The Other Michael

There is also a thread for Food/recipe stuff for exercisers that I put together, which contains stuff that fits in with the Body for Life program.

cheers,
Michael

BDS

The solution is simple: Take up smoking.

Godot

There's much better options than smoking. Try aspirin to thin out the blood, some caffeine pills to boost the metabolism, and snort some cocaine to act as an appetite suppressant. That'll do you just fine.


Of course, I'd never be stupid enough to actually suggest something like this to anyone. It's meant as a joke, if you can't figure that out without reading this disclaimer then you have serious issues. Seek help.

catalyst

If you have trouble calculating your caloric intake as well as macronutrient ratio, you can use the following site:

www.fitday.com

Sarpedon

If you have difficulty regulating your eating, try budgeting money for food. I find that I will eat anything in my house, but will be reluctant to buy things in a store, no matter how delectable. Try reducing the amount you spend on food, this will likewise reduce your food intake.

I agree with the part about cooking. cook for yourself, its cheaper and healthier, and morally rewarding. Go heavy on vegetables. Vegetable soups are easy, they keep well, and are not very fattening. Watch your condiment use: they frequently contain all kinds of bad things. Put pepper and vinegar on your salad instead of dressing. In fact, I always use pepper when other people would use salt. Try using herbs like basil, thyme and oregano instead of condiments.

Take up a year round sport...one that works you but that is not too hard. I recommend fencing. this sport exercises your lower body, improves balance, reflexes and coordination, and introduces you to all kinds of weird people. Soft martial arts, such as Tai Chi and Judo, might be good as well. Also, walk. Walk everywhere you can walk. Park far away from the front door. Carry heavy objects with you at all times. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Explore, discover new places nearby that you've never been to before, by walking there. You'd be amazed at what you've missed. Go to arboratums, and parks, art museums, and cities, and walk all around until your feet will allow you to walk no further.

Richard1366

I read that the best way to solve your weight problem is to go to a fat doctor...

catalyst

Where exactly did you read this?

Kvalhion

There have been a lot of good suggestions thus far. I would do whatever you think would work best for you.

For me, I did the Zone off and on for a while but didn't have much success. Eventually I switched over to following Atkins. I read a lot about Dr Atkins' philosophy and it made sense to me. A lot of people are having good success following plans like the Atkins Diet (or Protein Power, or the South Beach Diet, or the Zone, etc).

I am finding a lot of lower-carb substitutes for the foods I've always eaten. I have not felt hungry at all in the 3 1/2 months I've been following Atkins. I do feel much better than when I started.. in fact, I haven't had so much as a cold in that time. I started on April 26th, 2003 at 279 pounds, and as of today I've dropped 40 pounds. It works for me.

Anyway, as I mentioned before, your best bet is to educate yourself on why these various diets work. Slim Fast is personally not something I would enjoy. Their products are full of sugar (carbs) and it wouldn't be very enoyable just eating shakes and a "sensible dinner". If I was eating a sensible dinner, I wouldn't be in this situation. Weight Watchers is effective simply because you eat fewer calories. Yet you run the risk of losing more lean body mass than fat depending upon what you choose to eat.

If you decide to learn more about low carb diets, check out theLow Carb Friends website. They have a lot of good information.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Rider

Thank you all for your wonderful replies. I should have given some history to my wehgt gain. The person who stated to start smoking would almost be on the money. I weghed 225 before I quit. I now weigh 249. Here is my diet as of right now:


Sunday - Thursday (my work week)

B - Slim Fast
L - Slim Fast
D - Some kind of pasta or rice

Friday and Saturday

B - Slim Fast
L - I usually eat out somewhere like Olive Garden
D - Pizza

I know it's bad, I am DEFINATELY going to take all of these sugestions. I need to lose it. It's disrupting my sex life and that's not good!

My girlfriend is a skinny pole, so she really doesn't exercise which sucks because I could use a good exercise partner. We both do jumping jacks, situps and pushups but to be hoenst we don't do them everynight, more like once every two weeks. It's sad and pathetic but I'm trying to be better. It's hard when you work 11 - 8, people will think that it's easy but it's hard for me to go right to bed right after work so I stay up late, then I am too tired after getting up at 6 with my 2 kids.

But, I need to do this so I will try a few of the techniques some of you listed. Thanks so much for caring to spend a few minutes posting on this.

Much appreciated.

-Rider

RevDahlia

AAAGGHHH! STAY AWAY FROM OLIVE GARDEN! Sorry bout the caps, but that place is the devil. They load you up with too much freaking food, and it's all a lot greasier than the relatively innocuous menu descriptions would indicate.

I'd spend your weekend afternoons puttering in the kitchen and sorting out good food for the rest of the week. It's also way more fun.