How to lose weight....

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
It's officially starting to warm up again. We had a short winter here, but I'm trying to lose the winter coat I put on over the holidays. I kind of had a triple-whammy cause I got married in late September, have had really hard grad-school classes, and the Holiday foods!

Anyhow, I'm about 10-15 pounds over what I really want to be. I want to tone up the old muscles while I'm at it. What I was going to say is that I have 2 secrets that I wanted to share. They are both theories and facts that help me lose weight any time I want to, but they take a lot of dedication and aren't easy to do all of the time because of the time involved.

1. Diet: Basically, I try to incorporate as many fruits and vegetables into my diet as possible. This is to boost my soluable fiber. I eat milk and cereal in my diet every morning to get insoluable fiber. (fiberone, AllBran, or Kashi's GoLean Crunch) All have around 14g of dietary fiber. Shoot for 40+ grams of fiber a day. Don't drink soda and stay away from anything but skim milk. Water, small amounts of Orange Juice, Light Soy Milk, V8, and Prune Juice.

The fiber is IMPORTANT. If you eat over 40 grams of fiber a day through eating fruits and vegetables, you'll basically be losing 800 calories or more simply because they carry them out of your body through digestion. This is like swimming 2 hours a day and all you're doing is eating properly.


2. Run and lift weights. This is pretty basic, but here's a twist. Never lift weights with your legs. They get plenty of workout from the running and my track coach used to say that it was damaging to your joints to lift with your legs....you use them a lot more than your arms (constant working on them just to walk....)

The key to losing weight fast in running is to split your running up into 2-3 runs/day. This is difficult for most people, but if you're wanting to really lose.....try it. Each run should be for no more than 12-14 minutes. You can do the same thing on a treadmill. You just have to get to your target heartrate. This whole plan is based on the bell curve. When you run, you are going to gain more in the first 12-14 minutes of running and from there on, your return on the time investment will continue to diminish. So why keep doing it? Save time and hit the showers for now....then hit it again later.

I have lost as much as 6 pounds in a week by running 3 days a week / 3 times a day. (morning, lunch, night) This would normally be unhealthy, but I did not starve myself. I ate more, in-fact. The bell curve method works and I was only running 6 miles. (2-7 minute miles per run) It turns out to equal 1, 10 mile run/day.

These are just things to consider. Good luck and I can't wait for Spring to get here!
 

Quasmo

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2004
9,630
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I'm on this new college student diet...

I believe it's called "don't eat"
 

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
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0
I hit the gym after I get off of work (I work 10pm to 7am), I usually pull about 15-20 minutes of cardio, then hit the weights, each day doing a different variety of machines to give certain groups rest from the day before. After that another 10 minutes of cardio, then a few minutes in the sauna, a shower, and I come home and have some fruit/Cheerios before going to bed.

Only been doing it about a month so far, and I haven't lost much weight, but I've gained a LOT of muscle mass, so fat is changing over to muscle, which I'm more than happy with.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,121
47,292
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Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
This is pretty basic, but here's a twist. Never lift weights with your legs. They get plenty of workout from the running and my track coach used to say that it was damaging to your joints to lift with your legs....you use them a lot more than your arms (constant working on them just to walk....)

This is BS. Work your legs too.
 

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
0
Originally posted by: Sphexi
I hit the gym after I get off of work (I work 10pm to 7am), I usually pull about 15-20 minutes of cardio, then hit the weights, each day doing a different variety of machines to give certain groups rest from the day before. After that another 10 minutes of cardio, then a few minutes in the sauna, a shower, and I come home and have some fruit/Cheerios before going to bed.

Only been doing it about a month so far, and I haven't lost much weight, but I've gained a LOT of muscle mass, so fat is changing over to muscle, which I'm more than happy with.

Do you mean you're losing fat and gaining muscle? A lot of people think fat somehow transforms into muscle when you exercise, and vice versa as you grow sedentary start to get flabby. This is biologically impossible. But I'm not sure that's what you're saying.

I'm not sure about the multiple short runs idea. I've read articles that say there's a break-in period where you burn a few calories as you start running, that amount ramps up each minute, then after about 10 minutes it levels off and slowly starts to decline over the next 30-50 minutes.

I think the biggest obstacle to fitness is commitment, not technique. If you commit to running, lifting, and eating an average (read: better than you currently eat) diet, you will probably lose weight. You don't even have to run or lift properly, though of course injury could result. There really isn't a secret to fitness: the idea that there is is espoused by the fitness book/dvd/product industry, and is an easy excuse for people who don't want to commit to being fit. "I can't figure out weight loss" is a lot easier than "I'm too lazy to commit to weight loss".

That being said, if a gimmick or alternative method works for you, and you can commit to it, then of course DO IT.
 

Special K

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
7,098
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Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
This is pretty basic, but here's a twist. Never lift weights with your legs. They get plenty of workout from the running and my track coach used to say that it was damaging to your joints to lift with your legs....you use them a lot more than your arms (constant working on them just to walk....)

This is BS. Work your legs too.

Yeah, big time BS on this one. Your legs are some of the largest muscles in your body, and compound movements like squats give your whole body a workout. Walking around is not even comparable to doing squats, lunges, stiff legged deadlifts, etc.

I'll also add that rather than relying on vague advice like "don't drink soda" or "eat smaller portions", figure out exactly what you are eating each day using Fitday and make reductions accordingly.
 

UTmtnbiker

Diamond Member
Nov 17, 2000
4,129
4
81
Basically what I do is....

Watch my diet and exercise. I personally don't do a lot of weights when it gets warm. I bike a lot and get some serious cardio going. I lift in winter when it's too cold to go outside. I put on weight, but generally it's "good" weight with more muscle (although I do get a little bit flabbier in the winter time).
 

f4phantom2500

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2006
2,284
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Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I ate more, in-fact. The bell curve method works and I was only running 6 miles. (2-7 minute miles per run) It turns out to equal 1, 10 mile run/day.

Whoa, I thought you were saying your speed ranges such that you do 2 minute to 7 minute miles, I was like no...fvckin...way...

 
Dec 27, 2001
11,272
1
0
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
This is pretty basic, but here's a twist. Never lift weights with your legs. They get plenty of workout from the running and my track coach used to say that it was damaging to your joints to lift with your legs....you use them a lot more than your arms (constant working on them just to walk....)

This is BS. Work your legs too.

ESPECIALLY, if you are a runner. Running coaches back in the 60's like Scarpozzi's didn't know this kind of stuff.
 

GDaddy

Senior member
Mar 30, 2006
331
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0
I used to weigh close to 300lbs was overweight(fat) my whole life, been about 180 for almost 15 years now. What did it for me and continues to do it for me. Is too have some breakfast or anything first thing in the morning, even a donut, get your matabolism working. eat more or less what you want during the day, trying to watch your portions, then stop eating at least 4 hours before going to bed.

During the course of the day you will burn off most of the calories that you put into your body, doing some extra walking at night helps alot, but any food that you eat at night does not have a chance to burn off so as you sleep it just goes to fat.

So simply dont eat at night, let your body do the work, you will lose weight.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
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Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
This is pretty basic, but here's a twist. Never lift weights with your legs. They get plenty of workout from the running and my track coach used to say that it was damaging to your joints to lift with your legs....you use them a lot more than your arms (constant working on them just to walk....)

This is BS. Work your legs too.

ESPECIALLY, if you are a runner. Running coaches back in the 60's like Scarpozzi's didn't know this kind of stuff.
I graduated high school in 1998. I ran distance though....wasn't a sprinter. Basically, the approach was to get leg workouts from running 3 miles warmup, then running up steep hills for 30 minutes (jogging to the bottom to rest)....then running 3 miles back to the locker room.

If you're a football player or sprinter, yes.....fast twitch muscle benefits from lifting. However, I don't do it in my plan unless I'm rehabbing an injury. Lifting adds bulk and my legs are pretty solid from rowing and running. I never built them up because they have always been big enough.

You won't lose weight from lifting with your legs. You'll only gain muscle mass (unless you do lots of light weights at more reps). This thread is about losing weight and toning....running is sufficient for me.

 

O2Deprived

Member
Feb 22, 2007
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Another good thing to note is that you can "spot gain" but not "spot reduce". In other words, all those crunches won't do a thing if your not eating right.
 

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
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Originally posted by: O2Deprived
Another good thing to note is that you can "spot gain" but not "spot reduce". In other words, all those crunches won't do a thing if your not eating right.

QFT. Fat burns across the board. Leaning to the left while you run or other such nonsense won't get rid of your lopsided love handles any better than just running.

Speaking of which, working out your lower body can burn fat. Any time your heart rate goes up and stays up, you will burn calories, which means losing fat. You might not lose weight, as you will probably gain muscle, But it can burn fat.

 

skypilot

Golden Member
Mar 20, 2000
1,616
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Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

ESPECIALLY, if you are a runner. Running coaches back in the 60's like Scarpozzi's didn't know this kind of stuff.
I graduated high school in 1998. I ran distance though....wasn't a sprinter. Basically, the approach was to get leg workouts from running 3 miles warmup, then running up steep hills for 30 minutes (jogging to the bottom to rest)....then running 3 miles back to the locker room.

If you're a football player or sprinter, yes.....fast twitch muscle benefits from lifting. However, I don't do it in my plan unless I'm rehabbing an injury. Lifting adds bulk and my legs are pretty solid from rowing and running. I never built them up because they have always been big enough.

You won't lose weight from lifting with your legs. You'll only gain muscle mass (unless you do lots of light weights at more reps). This thread is about losing weight and toning....running is sufficient for me.

[/quote]

Actually, you're wrong. You really increase your metabolism in the short run by working the large muscles in your legs hard with weight lifting.

In the long run, you also get a huge boost by building up your largest muscles, which in turn burns more calories while you're sitting on your ass at work.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
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0
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi


I have lost as much as 6 pounds in a week by running 3 days a week / 3 times a day. (morning, lunch, night) This would normally be unhealthy, but I did not starve myself. I ate more, in-fact. The bell curve method works and I was only running 6 miles. (2-7 minute miles per run) It turns out to equal 1, 10 mile run/day.

These are just things to consider. Good luck and I can't wait for Spring to get here!
Odds are a lot of that weight loss was water weight.

 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
This is pretty basic, but here's a twist. Never lift weights with your legs. They get plenty of workout from the running and my track coach used to say that it was damaging to your joints to lift with your legs....you use them a lot more than your arms (constant working on them just to walk....)

This is BS. Work your legs too.

If you want to build muscle mass then you're better off lifting heavy weight with your legs, you just won't get the same results with only running.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
I need to incorporate some of the diet aspects that you mentioned, OP. Probably starting out with some cereal would be good. I was checking out the nutritional guide from Tim Horton's donut shop the other day and a lot of the things that I eat there contain a ton of fat (even coffee w/ creams and sugars!).

Right now I just do 100 physio ball crunches (5x20) every other night (play hockey 3 times a week for my cardio). I also do curls and some other weight exercises on the physio ball. This "workout" takes about 45 minutes.

Basically I am just looking to strengthen my core to improve balance and for overall well-being. I'm looking to tone up the muscle I do have rather than build more or lose weight. Any additional tips for that (anyone)?
 

Dacalo

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2000
8,778
4
76
Thanks for the tips OP. I am trying to get in shape as well because I gained about 20 lbs since I graduated from college and sitting on my ass all day in my cubicle doesn't help.

I am already consuming some fiber through a bowl of oat meal in the morning with an apple and some brown rice throughout the day. I need to up vegetable intake and try your 3 times a week/day running routine, although it will be hard to run during lunch due to work. Perhaps 2 times a day/ 3 times a week will work better for some.
 
Mar 9, 2005
2,809
1
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Originally posted by: meltdown75
I need to incorporate some of the diet aspects that you mentioned, OP. Probably starting out with some cereal would be good. I was checking out the nutritional guide from Tim Horton's donut shop the other day and a lot of the things that I eat there contain a ton of fat (even coffee w/ creams and sugars!).

Right now I just do 100 physio ball crunches (5x20) every other night (play hockey 3 times a week for my cardio). I also do curls and some other weight exercises on the physio ball. This "workout" takes about 45 minutes.

Basically I am just looking to strengthen my core to improve balance and for overall well-being. I'm looking to tone up the muscle I do have rather than build more or lose weight. Any additional tips for that (anyone)?

Toning muscle is losing fat that covers the muscle giving you a "toned" look. That would make losing weight important for you.