Fitness and Exercise

[Buffalobiian]

I'm still hovering around 64kgs atm...

Really have no idea what to do with my diet. I was running on 4000KJs per day for a while, then learned of something about not going lower than your metabolic need or else it grinds to a halt or something.. And then bumped up the v.low-carb diet to 7500KJs or so..

It really sucks how slow this progress is going.. if it is progress at all and not just water loss or some shit..

[Raven]

Consistency is pretty important, I find. I don't bother with daily calory counts and the like, way too much effort for minimal return. All I'm concerned with is making sure each of my meals is as correctly balanced as possible; I know exactly what each one will give me.

Are you able to give a basic list of a typical day for you food-wise, Bill?

[Buffalobiian]

Consistency is pretty important, I find. I don't bother with daily calory counts and the like, way too much effort for minimal return. All I'm concerned with is making sure each of my meals is as correctly balanced as possible; I know exactly what each one will give me.

Are you able to give a basic list of a typical day for you food-wise, Bill?

Daily intake:
-1KGs of vegetables (carrots, brocoli, cauliflower, peas, minimal corn, potatoes and punpkin)
-2 tins of sardines
-1 can salt-reduced spam

That amounts to 7400KJs or so. Salt content is probably a bit high, but still less than what your average person takes in anyway (typically people eat like 9x higher than the recommended dietary intake of sodium).

I ate that last wed, thur, fri, sat, and will be eating it today, tomorrow, wednesday and thursday. (I usually cook half a week's worth at once)

Yesterday I didn't have any vegetables, so ate 4 cans of baked beans and 3 eggs instead. Energy intake is about the same. That's typically one of those "naughty" days. Carbohydrates are largely absent in the diet.

I've been trying out the Low Carb High Fat diets. They're supposed to reduce insulin spikes and promote fat burning as an energy pathway.

[Raven]

Where's the grilled/baked beef, chicken and lamb? Do you have special dietary requirements?
I'd also find a way to fit a couple of pieces of fruit in per day.

I know you need to live your life, but it does sound like you need to be more consistent. It's hard to overlook a day where you're eating 4 cans of baked beans and 3 eggs with no veggies. Not trying to have a go at you, but both nutrition and exercise need to be structured well to see any real results.

Each meal make sure you have some lean protein, a plant-based carb (like veggies or fruit), and some omega-3. If you do that 6 times a day you're off to a great start.

[Buffalobiian]

Where's the grilled/baked beef, chicken and lamb? Do you have special dietary requirements?
I'd also find a way to fit a couple of pieces of fruit in per day.

Nothing special besides trying to keep within the calorie count and stay low on carbs. I just happen to find packaged foods easier to calculate (not saying calculation is the right route or anything...)

As for the beans/egg day.. I didn't have anything at home. I get what you're saying though.

As for the meal nutrition thing.. the foods aren't that spread out. I cooked each can of spam and halved them into a take-away container. Then each container fills just right with 500g of veges (since I buy 1KG frozen bags). One of them is my dinner and the other is my breakfast. I grab the two tins of sardines for lunch at uni.

What happens when a meal is unbalanced? Does your body decide to stop burning fat that day or something?

[Archangel]

What happens when a meal is unbalanced? Does your body decide to stop burning fat that day or something?

You fuck with your body and he fucks with your metabolism. If your metabolism isn't burning calories then no matter how little you eat it will turn to fat.

Methinks you're overthinking this anyway, your diet sounds like something out teen vogue.

[Raven]

What you want to do Bill is focus on getting your metabolism firing as much as possible. This can take varied time for people depending on a number of factors. But in simple terms, a firing metabolism means you'll burn fat even while at rest.

What's the best way to improve it? Eat smaller meals, more often. Maybe just for a while try not to calculate anything, forget about the numbers, just focus on making each small meal balanced, with a good source of protein and a serve of vegetables/fruit. If each of your meals is correct, the rest takes care of itself.

[Sapphire]

I started yoga two days ago and it ain't no joke. More places are sore than have ever been sore from doing anything in my life. My entire stomach up to my ribcage feels sore, even. My shoulder blade muscles, too?! All this from doing relatively simple poses! It's amazing. I can't decide if I want to do it six days a week or every other day for maximum results. I greatly prefer yoga (or dance) to other exercises such as running, because it's much more graceful. I don't like the heavy "CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP" that comes from running or weight lifting, and it's boring. I already get a "longer and leaner" feeling from yoga.

So I was doing this relatively simple pose about 40 minutes in and my leg that I was lunging on started shaking like a motherfucker, so much that I could barely even keep my balance:



I did a little research but I hate simplistic explanations of biological processes. Apparently, if shaking happens during exercise it's because an uneven amount of muscles are fatigued and are not receiving the chemicals they need to lengthen and compress, causing the shaking? That sounds bad. Do I just keep exercising until they get "stronger," or do I need to change my (egregious) diet somehow?

[Archangel]

Bitch please, the first time i did squats i was like "Lol no problem this shit is so easy".

The next day i bent down ever so slightly to pick up something and i fucking faceplanted on the floor from the searing pain.

[gos27]

No pain no gain. Being sore after I see it as a good thing. The more sore I am, the better workout I did

[Sapphire]

Yeah, great.

Anyone have any thoughts of shaking while working out/optimal frequency for workouts?

[Animeniax]

I shake whenever I have to use my core muscles, like when doing ab work. I don't have that problem with any other body part, but I've developed the muscles on those body parts. As I continued to work my core over the months, the shaking occurred less often and less violently. I think you just have to keep at it until you strengthen the muscles that are shaking.

At worst it's only embarrassing to shake because it shows you are weak but who cares. That's why you're there... to get stronger.

[Buffalobiian]

My sit-ups have always been limited by my back muscles. They give in before my abs do. Lately it could have been happening because I've focused on my back more so they were in "healing mode". I can try again later today.. if I feel like it.

The treadmill at the gym seems too low-tech to have automated HIIT training.

[Archangel]

I had that problem, then i stopped being a bitch and started deadlifting.

I'm now popping 50x3 leg raises pretty easily, though i should probably tone down on the number and get some weight on my legs instead.

[Buffalobiian]

I had that problem, then i stopped being a bitch and started deadlifting.

Which problem are you addressing specifically?

[Archangel]

A weak lower back.

I still kind of have it, relatively anyway. My deadlift is the same as my bench.

[Animeniax]

Aren't deadlifts just an example of poor form when lifting heavy objects? You should never lift with your back while keeping your legs straight. Bend at the knees, young grasshoppa.

[Buffalobiian]

Aren't deadlifts just an example of poor form when lifting heavy objects? You should never lift with your back while keeping your legs straight. Bend at the knees, young grasshoppa.

From what I've learned during a "workplace health and safety" tutorial, you should lift with a combination of the two. Instead of isolating the muscle groups and wearing either of them out, combine them to spread the work over your body.

[Raven]

Deadlifting is pretty much against what they always teach you about proper every-day heavy lifting, IMO anyway. But it's my personal favorite exercise, because my back feels so sensationally strong as a result. Having a strong lower back seems to help so much.

I can't decide if I want to do it six days a week or every other day for maximum results.

So I was doing this relatively simple pose about 40 minutes in and my leg that I was lunging on started shaking like a motherfucker, so much that I could barely even keep my balance:

Don't forget to allow sufficient days of rest. 6 days a week is too much I'd say.

The shaking will be from a general lack of strength for such isolation. Practice with some body weight squats here and there preferably on your rest days and you'll build up some basic strength. The shaking will stop in time.

[Archangel]

Aren't deadlifts just an example of poor form when lifting heavy objects? You should never lift with your back while keeping your legs straight. Bend at the knees, young grasshoppa.

Do you honestly work out or are you just browsing this thread looking for a chance to troll? When it comes to fitness you're probably the most misguided person i've ever encountered.

Don't forget to allow sufficient days of rest. 6 days a week is too much I'd say.

The shaking will be from a general lack of strength for such isolation. Practice with some body weight squats here and there preferably on your rest days and you'll build up some basic strength. The shaking will stop in time.

I'd go with this, the sexiest chick at my gym squats and she has the most stupendous ass ever.