Marks new "Getting Healthy" thread.

Dog yoga?
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I am finding that for me, whether it is meditation/mindfulness, or yoga/stretching, it is best if I dial up a short and do-able video on youtube. 10-20 minutes does it, and I can actually make myself do that. Sometimes.
 
So I hit my short term goal of 240 this morning. 10 more lbs for the doctor's goal weight. The BMI thing is what kills me. For me to have a "healthy" BMI I would need to be 190lbs for my weight. At 230 I will probably be too skinny.

This was me yesterday at school:

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I was noticing in that pic that you also posted on facebook that you looked improved in that shot. Keep it up! Fuck BMI. Doesn't work for me either. Even before I gained some weight in the last few years, I had way too much muscle mass in my legs and ass from all my skiing to fit their view of what I should way at 5'9". Some years, I have tried to get "real cyclist" lean, and though I can get closer, still no way for me to get to my BMI numbers. You are looking good. I encourage you (and myself) to keep going and find that sustainable level that is healthy, where you don't have to feel like you are in a Nathanial Hawthorne novel every day in order to keep it up.

That said, I can do better than where I am right now. Though I have made decent progress with weight, albeit slower than during a cleanse. I think that is probably good, as hopefully it will stick better. I am down about 7 pounds from my high point before starting. Would like to drop another 5-7. We started 9/29, so we are 3 weeks in to this 6 week challenge program. Will try for a steady hand on the tiller and I hope good longer lasting results will be achieved.

One thing that is really good is the full spectrum of this challenge and that it is not only diet. Making sure I get enough sleep, or at least set myself up for sufficient sleep, even if I don't end up sleeping well on a given night. I can feel the difference in focus, attitude, energy, etc. Stretching/mobility as well. Also the habit of just keeping track of my numbers in diet, hydration, sleep exercise (which I was doing anyway with strava) stretching, etc., and writing just a little even just about that each day is helping I think.

My birthday is next weekend. I plan on using a couple get out of jail free cards to allow myself a couple/few beers, and some sort of burger (probably fish) and hand cut fries.

Once I am done with this challenge, or perhaps as I am finishing so it isn't just red light, then green light, I plan on allowing a beer or two a couple times a week, but staying limited, and only limited wine a couple other times. Keeping it more limited than before. I have no worries about addiction, as it has been no problem to cut it out, and never has. But just from a health/diet perspective. And along with that, the "non-compliant" foods. Maybe a get out of jail free day a week, or one dinner and one breakfast or something. And then stay on track the rest of the time. Gonna experiment with that as a sustainable path. With stricter clean up periods on the shoulder seasons (spring and fall).
 
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Mark, you look positively svelte!
Thanks!

I have to say that I feel much better about myself and I'm more comfortable on stage. Other parts of my life right now are very difficult and reducing the stress and mental noise that comes with overeating/overweight/bad energy has helped keep me on the rails a bit better.

When I was last 230lbs, I was something of a gym rat, was in my late 20's and was "built" quite a bit better. I get the feeling that I need to start doing some sort of additional exercise like bodyweight stuff to get closer to that. No time or money for a gym membership anymore.
 
Looking good Mark! I was getting heavy (for me), so I started back into running again after two years of laziness. Taking way longer to get back in shape that I hoped it would - but have dropped a few pounds and I'm feeling better overall.

Keep it up!
 
Thanks!

I have to say that I feel much better about myself and I'm more comfortable on stage. Other parts of my life right now are very difficult and reducing the stress and mental noise that comes with overeating/overweight/bad energy has helped keep me on the rails a bit better.

When I was last 230lbs, I was something of a gym rat, was in my late 20's and was "built" quite a bit better. I get the feeling that I need to start doing some sort of additional exercise like bodyweight stuff to get closer to that. No time or money for a gym membership anymore.
You know, you can do a lot at home with dumbbells/bar/bowflex. That's what I do.
 
One thing I've found about doing stuff at home is that it's a lot easier to skip the routine because something else comes up. If I make time for the gym (and I do) then once I'm there regardless of how I feel I do my workout. At home it can be easier to say...oh I'll just do it tomorrow. Of course as always it's about being disciplined.

Mark too bad you couldn't get the sweet deal I have for the gym (it wouldn't help with the time issue though). I play $97/year for life. I'm pretty sure when then offered me that deal 22 years ago they never figured that I would keep the membership :grin:
 
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One thing I've found about doing stuff at home is that it's a lot easier to skip the routine because something else comes up. If I make time for the gym (and I do) then once I'm there regardless of how I feel I do my workout. At home it can be easier to say...oh I'll just do it tomorrow. Of course as always it's about being disciplined.

Mark too bad you couldn't get the sweet deal I have for the gym (it wouldn't help with the time issue though). I play $97/year for life. I'm pretty sure when then offered me that deal 22 years ago they never figured that I would keep the membership :grin:
I'm pretty good about not skipping workouts, but I know I wuss out on getting that last rep and resting too long between sets.
What I really need is a personal trainer to yell at me.
Preferably a hot chick.
 
I've had home gym gear in the past and never really used it. I used to love going to the gym. These days I don't have the time for much of anything. :(
 
BMI is horseshit.

Sure, losing the fat is I,Portland, but measure the fat.

A ratio of height to weight doesn’t take into account a lot of stuff.

I’ve been hovering around 195 for over a year now, and I still have a bit of a gut hanging over my belt.
I doubt dieting is going to get rid of it. I’ve just kind of hit that plateau, I guess. Exercise probably will do the job, but I know that I’ll build muscle while working off the gut and end up weighing more. I don’t really care about the number, but my point is that according to BMI, I’d be in worse shape than I am now. Which is not accurate.
 
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A little update. 5lbs from my goal. I was looking at my app and discovered that I’ve lost 47lbs since August of last year but you can see the struggle:

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I love the “overweight” line. I’d never get to that weight and if I did you’d think I was terminally ill.
 
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Congratulations on the results! In your last pictures, you look healthy and fit to me. Your "over-weight" line seems ridiculous to me.
 
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I am continuing to make progress on this whole life challenge thing. Hopefully I am really re-setting some habits for the better. I have lost 7 or 8 lbs and would like to lose about 3 to 5 more. Not sure if I will get those last pounds. But I feel and look less "puffy" which I attribute to the better, whole food, and restricted sugars and other inflammatory stuff. Those habits should not be hard to maintain, for the most part. I want to keep working on the earlier to bed part especially. I am doing over all pretty well, but can still do better, and really feel the difference.
 
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Thanks!

The vain part of me would like to get to the point where I have no belly fat. It would be nice to be able to tuck my shirt in on stage. Other than that I'm feeling pretty good.
 
I am continuing to make progress on this whole life challenge thing. Hopefully I am really re-setting some habits for the better. I have lost 7 or 8 lbs and would like to lose about 3 to 5 more. Not sure if I will get those last pounds. But I feel and look less "puffy" which I attribute to the better, whole food, and restricted sugars and other inflammatory stuff. Those habits should not be hard to maintain, for the most part. I want to keep working on the earlier to bed part especially. I am doing over all pretty well, but can still do better, and really feel the difference.
I've gotten to the point where I can't really eat any of the foods that cause inflammation. Sugar and dairy are out. Any time I try some now I totally regret it. Also going gluten free, although that is not a vital to me but both my wife and son are allergic so it makes cooking and eating out easier.

This may be the first Halloween in 48 years that I don't gorge myself on candy for a few weeks. I had a little bit after my gig on Saturday and I felt like shit for a day or so.

Sleep is a big issue for me. I just can't get it. Even when I have the time my brain is too stressed but I'm just too busy right now.
 
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