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Post by Cläy on Jan 25, 2008 1:17:55 GMT
I joined a gym around 6 months or so ago with a view to getting fitter (obviously). Whilst riding my bike last night I started to wonder what else people do in order to get fit – diets, physical activities etc. So: What do you do to stay fit – play sports, go for runs etc? And how important is staying healthy for you? Myself, I figure it’s a good idea to look after yourself as much as possible so you don’t end up falling sick to pretty much anything going around, plus it’s good for you mental health as well.
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Ronnie
Passenger Engine
I'm Great Western!
Posts: 727
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Post by Ronnie on Jan 25, 2008 3:14:24 GMT
Used to work out in my school's weight room, but I just don't have the time anymore. Still, I try to maintain some form of physical activity, whether it's actually lifting weights or simply running around the backyard with my little brother. Hopefully, once spring comes around, I'll start playing some baseball with my friends again, and get back into bike riding as well.
Definitely gotta brush up on my eating habits though. I sorta live on chips, candy, and soda whenever I'm hours away from an actual meal...
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Davey
Goods Engine
V
Posts: 488
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Post by Davey on Jan 25, 2008 12:08:46 GMT
I go to the gym about 2 or 3 times a week... although the amount of time I can spare is also a massive factor. When I'm there I do about 20 minutes cardiovascular, and about 40 minutes of weights. In terms of other physical activities, I play 5 a side Football on Thursdays and Saturdays, which is very straining, you have to be running all over the pitch, and because its such a cramped pitch, you can get tired quickly if you're not careful. Also, I do Performing Arts at college, and that includes Dancing.... *waits for everyone to stop laughing*... I'm not the most graceful dancer but its really good physical exercise, it can make you sweat as there is a lot of hard work going into it, and for the most part, I suppose I do enjoy it. I would say I'm a reasonably fit person, and lately I have found that I've put on some more muscle. Unfourtunately, I also like chocolate So it kinda evens itself out... hehe...
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Post by number1 on Jan 25, 2008 13:55:18 GMT
played 6-a-side football last year, plus beforehand I was vice-captain of the schools cross-country team and got my colours, but only because we were a pretty poor team. we loved being the loser sport, as it meant we didn't have to take it so seriously, often comparing the boat clubs budget to ours (admitedly we only needed minibus petrol money) and how the inter-house cross country (out of a school of about 800 I was just the only person who looked forward to it) was moved from spring to early autumn just to satisfy the hockey club.
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Post by Ryan on Jan 25, 2008 18:07:47 GMT
Personally, I keep telling myself I'm going to go back to the gym and tone up again, but lack of money and laziness seem to get in the way. Over the past year or so I've put the pounds back on following a period of being skinnier than I wanted to be, and now what were once baggy jeans now fit me perfectly! By no means fat, but I'm where I want to be and all I want to do is tone up a bit more. Main and favourite form of exercise for me is walking. If I've got a bit of spare time, I'll sometimes take a trip out to the hills and go for a walk. If I've got cash to burn, I'll go further afield and drive somewhere like the Highlands and do a hillwalk or something. Always something to see when you're up the hills, so it's fun to stop and take pictures, that way you're getting some form of rest before venturing on again prior to taking a prolonged break a few miles further on. Was hoping to do some walking when we were in Wales last year, but the trains took up most of the time and so the best I could get was three short walks around Llanberis on a nice day. There's currently talk of a walk on the old Corris trackbed this year and then a drink at the pub later on. Wouldn't worry too much though if you're in the "Couch Potato and Proud" category, I reckon it'll just be a one way with one of us standing by to drive the others back up to collect the cars. But yeah, I enjoy a good long walk, particularly if I have a bottle of juice and a Mars bar for energy!
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Post by Chris The Xelent on Jan 25, 2008 18:24:21 GMT
As for me, I generally tend to keep myself in shape just through working.
Seriously, being an engineer means a lot of heavy lifting, carrying and usually being on your feet for hours on end. The only times I get to sit down at work are during tea and lunch breaks.
Although, sometimes I tend to feed myself just a little too much food and booze to tip the balance too far. So, whenever this happens, I embark myself on intensive courses in press-ups, sit-ups and body stretches. And when I say intense, I'm talking about 100-130 of each in the space of 30 minutes at a time. Obviously, it's enough to make the best of us feel knackered very quickly, but the rewards are plentyful.
In terms of wieght, I usually tend to hover around 70kg. Which is fine by me. Besides, weight doesn't really bother me. As long as I can still fit in my tight trousers and not gain a double chin, I'm allright!
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Assassin
Branch Line Engine
Posts: 1,255
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Post by Assassin on Jan 25, 2008 20:37:15 GMT
Not to brag, but I'm in pretty good shape. I play Baseball in the summer, and work out during the week. Although sometimes I "Forget" .
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Post by shanedooiney on Jan 25, 2008 21:55:26 GMT
I've been trying to get back into the habit of eating right and exercising regularly, but it's hard for me. I used to be in decent shape (perhaps a little too thin, but nevertheless), and would exercise just about every other day. Then once I started college I started eating junk to save time and quit exercising, and now I'm all chubby.
I hate how easy it is to gain weight and how hard it is to lose it.
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Post by Ryan on Jan 25, 2008 22:43:22 GMT
Can counteract that one SD, six weeks at the gym, twice a week for two or three hours a pop and lost a full stone as well as becoming more toned and thinner round the waist. Was working in Costco at the time as a packer, which involved running to check prices for customers - not fun when your jeans are ready to drop to your ankles.
Opportunities to put it back on never emerged until I moved home in 2006 - working 10am to 10pm most weekends meant late-night meals and this was a trend which spread to the rest of the week and allowed me to pile the pounds back on while the digestion system was on shutdown...
Easy to take if off - took two years before I could put some of it back on!
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Post by shanedooiney on Jan 25, 2008 23:04:57 GMT
Holy crap...
We should swap metabolisms for a week or two, Ryan. Ha ha ha.
...Is it me or does that concept sound just a bit creepy?
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Post by number1 on Jan 25, 2008 23:14:32 GMT
I have an interesting problem, I've often eaten in large amount yet it seems to go straight out, I seem to have a bit of a lack of weight problem, always around 8 stone (don't know what that is in either pounds or Kg) which given I'm fairly tall is a bit light. thats why I don't run anymore actually so I have the chance to build myself a bit, which makes it odd, improving health by not doing exercise rather than doing it.
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Post by shanedooiney on Jan 25, 2008 23:21:51 GMT
I have a friend like that. He's pretty tall and skinny and he eats like a horse, but I don't think he's gained a pound in the eight years I've known him. And he never exercises either, just plays the violin all day (and he's quite good, actually, but that's off-topic).
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Post by Aidan on Jan 26, 2008 21:51:25 GMT
I'm mainly just working on developing stronger muscles. All the new jobs I've been given around the museum are a big help with this as well. Despite that, I don't think a few trips to the gym would do any harm. ;D
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Post by Halstead on Jan 26, 2008 22:42:48 GMT
I have an interesting problem, I've often eaten in large amount yet it seems to go straight out, I seem to have a bit of a lack of weight problem, always around 8 stone (don't know what that is in either pounds or Kg) which given I'm fairly tall is a bit light. thats why I don't run anymore actually so I have the chance to build myself a bit, which makes it odd, improving health by not doing exercise rather than doing it. Sounds like your metabolism to me. I'm also like that; I'm 8 stone and don't really put on weight that much as compared to my family. Anyway a stone is worth 14 pounds. As for me I don't exercise much. My mum and dad go to the gym but I don't as I can't afford it and there's some equipment at home but it's only suitable for a light workout. My favourite exercise has to be walking long distances. Don't tell anyone this but I like straying outdoors and walking alongside dual carriageways and rural areas due to their unwinding beauty. Plus it only takes me fifteen minutes for me to walk to the town centre and it saves me £2 from the money draining Tfl.
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douglas
Main Line Engine
Posts: 2,256
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Post by douglas on Jan 27, 2008 1:11:36 GMT
I just finished my semester-long P.E. class, including two weeks of weight room workouts. Which made me no more fit than I was really I'm tall and skinny, reasonably kinda fit, but out of shape. My diet isn't too bad either, though it could be better... I live on peanut butter, bread, meat and milk
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Post by Jim on Jan 27, 2008 2:19:51 GMT
During my twenties, I was involved with forestry management fieldwork in the great outdoors ( no I'm not a lumberjack, but I still like to think that I'm o.k. ) I walked many a mile through the woods and plantations every season (snowshoes in winter), and paddled many a lake and river by canoe. I was in peak physical condition. Once I transferred to a desk job at head office, the sedentary nature of the job plus a slower metabolism once you reach 30 makes it that much harder to lose the previous winter's coat. I make it a point during spring/summer/fall to go for a brisk walk during morning, lunch and afternoon breaks in the park that's adjacent to my workplace. The trail routes that I follow are perfect to get me back to the office on time. I love the morning walks best, as the air is cool and fresh and I return to the office clear-headed and invigorated. A light drizzle doesn't deter me much. It racks up 2-3 miles of walking on a daily basis which helps a lot in the long run. I'm not big on strenuous workouts with sports such as hockey, and going to a gym just doesn't appeal to me - I'd end up dropping my membership . I hardly watch TV anymore which has greatly diminished my cravings for junk food. I think the junk food eating habit is almost symptomatic with having to be doing something whilst watching television out of boredom. If I do watch TV, I switch the bag of chips for a few baby carrots or something much healthier. Another habit I've gotten rid of was to eat a snack before going to bed and sticking to clear colas (e.g. Diet 7-up) rather than the dark ones (diet coke, pepsi). A co-worker whose brother is a chemist has nothing good to say about the dark carbonated drinks. Since the g/f moved out west, I've kinda dropped cross-country skiing, which I miss in a way. I should get back into it. That at least used to give me a good workout trying to keep up with her pace.
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Post by Cläy on Jan 29, 2008 10:18:57 GMT
Something I discovered over the weekend: Tenpin bowling + Dance Dance Revolution + Air Hockey + Golf = stuffed shoulders. You heard it here first Seriously, I really enjoyed all of the above, but the effects are a bit of a bugger. It's important to do stuff outside the norm as well as the regular excercise to a) keep you interested and motivated, and b) challenge yourself in different ways that you may not have done before. The other thing I like to do is ride my bike into town and back (generally about an hour or so total if I don't stop). I find I can ride a bike a lot better than an excercise bike - I would guess it's because I'm actually moving so there's more than just the pedalling to do. Excercise bikes make me queasy.
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stanley/smudger
Goods Engine
listen bud, in the states we dont care a dime for a few spills
Posts: 224
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Post by stanley/smudger on Jan 29, 2008 17:24:50 GMT
i started excercising when i was 6, me and my small group of friends would excercise and train for a week or two then when the time came we would beat the crap out of each other for fun ;D seriously we did, good times.
ive put the pounds on now and really need to visit a gym
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Post by Knuckles on Jan 29, 2008 18:42:40 GMT
Well, me, I have been battling the weight all my life, I'm an Endomorph, wich basically means My metabolism is slow, thus I get fat easy and loosing it is hard, however, it also means I put muscle on easy if I want. I used to be a Brown belt in Karate, that was when I was 14, I'm nearly 23 now. and Doing kickboxing and go to the gym a fair bit, I can currently lift 122.5 KGS (just over 270Lbs) which is about my own weight. I don't just bench press though, the whole body needs working, squats are good. I like to jog and run (at my own pace and with music, not Army pace) and swimming is good too. I'm not much of a sporting type as you probably know, I Love to exersice, but I hate doing it on my own, no body can be botherd, and this is the reason I am in poo shape at the moment, not really a viable excuse, but it is one, sorta
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Post by Kate669 on Jan 30, 2008 14:36:16 GMT
At the age of 21, I was 140 pounds (technically underweight).
At the age of 26, I was 185 pounds (technically obese).
At the age of nearly 27, I'm 170 pounds (still about 20 pounds overweight, but definitely an improvement over last year). I realised that after I quit smoking at age 23, I was eating a lot of burgers, French fries, and milkshakes. But after coming home from Georgia last April, I decided to put a stop to all that. Okay, maybe not a complete stop - I love my Double Quarter Pounder combo just as much as the next girl. But I started exercising more often - walking two miles around the track at the park, on top of walking my [huge] dog several times a day. Eventually I combined the dog walk and the park walk, so that Grizzly was also able to benefit from my daily excursions. Within three months, I'd managed to get myself down to 173. And now that I've got Grizzly back (my roommate took him with when he moved out), I'm back on the mile walks. Nowadays, I add a 2.5lb weight to each ankle (not just for the exercise, but also to keep my legs warm because my sweatpants are too short). Grizzly clearly enjoys it, and so do I - people are always telling me I'm beautiful, but it feels good to be actually working toward it. And now that I'm not 180+ anymore, I know that they mean it!
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