<p>That photo of Dr. Blair inspired me to get back in the routine. Yikes. </p>
<p>D, sabadog and I enjoyed a brisk walk about the park, then I hit the gym for a climb to Kiliminjaro. I heard it was cooler there. It felt really good.</p>
<p>I’m O Neg but never had any particular problem with mosquitoes.</p>
<p>I’m going to postpone my Wed workout and probably do something “easy” like some Airdyne intervals instead. My back/shoulder/lats (whatever it is) feels 90% better today. So rather than aggravate it again, I figure I’m better off just letting it completely heal up.</p>
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<p>Yeah. He looks about as fat as I was, so there’s hope for him, too! You know, if I were considered a top expert on exercise, energy balance, and healthy low fat/whole grain nutrition and looked like that, I think I’d try a different approach. Poor guy. It’s certainly not lack of exercise in his case. He’s low fat/healthy whole graining himself into obesity. A perfect example of failed nutrition advice. It’s gotta be so frustrating to these guys – seeing their recommendations fail so comprehensively.</p>
<p>I know (or knew) Steve Blair in Dallas. He’s always been fat and we runners were not kind about it. He truly is brilliant and his research has done much good, but, he is still fat. I’m surprised Dr. Cooper didn’t make him lose weight. He wasn’t a good front man for the Cooper Clinic.</p>
<p>6.35 miles today.</p>
<p>Didn’t get enough sleep last night and I feel a bit weak at the moment. Just took a nap in my office chair. I have a late night again tonight and an early morning tomorrow. It’s a struggle to keep up the miles.</p>
<p>It sounds like you need to eat something, BC. At least a few bites. Or hydrate.</p>
<p>I actually had a lot of calories today (890 at last count) and a can of soup. But water would probably help. I could use one of those 12-hour naps right now. No time in the schedule for a good sleep until tomorrow night.</p>
<p>Next week will be much better. I think that graduations and weddings are big stressors on fitness programs.</p>
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<p>Poor guy. You know it’s not for lack of trying. Distance running with that kind of weight can’t be easy. And, with his sports medicine jobs at Cooper and later, you know he has to be uber-sensitive to it.</p>
<p>I laugh sometimes at these podcasts because these world-reknowned experts (these podcasts are like an endless loop of NPR fitness/nutrition shows) go on and on and on at how what we are doing from a public policy standpoint isn’t working at all. But, then their answer is just do more of it, because that will surely work.</p>
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<p>One of the things that I agree with him about in his podcast interview is that it’s a lot easier to “change the energy balance” by cutting what you eat rather than trying to increase exercise. My disagreement is that focusing on energy balance (calories in/calories out) as the end all and be all is fundamentally misleading because it’s so difficult to overrule metabolism with willpower.</p>
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You don’t use that for repelling bugs, it is used for other things.</p>
<p>If deer are eating your bushes, for example, you sprinkle that on the bush and it supposedly keeps the deer away.</p>
<p>Idad- I am interested on your metabolism vs willpower comment. I think you would agree that if a man ate between 2000-2500 calories of food per day and was moderately active he would not be overweight. Those calories could be made up of grains, fruits etc. I think you feel that most men can not eat between 2000-2500 and there is a distinct difference in how the body metabolizes the calories of carbs in comparison to protein? So since the average man can not ultimately control calories better to go big on proteins, greens and healthy fats.</p>
<p>Do I have that correct?</p>
<p>Mom2-I’ve been following the thread, and have lost 14 pounds in 6 weeks. I do have to concur - I kidded myself for years that I could multitask on an exercise bike, but it really isn’t enough. (Bummer.)</p>
<p>congrats to you and Cromette!</p>
<p>I’ve did Atkins many years ago and it did work. guess I’ve got to return to that.</p>
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<p>I had the same experience. Reading on the treadmill or exercise bike means you aren’t focusing on the exercise. You can do it–but you get better results for your efforts if you just focus on the exercise.</p>
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<p>I’m not sure we can know that. How much muscle does he have? How big is he? Is he insulin resistant? Is he hypothyroid, etc? A 300 pound man eating 2500 calories a day will probably lose weight. If I eat 2500 calories a day, I’ll probably start to creep up in weight.</p>
<p>What is happening to the calories? If I eat 500 calories and burn it right away, fine. But, what if I eat 500 calories and because my insulin level is high, those calories are shunted directly to fat storage? Now, I’m 500 calories fatter and I’m hungry as hell because I didn’t get to burn any of it, so now I’m hell bent to find 500 calories of Pringles because I’m starving! And that gets shunted to fat storage, too because it spikes my insulin to high heaven.</p>
<p>This stuff is so complex. A calorie is not just a calorie. Eating 100 calories of fresh North Atlantic cod and brocolli (as I am about to do) has a totally different effect than eating 100 calories of Red Twizzlers or 100 calories of pasta or 100 calories of bread or 100 calories of olive oil. Those foods aren’t even metabolized by the same parts of the body after you eat it.</p>
<p>Over the long haul, it is about the energy balance. If, over the next year, I burn more than I eat, I’ll lose weight. But, the trick is how to accomplish that. If your body is shunting 500 calories a day to fat storage and you are constantly hungry and losing muscle, you are going to have a very hard time using willpower to stop eating. On the other hand, if you can finagle your metaboiism to RELEASE stored fat and burn it, you won’t be hungry because you’ll be getting 500 extra calories a day from your fat stores. Suddenly, it doesn’t take much willpower to eat less (or exercise more).</p>
<p>I think the answers lie in figuring out ways to finagle the metabolism in your favor. if your are hypothyroid, you can finagle the metabolism in your favor by increasing your thyroid levels. If you are insulin resistant, you can finagle your metabolism in your favor by laying off the carbs and not spiking your blood sugar as often or as much. Almost all of us can finagle our metaboilsm by buiding/maintaining lean muscle, which improves insulin sensitivity AND burns more calories.</p>
<p>Dreaded Airdyne intervals. Another round of my 10 second, 15 second, and 20 second intervals as I try to lay off weightlifting for another day. Good little workout.</p>
<p>This week: spinning on Monday, TRX and kettlebell workout with trainer on Tues, 3.5 mile walk today. </p>
<p>I’m really want to avoid blisters when I do my 3-Day walk at the end of the month. My plan is to use Glide and wear wicking socks. Also, going to change shoes and socks at 10 miles. Anyone have other suggestions for avoiding blisters? Some of the walkers tape their feet–usually heels to avoid blisters–not sure about that.</p>
<p>Re mosquito magnets–I have a fairly large property that borders a wetland. Until we got mosquito magnets, it was difficult to be outdoors during spring/summer, especially in the late afternoon or early evening. The mosquito magnets are amazing. These gadgets really work. They are pricey, but worth it.
[Which</a> Mosquito Magnet® Trap is Right for You - Lurex Bundles! | MosquitoMagnet.com](<a href=“http://mosquitomagnet.com/resource/lps/mm/3-traps-octenol/r-octenol-video.html?gclid=CPqJv8_1qrcCFadxQgodFQYAjg]Which”>http://mosquitomagnet.com/resource/lps/mm/3-traps-octenol/r-octenol-video.html?gclid=CPqJv8_1qrcCFadxQgodFQYAjg)</p>
<p>I am always a little intimidated reading this thread; however everyone seems to be very knowledgeable about diet and fitness so your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone have any suggestions for breaking a carbohydrate addiction? I have a healthy BMI and exercise regularly, but always turn to carbs first when I’m hungry. As a matter of fact earlier today I decided that I must be a "carb"ivore. Any suggestions on how to re-train my body to crave something besides carbs?</p>
<p>A little background on me: I am 47 and have maintained my weight within a 5 pound range for the last 10+ years. My main exercise is walking - I walk 3 miles a day at a 4+ mph pace (outside when the weather permits so there are some hills). I also have a Walkstation desk and generally walk 5-8 miles a day while working at a 1.8-2.0 mph pace. My appetite seems to have increased since getting the Walkstation 8 months ago although I must be burning any extra calories I am consuming. Other than walking I do Pilates 3-4 x per week. I know I need to add some weight training to my regiment! The only physical limitation I have is patellar malalignment, but I have learned to just live with the pain.</p>
<p>Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.</p>
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<p>How cool! I love it! I’m also interested in seeing the answers to your question. I like protein and eat a fair amount, but many of my quick reach items are carbs or ones I’m not sure how well work for most people (e.g. almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, cheese).</p>
<p>Need to go back and catch up on posts. Definite congrats to kmc, but I’m sure there’s more.</p>
<p>Gym
rowing intervals
Pilates/core
snatches
cleans
goblet squats with 50 lb. db
TGUs
OH presses
single leg BB Romanian deadlifts, again. My hamstrings were still sore from last session.</p>
<p>Do Weight Watchers. It’s healthier than Atkins. Atkins is a fad – it’s always a fad to eliminate a food group entirely. Everything in moderation, tracking and activity.</p>