Getting in shape for summer... who's in?

[NY63]

I think focusing on weight loss sometimes is the wrong metric. If you're hitting the weights pretty hard you may actually gain weight as you build muscle. I much prefer body fat % as the best measure of - am I becoming more or less off a slob.

A mirror works well too.

 

[Hasselhoss]

I think focusing on weight loss sometimes is the wrong metric. If you're hitting the weights pretty hard you may actually gain weight as you build muscle. I much prefer body fat % as the best measure of - am I becoming more or less off a slob.

A mirror works well too.

Amen to both of these. My favorite is clothes fitting again.

 

[Kaotiktribe]

I hope this is more than a new years resolution brother. Keep at it and staying in shape becomes normal and not a chore.

I hit the gym daily and hate it this time of year as its packed full of "new years resolution", and "get in shape for summer" people. Usually dies off bout end of February.

 

[Eshrote]

my thinking...get the engine hot enough, it'll burn anything. "Getting in Shape" or working out for the sake of working out, imho, sucks and that ambiguous goal doesn't help drive you when you need driven. There's no hard metric of .."ok, I look good" or ."yep, I'm in shape". I need something more empirical, and that's why I like racing. I set a crazy goal and go after it. It gives me something to trick my brain to not just give up when I'm tired. As for fitness or weight loss or whatever, it becomes the bi-product of chasing the goal. If I had to run just for the sake of running, I'd be playing golf and drinking beer.

 

[Hasselhoss]

I hope this is more than a new years resolution brother. Keep at it and staying in shape becomes normal and not a chore.

I hit the gym daily and hate it this time of year as its packed full of "new years resolution", and "get in shape for summer" people. Usually dies off bout end of February.

Actually, the timing is a coincidence at best. I have always been a health conscious active guy. I love the outdoors and mountain biking. I've always been in to fitness and spent years as a martial arts instructor and fought in a circuit for a short time. When we moved out here my entire life changed and I didn't recognize the physical effects until I was too far gone. It took me months to accept it and I finally had enough when I saw our Christmas pictures. I started the day after Christmas.

 

[LMK]

Good post man - keep it up!!!!!
Never quit fighting.

 

[GlockIssue]

Eh... I can tell you a few things that would slow that jealous feeling down- like absolutely hating to fly because the seats aren't far enough apart or wide enough. I hated that part of my last job. Don't ask me about the flight that was supposed to be two hours but turned into 6 because the cabin wouldn't pressurize and we were too heavy to land- so the plane literally circled the airport with the landing gear down until they'd burned enough fuel weight to land. Same space principal applies to a lot of restaurant tables/booths. And rental cars should the need arise to drive one.

I can pretty much forget about buying the shoes I like and just get the ones that will fit. I did order a pair of Red Wings last fall, but had to return them because I just couldn't take the hard flat bottoms. Oh- and I crush the life out of tennis shoe padding pretty fast.

I could go on.

I have to ask my wife to reach things for me in our kitchen cabinets.

 

[Eshrote]

oh yeah, it goes away quickly. And if you let it slip, then life becomes all comfy and wham!! I took 2 months rest after my last marathon and just started the new training cycle and holy crap.. my legs hurt and lungs heaving at 6 miles..and that's just 2 months. I was thinking, imagine a few years ...

 

[NY63]

Ever notice how much noise your body makes after 40? The joint cracking is ridiculous.

 

[Hasselhoss]

my thinking...get the engine hot enough, it'll burn anything. "Getting in Shape" or working out for the sake of working out, imho, sucks and that ambiguous goal doesn't help drive you when you need driven. There's no hard metric of .."ok, I look good" or ."yep, I'm in shape". I need something more empirical, and that's why I like racing. I set a crazy goal and go after it. It gives me something to trick my brain to not just give up when I'm tired. As for fitness or weight loss or whatever, it becomes the bi-product of chasing the goal. If I had to run just for the sake of running, I'd be playing golf and drinking beer.

Excellent point. Once you are tuned up and using your engine, it'll burn some garbage fuel every once in a while with little affect.