Losing the Beer Gut

[REDVAN]

Hey everyone, what advice to do you have for me. I am trying to get rid of my gut... it's not big, but I don't want it getting bigger.

I am a student, so I am young. Should be easy enough to get slim and trim. The problem is not so much that I don't exercise, but that I snack too often, and on the wrong things.

Any suggestions of some foods that are healthy, good tasting, and won't leave me wanting to snack more?

Any tricks that people on here have used to lose 10-20 pounds or so?

[JBR]

Look at the body for life website. I'm on it now and have lost 12 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks. Sure there is exercise but the workouts are pretty easy and you eat 5-6 times a day so there is no time to snack. You get 1 free day a week to eat all the things you crave during the week and not workout. Works for me. Check out the site just to get food ideas. There's no charge and you don't have to buy any crap.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I lost 70 pounds recently. It was one of the toughest things I have had to do.

1. Avoid eating out. Subway is OK.
2. Avoid eating at night. Cereal/Veggies are OK.
3. No starch Ex. White bread, White pasta, rice etc...
4. Run 3-4 times a week. No treadmills, no eliptical, no bike. Buy a pair of good running shoes and run outside. Start slowly and you will biuld up your stamina.
5. Avoid BEER! I have a problem with this one!
6. Limit things like Candy, French Fries, POP, doughnuts, etc... Don't cut it all out. Just eat in moderation
7. Try and have vegtables with every meal.

The key thing here is the running. Start with that and don't give up. Try to build up until you can run 7-9 km every time. Running works. Trust me!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

4. Run 3-4 times a week. No treadmills, no eliptical, no bike. Buy a pair of good running shoes and run outside. Start slowly and you will biuld up your stamina.

I'm just curious as to why running outside is better than using gym equipment? Is this from a personal perspective, or does it really help someone lose weight faster?

I've heard that losing more than 10 lbs per month is not healthy. Is that true?

[Superfraggle]

carrots are wonderful snack food. Apparently eating ~6 small meals, rather than the traditional three is much better. And everything everyone else has said. Regular active lifestyle is key. Running or working out in a gym isn't necessarily for everyone, although if it works for you: great! Try something new and fun, like bouldering/climbing, hiking, cross country skiing, sex, swimming, paddling, etc.

[Frank the Tank]

I've had a beer gut since I was 7 years old! Chicks dig it!!

[calf]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm just curious as to why running outside is better than using gym equipment? Is this from a personal perspective, or does it really help someone lose weight faster?

I've heard that losing more than 10 lbs per month is not healthy. Is that true?

my money is on it's personal...it worked for totf, yes, but my personal opinion is it's all about the work you put into it. If you put the same amount of effort on a treadmill as you do outside, you'll get to a similar result...treadmill's are a bit misleading because you have the momentum of it working for you, so you need to work seemingly harder.

I personally find that running outside is psychologically better. Get fresh air, and you're actually going somewhere...you're continually pushing yourself to get back to where you started instead of just reaching the 30 minute mark.

But, to each his or her own.

TOTF - thanks for motivating me once again to get off my ass and get to the gym

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by calf

my money is on it's personal...it worked for totf, yes, but my personal opinion is it's all about the work you put into it. If you put the same amount of effort on a treadmill as you do outside, you'll get to a similar result...treadmill's are a bit misleading because you have the momentum of it working for you, so you need to work seemingly harder.

I personally find that running outside is psychologically better. Get fresh air, and you're actually going somewhere...you're continually pushing yourself to get back to where you started instead of just reaching the 30 minute mark.

But, to each his or her own.

I would actually love to run outside more for the reasons you're stated. There just aren't enough well lit areas around here to run at night. The roads are narrow, and I know a few times, I hadn't seen a jogger until the last second. It's not a risk I want to take.

I have been going to the gym instead, and I find that some of the equipment helps me get a better work out. With running, you can't adjust the resistance as easily, unless you find a new trail. Also, my endurance and energy levels fluctuate, so I never know ahead of time what kind of resistance I should use.

The idea of having to get back to the start is a good one. Sometimes at the gym, it is too easy to just stop when you want.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by calf

my money is on it's personal...it worked for totf, yes, but my personal opinion is it's all about the work you put into it. If you put the same amount of effort on a treadmill as you do outside, you'll get to a similar result...treadmill's are a bit misleading because you have the momentum of it working for you, so you need to work seemingly harder.

I personally find that running outside is psychologically better. Get fresh air, and you're actually going somewhere...you're continually pushing yourself to get back to where you started instead of just reaching the 30 minute mark.

But, to each his or her own.

TOTF - thanks for motivating me once again to get off my ass and get to the gym

I just find that gym equipment is too artificial. I really don't get a real work out when I use that stuff. It really is a waste of time. No offence to people that use that stuff.

I can't speak for others, but I can speak for myself. If you want to lose the beer gut, running outside is going to work.

If you don't like running outside, the UofC has an awsome track that you can use. In fact I ran into kermitology today (no pun inteded!).

[Buff]

Find a partner.

I earned the nickname of Buff back when I was 19. My best friend and I went to the gym several times per week and we motivated each other and pushed each other. He moved away for university and I slowly lost my motivation as I no longer had a partner to help me keep on track. I went from being 20 yrs and 220 lbs of muscle to 23 yrs and 230 soft pounds. To 26 yrs and 240 pounds, to 29 yrs and 275 pounds with one huge beer gut. I started just before Christmas, lost 12 pounds, gained some back, but am down by 17 pounds from my latest weight loss regime.

My wife found an old weight watchers book from her mothers and brought it home and we started following that together. We use each other to push and encourage each other to keep it up. We've also started working out once per week, and I've gotten the motivation to do small workouts on my own (on the days we don't workout I'll do do hindu squats, pushups and situps)

Partners can push you to try harder, or help you to stay on track by encouraging you when you think your weight loss isn't working.

[REDVAN]

All the talk of running the track at university, I think I'll check that out. I have an iPod, so it wouldn't be completely boring even if i didn't have a partner.

This gives me a good idea- I was thinking of the fact that fellow CPers go to the U of C. We should start a club there. We only need 10, or 25 or something, and I am sure there are many more than that. The University of Calgary calgarypuck.com Members Club. And we'll sanction a running of the track once a week haha. Mandatory for all members, that way I'll actually do it.

[pope04]

When I quit smoking in '93, I puffed up about 30 lbs in only five months or so. To lose it, I had to make several adjustments to my diet and implemented an excerise regimen. Less eating out, and I started cycling to work. I still have to be careful with my weight and could stand to lose 10-15 lbs right now. Once my course is over and the weather's better, I'll get back on my bike.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

My personal suggestion is one of those which is often overlooked but I have found it has helped myself in the past (dropped about 25-30 lbs in a period of 2 months) but purchase a camelbak or an equivilant product from Mountain Equipment Coop and just keep drinking water throughout the day. It really helps being properly hydrated as you will not have the cravings to eat as much food as you normally would and I also found that I had more energy for when I did work out.

Once again I am not a bodybuilder or anything along those lines so take my opinion with a grain of salt but that has worked for myself in the past.

Also always have some healthy snack foods on hand such as carrots and apples - things that you enjoy. Remember if you hate carrots don't buy them because you won't eat them. I personally love clif bars and find them to be a great thing to snack on or even use as a meal substitute.

But it is good to see that you have the desire to better yourself... now just stick with it.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

My personal suggestion is one of those which is often overlooked but I have found it has helped myself in the past (dropped about 25-30 lbs in a period of 2 months) but purchase a camelbak or an equivilant product from Mountain Equipment Coop and just keep drinking water throughout the day. It really helps being properly hydrated as you will not have the cravings to eat as much food as you normally would and I also found that I had more energy for when I did work out.

hugely seconded. My Nalgene follows me everywhere. It's also the one thing that frustrates me about running...tough to stay hydrated without a camelback. Although I just got a hydration system thingy (read: camelback style water bladder with holder) that attaches to my PFD, which probably wouldn't be too tough to hook up for running.

[Kybosh]

Remember that to lose weight it is simply a matter of using more energy than you consume. By that philosophy I don't think that any particular type of food is strictly hands off. . .it just means that some foods require more activity.

I have never been overweight but I have been out of shape (skinny-fat man anyone?). I find that also being a student I have limited money. Therefore to avoid eating the junk food I try to show a little self control and just not buy it at the grocery store. Rather I spend my money on fruits, vegetables, fresh meat etc. My whole philosophy is that if I don't buy it I won't eat it. It works great! Poverty rules! Anyway, I think you might find that simply not buying the junk food also saves on the grocery bills a bit. Just buy a bunch of oranges, apples, strawberries, grapes, bananas etc. It takes a while to get used to grabbing these things as snacks but you'll get used to it. Also, when you go out for the day bring little snack packs of carrots, orange wedges, apples, soy nuts and the sort.

Running is all well and good for burning excess calories and feeling good but don't overlook weight training. Muscle is key for burning calories. I don't necessarily mean hitting the gym but you should consider push-ups for chest/shoulder/arms, various forms of crunches for core work and pull-ups.

Since you're at the UofC I would recommend the following work-out at the track at the oval:

1) Stretch a bit
2) Jog several laps around the track
3) Walk a bit (a minute or two)
4) Run up and down the stairs at the ends of the track. One lap of these is jogging to the bleachers and go up and down each staircase. Then run around to the other set of bleachers and do the same thing. Rinse and repeat. Try to get up to three laps overtime. Take it slow though this stuff is rough.
5) Do some body weight training exercises. Cycle between sets of push-ups, crunches, pull-ups (palms away from you). Try to get in three sets of each. Pull-ups may be a problem but you'll get there overtime with all the push-ups. Remember for each exercise that control is key. Don't rush the movements and try to focus on muscle tension.
6) Stretch every thing out.

That series shouldn't take much more than an hour and a half but you should alter it to match your abilities.

One last thing is that if you're into a good work-out that builds a lot of muscle quick you should check out the bouldering wall in the basement under the gyms (auxiliary I think). The staircase is beside the squash courts. I'm there a lot but I recently blew a finger so that has been cutting back on my climbing.

Good luck!

[flames_1987]

I'm doing the exact same thing right about now. Crazzyy. Weight has not been a problem but have been looking to drop 20 or so. I've lost 12 in a two weeks span. What I've found effective for me is

1) keeping a day by day journal. Just jotting down what you ate that day and excericise wise. I find that is a hugeee help
2) Not going for the home run hit. Being patient is big
3) Have a plan. Keeping a routine sure helps
4) Set goals
5) Have healthy food around. It's hard not to dig into junk if it's basically all you have around you.

[REDVAN]

I already figured out to cut out the bad food- first on my list is limiting the pop and the junk food. I'll never go cold turkey, but I think cutting down heavily will help me a lot.

I think I eat when I am bored.

[FlamesAddiction]

Here's a couple of questions:

1) How long should someone do cardio (run, eliptical, arc trainer, etc...) for a weight loss regimen? I'm not overweight, but I have the beer gut too. It's being pretty stubborn.

2) How high do you need to raise your heart rate to be the most effective?

[FireFly]

Diet pop helped me lose almost 30 lbs. When you have a 2 can/day habit of coke, going to diet helps huge. I've found that coke zero tastes great, as well as the diet cherry/vanilla Dr. Pepper. For clear products that don't have caffine as well, Diet 7up is better than Sprite, IMO. If you need to drink, hard alcohol with diet pop is extremely low calorie! Also, I have a hard time drinking a tonne of water, so I add the Crystal Light juice mix which is low calorie and tastes pretty good. They have singles as well so if you have a water bottle that has measures, you just pop one or two in and voila! Low carb/calorie juice.

[Tron_fdc]

If anyone is interested in a program PM me and I'll send you one. I have been training fairly steadily since I was 13, and just recently put together a meal/exercise program that worked fairly well for what I was looking for (lean muscle mass gains, fat burn). It's similar to what those fitness contestants use, but modified a little more for my needs (rugby mostly). Lots of strength training, and really quite challenging.

I should mention I'm by no means a trainer, just someone who took a professionals program and modified it to what I wanted.