Working out

Hi all,


I have started a quest for health *by product will be a healthier/slimmer body*
and wonder what type of work out people do. Yoga has me intrigued, especially the one where you sweat in the heated room. I have looked at the youtube vids of people who have done the P90X dvds...

If anyone has the series of dvd's and decided they aren't for them - would you loan them out? Great way to see how truly, horrifyingly difficult they are before making a commitment

I am new to the raw vegan lifestyle and love it - any other raw/vegan/vegetarians here? Suggestions or recipes are welcome!

One thing I have noticed is how much healthier and softer my skin is since changing my diet. That is a nice bonus. Next on the agenda: flatter abs and one of those sexy butts I have envied for years



Aphrodite...formerly known as....

In my experience.. Watch your calories, eat proper proportions of protein/fat/carbs, do resistance exercises (weights) and cardio (high intensity interval training is good). It takes a lot of discipline and hard work. I've had to resort to having to count calories and watch everything I eat to make sure I don't eat too much, but also to make sure I eat enough and that my protein/fat/carb ratios are good. If you don't eat enough your body tends to hold on to the fat.

I will give you my 2 cents,

you do not need 'xbox90' or '8 minute abs' or any of those silly work outs..

nothing beats a good diet, plenty of rest (8-9 hours every night), cardio and some weight resistance and or isometrics, cross training is good too.

and drink a gallon of water a day!!!

Bikram (hot) yoga is amazing. It's no joke though, so be well rested and hydrated if you try it. I have trained and competed in martial arts for years, and my first bikram class had me on the floor pretty quickly. Work through it, though- the results are so worth it. It gives you a natural high that you won't believe! I'm also a vegetarian, and I feel phenomenal. Sometimes I try to go vegan, but my love of all things cheese and baked goods holds me back. If you have any questions about bikram, feel free to contact me! It's one of my favorite things

What is the best fat/carb/protein ratio?

I did raw vegan for an extended period of time. 100% for over a month, but less than two. I told a coworker about it, and she said, "You must have one clean colon."

And it was true. Elimination was fabulous, and toilet paper consumption dropped precipitously. Am I sharing too much?

Mostly I just felt really clean and energetic. But the call of the wild and comfort food intervened. Maybe 100% was too ambitious.

Moved to proper Forum

Spacemtn
AustinModStaff

I was vegan for quite some time, but ditched it about 3 months ago. However, I am creeping back towards it out of habit I think. Not as strict but after doing it for so long it's relatively easy. Being vegan is not a sure fire way to get slimmer though, especially if you like and know where to acquire vegan cupcakes.

I walk, a lot. I treadmill, a lot. I lift things throughout the course of my day. I have never been able to use workout video's of any kind.

So, I don't have a lot to offer on this subject, except that beans are your friend. Protein and fiber and your body will adjust to them very quickly. I also stick to whole grain cereal with soy milk in the AM.

Oh and at the NATY food trailers (N. Anderson/Lamar by Hobby Lobby) they have a GREAT Edamame burger.

Quite simply -- diet and exercise. I do not do vegan or vegetarian. I pretty much eat anything I want but do not go overboard. Excess is not good.

IMHO exercise is the key ingredient to a healthy life. My normal schedule is 6 days of aerobic exercise, usually 60 minutes in duration. And by aerobic I mean having your heart rate at an average of 80% of maximum (220 minus your age) for that hour.
This will vastly improve your cardiovascular system in addition to burning calories.
Then I supplement that with 3 weight workouts in which I hit all body parts twice -- full workout is 90 minutes and I hit 28 different machines.

Whatever you do it has to be enjoyable or you'll give it up quickly. That is why I'm not a vegetarian. I belong to Gold's Gym and they have some excellent personal trainers who can set up up with an exercise regimen to meet your goals

Read this book. Pretty amazing, http://fourhourbody.com/

What is the best fat/carb/protein ratio? Originally Posted by SaintPat

That depends on what your goal is and how your body responds to certain types of diet. If you are trying to lose body and your body is sensitive to carbs, your percentages will look a lot different than if you are training heavily and trying to gain muscle.

I wouldn't recommend jumping straight into P90X. Start with P90, and then transition into P90X after you complete it.

To burn fat....cardio....cardio.... cardio. Light resistance training 3 time a week to maintain and tone muscle. 5 to 6 light meals spread out during the day. You need to find out what your Basal Metabolic Rate is. That tells you how many calories it would take to stay alive if you just sit on the couch all day and didn't move. Then you add calories burned during exercise. Then subtract 500 calories for the day from what you eat. A pound of body fat equates to approximately 3500 calories. So if you have a calorie deficit of 500 calories (meaning that you burn 500 calories more than you eat per day), you would lose an average of 1 pound a week.

Example: BMR = 1800 cal. + 300 cal burned in exercise equals 2100 cal. 2100 cal - 500 = 1600 cal. Using this example, if you eat 1600 cal per day, burn 300 in exercise, you would have an average weight loss of 1 pound per week.

That is how I lost 40 pounds so far. Get in a gym. Videos are a waste of money. Doing the same exercise, the same way, every day....your body will adapt. You have to adjust your program every few weeks. Any trainer will tell you that.

Hope this helps!

All of your replies have been very helpful! As for cardio, I do a walk/jog everyday. The thing I like about yoga is that you use your own body as the weight/resistance which is nice when you can't get to a gym.
Oz, I couldn't help but laugh - SO true!

I am reading a book called, 'Wheat Belly' by Dr. Davis = wow!!! I highly recommend it and it is opening my eyes to modern food and its impact on our bodies.

Congrats to all of you for being health conscious and more importantly, for realizing no one else can do it for you - you have to take ownership of your body and health.