Where do I start?

[Portland Ute]

I am almost 36.

I am 5 foot 9.

I am 215 lbs.

I want to be to 180-185.

I don't look bad. I wear the weight well. However, I'm feeling bad.

It's cold outside and I love to eat.

Anyone been where I am?



I have always mocked marathon runners. However, I have privately thought that I'd like to privately train for and run a marathon. If for no other reason than to say to myself I could to it.

That's probably the wrong approach, but I have always struggled to stay motivated to exercise if it didn't include training for or playing a sport.

I'm kind of at a loss right now.

I thought the gym would be a great place to get some suggestions from people that have been where I am and are now great examples of fitness.

[Slim]

However, I have privately thought that I'd like to privately train for and run a marathon. If for no other reason than to say to myself I could to it.

That's probably the wrong approach, but I have always struggled to stay motivated to exercise if it didn't include training for or playing a sport.

No, I'd say it is an EXCELLENT reason to train for and run a marathon.

[Portland Ute]

No, I'd say it is an EXCELLENT reason to train for and run a marathon.

You don't think I'll kill myself off? It seems like biting off a bit more than I can chew right now.

I don't think I could run a mile in under 15 minutes. ha ha (sort of)

[Sizzle]

Might I suggest you give Blue Balls a shot?

[TripletDaddy]

I dont run marathons but good for you for wanting to take the first set towards fitness.

You said you love to eat which might prove to be your undoing unless you accompany it with some serious calorie burn.

Whatever you do, just keep at it. And remember, it took you almost 36 years to get to this point. It is going to take a little time to sculpt off some of it. But you can do it.

[old_gregg]

You don't think I'll kill myself off? It seems like biting off a bit more than I can chew right now.

I don't think I could run a mile in under 15 minutes. ha ha (sort of)

i'm no runner, but i'd say start by running a 5k, get your 10k in, do your half marathon(s), and work towards the marathon. a 5k, even for the most (ok, more) out of shape individual, is a realistic goal with a couple months training.

or, you could join us over in the bike shop. if you have $1500 floating around, there aren't a lot of sports more efficient in terms of time/calories burned than cycling. i'm 6' 215 and in 40 minutes of moderate cycling on the trainer today i burned 1500 calories. there's no way i could do that running.

[Surfah]

You start by just doing something.

[cougjunkie]

You start by just doing something.

Movement. Any type.

[TripletDaddy]

i'm no runner, but i'd say start by running a 5k, get your 10k in, do your half marathon(s), and work towards the marathon. a 5k, even for the most (ok, more) out of shape individual, is a realistic goal with a couple months training.

or, you could join us over in the bike shop. if you have $1500 floating around, there aren't a lot of sports more efficient in terms of time/calories burned than cycling. i'm 6' 215 and in 40 minutes of moderate cycling on the trainer today i burned 1500 calories. there's no way i could do that running.

I'm wanting to give this a try. What do I do and where do I start? My gym has a couple of cool cycling machines that are attached to a video game thing...you can cycle through mountains, along PCH, through desert, etc. You can race the person on the bike next to you, whatever. When you burn 1500 calories spinning for 40, what sort of resistance are we talking about? Are you a dedicated cyclist? Do you just let er rip or is it best to do intervals? I'm hoping it doesn't make my knee swell up. Why does cycling and running make my knee hurt? Anyway, any tips are appreciated.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I agree with what others have said Port, just start doing something. I also find that writing down what you eat helps, if for nothing else other than sometimes it might not be worth the hassle of writing something down so you won't end up eating it.

Good luck.

[old_gregg]

I'm wanting to give this a try. What do I do and where do I start? My gym has a couple of cool cycling machines that are attached to a video game thing...you can cycle through mountains, along PCH, through desert, etc. You can race the person on the bike next to you, whatever. When you burn 1500 calories spinning for 40, what sort of resistance are we talking about? Are you a dedicated cyclist? Do you just let er rip or is it best to do intervals? I'm hoping it doesn't make my knee swell up. Why does cycling and running make my knee hurt? Anyway, any tips are appreciated.

i bought a cycleops trainer so i can use my saddle all year round (and keep my butt used to it). i get the resistance to be as close to riding on the road as possible. on a cycleops, most of the resistance comes from the gear you're in rather than increasing friction like many other trainers. today was my interval day. five minute laps of 75% of max heart rate with two minute laps of 90% of max. on a few of the intervals i tried to increase the max on my garmin.

i'm nowhere near what bluegoose/creekster/pac/the rest of the resident cycling beasts are in terms of dedication, but i really do enjoy it as a way to work out. they could likely give some more specific advice based on body type/workout goals. it's low impact (great on my old man hips), super efficient, and there's nothing more rewarding than cruising down a canyon after the work of getting up it.

[Portland Ute]

i bought a cycleops trainer so i can use my saddle all year round (and keep my butt used to it). i get the resistance to be as close to riding on the road as possible. on a cycleops, most of the resistance comes from the gear you're in rather than increasing friction like many other trainers. today was my interval day. five minute laps of 75% of max heart rate with two minute laps of 90% of max. on a few of the intervals i tried to increase the max on my garmin.

i'm nowhere near what bluegoose/creekster/pac/the rest of the resident cycling beasts are in terms of dedication, but i really do enjoy it as a way to work out. they could likely give some more specific advice based on body type/workout goals. it's low impact (great on my old man hips), super efficient, and there's nothing more rewarding than cruising down a canyon after the work of getting up it.

I lean towards biking, but the cost of the equipment seems so large for somethign a) I am unsure I will enjoy and b) something I have no clue about.

How do you even know how to train?

That's why I've started thinking running. It's pretty straight forward. Just start running.

I appreciate Space Ghost's post. However, I never see myself exercising for 2.5 hours in the morning and lifting in the evening. I do not have that kind of time right now with running a practice and a very young family.

This feedback is great. It's got me thinking. Keep it coming.

[happyone]

About 5 years ago lost 137 lbs, then I put 45 back on, due to some stressful times in my life - I've relost 10 of it - I need to get 30 more and get back to under 180.

Here is what I did

1 - get moving, it really doesn't matter what, find something you like to do. When I first started losing the weight, I walked at night, because I was embarrassed to be seen as big as I was. I started walking a mile and have eventually worked up to 6 - 7 miles a day. Now I walk/run every day for at least an hour a day. I to in the afternoons when I get home from work. It helps to have a workout companion. I have a dog that is waiting for me when I come in the door. I like to joke that the dog can not get lost in Layton/Kaysville because he's seen it all.

2 - portion control, when I was losing the first time, I wrote down EVERYTHING that went into my mouth, I'm not as good with that now, but I am getting back on it. I'm not really strict on what I eat, but I do follow the food pyramid, but only allow my self 12-15 servings of carbs ( about 1/2 - 2/3rds of what is allowed in the food pyramid). In conjunction with this - you have to know what a serving size is. I try to eat low fat, but I am not really strict about it. If you don't read food labels, start.

Also I have set meal times and I try not to graze. I always eat breakfast and have a snack in the afternoon before I go out on my walk

I find that for me portion control is very, very, very import. during the stress I stopped writing down what I was eating as a result I put the weight back on.

It took me about 18 months to lose all the weight the first time - about 2 to lose the 10 lbs this time - I didn't do well over the Holidays at all

Good luck

[DrumNFeather]

Right before I met my wife (when I was 25) I was involved in a fitness challenge where I dropped about 35-40 lbs. It was literally the only thing I did for about 10 weeks in the summer. I would work out twice a day, watch my portions, have an evening stroll with my old man. It really was almost like an addiction.

Fast forward 6 years, the weight has all come back on and then some. I've just started getting back into a routine again (elliptical for now). I have always felt like it is better to slowly build up your routine and let everything else follow suit. I'm not a runner, never have been, never will be...it's not in my body chemistry, so I can't just decide to start one day and go run 6 miles or whatever. I do subscribe to the Herb Brooks mentality that the legs feed the wolf...and so I really try to build up some muscle tolerance particularly in my legs to get things started and then work on my endurance.

The thing that I really marvel at (and is frankly discouraging to me) is how much more difficult it is to take the weight off this time around...and how bad I feel about it. I'm on cholestorol medication that isn't going to stop any time soon and I'm really working hard to make lifestyle changes so that I can live to see my kids grow up. I have a terrible terrible fear of dying young and not being around for them.

At this point, I just don't feel there is any other choice but to change, otherwise I won't be around much longer (and I honestly believe that).

So I'm right there with you Port, and I agree with what everyone says, you start somewhere and do what you can do. Modify your diet as your routine sets in and you'll find yourself wanting to do more.

I've always felt when I'm 2-3 weeks into working out how amazing it is that the body adjusts so quickly. It wants to be in shape, not a shape. You're in good company here man. We're all fighting the good fight.

[Moliere]

I lean towards biking, but the cost of the equipment seems so large for somethign a) I am unsure I will enjoy and b) something I have no clue about.

How do you even know how to train?

That's why I've started thinking running. It's pretty straight forward. Just start running.

I appreciate Space Ghost's post. However, I never see myself exercising for 2.5 hours in the morning and lifting in the evening. I do not have that kind of time right now with running a practice and a very young family.

This feedback is great. It's got me thinking. Keep it coming.

You sound like me in a way. I don't have the time to exercise or at least I didn't. I work 40 hours a week, have a big family, a demanding calling and have lots of other things I want to do. You don't need a lot of time. What SG did is great but don't think you need to do all of that to get into shape.

I started running last September (or was it August?) and started out just running as far as I could. My first run was about 1.5 miles at over 10 min/mile pace. I was gassed and it sucked. Two days later I ran again. Same time and same distance. I just kept running 3 times a week. It only took an hour from my day, so three hours per week. I spent that hour stretching, running, and then showering afterwards to cool down. I found the time to do this by eliminating watching TV until I run, which is easy to do with a DVR.

The key is to keep at it. Set a goal or sign up for a 5K. After about two months I was running 3 miles pretty consistently (not fast but at least I could run that far). After four months I ran one morning and made it 5.5 miles at a relatively slow pace. That day was easily the most enjoyable run I've ever had because when I stopped I felt in shape and the adrenaline was pumping.

I'm not a distance runner. I'll never be as fast as some on this board and I don't have the goal to be that fast. I don't have the time to train like them, at least not now. My initial goal was to be in shape and lower my cholesterol. My mom's side has a history of heart disease and my cholesterol was increasing fast. I went in for a physical and my doctor told me to exercise. So here I am, running 3 times a week and getting ready for my 5K next weekend.

One other thing. If you start running please post your thoughts and workouts in this thread. After a good run I like to post in their as the support of many on this board propels me to do even better. Some of the tips from people on this board have really changed my running and made it possible to stick with it.

Good luck.