PSB Fitness MEGATHREAD - Post your progress, goals, etc.

[officer down]

Congratulations Barfridge on taking the first step.

An individual with a low self-opinion uses self-limitation as a tool which prevents him from fulfilling his potential. Your goal should be not to be just better than you were but as good as you can ultimately become.

Can I ask what are you prepared to give up to achieve it?

[carlos]

So, in that spirit, here is a list of things I am looking forward to:
- finding clothes that show off my shape
- being able to swim without feeling self-concious

^Yes that is what I am looking forward too as well.

As a little kid, I was thin, however during high school sport (apart from phys ed during school) completely ceased and I gradually put on weight.

At the end of year 12 (2007) I was ~175cm ~93kgs and was fine with it, I was eating shit and pretending that I was ok, but to be honest I wasnt, I hated taking off my shirt (still dont particularly like it) and generally hated it when people commented on me not doing sport etc, at this point my girlfriend told me what she thought about my appearance, not good.

July 2008, Our relationship ended for other reasons, and I decided that as I was not really doing much with life to enlist in the army. So I set off to get fit. Running, Weights, Eating a lot better. And I felt better than I ever had before.
~180cm/81kgs, some muscle definition, and I had a decent physical standard It was fantastic. However after my 18th, I was decline entry to the army due to sleepwalking (a lot as a kid, and a few times after the age of 15, which they dont like apparantly) Another crushing blow, and a bit depressing to be honest, It was something that I had worked fucking hard for, and it was taken away in a single 2min phone call.

I kept the training up for a month or so but lost interest, and had no motivation, I slowly saw my weight creep up and muscle mass decrease, having my appearance turn from what I thought was good, to rather chubby ~93kgs and feeling like shit again, thanks to finding alcohol and eating like shit.

In the last few weeks I have gotten back into the mindset of getting fit, and its something that is giving me direction in my life at the moment, (I dont have much else going on, apart from the girlfriend, and a sad attempt at job hunting)

What I find is that I get shin splints (and il keep up my running (each day) until I cant run, which cant be good, and ends up with me putting on more kgs when I need to stop) so I have been riding instead, Willetton > South Perth Foreshore = 30kms, once or twice a week.

I have started pushups and crunches again, and yesterday finally got my dumbbells out again.

My goals <80kgs, and to look and feel fantastic again, Im sick of how I feel at present, and want to do something about it.

To all that post up in here I salute you, good job.

[speed3]

Was always in fairly good but not great shape. Started working in a bar and drinking too much and exercising less and gained probably around 10kg. Started training with some friends that I worked with and started running at the beach, jacobs ladder occasional weights etc. Got down to 68kg (181cm) from 85 odd kg was able to run jacobs ladder 6 times non stop at a good pace and could do 14s on a beep test easily. That would have been nearly 3 years ago now.

Eased off my training as I was getting tired and then busted up my wrist and couldn't do much and ate shit for 6 months (2 years ago). Changed work, went back to uni and other shit meant I put all that weight back on (nudged over 90kg for a short while) and picked up some bad habits.


Aim: Get healthy more than anything but it would be nice be able to run jacobs 6 times again. I'd like to be around 70-75kg which isn't a heap less than I am now but with a lot less fat than I'm carrying now.

Routine: Currently 2 fitness classes per week, but I'm going to add a bit of yoga or tai chi to relax, some karate and maybe a bit of weights to tone up.


Cam you fucker, I'm draggin you up jacobs ladder with me if I have to.

[Fat Pat]

Fark, some of you lot are big aren't ya, oh wait so am I.

182 & 105 is my sad story, have managed to drop down to 80-odd a couple of times - couple of Treks in Nepal will do that. But am getting fed up with being unfit and feeling hot all summer.

Seriously, if any of you are contemplating one of those "Jenny Craig Crash Diet" things, you could do worse than go to Nepal for a month. I lost 14kg in 3 weeks, came back fitter than ever and ate like a king for the whole trip, all for the cost of approx $4K Perth-Perth. A mate did Jenny Craig for whatever contract they offer - worked out about the same amount, but he only lost 5 KG! Go figure, and I have better Pics! trouble is my life got in the road when I got back home, and the lost kilos found me again

I'm aiming for around 90kg, but probably not over the time frame you guys are aiming at - i'm too time poor currently, but as my kids get a little older they are able to venture further from home with me on walks and runs, so there is plenty of scope.

Best of luck all.

PS Barfy, you're a hairy bugger aren't you? Welcome to the "Wookie Club" I may have a fur-ball problem myself

[Barfridge]

Can I ask what are you prepared to give up to achieve it?

This is a simple one to answer.
My main problem is junk food. I rarely eat at home, I buy most of my meals. Working in Malaga there is a lunchbar on every corner, it's all too easy to eat badly.
Losing weight is easy, all I have to do is burn more calories than I consume. I have the exercise side of things sorted, so I won't be just crash dieting and slowing my metabolism.

So I am seriously considering trying out those light n easy pre-prepared meals. It won't cost any more than what I'm spending, they're calorie controlled and far healthier than what I'm eating now.

My other downfall is beer. I love the stuff, I brew it and it's a major love of my life. Realistically I can't see myself being able to give it up completely, but I can, and have been moderating myself to no more than 1 or 2 per day.

[carlos]

^easing up on the alcohol intake is something I am working on too

[Cam]

You guys are all brilliant. This is the kind of exchange I keep in the back of my mind every time lolly grumbles at me. We will definitely have to smash out Jacobs ladder Dion.

[rc_sam]

Speaking of beer, went looking for the nutrition of beer and found this list.

Beer Nutrition

Guinness kicks ass for kJ

[Mockery]

This is a simple one to answer.
My main problem is junk food. I rarely eat at home, I buy most of my meals. Working in Malaga there is a lunchbar on every corner, it's all too easy to eat badly.
Losing weight is easy, all I have to do is burn more calories than I consume. I have the exercise side of things sorted, so I won't be just crash dieting and slowing my metabolism.

So I am seriously considering trying out those light n easy pre-prepared meals. It won't cost any more than what I'm spending, they're calorie controlled and far healthier than what I'm eating now.

Firstly, good on you Jeff, Jimmy and everyone else for throwing down and stepping up, etc.

Anyone thinking of Lite'N'Easy, go for it!
It's quite tasty food, not all that expensive, convenient and NO DISHES!
A mate & I used to get it a while back just out of laziness mainly...
You're not locked into anything, just call up and place an order when you want in on the next delivery.
Might go back myself actually; need to start fuelling my body with better quality food as the rule rather than the exception...

Myself, I feel like something of a pretender next to the guys doing the real hard work:
At 178cm and ~65kg I am a skinny rake with muscle, and I never seem to put on any weight regardless of what I eat. It's a family thing...
For sport I occasionallysometimes do rock-climbing, and I'm strong & light enough to do it well (8 years of practice helps with the technique side of it)

BUT my cardio system is woeful, can't run for all that long and I usually end up blaming it on an old ACL reconstruction, which is a spurious excuse I know.
I ask myself, do I need to be able to run? Should I try to get fitter for the sake of fitness itself?
I think I should maybe take up a sport which requires it, otherwise I can't make myself see a reason for going out and running, to get any fitter than I currently am.
Desk work doesn't help here either... I'm getting too comfortable in this somewhat sedentary lifestyle.

So here's a short-term goal for me:
There's an all-day rock-climbing competition coming up in October.
I will try to improve my aerobic fitness & stamina so I can climb all day and be able to recover well enough for a good try in the finals (assuming I make it through)
Those who know: is ^^that^^ a valid assumption?
If I am fitter, muscle recovery would be faster? (esp. arm-pump in this case)

Don't think you guys really need to see any pics of me...

[Cam]

I learnt quite a bit from Captain Starfishes' quit smoking thread a few months ago. I learnt that punishing yourself in order to change your behaviour is a crappy way of doing things, you naturally rebel against it. You need to make it a positive and enjoyable thing, or it will never happen.

Wisdom.

Six months ago I dreaded the idea of going to the gym. Having now found some amazing trainers and an excellent group to train with, I really can't quite get enough of it.

- sharing all this with my friends

You're good peoples Jeff. Good peoples Thanks for coming on board with this.

Minor update from myself today. My legs are killing me, thrashed them out Monday and Tuesday night. Yesterday I grabbed a shirt that I bought maybe three or four months ago and it barely fit me at the time. When I buttoned it yesterday I was just about swimming in it.

The numbers on the scales aren't moving much, but the way things are falling on me doesn't lie. Body shape is changing slowly but surely.

[Fastgirl]

I demand a pic of your own six pack abs from all you PT ppl STAT...just so we all stay motivated of course....honest!

[Desmo]

I have a weight set and bench coming on the weekend.
It's amazing what a carton of cheap Australian beer will buy you.

[Cam]

Taint and I have been bench pressing an old z750 as part of our routine. Those things are freakin hefty.

[Desmo]

Right, I'm in.
OD reckons 15 weeks to go from my current form to where I want to be.
I'm going to do it.

[Gixxerguy]

On the health and fitness section on another forum I am a member of members can make a public journal where they post what they have done in the day, their goals, before and after pics etc and people can offer advice and feedback and ask them questions in there. I don't know if that would work here but it could be something that could be trialed.

[Weapon_X]

great to find this thread, i've been working on my physical self for the last few months, been making progress. my shirts are hanging flatter now and not tenting on my gut, and my belt buckle isn't hidden by my hang.....
it's been mainly a change in diet, too many months up north with too many carbs and no interest in exercise.

i'll be excited to post details and keep up to date with you guys. i am 6'5" and started out at 153kg down to 140. hoping for another 20 my goal is 120kg any lower and i think i'll look sickly.... but i'll see.

me before, notice the sad face as i am unhappy with myself

[Barfridge]

awesomeness

welcome aboard mate, great to see you making progress

[Fastgirl]

You guys all rock I have to say.

[Barfridge]

Ok, we now have 3 different threads. I think it's pretty logical

energy in = supplements, nutrition etc
energy out = exercise
mental energy = this motivation/progress thread

Did yoga last night for the first time. Totally different to fighting fit, Lolly was a lot less shouty But it has done wonders for my 2 main problems (which are obviously linked): tight muscles and lack of flexibility. I can see myself doing both types of class, which should give me a good all-round workout

[Cam]

Did yoga last night for the first time. Totally different to fighting fit, Lolly was a lot less shouty But it has done wonders for my 2 main problems (which are obviously linked): tight muscles and lack of flexibility. I can see myself doing both types of class, which should give me a good all-round workout

I think the Yoga is going to be useful in making me more aware of my body and how I move, which I think in turn will help my Karate out. It was handy in highlighting some points where I'm simply not as flexible as I should be, or expected to be.

Need to double check the timetable when I get in tonight and see that I don't miss the Saturday morning class.

Thanks for the thread cleanup too mate.