Fitness Tips

[88 Bronco]

To piggyback off yesterday's myth topic. I am making a topic to give people some tips to a healthier existence. 

 

Tip 1: Make realistic measurable goals with deadlines. Then tell someone who will hold you accountable

 

There is no point in making lifestyle changes without establishing how you will determine what you are striving towards. "I want to be skinny, lose weight, get stronger, or look better are all qualitative goals. How do you measure any of that? You do that by setting qualitative goals. Instead of "I want to look better" go with "I want to lose 10 lbs before the June." The realistic part is also important. You will not go from morbidly obese to underwear model overnight without surgery. Telling someone else will make you feel compelled to keep pushing so you don't look like you have failed. Seriously, if you don't set goals, why bother?

 

Tip 2: Drink water

 

Give up your naturally and artificially sweetened drinks and replace it with water. If you have to have caffeine, black coffee or unsweetened tea are your best options. There are countless studies that dissect the benefits of giving up sweetened drinks. Your metabolism slows down when you are dehydrated, if you are thirsty you are already behind the power curve, and sometimes thirst manifests as hunger pangs. Also, restaurants usually don't charge for water.

 

Tips 3: Learn the difference between hunger and boredom

 

Boredom can lead you to think you are hunger. Before you go for a snack, play a game on your phone, read a book, engage your brain somehow. Hell, go drink some water. Worst case scenario, you will have to go pee.

 

Tip 4: Use smaller serving plates. 

 

A large plate makes people think they need more food, so you get more than you might need. Also, don't be afraid of leaving food on your plate. Your mom and dad won't kick your ass over it. Also, here's an interesting pic

 

 

 

Tip 5: Track everything

 

If your goal is to lose weight, you want to consume about 200 to 300 less calories than you body needs to maintain its current condition. If you want to be stronger, you need to consume about 500 more calories than your body needs to maintain itself. There are a plethora of calculators available that will help you determine your caloric needs. Use them.

 

[hepcat]

All good advice.  Eating more reasonable proportions should be a message to the entire country. 

[Jase]

Eat some kind of beans every day.

[Darth Biscuit]

Once I started eating smaller portions, I literally couldn't eat as much as I used to...

[88 Bronco]

Once I stopped eating fried greasy food, driving by some fast food places turns my stomach.

[hepcat]

Once I stopped eating fried greasy food, driving by some fast food places turns my stomach.

 

Well I have to say....nothing hits the spot quite like some bone-in chicken wings during football season.  I bake mine in the oven though.  Definitely my guilty pleasure.

[88 Bronco]

I do the same, but usually it's maybe 4 or 5 wings with a salad.

[hepcat]

Haha yea, I definitely keep it to 8 and under now.  I used to go to B-Dubs in college and see how many wings I could eat with my friends.  But this was back before I had a beer belly and later, the dreaded relationship gut.  Luckily I lost it relatively quickly.

[Cat]

I eat out of boredom late at night because I don't want to go to sleep. Idk, all will power is gone, I feel like a zombie mindlessly walking into my pantry trying to find something to chew on. So stupid

[Cat]

Haha yea, I definitely keep it to 8 and under now.  I used to go to B-Dubs in college and see how many wings I could eat with my friends.  But this was back before I had a beer belly and later, the dreaded relationship gut.  Luckily I lost it relatively quickly.

 

Ages ago I'd get 24 wings. 24!!! I eat 6-8 now if I eat them which is rare.

[88 Bronco]

I eat out of boredom late at night because I don't want to go to sleep. Idk, all will power is gone, I feel like a zombie mindlessly walking into my pantry trying to find something to chew on. So stupid

 

 

Celery, no peanut butter or cottage cheese. Just plain celery.

[hepcat]

Ages ago I'd get 24 wings. 24!!! I eat 6-8 now if I eat them which is rare.

 

Holy crap, 24 just for yourself?  I think my record is around 33.  Me and two of my bandmates went to a wing spot after a long gig and ordered 100 wings and we ate all of them.  

[hepcat]

I eat out of boredom late at night because I don't want to go to sleep. Idk, all will power is gone, I feel like a zombie mindlessly walking into my pantry trying to find something to chew on. So stupid

 

It's like when you go to the fridge with nothing in mind you're looking for, you just go to open it to look at the food you could eat.

[Darth Biscuit]

I've never eaten 24, maybe 15 or 16... but I haven't been to B-dubs in over a year...  I miss it, but I don't miss the calories and fat.