Weight loss and nudity

[Al Bundy]

I started my New Years resolution the first of the year of attempting to drop a few pounds. I began a home exercise program and altered my eating habits a bit but thought I would add nudity to the equation. I reasoned that if I was nude most of the day during the cold months that I would burn more calories by my body attempting to maintain body temperature. It must be working as I have dropped 21 pounds in 6 weeks which I have never done in past weight loss attempts. I think the nudity is doing it for me. Hope to drop 18 more during the cold months.

[richo]

Well, first, depending on how "overweight" you are to begin with, 21 lbs in 6 weeks is a fair amount and possibly bording on "too fast"; you want to be able to lose the fat without losing much muscle if possible. If you're making a major weight change, you might want to keep your doctor informed (as s/he can make recommendations that are more applicable to you specifically).

Second, the thing that's going to affect your weight more than anything else is diet. Yes, exercise is nice, but by sheer numerics, calorie intake is going to be far more efficient to manange.

However, either way, I hope you reach a point where you're satisfied *and* healthy. Good luck with it.

[Naturist Mark]

Well, first, depending on how "overweight" you are to begin with, 21 lbs in 6 weeks is a fair amount and possibly bording on "too fast";

Very likely the changes in eating habits and activity has caused a reduction of water retention as well as fat loss - it is nearly impossible to lose more than 1 or 2 pounds of fat per week on a continual basis - the rest is mostly water loss. But there is nothing wrong with water loss so long as you are adequately hydrated. Don't go thirsty, you will be flushing out a lot of toxins that have built up in your body fat as it melts away.

When you settle into a new H2O balance you will probably stop losing weight, or at least so quickly - the dreaded plateau - don't sweat it, if you stick to your new habits you will still be losing fat. You may also be adding some muscle weight if you are exercising - so the "plateau" is often a sign of great progress.

[nakedstudent]

I started my New Years resolution the first of the year of attempting to drop a few pounds. I began a home exercise program and altered my eating habits a bit but thought I would add nudity to the equation. I reasoned that if I was nude most of the day during the cold months that I would burn more calories by my body attempting to maintain body temperature. It must be working as I have dropped 21 pounds in 6 weeks which I have never done in past weight loss attempts. I think the nudity is doing it for me. Hope to drop 18 more during the cold months.

I'm not so sure that nudity is playing as big of a role as you think. Our bodies lose weight because we are burning energy to either stay warm or cool ourselves down. During exercising, you are warming up your body with motion, etc. I would think nudity during exercise (for the purpose of weight loss alone) would be counterproductive. I've also been exercising more recently.

I've been wearing more than I usually do during work outs and noticed that I sweat more as my body is removing water (as mark discussed), heating up even more (very safely I might add. I'm extremely conscious of what I'm doing and self monitor my heartrate, etc.), and am working my heart with cardio and upper and lower body with either a running motion or on elipticals or stairmasters...

Being naked would decrease the amount of work the body has to do to cool itself back down from exercise.

There are many other benefits to nude exercise though... I don't exercise at home and don't have my own equipment yet so I haven't had the opportunity to try it consistently yet...

[Tx-nude]

Very likely the changes in eating habits and activity has caused a reduction of water retention as well as fat loss - it is nearly impossible to lose more than 1 or 2 pounds of fat per week on a continual basis - the rest is mostly water loss. But there is nothing wrong with water loss so long as you are adequately hydrated. Don't go thirsty, you will be flushing out a lot of toxins that have built up in your body fat as it melts away.

When you settle into a new H2O balance you will probably stop losing weight, or at least so quickly - the dreaded plateau - don't sweat it, if you stick to your new habits you will still be losing fat. You may also be adding some muscle weight if you are exercising - so the "plateau" is often a sign of great progress.
I started trying to lose weight in the first part of October because I got on the scale and I weighed more than I ever have before, so I went to the doctor and got him to give me a diet medicine just to get me started and in the first week on that medicine I lost 7 pounds, all water I'm sure. I'm happy to say that I have stuck with it though and so far I have lost a total of 17 pounds. I have been hitting plateauxs about every 5 pounds or so and will stay there for maybe 3 weeks or so before I notice another reduction.

The main thing I've done is to almost totally cut out the high sugar snacks. I've always been a weakling when it came to Little Debbie's snack cakes but I haven't had one of those since I started my weight loss mission in October, and instead when I snack I eat things that are lower in calories.

Oh I also walk on my treadmill pretty regularly, and I'm also taking a supplement that a buddy told me about to increase my metabolism that I purchased online.

[Nude in the North]

You might want to tune into the TV show "The Biggest Loser" .
And check out the web site they have. They put lots of tips about the right way to lose weight.
Many of the contestants there lose 10 lbs a week or even more, with the help of the trainers.

What your doing sounds fantastic. 21 lbs in 6 weeks is great for anyone doing it on their own.
Changing not only what you eat, but how you cook it can make a huge difference in keeping the weight off.

Keep up the good work.

[Rick_42]

Last spring I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic, meaning that I was well on the road to developing diabetes, especially given my family history. I began monitoring my blood sugar and restricting my carbohydrate intake to 45-60 grams of carbohydrates per meal. After a couple of weeks, I noticed a pleasant side effect -- I was losing weight. By cutting down on carbs, I was also taking in fewer calories. To date, I've lost about 35 pounds. It's been quite gradual. I know I still need to work in regular exercise for muscle tone and to bring things into balance. I'm working on that.

[Al Bundy]

Lot of good advice offered here, thanks guy's. The changes to my eating habits consists of a small breakfast (I usually have coffee only) but now add cereal, eat my major meal at noon and only have soup or salad for dinner with a water chaser. I walk 4 miles per day on the tread mill and every other day perform weight training. I perform 500 situps daily using a exercise ball. It was not that I was obese but find that I feel better carrying less weight. I am 6' tall and started my routine at 210 lbs. Most charts state I should be in the 160 area as my ideal weight based upon my body structure but my goal is to reach and maintain 175 lbs or so.

I have been on diets before and never lost this much weight in this time frame. The only difference is I stay nude 14 hours per day, thus my nudity therory.

[Tx-nude]

I have a buddy who has lost over 60 pounds since July of 2007, or actually he may have lost more now that's how much he had lost around Thanksgiving shortly after I started my weight loss plan. He's an online buddy so I've never met him in person but my doctor told me that my normal weight is 150 and that's how much my buddy said he's supposed to weigh as well so I'm guessing we're about the same size. As for me I'm at 165 and a half and my goal is to get down to 160 by my birthday next month. I haven't seen 150 since I was in high school over 20 years ago so it may be a stretch to think I'll make it down to that level but I'm not planning on changing a thing even when I do get to my goal of 160 so who knows.

[nakedstudent]

I have a buddy who has lost over 60 pounds since July of 2007, or actually he may have lost more now that's how much he had lost around Thanksgiving shortly after I started my weight loss plan. He's an online buddy so I've never met him in person but my doctor told me that my normal weight is 150 and that's how much my buddy said he's supposed to weigh as well so I'm guessing we're about the same size. As for me I'm at 165 and a half and my goal is to get down to 160 by my birthday next month. I haven't seen 150 since I was in high school over 20 years ago so it may be a stretch to think I'll make it down to that level but I'm not planning on changing a thing even when I do get to my goal of 160 so who knows.

How tall are you? To weigh 150 as a normal body weight, you'd have to be around 5'5" or so...

150 for anyone taller would be anorexic if you ask me...

[Tx-nude]

How tall are you? To weigh 150 as a normal body weight, you'd have to be around 5'5" or so...

150 for anyone taller would be anorexic if you ask me...
I am 5 feet 5 inches tall as a matter of fact.

[nakedstudent]

I am 5 feet 5 inches tall as a matter of fact.

haha... that would explain it... 5 foot 5 makes a lot of sense for 150, but anything taller would make that weight extremely unhealthy...

[richo]

haha... that would explain it... 5 foot 5 makes a lot of sense for 150, but anything taller would make that weight extremely unhealthy...

Be careful making blanket statements like that - one chart I've seen shows that 150 could be the top end weight for a man of large frame at 5'2" and the low-end weight for someone of small frame at 6'.

I know that, at 6'2", I've been told by my doctor that a healthy weight for me is between 155 and 165 - but I've got a small frame with a short torso and long limbs. At 170 lbs, I'm at a 33" waist with noticeable (just enough to annoy me) body fat (and yes, I'm working on it slowly) but still having decent definition for muscles and muscle strength.

Really, weight shouldn't be a sole measure - body fat percentage in relation to weight is the important number. At 170, I'm at about 18% body fat.

That's part of the reason I hate BMI: it may be a decent "rule of thumb", but it's not what someone should really be looking at.

[Tx-nude]

Be careful making blanket statements like that - one chart I've seen shows that 150 could be the top end weight for a man of large frame at 5'2" and the low-end weight for someone of small frame at 6'.

I know that, at 6'2", I've been told by my doctor that a healthy weight for me is between 155 and 165 - but I've got a small frame with a short torso and long limbs. At 170 lbs, I'm at a 33" waist with noticeable (just enough to annoy me) body fat (and yes, I'm working on it slowly) but still having decent definition for muscles and muscle strength.

Really, weight shouldn't be a sole measure - body fat percentage in relation to weight is the important number. At 170, I'm at about 18% body fat.

That's part of the reason I hate BMI: it may be a decent "rule of thumb", but it's not what someone should really be looking at.
How do you calculate body fat? I'd say I probably have a medium frame, maybe large, and the distance around at my belly button is between 38 and 38.5 inches. Yeah I know that's pretty large but that's actually down from 40.5 in early October and I've heard that a 40-inch waist for a man is getting into the danger zone. Fortunately I don't have any other health concerns but I turn 40 in March so I figured I'd better start getting a hold on my weight and my waist size so I can hopefully live a long and healthy life.

[Fitz1980]

How tall are you? To weigh 150 as a normal body weight, you'd have to be around 5'5" or so...

150 for anyone taller would be anorexic if you ask me...

I'm about 155 and I'm 6' tall.

That's part of the reason I hate BMI: it may be a decent "rule of thumb", but it's not what someone should really be looking at.

According to BMI half of the NBA is obese.

[David77]

Richo states;
Really, weight shouldn't be a sole measure - body fat percentage in relation to weight is the important number.
One time when I told my doctor tht I wanted to loose weight, he replied, "Why don't you just turn your fat into muscle?"

[richo]

How do you calculate body fat? I'd say I probably have a medium frame, maybe large, and the distance around at my belly button is between 38 and 38.5 inches. Yeah I know that's pretty large but that's actually down from 40.5 in early October and I've heard that a 40-inch waist for a man is getting into the danger zone. Fortunately I don't have any other health concerns but I turn 40 in March so I figured I'd better start getting a hold on my weight and my waist size so I can hopefully live a long and healthy life.

The "true" measure is pretty complex - it generally involves full-body sumbersion. However, most doctors use a scale that measures electrical conductivity and resistance with a low-power electrical pulse. You can buy scales that do the same for home use, though they're generally more expensive than "normal" scales.

It's still not exact, and the numbers vary if you've been dehydrated (for example, I always show higher body fat percentage when I wake up because I dehydrate in my sleep, even though my weight hasn't changed much). Still, it can be a good "difference over time" kind of measure.

The US millitary has a way of measuring it based on averages and measurements around certain parts of the body; it matches pretty closely with what I've gotten at both the doctor and at home, so all three methods are probably just as useful.

[richo]

One time when I told my doctor tht I wanted to loose weight, he replied, "Why don't you just turn your fat into muscle?"

Oh, were that it was so simple.

*Pictures a typical exercise class, only instead of leading in aerobics, the instructor just waves a wand and -poof-*

[Al Bundy]

We have a body fat scale but unknown how accurate it is. According to the scale my bf is 24%. The scale documentation states it should be 19% in relation to my age. I started the month of January with a 45" waist (ouch) and as of last week it was 41". I remember the younger days when I sported a 32 incher but I am sure I will never see that again.

[nakedstudent]

Be careful making blanket statements like that - one chart I've seen shows that 150 could be the top end weight for a man of large frame at 5'2" and the low-end weight for someone of small frame at 6'.

I know that, at 6'2", I've been told by my doctor that a healthy weight for me is between 155 and 165 - but I've got a small frame with a short torso and long limbs. At 170 lbs, I'm at a 33" waist with noticeable (just enough to annoy me) body fat (and yes, I'm working on it slowly) but still having decent definition for muscles and muscle strength.

Really, weight shouldn't be a sole measure - body fat percentage in relation to weight is the important number. At 170, I'm at about 18% body fat.

That's part of the reason I hate BMI: it may be a decent "rule of thumb", but it's not what someone should really be looking at.


I am 6 feet tall... anything below about 170 would be nothing short of anorexic or malnourished. At 150, my waist would be about a 27. When I swam competitively, I was at 170 and was right between a 30 and 32 inch waist.


The only way 150 would in any way be health at 6 foot is if you were an extreme distance athlete or on a lunar body with drastically different gravitational forces.

I really don't care what a chart says... I once got back to 170 after I swam and I had absolutely no fat left to lose safely...

[nakedstudent]

One time when I told my doctor tht I wanted to loose weight, he replied, "Why don't you just turn your fat into muscle?"

sometimes it's impractical... a man weighing 500 pounds consisting of mostly fat would have to work for decades to turn all of their fat to muscle. For the average joe off the street, a higher muscle mass would be a good thing.

The more muscle mass you have, the faster your metabolism is. I heard somewhere that for every new pound of muscle you gain, you should be able to eat an extra 200 to 400 (kilo)Calories a day. Muscles are worked much harder than fat is.

[richo]

The only way 150 would in any way be health at 6 foot is if you were an extreme distance athlete or on a lunar body with drastically different gravitational forces.

Again - body types. People aren't identical.

If 170 is great for you, fantastic, and I'm glad you achieved it and can maintain it. A blanket statement can't be made with authority, though, and anyone who's looking seriously at their weight should talk to their doctor about it just to make sure (and to watch for other problems that may surface or intensify). 150 is probably on the lower end for anyone who's 6', but it all depends on one's specific body build. Again, body fat percentage is more important (6-13% is considered athletic for a man, 14-17% is considered "fitness", 18-25% "acceptable", etc.).

But I'm with you - I don't really care what a chart says. They're just there for reference. What matters is the reality of the individual body, not "lies, damned lies, and statistics", which is why a doctor's advice is always recommended.

[richo]

We have a body fat scale but unknown how accurate it is. According to the scale my bf is 24%. The scale documentation states it should be 19% in relation to my age. I started the month of January with a 45" waist (ouch) and as of last week it was 41". I remember the younger days when I sported a 32 incher but I am sure I will never see that again.

Again, if you're talking about major weight loss (which it sounds like you're doing), you should talk to a doctor.

This goes beyond just weight issues. For example, a friend of mine was (two years ago) at a 49" waist; he's at about 42" now, after having lost 100 lbs give or take. He's had to lose slowly because he has a heart condition (heart attack about a decade ago, pacemaker since then that hasn't actually had to do anything). He's not allowed to do most "high-impact" exercise; about the only aerobics he's allowed is walking, but he also recently started on low-weight resistance training at his cardiologist's recommendation.

Depending on your overall health, your doctor may have similar (or completely different) recommendations on what you should or shouldn't do. If someone's talking about changing their weight by a small percentage - 5%, maybe 10% - there is *probably* not much to worry about, but anything larger than that should certainly be done under a doctor's knowledge if not advice (and again, it depends on the individual).

[Al Bundy]

I read an article on MSN that supports my theory of nudity in cold weather helps with weight loss. It has certainly worked for me as I have lost 30 lbs since Jan 1. I hope to shed another 10 by the end of May but as mentioned previously, the dreaded plateau has taken it's toll. Check out the last sentence of the first paragraph.

http://health.msn.com/blogs/daily-dose-post.aspx?post=1048029&Gt1=31036

[miracle man]

Way to go Al Bundy! I will use your efforts to inspire me. I have just returned home after 5 weeks in America which was again so very enjoyable. However, i brought 8 pounds of weight back that wasnt there when I left so its off to the gym I go!! Diet here I come.

[desk]

I am going to try the treadmill.

[Al Bundy]

Well, today is the 6 month anniversary of my weight loss / exercise program. I am happy to report that I have lost 40 pounds and 10 inches from my waist. Cholesterol dropped 18 points and blood pressure is 122/60. Had my annual physical last month and needless to say the Dr. was very happy and stated I was making him look bad. Now the tough part begins, keeping the weight off. Do not want to experience the yoyo effect once again. Thanks to all who have replied to this post for your positive comments and advise.

[steve-o]

Well, today is the 6 month anniversary of my weight loss / exercise program. I am happy to report that I have lost 40 pounds and 10 inches from my waist. Cholesterol dropped 18 points and blood pressure is 122/60.

Wow, fantastic! Congratulations! Those are excellent numbers.
Yes, keep up the good work. Exercise, eat lots of proteins, fewer carbs, and you'll be fine.

Great job!

[marko486]

4 years ago I quit smoking. 3 years ago i got diagnosed being diabetic. Couple years ago I took up jogging. My excuse to go to the nudist place a couple times a year to do a 5K. It keeps me honest and sticking to it. Obviously had to change what I eat too, but I feel great.

[nelsonclassic]

Hello friend,
It's good that you are loosing weight and you have loosed 21 pounds in 6 weeks it's also good,but loosing weight at such a high rate may not be due to your reason..and you have not mentioned that you are doing exercise under any Fitness Instructor (http://www.fitour.com/certifications.cfm) or doctor or by yourself..
There might be a weight loss due to practicing wrong exercise,because only loosing weight should not be your prime motive..Loose it but in a healthy way,so that it may not effect your health.:o


Regards,
Nelson

[sdson]

Congratulations on your weight loss. I recently started going back to weight watchers. This program worked for me in the past. What I like about it is its focus on a life-style change rather just dieting. The program is based on portion control, exercise, accountability and eating balanced nurishing meals. It works for me. However, everyone is different and each has their own motivators. Find what works for you so you stick to it. Don't forget to be patient in achieving your goals and not get discouraged by plateaus and minor setback (temporary weight gain).

As far as nudity is concerned; I personally find it a motivator for me to lose weight. I am aware of the naturist's views on body image but when I take all my clothes off I want to look as good as I can. It motivates me to stay in shape which in turn promotes a healthy life style. When I look better, it adds to my confidence and I feel successful in achieving my fitness goals. That's what works for me without juding what works for others OR what they look like. Once again, this works for me, but to each his/her own. No judgment.

[Al Bundy]

Glad to hear of everyones weight loss and exercise routines. I am still at it but the weight loss has slowed over the summer months. I have lost 47 pounds since beginning the program and my goal is to make it an even 50. These last three pounds just do not want to drop. I am continuing my exercise regime but have been walking outside instead of on the treadmill. I do a lot more sweating on the treadmill which would probably help with these last three pounds but will wait until the weather turns before returning to it. Keep up the good work everyone and keep us posted on your progress.

[Kouak]

Glad to hear of everyones' weight loss and exercise routines. I am still at it but the weight loss has slowed over the summer months. I have lost 47 pounds since beginning the program and my goal is to make it an even 50. These last three pounds just do not want to drop. I am continuing my exercise regime but have been walking outside instead of on the treadmill. I do a lot more sweating on the treadmill which would probably help with these last three pounds but will wait until the weather turns before returning to it. Keep up the good work everyone and keep us posted on your progress.

Remember to change up your routine. The body is an amazing piece of machinery and adapts to how it is used. It becomes much more efficient and can do the same work using less energy. Try biking or canoeing or something else. That might be the breakthrough you are looking for. Good luck.

[Al Bundy]

Has anyone heard of this device? The price is little steep for me but would be interested in opinions from people who purchase it. I did not feel it would work for me until they mentioned a wrist band. Thought I would pass this along.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/24/it-took-a-year-but-fitness-gadget-fitbit-finally-launches/

[Kouak]

Has anyone heard of this device? The price is little steep for me but would be interested in opinions from people who purchase it. I did not feel it would work for me until they mentioned a wrist band. Thought I would pass this along.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/24/it-took-a-year-but-fitness-gadget-fitbit-finally-launches/

It seems just like a pedometer. At 100 bucks for a pedometer, that is very pricey. I recommend buying a regular one. Before buying it, see if you can try it out. Attach it on your shoe or waistband and walk a 100 steps. See if it counted correctly.

Keep the following in mind. If it attaches to your shoelaces, you may have a problem when you use slip-ons or sandals. If it attaches to your waistband, you could have a problem with some belts. Ensure it can still fit with your thickest belt and no belt. If the pedometer won't fit on the belt, you can attach it to your pocket. It most likely will need to stay horizontal though. This is a problem if you wear slacks like Dockers with a thick belt. The pocket is useless because it is near vertical and the pedometer does not work.

[Journeyman]

Don't forget to be patient in achieving your goals and not get discouraged by plateaus and minor setback (temporary weight gain).

As far as nudity is concerned; I personally find it a motivator for me to lose weight. I am aware of the naturist's views on body image but if I when I take all my clothes off I want to look as good as I can. It motivates me to stay in shape which in turn promotes a healthy life style. When I look better, it adds to my confidence and I feel successful in achieving my fitness goals. That's what works for me without juding what works for others OR what they look like. Once again, this works for me, but to each his/her own. No judgment.

I'm in full agreement with you, sdson. When I see results from working out, my confidence extends to other areas of my life, too (not just naturism). I also don't judge others as I know every person is on his or her own path and/or at a different stage in his or her life.

For me, cutting out alcohol has helped tremendously (no more empty calories), giving me much more energy - and I avoid sugar, salt, too many carbs and processed foods - but go heavy on protein, fibre, and fresh vegetables and fruit. Cheers!

[660nryb]

I have lost 46 lbs through Weight Watchers and on my own. They preach life style not diet. Well it worked, My life changed, I got more confidence as I lost weight, and found that is got more comfortable in my own skin. Then I found the confidence to start out as an at home nudist, and now have gone to CO beaches and nude resort. It is not for any reason other than I enjoy the freedom, feel comfortable and haooy with the body I have now

[polutropon]

As far as nudity is concerned; I personally find it a motivator for me to lose weight. I am aware of the naturist's views on body image but if I when I take all my clothes off I want to look as good as I can. It motivates me to stay in shape which in turn promotes a healthy life style. When I look better, it adds to my confidence and I feel successful in achieving my fitness goals. That's what works for me without juding what works for others OR what they look like. Once again, this works for me, but to each his/her own. No judgment.

I feel the same way. For instance, this morning I am studying in my apartment naked. When I want a snack, rather than going for cookies, I eat a banana. I think this view is perfectly healthy if it motivates you to eat healthy stuff rather than junk or gives you the extra motivation needed to go for that walk. It's only if you become obsessed about being skinny that it could do harm.

Kudos to you, sdson, and may you continue successfully reaching your health goals.

[Al Bundy]

Glad to hear of everyone's success. I agree that a benefit of weight loss is self esteem and confidence. I noticed that Red, our nudecaster, has lost some weight. My membership has expired so I am unable to view the nudecast, but the photo of her on the homepage looks like a significant weight loss. I would be interested in hearing about her program. I believe our nudecasters give us all more incentive when we see their success.

[Aaron]

Glad to hear of everyone's success. I agree that a benefit of weight loss is self esteem and confidence. I noticed that Red, our nudecaster, has lost some weight. My membership has expired so I am unable to view the nudecast, but the photo of her on the homepage looks like a significant weight loss. I would be interested in hearing about her program. I believe our nudecasters give us all more incentive when we see their success.

She really has benn puttin sometime in huh! congrats to Red! I noticed that myself at our last taping.
Ya, i think the whole wieght issue is probably the first thing that anyone that i have ever introduced to our lifestyle has thought about. Me personaly, i enjoy being in the gym not so much for other peoples opinion of my physical appearance, but i just seem to be on point withy everything while i am consitsantly working out. My mental clarity increases. My Spirits seem to be raised. My Goals increase and get achieved. my energy levels increase. It really affects me mentally, spiritually, emeotionally, and physically! I love staying consistant at the gym!!

[Al Bundy]

Hey Aaron,
Thanks for the post. You must have an extensive workout program from the looks of things. You guy's definately give me incentive to live a more healthy lifestyle. Thanks to all.

[MoonShadow]

I am most thankful I have a metabolism that has never allowed me to gain weight despite my years. I weigh the same I did in high school. My philosophy is to keep moving, watch what you eat, eat the appropriate portions, and stay away from all fast foods whether in a restaurant or in the frozen food sections. Keep yourself moving.

Yes, many of us have desk jobs but you can still move. Take breaks to walk the hallways or if you can, walk the parking lot, around the building, climb the stairs when going from Point A to Point B. Do not eat lunches at your desk. Move to another place to eat, and eat light lunches. If you bring your lunch, bring a light lunch and go walk the mall or around your building. I do these things daily even when I get home from work, I move. I am an avid gardener so I always do gardening, walk the dogs, and clean daily something in the house.

Lifestyle changes are what work rather than diets. Diets may take the initial weight off but if you have not change your eating lifestyle, they are a waste of all that effort.

Eat well and keep moving!! :)

[Aaron]

Hey Aaron,
Thanks for the post. You must have an extensive workout program from the looks of things. You guy's definately give me incentive to live a more healthy lifestyle. Thanks to all.

What uppers Al Bundy! Ya, the workout is 5 days a week, but its not always the most intense workouts that some may think. There are the days in the gym that you "feel it", and the days that you gotta "force it". If im not feelin, sometimes i just keep a little wieght on there just to stay in the routine of workin out. The hardest part for me is getting started again after a break.
You know tho, above and beyond the workouts, like 90% percent of wieght loss or gain is what you eat and when you eat it. In my learnings, wether you are trying to lose or gain wieght, try to pace your meals out in 2-3hr incraments. dont try to stuf yourself and thenhold out for like 6 or seven hours. Thats not healthyfor the body. Just keep light healthy snacks that you munch on or have light meals every couple hours. That will keep your digestive system in a nice smooth process and it will be able to break down maximum amounts of protiens, vitamins, minerals, ect... DIET DIET DIET in my opinion!
PS its nice to no that i can give some inspiration for someone to achieve their own goals. Thank yo for the compliment!

[Al Bundy]

Great advice MoonShadow and Aaron. I altered my eating habits in January when I started on this journey. I did not eat breakfast and had my big meal at night. I now eat a small breakfast a medium sized lunch (Lean Cusine) and usually only have soup for my evening dinner and drink water instead of milk or soda

My problem is my wife is still working and when she comes home she normally prepares a tasty meal which is difficult to ignore. She tells me she is pizza deprived since I started my quest but she is very supportive of my efforts in weight control.

My exercise program consists of walking, (tredmill in the winter), moderate weight lifting and setups on my exercise ball. I also do push-ups on the stairs in an attempt to maintain muscle tone. I can never obtain the body of Aaron and Jason but you guy's give me incentive to stay with it. Perhaps you should orgainize a health boot camp to show us how to do it.