Might aswell start somewhere!

[Duality]

Hi, I'm yet another canadian joining this what seems to be an awesome community. I'll start by a little intro, ..., my name is Stéphane Landry (you can pronounce it like Stephen, it's close enough). I'm a 24 year old industrial engineer technologist, working in the hydraulic cylinder world.

 

Here is the summary of where I started, what I became and what I have for goals:

-When I was 17, I was very athletic, roughly 170 pounds, 5'11" (hockey team captain, etc)

-I got a severed injury in my right knee during a hockey tournament which left me with crutches and a huge brace for several months (still have mild pain on occasion, happened January 2007)

-I was only doing physio and couldn't do cardio anymore

-I started college (which lasted 4 years), and without any motivation to get back in shape, I gained around 70 pounds (242 pounds december 2011)

-I moved to a new province, 1000km (600 miles) away from home for a new carreer opportunity and decided I was tired not being in shape and that I needed to stop blaming my past knee injury for my out of shapeness.

-Started cutting down on portions, eating after 6pm, drinking tons of water and simply eating better.

-December 2012 I weighted myself at around 188 (54 pounds lost), at which I have plateau'd for the last 5 months and a half

 

Summer is on it's way with huge strides, I started biking again and eating more healthy, but I feel like I'll need more than that to acheive the 180 pounds I have for a goal.

 

I need tips on things to change to replace certain meals or certain excercices I can do or anything really. I'm set at 180, once I reach it (if I do, I'll probably set a goal to get more cut (I'm not cut right now, at all, but I'm starting to see the shape of my quads and arms significantly more than I did in January)

 

I don't go to the gym as I don't really want to get bigger, I just want to slim down and I have a hard time hitting the gym for more than a month.

 

If you have any questions or comments, post em up! I'm more than willing to fill in any blank you might have!

 

PS I attached a before and after picture (after is from the end of last summer, don't have one very recent, I'll take one possibly this week)

 

EDIT : I want to be able to do a handstand by the end of the summer. :|

[Duality]

Almost 2 months has past, since I registered on here, met so many great people.

 

One thing I would like but I still can't seem to get myself to do, is to get motivated to go to the gym and keep going. I need some way to stay motivated to get my ass moving and start going to the gym. QQ

 

If I can find way, I'll start lifting heavy. Promise.

 

PS. I was very sad no one ever answered my intro post

[optimistsmile]

Hey, good to meet you, Stephane.  Question: Were you able to meet your goal?  Your first post said that you wanted to slim down, but this last post said that you wanted to start lifting heavy.  Are you trying to get bigger, or are you just trying to improve your strength?  Also, do you ever work out at home?  I do not care for gyms myself, so I work out at home or outdoors when it is nice.  I feel like I have been able to improve my strength significantly, just doing home workouts.  Food is tricky, yeah... Hopefully you have sorted that out, but if not, what sort of meal replacement were you talking about?  I have made the mistake of eating too many bars. They are tasty and convenient, but can sometimes be hard to digest if you eat too many.  I'm a big fan of juices and smoothies.  Filling, fresh, easy to digest.  Most important of course is that the food is appealing to you.  Kind of like working out- if it's not appealing to go to the gym, that workout is less likely to happen.  

I'm glad to hear that you have found supportive people here.  I am new, but I like it a lot already.  Good luck with your ventures!

[laurabzz]

I know it might not be your cup of tea but have you considered joining any of the classes at your gym? I found it's so much easier to motivate myself now because I don't want to miss them. Also you see other people struggling with the same things that you can relate to. And, you see other people who are crazy fit and they inspire you to be the same. I'm just not exactly sure what you want to achieve. Do you know this yourself? Simply going to gym just for the sake of it won't give you much motivation. I know everyone says it but it's true - you need to have some goals.

 

Hope you sorted out your diet too!

 

P.S. I think it's shame some intro posts are left unanswered, I feel everyone should contribute a little to welcome the new rebels

[Duality]

Hey, good to meet you, Stephane.  Question: Were you able to meet your goal?  Your first post said that you wanted to slim down, but this last post said that you wanted to start lifting heavy.  Are you trying to get bigger, or are you just trying to improve your strength?  Also, do you ever work out at home?  I do not care for gyms myself, so I work out at home or outdoors when it is nice.  I feel like I have been able to improve my strength significantly, just doing home workouts.  Food is tricky, yeah... Hopefully you have sorted that out, but if not, what sort of meal replacement were you talking about?  I have made the mistake of eating too many bars. They are tasty and convenient, but can sometimes be hard to digest if you eat too many.  I'm a big fan of juices and smoothies.  Filling, fresh, easy to digest.  Most important of course is that the food is appealing to you.  Kind of like working out- if it's not appealing to go to the gym, that workout is less likely to happen.  

I'm glad to hear that you have found supportive people here.  I am new, but I like it a lot already.  Good luck with your ventures!

 

I'm actually down to 182, pretty constant and I've gained strenght with a custom bodyweight program I made based on the playground bodyweight workout. For the gym, I want to be able to see myself getting interested in working out before I go and buy a membership. At home right now I can't. We just moved and things are a bit cluttered still. For food, I've reduced my grain/wheat intake significantly over the past few weeks, and noticed a good difference in alertness and such (positively). Also stating that you're new, well welcome! If ever you need help I'm more than happy to assist

 

 

I know it might not be your cup of tea but have you considered joining any of the classes at your gym? I found it's so much easier to motivate myself now because I don't want to miss them. Also you see other people struggling with the same things that you can relate to. And, you see other people who are crazy fit and they inspire you to be the same. I'm just not exactly sure what you want to achieve. Do you know this yourself? Simply going to gym just for the sake of it won't give you much motivation. I know everyone says it but it's true - you need to have some goals.

 

Hope you sorted out your diet too!

 

P.S. I think it's shame some intro posts are left unanswered, I feel everyone should contribute a little to welcome the new rebels

 

I don't go to the gym yet as I want to see myself discipline myself to do a workout constantly...I mean if I can't keep a workout at home, how am I going to at a gym? For right now, my goals are pretty vague, no numbers included so with that said, all I'm aiming for right now is to get bigger and stronger, while getting slightly leaner.

[Kristy Girl]

I'm actually down to 182, pretty constant and I've gained strenght with a custom bodyweight program I made based on the playground bodyweight workout. For the gym, I want to be able to see myself getting interested in working out before I go and buy a membership. At home right now I can't. We just moved and things are a bit cluttered still. For food, I've reduced my grain/wheat intake significantly over the past few weeks, and noticed a good difference in alertness and such (positively). Also stating that you're new, well welcome! If ever you need help I'm more than happy to assist

 

 

 

I don't go to the gym yet as I want to see myself discipline myself to do a workout constantly...I mean if I can't keep a workout at home, how am I going to at a gym? For right now, my goals are pretty vague, no numbers included so with that said, all I'm aiming for right now is to get bigger and stronger, while getting slightly leaner.

 

Hi Stephane,

 

A few years ago I was in the same position, I didn't want to buy a (another) gym membership because I couldn't see myself interested enough  to go. I didnn't have any motivation and I had wasted my money before - So I tried something totally different and way outside my comfort zone. I joined a geniune team sport.

 

This wasn't a sport where the rest of the team could race up and down the field without throwing or kicking the ball to me either,or score a goal without me.

 

This was dragon boating. This was 20 people paddling in unision in a boat. It needed the skill and strenght of every single paddler in the boat to make it across the finish line.

 

When I joined the dragon boat team i had absolutely no background in fittness or excerise, so I didn't have any expectations of myself. It guess this had its benefits though - I didn't have any previous injuries..

 

But what I discovered about myself through this team sport still amazes me! I found every single training session a challenge but I was hooked on the adrenline from racing and I was motivated to trun up to practise despite the cold, or the rain or the sun or the wind + the cold + the rain!

 

Basically I've realised I can't motivate myself to train on my own -  but in a team sceanrio where they rely on me - I push myself to step up and deliver... and I enjoy it   

 

You mention you previously played hockey - Did you enjoy about the sport? how training did it make you feel? what kept you motivated to turn up?

 

Maybe you also need a deeper connection within a team to kick start your motivation to train and to have their support to make you train to the best you can be?

 

So if your smiling reminicsing about hockey, think about checking out a new local team. If you need low impact alternatives for your knee or its not the right time in the season? look into trying something else like boxing, boot camp (don't diss em till you've tried them!), dancing or dragon boating... 

 

My team mates and I had a dinner a few years ago the night before our biggest competition and everyone wrote down on a piece of card what being part of the team meant to them or what the club had given them. These were then collated and handed out to all the members to hang onto.Ive listed some of my favourite quotes that always inspired me to train below, and hope that they will also create a spark in you to think about getting involved in hockey again... 

• At the end of the day I know there are at least 100 people who’ve got my back, 100 people I can proudly call family.
• The IDs are like family, sometimes you want to kill them, other times they’re your best friends. But no matter what you will always fight for them, and fight the hardest you possibly can
• The ID's are more than a sporting club. It is a group of people who when combine and focus on the same goal, are unstoppable.
• To be Part of a family that is always there for you and whom you can trust to give 100%. To know that when you are hurting there are 19 other paddlers (and a drummer and sweep) hurting too and the pain barrier can be easily broken. To know that the collective sum is far greater than each individuals effort alone
• No other club sport has ever motivated me to willingly get up so early, or give up so much of my time. As the season progressed I found myself wanting to go to the gym not to lose weight, but to increase my fitness and strength to make myself a better paddler. It was the people who got me hooked long before I actually enjoyed paddling. My social circle has expanded immensely and i’ve made friends who’ve changed my life for the better. At the start of the season I couldn’t even do one push up on my toes – Now I can do 42!! Thanks guys!
• An unbreakable bond in the boat.  I know every ID has my back and complete trust in me, that I have theirs
• Culture, its heart and soul are bigger than any individual. Knowing that I have confidence in every paddle in my boat and they have confidence in me inspires me to achieve what I never could have imagined was possible
• Changed my attitude – Changed my body – Changed my life. I feel honoured to paddle with and socialise with people that I believe have my back and in whom I trust.
• What started as an interest and curiosity has turned into one of the strongest feelings of comradeship I have ever had the honour of being part of. In all my years of team sporting I have never felt so well involved and included by a new bunch of people.
• The strength, determination, support and sheer power of will that the existing IDs have displayed has rubbed off on me in a big way. I’d never heard of dragon boating two months ago, and now im competing alongside as a member of an amazing group of people and an amazing club. Strength and Honour. Hoorah!

[Duality]

 

Hi Stephane,

 

A few years ago I was in the same position, I didn't want to buy a (another) gym membership because I couldn't see myself interested enough  to go. I didnn't have any motivation and I had wasted my money before - So I tried something totally different and way outside my comfort zone. I joined a geniune team sport.

 

This wasn't a sport where the rest of the team could race up and down the field without throwing or kicking the ball to me either,or score a goal without me.

 

This was dragon boating. This was 20 people paddling in unision in a boat. It needed the skill and strenght of every single paddler in the boat to make it across the finish line.

 

When I joined the dragon boat team i had absolutely no background in fittness or excerise, so I didn't have any expectations of myself. It guess this had its benefits though - I didn't have any previous injuries..

 

But what I discovered about myself through this team sport still amazes me! I found every single training session a challenge but I was hooked on the adrenline from racing and I was motivated to trun up to practise despite the cold, or the rain or the sun or the wind + the cold + the rain!

 

Basically I've realised I can't motivate myself to train on my own -  but in a team sceanrio where they rely on me - I push myself to step up and deliver... and I enjoy it   

 

You mention you previously played hockey - Did you enjoy about the sport? how training did it make you feel? what kept you motivated to turn up?

 

Maybe you also need a deeper connection within a team to kick start your motivation to train and to have their support to make you train to the best you can be?

 

So if your smiling reminicsing about hockey, think about checking out a new local team. If you need low impact alternatives for your knee or its not the right time in the season? look into trying something else like boxing, boot camp (don't diss em till you've tried them!), dancing or dragon boating... 

 

My team mates and I had a dinner a few years ago the night before our biggest competition and everyone wrote down on a piece of card what being part of the team meant to them or what the club had given them. These were then collated and handed out to all the members to hang onto.Ive listed some of my favourite quotes that always inspired me to train below, and hope that they will also create a spark in you to think about getting involved in hockey again... 

• At the end of the day I know there are at least 100 people who’ve got my back, 100 people I can proudly call family.
• The IDs are like family, sometimes you want to kill them, other times they’re your best friends. But no matter what you will always fight for them, and fight the hardest you possibly can
• The ID's are more than a sporting club. It is a group of people who when combine and focus on the same goal, are unstoppable.
• To be Part of a family that is always there for you and whom you can trust to give 100%. To know that when you are hurting there are 19 other paddlers (and a drummer and sweep) hurting too and the pain barrier can be easily broken. To know that the collective sum is far greater than each individuals effort alone
• No other club sport has ever motivated me to willingly get up so early, or give up so much of my time. As the season progressed I found myself wanting to go to the gym not to lose weight, but to increase my fitness and strength to make myself a better paddler. It was the people who got me hooked long before I actually enjoyed paddling. My social circle has expanded immensely and i’ve made friends who’ve changed my life for the better. At the start of the season I couldn’t even do one push up on my toes – Now I can do 42!! Thanks guys!
• An unbreakable bond in the boat.  I know every ID has my back and complete trust in me, that I have theirs
• Culture, its heart and soul are bigger than any individual. Knowing that I have confidence in every paddle in my boat and they have confidence in me inspires me to achieve what I never could have imagined was possible
• Changed my attitude – Changed my body – Changed my life. I feel honoured to paddle with and socialise with people that I believe have my back and in whom I trust.
• What started as an interest and curiosity has turned into one of the strongest feelings of comradeship I have ever had the honour of being part of. In all my years of team sporting I have never felt so well involved and included by a new bunch of people.
• The strength, determination, support and sheer power of will that the existing IDs have displayed has rubbed off on me in a big way. I’d never heard of dragon boating two months ago, and now im competing alongside as a member of an amazing group of people and an amazing club. Strength and Honour. Hoorah!

 

 

I actually read it twice. I'd actually be interested in something like dragon boating, but I'd never usually take on something like it.

 

I was about to use excuses like:

-It might cost something, but I wan't to keep it free for now (I won't know if I don't check huh?)

-Season is already started (that I know though, seen them already), but all teams might not be full or something like that.

-<insert other lame excuse here>

 

The thing about my personality I hate (Yes, hate). Is that I'm over competitive. Being high school hockey team captain, being my gamings team captain and other various position that require it, has brought me to be over competitive, I have to win. I have the be the best. I've improved a bit in the last year, but I'm still like that.

 

Also, for my knee, it's still ridiculously weak, even though I bike, do box jumps and lunges to strenghten my legs 4-5 times a week. I won't go back on a pair of skate for fear of wrecking it again and how long the recovery had been last time, with the addition of 70 pounds of body fat.

 

I might've found a group to do mountain bike with though. I just need to find something I might like and apply for it.

[Kristy Girl]

Woot!!

That's awesome, let me know how you go with riding

Just in case you have any lingering thoughts about looking into dragon boating, check out my clubs end of year montages to see what the sport is about (hopefully they work)

<iframe width="600" height="370" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dyj14-EB9Lk"

<iframe width="600" height="370" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p0jAUOZ0ozs" frameborder="0"></iframe>

<iframe width="600" height="370" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-2sz3Dyza2k" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[Duality]

I did some casually to fill in a spot last summer with my buddies work force, was very fun.