So far, 28 men (plus my little baby boy Josh) have signed up for the Fitness Challenge. So, the first question here is: what is your plan? What is your strategy for the “Battle of the Bulge?”
I’m headed out for a walk with my wife. My biggest needs are reduced diet and consistent (reasonable exercise). As a former marathon runner, I tend to go at it too hard, get incredibly sore and then can’t exercise consistently.
I am also trying one more radical thing, for the month of August. I’m carnivorous – I love steak, ribs, etc! But for one month I’m going vegetarian. It’s sweet corn and watermelon season in Iowa, so its time to give it a try.
That’s my plan. What’s yours?
I lost fifteen pounds logging my food on a website called myfitnesspal.com. I also do p90x. Hope to lose up to 25 to 35 pounds.
My plan is to lose weight through mocking Dave Miller’s vegetarianism this month.
If that is inadequate, I’m watching calories through portion control, drinking water when I want a snack, getting enough sleep so I don’t snack to stay awake, and aiming for very consistent exercise.
I’m guessing (this may be TMI) that I will need little mocking. I figure that the addition of that much fiber to my normal diet may have certain effects that will be punishment enough.
Being certain to hit the 5 fruit smoothies per week for breakfast has a similar effect.
It should be fun.
here’s a lovely, healthy fruit smoothie recipe: in blender, place five frozen strawberries (they should be frozen), a whole banana, some apple juice, a small amount of wheat germ, and whatever other fresh or frozen fruit takes your fancy (I like to add fresh blueberries) ‘Pulse’ the blender until the strawberries are chopped up a bit and then blend until smooth, and enjoy! this makes a terrific breakfast (for you heavy guys, I would add two boiled eggs, and a vitamin pill to keep you going until luncheon) – if you need a mid-morning pick-me-up, try a wedge (small) of… Read more »
no,
don’t put the boiled eggs in the blender with the fruit! eat them separately . . . 🙂
but you CAN put a large TBS full of low-fat cottage cheese in the blender with the fruit for extra nutrition and ‘staying power’ . . . it adds a ‘filling’ quality to your smoothie 🙂
Actually, I use about 2 TBSP of rolled oats for protein and fiber, and that covers the staying power. I can’t bring myself to eat boiled eggs anymore. They feel too much like eyeballs.
Don’t ask how I know that.
Total smoothie is oats, blueberries, banana, pineapple, and some cranberry juice.
I haven’t had kidney stone trouble since I started on these.
DOUG,
oats sound like a good ingredient . . . thanks for the idea
Staying with myfitnesspal to track calories. Bicycling at least 30 miles a week and trying to eliminate any between meal snacking. We are joining the Y in August as my kids start with the school swim team, so I’m hoping to add 2 days a week of low weight/high rep weight training to that regimen in a couple of weeks.
Dave, I don’t know if you have seen this documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD8e4Mg3NFU I first saw it at James Swan’s site Beggars all. My husband and I followed it for 30 days. What a huge difference! He’s a diabetic and the result from this particular diet is that his blood sugars became more stable and significantly lower. Both of us lost a significant amount of weight. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. But the movie is well done and gets across the idea that food can be medicine. Prayers for all. I’ve had to fight my own weight almost all of… Read more »
No bread, sugar or starches. Just meat, veggies and fruit all the while tripling my water intake.
My secrete weapon is that I have started walking up and down the halls of the church while I’m on my cell phone. One day I walked for an hour and a half total. I would’ve spent that time sitting at my desk.
I’m down 6 lbs in the first two weeks!
Logging calories with myfitnesspal, and increasing exercise. I’d like to run twice a week (slowly increasing distance and speed), and bicycle three times per week to my office (which I’ve been doing for awhile, but I’d like to start taking a slightly longer route). I’ve found that I really like listening to sermons while I run and bike because they help me get my mind off if the exercise far more than workout music!
Lowering carbs. Going for lean meats and lots of veggies. Oat bran or eggs for breakfast. I have a small farm and cut firewood so exercise won’t be too much of a problem.