A couple years ago, I stepped onto a scale and noticed that ...for the first time... I was over the 160's. I'm in my early 40's, but I have always been mid-160's. On the scale, I was 177.
I had thought that there was a bit of chub on my midsection.. but wasn't sure if it was always like that. So, given that I was entering my 40's, I decided to get on top of this aging thing.
Oh, and I had been with a new girlfriend who cooked southern food all the time... so my caloric intake had gone up, too. She is still my girlfriend.
So!
This is my fitness theory and regime -
#1 - aerobic fitness is THE most important type of fitness.
***The problem with aerobic type workouts (jogging, biking, etc.) is that they are DULL. Anyone can start an aerobic regime, but good luck maintaining it as a lifelong habit!
SOLUTION:
Create conditions that make regular aerobic activity HIGHLY probable.
This is what I did:
----- bought a high end elliptical machine.
Why? Worried about the joints. A proper aerobic program is going to require a steady pounding, over-and-over, of the joints. I have already had one knee surgery.
Why high end? I hate squeaking, rattling crap. Again, I want this to be a lifestyle. Although I have never used an elliptical before (always thinking it was girly), I could see its value... the upper body aspect. In trial, I really cranked hard on the arms of the ellipticals and the less expensive versions moaned under the force... I knew they wouldn't work.
----- entertainment - Microsoft Media Center (on Windows 7) and Xbox -
Why? It is a boredom killer
The thing allows me to see my email, watch recorded TV or live TV. Although I don't do it anymore, I can play Xbox football as I jog along, too. My phone is with me along with an iPod too. Anything that attacks boredom there.
Finally, I record shows that I do not have on any other TV so I am forced to go into the exercise room to watch it. Typically, the shows are adrenalin boosters... like UFC fights and such.
#2 muscular fitness (pretty important... but remember, it's not like your muscles are laying limp during aerobic work... nothing of a kind)
----- workout machine ---
The day I decided to buy a weight lifting machine, my local craigslist had a $2,000 Hoist v-3 for $500.
Now, I have reconsidered the value of buying a machine, but it is here now, so I'm using it. However, I like the machine because I can workout in ways that do not put uncontrolled pressure on the low back.
My weight lifting workouts are quick and are done shortly before jumping on the machine. Often, I do one set per exercise. Each set goes until I can't possible do another rep. With the heart rate flying, I then get on the elliptical. So, it's all one hour and I don't have to spend time waiting for my heart rate to climb as I run on the elliptical (for some reason, this is the most uncomfortable aspect of aerobic work... that initial phase). Somehow, it is less noticed when I let the weight lifting spike the heart rate.
I eat a lot of oatmeal, dosed with protein powder (which also serves to sweeten it), milled flax seed, and a multivitamin. In the evening, I eat a normal meal.
Within two months of this workout regime, I was down from 177 to 163.
Pretty cool when you take into account that I gained muscle mass. Although muscular, most people would characterize me as very lean-slim.
This isn't a hard core workout, but I'm guessing it is pretty darn optimal for straight fitness/health.
Defeats boredom, does not impact the joints or low back (no dead lifts or heavy overhead presses) and soundly addresses the basic components of fitness.
Any thoughts?
I had thought that there was a bit of chub on my midsection.. but wasn't sure if it was always like that. So, given that I was entering my 40's, I decided to get on top of this aging thing.
Oh, and I had been with a new girlfriend who cooked southern food all the time... so my caloric intake had gone up, too. She is still my girlfriend.
So!
This is my fitness theory and regime -
#1 - aerobic fitness is THE most important type of fitness.
***The problem with aerobic type workouts (jogging, biking, etc.) is that they are DULL. Anyone can start an aerobic regime, but good luck maintaining it as a lifelong habit!
SOLUTION:
Create conditions that make regular aerobic activity HIGHLY probable.
This is what I did:
----- bought a high end elliptical machine.
Why? Worried about the joints. A proper aerobic program is going to require a steady pounding, over-and-over, of the joints. I have already had one knee surgery.
Why high end? I hate squeaking, rattling crap. Again, I want this to be a lifestyle. Although I have never used an elliptical before (always thinking it was girly), I could see its value... the upper body aspect. In trial, I really cranked hard on the arms of the ellipticals and the less expensive versions moaned under the force... I knew they wouldn't work.
----- entertainment - Microsoft Media Center (on Windows 7) and Xbox -
Why? It is a boredom killer
The thing allows me to see my email, watch recorded TV or live TV. Although I don't do it anymore, I can play Xbox football as I jog along, too. My phone is with me along with an iPod too. Anything that attacks boredom there.
Finally, I record shows that I do not have on any other TV so I am forced to go into the exercise room to watch it. Typically, the shows are adrenalin boosters... like UFC fights and such.
#2 muscular fitness (pretty important... but remember, it's not like your muscles are laying limp during aerobic work... nothing of a kind)
----- workout machine ---
The day I decided to buy a weight lifting machine, my local craigslist had a $2,000 Hoist v-3 for $500.
Now, I have reconsidered the value of buying a machine, but it is here now, so I'm using it. However, I like the machine because I can workout in ways that do not put uncontrolled pressure on the low back.
My weight lifting workouts are quick and are done shortly before jumping on the machine. Often, I do one set per exercise. Each set goes until I can't possible do another rep. With the heart rate flying, I then get on the elliptical. So, it's all one hour and I don't have to spend time waiting for my heart rate to climb as I run on the elliptical (for some reason, this is the most uncomfortable aspect of aerobic work... that initial phase). Somehow, it is less noticed when I let the weight lifting spike the heart rate.
I eat a lot of oatmeal, dosed with protein powder (which also serves to sweeten it), milled flax seed, and a multivitamin. In the evening, I eat a normal meal.
Within two months of this workout regime, I was down from 177 to 163.
Pretty cool when you take into account that I gained muscle mass. Although muscular, most people would characterize me as very lean-slim.
This isn't a hard core workout, but I'm guessing it is pretty darn optimal for straight fitness/health.
Defeats boredom, does not impact the joints or low back (no dead lifts or heavy overhead presses) and soundly addresses the basic components of fitness.
Any thoughts?