I failed! (Fitness thread)

[Insidious Von]

I've been on an exercise program for four months now. I have been strength training consistently for six days a week. I'm doing this for two reasons; to reduce the affects of the arthritis that I live with and to get off the medication that I'm on. My doctor put me on Crestor for cholesterol and Lisinopril for blood pressure. When she put me on these meds I was living a somewhat sedate lifestyle with my blood pressure and cholesterol at high levels. There is a history of stroke in my family and I've been on these meds for over a year now.

It was a humbling experience, I though I looked and felt great but in her eyes I'm not doing enough. About a decade ago I used to weigh 260 lbs I'm presently at 225 lbs. However I find it extremely difficult to get below 215 lbs. She has told me that my cholesterol and blood pressure levels are now perfect but she wont take me off the meds. She says I must drop a further 20 lbs and she wants to see six-pack abs. I told her to consider it done.

Isn't she being a little rough on this old fart? If anyone has any suggestions on how I'm going to do this, please let me know.

I'm fucked!

 

[Prim0]

Isn't she being a little rough on this old fart? If anyone has any suggestions on how I'm going to do this, please let me know.

I'm fucked!

Maybe the key is some sexercise!

 

[Cycleguy007]

First of all... CONGRATS on getting to 225!

How tall are you?

Generally speaking... In order to get the "six pack" abs- you'll need to get to under 10% body fat, That means lots and lots of cardio not to mention lots of core strengthening exercise...

This being the case you'd have to be very tall in order to attain that goal with a weight of 205...

Just sayin...

 

[great bear]

Stick with it. The body generally takes up to one year before it will start to burn off the internal fat, which is the most dangerous for your heart. Once you lean out and have body fat composing less than 14% your body will be like the "engine that could". It will start to burn off the internal fat surrounding the liver, kidneys, abdomen, and heart. At this point your cholesterol levels will drop significantly, along with your heart rate and hopefully with your body producing more blood to the joints your arthritis should start showing some improvement. The key is stick with the programme.

 

[The Oracle]

A few questions if I may;

- how old are you?
- How tall are you?
- what does you present program include?

 

[papasmerf]

Stick with it. The body generally takes up to one year before it will start to burn off the internal fat, which is the most dangerous for your heart. Once you lean out and have body fat composing less than 14% your body will be like the "engine that could". It will start to burn off the internal fat surrounding the liver, kidneys, abdomen, and heart. At this point your cholesterol levels will drop significantly, along with your heart rate and hopefully with your body producing more blood to the joints your arthritis should start showing some improvement. The key is stick with the programme.

I hear bear steaks and roasts are also low in cholesterol and will speed up the fat loss.

Hunt them and eat them if you please

 

[Yoga Face]

A naturopath can get you off most drugs

A qualified personal trainer can help you lose weight with the proper program

 

[great bear]

I hear bear steaks and roasts are also low in cholesterol and will speed up the fat loss.

Hunt them and eat them if you please

Smurf Season will be quickly upon us. Hmmmm, Smurf and Turf one of my all time favs.

 

[Big Michael]

Congrats on getting on losing 35 Lbs in four months. I find I don't workout as much as I have in the past. But what I have done is clear all the crap out of my diet and I have been able to keep off and actually lose a couple pounds.

It seems like you may have hit the wall at 225, so you probably to need to vary some combination of cardio/strength/intensity/diet to lose that extra 20. You haven't failed...it's a process.

 

[papasmerf]

Smurf Season will be quickly upon us. Hmmmm, Smurf and Turf one of my all time favs.

Like my grandpappy used to say...........The only thing better than bear steak is a bear steak with all the trimmings and a pint or two of Guinness.


You should join me for dinner one day.....Ah hell could be a whole month worth of low fat bear meat

 

[Possum Trot]

Isn't she being a little rough on this old fart? If anyone has any suggestions on how I'm going to do this, please let me know.

I'm fucked!

Once you start Crestor, or any of the satin drugs for that matter, I don't think its safe to go off them as your cholestoral will rebound upwards regardless of the improvement in weight and diet.....or so I have have been told.

 

[The Oracle]

That means lots and lots of cardio not to mention lots of core strengthening exercise...

This being the case you'd have to be very tall in order to attain that goal with a weight of 205...

Just sayin...

I'm not a real big fan of lots of cardio for weight loss.

It can actually teach your body to retain fat.

 

[Insidious Von]

Lansclad and I were getting ready to go moose hunting, but he went off on a field trip with Dick Cheney and hasn't been heard from since.

I didn't lose 35 lbs in 4 months, it took me from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2002, but I have kept it off ever since.

I'm 5' 11" and 51 years old.

I developed my program when I was in my 20's and working as a bailiff for the Ontario Supreme Court. This is how it works:

Day one - Core/cardio; Day two - limbs; Day three - Back, shoulders cardio. repeat

I have two limitations:
I cannot run, I must use a stationary bike or an elliptical for my cardio.

I cannot do squats with a barbell, last week I tried it out. If worked fine for the workout but I spent a sleepless night in pain.

 

[papasmerf]

Lansclad and I were getting ready to go moose hunting, but he went off on a field trip with Dick Cheney and hasn't been heard from since.

I didn't lose 35 lbs in 4 months, it took me from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2002, but I have kept it off ever since.

I'm 5' 11" and 51 years old.

I developed my program when I was in my 20's and working as a bailiff for the Ontario Supreme Court. This is how it works:

Day one - Core/cardio; Day two - limbs; Day three - Back, shoulders cardio. repeat

I have two limitations:
I cannot run, I must use a stationary bike or an elliptical for my cardio.

I cannot do squats with a barbell, last week I tried it out. If worked fine for the workout but I spent a sleepless night in pain.

Work your way up to it.

Years back I used to do cable and could hook up a pole with the best if them. Of course I did it every day.

These days if I climb straight ladder I feel the burn and get winded.

As we age we tend to cut back on our high level activities and that is the mistake we make.

These day I am up and down ladders all day as well as stair wells. But as you know your body becomes used to any level of activity.

I too need to get back in shape. I never had 6 pack abs and no longer have the 24 pack but I sure do carry a 12 pack.

 

[Insidious Von]

I'm working on it Papa.

My physiotherapist doesn't want me running due to my right knee. As for the squats it has to do with the base of my shoulder blades being arthritic, I have to do them with dumbells. I don't like that, it's too easy to cheat. With a barbell you are obligated to keep your back straight, hence a better workout. I'm attempting to correct the problem with rowing.

Maybe I should accept the fact that my glory daze are over. I'll never be this again: lol

 

[shrek71]

If you've been hitting the weights six days a week for four months and aren't seeing any more progress, it is time to take a break and change to a new program. Take a week or two off and just do light cardio to keep you in the habit of exercising. Most gains are made with proper rest. Are you getting enough sleep? How's your eating plan going? Clean eating for fat loss is probably more important than the weight training.

When you do change your program consider doing one designed for muscle growth (hypertrophy) as that will aid in fat loss. The more lean muscle mass you have the more calories you burn throughout the day.

Good job on your weight loss to date. Losing weight is relatively simple compared to keeping it off.

Cheers

 

[The Oracle]

When you do change your program consider doing one designed for muscle growth (hypertrophy) as that will aid in fat loss. The more lean muscle mass you have the more calories you burn throughout the day.

Good job on your weight loss to date. Losing weight is relatively simple compared to keeping it off.

Cheers

Yes this is the key but most people miss it.

 

[OddSox]

She says I must drop a further 20 lbs and she wants to see six-pack abs.

Typical woman - give her an inch...

 

[Insidious Von]

I want to thank you all for the instructive feedback.

I'm satisfied with the progress I've made even though my doctor isn't impressed. To answer some of the questions; lunges and squats are the back-bone of my lower body program. The pain I feel in my shoulder blades isn't from the motion of doing squats, it's from the downward pressure of the barbell on my shoulders and it doesn't flare until I go to bed. I've been trying to alleviate this by working with a rowing machine. I have rheumatoid arthritis from years of wear and tear, had I been able to adjust to earning a living from an office I may not have some of these problems. Some people can work with a roof over their heads, I find it claustrophobic.

As for my doctor she has been very good to me. Unlike the old prick she replaced who ran his practice like a cattle call. She's young super smart and hasn't been made cynical by age. 1 1/2 years ago she threatened to have my driver's license revoked, it was her way of administering tough love and it achieved the desired effect. I haven't been this healthy in a very long time, still there is room for improvement. I intend to deliver on the six-pack abs.

 

[SillyGirl]

I intend to deliver on the six-pack abs.

Can you hula hoop? Most guys can't...but if you can, it works all your abs at once. You can get an adult-size one online, the heavier ones are easier than lighter (mine is 3lbs.). I change direction every three minutes to avoid lower-back issues. And if you do it fast enough, it turns into cardio.

I'm also a big fan of crunches.

Whatever you do, don't try this...sounds like your doc is way too smart to fall for it.