What do you guys do to keep fit?

[Viggagadye]

Went to the doctor recently to get a general health check. I knew it wasn't going to be too positive. Been gaining too much weight and focusing too much on work (ie. using work as an excuse for not getting my lazy ass into the gym for over a year). Haven't really been eating healthy either.
Seems like my health is even worse than I thought. I won't go into specifics, nothing life threatening (yet), but a wake up call nonetheless. Gotta make some changes. I'll be watching what I eat a bit more, cutting down on the drinking and doing more exercise.

 

[Simonka]

Pilates, strength training, cardio, jogging. I have hired a trainer and I would highly recommend this route if you have the financial means to do so.

Before that I used to go to dance classes but it didn’t give me the results I wanted. Now I’m seeing results although it’s been a short time.
Diet wise I never diet but I grew up eating home cooked meals thanks to my amazing mum who is a superwoman. I like Mediterranean and Japanese food, both are clean, nutritious and healthy. I never ever go to fast food joints, it was forbidden as a child. I also don’t crave much sugar but sometimes overeat fatty nuts.
I have an ectomorphic body type: long, lean, doesn’t store too much fat but has a hard time putting on muscle. Honestly even if I don’t train I’m still slim (for a Caucasian, of course I’m not as skinny as Asian women) but I want to build muscle and stay strong. Being an ectomorph, I don’t stay away from carbs. Indeed I need them every day to function properly. But healthy carbs like rice, oats.

I wish I could eat protein bars but they taste like a shoe.

Well anyways, you don’t have to look good naked, nobody will write negative reviews about you either. So take it easy

 

[Viggagadye]

Well anyways, you don’t have to look good naked, nobody will write negative reviews about you either. So take it easy

Oh I have no delusions about ever looking good naked! I'm short and fat, the exact anti-Simonka physique. Happily, like you said, I'm not a subject of reviews (luckily). I just need to do something about my health.

Sounds like you've got your health and fitness zoned in though! I should take a page out of your playbook.

The doctor recommended "gentle exercise, start off slow". In my head, I was thinking "what the hell, I'm not that broken yet"...

 

[UnicornHunter]

Oh I have no delusions about ever looking good naked! I'm short and fat.

Just add balding and you have the trifecta! Whose with me fellas! ....guys? .....anybody?

 

[Viggagadye]

the trifecta!

 

[Keihan]

I've been a gym rat since I was a teenager, and a number of years ago Uncle Sam forced me into a lifestyle where I was required to adhere to very, very strict physical standards. Those days are over now, but I figured out that lifestyle will probably allow me to plague this planet for an extra decade at least, so I still maintain a very active fitness routine. I do free-weights at the gym 5-6 days per week, I do two to three ab workouts including approximately 500-600 sit ups per week, and I go running 6-7 days per week, usually doing 3-5 miles every morning at 5am with a speed workout on weekends. I'm about 15 pounds heavier than I was when I was government property but a lot of that is muscle I've put back on through heavy lifting since I don't have to run 6-minute miles and run the 400m in under 70 seconds anymore. I'm back to benching 100lbs over my weight and my jeans are all still 30-inch waist size and if I have to throat-punch some fat Nigerian in Kabukicho and take off running, I'll probably get away.

There are definite benefits to remaining healthy. My blood pressure is always good to go and I never have to worry at my annual physical exams. I can eat and drink as much as I like and I never get fat. My dick still works (although not like in high school) and I'm almost 40. And if you're a shameless narcissistic egomaniac like I am, I'm generally pleased with I pose naked with my guns on and stand in front of the mirror (of course, I cover my dick with my extra mag holster).

I will tell you this, however: If you're trying to lose weight, I've found that water exercise burns way more calories than running. A few years back I injured my foot during training and was forced to take a couple months off running. Therefore, I was forced to start exercising in the pool. I'm no olympic swimmer but I found that after 45 minutes in the pool, versus 45 minutes running, I was starving when I finished my workout. I also noticed that I very quickly dropped a few pounds, and at that time I was in excellent shape with very little body fat so dropping 3lbs was a big deal. And look at guys who do competitive swimming--every line of every muscle stands out like they're Greek statues.

And those Greek statues still have tiny dicks, which makes me feel better about myself.

 

[Viggagadye]

I've been a gym rat since I was a teenager, and a number of years ago Uncle Sam forced me into a lifestyle where I was required to adhere to very, very strict physical standards. Those days are over now, but I figured out that lifestyle will probably allow me to plague this planet for an extra decade at least, so I still maintain a very active fitness routine. I do free-weights at the gym 5-6 days per week, I do two to three ab workouts including approximately 500-600 sit ups per week, and I go running 6-7 days per week, usually doing 3-5 miles every morning at 5pm with a speed workout on weekends. I'm about 15 pounds heavier than I was when I was government property but a lot of that is muscle I've put back on through heavy lifting since I don't have to run 6-minute miles and run the 400m in under 70 seconds anymore, but I'm back to benching 100lbs over my weight and my jeans are all still 30-inch waist size and if I have to throat-punch some fat Nigerian in Kabukicho and take off running, I'll probably get away.

There are definite benefits to remaining healthy. My blood pressure is always good to go and I never have to worry at my annual physical exams. I can eat and drink as much as I like and I never get fat. My dick still works (although not like in high school) and I'm almost 40. And if you're a shameless narcissistic egomaniac like I am, I'm generally pleased with I pose naked with my guns on and stand in front of the mirror (of course, I cover my dick with my extra mag holster).

I will tell you this, however: If you're trying to lose weight, I've found that water exercise burns way more calories than running. A few years back I injured my foot during training and was forced to take a couple months off running. Therefore, I was forced to start exercising in the pool. I'm no olympic swimmer but I found that after 45 minutes in the pool, versus 45 minutes running, I was starving when I finished my workout. I also noticed that I very quickly dropped a few pounds, and at that time I was in excellent shape with very little body fat so dropping 3lbs was a big deal. And look at guys who do competitive swimming--every line of every muscle stands out like they're Greek statues.

And those Greek statues still have tiny dicks, which makes me feel better about myself.

We're probably similar age. Now I'm fucking ashamed of myself.

 

[Keihan]

We're probably similar age. Now I'm fucking ashamed of myself.

If it makes you feel better, the fattest and most out of shape I ever was, was during my early years in Japan. Something about Japan just encourages an unhealthy lifestyle for us expats. I was smoking a pack a day, eating at McDonald's every morning and Mos Burger every afternoon while sitting on my ass in a fucking eikaiwa for 8 hours and then getting absolutely shitfaced every night with a pack of wild Irish and Australian hooligans from work. I actually noticed that my dick wasn't working oh-so-well and I was only in my mid-20s so it was definitely something about that lifestyle. I was up at almost 90kg at my heaviest (and I'm only 173cm tall) and looking at my old photos of our old expat gang raising hell at the local Wara Wara, I definitely did not look good, naked or otherwise.

Lucky for me, I quit smoking, left Japan and then Uncle Sam trimmed me down to about 73kg, and I'm at a comfortable 79kg now. Dick works better, I can run faster than 99% of the fat, lazy fucking cops around here and I look and dress well enough that a lot of girls (and some gay guys) think I'm actually gay. Fuck yeah.

 

[oLUXo]

I started to play tennis recently. I go to an indoor gym so rain is no factor. You'll start off at beginner where it's a little bit of movement and running, but as you progress, you'll do more running and movements. I've never played tennis in my life and so far, it's been pretty fun and I don't get bored with it. Plus, lots a cute girls go there to play.

 

[Viggagadye]

If it makes you feel better, the fattest and most out of shape I ever was, was during my early years in Japan.

Well I can't use that excuse as I don't live in Japan. I've gotten unhealthy in my own damn house in my own damn country. I became something of a workaholic this year due to expanding, and I think that's the main factor in my decline in health. Not that I was particularly health conscious before either, which makes it worse. Blood pressure has shot up, weight shot up... just fucking bad all around. Gotta turn it around before it's too late.

 

[Viggagadye]

I started to play tennis recently. I go to an indoor gym so rain is no factor. You'll start off at beginner where it's a little bit of movement and running, but as you progress, you'll do more running and movements. I've never played tennis in my life and so far, it's been pretty fun and I don't get bored with it. Plus, lots a cute girls go there to play.

I actually tried tennis when I was in my early 20s. It wasn't for me back then, but I wonder if I would enjoy it now. I'd be about as good as a 5 year old with a frying pan though.

 

[UnicornHunter]

Being over 10 yrs older than you younglings, it is much harder to lose the weight these days. I'm down to 90.5kg (at 170cm) that's after many years struggling with it. I could lose 3-5 pounds in a week but gain it all back in one day if I wasn't careful.
I wound be happy to reach 85kg or better but I always seem to plateau around 88 kg.

 

[oLUXo]

I actually tried tennis when I was in my early 20s. It wasn't for me back then, but I wonder if I would enjoy it now. I'd be about as good as a 5 year old with a frying pan though.

I like to play sports and I prefer that rather than being in a gym all the time. I used to play basketball a lot growing up, but kids are so tall now, I can't keep up. I also played baseball, but you need a lot of people to be able to play it.

Since tennis can be singles or doubles, I figured it would always be easy to play since you only need 2-4 people. As I get better, I'll join some meets to play on courts outside to improve my hitting.

I just bought my first tennis racket this week since I'll be advancing to the next class next month. I'm looking forward to all the extra running to burn some calories.

 

[Sudsy]

I have an exercise regimen consisting of intensive arm curls.

But seriously, when I'm doing things properly, it's three days a week on the weights and three days a week of cardio.

Weight days are basically five by five with a few additions (lat pulldowns, pullovers, and dumbbell snatches up and down the ladder* to finish) along with light cardio warmups/cooldowns. If you want to absolutely rip fat off your body, and your gym has the space, bring a jumprope, and jump rope during rest periods between sets.

Cardio is usually elliptical machine for an hour or 90 minutes when the weather is more conducive to indoors, or rucks (brisk walking with a weighted backpack) when not.

*Ladders are when you either change reps or weights per set - I'm doing weight ladders, so 10 reps at a time, starting with 10kg, then 14, 18, 22, 18, 14, and back to 10)

Or hey, you could just train with Terry Crews....

 

[AMcguyver]

While I'd love to vote for the last one (yaright), I'd have to say its mostly work that's kept me relatively in shape. (Round is a shape)

In the office - I converted my edit bay to a standing desk setup and I try to remember to take a break every so often to walk around the building and climb the stairs.

In the field - lugging around tons of camera & video gear over lava rock cliffs, setting up c-stands and 6ft reflector panels in windy conditions, and trying to avoid dropping camera and lights in the ocean while trying to nail the perfect "wave splashing on model" shot usually leaves me a sweaty mess at the end.
But it saves me a lot in gym membership fees.

At home - my wife does the majority of the cooking and keeps it very healthy.
It's so not fair though - she's one of those people that can eat a bag of cookies and still lose weight. Me, if I walk by a Krispy Kreme and even think about getting a doughnut, I'll gain 5 lbs.

 

[Ken1988]

A 8-cycles Tabata, with hindu pushups and suicide planks, twice a day, which kept me fit...so I hope.

 

[Desktop]

- Walking to work or just walking more than 30 minutes a day.
- Don’t regularly drink sugary drinks or store bought juices
- Eat lots of vegetables with minimal amount of carbs (genmai, whole wheat breads, oats)

 

[Keihan]

Plus, lots a cute girls go there to play.

That's why I stopped going to the swimming pool, despite the good workout. Most of the females swimming were lesbians. Although I still leered at their bodies in tight swimsuits under the water.

 

[namae]

I actually tried tennis when I was in my early 20s. It wasn't for me back then, but I wonder if I would enjoy it now. I'd be about as good as a 5 year old with a frying pan though.

Don't "underestimate" tennis. I knew a guy that died of a heart attack playing tennis in his 40's. He was overweight, and technically obese by medical definitions, but most colleagues and friends would have regarded him as a relatively fit and healthy. ( Of course, weight may not have been the sole, or even major contributing factor to his death.) Your docs advice is sound....start slow, baby steps.

 

[oLUXo]

That's why I stopped going to the swimming pool, despite the good workout. Most of the females swimming were lesbians. Although I still leered at their bodies in tight swimsuits under the water.

You forgot to mention that they were soaking wet

 

[Keihan]

Well I can't use that excuse as I don't live in Japan. I've gotten unhealthy in my own damn house in my own damn country. I became something of a workaholic this year due to expanding, and I think that's the main factor in my decline in health. Not that I was particularly health conscious before either, which makes it worse. Blood pressure has shot up, weight shot up... just fucking bad all around. Gotta turn it around before it's too late.

Well, the main thing is to find something that's motivating, and then no matter what you do, get into it slowly or you'll hurt yourself.

When I quit smoking and decided to get in shape I was 26 and had never jogged in my life (unless running from the cops in high school counts). I found a pair of Nike's at some stupid shopping mall in Osaka, put them on and started jogging (probably at something embarrassing, like 15:00/mile pace). I made it about a block, or roughly one minute, before I thought I was going to suffocate and have a heart attack and that was my first workout. The next day my entire body hurt and my lungs were still burning. But you'd be surprised how quickly the body can heal itself and adapt. Within a couple weeks that 1 minute jog turned into 5, then 10 minutes the next month. About a few months in I stunned myself by running a 10:00 mile. By the end of the year I was running three or four consecutive miles at 8:00/mile pace. And then a few years later the federal government really turned me into the athlete I wasn't meant to be (I was running a 5k in the morning in around 20 minutes, and that was my "easy day" workout), but that's a long time ago.

And it's during my time with the federal government that I saw the consequences of trying to do too much, too fast. I'd get young guys, Army paratroopers and Rangers, show up at some of our fitness exams and had never prepared for the exact type of intense exercises and tests we were running. Cocky young shits might run 6-mile formation runs every other day and stick their dicks in the vaginas of five continents but still weren't prepared to do what we were doing. I saw guys rupture tendons, tear hamstrings, black out unconscious and occasionally even require a trip to the emergency room. So whatever you do, start off slow.

But in the end, you need to nail down what motivates you. For me, it's my vanity, pure and simple. I like looking the mirror and being impressed with myself. Yes, that may be a sign of something very wrong with me but at least I'm honest with myself. Whenever I start thinking about skipping a workout, I just imagine not fitting my tailored suit anymore...and then drag my ass out the door and run.

And even on those days where I've got a six or seven mile jog planned around the shoreline or boulevard, and I'm in the "fuck this shit, I'll do it tomorrow" mood, I think of the other thing that motivates me to hit the road: the female joggers. I fucking love the body of a woman runner...those long, lean bodies, nice perky little tits all wrapped up in sports bras with their nipples poking out, tight asses and thighs with beautiful tans and their hair done up in a ponytail. I can jog behind a hot female running for miles, and runners have a sort of code, where that's not weird or scary because we're all runners, and runners don't do creepy shit to each other. Little do those women know that not only am I staring at their asses and enjoying it very much, but sometimes when I need to turn up the speed and clock some faster intervals, I channel my inner rapist and pretend I'm chasing the bitch down. I catch up to her, but pass her, put about a quarter mile between us then take it easy for a bit and let her catch up, then do it all over again. I did that once with a group of girls from the high school cross country team and felt a little bad about it, until their coach (who was insanely hot) instructed them to catch and pass me. I have far too much pride to be beaten by some teenage girls, so I turned on the afterburners for about a mile and left those bitches way back in the dust...then collapsed at the park behind some bushes where hot coach and her stupid team couldn't see me. What can I say? Vanity.

Find something that motivates you and go with it.

 

[namae]

. I'll be watching what I eat a bit more, cutting down on the drinking and doing more exercise.

A few ideas:

1. make sure your getting a good nights sleep. It is pretty central to good health. It has a direct impact on how your Body ( your personal chemistry set) works. Tiredness also affects the quality of decisions you make re diet and exercise.

2. get some good body composition scales that can measure your weight to two decimal places, and weigh yourself daily.

3. use an App like Google Fit ... and record as much info as practical.

4. In terms of exercise, there is a big difference between being an Olympic athlete, a gym bunny and just an ordinary Joe that is fit for 'life" and who will pass his or her annual check up. You can google up lots of current data about how much exercise you need....to see the benefit. The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week or an equivalent combination of both. That is a very low target. Doubling that level is quite easy.

5. Dieting involves a lot of personal choices. How strong is you will? How strong are your bad habits? For me, when I have needed to knock of weight, my strategy is:

a. intermittent fasting ( google the strategy)
b. eliminate/reduce booze - in fact try and get as close as you can to 100% water
c. eliminate/reduce sugar ( this is my main problem)
d. eliminate dairy
e. eat mostly natural foods -- eliminate/reduce processed "factory" made food; fast food
f. eat veges rather than fruits
g. pop a multi vitamin tablet to cover gaps in your diet
h. reduce carbs - eat brown rice and "steel cut" oatmeal.
i. eliminate sauces and condiments

 

[Joe2017]

Last year I started changing my eating habits, no processed food, all without sugar, going to the gym regularly, and walking 30 minutes a day. I lost 7 kilos and the results in my last medical check-up have been remarkable.
But there are no pretty girls in my gym, which makes the motivation to go very low. Anyone know gyms where pretty girls and models go? Each city usually has one or two, but I'm still to discover where they are in Tokyo.

 

[MikeH]

But there are no pretty girls in my gym, which makes the motivation to go very low.

I purposefully selected a gym where no good looking girls hang out. Because I am there to train, not to drop the weights due to the sudden surge of blood to the wrong places.

If you are looking for girls to ogle then Gold Gym is a good place; many professional athletes and teams train there making it certain you cannot do anything after seeing them squat once.

 

[Frenchy]

Pretty much nothing.