Taking the long way around the building... take the stairs instead of the elevator yadda yadda.

Carrie

As for motivation, I just want to look and feel good, and walking around with an extra 30 pounds just doesn't look or feel good. I don't do much in the way of traditional exercise, however. I like to do my exercise when I'm engaged in passive activity such as sitting at my desk or watching TV. I do stomach crunches (70-80) while watching TV and press myself up (40-50 reps) in my desk chair. But the funniest bit of exercise is the 50 leaning pushups I do when using mouthwash, twice a day. None of this takes any special equipment but it does make a big difference in my strength, energy and appearance.

Now if I can just get rid of 10 pounds...

--Bob

Many people know I am an avid at home exerciser. I love it. I love the privacy and variety. I can screw up and no one cares and I can look bad and no one sees me. Now onto the questions.

What do you do if any to become healthy or stay healthy? - Tons of things. I exercise everyday. I eat clean and well. I don't eat more than 30 grams of fat a day and often much less. I eat a lot of fiber. I take a daily multivitamin and Omega 3 as well as calcium. I try to stay positive because negativity is really bad for your health.

Do you think overweight people can be fit? A recent study has shown that overweight people can, indeed, be fit. And that thin people can be very unfit. They call it skinny fat. I used to be skinny fat. I was rail thin but couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without gasping. I do believe that people of all sizes can be fit but I also believe getting off the extra weight is healthy for many other reasons like heart health, diabetes issues, and other weight related illnesses.

What motivates you? I have decided that I want to be the fittest I have ever been. It's a personal goal. I also recently gained a few pounds and it scared me. I never had to think about staying thin and suddenly, the scale jumped. I have a family history of very high cholesterol and I am trying t o avoid that. And, honestly, I want to stay looking good and being fit for as long as possible as I age. I am scared I will get a hump and shuffle if I don't work my body!

Why don't you do anything including walking around the block? I hate outside walking yet love inside walking. I have a tendency to want to park close, use drive throughs, and use elevators instead of stairs. I have recently been only taking the stairs when I go somewhere, even if it is the 10th floor, and I have been walking in rather than driving through. I hate to give up a great parking space and often don't but I am getting there. I am really inherently lazy.

What would get you off the couch? Those extra pounds did in a major way! I was sliding along doing nothing for a long time and BAM. The scale jumped and I was off and running! Well...slow walking at first.

What's your favorite piece of workout equipment? I don't have a favorite. I do DVD workouts and bought a Wii in preparation for Wii Fit (can't wait until May 21!!). I like several workouts and pieces of equipment.

Home or the gym? Home. When I go to a gym, I either end up chatting with the girls or, if I look good in my mind, chatting with the guys! lol. I remember belonging to a co-ed gym and not even knowing how to use any of the machines. I went with my sister and we just hung out with the weight lifters. Hubby bought me a membership to Curves after that. Blah.

Have you ever hired a personal trainer? I had one at the co-ed gym. I paid him to just stand next to me and talk to me. He was smoking hot. I was younger and in shape anyway (looking, but not really) and I got very little benefit from it. I would like to hire a trainer to come to my home and teach me good form and give me a fitness program tailored to my needs and goals. That would be awesome.

I will say this. No one can force you do to it and nothing can MAKE you want to workout. It just...happens. You'll get bad news from your doctor or your clothes won't fit or you will notice that you're weaker and lack energy. So many people say they don't have time to workout but 30 minutes a day (minimum) can be squeezed in somewhere. Even 10 minutes of marching in place or dancing around is better than nothing at all. I learned that you really CAN be skinny fat!

End of sermon. ;)

No time to answer the questions with any degree of intelligence right now... (what's that?  Never stopped me before?  Pipe down I'm trying to participate here...)

I recently got back into exercising after taking too much time off.  I am very active doing a lot of things.. but a lot of them involve going place and sitting for long periods of time and not a lot of activity or exercise.

So I joined a Health club and have been getting there two to four times per week and some times in the sauna as well.   In just a couple of months I noticed a difference. lost a little weight, felt a little better too.

Exercising is an absolute must.    Break out of bad t.v. watching and munching habits, get out and do things... even if it means excercising....

What do you do if any to become healthy or stay healthy?  Therapy and yoga

Do you think overweight people can be fit?  Yes.  Ditto Patty's answer (except I aint skinny).  I totally agree.

What motivates you?  Feeling good, being better at archery, knowing that I will feel better and sleep better.

Why don't you do anything including walking around the block?  I hate to exercise.

What would get you off the couch?  A house fire.

What's your favorite piece of workout equipment?  My yoga mat.

Home or the gym? Home

Have you ever hired a personal trainer? Nope

 

You're such a clever writer. Cutting your cholesterol in half without drugs? That's super - congrats. I have to tell anyone reading this who is under 45 JUST YOU WAIT!! Jo

Congrats on the weight loss, Ron...anyone notice the beer theme? :) Jo

Hi Carrie - absolutely it counts. I'm parking farther away and take the stairs as well. It really can be the little things. Enjoy those little ones. I know how corny this sounds but they years do fly by.

My 10 pounds has increased. I've been trying to lose weight since before our cruise. It's so hard. I once wrote that I wished there were a pill we could take and be able to eat anything we wanted to which someone commented that I should be content at whatever weight I'm at...yeah - let them buy me clothes!

Nice comment, Patty and a great lookout on life.

Jo said…

You're such a clever writer. Cutting your cholesterol in half without drugs? That's super - congrats. I have to tell anyone reading this who is under 45 JUST YOU WAIT!! Jo

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Thanks Jo! I hoped you wouldn't think I was making light of healthy living. It really does help me to keep a sense of humor about it all. Hard to be a writer on barbecue and Southern cooking and get hit with bad blood numbers. My doc was worried about that. I told him that I saved up for the good stuff and tried to be good most of the time. He said I must be being pretty good overall.

You have some very creative ideas!!  Thanks for the tips!

Does anyone have a Wii? Wii Fit comes out tomorrow (but you probably won't find it. We had to pre order a month ago). It's a fitness program that is also fun. You get a board that you use to do your exercises on and there are four different types of exercises (strength, cardio, balance, and uhh...another one). The thing gives you your Wii Fit age, your BMI, and tracks your progress.

It gets progressively harder as you move up and apparently it's a major fitness tool that is very popular everywhere it has been released. I preordered long ago and even bought a Wii because of it. My doctor suggested it of all people. He knows my boredom factor and thought this would be great for me to actually see my progress and change things up often. I cannot wait to see what my "age" is. I think this will give me variety with 40 different activities and a way to track how I am doing. If you have a Wii console, you may want to consider Wii Fit. It's $89.99 with the board which I think is a steal.

I got this e-mail and wanted to share my response

"I'm wondering if you could recommend a few things I can do to tighen up my gutness. These kids totally wrecked havoc on my stomach and I'm not really sure where to start. "

THE toughest spot for us to do anything about is the belly. The younger you are the easier it should be. What you are seeing is fat over the muscle so what has to happen is to get rid of the fat. We say that the core area is 90% food and 10% exercise. There really is some truth to that. The cleaner and healthier you eat the more of a chance you'll get rid of that.

You will have to do cardio work. Although I advocate working with weights as well, cardio is the best way to get rid of fat. And yes you should do crunches but you don't need fancy equipment. 25 crunches done correctly (let me know if you need help) every day is all you need. People who do 1000 sit ups are wasting their time.

The thing so many people refuse to believe is that they can't spot reduce. My "problem area" is my lower abs. Always has been even before having kids. I have workouts promising that they will flatten my stomach, etc. but the fact is, I can build muscle but no one will see if if I don't lose fat. And another problem is, when we do cardio, we lose fat but from wherever the body feels like it.

When I lose weight, I lose it in my B&B area (boobs and butt) then my arms and legs. LAST to go is my belly. I have managed to lose a couple of inches off my waist and some off my abs but that was from cardio, strength, and concentrated workouts that tightened the area but did NOT make me lose fat in the area.

I see so many people working a problem area in the hopes that they will lose fat there and, while they can tone up the area that way, they will lose fat where the body wants to lose fat. And most of the time it isn't where people want it to disappear from. Ya just gotta have preservenace and patience!

Today, a trainer at my gym told me that if you do cardio directly after weight training/exercise with concentration to a specific area, it will greatly enhance the breakdown of fat in the area, (a new study that just came out).  In my case that's 10 to 15 minutes of leg lifts to work my lower abs.  I do 7 to 8 hours of weight training a week, and 1 1/2 half to 2 hours of cardio a week.  I still need to drop ten pounds from eating my way accross Italy.  

I don't know if spot reducing is possible, but I'm gonna give it a whirl. 

I agree with Patty - the spot reducing issue doesn't work but if you do cardio you will get rid of fat all over.

If you ask 10 trainers when to do cardio (and I'd have to look at the study to see its reliablility ie. was it scientific? who sponsored it? etc.) you'd get 5 saying before and 5 saying after.

The theory behind cardio after weight training is that your body is already in a high calorie/fat burning mode because weight training if done with some challenge is a cardio workout so your heart rate is already up. Some don't like to do cardio first because they want their energy for weight training and then what's left to be used for cardio. I've done it both ways and see no difference so give it a try and see what happens.

For you I would up the amount of cardio you do in a week. Hope this doesn't come across as a lecture - it's not meant to -just free thinking here. There is a good article here re: what to do first but I would for sure try what the trainer told you and see how it goes. Jo

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/training/a/ExerciseOrder.htm

Thanks for your input.  I have heard the spot reducing impossibilities for years.  What made this a bit different for me is the trainer of which I spoke who's a pal of mine, was a nationally known, top 5 in the country body builder whose been in the game for years.  When she shares something with me, I take it seriously.  I am indeed blessed to have her live in the same one horse town as I. 

As far as cardio goes, I do switch it around periodically to change things up, but weight lifting is my primary objective, and the lean muscle mass it achieves.  Doing cardio first always makes me just want to take a nap.

My real problem to overcome is still, pizza, vodka, and ice cream.  Love em.  I figure if the spot reducing aspect is still myth in reality, I still will have a better core when I'm done, along with sorer abs of course. 

Steve

Jo said…
and yes round is a shape!

...
What's your favorite piece of workout equipment?
...

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Watching the Core Rhythms infomercial. ;>

GeorgeChabot said…

Jo said…
and yes round is a shape!

...
What's your favorite piece of workout equipment?
...

---

Watching the Core Rhythms infomercial. ;>

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Haha. I spend endless hours doing Core Rhythms and I like to think I'm getting sexy, tight, toned, perfect abs. I have lost inches off my waist and I do see little six pack abs starting. But I do NOT believe I look like the trainers when I do that workout. I can only imagine what I do look like but I do it when everyone's asleep. lol. George, you should try it! Swiveling hips on a guy are very sexy in certain situations. Haha.

GeorgeChabot said…

Jo said…
and yes round is a shape!

...
What's your favorite piece of workout equipment?
...

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Watching the Core Rhythms infomercial. ;>

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I assume you know why I said round is a shape:) lol well your eyeballs are getting in shape!

Ex-triathlete here!  It's hard to get me to sit still!  I currently play a lot of basketball and do weights.  I eat 70% carbs (fruit and veggies, grains, nuts) and 30% meat, fish, and milk.  Occasionally I'll eat junk like Cheezits and Brownies.  When I do, I burn it off aerobically and anarobically.  I'm pushing 50, but I can cream teenagers at basketball.  Just because they're young doesn't mean they're all that and a bag of potato chips--or maybe they eat too many potato chips.  Hehehe! 

PattyTherre said…
The thing so many people refuse to believe is that they can't spot reduce. My "problem area" is my lower abs. Always has been even before having kids. I have workouts promising that they will flatten my stomach, etc. but the fact is, I can build muscle but no one will see if if I don't lose fat. And another problem is, when we do cardio, we lose fat but from wherever the body feels like it.

Losing fat in the lower abs can be accomplished as follows: Do an easy ab exercise.  Make sure you can do it for an hour non-stop.  The whole idea is to stay aerobic.  You need glycogen to burn fat, so while your doing your aerobic exercise, sip some fructose periodically.  (I like corn sirrup mixed with juice or defizzed Pepsi).  If you are out of shape, your body will burn more glycogen than fat, which is why so many fat people have such a tough time losing fat.  As your fitness progresses, you become more and more of a fat burner.   So hang in there and be consistent in whatever routine you choose.  Too many folks are on-and-off again, and never reach that threshold of burning almost pure fat. 

"When I lose weight, I lose it in my B&B area (boobs and butt) then my arms and legs. LAST to go is my belly. I have managed to lose a couple of inches off my waist and some off my abs but that was from cardio, strength, and concentrated workouts that tightened the area but did NOT make me lose fat in the area."

Try cycling.  Make sure you have bike shoes or if on a stationary bike, have straps on the pedals so you can do the upstrokes.  It's the upstrokes that burn tummy fat the best.  Do it for a couple of hours at a time at a brisk pace.  Drink plenty of water and fructose as you workout.  Make sure your pace is about 70% of your max intensity.  The trick is to stay aerobic.  The longer you can stay on the bike, the better.  When I was in training, I typically lost 3 to 5 Lbs. of fat in a single session.  My sessions though lasted around 5 hours. 

"I see so many people working a problem area in the hopes that they will lose fat there and, while they can tone up the area that way, they will lose fat where the body wants to lose fat. And most of the time it isn't where people want it to disappear from. Ya just gotta have preservenace and patience! "

 They are doing the wrong exercises.  If you run, for example, you will eventually lose fat in that problem spot, but you have to run and run and run....

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Great discussion! I have always been active and thanks to that and genetics, i have never had to think about weight. Even after my first child, I went right back to my previous weight and shape. I walk 2 miles three times a week and do aerobic dance an hour a week. i also work out with bands and a ball. These are great because I can do the excercises when I have a chance and they really work your core. I have a ten week old at home now and although I am back to my former weight(I danced 2 hours a week throughout my pregnancy)  I still have a belly! So I am at a loss now and feeling pretty unsatisfied with myself. I have been spot excercising using the ball and I can feel the muscles under the pooch, but so far I can't see any difference. I don't want to lose weight as I am at my perfect weight, I just want my flat belly back! I must say though that I love my baby more than words and she is totally worth this puffy belly!

I will keep checking on this thread to keep up with all this good info you all have! 

I hear ya! I have always been thin and am thin now. I have not always been in shape though. I now exercise every day for about an hour, sometimes more. I change things up and do light strength training along with cardio. I am pretty happy with the results BUT I still hate my lower abs. I am starting to get a six pack at last and it looks great (to me) but the last two ab muscles will never show if I don't lose a couple of inches off the lower abs.

I know it is a bit silly to want a board flat stomach at my age (almost 45) but it's maddening to work so hard and not see much progress!

You are only 10 weeks postpartum. You'll probably tighten up the belly naturally in time. I like Hip Hop Abs and Core Rhythms for abs and cardio at once. One of the programs may help you as well!

Congrats on the baby. I know my two "babies" are my life (even though they are 22 and 17 now).

Oh, and WilliamPinn, thanks for the info. Man, I don't do ANYTHING for 5 hours at a time. I don't even sleep for 5 hours a night. I don't know how you could possibly train for that long at one time!

Bikes bore me. I have one but I would rather dance. I like the full body movements and the fun music. I am a lightweight exerciser in a way because I do it for fun and fitness but, if I am bored, I just won't do it. Tonight I did striptease cardio. Fun fun! I admire your tenacity!

patty, i will check out those programs, thanks. I don't think it is silly to have a goal like that, it sounds like you are almost there! I think my husband would pass out with glee if i started doing striptease cardio, either that or I wouldn't get very far into my workout if he was around. 

Dancing is fun!  Movement that is centered around the problem area works best.  Hula and Tahitian dancing are excellent.  The main trick to burning fat is always have enough glycogen in your body.  You need it to burn fat.  Unless you are a world-class marathon runner, fat won't burn by itself no matter how much excercise you do.  You can get stronger, but you won't lose the fat.  That's why four out of five triathletes recommend consuming a fructose supplement while training.  Fructose (aka: glucose) is the simplist suger, and that is what is stored in your glycogen.  Once your glycogen is exhausted, then you hit the wall, and no more fat is burned.  Consuming the fructose replaces your glycogen stores. 

I agree that riding a stationary bike can be a drag after about five minutes, that's why I watched videos, the t.v. or listened to music while I trained.  I bet you or someone you know can watch the boob tube for at least five hours.  Just pedal while you watch.  The time will fly by. 

Thanks for the info on the glycerin thing. I never eat or drink anything when I workout nor do I eat or drink for an hour before. After, I have water. I will have to incorporate something like orange juice into my workouts. Would that work? Or is something better?

If they had a laptop tray for my bike, I could pedal all night long! I actually do pedal on a little under desk pedaler I have. It's not quite the same as a real bike though. lol.

dovey, the cardio striptease is by Jeff Costa and it's a TOUGH workout. I like it though because he's funny and they do incorporate a little bit of booty shaking and stuff in there. My husband is long asleep when I start working out. I doubt he would find it sexy. Then again, after 25 years, I don't think he even sees me anymore!