Losing Weight and Getting into Shape

[Rik]

You looked pretty good doing pushups necked!

Do you think the amount of work I did when doing those pushups was more or less because of the rotation of the earth? If my head had been facing north would this have made a difference?

 

[John K]

Nice thread Adam. You look great at your new weight and the many thought provoking posts cause me to "weigh in". Couple years ago fairly fit 6'1" 250lbs hikes 1-2 a month year round, works out every day. Then new job behind desk 12 hours a day - 6 days a week, two sons deployed to Iraq, blow out both knees and dine out 4-5 times a week, weight 324lbs, gym membership unused, cant see let alone tie shoes, first time in 35 years no trail miles in summer. Now - reevaluated priorities, left job, one son home one on way, fixed knees, work out daily, eat healthy at home. Tried a eight mile hike in Nov and thought I would die. What I learned very clearly is my time in the woods or atop a peak is what offers balance to my attitude and outlook on life and when I wasnt able to do that all the other details of life - diet, excersize, mental health - all suffered. Sometimes life catches up and sometimes it swallows up. So now i work out to assure i can do these activities. Not sure about the physics but the stairnaster is by far the most aerobic machine I use and the stair mill is harder still, and a treadmill with the incline up is harder to walk. Do both daily and swim 3 days a week, 5 peaks since mid Jan, weight 285 and attitude and outlook is best in years - who has life better than me?

 

[1ADAM12]

Way to go John! Keep it up and maybe we can get together again for a hike.

 

[Maddy]

Nice thread Adam. You look great at your new weight and the many thought provoking posts cause me to "weigh in". Couple years ago fairly fit 6'1" 250lbs hikes 1-2 a month year round, works out every day. Then new job behind desk 12 hours a day - 6 days a week, two sons deployed to Iraq, blow out both knees and dine out 4-5 times a week, weight 324lbs, gym membership unused, cant see let alone tie shoes, first time in 35 years no trail miles in summer. Now - reevaluated priorities, left job, one son home one on way, fixed knees, work out daily, eat healthy at home. Tried a eight mile hike in Nov and thought I would die. What I learned very clearly is my time in the woods or atop a peak is what offers balance to my attitude and outlook on life and when I wasnt able to do that all the other details of life - diet, excersize, mental health - all suffered. Sometimes life catches up and sometimes it swallows up. So now i work out to assure i can do these activities. Not sure about the physics but the stairnaster is by far the most aerobic machine I use and the stair mill is harder still, and a treadmill with the incline up is harder to walk. Do both daily and swim 3 days a week, 5 peaks since mid Jan, weight 285 and attitude and outlook is best in years - who has life better than me?

Thank you so much for posting this. You should be a "motivational speaker". I especially love this - "Sometimes life catches up and sometimes it swallows up." You have lots of courage, determination, and perseverance. Your words will be an inspiration to me to press on, and I wish you the very best.

I like this quote to. Not sure who said it.
"Do today what others won't, so you can do tomorrow what other can't."

Ever onward!

 

[Little Rickie]

Way to go John! Keep it up and maybe we can get together again for a hike.

Me too!

 

[1ADAM12]

Me too!

How are you doing Rickie?

 

[Little Rickie]

How are you doing Rickie?

Good! I'm exercising 4 hr\a a week or so and I have cut back on some of my Boy Scout stuff, not going to Jamboree, and have freed up some weekends for hiking!

Rookie is thinking about a weekend before the winter count is up.

 

[coldfeet]

Gained 4lbs in Feb my first monthly gain since starting my diet in July.....I'm still under 200lbs which my knees are very thankful for....my low was 188 and my March weigh in was 198.....I figured the many bagels and beers I had last weekend was still inside in and I'm not exercising regularly....I'm still highly motivated and without a ton of exercising I hope to be around 192 by the end of the month....hmmm, just in time for another holiday My goal is to be around 180-185...a comfortable size 32....I know I can do it...have an easy March everyone....

 

[Craig]

In case anyone missed it, the new Health Care Bill will require restaurants, chain restaurants w/ 20 or more outlets and vending machines to post calorie information for all of their food items.

Now when you stop at McD after that long hike you'll know that the big mac, fries and chocolate milk you just got has more calories than you burned on your hike.

Sorry

 

[Hiking with Kat]

Okay I don't eat there, but at 576 Calories http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-big-mac-i21111 you can do a lot worse.

Which brings up a good question, what do people like as an after hike meal that isn't more calories then you burned? I sometimes grab a dunkin' donuts flat bread sandwich http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/dunkin-donuts/flatbread-egg-white-veggie, at 290 calories its not that bad and does contain a reasonable amount of protein, but still nothing I'd really recommend or normally eat.

 

[smitty77]

Post hike I'd probably drop into the Golden Arches and get a McChicken (380) or a Double Cheeseburger (460) and small fries (230). Or grab a 6" Turkey sub (280) and a small bag of chips.

Not exactly hiking related because I doubt many people eat at restaurant chains post-hike, but in keeping with the weight loss thread:

I'm not a salad guy by any means, but the salad/meals served at chain restaurants can be quite good. I've had one at Chili's that I like (can't remember the name right at the moment) and the Oriental Chicken Salad at Applebees has become a favorite that I order every time I'm in there. Even with the fried chicken it's "only" 709 calories and it fills me up good. I'm sure the count is lower if you get it with grilled chicken and tell them to put the dressing on the side. I count it as a victory if I can walk out of a restaurant meal consuming less than 1000 calories. Sounds sad, but it's true - there's not much on most menus under that mark.

 

[ExploreTheEast]

...the salad/meals served at chain restaurants can be quite good. I've had one at Chili's that I like (can't remember the name right at the moment) ...

Chili's has a buffalo chicken salad that is pretty slammin', but I'm guessing it's no healthier than any of their burgers.

Damn this weight-loss / food thread for bringing me out of the lurking shadows!

 

[smitty77]

Chili's has a buffalo chicken salad that is pretty slammin', but I'm guessing it's no healthier than any of their burgers.

Damn this weight-loss / food thread for bringing me out of the lurking shadows!

Not really, 970 calories (522 in fat) whereas a bacon burger is listed as 1080 (with a whopping 639 in fat). BUT, that doesn't include the mound of fries they serve with a burger, so you are cutting calories if you were to eat all that is served.

Found mine: Grilled BBQ Chicken Salad. 1060 calories, 567 in fat alone.

 

[1ADAM12]

I have not lost much weight since November and I have plateaued! Probably because I have not curbed my eating diet! I am still in the best hiking shape of my life and I am still under 200lbs. So If I do not gain anymore I will be happy. I know more weight will come off it is just a matter of time.

 

[J.Dub]

I have not lost much weight since November and I have plateaued! Probably because I have not curbed my eating diet! I am still in the best hiking shape of my life and I am still under 200lbs. So If I do not gain anymore I will be happy. I know more weight will come off it is just a matter of time.

If you're like most people, you didn't put the weight on quickly...it crept up little-by-little over the years, so give it some time to come off.

You'll get there eventually, and can have a good time doing it! (mister 15 winter ADK peaks in one season... )

 

[smitty77]

I have not lost much weight since November and I have plateaued! Probably because I have not curbed my eating diet! I am still in the best hiking shape of my life and I am still under 200lbs. So If I do not gain anymore I will be happy. I know more weight will come off it is just a matter of time.

Same here, though I haven't exactly been putting in the same effort I was during the summer. I crept up 2 pounds during March and took it off last week by curbing my intake a bit and getting back on the treadmill for a few brisk walks at a 5% incline.

On the bright side I was really happy I could make it through Thanksgiving, X-mas, New Years, Valentine's Day, and my 10th wedding anniversary (for which my wife re-created our wedding cake in a smaller form - yummmmmm!) and maintain my loss through all of it, never fluctuating by more than 1 or 2 pounds for the time period.

 

[1ADAM12]

You'll get there eventually, and can have a good time doing it! (mister 15 winter ADK peaks in one season... )

Thanks! I am getting the hard ones out of the way first. So far I have climbed:

Cliff
Redfield
Donaldson
Saddleback
Whiteface
Esther
Allen
All the Santanoni Range
Bigslide
All 5 DIXES to close out this winter season!

I know I will not be getting up as much this summer so I will keep in shape by doning some local stuff. Also, in the planning is a PEMI traverse sometime this summer and that will be my first time to the Whites

I look forward to that!

 

[1ADAM12]

It is time to revive this thread again I think

Update: I am still doing ok but I have gained 10 pounds back since winter hiking. It just seems like there is so much to do around the house and family obligations.

I was in the ADK a few weekends ago to help a friend finish up his 46 i think you all know him. ADKDREMN is his name I still felt pretty good on that hike and now that fall is almost here things will settle down some at home and I can get out more.

My starting weight now is 195

Goal 185 by Dec21

 

[alistair]

I'm at 190(down from 225) ...... doing a lot of running (3 x 10miles per week plus two hours of soccer one evening), no other exercise. I stopped losing weight at 195, so I started eating more and dropped another 5 pounds. I've now leveled off again.

Don't know if I am in hiking shape but I definitely feel better.

 

[PA Ridgerunner]

Thanks for reviving the thread, Adam. I've had a few tough outings this year, where I had some real energy/endurance issues and it finally just pissed me off! I've lost about 8 pounds in the last month, going from 260 to 252. Mainly portion-control, and resisting the temptation to snack on sweets. (Snickers bad!!!!)

Something that seems to be working for me is not eating in front of the boob tube (eating unconsciously). We actually sit at the table and talk...I know, kinda scary. But this helps with eating slower, allowing my brain to tell me that my stomach is full. Got a long way to go. Would like to get down to Alistair's starting weight of 225 for now. Haven't seen the sunny side of 230 since I was about 30 years old.