As this year comes to a close lots of people including myself will make New Year’s resolutions. A number of people will probably have their resolutions around getting in better shape and losing weight. That’s probably the main reason the workout facilities are all jammed for the first six weeks of the new year.
The question for me isn’t about getting in shape or losing the weight. Isn’t the real question being able to stay in shape and keep the weight off? I am sure that most people who are reading this blog have wanted to or have lost weight in their lives. If you are like me, you have put it back on a number of times.
I have tried hard to keep exercise as a routine in my life and try (very hard) not too eat late at night. I know I should take vitamins but I don’t and probably should change this very soon.
Any ideas on:
- How to we keep the weight off?
- How we all can stay in better shape?
- How to keep the workout facilities busy every month of the year?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Lance Hoffman says:
Very timely post, Merrill, as weight loss is one of the top 5 New Year’s Resolutions, that most people fall short of. Having entered the industry at a weight of 215 lbs about 9-10 years ago, and then dropping to a lean 165 (yes – I lost 50 lbs) before trying to build some muscle, I have been at a consistent 180 for quite a while.
A few tips I have learned along the way may help those looking to maintain or achieve a specific goal:
Drink your body weight in Fluid Ounces of water – every day. Water breaks down lipids in your body, and while I LOVE COFFEE AND DIET COKE, the truth is that my body isn’t made up of 97% of those things – it’s made up mostly of WATER. Also – the colder the water, the better, with regards to breaking down fats in your body.
The word “DIET” means “way of life,” not temporary solution to a permanent problem. You need to make a real change and stick with it, as being part of your life. Whether it’s a work-out routine or an eating regiment, it needs to be consistent.
Workout with weights first, and then do your cardio afterwards. It keeps your metabolism higher for a longer period of time. I used to do the opposite, until an ex-pro football player/researcher enlightened me to this.
Get a good night’s sleep. Without the appropriate amount of sleep, our bodies don’t take as good of care of themselves, which includes their ability to metabolize food.
Course-correct your exceptions. It’s totally fine to pig out at a Holiday Party or at some home-cooked eating fest that you cannot resist – that’s OK. But the next day, or two days, you need to pay for it. You cannot have binges like that, and then eat normally afterwards – that’s how you gain weight – you need to correct yourself.
Watch the alcohol. While much hard liquor out there doesn’t have many calories or carbs, all alcohol slows down your metabolism, so drinking AND eating a lot is not exactly a winning combination for weight loss, or even maintenance depending on how many nights of eating and drinking you typically do.
Eat the right Carbs, and limit the wrong ones. I personally figured out long ago that what works for me is avoiding almost all complex carbohydrates during the week, but allowing myself to eat whatever I want on the weeknds (within reason). With this, and all he points above, it is also important to note that everyone’s body is different, and what works wonders for one person may not work the same for you. You need to experiment, and change one or two things at a time, and see what yields the best results. But certainly low caloric intake and excercise seem to always work!
Hope this helps everyone. Wishing you and everyone else a very Happy Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Brian Ottum says:
My story is similar to Lance’s. My childhood and young adulthood years were active but continually obese. I entered the industry 26 years ago at 238lbs. Then a ton of change happened – graduated from college, moved to a new city, started a big new job, and my father died of a heart attack. All these factors helped me lose weight (but it was the last that keeps driving me today). I lost 70lbs in seven months.
It has been a HUGE struggle for me to keep it off, but I have been mostly successful. When the stress and travel inherent in running a business gets intense, my weight creeps up.
Lance is right, there is no successful temporary “diet!” My “secret” is exercising more and eating less. Quite simple, but not easy. I love beer and that has to go when I need to lose weight. Another trick that works for me is to cut out a large dinner, just having a small snack (I sleep better also).
My wife is a newly-minted Dietitian, and tells me that I’m unique. Government statistics show that only a small percentage of Americans that lose major weight are able to keep it off over decades.
Another thing that keeps me healthy is to observe when my rising weight prevents me from doing the things I love to do – mountain biking, skiing and hauling a heavy telescope. Right now I’m at 185lbs. But my Wisconsin heritage of beer, brats, cheese, frozen custard and cream puffs keeps calling my name.