showing entries 1 to 3 of 3

04 August 2010

I went LARPing over the weekend. In fact, I helped to run the event - something which required me to move all over a mountainside camping area, sometimes at some speed. After heaving and gasping and feeling great pain in my sides from doing something so simple as climbing a road, I was reminded of how very much I would like to be in better shape. Having fellow players there who are in far better shape than me - both younger and older - made me feel...how do I put it? Ashamed? I'm not sure that's the right word, but what I know for sure is that I'm tired of being fat and easily winded. I'm tired of being the chunky Elf on-game. Seeing pictures taken of the game only reinforced those feelings. I hated seeing my double-chin and protruding belly.

On the plus side, I was reminded of how little food I really need to eat in order to get by, without really feeling hunger. I also remembered how much water I should be drinking, and going for a few days without soda, fast food and candy pressed the 'reset' button on my tastebuds. Water tasted good again; it was the thing I wanted to drink most. When I got home, I had a Propel (flavored vitamin-water), and it tasted too sweet for my liking. That's when I knew I could change my habits. If I could somehow keep that mindset that I had while I was on-game, sticking to healthy foods and only eating what I needed instead of letting myself snack endlessly, perhaps I could start losing some real weight.

Getting some regular exercise would also be crucial. I want to be able to perform well on game, not be wheezing and doubling over when it comes time to fight or flee. Right now I'm thinking I need to start going for a walk every evening after I get home from work, but I think I should find a gym or something similar that I can start going to on a regular basis. My wife already does this, but she goes to the gym where she works; I don't have that option. And I don't really have a lot of money to spend on a gym membership. Gonna have to work on that one...

25 June 2010

All right. 'Ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go.

Here's a brief description of my current lifestyle and habits, just to give you a frame of reference.

I live a pretty sedentary life. I currently work at a job that allows me to sit behind a desk most of the time, but occasionally it requires me to do a spot of driving and then a bit of walking around outside. I enjoy that latter part but there's not really enough of it to suit my preferences.

This is the job I do to pay the bills. The job I want would make me even more sedentary - writing and drawing comic books.

Most of my hobbies involve sitting around, as well - writing, drawing and tabletop roleplaying games, with the occasional video game or MMO. I am involved in a fantasy LARP group that uses baffee weapons for combat, which is a wonderful way to get a bit of exercise, but while we used to play once or even twice a month in our heyday, now we're lucky if we play once a year.

I do enjoy hiking and camping a great deal, and I know that any scheme I engage in to lose weight should take advantage of that. I'm fortunate enough to live in the mountains right now, so just going for a walk around the block would allow me to enjoy being in the forest.

Another big problem I have is my diet. My wife ensures that I eat better than I used to, but given our working schedules, I often end up eating fast food once or twice a day during weekdays. I know this is going to affect my health pretty adversely, and while I know I should eat breakfast at home and pack a lunch the night before, I never actually do so. I usually have between an hour to a half-hour in the mornings to get ready to leave for work. I'm a night owl by nature, so I prefer to be up at night instead of getting up in the mornings (not that I don't like mornings; I just don't like getting up for them). Making more time for myself in the morning means getting up earlier which means going to bed earlier which I don't like. I'm guessing this is just one of those sacrifices I'll have to make for the sake of my health.

My father had diabetes, so my weight has always been a concern for me. I recently had a physical with a blood test, and they didn't find any sign of diabetes, so I'm in the clear for the time being. But I don't want it to become a greater possibility. I'm the heaviest one in my family; both my younger sister and older brother somehow managed to be relatively thin, while I've always been the chunky one.

I don't know what my ideal weight should be. I know for certain that I'd like to lose at least fifty pounds, but beyond that I don't know what to aim for. I've heard that the whole BMI thing isn't very realistic, since it doesn't account for body type. I'm what you might call big-boned; I have a broad frame, so I'm never going to be whisper-thin no matter how much I starve myself or work out.

I would very much like to develop my body into something more fit and pleasant to look at without clothing. A trimmer belly, some chest definition - these would be nice things.

Even more than that, I just want to feel healthier. I'm tired of getting winded every time I break into a jog or start hiking.

I'm also starting to become more aware of my age. It's tough to accept that I'm not in my twenties any more, and I never will be that young again. But there are action movie stars who are older than me and have ripped bodies, so I know it's at least possible to get myself in better shape. I just hope I don't have to spend movie star money to do it!

25 June 2010

Weigh-in: 259.0 lb lost so far: 0 lb still to go: 59.0 lb Diet followed N/A

Other Related Links

Members



mysterycycle's weight history


Get the app
    
© 2024 FatSecret. All rights reserved.