Journey, Not A Destination

Harsh is good sometimes ;) Personally I'd rather have someone lay it out like it is, than try to protect me. I think you do a great job of dispensing advice and knowledge to all of us and are a great resource here.

Thanks for all you do Steve ;)

You are welcome. Thanks for putting up with me! :D
 
That post above was a real keeper, Steve. I've added it to the "Words of Wisdom" thread.

What you said about gurus -- it reminds me of the the old Buddhist saying, "If you see the Buddha, run!"

Thanks Tom, and that is a good comparison to my point!
 
Steve,
Perhaps we are discussing two different things. Your points are all very well spoken and I have no issues at all with the information. I also know you handle different people differently. I wasn't discussing the specifics of your approach and information dissemination.

I was commenting on why I feel someone with a large amount of weight to lose could appreciate and need a "routine" or a "laid out menu"

When starting out, there is no point of reference - no idea what exercises to start with, how much food to eat etc. It's during those times that handholding is beneficial.
 
Steve,
Perhaps we are discussing two different things. Your points are all very well spoken and I have no issues at all with the information. I also know you handle different people differently. I wasn't discussing the specifics of your approach and information dissemination.

I was commenting on why I feel someone with a large amount of weight to lose could appreciate and need a "routine" or a "laid out menu"

When starting out, there is no point of reference - no idea what exercises to start with, how much food to eat etc. It's during those times that handholding is beneficial.

Agreed. It that wasn't the case, trainers wouldn't have a job. More than half of them shouldn't anyhow. But you know what I mean.
 
Agreed. It that wasn't the case, trainers wouldn't have a job. More than half of them shouldn't anyhow. But you know what I mean.

Which makes it even more difficult - if a lot of real life trainers aren't that great, and a lot of online trainers aren't that great, it makes it even more difficult to know a "good one" when you find them. Especially if you have NO foundation of a starting point.

I have noticed that most really over weight people aren't part of the "gym crowd" I think they possibly fear their inabilities. I think they come to the WLF for weightloss *support* and getting quality information is an almost secondary benefit.

A lot of the people with 60+ pounds to lose have diaries that don't get hit that often - they're not as talkative (is that part of the personality that says "don't look at me" that comes from being overweight so long?)

The crowd that has 20 vanity points, seems to be a higher majority right now, or maybe the most vocal minority...I don't know which...but I do know that the obese starting out have a MUCH different mind set.

I know I did :)
 
You are absolutely right they have a different mindset than their leaner counterparts. How can they not? Their experience in "society" has been drastically different than everyone elses when it comes to acceptance.

Plus, weight loss deals with the very issue that they often times despise or want to change the most. Tends to create some tension and uneasiness.

You will get absolutely no argument from me that it is MORE difficult for someone MENTALLY to embark on this journey. That is part of the reason i do what I do. Actually, it is part of who I am. Many trainers get into this in order to work with anyone who needs their expertise. I would always help anyone, but my passion is helping very overweight people lose weight. And that process deals, of course with a lot of eduction. However, it deals more so with mental conditioning.

And that is what I love. I don't get into it nearly enough here, but you can be assured that I do/did when dealing with someone one on one.

With regards to picking a trainer, I won't lie and say it is easy. However, if you come to a community such as this, and find someone that has proven themselves in terms of knowledge and credibility, you have the distinct advantage of truly getting to know the trainer opposed to walking into your local gym and being handed a trainer.

Chances are pretty good that if they know their stuff here, they will know their stuff when applying it to you and your program. Just my 2 cents of course.
 
Hey steve...this is pretty random, but I wanted to make sure you had a chance to see my question and answer it for me..but

What are the differences in Calories and Calories from Fat??

The reason I ask is...I've been on this Raisin kick...and I realize a calorie is a calorie...but like 1/4 cup of raisins are 130cal but 0cal from fat...so what exactly does that mean??


Sorry so random, but thanks in advance :D
 
Hey Steve.. sorry for not dropping by in awhile!

I am now going on week number 4 of my 6 week bulking process. Even though my weight is holding steady, my body seems to be getting quite a bit of definition now and definitely cutting up. I took your advise and I am pushing a lot more weight with shorter reps.. also increased my sets up to 4 now. Sometimes I feel like I could go 5 sets. My strength has increased considerably!! I've never pushed this amount of weight before!! Thanks for the advise! Beth seems to like the change as well! ;)

Pictures to follow in a couple weeks.. we'll see just how much change there is.

Hope all is well on your end!

Bruce
 
Hey steve...this is pretty random, but I wanted to make sure you had a chance to see my question and answer it for me..but

What are the differences in Calories and Calories from Fat??

The reason I ask is...I've been on this Raisin kick...and I realize a calorie is a calorie...but like 1/4 cup of raisins are 130cal but 0cal from fat...so what exactly does that mean??


Sorry so random, but thanks in advance :D

Haha, why on Earth are you apologizing to me!? Stop that.

Calories is the total amount of calories found in the product.

Calories from fat is simply that portion of the total calories that comes from fat. Or, grams of fat x 9 calories.

Raisins don't have fat, hence, there are zero calories from fat.

Follow me?
 
Hey Steve.. sorry for not dropping by in awhile!

I am now going on week number 4 of my 6 week bulking process. Even though my weight is holding steady, my body seems to be getting quite a bit of definition now and definitely cutting up. I took your advise and I am pushing a lot more weight with shorter reps.. also increased my sets up to 4 now. Sometimes I feel like I could go 5 sets. My strength has increased considerably!! I've never pushed this amount of weight before!! Thanks for the advise! Beth seems to like the change as well! ;)

Pictures to follow in a couple weeks.. we'll see just how much change there is.

Hope all is well on your end!

Bruce

Excellent news Bruce. This is the first time you have trained like this, right? If so, you could very well be experiencing some nice recompositioning (loss of bodyfat, gain in muscle). You must not be in any serious caloric surplus, or your weight should have risen slightly.

Are you taking measurements?
 
LoL...well when you put it that way its pretty Self-explanatory...hence the reason I was apologizing...b/c I thought it might be a pretty silly question with a pretty simple answer, lol...

So the Calories I have to count (if counting) are just normal ole’ calories, right??
and if I'm right...that sucks...guess I'm going to have to start watching my raisin intake...and who reallllllly likes raisins anyway?? I have NO clue why I've even started on this kick...its weird.

Anyways...thanks for the answers :)
 
LoL...well when you put it that way its pretty Self-explanatory...hence the reason I was apologizing...b/c I thought it might be a pretty silly question with a pretty simple answer, lol...

So the Calories I have to count (if counting) are just normal ole’ calories, right??
and if I'm right...that sucks...guess I'm going to have to start watching my raisin intake...and who reallllllly likes raisins anyway?? I have NO clue why I've even started on this kick...its weird.

Anyways...thanks for the answers :)

I ask silly questions sometimes myself. It is human. :)

And I have been asked this question before, so don't sweat it.

Yup, worry about total calories. Calories from fat is part of total calories anyhow. And I like raisins. They are pretty energy dense though, so yes, you should watch your intake.
 
Excellent news Bruce. This is the first time you have trained like this, right? If so, you could very well be experiencing some nice recompositioning (loss of bodyfat, gain in muscle). You must not be in any serious caloric surplus, or your weight should have risen slightly.

Are you taking measurements?

Steve.. My normal caloric intake when I was shedding my tonnage was around 1500 a day.. sometimes less, sometimes more.. usually on the less side. That doesn't take into consideration what calories were burned during the daily workouts.

Now I am up to around 1800 - 2000 a day. Probably need to eat a little more but at least my protein intake has really increased a ton and I am eating better. Eating lots of salads, and veggies now. Chicken is my main source of protein as well as Whey in my morning drink.

I really feel like I am making considerable gains (muscle wise) and still shedding some fat in the process. Not complaining at all about that! LOL I guess the best judge of how I look will be the pictures.. and Beth of course.

And, yes, this is the first time I have trained to this extent. I find myself chomping at the bit waiting for my time in the gym!! I'm addicted, I guess! LOL
 
If it's working Bruce, keep rolling with it. Eventually, if you want to bulk up anymore (once this plateaus) caloric intake will have to be increased. But for now, enjoy it while it lasts!
 
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Quote of the Day

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do."

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
 
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