The Less is More Thread

[Rumbas]

Wow, wow. Begun to watch those HBO documentaries John and what a bad bad state the US is in!
Absolutely terrifying to say the least, but 100% on par what I've seen for the last 2 weeks. I'm floored as to how many Americans I saw being extremely fat. Especially in Disney World where the ratio of people driving around in their small carts was 1/3 at least. I have never ever seen so many people not being able to walk around and enjoy the fun, but sitting there stuffing themselves with food.

It was borderline disgusting. Especially being that Disney gives these fat folks special treatment and let them in first everywhere (I DO realize that some of them where in their carts from other medical reasons, but the vast majority was just plain old fat.). It almost seem like these extremely fat people expect special treatment and just push forward everywhere. Being extremely fat is almost a privilege there, having a cigarette somewhere inside the park is almost 100% impossible and just sneaking one, will get you in trouble from the cart mafia - go figure.

Now I'm really looking for to some lean meat, veggies and some low fat/carb home cooked food again - and lifting some weights on a regular basis.

[Rumbas]

How is everyone doing? Seems most in the Commit lost weight and got more healthy?

I'm hovering around 225 lbs and still manage to put on more muscle than dropping fat. Still struggle to keep the volume of food down late in the evening - mainly due to training in the evening and feeling extremely hungry at 23-24. Not the best time to eat..

The weight training is great and my traning buddy and me are seeing improvements all around. Just managed to pull 330 lbs off the floor in dead lift yesterday. Personal record, so I'm thrilled to get going.

[jetboy]

The weights regime was putting on a lot of weight, and as I was snacking on protein bars, I'm not convinced that most of it was muscle. I was up around 170 lbs. Heavier that I'd like to be, and not looking much better for it. I was able to lift heavy things though.

So I took a break for a while, and then started dieting mixed with light exercise a month ago. I've just avoided pizza, Chinese, sweets and eating late primarily. Most days have included press-ups, planks or swimming. I started out at 166 lbs, and was 157 lbs this morning. Proportion-wise, I'm down 3% body fat, with no change in muscle. I'd guess that this is the lightest I've been in about the last 15 years or so.

I've tentatively started back at the gym, but I'm trying to do more cardio and not push the weight training as much. The aim is fat reduction rather than size.

[agerhart]

The aim is fat reduction rather than size.

Cardio and better diet will reduce the fat and weight. 

But won't tone or build muscle

[rcjordan]

I went back on the low-carb diet last November. I was around 235. I also started some labor-intensive home projects. When Rumbas was here in May I weighed 200.  I'm currently 190 and shooting for 170.

<added>
My last project was rebuilding my 200' pier without any helpers. That involved lifting a couple of tons of salt-treated lumber into place,  so for now my upper-body strength is pretty good for an old man.

[Chunkford]

You guys are depressing me stating your weight.
So far I'm I think I am the heaviest gezza here. I'm currently a 251 beast (I was around 265ibs before I started that core commit malarkey so it looks to be going in the right direction), but apparently I have big boned frame (think Rugby instead of Football) that's at my disadvantage lol
It's been done before though! and my ultimate goal weight is 210 of pure muscle, but alas, the joys of sitting on my arse all day now isn't helping matters.

[rcjordan]

Highest I've ever been was 246. That was around the time of pubcon1 when I'd been living in restaurants for the previous decade. 

>muscle

From my observations, the guys who go into heavy-duty muscle building don't do well weight-wise over the long term.  At some point, they invariably ease up on the workouts but their appetite stays in high gear and they flash over to lard-asses.

[littleman]

Looks like you all are doing really well.  Congrats on 330 lbs Rumbus, that's quite an accomplishment.

>3% body fat
Wow!  You must look like an anatomy chart.


>You guys are depressing me stating your weight.
Chuck, go back to page 9 in this thread, you'll see what I use to look like, I had a good 20 lbs over you.

>don't do well weight-wise over the long term.

It has worked out well for me.  My high was in the 270s, now I'm 187.  I don't do much cardio other than play with my kids (bike ride, skateboard, chasing them around and such) every once in a while.  I've been on this track for about five years now and it seems sustainable.

There is lots of contradictory research out there regarding weights vs. cardio and sometimes people get religious about the topic.  Same thing for diet.

I don't pretend to know the absolute truth, but this is what's worked well for me:
reduced calorie via eating low carb + weight training

Its a real simple formula.  A lot of people think that there is some magic to low carb and that one doesn't need to reduce calories to lose weight.  I don't think so anymore, but I think eating low carb does act as an appetite suppressant -- taking out the sugar and starches keeps one full longer so you just end up eating less total calories.  The weight training keeps my strength/muscle/metabolism up while running a moderate deficit.

[Chunkford]

Chuck, go back to page 9 in this thread, you'll see what I use to look like, I had a good 20 lbs over you.

Makes me feel that little bit better now :p

Its a real simple formula.  A lot of people think that there is some magic to low carb and that one doesn't need to reduce calories to lose weight.  I don't think so anymore, but I think eating low carb does act as an appetite suppressant -- taking out the sugar and starches keeps one full longer so you just end up eating less total calories.  The weight training keeps my strength/muscle/metabolism up while running a moderate deficit.

Carbs is where it's at I think. What people tend to forget is normally all the low fat products are actually high in carbs. So it's a false economy as if those carbs aren't burnt off then it turns to fat.
I did try the Atkins diet once. All I ate was fatty, rich in protein foods. It worked but boy was I feeling like crap. I had bad breath and was moody. Extremely moody. In the end I had to give it up as my life then was not fun back then.
Now all I do is watch the carbs and the calories, and have smaller portions. If I feel hungry then I have a couple of pints of water as the body thinks my stomach is full curbing the hunger pains.

[jetboy]

>3% body fat
Wow!  You must look like an anatomy chart.

Down 3% on where I was. Still high 20s, although I can't see where I'm stashing it.

[Rumbas]

Been following schwarzeneggers site come to life a bit more the last few months. They brought on some guest posters and it's pretty good stuff if you're interested in fat loss and weight training.

Topped with some old pics of Arnold in his prime it's a good read

Latest one is pretty interesting and well written:
http://schwarzenegger.com/fitness/post/exercise-carbs-a-game-changer

[littleman]

-90lbs. today.

[ergophobe]

-90lbs. today.

Even though we've never met*, I continue to be inspired by watching your progress. Seriously, it gives me an extra little boost to stay on track.

*though I think someone might have pointed you out at Pubcon New Orleans, ca. 2003. Is that possible? I just have a vague memory of saying "That's X X, littleman on Webmasterworld" and looking up and seeing someone who was not a little man. Could be my mind playing tricks on me though.

[littleman]

Thanks Ergophobe, that's really good to hear.

I was at Pubcon 2003, it was Boston.  That was a fun time...seems so long ago.

[Rumbas]

Well done LM! Impressive.

I wonder if we're even able to recognize you again? Last time we met we where all a little errm wider