General Zod

[JayKeeley]

I think the best tool for reducing the amount of calories you take in is portion control.

Exactly. I actually eat really well in terms of healthy food, it's just that I'll have twice the amount than I probably should.

Keep a diet journal for a week (fitday.com is excellent for this and free). Eat whatever you would normally eat. The next week, try to reduce each of those meals/snacks slightly. If you'd normally have a snack sized bag of pretzels at 3PM, before you eat that next bag, toss 15&#37; of them in the garbage. May not seem like much, but if you're consuming 3,000 calories a day, you've just saved 450 calories (<--- almost as many as jogging for an hour). Continue this path, of gradually eating less.

That sounds like a good idea. Can I ask though, does it work? Can you actually wean yourself off of eating too large a portion? I read something about the Japanese -- they have a diet rule where they eat until they are 70% full and then leave the rest. My problem is, I'll be starving again in 30 minutes.

Bottom line, weight loss and/or body recomposition is best attained through a combination of a lifting/cardio regimen and diet. The only thing you'll lack(once you've begun portion control) is lifting. Maybe add two days of weights? An upper day and a lower day? If you're interested, email me and I can put together a program that will have you in and out of the gym (on lift days) in 45 minutes.

I'm definitely going to do this, thanks for the offer. Although I'm losing weight at a slow pace, I am indeed losing weight. I currently weigh 172lb, down from 190lb last December. I want to get down to about 160lb and then tone up with weights, probably adding a few pounds back on.

Lastly, try adjusting when you get which calories. Try to take in your carbs early and your fats later.

Yes, I avoid carbs after 6pm.

If you find you can't get to bed without a late snack

You read my mind. By 10pm I am famished.

try the following:

1 Scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder (preferably casein, but whey will do)
1 TBSP of natural peanut butter (regular peanut butter will work, but natural is better)
1% or Skim milk
Splenda (to taste)
Ice

Toss it in a blender.

With the right protein powder, you'll be shocked that this is good for you. A good casein protein can be found here:

http://atlargenutrition.com/nutrition_detail.php?products_id=1

And interestingly, having the above shake before you go to bed, will actually promote faster weight loss than skipping it.

Zod

awesome. I'm gonna try that too. Thanks!

 

[General Zod]

That sounds like a good idea. Can I ask though, does it work? Can you actually wean yourself off of eating too large a portion?

Well, think about it. Let's use the example of the bag of pretzels. If you buy a snack size bag that has 50 pretzels in it, and each time you eat a bag, you discard one more pretzel than the last time you had a bag... when do you suspect your body will notice it's been fed one less pretzel? The reason our portions have grown so large is because we've used this portion sizing concept in reverse.

I read something about the Japanese -- they have a diet rule where they eat until they are 70% full and then leave the rest. My problem is, I'll be starving again in 30 minutes.

I've read the reason that Americans are so fat, is because of the portion size. And, if you serve people more food, they eat it. It's just a natural human behavior.

I'm definitely going to do this, thanks for the offer. Although I'm losing weight at a slow pace, I am indeed losing weight. I currently weigh 172lb, down from 190lb last December. I want to get down to about 160lb and then tone up with weights, probably adding a few pounds back on.

Here's the one thing you may not be considering fully; lifting will help you burn fat in a manner cardio can't. There's not really a good reason to wait to start lifting until you've hit 160 and a number of good reasons to start.

Zod

 

[JayKeeley]

I was using weights for a while and then I hit a massive plateau at 180lb. One of the reasons is because my body got used to the weights I was using. (Bear in mind I cant get to a gym, just using my dumbells in the basement so there's not much I variation can do). My cardio is essentially an exercise bike infront of the tv.

I leave for work at 7am and I get home at 7:30pm, so I have to work within certain parameters! I don't even know how people find the time to get to a gym.

 

[Reign in Acai]

Ali, you can do it. Follow this schedule esse.

Wake up at 5:30
Arrive at gym at 5:45am
Work out til 6:30
Hit the shower and shitter til 6:50
Leave gym parking lot at 7:am


Arrive at home at 7pm.
Eat din din til 7:20 (while discussing how everyone's day went)
Play with your kids til 7:30pm
Post on RC til 9pm
Make love to the misses til 9:15
Prepare yourself a protein shake
Go to sleep at 9:30pm

8 hours of solid rest. There you go mate.

 

[Evil?]

Jerry knows everything.

 

[skeptik]

I think most parents tend to spend more than 10 minutes with their children, RiA.

 

[Evil?]

HA, I did not notice that.

 

[Reign in Acai]

I think most parents tend to spend more than 10 minutes with their children, RiA.

Weekends bro, weekends.

 

[Necromunchkin]

If they're legit, then it's a no-brainer. However, I've read, as many as 95% of the "Cubans" that come into this country are fakes. And if someone tells you they were purchased in Cuba (they know a guy who brings them back), they're almost definitely lying. They do not sell the premium Cuban cigars in Cuba. Cigars are Cuba's number two cash crop. Consequently, they do not sell these cigars in Cuban cigar stores. They're almost exclusively exported.

Here's a really good article on detecting fakes. Unfortunately, the guys who ran the site more less abandoned it a few years ago. But even though the content is dated, it's still pretty solid.

http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/counterfeit/index.html

Lastly, it's important to note, that among Cuban cigars, Bolivars are some of the most powerful. If you're someone who typically smokes Dominicans or Macanudos, you're most likely not going to enjoy these. And there's no shame in that. Some people like chicken, some like steak, some like fish. Everyone's tastes are different.

Zod

Hence why asking. They were not purchased in Cuba, they were purchased in Brazil and the person is very much a cigar smoker. Effectively, my cousin works in medical sales and does a lot of time in parts of south america and the Caribbean. He does not smoke cigars, but he knows I do so he felt compelled to check. His employer offered to get him some, and he was nice enough to check with me.

And yes, having previously had a Partagas Cuban, I know what I'm getting into for the flavor and strength. I discovered quickly after getting in cigars that I prefered fuller, more potent bodied cigars. Based on what you said, I'm definitely going for it. Thanks for the response.

 

[JayKeeley]

Post on RC til 9pm
Make love to the misses til 9:15

15 mins!!?! Didn't think I'd have to do it twice.

Jerry knows everything.

He is like our personal guru.

 

[General Zod]

Hence why asking. They were not purchased in Cuba, they were purchased in Brazil and the person is very much a cigar smoker. Effectively, my cousin works in medical sales and does a lot of time in parts of south america and the Caribbean. He does not smoke cigars, but he knows I do so he felt compelled to check. His employer offered to get him some, and he was nice enough to check with me.

And yes, having previously had a Partagas Cuban, I know what I'm getting into for the flavor and strength. I discovered quickly after getting in cigars that I prefered fuller, more potent bodied cigars. Based on what you said, I'm definitely going for it. Thanks for the response.

Sounds good. I just hate to see people get ripped off. Enjoy.

Zod

 

[Thanatopsis123]

That sounds like a good idea. Can I ask though, does it work? Can you actually wean yourself off of eating too large a portion? I read something about the Japanese -- they have a diet rule where they eat until they are 70% full and then leave the rest. My problem is, I'll be starving again in 30 minutes.

Must be a different Japan than the one I live in.

 

[J.]

Zod, I just got my bloodwork back. I have a 197 cholesterol level, which they said is good to have it below 200.

She said, however, that my triglycerides were high, and that I need to eat more fiber, and exercise more to lower them.

My question is this: how much exercise is required for the body to truly benefit. By this, I mean cardio workout, not weights.

Also, what would you recommend eating to lower the triglycerides, while getting enough fiber (which I assume lowers tryglics) to show results, but staying away from too much carbs?

Does that even make sense?

 

[General Zod]

My question is this: how much exercise is required for the body to truly benefit. By this, I mean cardio workout, not weights.

The rule of thumb for cardio is keep your heart rate, at 85% of it's maximum capacity, for 20 minutes or more. The quick and dirty way to figure out what 85% of your maximum is, is to subtract your age from 220.

Also, what would you recommend eating to lower the triglycerides, while getting enough fiber (which I assume lowers tryglics) to show results, but staying away from too much carbs?

Unfortunately, this isn't a topic I know much about. Here's an article I found, maybe it will help:

http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com/diet-to-lower-triglycerides.html

Zod

 

[J.]

Thanks and hails.

 

[NAD]

Unfortunately, December 25th is my birthday, which couldn't possibly suck more ass. So, we celebrate me on 12/25.

Happy Zod Day!

 

[Krilons Resa]

Happy bday broheim.

 

[Reign in Acai]

 

[J.]

Happy bday. Mine is tomorrow, so I feel your pain.

 

[General Zod]

I missed this thread. Thanks lads. And Happy Birthday Jay.