Losing Weight

[Xerlic]

Sup BG.

I'm 6'0" and weight 220 lbs. I want to go back to my high school 180 lbs.

I'm looking for advice from people who give a shit about their health because I'd like to start.

I understand that I have to go through lifestyle changes. Notably first would be my diet. I eat a lot of fast food, which I know contributes. Pardon the stupid question, but what do people eat that is healthy? Are there any chains that are "good for you" like Subway? Typically, what types of food should I go for and what should I avoid?

Also, I have a gym membership, but have no idea how to utilize it in order to lose weight other than using cardio machines. I know you can't really lose weight and build muscle at the same time, so would lifting weights be good or bad if you're trying to slim down?

[Lbelle]

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63280

This thread has some useful information that may help you.

[Tricen]

Eat less. I've lost 25~lbs by just not eating as much as I used to. 6'2" 165~ atm.

[Slapper]

Best advice is prolly going to a legitimate dietitian or something so they can give you the best advice for losing weight based on your body type.

[Serif]

I used to be 6'6" 240 and now I am 200 and hopefully getting down to 190ish here soon. I can thank my marathon training for getting me into this shape and I don't think I will ever look back. The nice thing about my training is that I can eat what I want, somewhat, and still drink alcohol on the side.

There are two ways I think you can lose weight, focus on getting a lot of muscle(slim muscle) and then work on slimming down or work on slimming down and then work on muscle.

I am doing the latter, getting down to a healthy shape and then working on replacing the remaining fat on my body into muscle.

Drink a lot of water, eat a lot of vegetables/fruits seeing how they have an over abundance of water in them. Stop eating fast food and if you do order somewhat healthy items such as Subway or if you go to McDonalds/Wendys/etc., get the Grilled Chicken take it off the bun and get a side salad for the side instead of fries.

Always eat in the morning, try to eat 5-7 times a day. If you are going to work out, do it in the morning seeing how it will help your metabolism and help you burn more fat during the day.

If you want to know anything else send me a PM.

[Izzy]

Eat less. I've lost 25~lbs by just not eating as much as I used to. 6'2" 165~ atm.

This. I used to eat one large dinner a day with a few small snacks and drinks throughout the day. Granted a lot of people will say this is unhealthy, but I was in perfect health, and just weighed less.

[Norelco]

Start here: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16

[Tricen]

I'll be honest, the easiest way to lose weight is to just not eat as much. You are either gaining weight or staying at the same weight consistently, so if you eat less foods, you'll either stop gaining weight or lose weight. I went from eating lunch + snacks + dinner + snacks to just small snacks and dinner. I rarely each lunch and I am fine through out the day. I cut back on soda a lot and drink tea instead. The next time it's after 10 and you want a snack, just don't get one.

[Tulun]

how I lost 40 pounds:

Limited intake of things like pop (This is a HUGE one), sweets, etc. I honestly haven't eaten much less, but I ate less junk. That's all it took.

It's actually somewhat disgusting how much weight that stuff was adding on.

[Remyo]

we have this thread ATLEAST 90 times a year. eat less, be active more.

[Denchi]

Have surgery. I'm a skinny guy in general (6' 155lbs if I eat a lot and work out a lot). I had surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago and I lost my appetite pretty quick, I think I'm down to like 140 or 145.

I know this doesnt help you at all, I just want to bitch, I wish I liked to eat like normal people

[Tricen]

Have surgery. I'm a skinny guy in general (6' 155lbs if I eat a lot and work out a lot). I had surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago and I lost my appetite pretty quick, I think I'm down to like 140 or 145.

I know this doesnt help you at all, I just want to bitch, I wish I liked to eat like normal people

You might be dying.

[Kiro]

Portion your meals differently. (Don't fill your bowl up with cereal, fill it up halfway. Use a little less milk or soy milk than usual. Buy healthy cereal like Kashi instead of Cheerios or whatever. Same goes for drinks, soda you should stop drinking altogether, or anything with a ton of sugar in it. Just drink water).

READ THE INGREDIENTS ON FOOD BEFORE YOU BUY IT.

Do push-ups and sit-ups daily (I do 50 push-ups and sit-ups in the morning after I wake up, then 50 more before bed).

Try to walk more often than drive or ride the bus, obviously not for work unless it's nearby.

Small shit like taking the stairs instead of riding the escalator or elevator helps, believe it or not, lol.

Stop eating fast food. Doesn't matter if it's subway or whatever. If you're hungry and you aren't at home, find a restaurant that has a salad bar or makes their food from scratch. No processed meats or cheeses or any of that shit. Or find a gym/fitness store that has it's own smoothie bar.

Shop healthier, which is pretty damn easy. Just read the ingredients. If you see some weird fucking chemical you can't even pronounce DON'T BUY IT. Find a similar product with better ingredients. Instead of junky ass snacks, go to the produce section and get some fruit that you like. I, personally, usually get a bag of green grapes and maybe a honeydew melon or some blueberries. Fresh blueberries in cereal = omnomnom.

[aurik]

Sell an organ on the black market. In addition to losing the pounds from the organ, you'll probably lose a bunch of weight while recovering from surgery. Plus, you'll make a bunch of money!

(No, really, monitor your food intake and exercise regularly)

[Biddinger]

Always eat in the morning, try to eat 5-7 times a day. If you are going to work out, do it in the morning seeing how it will help your metabolism and help you burn more fat during the day.

Exactly this. You don't have to eat less, just spread it out across MORE meals..eating more meals helps your metabolism A LOT

[Seraph]

Sup BG.

I'm 6'0" and weight 220 lbs. I want to go back to my high school 180 lbs.

I'm looking for advice from people who give a shit about their health because I'd like to start.

I understand that I have to go through lifestyle changes. Notably first would be my diet. I eat a lot of fast food, which I know contributes. Pardon the stupid question, but what do people eat that is healthy? Are there any chains that are "good for you" like Subway? Typically, what types of food should I go for and what should I avoid?

Also, I have a gym membership, but have no idea how to utilize it in order to lose weight other than using cardio machines. I know you can't really lose weight and build muscle at the same time, so would lifting weights be good or bad if you're trying to slim down?

Not that losing weight is bad, but be more concerned about being healthy as opposed to skinny. If you gain 10 lbs, and it's all muscle, that isn't a bad thing. When you work out at the gym, you have to realize that the weight might not necessarly come off, but might get converted from fat to muscle.

I see many people get obsessed with a number. In your example it's 180 lbs. My advice would not necessarly be so focused on hitting that number specifically, but just try to be more healthy in general. If trying to hit the number makes you do that, go ahead though.

As fas as 'eating healthy' at fast food places, that is pretty tough. Subway is decent, but to gain the benefits they claim in their comercials, you need to get just half of a bland-ass sub and get nothing with it but water. People will also suggest going on specific diets such as 'no carb' and 'no fat'. In the end, if you really want to shed pounds, you just need to kick out the stupid junk food and just eat less overall (in addition to exercising more). This will come with side effects though, because generally when people are hungry, they get crabby too.

The key should be balance, and not rushing it. 'Quality of life' is always something to keep in mind. Killing yourself trying to hit some magical weight doesn't really accomplish anything if it makes you a miserable prick doing it. The real goal should be to stay happy while making yourself healthier too. All things in moderation, and all that jazz...

[fantasticdan]

Don't listen to the people telling you to eat a better diet or exercise. Remember, it's not your fault you're fat, it's genetic, hormonal or societies fault. Just stick to feeling sorry for yourself, miracle weight-loss drugs, and/or surgery.

[sephir]

work out your leg muscles first. Because they are they biggest muscles in your body they consume the most energy as a result. The Easiest way to lose weight is to eat healthier along with working out the bigger muscles in your body.

Walk for 20-30 mins instead of driving or taking the bus
Take stairs over escalators

things like these make huge differences over time. As far as eating healthier, try to avoid the fast food chains. Some of the things at Subway are lower calorie, but the breads are high on carbs (short term energy) and these are one of the major players in creating fat.
Also try using Skim or 1% milk over 2, little things like these over the course of the year have a great benefit. I remember my friend who is in food sciences doing the math, and finding that if you drank one glass of skim milk every day for a year over 2% you will have reduced your calorie intake equal to 7 pounds of fat. Doesn't look like its a big deal, but it adds up over time.

[Ryany]

Squats and deadlifts

[Tyche]

I used to be 6'6" 240 and now I am 200 and hopefully getting down to 190ish here soon. I can thank my marathon training for getting me into this shape and I don't think I will ever look back. The nice thing about my training is that I can eat what I want, somewhat, and still drink alcohol on the side.

There are two ways I think you can lose weight, focus on getting a lot of muscle(slim muscle) and then work on slimming down or work on slimming down and then work on muscle.

I am doing the latter, getting down to a healthy shape and then working on replacing the remaining fat on my body into muscle.

Drink a lot of water, eat a lot of vegetables/fruits seeing how they have an over abundance of water in them. Stop eating fast food and if you do order somewhat healthy items such as Subway or if you go to McDonalds/Wendys/etc., get the Grilled Chicken take it off the bun and get a side salad for the side instead of fries.

Always eat in the morning, try to eat 5-7 times a day. If you are going to work out, do it in the morning seeing how it will help your metabolism and help you burn more fat during the day.

If you want to know anything else send me a PM.

Is there another marathon in Nashville coming up? I might be interested in running it with you. I don't have any damn running partners around here, and running by yourself is a god damned mental pain in the ass. Anywho...

I run about 25 or so miles a week. Usually something like Monday - 4miles, Tuesday - Hill training, Wednesday - 6 miles, Thursday - 5 miles, Friday - off, Saturday 10-12 miles, Sunday - off. Been keeping this rotation ever since the the doctor released me from being a high risk heart attack victim (wasn't a health issue, but a viral issue). My metabolism stays really high.

Edit: I eat whatever I want as well. Summary, run a marathon.

Editx2: 6'0 140ish pounds depending on the day.

Editx3 There's the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon in Nashville in November, but it's full That course sounds brutal. It would be fun.