Stay/get back in shape...Vol: Motivation

[wanksta23]

found these at my doorstep this afternoon after coming back from school

anxious to try white flood and strawberry banana

 

[nealraj006]

Yeah, iice, whenever I drink green tea, I don't get too hungry. If I had, say an orange and green tea for breakfast, I'm set until noon.

 

[nikeaircobraben]

Originally Posted by Vancity74

"So, what are you doing for a living these days?" Bob asked me. We're sitting on the couch at one of those tedious holiday get-togethers, you know, the ones where you're supposed to be nice to family members you never see except during major holidays and funerals. I think Bob is my wife's brother-in-law's second cousin or something.

"I'm the assistant editor and a writer for Testosterone magazine," I say. Bob looks at me with a blank expression on his face, as if I'd just told him I sell handmade testicle warmers beside the freeway and was looking to open franchises across the nation.

"It's a bodybuilding magazine," I say.

Blank expression. Deer caught in the headlights. Ronnie Coleman doing trigonometry.

"Oh," Bob finally says, "I heard you were, like, one of those bodybuilder guys or something. So, what's that like, you know, working out every day and stuff? I just don't have time to lift weights all day, but I have been meaning to get rid of this beer belly." He takes another sip of beer. "What do you suggest?" Sip.

At first I was a little offended. I wanted to grab him up and say, "You can't tell I'm a bodybuilder?! Look at my %@#! Now, if that's not a nice round squat-built piece of sirloin, I don't know what is! You think that comes naturally? I can crack walnuts with this puppy! Wanna see? Huh, punk? Do ya? Do ya?"

Then I realize this just might cause a scene and could cost me several Christmas presents. I was planning on returning any presents I got and using the money to buy a power rack, so I didn't want to jeopardize this gift getting opportunity. I also realized that old Bob probably had a certain preconceived image of a bodybuilder and I just didn't fit that image. I'm not gorilla huge; I weigh about 205 at 5'11" right now. (When I first started lifting I was a pudgy 159, so that's not too shabby.) Also, I wasn't wearing clown pants, a fluorescent string tank top, a hanky on my head and one of those little fanny packs. And isn't that what real bodybuilders are supposed to wear?

Bob continued to sit there drinking his Natural Light, smoking a cigarette and waiting for an answer, oblivious to the fact that he'd come this close to seeing some serious walnut- crunching %@# power. I tried to figure out how I could explain to the average guy what the typical T-Man does and why he does it. How could I get him to understand what it is we do, how we feel, how we live? So I took a deep breath and told him something like this:

"Well, Bob, I guess you could use the term bodybuilder if you really need a label for what it is we do. Most of us actually don't stand on stage and compete, though. We lift weights and manipulate our diets so that we'll look good naked. Sure, it's healthy too, and we'll probably live a longer and more productive life than the average guy, but mostly it's about the naked thing. Truthfully, it goes beyond even that.

"Let's be honest here. We do it because of people like you, Bob. We look at you sitting there with your gut hanging over your belt and we watch you grunt and groan just getting out of a chair. Guys like you are our inspiration, Bob. You're better than Anthony Robbins, Bill Phillips, Deepak Chopra, and Zig +!@%!%* Ziglar all wrapped up into one. We love it when guys like you talk about not having time to exercise. Every time we see you munching on a bag of potato chips, you inspire us. You're my shot in the arm, Bob, my living and breathing wake-up call, my own personal success coach.

"You want to know what it is we do? We overcome. We're too busy to train, too, but we overcome. We're too busy to prepare healthy meals and eat them five or six times a day, but we overcome. We can't always afford supplements, our genetics aren't perfect, and we don't always feel like going to the gym. Some of us used to be just like you, Bob, but guess what? We've overcome.

"We like to watch 'normal' people like you tell us about how they can't get in shape. We smile and nod sympathetically like we feel your pain, but actually, we're thinking that you're a pathetic piece of #*#% that needs to grow a spine and join a gym. You smile sheepishly and say that you just can't stay motivated and just can't stand that feeling of being sore. (For some reason you think that admitting your weaknesses somehow justifies them.) We listen to you $%@+$ and moan. We watch you look for the easy way out. Because of people like you, Bob, we never miss a workout.

"You ask us for advice about diet and training and usually we politely offer some guidance, but deep inside we know you won't take our advice. You know that too. We smile and say, 'Hope that helps. Good luck,' but actually we're thinking, 'Boy, it would suck to be you.' We know that 99% of people won't listen to us. Once they hear that it takes hard work, sacrifice and discipline, they stop listening and tune us out.

"We know they wanted us to say that building a great body is easy, but it just isn't. This did not take five minutes a day on a TorsoTrack. We did not get this way in 12 short weeks using a Bowflex and the Suzanne Somers' 'Get Skinny' diet. A good body does not cost five easy payments of $39.95.

"We like it that while you're eating a candy bar and drinking Mountain Dew, we're sucking down a protein shake. You see, that makes it taste even better to us. While you're asleep we're either getting up early or staying up late, hitting the iron, pushing ourselves, learning, succeeding and failing and rising above the norm with every rep. Can you feel that, Bob? Can you relate? No? Good. This wouldn't be half as fun if you could.

"We do it because we absolutely and totally get off on it. We do it because people like you, Bob, either can't or won't. We do it because what we do in the gym transfers over into the rest of our lives and changes us, physically, mentally, maybe even spiritually. We do it because it beats watching fishing and golf on TV. By the way, do you know what it's like to turn the head of a beautiful woman because of the way you're built? It feels good, Bob. Damned good.

"When we're in the gym, we're in this indescribable euphoria zone. It's a feeling of being on, of being completely alive and aware. If you haven't been there, then it's like trying to describe color to a person who's been blind since birth. Within this haze of pleasure and pain, there's knowledge and power, self-discipline and self-reliance. If you do it long enough, Bob, there's even enlightenment. Sometimes, the answers to questions you didn't even know you had are sitting there on those rubber mats, wrapped up in a neat package of iron plates and bars.

"Want to lose that beer belly, Bob? I have a nutty idea. Put down the +!@%!%* beer. I'll tell you what, Bob. Christmas morning I'm getting up real early and hitting the iron. I want to watch my daughter open her presents and spend the whole day with her, so this is the only time I have to train. The gym will be closed, so I'm going out in my garage to workout. You be at my house at six in the morning, okay? I'll be glad to help you get started on a weight training program. It'll be colder than Hillary Clinton's coochie in there, so dress warm.

"But let me tell you something, Bob. If you don't show up, don't bother asking me again. And don't you ever sit there and let me hear you $%@+$ about your beer belly again. This is your chance, your big opportunity to break out of that rut. If you don't show up, Bob, you've learned a very important lesson about yourself, haven't you? You won't like that lesson.

"You won't like that feeling in the pit of your stomach either or that taste in your mouth. It will taste worse than defeat, Bob. Defeat tastes pretty goddamned nasty, but what you'll be experiencing will be much worse. It will be the knowledge that you're weak, mentally and physically. What's worse is that you'll have accepted that feeling. The feeling will always be with you. In the happiest moments of your life, it'll be there, lying under the surface like a malignant tumor. Ignore it at your own peril, Bob.

"Don't look at me like that either. This just may be the best Christmas present you'll get this year. Next Christmas, Bob, when I see you again, I'm going to be a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little leaner. What will you be? Will you still be making excuses? This is a gift, Bob, from me to you. I'm giving you the chance to look fate in those pretty eyes of hers and say, 'Step off, $%@+$. This is my party and you're not invited.' What do you say, Bob? Monday, Christmas morning, 6am, my house. The ball's in your court."

Okay, so maybe that's not the exact words I used with Bob, but you get the picture. Will Bob show up Monday? I don't know, but I kind of doubt it. In fact, Bob will probably take me off his Christmas card list. He probably thinks I've got "too much Testosterone," like that's a bad thing. I think Bob is just stuck in a rut, and as the saying goes, the only difference between a rut and a grave is depth.

The way out of the rut is to make major changes in your life, most of which won't be too pleasant in the beginning. The opportunity to make those changes seldom comes as bluntly as I put it to Bob. Most of the time, that opportunity knocks very softly. What I did was basically give Bob a verbal slap in the face. You can react two ways to a slap. You can get angry at the person doing the slapping, or you can realize that he was just trying to get you to wake up and focus on what you really want and, more importantly, what it'll take to get it.

If you're a regular T-mag reader, I doubt you need to be called out like Bob. But maybe you've caught yourself slacking a little here lately. Maybe you've missed a few workouts or maybe you started a little too early on the usual holiday feasting, like, say, back in September. Just remember that the time to start working on that summer body is now. The time to get rid of those bad habits that hold you back in the gym is now. You want to look totally different by next Christmas? Start now. This isn't because of the holidays or any corny New Year's resolutions either. The best time is always now.

Christmas day I want you to enjoy being with your family and friends. I want you to open presents, sip a little eggnog and have a good meal. But if your regularily scheduled workout happens to fall on December 25th, what will you be doing at six o'clock that morning?

That's what separates us from guys like Bob.

 

[picknroll24]

Where did you get that variety pack and how much did it cost?

 

[wanksta23]

Originally Posted by picknroll24

Where did you get that variety pack and how much did it cost?

ebay...came out to be 31.00 with shipping

 

[kicktionair]

not sure if i should cop another 24hr membership

its good but not sure if they might pull it, same thread for more than a year now

 

[verynecessary]

Originally Posted by nealraj006

Originally Posted by I3

Im going to buy somoe Fish Oil caps soon, apparently all you need in terms of EFAs?

EFAs are, like the name implies, essential. Fish Oil is an alright source, if you don't mind taking them like medicine. I personally hate to take vitamin supplements. I prefer to get my nutrients from whole foods. Flax seeds/oil, hemp seeds/oil and walnuts.
http://www.whfoods.com/ge...ame=nutrient&dbid=84

i've read that EFAs/Omega-3 FAs from plant sources aren't as effective as omega-3 FAs from marine sources (fish and krill). most plantsources give ALA (alpha lipoic acid), which your body converts to EPA and DHA, the essential omega-3 FAs, but at a conversion faction of about 10:1. fish andkrill contain EPA and DHA, so it is faster and more efficiently absorbed. i'm not saying plant sources are bad, but it's better to use both sources,as you get many benefits from whole plant sources besides EFAs. fatty fish (the ones that contain the most omega-3 FAs, may have high levels of mercury, so ieat fish once in a while, but take a fish oil supplement. supposedly krill oil has high EFAs and antioxidants, with no mercury (because their food doesn'taccumulate mercury).
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/04/03/evolution.aspx

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ALA, found in flax seed is the precursor of omega-3 fats, can be converted to long-chain omega-3 fats and can therefore be substituted for fish oils.

However, ALA is not equivalent in its biological effects to the long-chain omega-3 fats found in marine oils. EPA and DHA are more rapidly incorporated into plasma and membrane lipids and produce more rapid effects than does ALA.

Experimental studies suggest that intake of 3-4 grams of ALA per day is equivalent to 0.3 grams (300 mg) EPA per day.

Relatively large reserves of LA in body fat, as are found in vegans or in the diet of omnivores in Western societies, would tend to slow down the formation of long-chain omega-3 fats like EPA and DHA from ALA.[/font]

Originally Posted by wj4

I also bought another 2 year membership to 24 Hr Fitness to keep on ice until my current membership expires in 1.5 yrs.

I keep hearing Costco might be pulling the plug on the program because the profit made from it is very slim.

for real? i got my 2 yr for $290 before the price went to $300. i'd pick upanother one to sit on until my current one expires next december, but i'm pretty broke. hopefully costco doesn't change it's unlimited returnpolicy

wanksta23 - how many servings is that variety pack?

 

[keepzdasneakz]

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't ALL 24's have a $30/ month membership for 36 months and then its $50 a year after that?

 

[MPLS612]

Been eating LOTS of Quacker Instant Oatmeal lately, 160 cal. a serving with 7 grms. of protein(?). Good or bad?

 

[ericescobar]

Intrabolic should be at my doorstep today. Felt like a beast at the gym today anyway. It's just my stupid leg. I'm sill limping from satrudays run.Pushing yourself just to see if your leg will break FTL

 

[calikix88]

Originally Posted by keepzdasneakz

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't ALL 24's have a $30/ month membership for 36 months and then its $50 a year after that?

That's what the 24's around my way charge, unless you get a membership during some kind of promotion.

 

[kicktionair]

Originally Posted by CaliKix88

Originally Posted by keepzdasneakz

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't ALL 24's have a $30/ month membership for 36 months and then its $50 a year after that?

That's what the 24's around my way charge, unless you get a membership during some kind of promotion.

With Costco it comes out to around 18 bucks a month

 

[keepzdasneakz]

If you're in it for the long run though, you're losing out. You don't qualify for only $50 a year after 3 years of membership because you bought itas part of a promotional package.

 

[wj4]

Originally Posted by Kicktionair

Originally Posted by CaliKix88

Originally Posted by keepzdasneakz

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't ALL 24's have a $30/ month membership for 36 months and then its $50 a year after that?

That's what the 24's around my way charge, unless you get a membership during some kind of promotion.

With Costco it comes out to around 18 bucks a month

Actually it's more like 12-13 a month. Divide the $300 by 24 months.

My 24 Hr Fitness doesn't have anything comparable. The best they can do is $150 down and $30 a month.

The air quality around my house is horrible right now due to the fire, so I had to drive to a park about 15 miles north to do my HIIT. That park is theperfect place for it too! A big empty baseball field for flat plain and it's located 3-4 miles uphill so you can go uphill if you want to as well.

Note...whey protein is extremely horrible when not cold. I mixed it in the shaker before leaving the crib and had it after I was done with the HIIT...it waslukewarm and

The after taste is even more

 

[vancity74]

Why do you take a shake after HIIT?

Doesn't make sense...

 

[wj4]

Originally Posted by Vancity74

Why do you take a shake after HIIT?

Doesn't make sense...

I like to have protein in after any kind of activity, preferably within 30 mins. (Yes there are articles out there that counter balance thisbelief). It took me about 40 mins to get home due to traffic so I took the shake with me. If I were doing HIIT around my house, I'd just come back andeat dinner and skip the whey protein.

 

[ericescobar]

^legs...are muscles too. if your doing HITT right, you should be causing small tears in your muscles down there...a protein shake (i assume that's what youmeant) can be absorbed after the HITT session to repair the small tears. stronger legs are the reward. i take whey after my long jogs. only helps.

edit-if it's most convenient and i can't get a decent meal ready within certain time, i wouldn't refuse a shake if it was there on the table. inthis case, i would say it doesn't hurt.

 

[in yo nostril]

damn fires. even in the gym i was dying on the bike today.

 

[wawaweewa]

Americans get a lot of protein in their diet. Unless you're a lean 200+ you don't need any more protein from supplements if you're eating right.
Excess protein is ultimately broken down into fats and sugars.

If you can get to a full blown good meal within an hour of training the supplement is prob. not necessary.

Remember, like ICE said. Actual food is always better than any nutritional supplement.

Imo, money is better spent on supplements that help aid in recovery and overall good health and not necessarily in building muscle. Food will build the muscle.

 

[vancity74]

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Americans get a lot of protein in their diet. Unless you're a lean 200+ you don't need any more protein from supplements if you're eating right.

Excess protein is ultimately broken down into fats and sugars.

QFT.

I haven't touched whey in over two months. Probably the most over-glorified supplement in the world.

 

[wj4]

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Americans get a lot of protein in their diet. Unless you're a lean 200+ you don't need any more protein from supplements if you're eating right.
Excess protein is ultimately broken down into fats and sugars.

If you can get to a full blown good meal within an hour of training the supplement is prob. not necessary.

Remember, like ICE said. Actual food is always better than any nutritional supplement.

Imo, money is better spent on supplements that help aid in recovery and overall good health and not necessarily in building muscle. Food will build the muscle.

Such as?

Without whey, I probably won't be able to take in 1 g of protein per 1 lb of my weight and stay in the daily range of cals I'm aiming for.

Edit: Yes, if I can get a good meal in, I would take that route instead. Whey is just a source of convenient and not a meal replacement for me. I still camehome to eat dinner.

 

[vancity74]

Originally Posted by wj4

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Americans get a lot of protein in their diet. Unless you're a lean 200+ you don't need any more protein from supplements if you're eating right.


Excess protein is ultimately broken down into fats and sugars.




If you can get to a full blown good meal within an hour of training the supplement is prob. not necessary.




Remember, like ICE said. Actual food is always better than any nutritional supplement.




Imo, money is better spent on supplements that help aid in recovery and overall good health and not necessarily in building muscle. Food will build the muscle.

Such as?

Without whey, I probably won't be able to take in 1 g of protein per 1 lb of my weight and stay in the daily range of cals I'm aiming for.

For someone who isn't trying to really build muscle, what exactly is 1g/lb of protein going to accomplish? I can understand the calories argument, however.

 

[wj4]

Originally Posted by Vancity74

Originally Posted by wj4

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Americans get a lot of protein in their diet. Unless you're a lean 200+ you don't need any more protein from supplements if you're eating right.


Excess protein is ultimately broken down into fats and sugars.




If you can get to a full blown good meal within an hour of training the supplement is prob. not necessary.




Remember, like ICE said. Actual food is always better than any nutritional supplement.




Imo, money is better spent on supplements that help aid in recovery and overall good health and not necessarily in building muscle. Food will build the muscle.

Such as?

Without whey, I probably won't be able to take in 1 g of protein per 1 lb of my weight and stay in the daily range of cals I'm aiming for.

For someone who isn't trying to really build muscle, what exactly is 1g/lb of protein going to accomplish? I can understand the calories argument, however.

I never said that I wasn't trying to build muscle. I said I don't consider myself a body builder since I just want to be lean anddefined, like Beckham/Pitt. I've been lurking over the bb board as well and this is what I've gathered (I posted a link to one of the threads I readthis morning on this thread)..since I'm not bulking up, and I'm consuming a relatively conservative amount of cals per day, around 2,000-2,200 cals/dayand exercise quite a bit (6 days a week). I should take in a gram of protein per lb of body weight to maximize or at least maintain the muscle mass I havenow. I still want to lose weight, but also build more muscle. I'm at 153 lbs at around 12 % body fat now, with goal of being around 155-160 lbs in thesingle digit BF % zone. I would guess that most members would say the bulk/cut process would help me reach my goal sooner. But I really don't like to gothat route because I can't see myself eating a crap load of food per day.

Edit: Van-here's the link again. I'd love to hear what your take on it is. (Not being sarcastic or anything BTW).
http://forum.bodybuilding...07141&postcount=1305

 

[ericescobar]

what is this thread about if not about mass/muscle building and fat loss? whey-protein isn't a dirty word. it helps. it's been proven to work. peopleuse it to build muscle, provided they put in the effort at the gym. people want to replace fat with muscle. muscle requires protein (a quantity not alwaysattainable through natural means; at least not easily). for people than can afford to take on extra protein and not worry about storage, it's a no-brainer.

 

[wawaweewa]

Originally Posted by wj4

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Americans get a lot of protein in their diet. Unless you're a lean 200+ you don't need any more protein from supplements if you're eating right.
Excess protein is ultimately broken down into fats and sugars.

If you can get to a full blown good meal within an hour of training the supplement is prob. not necessary.

Remember, like ICE said. Actual food is always better than any nutritional supplement.

Imo, money is better spent on supplements that help aid in recovery and overall good health and not necessarily in building muscle. Food will build the muscle.

Such as?

Without whey, I probably won't be able to take in 1 g of protein per 1 lb of my weight and stay in the daily range of cals I'm aiming for.

Edit: Yes, if I can get a good meal in, I would take that route instead. Whey is just a source of convenient and not a meal replacement for me. I still came home to eat dinner.

Just my opinion but I think money is better spent on fish oil/flax seed oil, zma (mainly for the magnesium), creatine (which is muscle building but has a fewother positive properties), BCAA's (which in all honesty is a more speculative supplement but I feel it's better to take it).

Nothing wrong with whey but it should be a very small portion of one's protein source.