Vlogging has really made me self-conscious about my body image. We rarely see ourselves how others see us. Sometimes when we do, it can be a real eye opener. This has happened to me several times over the last couple days.
The last couple videos I've made for 3Speak have been real eye openers. I never realized how LARGE and ROTUND I look when I sit down. 🤣 I first noticed it when I did the guitar video last week on 3Speak, then again when I was watching the hammock review video I did. On top of that, there was even a whole section of the hammock review that I didn't use because I thought I looked like Jabba the Hutt laying in my hammock talking to the camera. I had no neck and I couldn't believe how fat my face looked.
If that wasn't bad enough, after working on my motorcycles yesterday I took the Suzuki for a ride around the city. As I sat at a red light, I looked over and could see my reflection in a big store front window. I glanced over, then took a quick double take. I couldn't believe how big I looked on my motorcycle. Not good big like body builder big, huge fat boy big and too big for my little dual sport! That was it, that was the final straw. Something must be done. I've never looked this bad in my life!
After the ride, I came home and I was a little depressed about the realization I had sitting at that red light. I decided Monday morning, no more excuses, time to handle this issue once and for all. But first, I must drowned my sorrows in this bottle of Rum! 😄
I'm putting off weighing myself until tomorrow. I've all but quit drinking, but with the nice weather and knowing that I was going to start serious diet and exercise today, I decided on knocking back a few rum and cokes. I also made a promise that I'll abstain from all alcohol until memorial day weekend. For the most part I'm down to a couple drinks a month, not drinking alcohol isn't a problem. I figured I'll wait until tomorrow though for a more accurate weight reading giving my body a chance to expel the water weight from yesterdays drinking festivities.
I'll comment this post tomorrow with my weigh-in for anyone that might be interested.
Today, as I promised myself, I woke up and started researching diet and excercise stuff online. I'm not doing keto again. I love my fruits and veggies over the summer. Maybe I'll try keto again in the autumn. I'm back to clean eating, fruits, vegetables, meats. I might try some intermittent fasting mixed in with some juice fasting. All I know is I want to make a reasonable goal of losing at least 50 pounds by the end of the year. That's a little over 6 pounds per month. I think this is reasonable and I know I can do this.
I've always allowed my weight to fluctuate, but losing weight was never an issue. This is something new that I haven't been able to shake since I quit smoking. Honestly, it's the main reason I haven't gone back to tobacco. I'll be damned if I put on all this weight and go back to smoking again! Nope! Not going to happen!
I went shopping earlier and started with some fruits and vegetables. I'm cutting out all junk food! No soda pop and try to avoid all things processed. Strictly meat, veg and fruit. I'll also be cutting way back on the bread and high carb stuff. Sunday cheat days, because they're good for maintaining metabolism. Within reason of course. Absolutely no alcohol until Memorial Day, May 30th for non US folks. Then again until 4th of July.
The good news is that the treadmill is maintaining my weight. I really haven't gained weight, I've just maintained the weight I have. I've insured that I haven't gotten any bigger. The treadmill has done that. I need to lose more though and I'm looking into alternative forms of exercise that won't screw up my shoulders more. This is part 2 of my problem, my shoulders are shot and I can no longer lift weights.
I thought about this long and hard the other day. Besides my age, what has changed in my lifestyle that's keeping me from losing weight? I broke it down to 2 things.
Whenever I started getting a little plump in my youth I'd workout at the gym. Usually within a month or two whether I lost weight or not, I'd look good. I'd even be accused of using steroids from time to time. I never did. Back then it was no problem to spend a couple hours a day in the gym. Workout, swim laps or some other form of cardio, then lose some water weight in the sauna. Those workouts back then are also why my shoulders are probably shot today! At least I looked good then... OK so that has changed. I can't throw around weights for a couple hours a day anymore. That's a big one.
Weekend drug use and weekend long rave parties. I'm not flexing but the party never stopped in my younger years. I maintained gainful employment and basically partied my ass off every weekend starting on Thursday night and ending at an after hours party on Sunday morning. This went on for several years. The cardio alone from drug fueled dancing at all night rave parties alone kept me thin. I can almost gaurantee I'd have a heart attack if I EVER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TODAY! I wouldn't last one hour, let alone an entire night! 🤣 I'm actually laughing to myself as I write this. Looking back, those were some wild days!
After contemplating this though, I have to come up with a solution. Those 2 reasons are exactly why I can't shake this weight. I guess I have to do this like the normies and focus on good clean food and a reasonable amount of excercise. If most everyone else can figure it out, I'm sure I can figure out something too!
This is post 25 for this months #HiveBloPoMo
Best of luck with this. I know it can be hard to lose weight, but admitting to a problem is the best first step. You will get good encouragement from the Hive community. I know very little about diets as I seem to be lucky in not gaining much weight. I expect my running helps, but I do try to eat well, with a few treats. We only get so many years of life and you need to enjoy them whilst living healthily enough to live those years well.
I guess !PIZZA is not a good option ;)
LOL, pizza is a terrible option 🤣 and !BEER isn't much better. 🤣
Besides appearance, this is the other reason for me. Definitely getting to that time where I need to start taking better care of myself.
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BEER.How about Intermittent fasting - basically skipping breakfast and an 8 hour eating window in a day.
@revisesociology As someone with serious ongoing weight issues, I second this. I have done a lot of reading about it (as well as having done a few intermittent and some prolonged fasts).
@the-bitcoin-dood Talk to your doctor and listen to your body, but there is a lot of evidence showing the health benefits beyond weight loss. For example, after 18 hours (if memory serves), your body releases stem cells, which can be protective for many illnesses.
When I am super hungry during a fast, I remind myself of the stem cells that are being made. Also, I fast with a friend. That might sound strange, but if we both know we are doing 30 hours once a week or whatever we agree on, it's easier to stick to it. I find that it is much easier if I have one cup of veggie broth every 8 hours or so. It is high in sodium, but five calories only and somehow a major pick me up. I think it's the electrolytes.
Last, but not least, love yourself. Look in your eyes when you look in the mirror and remember that your true value is not an image. It's hard to remember these days I think.
Why do we hate ourselves so much, though? Would you be a better man if you waved a magic wand and became suddenly your idealized view of what you would want to look like? In my experience, unfortunately, sometimes, really good-looking people are... not quite fully "cooked." They need more time in the oven before they become interesting.
This got long and ranty. Almost everything I write some days comes out like this. I hope you see that it is well meaning. Go intermittent fasting!
It sounds like you know more about it than I do!
I personally struggle to go beyond 16 hours, but that 18 hour thing is interesting, more 'fasting' by that stage!
Not too ranty!
I'm definitely incorporating some form of intermittent fasting. It works and it gets results fast! I like that idea of an 8 hour eating window too.
I do it on and off - I found the first five days a bit grim but then I just got used to it first time!
I don't do it all the time now, but when I get motivated I can switch into it pretty easily now I know the drill!
It sounds like you are almost to the Whole 30 diet. That diet helped me figure out what was causing some of my joint issues (inflammation). While it's not for weight loss, most people do lose weight on it, because they cut out the processed foods and bad fats. And, yes, you can eat most fruits and veggies on the Whole 30.
Sounds good to me. I'll research it. Thanks.
Hey Dood, I haven't posted in ages. I had one of those moments just before Christmas and have been working pretty hard on the not eating and running a butt load ever since. Lost about 17kg but can't play the guitar anymore. :) I did the 5 - 2 diet for a while and once I got used to not eating I pretty much flipped it to the 2 - 5 diet and that works even better. Just doing things consistently is the secret which is something I struggle with. Go hard for a while then stop is what I usually do, but we'll see this time. Good luck!
I just looked this up and it seems like a much healthier way to do intermittent fasting. This is probably the direction I'm going to take also. I like the idea of cheat days to because they help maintain metabolism.
Same here. I just need to start eating healthier consistently. I go hardcore for a few months, lose a bunch of weight then put a bunch back on. I need to find a lifestyle diet and exercise plan I can live with. First time learning about 5:2, I like this though. Thanks.
Don't even kid! You're guitar playing is inspirational!
Best of luck to you brother. I had a similar "come to Jesus" moment myself last January and I'm down 155lbs. I can absolutely vouch for intermittent fasting, it ones one of the keys to my success along with following a carnivore diet (not for you because of the fruits and veggies..lolol) and jiu jitsu a few times a week.
Looking forward to seeing your success!
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Thank you.
Jiu Jitsu is a pretty cool sport. I've been thinking about finding some kind of sport to participate in also.
Intermittent fasting definitely works and is a good addition to any diet system.
I might try carnivore over the winter. I've read a lot of good stuff about it. I do love my fresh fruits and veggies over the summer though :)
Thanks for the awesome comment!
!UP
Best of luck. Putting it on is great fun. Losing it is a pain in the arse. Ughhh. You look alright although I wouldn't like to get a slap off you. 😀
LOL, truer words have never been spoken. Thanks for the encouragement.
try this rum. Got addicted to it down in the Canarys. Some stuff. killer hangover though.
I'll look for it the next time I'm at the liquor store. For the most part I'm a Bacardi guy or Captain Morgan's. I like Appleton Estates too. I've never seen this one, but if I find it, I'll give it a try. Thanks.
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STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Finally weighed myself. Tried to do it yesterday but the batteries were dead in my digital scale. Weighed myself this morning and the damage wasn't as bad as I had thought. 289 pounds. Ten pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself. I guess the jogging is working. I also remembered that during my drug fueled rave days I rarely drank alcohol. Something I just started abstaining from again, so I'm certain that is helping.