Getting fat on Steem
Many people have the, "I don't have time to exercise" excuse and I myself have used this over the last two years as to why I haven't hit the gym at all or, done much of anything. I have to say; I do believe that I put in more hours of work than the average bear and this month will have done enough hours for the average year. That doesn't include the time I spend on Steem.
Steem has made me fat.
This is a picture of my wife from the weekend, as since I am fat enough that she no longer takes pictures of me - there are no pictures I can add here of myself. You must be disappointed.
She has a lovely shape naturally and struggles with her strength, but hasn't seen the inside of a gym for years more than me after she injured her leg dancing about 6 years ago. Excuses.
Getting older sucks and I can feel the limitations of my body closing in rapidly, yet I believe that it is much faster than it needs to be. I don't feel great, my legs and neck are tense, my stomach gets in the way of doing up my fly and my joints ache when lifting anything heavier than a laden fork. While far from fat what many would consider overweight by looks, I don't feel good.
So, it is time to make a change.
Two weeks ago, I started doing 5-10 minutes of exercise at an outdoor gym that is next to my workplace. While not much considering what I once did and perhaps only in my head, I can already feel the change in my body. This has been combined with a great deal more walking than usual in warmer weather than normal, as well as a slightly better diet than I have typically had in recent years.
I don't care much about the physical weight as my BMI is over 30 now, and 26 when I had 10% fat - once upon a time, I do care about the way I look and having to squeeze myself into clothing is not my idea of great condition. Nor is buying larger clothing to make up for the stomach.
On a side note, dressing to look slimmer doesn't improve your health.
There is something to be said about the idea of "look good naked" because I think that we live in a world that overvalues quick results and there is nothing quicker for losing weight than covering it with a loose bag so that no one notices. I know, I know - looks don't matter…
Bullshit
But regardless what you think of my opinion, it is my own thoughts and feelings about myself that matter to my own behavior and while I can accept limitations from aging, I can't really accept that I am not doing enough to improve my condition the best I can. While a healthy mind aids a healthy body, a healthy body aids a healthy mind - our physiology is such that our mind and body as well as our emotional state are all working in unison.
Our thinking ability, our moods and our willingness to engage in activity are all tied to factors of our body in some way - and pretending they are not is folly.
Plus, the most important reason is my wife and daughter because if I know that my condition affects me, by default they are going to be affected by my condition also. Most people recognize when they are ill that their own temperament changes and they might become short-tempered and nap or less willing to participate. This is no different than if the body is not in decent physical condition without illness.
I also believe that there is a relatively straight line in between parents who demonstrate active and healthy lifestyles, and kids who follow similarly. While there are genetics in play also, environment matters too, and I want my daughter to treat her body well instead engage in the path of slow suicide that many of us seem to take.
While I don't have the time to get to the gym fully as of yet, I do have the time to engage in some activities at home and perhaps will postpone a comment or two to drop and do 20 or do some band exercises. Rubber bands are cheap, take up zero space and can be used in a multitude of ways to do everything from increase muscle to strengthen joints and stretch. I have a few at home, but they don't do much good in the drawer. And that is where my body has metaphorically been for the last few years, collecting dust in the drawer.
Over the last couple weeks, I have been getting the motivation and inspiration back and looking for some opportunities to move rather than some excuses to stay still. Let's see if the motivation of the mind turns into action of the body.
I have spent far too much of my life with illnesses I have little control over, I should know much better than to let my body degrade into illness I can affect. While I love writing, participating and earning on Steem, I also have to spend some time making sure my mind, body and mood is in the right frame for successful living.
Investing into ourselves is vital for a healthy future.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
Slow feet, don’t eat, Taraz! I trivialized the impact of exercise and only recently tried making a change myself. So to that regard, we’re all human. I got my motivation from an anime I’d been devouring rather than exercise. The protagonist has an insurmountable task ahead of him, and is almost psychologically crushed thinking, ‘I’ve done all my training, but it’s no use!’ The counsel he receives: “Train to death.” At a certain point, it’s all you can do if desire a change. I can’t say I have many workout montages a week, but the words did move me to action. If I wanna take pictures of good-looking people, should I at least be so myself? I’ve yet to grind today, so I’m off.
This is how I actually see work and have written a post here about "working myself to death", which I see as continually looking to improve and be useful.
Go grind.
Vocalization of the sentiment makes it even more official for you. It is great that you are getting motivated to make a change for sure. You will ask yourself why you waited so long when you ease into it.
What I would focus on as you redefine your physical activity boost is to pick the moments of pure joy and entrain those into your brain. As an example, for me, I took up Brazilian jiu jitsu so that I could make a change, learn something cool as hell, and came to find it exercises my body and brain. Imagine how easy it is to decide not to get off the couch and exercise when I had the added demotivation of knowing I was doing so in order to get my ass kicked!!
I focussed upon the feeling I got after the workout, walking out into the cool air from the hot gym tired and satisfied and done!
Posted using Partiko iOS
Always the way isn't it - I say the same about getting into crypto ;)
I have only had the issue over the last 3 years since our daughter was born and it was a bit of a night mare. Before that,having a rest day from exercise was difficult to manage. I will get back into it.
Jiu jitsu sounds like fun.
When I get as old as you I will remember this
If you have a memory left to remember with.
Remember what?
Hello @tarazkp, sometimes it does not matter the opinion of others, the opinion of oneself yes, but health should be given the right value.
others opinions just tell me that they are doing it wrong ;)
Upvoted because I feel exactly the same way!
Posted using Partiko iOS
Get into it - we can spot each other :D
I should be putting that one out on my list. I haven't been into the gym for more than 3 years now - Too bad.
Thanks for this post, will try to go there the soonest! :)
It is crazy how fast time flies when one is doing nothing at all....
Exercise can be do draining. I feel like a Hamster on a wheel when I do any cardio.
What has worked for me is a simplified notion. I only "break a sweat each morning" as part of my morning routine. I don't always do it, but it is easier for me than setting goals.
From one fat guy to another.
I don't like cardio but, I enjoy barefoot running (minimal shoe) through the forest. I need to ease into it though.
Regulated diet is much more important. Regular exercising, of course, stimulates muscle grow, but if you continue to eat junk, all effort will be worthless.
Get rid of extra fat (average person doesn't need more than ~50 g of fat per day), keep your carbs under 400 g per day, protein above 300 g and alcohol consumption low.
Pick up some dumbbells and bands three times per week and take half an hour walk every day and you'll see miracles in a few months.
400g of carb a day?? that is a massive amount :D
I am aiming to not have more than 70, eat protein and decent fats instead - and lift heavy with some sprint training.
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Hahaha I think you just wanted an excuse to show us your wife's ass! ;)
The struggle is real, I haven't seen the inside of a gym since our child was born and it's difficult because I'm not as lean or strong as I was before. What I do to make up for my lack of exercise ability is to incorporate intermittent fasting all the more religiously into my routine. Keeps most of the weight off but not all of it! Give it a whirl if you haven't already.
damn straight.
I have never tried intermittent fasting, other than the gaps I have between the several meals and snacks I eat a day.
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When you feel you are getting old...
"Halterofiliate" the hell out of you NOW.
1.- Fixed bar pull with wide grip.
2.- Glass Lifting.
3.- Long shots release.
Now say Cheers!! :)
I can still see my feet in the shower, but then again I have big feet. I split my favorite pants last week and it sucks. I also need to get in shape and will try and do more. It has never bugged me before, but those pants were expensive. We all need to take care of what we have as unfortunately we aren't spring chickens anymore.
I can't see my feet, my enormous penis gets in the way. ;D
It's a little bit funny, because am yet to be married so am learning from you.
We need to do it as I always feel that if not, I may the richest dead person in history! My genes do not really help as I workout every day at least 30 minutes but if I do not diet and constrain my carb intake, I balloon like I have since my vacation last month! As we get older, it definitely takes more to get back to form!
Diet is the killer for me, always has been. I have been eating more salads at work instead of the warm meal as the meal is filled with carbs.
To make matter worse, we are entering new age where we can sit behind the computer all day and earn good sum of money. More fat, less exercise, short life span
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