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Hello Fatsecret
My foot is pretty much 100% better, and I now belong to a gym. I went to a free training session last Monday and the trainer was uber nice. Due to a poor gym experience a couple years ago, I used to be totally ant-gym. I work out home and believed that was best for me.
Well, after exploring the gym, I still stand by my belief. lol but why not have the best of both worlds? If its there I might as well use it.
I do love using their elliptical and a few of the machines. Its different, keeps me entertained and challenged.
My seventeen year old brother wants to "get serious" about losing weight. Last night I made a late night trip to the grocery store for my mom, and brother calls me and asks to get him a frozen french bread pizza, a bag of chocolate chip cookies, and some cinnamon rolls (for this morning). I asked him, "What about getting serious and going to the gym with me?"
Of course, he says he wants to enjoy some 'good food' one last time before going on his "diet" Monday.
My poor brother does that a lot. I have done that in the past, I'm sure we all have had that "Last Super" attitude. But every special Monday he makes some excuse. "Well, I dont have healthy food to eat, so I cant exercise."
Or "I dont know what to eat" or "I dont know what to do".
He has asked me what to do, and I have tried my best to tell him the basics of weight loss. The problem is, the things that work for me, hes not too enthusiastic about trying. IE- drinking water, not sodas. Eating low-cal, healthy meals, not fast food. Counting calories, measuring food, etc.
Sometimes I get the feeling he wants me to just give him this map, and its a perfect outline of EXACTLY what to do, or some quick-fix, one-time equation. But I really cant.
I have a really hard time explaining to people how I have lost weight and what works for me. Some common questions I get from my brother, acquaintances and friends are:
What diet are you on? It doesnt have a name, and if it did, it would be called "the common sense diet". I just try to eat the healthiest version of everything, which includes lots of veggies, fruits, lean meat, good sources of protein and healthy fats.
I love eating nutrient dense food. It makes me feel good. So a lot of times, I'll eat something just for its kick-ass power- like pumpkin seeds. They are an awesome source of magnesium, which some scientists call "natures prozac". HAHA
Do I count calories? Kind of. I started out not counting at all in my early dieting days. But I was eating almost 100% carbs and knew nothing about nutrition. Then when I started counting calories, I kept track meticulously, and that overwhelmed me with stress. Now, I count them, but dont record them.
Do you measure food? Yes. That I am still a stickler on.
Do I restrict any food groups? No. Never. I love my carbs, fats, and proteins and I try to get a nice balance.
How many times a day do you eat? 5-6 times. Its usually 5, with three "meals" and a couple snacks between them.
How much do you exercise? About 30-45 mins 5 days a week, or an hour three times. Just depends on my schedule.
So, those are some of my answers, but I always have to explain to people that this works for MEEEEEEEE.
I am truly a weirdo. I had a bad battle with terrible eating habits for a good six months of 2009. Now that I dont have hardly any structure in my eating and exercise plans, I seem to be doing much better. My eating is much much healthier. But I doubt this would work for everyone, or even most people.
I really have no idea what to tell my brother other than the answers to his questions, but he complains that he still doesnt know what to do.
Ugh
I believe I am pushing him in the right direction, but hes the only one who can take it and run with it.
So, I want to know, FS buddies, what works for you? Do you count calories? Do you weigh yourself everyday? Low carb? Low fat? Weights or cardio? Both?
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