What have you done for your health today?

[UTfball68]

Been a while since I posted here…haven’t hit my 240 target yet, but really haven’t been trying to either. Been hanging right at 270 for the last few months now, so I’m pleased with how easy that has been. Figure once we get through New Year, I’ll buckle down again. Really trying to figure out best course of action for the loose skin…my doctor keeps advocating ‘cool sculpting’…but that seems like Botox for fat to me. Whatever the case, loose gut skin, loose arm skin and loose thigh skin has unlocked another body dysmorphia cheat code. That said was always pretty jealous of ‘vascular’ dudes…and for the first time in my life I’m kinda veiny…so I think that’s neat.

Edit…and still not the healthiest fridge in the world, but 18 months ago this woulda been nothing but pizza boxes and leftover styrofoam containers. Biggest advice I can give anyone is, it’s a life style change, not a prison sentence, do something you can stick to.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

From someone who has dipped just over 100lbs and now kept it off for over a year…there is no such thing as targeted fat loss.

Create a calorie deficit - eat enough protein to protect muscle mass - and fat will burn wherever it wants. No exercise, potion, rub or cream will alter where fat is mobilized or liberated.

How do you feel about the Carnivore diet?

 

[Cherokeekid88]

Been a while since I posted here…haven’t hit my 240 target yet, but really haven’t been trying to either. Been hanging right at 270 for the last few months now, so I’m pleased with how easy that has been. Figure once we get through New Year, I’ll buckle down again. Really trying to figure out best course of action for the loose skin…my doctor keeps advocating ‘cool sculpting’…but that seems like Botox for fat to me. Whatever the case, loose gut skin, loose arm skin and loose thigh skin has unlocked another body dysmorphia cheat code. That said was always pretty jealous of ‘vascular’ dudes…and for the first time in my life I’m kinda veiny…so I think that’s neat.

Edit…and still not the healthiest fridge in the world, but 18 months ago this woulda been nothing but pizza boxes and leftover styrofoam containers. Biggest advice I can give anyone is, it’s a life style change, not a prison sentence, do something you can stick to.

View attachment 430516

That is a damn good looking stocked fridge. Makes my OCD happy.

 

[UTfball68]

That is a damn good looking stocked fridge. Makes my OCD happy.

Well…the key to that was, in addition to the 120lbs in weight that I’ve lost, I also got rid of another 150lbs worth of pain in my ass.

 

[Ron]

How do you feel about the Carnivore diet?

I don't want to write a book.
So I will be super brief but will be glad to expand on any portion of this you are curious about.

1) I lost weight under the guidance of Dr Eric Westman of the Duke University Obesity clinic.
2) Westman is a keto disciple and I am also a believer in the low/zero carb eating as a means to lose weight.
3) I believe 90+% of the efficacy of low carb eating is in the ability to easily create a calorie deficit. The other 10% is attributable to hormone impacts of carbohydrates that make it easier to overeat.
4) You can gain fat eating too much protein, you can lose at eating nothing but carbs. Lower carbs higher protein increase satiety and make eating less easier, imho. There is also some marginal benefit to the increased digestion expenditure of protein...and its certainly muscle sparing.


Ben hit on it...it has to be a lifestyle change. You have to burn more than you take in...and it has to be comprehensive.

Its consistent action and incremental deficits that creates success.
But the key is precision. If incremental choices grew a belly in 2 years and you just reverse the incremental choices it will take the same 2 years to lose what you built in 2 years.


The science is mathematically easy. 3,500 calories = 1 lb of body fat. Every surplus 3,500 calories will add a lb of fat. every 3,500 calorie deficit will consume a lb of fat.
A big mac, fries and a coke has 1,450 calories.
Running a half marathon burns about 1,300 calories.
You cant exercise weight away. Its impossible. You can eat a big mac meal in 5 minutes. A world class runner can run a half marathon in an hour.

 

[Lizooki]

I month ago I went to see one of the docs in the office I go to.
Just so happens he is a metabolic specialist ..... he studied under Westerman.
My knee situation has become critical that I get surgery ...... but my bmi is to high for the ortho doc and insurance. I'm also pre-dibeetus.
Went for a follow-up today.
Going Keto only, and a little exercise, has brought about a 14 lb, weight ..... size wise I lost and X .... went from 4X clothes to 3X.
Also lower my glucode a bit but evened it out.
Blood pressure is down enough to drop dosage to half a pill ..... he expects to stop that next month
Doc was happy!
With one or two small adjustments and adding as much exercise as possible he expects to drop most drugs eventually.
The exercise will have to be simple chair stuff ( lap-dancing sounds effective here!) because of the knees and the fact I'm still at less than half strength of my pre-long covid days.
After the first of the year, new insurance (United Healthcare Targets) will pay for a YMCA membership ..... so I'm gonna do that.
Wish me luck!
I want to teach the grandkids how to REALLY play sports after Mom & Dad teach the the nice stuff.
I also want to take them to the beach and swim in the ocean with them. ( one of my best grandpa memories)

Excuse me .... a possum just crossed the back yard ..... time to harvest breakfast!

 

[skyhighZJ]

I month ago I went to see one of the docs in the office I go to.
Just so happens he is a metabolic specialist ..... he studied under Westerman.
My knee situation has become critical that I get surgery ...... but my bmi is to high for the ortho doc and insurance. I'm also pre-dibeetus.
Went for a follow-up today.
Going Keto only, and a little exercise, has brought about a 14 lb, weight ..... size wise I lost and X .... went from 4X clothes to 3X.
Also lower my glucode a bit but evened it out.
Blood pressure is down enough to drop dosage to half a pill ..... he expects to stop that next month
Doc was happy!
With one or two small adjustments and adding as much exercise as possible he expects to drop most drugs eventually.
The exercise will have to be simple chair stuff ( lap-dancing sounds effective here!) because of the knees and the fact I'm still at less than half strength of my pre-long covid days.
After the first of the year, new insurance (United Healthcare Targets) will pay for a YMCA membership ..... so I'm gonna do that.
Wish me luck!
I want to teach the grandkids how to REALLY play sports after Mom & Dad teach the the nice stuff.
I also want to take them to the beach and swim in the ocean with them. ( one of my best grandpa memories)

Excuse me .... a possum just crossed the back yard ..... time to harvest breakfast!

Keep it up and kick its ass!!

 

[Ron]

I month ago I went to see one of the docs in the office I go to.
Just so happens he is a metabolic specialist ..... he studied under Westerman.
My knee situation has become critical that I get surgery ...... but my bmi is to high for the ortho doc and insurance. I'm also pre-dibeetus.
Went for a follow-up today.
Going Keto only, and a little exercise, has brought about a 14 lb, weight ..... size wise I lost and X .... went from 4X clothes to 3X.
Also lower my glucode a bit but evened it out.
Blood pressure is down enough to drop dosage to half a pill ..... he expects to stop that next month
Doc was happy!
With one or two small adjustments and adding as much exercise as possible he expects to drop most drugs eventually.
The exercise will have to be simple chair stuff ( lap-dancing sounds effective here!) because of the knees and the fact I'm still at less than half strength of my pre-long covid days.
After the first of the year, new insurance (United Healthcare Targets) will pay for a YMCA membership ..... so I'm gonna do that.
Wish me luck!
I want to teach the grandkids how to REALLY play sports after Mom & Dad teach the the nice stuff.
I also want to take them to the beach and swim in the ocean with them. ( one of my best grandpa memories)

Excuse me .... a possum just crossed the back yard ..... time to harvest breakfast!

You got this.
The thing to remember. If you have a bad day/week…it doesn’t undo…just get back on plan.

Football coaches love to say don’t let a loss beat you twice.
Same thing with a diet - don’t let a choice become a habit. And understand the power in saying - today I’m gonna say fawk it and eat I’ve cream drink beer and live it up. As long as those days are rare the journey is still the same

 

[Andy J.]

Bringing this one back to the top…

I’ve been struggling with motivation the last 2 weeks or so. Only walked the 10 steps to the ‘gym’ once this week, so I willed myself out there again this morning.

I don’t usually post pictures of myself. I just feel like an average dude trying to make it through most days - nothing to see here. But what the heck, why not today I guess. Avert your eyes if you don’t like to see mediocrity .

I’ve always had small arms and have been trying to bring them up to at least be proportional. Been doing pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, bench, pushups, curls…you know..all the normal arm exercises. Here’s where I’m at this morning.

IN before Mexican flag comments…IYKYK.

 

[justjeepin86]

Bringing this one back to the top…

I’ve been struggling with motivation the last 2 weeks or so. Only walked the 10 steps to the ‘gym’ once this week, so I willed myself out there again this morning.

I don’t usually post pictures of myself. I just feel like an average dude trying to make it through most days - nothing to see here. But what the heck, why not today I guess. Avert your eyes if you don’t like to see mediocrity .

I’ve always had small arms and have been trying to bring them up to at least be proportional. Been doing pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, bench, pushups, curls…you know..all the normal arm exercises. Here’s where I’m at this morning.

View attachment 433638

IN before Mexican flag comments…IYKYK.

Looking good, dude!

 

[Andy J.]

Looking good, dude!

Thanks man! Some days/weeks I fall short, but try to remind myself that it’s a never ending marathon and I just have to keep moving forward at whatever pace I can sustain.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Bringing this one back to the top…

I’ve been struggling with motivation the last 2 weeks or so. Only walked the 10 steps to the ‘gym’ once this week, so I willed myself out there again this morning.

I don’t usually post pictures of myself. I just feel like an average dude trying to make it through most days - nothing to see here. But what the heck, why not today I guess. Avert your eyes if you don’t like to see mediocrity .

I’ve always had small arms and have been trying to bring them up to at least be proportional. Been doing pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, bench, pushups, curls…you know..all the normal arm exercises. Here’s where I’m at this morning.

View attachment 433638

IN before Mexican flag comments…IYKYK.

You’ve come a long way man, looking all ripped and buff. I’m proud of you. Now you look tough and gay instead of just gay.

(I’m really just jealous because I’m a fatass )

 

[YJJPWrangler]

Starting week 3 of carnivore diet. Down 8.5lbs so far and I feel so much better. Brain fog is gone, lot less bloating, a lot more energy and focus. I've been lifting 3x a week and riding the peloton 2x. Food cravings are gone. I generally eat 1-2x a day. Some combination of steak/eggs or some fatty fish etc. Snacks have been jerky, beef steaks, chicharones etc. Cut out my daily habit of energy drinks(2-3x a day). Have cut out alcohol as well. Haven't had a cheat day yet but I will modify for certain events.

 

[drkelly]

I'm still in the same situation. About once a month I try to do some light weight lifting, and then my neck gets stiff and hurts bad for about 48 hours. I'm sticking to the bicycle, stair stepper, and elliptical in the gym. I'm doing some walking lunges, abs, and lower back work. I just cannot do any upper body exercises at all, which really sucks after a lifetime of lifting weights.

 

[Bebop]

Bringing this one back to the top…

I’ve been struggling with motivation the last 2 weeks or so. Only walked the 10 steps to the ‘gym’ once this week, so I willed myself out there again this morning.

I don’t usually post pictures of myself. I just feel like an average dude trying to make it through most days - nothing to see here. But what the heck, why not today I guess. Avert your eyes if you don’t like to see mediocrity .

I’ve always had small arms and have been trying to bring them up to at least be proportional. Been doing pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, bench, pushups, curls…you know..all the normal arm exercises. Here’s where I’m at this morning.

View attachment 433638

IN before Mexican flag comments…IYKYK.

We are our biggest critics, you look good and much better than the average red blooded 'Murican.
Keep at it, progress is a slow process.

 

[Bebop]

I'm still in the same situation. About once a month I try to do some light weight lifting, and then my neck gets stiff and hurts bad for about 48 hours. I'm sticking to the bicycle, stair stepper, and elliptical in the gym. I'm doing some walking lunges, abs, and lower back work. I just cannot do any upper body exercises at all, which really sucks after a lifetime of lifting weights.

Oh man, that's a bummer to read

 

[justjeepin86]

Starting week 3 of carnivore diet. Down 8.5lbs so far and I feel so much better. Brain fog is gone, lot less bloating, a lot more energy and focus. I've been lifting 3x a week and riding the peloton 2x. Food cravings are gone. I generally eat 1-2x a day. Some combination of steak/eggs or some fatty fish etc. Snacks have been jerky, beef steaks, chicharones etc. Cut out my daily habit of energy drinks(2-3x a day). Have cut out alcohol as well. Haven't had a cheat day yet but I will modify for certain events.

I did carnivore for 8 weeks and never felt good. I know they say 12 week minimum, but I gave up. I'm pretty sure i will do it again. It just makes sense to me.

 

[Andy J.]

I did carnivore for 8 weeks and never felt good. I know they say 12 week minimum, but I gave up. I'm pretty sure i will do it again. It just makes sense to me.

Nice timing from Apple News

 

[Ron]

Getting frustrated weight is creeping up ever so slowly, but I cant seem to reverse the trend.
Was 223 at my low. Im bouncing between 234-238 now. No cheats, still watching what I eat etc just feels like my body wants to insulation on it.
Feeling lethargic and like Im shutting down to preserve fat....its crazy. Still over 90lb below my starting weight....but dont want to let it go back.

Cut out nicotine cold turkey 1/1/25. That's going fine.
Doing a dry no alcohol February...thats going less fine. Not jonesing for a drink like its a problem, just....I self medicate and the inability to self medicate is tiresome

 

[Bebop]

Getting frustrated weight is creeping up ever so slowly, but I cant seem to reverse the trend.
Was 223 at my low. Im bouncing between 234-238 now. No cheats, still watching what I eat etc just feels like my body wants to insulation on it.
Feeling lethargic and like Im shutting down to preserve fat....its crazy. Still over 90lb below my starting weight....but dont want to let it go back.

Cut out nicotine cold turkey 1/1/25. That's going fine.
Doing a dry no alcohol February...thats going less fine. Not jonesing for a drink like its a problem, just....I self medicate and the inability to self medicate is tiresome

Might be a dumb question, but do you work out?
Or your weight loss is only through diet?

 

[Ron]

Might be a dumb question, but do you work out?
Or your weight loss is only through diet?

I do work out - though its been much more sporadic since the business change last summer.
However, weight loss - that's strictly diet. You can not work bad weight off - its virtually impossible base don the laws of bio physics.

 

[drkelly]

I do work out - though its been much more sporadic since the business change last summer.
However, weight loss - that's strictly diet. You can not work bad weight off - its virtually impossible base don the laws of bio physics.

Not true.

A body burns more calories when 'doing work' (hiking up a steep hill, running, MTB'ing up a hill) than when stationary. If a body lifts weights and makes the muscles larger, the body will burn more calories when stationary too.

 

[Ron]

Sure, technically.
But the difference is so miniscule its immaterial.

Consider this.
3,500 calories is the accepted value for a LB of fat.
Want to lose a LB - create a 3,500 calorie deficit. Gain a lb, consume a 3500 calorie surplus.

You are someone who works out and talks a lot about fitness, you know how difficult it is to gain a pound of pure muscle.
But a pound of muscle burns 6 calories per day at rest. A pound of fat burns 2 calories per day at rest.
So a recomp of replacing 1 lb of fat with 1 lb of muscle is a net 4 extra calorie per day burn.

Lets say you get crazy and add a full 20lbs of muscle and lose 20lbs of fat. (again - you know the challenge of adding 20lbs of lean muscle...for those who may not - without anabolics 20lbs of lean tissue gain is difficult)
But that dramatic 20lb conversion would net 80 calories per day of extra burn. orrrrr 80*365 or 29,200 calories per year.

That's about 8lbs of extra fat burned per year.

For someone who needs to lose 50+lbs...you simply can not work it off. period. hard stop.
Fat people must hear this and understand it. They can not out work a bad diet.

 

[drkelly]

Sure, technically.
But the difference is so miniscule its immaterial.

Consider this.
3,500 calories is the accepted value for a LB of fat.
Want to lose a LB - create a 3,500 calorie deficit. Gain a lb, consume a 3500 calorie surplus.

You are someone who works out and talks a lot about fitness, you know how difficult it is to gain a pound of pure muscle.
But a pound of muscle burns 6 calories per day at rest. A pound of fat burns 2 calories per day at rest.
So a recomp of replacing 1 lb of fat with 1 lb of muscle is a net 4 extra calorie per day burn.

Lets say you get crazy and add a full 20lbs of muscle and lose 20lbs of fat. (again - you know the challenge of adding 20lbs of lean muscle...for those who may not - without anabolics 20lbs of lean tissue gain is difficult)
But that dramatic 20lb conversion would net 80 calories per day of extra burn. orrrrr 80*365 or 29,200 calories per year.

That's about 8lbs of extra fat burned per year.

For someone who needs to lose 50+lbs...you simply can not work it off. period. hard stop.
Fat people must hear this and understand it. They can not out work a bad diet.

I did not know those numbers and am surprised to hear the difference is so low for fat compared to muscle (2 vs 6). It sure felt like more when I was lifting a lot. I get your point though about it not being possible to out train a bad diet. A Big Mac meal is over 1,100 calories. You are not going to burn that off spending an hour in the gym. You would probably have to set the treadmill at the highest angle, turn the speed up to where your heart rate was 150+, and not stop for 2-3 hours., which is completely unrealistic.

 

[Ron]

I did not know those numbers and am surprised to hear the difference is so low for fat compared to muscle (2 vs 6). It sure felt like more when I was lifting a lot. I get your point though about it not being possible to out train a bad diet. A Big Mac meal is over 1,100 calories. You are not going to burn that off spending an hour in the gym. You would probably have to set the treadmill at the highest angle, turn the speed up to where your heart rate was 150+, and not stop for 2-3 hours., which is completely unrealistic.

Worse than that.
A couple years catapult did a study (If you dont know catapult, look them up - fascinating company) of 13 or 14 runners in the Boston marathon. These were competitive marathoners, so they were already lean and had super low BMIs...the average calories burned running a marathon was around 2,500 calories.

So you have to run a marathon for every 2 big macs eaten...