Anyone want to shape up in 2018? A continuing journey.......

rgambs said:

How's everybody doing?
I went off my diet to avoid a cold and focus on cultivating some muscle mass, I haven't gained any weight yet so I'm happy about that.

Okay, I'm completely curious as to how going off your diet helped to avoid a cold. Were viruses a big part of your diet before?

oftenreading said:

rgambs said:

How's everybody doing?
I went off my diet to avoid a cold and focus on cultivating some muscle mass, I haven't gained any weight yet so I'm happy about that.

Okay, I'm completely curious as to how going off your diet helped to avoid a cold. Were viruses a big part of your diet before?

Hahaha yeah, I was eating viruses left and right!

My wife came down with a bug so I went on a regimen of lots of fluids, plenty of food, lower intensity workouts, and as much sleep as I could get. Any stress you can avoid will help support your immune system, I don't believe in miracles cures but I do believe in reduced stress leading to far less illness. I read an article about a study that showed those who don't work out get sick at above average rates, those who work out up to 3 times a week get sick less than average, and those who train intensively more than 3 times a week get sick at even higher rates than those who don't work out at all. I'd bet the same correlation could be made with amounts of sleep, though I wouldn't expect the diminished returns at the far end.
I got a thickness in my throat for a day and a day of half sniffles and it went away so I am all good! I am staying off my diet for a while, I want to focus on building muscle underneath before I strip the fat away over the top, I was plateaued anyways.

in 2011 when I would run 4 miles I wouldn't feel better and it was kindof odd. About 5 years earlier, when I would run 4 miles I would feel better as I ran. Then in 2013 I had heart surgery which suggests my heart was probably in a bad way in 2011.

So, the past year I was concerned that I stop all the time when I run. Is it me, or is my heart telling me something. I went to a routine cardiology appointment and I asked the staff why this happens. It doesn't look like my heart has changed, so that's good. We were wondering that maybe with my heart pills and my ICD that my heart was not able to respond to exercise by increasing rate, and as a result I was psyched-out from trying. If that was the case the ICD could be reprogrammed to respond more to the motion of my heart. To find the answer I was on a heart holter for a day. When I went on the rowing machine and the treadmill, my heart rate increased the more I exercised just like someone with a typical heart.

The moral of the story is that it is all in my head! Yay! I keep trying to find a reason to not exercise, and the cardiologists keep saying, nope, you must exercise. I still don't have an excuse, but it's better than being told something is wrong that I can't control. I've also come to terms with the fact that I don't like to exercise; however most of the time after exercising I usually feel good. Basically, I'm just like everyone else, and trying to find the inspiration to exercise. It's there, I know it is. Pearl Jam concerts usually inspire me.

Also, a new option is that I can hold on to the heart-rate bar on the treadmill instead of stopping. In that way I may not psych myself out.

I expect to exercise later today . . . maybe.

Here is a podcast of Rich Roll and David Goggins. David Goggins is former Navy Seal and an endurance athlete, and had heart issues, too. I'm posting this in case it may give you a spark of inspiration. Part of it is interesting, and may help a listener find her/his purpose. What do you think? I don't have a warrior mentality, and I don't want it, but I like working on the mental issues while accomplishing goals.

richroll.com/podcast/david-goggins/

FoxyRedLa said:

So last week I started slim fast with my lunch. Breakfast I have a cup of coffee and a cliff bar. Wanted to meet my daily needs so I added vanilla slim fast for lunch with some pieces of cubed cheese berries salad tuna banana cucumber - not all of that for lunch but I would put a little something with my shake. No snacks. 16 oz of water or just plan unsweetened black tea. Dinner I ate whatever. I was energized.

My point I noticed a difference in my energy. And I hate to admit it

I know this is nothing ground breaking but it hit me like a brick wall.

I've been trying to force the water down. For some reason I am struggling.

Gum and mints have helped keep my mouth busy.

Did you notice a difference in the morning or was it after the salad?

whispering hands said:

From my walk the other day. I have only been able to average a mile a day this week. , but I can't complain, because I have been working my tail off at work! So considering I am lifting and moving 40-75 lb boxes of product onto shelves/building shelves... that's exercise, right??

It's activity for sure! I don't know if I would classify it as exercise, myself.
I have had packaging jobs where moved 10-30 pound parcels back and forth from shelves and floor constantly for 12 hours, and it never got me in shape. It was high activity, and good for burning Cal's, but I don't consider something exercise unless it makes you get in shape.
Not really an important distinction, what matters is only how you feel! Colorado is the best, if it wasn't so commercial we would move there in a heartbeat.