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200+ Pound Club!

guest — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:33:08 GMT

Just replying to agree with everything Trishinator wrote. I've struggled with being over 300lbs for years since I quit smoking, and I thought hard diets were the way to go. That is, until I learned about MBR calculations. Evidently, I'm supposed to eat almost 3600 calories a day to maintain my weight, and 3100 to lose weight. Once I spread that massive caloric intake out through 5 meals, and started a healthy cardio AND weightlifting program, I started to see results. I started at 365, and now I'm down to 325, but it's a LEANER 325. The weight doesn't melt off, it creeps off very very slowly. But I can see pictures from 6 months ago where my shoulders and arms aren't nearly as big as they are now, and my calves and forearms show off the hard work I've put in, even if my midsection still bulges. But I'm never going to have a six-pack. I'm not built that way. I doubt I'll ever see the south side of 200, considering I'm 6'2" with 8.5" wrists. (they use wrist circumference on the BMR calculator to gauge your frame) Just like I'm never going to be a marathoner. But I've already run 6 5ks in 3 years, and even though I'm slow, I'm faster than everyone standing still, and everyone still cheers me on as I lumber across the finish line.

If you find yourself in a running rut, try mixing up weights with your cardio. A strong, healthy core is just as important as lung and heart function to runners.

This has been a long post from someone who mostly lurks, so I'll leave y'all with three truths I've finally learned after years of struggling with weight:

1. Food is fuel. You get out what you put in, and that's no joke. "Garbage in, Garbage out" is not just a clever phrase.

2. You can't burn fat without muscle. A simple weight routine, even just situps and pushups if you don't have weights, is essential to keep your body burning fat efficiently

3. If it doesn't CHALLENGE you, it doesn't CHANGE you. If I'm not gasping for breath after that last mile, or exhausted from that final rep of my last workout set, then I didn't give it my all, and I'm only cheating myself.

Good Luck, and DON'T QUIT. Even if they're not right beside you, know that when you're out there on the trail/path/treadmill/gym, that you've got people rooting for you!

200+ Pound Club!

guest — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:55:39 GMT

you2510, I like the way you think.

Been awhile, just ducking in to reply to the most WTF post I have ever seen.

I have taken up weight lifting while using the treadmill for cardio, since all running all the time was causing me to lose just as much lean mass as fat. Now, I'm back up 15 lbs, but it's mostly muscle. Hopefully I've found a great balance that will keep the fat burning engines roaring, while BUILDING lean mass, instead of eating it up.

Keep up the runs, everyone! I love reading your posts. Especially you, you2510.

200+ Pound Club!

guest — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:05:11 GMT

I certainly weigh over 200. Probably always will, until I am bones. And they'll be some heavy bones, still!

Also, there is no EASY way to lose weight. There is a SIMPLE way: Eat smarter, Exercise more.

And even that's not easy. Hard work + dedication = results.

200+ Pound Club!

guest — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:12:46 GMT

Hey guys! I just started getting these notifications again, and figured I'd stop in. Just moved into a new townhouse with my wife, and we joined a gym close to home AND my office. I have a group I go with every day at lunch to lift weights, and I go three days a week in the mornings for cardio. Had to quit my second job due to an ankle injury, and as a result, fell into old habits and put a lot of weight back on. Since moving, I've lost the first ten lbs (again), but have about 90 to go to reach my goal of 250 by Christmas of this year. I signed up with my wife for 3 5k's already this year, the first of which is March 11th, the Shamrock Run in Baltimore. The ankle is holding up ok, but it's shin splints that stop me mid stride. I have wind to spare, but my shins will not let me run for more than a minute, 2 minutes tops. I tried stretching before and after, but the pain is so sharp. Any suggestions on pre-run routines to really prevent those nasty shin splints? I can't get past week 2 of c25k without it.

Re: 200+ Pound Club!

guest — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:04:06 GMT

DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. All they want is attention. the more you respond, the stronger they become. Ignore them, and they lose all power and fade away.

Re: 200+ Pound Club!

guest — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:36:13 GMT

Plateau broken!

I hit 40 total pounds lost as of this morning! I still think I look the same, despite friends and family stating that they can see the loss. My clothes are a lot looser, but not enough where I'm going to run out and buy new ones. But I am excited to be losing weight again after 3 weeks at the same weight. It feels good. I am working my second job and moving from an apartment to a townhouse tomorrow, so changes are happening all around. I hope to be on the track by my new house Saturday morning, logging some much needed mileage. It's going to be nice going from a treadmill at my apartment complex to a collegiate (well, junior college) track made of recycled tires that cushion my big fat feet with every stride. I hope to be ready for the Promise Keeper's 8k run on January 1st!

Re: 200+ Pound Club!

guest — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:34:14 GMT

Great Job, Travis! No small feat, indeed!

Re: 200+ Pound Club!

guest — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:22:03 GMT

I don't drink coffee anymore. Had to give it up when I quit smoking. It was really hard, but I think I'm better for it. I drink a lot of tea, but now I don't use sweeteners of any kind, I just drink the tea and take in all the flavors. Working a second job at a restaurant is good money, but having easy access to crap food and unlimited soda is DANGEROUS. I used to drink it non-stop, now I have maybe 2-3 a week, and the rest is either unsweet tea or water.

Kinda plateauing after my initial 35 lb loss, need to switch up something to kick my body back into gear! I HATE THE PLATEAU. It's what usually made me quit in the past, but I am not giving up this time.

Re: 200+ Pound Club!

guest — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:51:06 GMT

@gdsmit1: The first time I did C25K was before my car accident in April, and I never finished due to injuries sustained. I made it to W4D2, and was still really slow. By the time I healed and was released from Therapy, I only had the end of August and September to prepare for my first 5k, which was 10/16/10, notwithstanding the weight I gained being hurt and immobile all summer. I still ran it in 42:02, which was great, considering that my training was jog until I was exhausted (quickly) and walk until I could jog again. Not the best training plan, I know. Post-race, I would do my warm up walks and then jog at a steady pace, walk a bit, and jog some more until my 45 minutes or an hour was up. I wasn't excited about the runs so I didn't push myself, and I skipped a few runs here and there. I was worried I would start to gain weight back, so I needed a change. I decided to re-start C25K from scratch, hoping it would re-ignite my passion, or at the very least, give me the structure that I so need to keep focused. W1D1 is in the books, and I am giddy thinking about W1D2. But you can believe I'll be driving extra carefully when I get to W4D3! I will be checking my rear-view to make sure no one's barrelling into my car.

Re: 200+ Pound Club!

guest — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:18:18 GMT

Great job with the weight loss, rev! Love seeing that scale needle go further and further down!