Hi All, Trying to get in Shape here!!

[batstiva]

Geez, where do I begin? A little less than two years ago, I weighed in at 215 pounds. And at 5 ft. 9 in. that put me right at the edge of obese. Ugg!!
So I started off easily, just cutting out one bad for me snack at work. Worked my way down to 190 pounds. Then in June, I took a home cholesterol test (high cholesterol and heart problems are in my family history) and was not overly pleased with the results. Not technically high, but above normal. So, I got serious, changed my diet to a healthier fare. Lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish, chicken, limited red meat. No refined sugars, or junk food. I have been to McDonalds once since June. (got only 3 chicken strips). I also started walking (minimum of 30 minutes a day). I am now down to 135 pounds, which puts my BMI just below 20.00. I now walk a minimum of 5 miles per day, at around 4.5 to 5 mph. Just started a little lightweight resistance training (mainly with 10 and 20 pound dumbells) and do on average 250 push ups and 350 crunches per day. Am looking to join a local gym but kind of waiting until I get recalled at work to commit the bucks to it. I am not interested in getting bulky, just want to gain some lean muscle mass, which I can tell I lost during my weight loss period. (BTW, for those on here who have lost alot of weight, how long does it take for the extra flubber skin around the middle to go away? ) I am currently in informal training for the 3 day for Breast Cancer walk in DC in October. 60 miles in 3 days. (The walking doesn't scare me, the fundraising does. Not real good at begging strangers for money). So, for obvious reasons, I don't really want to gain a lot of muscle mass, just want to tone what I've got, and maybe add a few pounds. Well, that's my story, just another guy trying not to be a statistic. Now, I just need to go get another home cholesterol test and see if all this a$$ busting has been worth the trouble.:confused4:

 

[World B]

Get in Shape

Your workout and lack of gym membership points to body weight exercises you can do outside or inside at home. Pushups alone are great. Try all the different variations. Combine them with pullups, squats and ab exercises. Check out the plank exercise. Crunches are not very effective. Add some circuit training and interval stuff for a good cardio finish. Hills are the best.

 

[g8r80]

That's quite a weight loss - congratulations! Are you male or female?

If you donate blood, they will generally tell you your total cholesterol number. Otherwise, I think you have to have a lab do it; I don't think the home kits are reliable.

 

[batstiva]

Oh, forgot about that. I recently started throwing in some side planks. I am a man, with 40 looming ahead. My walks are generally in the 5 to 6 miles per day, on basically level ground. Except for 2 days a week I go off road up the mountain behind my house. Those walks are generally in the 8 mile range with an altitude gain of around 1400 ft. So, I get my hills in.

As far as the home cholesterol test, it is virtually the same one my Dad's doctor uses. Cholesterol was really my biggest motivator. My Dad had a heart attack when he was my age. Due largely to very high cholesterol. (I think his number was around 300). I also figured out that before my daily intake of cholesterol was in the 400 to 500 mg range. Since my change in diet, my daily intake is less than half of RDA, or around 120 mg. Think I'll head out and get another test, just to see if all the work has paid off.