Fitness Nut Gamers

librarygoddess2

Okay so I'm just venting a bit here but I hate it that my coaches and my friends that aren't gamers think I need to become some 5 night a week fitness junkie in order to reach my goals. I mean... I LIKE playing games a few nights a week. I don't think you have to be consumed by your fitness and nutrition goals to reach where you want to be. I agree that if you sit on the couch all day every day you're just going to grow fat and lazy... that's why I'm on here but really, I went from getting up, gaming, working, gaming, sleeping, gaming, working, 7 months ago to working out two times a week, riding my bike to work, walking or doing something active with my partner once a week and training for a long hike I plan on doing next year.... and I was told that I'm still not doing enough.

So my question is.. do you really think that if I want to lose another 42lbs that I need to find more time to work out and it's unrealistic for me to think that I can still sit and enjoy gaming a few nights a week AND be healthy?

Alliwan

non-gamers dont understand gamers. Your fitness has increased and it will probably increase more later. But a lifestyle change will only be a lifestyle change if you enjoy it and its what you want to do. If you enjoy gaming, do it, but get the in the exercise you feel you need to. Others may not understand...but thats why your here right? lol

tameko2

Non-gamers (uh and I find this for non book readers too) think they are a lot busier than they are. Like they will say "oh I am too busy to play games/read books" but they aren't really any busier than I am, they just prioritize differently. Like, I watch ZERO TV. Can't. No time for TV if I want to do other stuff. And most people who say they are too busy to play games actually watch more TV than they think.

Zichu

Well this year has been good for me.

I used to do the same, so sitting down was all I would do. I would get up, eat, game, study, eat, game, eat, game, sleep.

Now I get up really early, go to work (it's only cleaning, but it's better than sitting down), come home, eat, game, work out depending on if it's a rest day or not, study, game, eat sleep.

I enjoy cycling and walking. There's always these hills where I live which is pretty much a sand hill, so trying to ride a bike up them is so hard, but each time I was doing it, I would get a little closer to the top without stopping. I managed to make the top on the weekend by just pushing as hard as I could making sure I didn't lose speed or the grip on my tires. But when you do get to the top you are relieved and happy that you have actually done it and you know it's only going to get easier from there.

TheDevastator

You should be able to do both. Workouts should be about an hour max. 2-3 times a week. If they take longer, you should increase the intensity. sprint or at least go faster in intervals for cardio or lift bigger weights. There should be plenty of time for Diablo 3!

_HeathBar_

I am hopelessly addicted to MMO's and I workout for at least an hour a day, 6 days a week. I also have a full time job, I cook, I clean and do the majority of the house chores and I find time to spend with my husband. If it's important to you, you will find the time for it. You don't have to sacrifice gaming for fitness.

Krizzle4Rizzle

I love World of Warcraft..a lot. In a way it has helped with my fitness goals. I am more likely to mindlessly eat when I watch TV than play WoW. I still make sure to get my work outs in and I use WoW as a reward.

librarygoddess2

Thanks all that helps a lot and Yes I can't wait for Diablo III to come! So if I go out and walk 5k with my sweetheart is that not considered working out? It's not as intense as the workouts I do in class two times a week but I was considering that a workout my coach says it's just being more active.

I am hopelessly addicted to MMO's and I workout for at least an hour a day, 6 days a week. I also have a full time job, I cook, I clean and do the majority of the house chores and I find time to spend with my husband. If it's important to you, you will find the time for it. You don't have to sacrifice gaming for fitness.

wow! You amaze me you're a super woman! When do you work out? Mornings? Right now my class is in the evenings so if I have it (7:30) it's pretty much a right off evening for anything else. I come home, cook, wait an hour, workout, come home, sleep. Then I have meetings most of the other nights of the week because I'm involved in a lot of things in the community. I know this is my own fault but I'm not ready to give up all those things I love either. But you seem to make it all happen. So do I really have to get up at 5am? Maybe I do! A lot to think about.

Non-gamers (uh and I find this for non book readers too) think they are a lot busier than they are. Like they will say "oh I am too busy to play games/read books" but they aren't really any busier than I am, they just prioritize differently. Like, I watch ZERO TV. Can't. No time for TV if I want to do other stuff. And most people who say they are too busy to play games actually watch more TV than they think.

YES YES YES!

spinedocmfp

Work outs are good for fitness and muscle building, but if you eat your calorie goals, you will lose without exercise. Diet is by far more important in weight control than exercise. As the above mentioned, if you don't make your life enjoyable, you will fail. I game 2 to 3 hours a day once the kids are in bed, but I watch my food and work out 4X per week. That has allowed me to get in pretty good shape and lose weight, but keep my fun too.

_HeathBar_

I am hopelessly addicted to MMO's and I workout for at least an hour a day, 6 days a week. I also have a full time job, I cook, I clean and do the majority of the house chores and I find time to spend with my husband. If it's important to you, you will find the time for it. You don't have to sacrifice gaming for fitness.

wow! You amaze me you're a super woman! When do you work out? Mornings? Right now my class is in the evenings so if I have it (7:30) it's pretty much a right off evening for anything else. I come home, cook, wait an hour, workout, come home, sleep. Then I have meetings most of the other nights of the week because I'm involved in a lot of things in the community. I know this is my own fault but I'm not ready to give up all those things I love either. But you seem to make it all happen. So do I really have to get up at 5am? Maybe I do! A lot to think about.

I workout as soon as I get home from work, it's the very first thing I do. Typically my day goes, wake up at 6am and go to work, get out of work at 3pm and workout immediately. After that I shower and get on the computer for a bit or do some chores, then I start cooking dinner, while that's going on do some laundry and clean up a bit around the house, after dinner I do the dishes then hop back on the PC for a night of gaming.

For me working out after I get home from work is a habit now, I feel like something is "off" if I don't do it. On Saturday working out is the first thing I do, I wake up at 6am and I'm usually done and showered by 9am. Then I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want.

I don't think I do anything special, I've just found a way to make it work for me.

tameko2

I think people get way overly up in arms about what is a 'exercise' vs what is 'more active' - frankly any cardio is just burning calories so why does it matter if you burn them walking or chugging away on a stair master?

And if you have athletic goals like running a marathon that's great but you don't run a marathon to burn calories, you run a marathon to run a marathon.

BaconMD

You know what, you are doing more than you did, and you're doing what you can manage. I am the exact same way. I LOVE games, and I started working out every-other-day-ish, for about an hour or so at a time. The trick is to do what you can continue to do for the rest of your life. If you start working out 5 or 6 days a week and stop doing it later, what is going to happen? I know I would burn out doing that. So, if you are considering more, I'd say go to three times a week, or every-other-day, but be a little loose - sometimes I miss a workout, or sometimes I double days to make up, or whatever. I can't stress enough - stick to what you feel you can do. Only you know yourself, and you've had success already. Eat right (or better) and keep doing what you're doing exercise-wise, and how could you not have success?

Thesoundofwolf

I find myself doing at least 20minuets a day, and still get all the gaming time in the world I normally get done, on top of my art and regular life stuff.

Its all about time management. One bite of the elephant at the time- the elephant being 'all the stuff'. I'm a scheduled wh0re, so I write everything out I need to do for the day, and just kinda fill my 'I am bored what do' time with that. I don't allow myself to game until I get at least my 20minuet Zumba in, however. Unless its one of my off-days. Yes, I give myself at least 'one' day. I leave that day to be flexible, and once I've had it, I solider it along.

Sometimes it takes a little push to keep going, and being a n@zi about it, is, well, important. It keeps you focused, and closer to the goal.

librarygoddess2

One bite of the elephant at the time-

Is Elephant low in fat?

I think people get way overly up in arms about what is a 'exercise' vs what is 'more active' - frankly any cardio is just burning calories so why does it matter if you burn them walking or chugging away on a stair master?

And if you have athletic goals like running a marathon that's great but you don't run a marathon to burn calories, you run a marathon to run a marathon.

I'm hearing this a lot. I think that this is great advice and a few of you have said this. Thank you all for making me feel better about it. On a positive note I walked 5K yesterday AND came home to play some games. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is and awesome game!