I have been lurking here for a while, and now that I am beginning in earnest, its time for me to give my story.

My finals are over and I have returned to my humble home on a mission. Thanks to a swanky part-time temp job at my local courthouse, I have alot of time on my hands this summer and I intend to use it to change my life for the better.

Since middle school I've always been on the hefty side. 4 years of marching in the hot and sticky Louisiana sun with a 24 pound piece of metal (Let me hear ya, low-brass!) helped keep it in check and lead to the strongest arms in the parish, but 3 years at college and my pudgy self has returned with a vengeance. I now hover around 240, and i dont need a doctor to tell me how unhealthy that is on my short 5'5 frame. I can feel it. When my own grandfather, a man who has always been honest with me, took me aside at xmas and said he was worried about my weight, I knew it was time to get to work. I don't usually make new years resolutions, but this was as good a time as any to start.

During my long holiday break I started slow. A few minutes on an exercise bike here, a walk there. I was gifted a wii and found myself to be very good at boxing, some days spending over an hour going full tilt which left me exhausted but feeling better. Changing my diet was nearly impossible coming from a long line of good cajun cooks, but i did what little i could, like substituting soda for water and orange juice. I found this site and was surprised to see so many friendly people, which gave me great motivation. I managed to lose a couple of pounds in a few weeks and was feeling so much better about myself.

Then I was back at school and the wheels came off the train. I had access to more exercise equipment than i could shake a stick at, and I never once made it to the gym. My soda intake hit horrendous levels. A roommate gave me Zedla for the Wii, and video games returned to their traditional couch potato form. I gained all the weight back and then some.

Now that I am back home with lots of free time, I intend to get back in shape. My ultimate goal for this summer is to get down around 205 or less, or at least to be on the right track. I intend to hit the exercise bike pretty hard and get back my cred in wii boxing. A neighbor has agreed to join me for real tennis twice a week. I'm not very good, so I'll be running around chasing balls most of the time. My diet wont change much, ill just be watching my portions and staying off the soda. I realize that I may spend the entire summer exhausted, but if thats what it takes t get healthy, then bring it on!

I have a couple of questions that i hope you all can help with.

1. As I said, thanks to a cushy temp job, I will have obscene amounts of time on my hands. If you had all the time you wanted for your exercises, what long form workouts would you do/recommend?

2. How good are those energy drinks (Powerade, gatorade, etc.)for you? I'm planning on sticking with water mostly, but if they actually provide a benefit I would like to know.


Man, I cant believe i wrote all that^^^!

Hi John

You will find a lot of good advice on this site. For the last 2 months i have read everything there is to read and although some of it sounds kinda complicated the fundamental thing is to eat well and find some exercise that you enjoy doing.

If you've got some spare cash buy yourself an elliptical machine for about £100 (200 dollars?). I go on mine in front on the TV. At first i could only manage 10 minutes but now am up to a hour, i also bought a multi gym & sit upbench which i do in my garage while watching TV also.

I also go running although could not run for more than a couple of minutes 2 months ago can now run 2 miles without stopping. If you're going to try this i would recommend running for a minute walking for a minute and build up as i did. Or just power walking listening to music !!

Have now bought a treadmill and do the same for that too although it's quite noisy and am now looking on e-bay for cordless headphones !!!

I find that logging my weight and workout every day to be very theraputic too and keeps me focused by showing my progress.

Don't know much about energy drinks but i do take a whey protein shake after exercise mixed with semi skimmed milk / strawberries/bananas/fat free natural yoghurt..tastes good !

Good Luck ,i'm not expert but this is how i did it and it's working for me!!



Joe

Sounds like you're getting on the right track, John.

If I had all the time in the world, I think hiking would be my cardio exercise of choice, because of the challenge and all the beautiful scenery. I already do take as much time as I please with lifting weights, and it's quickly becoming a passion of mine, rather than just a hobby. I recomend it very highly.

I would not recomend sports drinks like Poweraid. These drinks are really intended for atheletes doing intense or extended activities. Unless you're running many miles, or playing an intense four quarters of football, leave them be, and add a lemon wedge to your waterbottle, if anything. The sugar and sodium in these drinks do help you re-hydrate and perform better, if you're body is pretty much maxed out. But for most of us, our body still has plenty of sugar and sodium to use plain water during and after our workouts.

One thing that I have found that helps me out from time to time, is a little caffeine. I rarely drink caffeine, so when I do I really notice a difference. If I'm hurting for energy and it's time to go to the gym, I'll have a can of diet coke, or a cup of green tea or yerba matte with a packet of zero calorie sweetner. It always seems to help.