Quote:
Originally Posted by chassis
Facts:
- you are not 24
- you are older now, and getting older
- you talked alot about using weights and workouts and creatine
- you talked a little bit about eating
- you are overweight
- I am in the over-50 crowd
- I am not overweight
- I do not take supplements unless you consider Vitamin D a supplement
- I place first priority on diet: quantity is the most important part of diet
Suggestions:
- achieve and maintain 180-190 lb weight by caloric deficit, followed by caloric balance
- emphasize cardio activities (swimming, cycling, running)
- forget supplements
The suggestions are easy. The hardest part is changing one's thinking about them.
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This is basically the EXACT wake up call I had to give myself when I was about 42-43. I am 5' 10" and was in the 210-220 range most of the year. I hit a high of 236 after a trip and something just "snapped" in me. I dropped about 50 pound over the next year and never felt better in my life. I no longer woke up with aches, I slept WAY better, I no longer sweat sitting in my air conditions office - in fact I rarely sweat anymore. I sit a hard limit of 180 and if I cross that - NO MORE eating out or anything till I am back under. Going mostly carbless was the key for me - or super low carb anyway.
I am 55 now and I got into a "focus on whole foods" deal this year and trimmed down further to 162-166 area and have been holding that all summer easily with the new diet. I feel like I am eating a TON, but my weight holds. I just eat when my body tells me too.
It's not fun, but if you bear down HARD the first few weeks - it makes it so much easier. Once you get all that damn insulin, bloating, and inflammation out of your body you feel SO much better it makes you wanna keep going and your tastebuds change and things like fruits taste like candy. I'd rather have a super shitty few weeks and get it over with instead of 1/2 assing it for 6 months.
As you said - it has NOTHING to do with your workouts - it's all in the diet. GAINS are made in the gym, LOSES are made in the kitchen. Once you get the weight off you can hit the weights harder if you want, but getting the weight off is going to give you by far the best ROI on your efforts right now.
I was there - I feel you man. Having a partner to do it with helps a lot - be rude and call each other on your shit - it's worth it big time.