Let’s get motivated! Physical health is as important as mental

[madman]

I’ve always had trouble keeping my motivation up when it comes to working out. One thing Avatar has brought me is better mental and physical health. I feel that I can still use a lot more work on the physical side in terms of diet and exercise.

I’ve begun to work out in the morning at my companies gym by running and lifting weights. I’m feeling really good about being able to stick to a routine this time, but feel I could really use some additional motivation from my friends and family. I consider everyone here a part of my family!

I want to hear what everyone here is doing to improve their physical health, whether it be diet or special exercises. If you need motivation to get started, also please comment!

Oel ngati kameie aysmukan si aytsmuke

[Fkeu'itan]

Good thread madman!

I personally have started just walking a lot more. It's amazing what effect just having a good long walk can have, i've been walking back and forth between college and also just walking for the enjoyment. So my advice is just to load up your iPod with all the music you could ever possibly need and get out there. You'll be surprised at just how quickly the miles pass by.

I also tried to cut down on eating crappy foods like crisps and chocolate etc. and became a pescatarian and have been for almost 3 months now. It has had a monumenrtal effect on my wellbeing, I feel a lot more energetic and just generally happier than I was before. (Although becoming a pescatarian is quite a radical decision for many people, myself included.)

So yeah... stop filling your body with rubbish, listen to some damn good music and just wander. Couldn't be any simpler.

[Human No More]

I don't like actually doing it for its own sake (actually going somewhere to do it, or just weights or whatever), but I now walk (and run) a lot more instead of getting a bus. I also go for walks at night sometimes, at that time where there's nobody around, it's really peaceful and I like it

I'm not going to stop eating stuff (particularly since I think not eating meat is really unhealthy since you don't get any iron or protein), but I have been eating quite a lot less recently.

[Anima]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I'm not going to stop eating stuff (particularly since I think not eating meat is really unhealthy since you don't get any iron or protein), but I have been eating quite a lot less recently.

Oh ****, then I must be dead by now, since people cant live without protein or iron! And I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years! But...but... I live and my health is excellent

I wonder if it could possibly be cause there actully IS protein and iron in other stuff than meat hmmmm

[Human No More]

Well, there is, but not as much, and the sources that there are (in my opinion) mostly nearly inedible.

I've always thought... If you think you're healthy because you do something, then you will be. The mind has a huge effect on these things, like if you think you aren't, then you actually aren't as much as you could be.

[madman]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Well, there is, but not as much, and the sources that there are (in my opinion) mostly nearly inedible.

I've always thought... If you think you're healthy because you do something, then you will be. The mind has a huge effect on these things, like if you think you aren't, then you actually aren't as much as you could be.

I agree. Mental health and physical health are no doubt linked and we shouldn't neglect either.

[Sonoran Na'vi]

My problem has been finding time to work out. I wish I was still in the shape I was back in high school (when I was being considered by a few smaller colleges to play basketball for them), but I doubt I will be able to find the time to work out at level again.

I find that eliminating certain food and drink can have a pretty big effect, considering that about half of the average person's calorie intake is via beverages (at least in America, to my knowledge).

[Gunny]

I have a thread on my workout somewhere on here that ive started recently. Cut my junk food cold turkey and have been on a strict diet. I wont lie I have had the times where I am tempted to cave. One day I had a smaller lunch and tried to tell myself that I could get by with some fast food but I didnt cave

Ive been on this diet for a few weeks now and not only have I been seeing a difference in my body but I also feel much better now than I used to!

[Apollo]

This is incredbily ironic, but I just got back from a 40 minute jog, and I sprained both of my legs! It hurts like a *****!!!! But who says progress doesn't come without pain. (If you can tolerate pain, your mental health will boost tremendously)

You know, I've been having trouble finding foods to eat. Like specifics. I've been eating eggs and protein shakes (w/ milk), I'm doing quite well for myself but I'm not seeing any results other than my mind becoming hardy to pain (It's made me more mindless when it comes to doing things that cause some degree of pain). I've been at it for 3 to 5 weeks so far, and I'm doing something wrong. Eggs and Tuna is a pretty small menu, and I don't got enough of those to spare for small meals during the day.

I really can't wait to see this excersie to show itself. I only consume about 1000-1500 calories a day, or less and I'm currently looking into salads. Anything green is healthy .

[Gunny]

Try a portion approach Apollo, I also think you need to be taking in more cal.

My diet is like this:

5 protein
2 dairy
1 fruit
2 vegetable
1 fat
1 carb
2 snacks
1 condiment

These are based on servings, so in breakfast I may knock out dairy, 2 protein. Im doing about 1,800 calories a day with a fat/carbs/protein ratio of 20/30/50. Keep in mind Im about 5'8 and weight is about 155 ish right now, so adjust as you need.

From the knowledge I have its best to be around 18-20k calories to lose the weight and keep a balanced diet. And as always breakfast is the most important meal of the day as its what kick starts your metabolism for the day.

[tm20]

well, my motivation is a half marathon coming up in a few weeks which i havnt been properly training for other than occasionally running, i also go to the gym to keep my strength up and also regularly play basketball (currently in a 16 week competition, i suck at basketbal so it's really just a work out since all i do is run up and down the court) and also regularly go to judo. my daily dosage of death metal along with some head banging also bruns a few calories

[Iknimaya]

I'm obsessed with fitness (as I confessed in Gunny's thread I believe!). I'm trying to put on some more muscle, so my workout plan/eating habits probably won't apply to most who are trying to slim down. I do about 7 hours of workouts a week, both lifting and cardio-mostly running, but also biking and etc. I try to get about 3300 calories a day in 6 smaller meals. The breakdown is like so:

3300 calories/day
200 grams protein/day
100 grams fat/day
400 grams carbs/day

I'm 6'-2" and about 185-190 lbs. Packing on muscle is kind of hard for me because I have a fairly high metabolism, so I have to eat a lot. I'm a really healthy eater, so it's lots of good stuff like veggies, lean meats, and fruit. I don't eat fast food at all, period. It's paying off though, I used to be a (sickly thin) lightweight rower, and since I've quit crew and started lifting I've been able to put on about 30 lbs of muscle in a year.

I recommend The Body Sculpting Bible for Men/Women. Great book. It covers everything, and is good for any fitness level, even if you're just getting started. It's really great on the motivation aspect too!

I'm doing quite well for myself but I'm not seeing any results other than my mind becoming hardy to pain (It's made me more mindless when it comes to doing things that cause some degree of pain).

Yes! This is the runner's mindset. Pain is just weakness leaving the body Just stick with it Apollo, it'll be worth it! Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest so your body can recover.

[madman]

I kept it going today and got 2 more miles of walking done with the wife and our two dogs. Now I am ready for a good night of lucid dreaming! Well there's always hoping.

[Apollo]

Originally Posted by madman

I kept it going today and got 2 more miles of walking done with the wife and our two dogs. Now I am ready for a good night of lucid dreaming! Well there's always hoping.

Have a nice trip
And don't slap yourself when you get up, I think it's best to know your still dreaming the dream (ex. I live underwater but I'm not breathing air, but I wake up anyways. My feet are heavy as I am trying to walk through water.). It makes a very interesting morning haha.

Id love to be such a character when I wake up. Makes me feel like a pro actor. YES!

[Fkeu'itan]

No offence to anyone here, but I don't understand the "no pain, no gain" kind of thing.

I have never really seen why excercise has to be painful... If you just walk at a quick pace, fast enough to get a little out of breath, for a long distance, you don't have to put yourself through physical hell but you still get the results with - I personally think - a whole lot more enjoyment and a lot less stress.