I knew that I needed to get back to eating healthy and that was one of my goals for this year. I need to lose some weight, but I think its gotten easier now.

My now ex-girlfriend ate a lot of fast food and I did too because she and I didn't really like to cook much. We'd always be doing things together and get horrible lunches - double qtr. pounders, burgers all the time, etc. She never seemed to put on much weight, but I put on way more than I felt comfortable with. It also got me into the habit of getting fast food on campus, since I work and go to school, rather than bringing my own lunches/dinners in.

Needless to say, I've cut all that crap out. The problem is finding a nutrition routine that works for me. I'm confused by the different choices out there. My friend back when I first started at UT recommended a turkey sandwich and pretzel diet but I'd like more variety than that and I'd think there are healthier options out there.

I also think that getting into an exercise routine would be good. I absolutely despise gym running, but I need to start doing it. Are exercise bikes a viable option? I don't know why, but I tend to like them better. I find they strain my legs and stuff less than elipticals or treadmills, and I can ride them longer.

Anyway, I've never really done a serious routine before. Any help would be appreciated.

For food, just sit down and write out what you like to eat. Then, figure out of that, what is healty to eat. Then, make a menu for a week of those foods, and stick to it. Eventually, you'll find more foods you like that are good for you, and you'll be in the routine of making your own meals. Or if you and some friends are eating out, say Applebees, instead of getting the burgers and fries, you'd order the steak or chicken with steamed vegetables.

As for the gym, it's hard to start, but try to get into a routine. Mine was Monday/Wednesday/Friday evenings, and Sunday morning. It also helps if you can get the gym to call you if you miss a day. Sort of a peer pressure thing. Plus it reminds you that you're paying money for something you're not using.

As for the bike versus elipticals/treadmill, some places have time limits on the equipment. When I was biking during the summer, I'd be doing 20 miles in about an hour and a half. My gym limited you to 1/2 hour max, so I could never get my full mileage during the winter. So I'd mix it up, 5 miles on the bike, 20 minutes on the stairmaster.

As far as exercise goes, are there any sports you like to play? I use to be a gym rat but now all I do is play sports and I get a much better workout out of it. Maybe finding something you enjoy like that would help best. Also swimming, hitting punching bag and jumping rope are all excellent ways to burn off calories. Try different things. Those machines at the gym are far from the only ways to get exercise.

Base what you eat on how active you are. Try to match your calorie intake with how many you are going to use. The closer to balance you get the better off you'll be in controlling your weight. I think excercise is as important as diet. Try doing Cardio as much as you can. Treadmill, stationary, Eliptical, walking, running, golfing, etc. Just be active. The computer and the television are your biggest enemies.

Fast food and sugars are two big things that fight against you. See how much of both you can get rid of. By the way, Pizza, tacos, wings and Subs are fast food too. Try ordering a chicken fillet on Wheat dry or something to the effect the next time you are ordering. Little differences go a long way.


t-r

I feel you on gym running. In fact, I hate all running and treadmills. I am jealous of the people I see at the gym who seem to grind out 45 minute sessions on the the treadmill and I respect the hell out of those chicks I see running outside in the winter. I just can't do it.

I'll echo some sentiments in this thread.

1. Find a sport you like if you can. I played basketball in high school and hadn't really kept up since. About a year ago I realized how much I missed it so I started playing with some friends every Monday night for two hours. It's not much, not even a league or anything and it certainly isn't enough to get me into any kind of great shape alone. But it helps a lot and it's "exercise" that I look forward to every week. Plus, while I used to be lazy when I played and tend to dog it at times, I now go all out all the time because I view it as a way to get in shape. I figure I'm only cheating myself if I can't bust my ass for two measly hours each week. It's great to have little ways to challenge yourself like this.

And it doesn't have to be a strenuous sport like basketball or soccer. I mean, as long as it is something athletic and something you enjoy, it will be like getting free exercise done.

2. If you do decide to hit the gym, make a routine and stick to it. Nothing fails faster than the idea that you can just go 2-3 times per week. Take a few weeks, try different days and times and find out what works and what you can stick with. Then figure out what exercises you will do each day and make a goal to stick with it for just 4-6 weeks. I find that often people start working out and they set this great goal to lose a whole bunch of weight in 6 months or something. It seems plausible because you feel like you have so much time. But then after two weeks you realize that you have 5+ months left and your motivation is sapped. Just tell yourself 6 weeks and I'm done. If you make it, I guarantee you won't want to stop.

3. Keep a journal of what days you went, and if you want, what exercises you did. It's real easy to skip workouts when you have no tangible reminder that you are being a lazy fck. But when you look down at your schedule and see that you haven't missed a workout in 3 weeks, it pumps you up. Plus, as you workout, you will obviously improve and I find it motivating to have a written record of the progress I've made.

4. Get a subscription to Mens Health. Maybe it's just me, but having a health/workout magazine to read each month is actually very helpful to keep me on track. Every time I get bored at the gym or try to convince myself that there are no more workouts I can do, or no good healthy meals I can make, I pickup an old issue and find one of their "workouts of the month" or recipes and then I have no excuse. I love cooking the simple meals I read in MH and it's like $15 per year.

5. In terms of food, what I did was cut out the completely shtty things all together (like you did with fast food). But I do indulge every now and then and I don't make a big deal out of it like "this is my one cheat meal." If I want to eat something bad, I just do it and then don't do it again for awhile. Like soda...I completely cut soda out of my diet but if I'm at a restaurant and my girl orders a Coke, sometimes I want some...so I take a few sips. No big deal. Don't try to tell yourself that you are NEVER allowed this or that. It just doesn't work, IMO.

I would go to Borders and check out the Cooking section. Don't pick up some ZONE diet book or South Beach thing (unless you are really looking for a hardcore change). Just thumb through some healthy cooking books (low fat, low sodium, etc.) with EASY meals (nothing saps your motivation like a 12 step, 20 ingredient dinner that takes 40 minutes to prep and 2 hours to cook) and see if you see some recipes that you might like. If you find a book with a bunch, then buy it and set a goal to make one or two meals per week. Often you can find something that you can make 3-4 servings of and then have leftovers for a few more meals.

Anyway, I'm no expert, but hopefully that helps a little.