<p>idad- do you have an idea what your current daily caloric in take is? Have you increased it since you started?</p>
<p>I posted this on the “College Class of 2013” thread a while back, but I’ll repost it here. Re: diet for those of us women “of a certain age” – which I’m guessing fits your wife, idad? As I’ve probably mentioned before, D is a certified personal trainer, certified in Metabolic Effect. The ME philosophy is that interval training, i.e. short bursts of intense exercise, + considering the hormonal impact of food, is the most effective way to lose weight and stay fit. Here is their website: [Metabolic</a> Effect](<a href=“http://www.metaboliceffect.com/]Metabolic”>http://www.metaboliceffect.com/)</p>
<p>They also have a Facebook page where they answer questions. Here’s the link to a Q&A about why menopausal women have a tough time losing fat/why they tend to gain fat around the middle:
[What</a> is the key… | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook”>Facebook) To get to the answer to this question, you have to scroll down the list of comments about half way. It’s fairly lengthy. I don’t know if the link will work for those of you who don’t have a FB account? If not, I can either post it here or PM it to you, if you’re interested.</p>
<p>So, according to what they say, idad, you are right that loading up on carbs is NOT the way for your wife to go. Not sure you should be the one to press that point, though. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the input re: replacing running shoes. It may be time to treat myself to a new pair.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, back at the ranch. I"m taking another two-day break from exercising. After our little tease of spring, we had snow all day on Thursday and it’s been hovering around freezing with a howling wind. It just feels like Siberia. So no walk for me. The Airdyne is buried under the tarp covered pile in the middle of the living room. So I’m not sure that’s in the cards. And, I don’t think I’m up for dumbbell swings and burpees for the second time this week – but maybe. Tomorrow could get crazy here as the painting crew has returned to attack the kitchen. Could well be my “carb-fest” day with an Italian sub for dinner. I’ve been kinda saving that for the day “when I just couldn’t cook anything”.</p>
<p>I’ve been eating like a horse recently, but my weight has been dropping a bit. I think the overall physical activity of the moving furnture, carrying loads to the dump, and climbing around has probably been quite a bit even with fewer “workouts”.</p>
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<p>In the 1800 to 2200 calorie a day range. My target all along was in the 1800 range. I’m still eating the same way, but I’ve been having more snacks – lots of clementines, some pistachios, etc. Those, on average, are maybe adding a couple hundred calories a day. I haven’t tracked my calories at LiveStrong for the last month or so. I only do that every few months as a check, but I’m pretty much dialed in to my basic lunches and dinners so the only thing that varies are the “extras”. On the flip side, I haven’t bought a loaf of rye bread and done turkey or tuna sandwiches for lunches for a while.</p>
<p>Thanks CBB. I was able to scroll down and find the Metabolic Effect post on the Facebook page. That is exactly what my wife is up against and who can blame her? She’s constantly pounded with the low-fat jihad message so, of course, that’s what “dieting” means. Never mind that she’s watched me lose 75 pounds eating bacon, butter, and olive oil. I’m sure that translates into “oh, he can eat anything and still lose weight”. Well, no, not exactly. I’ve cut out almost all processed carbs from my diet for over a year – basically once a week on bread or pasta or pizza and little or no carb snacks except fresh fruit.</p>
<p>I do think that women have it tougher than men on weight loss. Not only are there hormonal issues, but women generally have to be on more restricted diets to be in a caloric deficit. I’m content at 1800 calories a day, but cutting several hundred more from that would start to be a real sacrifice. I’d have to lose the half n’ half in my coffee (my version of a “snack food”) and probably have to go after portion sizes, leaving me feeling less “full”. I would struggle to maintain a 1500 calorie a day diet for long.</p>
<p>And speaking of stepping it up a notch – </p>
<p>(Surely someone was speaking of that, at some point.)</p>
<p>I’m now routinely doing five burpees two or three times during my workout. I still hate them, but not as much. And I can do them more easily too. Not only that, I really do “hop” my feet out from under me to get into push-up position, and I also “hop” them back under me to get into jump-up position. Three weeks ago, I could barely do five burpees at a time, and I was walking my feet, not “hopping.” So that’s progress.</p>
<p>I’ve also increased my ability to do the inverted row. From doing six at a time and not doing the last one or two very well, I can now do eight at a time, and only the last one is feeble. </p>
<p>Hooray for progress!</p>
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<p>Huge progress! Nothing like a good burpee to make your day! :)</p>
<p>I was amazed at how hard it was to turn the burpee into a series of moves like hopping the feet out to the push up position and back to the squat position. I just could not do it. I have found that, with most of this stuff, it’s a question of both fitness and learning to do the exercises more efficiently.</p>
<p>Hard to imagine two better exercises for improvement than burpees and inverted rows.</p>
<p>Zuzanna at <a href=“http://www.BodyRock.tv%5B/url%5D”>www.BodyRock.tv</a> has another submission in her burpees are everywhere series. This one is [Burpees</a> in Austria](<a href=“http://www.bodyrock.tv/category/bodyrockers/your-burpees-everywhere/]Burpees”>http://www.bodyrock.tv/category/bodyrockers/your-burpees-everywhere/). This whole series is fantastic! Testamony to the power of the burbee to unite the people of the world! :)</p>
<p>You are making more progress than I am with inverted rows (they haven’t been in my workouts in Phase II – just assisted chin ups and one-arm DB rows). I feel like I’ve stalled a bit with assisted chin ups - partly because I’m now down to bands that don’t give me a lot of extra “bounce” or “rebound” at the bottom. I’ve been stalled at 7 good ones and 1 half-baked chin up with the current bands. My gains have come from doing those 7 better, rather than doing more of them. I may have to start doing one quick set every day – alternating between inverted rows one day and assisted chin ups the next. I backed off that for a while because I was perpetually sore.</p>
<p>Finally made a breakthrough! I’m down 5 pounds and weigh less than I have in almost 13 years (since I broke my ankle skiing and ended up with a plate and 4 pins). Started a new set of kettle bell exercises. We’re doing circuits in class–which is a killer. This is what we’ve been doing (we get through 4 circuits during class).</p>
<p>6 minute KB circuit
20 seconds for each exercise 10 second rest in between</p>
<p>Use 2 light bells ( I started with 15# and that was too light–moved up to 25#. That is really difficult)</p>
<p>1 - front squat
2 - double jerk
3 - reverse lunge
4 - double clean
5 - front lunge
6 - double clean and jerk
7 - front squat and military press
8 - alternating double jerk
9 - reverse lunge
10 - double clean and jerk
11 - front lunge
12 - front squat</p>
<p>Yay! Like I always say, “nothing is sweeter than losing five pounds!”</p>
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<p>Good lord, I’d be bent over panting like a dog in no time with that circuit. 10 seconds is not enough rest for the ol’ (formerly) fat guy. Spartacus 1.0 has 15 seconds of rest and I had to modify it to give 30 seconds in between exercises. Tip of the hat to you for doing that circuit!</p>
<p>Are you doing the squats and lunges with two 25 pound kettleballs? That’s hard core.</p>
<p>Tried 25# for the first time last week and about half way through, went back to the 15#. We get 3 minutes after each circuit for water. I don’t have a problem with the heavier bells for squats–what’s hard for me are the lunges. I hate those!!</p>
<p>You and me both. Not a fan of lunges. I have no problem with split squats (a stationary lunge), but the lunges wear me out. I see them really as more of a mobility/flexibility exercise than a weight exercise.</p>
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<p>Paydirt on ol’ (formerly) fat guy shorts today. One pair on the racks at Marshall’s. Basic Nike running shorts, 7-inch inseam (which is ideal for me), black on black, nice microfiber fabric (not the mesh stuff), inner briefs, and two front pockets. Same exact thing I saw at Dicks’ for $30, but these were $14.99. Scooped those up. Now, I just hope I don’t shrink out of a LARGE. Fortunately, most of these Brooks running pants and running shorts can be a little baggy and it doesn’t make any difference.</p>
<p>They also had some really nice gray/yellow LiveStrong Nike running shorts. Those were a bit too short for me – the super short 5 inch inseam.</p>
<p>Why don’t you like the 5 inch inseam? I didn’t like them before but they’re fine with BodyGlide. I think that I prefer the 5-inch for running now.</p>
<p>I don’t know. Maybe with my new shapely legs, the short-shorts would be OK, but I’m kind of a modest ol’ (formerly) fat guy. I like shorts that come somewhere between my junk and my knees. 
I know. I know. It’s a lot to ask. If I were actually a runner, I might change my mind, but I’m just looking for something to go walk around in. Six to eight inch inseam is my sweet spot – exactly the length they simply do not make right now, except in a few running shorts and many of the volleyball/hiking/water shorts.</p>
<p>What’s BodyGlide??</p>
<p>Eww – never mind; I just googled it.</p>
<p>BCEagle, I thought you were talking about the spandex under-things that my sons and some men where under gym shorts, to hold things – together.</p>
<p>It prevents chafing while running. It comes in a stick form (like deodorant).</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bodyglide.com/[/url]”>http://www.bodyglide.com/</a></p>
<p>For feet I really like blister shield, which is a very slippery powder. I’ve yet to get a blister on any of my toes when I remember to use it, even on days when it is very humid or I’m getting very sweaty.</p>
<p>Took the day off from working out today. Was a struggle to do so-- almost went in a couple of different times. But it was probably good to take the day off. Continuing to push in my workouts may get difficult for a few weeks. I’m scheduled to work 24 of the next 26 days which is definitely new to me. Getting those workouts in will be a good stress-reliever as long as I am careful about it…</p>
<p>Made up for the zero exercise today by having a big steak for dinner :)</p>
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<p>[Brooks</a> size chart](<a href=“http://brookssports.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/59/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvc2lkL0hTb3g0MXFr]Brooks”>http://brookssports.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/59/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvc2lkL0hTb3g0MXFr)</p>
<p>[Nike</a> size chart](<a href=“http://help-us.nike.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3427/session/L3NpZC9vN09WNDFxaw%3D%3D]Nike”>Nike Customer Service. Nike.com)</p>
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<p>Well, they make 3" inseam running shorts also. At the other end of the scale, there are 9" inseam running shorts.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, the recently referenced Stanford study found rather poor results for all of the various diets. It appears that, despite professional assistance, the dieters did not follow the diets that closely, and their stated calorie intake and calorie expenditure did not reflect reality – their pre-diet stated intake was around 1,800 calories per day, and pre-diet stated expenditure was around 2,900 calories per day, under which they should not be obese with 40% body fat in the first place. Despite a stated calorie reduction to 1,500 to 1,600 under the various diets, the losses were quite modest for all of the dieters. To the extent that the low carb group “won”, it is like getting a D grade in school when everyone else got a D- grade.</p>
<p>In the real world, I have seen people try and fail at fat loss (whether they used low fat or low carb or some other type of diet and/or exercise). The problem is that most people do not see diet and/or exercise modification as a permanent lifestyle change. So, after an initial enthusiastic commitment (typically in January), they start to “cheat” more and more often (whether it is eating too much of whatever unhealthy food, or skipping/avoiding exercise) as time goes by, eventually giving up due to lack of progress. Or if they remain committed enough to reach their goal, they go “off diet” (i.e. back to old unhealthy habits) and lose all of their progress.</p>
<p>Depending on the weather, I run in tennis skirts (with built-in compression shorts), running capris or running tights. When I go 7 mph, I do not have the time to visually dissect what other fellow ruinners are wearing, because I concentrate on my run. I’m sure the other fellow runners are in the same boat. Wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable - no one will talk about how you look in your running gear.</p>
<p>I guess Nike and Brooks are also guilty of vanity sizing. The last Nike top I bought was an XS. LOL.</p>