Leego

You know, after reading what Rippetoe had to say about dieting and nutrition, I'm starting to think that I may not be doing myself a favor by limiting myself so much on when I eat and how much I eat, and trying to stick around 1800 calories. The scale says that, after I'd say 2-3 weeks of dieting, I'm still 280 lbs, maybe even a little more (which according to Rippetoe, is expected). However, I do notice that a pair of blue jeans I had a hard time fitting into fit now, and I almost look better in the mirror. Granted, my butt's still big, and my stomach still hangs over my belt. It's strange. Some of my family say I look like I've lost weight, and when I'm working out and I look at myself in the mirror, it's like I'm already looking better. But when I get home, take a shower, and look in the mirror...I still have a big belly and ass. I know these things will take time, and that it's normal for my two biggest assets (pun intended) to take the longest to go, and that once I get back to college and have more control over my diet it will be easier to really make progress in strength and maybe even mass, and I will begin to look even better, but I still feel a bit frustrated that I haven't lost a single pound yet, as I really want to move faster and lose embarrassing fat...but not at the expense of my health by accidentally damaging my metabolism because I ate too few calories. I feel like the longer, safer route would just be to focus on strength training for now, and after awhile, build up muscle, and let 10-30 lbs drop off naturally, and not worry too much about weight or fat for now. You know what? I think I'm gonna increase that calorie intake minimum to 2,000 calories a day, and I'll just walk more. It might take longer, but I'd rather see SOME progress than no progress. Then again, if I'm not seeing much change, doesn't that mean I'm doing something right in regard to SS?

Alright, I will remember to do warm-up sets and look at what Mark Rippetoe says about form. Then if I still have trouble, I will try microloading or Dradis' suggestions on progression. And no, I wasn't doing warm-up sets before. I was doing warm-ups, but not with a weightlifting bar. I was doing things like Jumpin' Jacks.

Alright. When you say "...hit a Bodyweight Squat, Bench Press, and Row, and a 1.5 bodyweight Deadlift", what do you mean by that? And, I'll try to continue to get all of my nutrients from food, but I find protein shakes very useful in making sure I get enough protein, as well as a way of getting in a few extra calories, so I might stick with that at least, unless the amount to which is helps really IS that little at this point. Judging by your profile avatar, you seem pretty strong and athletic, and you appear to be a Monk (some type of boxer). If you don't mind me asking, how did you get that way? I mean, I know it's through years of hard work and proper dieting, but I mean, where did you begin both exercise-wise, and fighting-wise? I'm not sure if I'm asking the question properly. I have an interest in learning how to fight, largely for self-defense, partially for sport and fitness. I am currently learning Shotokan, but I don't quite practice it like I should. I've been much more focused on losing weight and building muscle, so that I can run faster, hit harder, and lift heavier in general, first.

So I need to improve my form, push-press the last reps, and/or I need to start doing 2 warmup sets before doing the main 3 sets. And then, I need to OHP say, 2x5 of 60 lbs, and then 1x5 of 65. And then, if that works, I will be able to do 2x5 of 65 lbs, and then 1x5 of 70 lbs. Do I got that right? So, I know I need to warmup, that's for sure. Now, do I do the last two reps with push-presses if I still can't get 1x5 of 65 lbs or 70 lbs as my max? Also, how do ankle weights affect how much I press up with my arms?

Right now, I weigh 280 lbs, (I think?) and I'm just trying to lose at least 10 lbs by the end of this 6-week challenge. I've decided to go for 1,800 calories on off days, 2,100 calories on work days. I've been counting my calories, but I'm still having trouble with sneaky calories (i.e. calories from food offered to me, food cooked by my dad for dinner, which is really good and usually something healthy) that I can't easily count. So I chose to not eat until noon, and just eat lunch and dinner. That way, if I end up getting any extra food during the day from someone else, it will leave some leeway for unaccounted for calories, instead of me accidentally eating too many just because I ate breakfast, and ended up getting fastfood for lunch. My scale says I weigh a little over 280 lbs (near it's max), my parents electric scale stopped working after I stepped on it, and the scale at my gym is primitive and says I weigh roughly 255 lbs, I think.

Ah, good. So it isn't just me afterall. My gym doesn't offer micro-loading, but I'll keep trying to improve my form and see if I can break 70 lbs this Friday. Also, Jenglishfett, I like your siggy.

Yeah, so, today I stalled on my overhead press. I was originally going for 70 lbs today, but I could barely even get it up over my head. Just once. Then I realized it was still on 75 lbs from my squats, so I took it down to 70 lbs and tried again. I could only lift it up 1x3 before my arms just couldn't do it anymore, and I had to sit it back down. And then I tried it again, and could barely lift it over my head. It was only when I picked up a pre-setup 60 lbs bar, just to see if I could at least do 60 lbs, that I was able to do 3x5. My stats as of today: Squats: 80 lbs Deadlifts: 125 lbs Overhead presses: 65 lbs Bench presses: 70 lbs Power Cleans: 70 lbs Now, I have read on both Bodybuilding.com and have heard on Youtube that it's normal for OHPs to stall early on, and that they are the hardest to progress. Also, looking at a Youtube video about it, I'm starting to think I had my form all wrong, and it seems a bit more complex than the other weightlifting techniques I've used so far.

Yeah, I'm not really into the whole roleplaying thing today, but I'll add more later, or in the next challenge. Right now, I'm a Human Ranger, level 0. I'm more like a Dwarven Ranger, but I prefer to be called a Human, and normally Dwarves can't be Wardens, so. Starting this, I am 280 lbs, and 5'9". According to my scale, I am now actually a little over 280 lbs. I stomped it into the ground. Instead, I will be going based off of looks, and will only weigh myself bi-weekly at either the gym, or using the electric scale that my parents use at home. Quest: To lose a minimum of 10 lbs over the next 6-week challenge. Goal 1: Minimize carbs intake, maximize protein intake, and consume approx. 1,800 calories on off-days, and approx. 2,100 ~ 2,300 calories on work days (to compensate for calories burned during weightlifting and treadmill intervals). Goal 2: Continue running Starting Strength and a few bodyweight exercises on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Goal 3: On off days, I will walk for at least 30 minutes a day, preferably in the afternoon, in the morning, or in the rain (I love rain), and make sure I keep getting 7-8 hours of sleep. Side Quest: Learn how to play the harmonica; Read the driver's license manual; Practice base math skills. On work days after my stay at the gym, I will spend at least 30 minutes reading a driver's license manual (for getting a driver's license), and reading a math book to strengthen my base math interpretation skills so I can more easily do Trig work when I go back to college next semester. On off days, I will, if I can find the time, in the morning, preferably, practice playing Legend of Zelda songs on my Golden Melody harmonica in key of C. Exercises (Work Days): Warmup Circuit: Glute Bridges: 1x10 Jumpin' Jacks: 3x30 Warrior Lunges: 3x10 Kettleball Swings: 3x5 Bodyweight Squats: 1x10 Workout A Squats: 3x5 Military Press (or Over-the-head Press): 3x5 Deadlift: 3x5 Workout B Squats: 3x5 Bench Press: 3x5 Power Cleans: 5x3 (I was doing 3x5. Is there a difference?) Stamina, Speed, and Weightloss training: 30 Minutes of treadmill intervals or 1 hour of walking and jogging (Current record: Maintaining 6.0 MPH for 30 seconds)

Alright. From what I've gathered, this is what I've understood so far: Calories, carbs, and fat are somehow related, but I'm not sure how, but basically, I want to avoid too much fat, avoid getting too many carbs, and just watch my calories. As long as I eat two meal a day (one at lunch, one at dinner), enough to get me my needed calories, I should be okay. Avoid grains whenever possible, and avoid sugary foods, junk foods, deserts, and sodas (which I gave up on ever since college) entirely. As long as I am working out 3 days a week, and am consuming 1,500 ~ 2,000 calories a day, I should be fine and begin to lose weight. The absolute minimum for calories is 1,500. If I get to that and I find myself getting sick and tired, I should increase the minimum number of calories to 1,800. If sickness persists, up the min. to 2,000 calories. If 2,000 calories is working, then lower it to 1,800 cal. If that works, see if I can go down to 1,500 calories. I seem to have a hard time with ninja calories. Those calories that are unaccounted for when someone offers me food, or when dad cooks something and I don't know what the calories count for it is, nor the serving size. For this reason, I'd really prefer to just take calories as more of a guidelines, rather than a commandment. So, I should only get, roughly 1,800 cal. ~ 2,400 cal. a day. but what about my off days? Should I consume 2000 cal on work days and 1800 on off days? I'm gonna burn 300 ~ 500 cal. on work days, anyways.

I'm willing to try and only eat 1500 calories a day, it's just a concern of whether or not if it will hurt my metabolism. I guess as long as I don't begin to feel hungry, right? What are some signs that I am eating too few calories?

Hey, I'm also doing Starting Strength 3 days a week, but I think I have done something I'm not supposed to. Today I did 3x5 sets of Squats (75 lbs), power cleans (70 lbs), and deadlifts (120 lbs), but I found out that I was actually supposed to do either military presses that day, or bench presses, but that was after I left the gym, and because I have to ride with my mom, there was no turning back. So as soon as I got back home, I pulled out my weight bench set (with a crappy bar that feels like 1-2 lbs), and tried to put enough weight on the bar to get 70 lbs (ended up with 72 lbs because of inadequate weights), but now looking at my log, the last I benched WAS 70 lbs, not 65. So I'm not behind afterall, but I went ahead and did it, and just barely did: 1x5 of 72 lbs, 1x4 of 72 lbs (was going for 1x5, but failed), and then I cut the weight down to 60 lbs and did another 1x5. Now my arms are sore (but in a good way) and "feel like jello". I think my journal book is throwing me off because my eyes and mind aren't picking up on something, and the pages keep sticking. I'm assuming my arms are going to be alright, and that I should just try to go for 75 lbs the next time I bench press at the beginning of the new challenge. Still, it got me thinking, how bad is it to miss a workout two days in a row? When I plateau, should I just keep working with the weights I got until all of my muscle groups are able to catch up and be at equal level of strength before trying to break past the plateau? (i.e. Until I am able to bench press, military press, power clean and squat 100 lbs, and deadlift 200 lbs)

Oh, don't worry about it! At least I'm actually getting support and help from people for once rather than going off of articles I find online. I will try some of the things you suggested about the broccoli and mushrooms.

Oh. When smbuckley said foam roller, I was thinking of one of those cushions that some people put on weightlifting bars at the gym. Well, what are some foam roller techniques that you guys use?

Oh my God, I got ninja'd. So...what I got from this so far, is that HFCS is not ALL that bad or a cause of a huge concern, whether or not if it is in one thing that I eat (except it may be in other things). Also, I tried an app called MyFitnessPal, and it said that if I weigh 280 lbs, and my goal is 260, and I'm a Male at the height of 5'9", and I mostly just sit around all of the time (I'm assuming it means outside of the gym), and I want to lose 2 lbs each week, then I need 1,840 calories a day to lose weight, which would be, out of a 2,000 calorie diet, a deficiency of 160 calories. Now, assuming that it is accurate (and it may very well not be), it seems REALLY easy to keep from hitting 2,000 calories each day, as long as I keep myself busy and exercise in some way everyday. Plus, it seems like the two medium meals a day thing is working pretty well! I managed to hold out until lunch time, and when I ate that anguish burger, a granola bar, and drank a protein shake (it adds up to 870 cal, and I burned 551 cal on the treadmill), I actually felt full and satisfied! It's when people offer me food and I don't know where it comes from, and when I get stuck at home, that I run into the trouble of eating too much and not moving enough. My instinct is, on days where I can't easily go out and get physical, I need to eat less, but it's during this time that I am stuck at home surrounded by all this unhealthy food. It seems like this is the part that comes down to straight-up willpower, or WILL.

Oh my God, I got ninja'd...and I double-posted. So...what I got from this so far, is that HFCS is not ALL that bad or a cause of a huge concern, or at least when it is only in one thing that I eat (except it may be in other things), and in small amounts. Also, I tried an app called MyFitnessPal, and it said that if I weigh 280 lbs, and my goal is 260, and I'm a Male at the height of 5'9", and I mostly just sit around all of the time (I'm assuming it means outside of the gym), and I want to lose 2 lbs each week, then I need 1,840 calories a day to lose weight, which would be, out of a 2,000 calorie diet, a deficiency of 160 calories. Now, assuming that it is accurate (and it may very well not be), it seems REALLY easy to keep from hitting 2,000 calories each day, as long as I keep myself busy and exercise in some way everyday. Plus, it seems like the two medium meals a day thing is working pretty well! I managed to hold out until lunch time, and when I ate that anguish burger, a granola bar, and drank a protein shake (it adds up to 870 cal, and I burned 551 cal on the treadmill), I actually felt full and satisfied! It's when people offer me food and I don't know where it comes from, and when I get stuck at home, that I run into the trouble of eating too much and not moving enough. My instinct is, on days where I can't easily go out and get physical, I need to eat less, but it's during this time that I am stuck at home surrounded by all this unhealthy food. It seems like this is the part that comes down to straight-up willpower, or WILL.

Well, I looked at the ingredients for the buns on the burgers I have, and I saw something about sugar, but not corn syrup. Honestly, I think eating 2000 calories a day would be a more reasonable option until I leave home and have a bit more control over my diet and time. Yes, my stats are 280 lbs, 5'9". If I were to burn 800 calories on a treadmill, would I have to make up for that 800 calories just to stay at the 2000 calories mark?

It seems like sticking with a 500 cal/day deficiency is still the most sensible option for me, and I'm kind of happy about that, to be honest. My goal is to, within 1-2 years, be down from 280 lbs to 200 lbs, but that would be losing nearly half of my weight that I have built up over my entire childhood and teenhood, and just losing 20 lbs would make a huge difference for me, and extra strength will help compensate for some things. Therefor, just losing 2 lbs a week sounds sensible to me. Hell, even just 1 lb a week would be nice, but I'd rather aim for 2 lbs. I like your suggestions, Starsapat. Still, I'm not sure if I'm ready to replace burger buns with lettuce just yet. It just seems...unnatural to me. D: Ironic. Honestly, though, I really like mushrooms and sweet potatoes, and I can handle broccoli with some seasoning. What kind of seasoning do you recommend me trying?

So, prior to coming here, I bought into the idea carried over from BodyBuilding.com that I would have to eat six meals a day, which I always feared and loathed the idea of, because I: Used to like to eat a lot (and still wouldn't mind to), and: Trying to figure out how to carry and eat chicken and fish and other foods with me wherever I go so I can eat every 2-3 hours sounded like a nightmare. Still, I've managed to get something close to a "six meals a day" plan: A protein shake, banana, toast (I know, no bread) and scrambled eggs in the morning, an energy drink mix pre-workout (if that counts), a protein shake post-workout, whatever lunch I got with my mom (which is usually too much food, especially if I forgot to pack lunch and we went to a drive-thru), and food at dinner. It's kept me satisfied, but I still seem to be consuming too much food and too many calories, and I really, really want to lose weight. But then I saw that Steve promotes the "1-2 meals a day" idea, and it seems like an easy way to not have to worry about getting breakfast and lunch, and an easier way to keep track of my calories. It's also an easier way to cut down on my carbs, as there's currently lots of bread and meat at home. Now, to me, a frozen Angus burger as a final meal is not very bad, except for the grease and the buns! Just one of those things give off 510 calories, and beef is a good source of protein, right? It's just missing something on the side. So, I'm thinking of getting and preparing some kind of frozen vegetables (frozen so it won't expire so quickly) to go with the burger, but I'm trying to decide what. I'm thinking of something like cheese and mushrooms or cheese and broccoli. Or just mushrooms and broccoli. Also, my goal is to not go over, but to stay close to 2500 calories a day (maybe only eat 2000 calories a day, and take off 500 calories through working out), but I wonder, if I only got 1500 calories a day or even 1000 calories a day, would that hurt me in anyway way, or would it help me even more with weight loss? Any recipes are welcomed!

What? Oh, that's a real thing? I'll have to try it, if I can ever find a fitting time and place to start hitting a tractor tire with a sledge hammer. Have you done it before?

lol, dat smiley. Alright, I will continue with it. I actually think my upper arm is starting to feel a little better. Can't say much about my right knee, though.

OK, so I've got more questions. Yes, I know I tend to post more threads asking questions than I do make posts responding to threads, but there are still things I want to know. So, as far as eating and working out goes, I've heard some people say that you need to eat before working out to activate your metabolism, and I've heard some people say that you need to wait until after you workout to eat so that your body is forced to use the energy it has stored up to do work. When I first came home for the summer and began strength training, I tried eating just one meal a day, but I found that not only would I end up finding myself eating a few things throughout the day, but I don't even have to limit myself to one meal a day. As a matter as fact, if you count pre-workout and post-workout supplements, I usually get about 5-6 meals a day, with a medium breakfast, a pre-workout energy drink, a post-workout protein shake, lunch, and dinner. So far, this *feels* like it's been working for me. I don't often feel hungry, I only get the urge to eat more when I had a small lunch (a protein shake and a PB&J sandwich), and it's pretty maintainable, as long as I can continue to leave myself time to make breakfast in the morning before heading out to the gym. Still, I'm concerned about the number of calories I'm consuming, and cutting out breakfast would save me some time. Also, I'm having a hard time leaving bread out of my meals. When I get breakfast, it just feels natural for toast to go along with my eggs and banana, and personally, I kind of like bread! By itself, it's kinda boring and pointless, but I always thought of bread as being like the Bassist of the food band. The backbone of it's music. So, would not eating until after my workouts (which would pretty much mean not eating anything until noon, for me) help me lose weight, or should I stick with what feels right right now?

You know, I do like the idea of playing frisbee golf. Something interesting about throwing a disc that glides softly through the air and hits a chain net. It almost seems like a fun way to pretend I'm Captain America with his shield or some warrior who uses a disc-like weapon. I would say like Xena the Warrior Princess, but then I'm a male. :-/ I still prefer something with a bit more combat-implications, like ramming or hitting a heavy bag, maybe with a staff or tonfas, or archery, or something. I can't remember many. I'm just curious to see what different physical games I can play to test how much stronger or faster I'm getting.

Aand, for some reason, I keep waking up roughly between 7 hours later and 6 hours later. My body just does not want to sleep for 8 hours straight. Should I keep trying to make myself sleep an extra hour, or should I just keep getting up whenever I naturally wake up without the aid of an alarm?

That didn't comfort me at all, but you know what? I'm gonna take your advice and go to the gym today anyways just to keep momentum, so thanks, I guess.

Right now, my right, kinda top-ish, upperarm and middle back feel a bit sore in a sort of sickly, hurt way, and the rest of my body is still a little sore, too. I think it might be the result of trying to do bodyweight exercises and SS on two consecutive days. I wasn't thinking of bodyweight exercises as strength training, I was thinking of them as a way to keep my muscles active and my calories burning. Since I'm gonna be up until about 11:00 PM babysitting anyways and will have to get ready in an hour to about 30 minutes, should I still go to the gym and lift weights tomorrow, or should I just take a break and rest up for the six week challenge? It could help to spend the time figuring out my plan for those six weeks. I'm just afraid of losing time. Also, I'm concerned about my left arm being weaker than my right. I've noticed that it takes more to make my right arm tired, and that when I lift up a barbell, the left end lags behind the right end a bit. Yet at the same time, it's mostly my right arm that feels sore, right now. I've read that dumbbell exercises help remedy it, but I feel pretty committed to Starting Strength's barbell workouts, and I like how they workout my entire body...granted I still get quite a leg workout just from doing body (weight) squats.