Brian_VA Member

You don't have to eat breakfast before you work out (although you should drink water). In fact, many say waking up first thing in the morning and working out is a great way to burn fat (because you have nothing in your system, the theory is you'll push your body to burn fat). I'm not a scientist, but this made sense to me…

Check out the forum below. Good group of people doing the program. I started on June 22 and got to 5k in August and 10k last week. Still can't believe it - I could NEVER run before. It works! http://c25k.cze.dk/

Just reread my post above and wanted to clarify one thing. I LOVED StrongLifts 5x5 and recommend it highly to anyone trying to get back in shape. It is awesome! I struggled hard to overcome form and strength challenges and reached most of my strength goals. But once I got to a certain level of strength and faltered trying…

A recent study of people who had already lost weight and ate a lot of carbs found they had to eat significantly fewer total calories to keep losing weight as compared to a group that had lost weight and were eating low carb. You can lose weight eating carbs, it's just harder. The idea that a calorie is a calorie and it…

Carbs make you fat. Fat makes you full. Protein repairs your cells and helps you maintain your muscles - VERY important for men AND women as we age. Eliminate bread (except occasional low carb), white potato, rice, cereal, sweets, pasta, crackers, etc. Eat a piece of fruit (apple, few strawberries, blueberries) every day…

I am 52 and did SL5x5 for about 3 months. Got to 240 lb squats, 250 lb DL, 200 lb bench. I started missing and it was sort of depressing. Around that time a friend challenged me to do a triathlon sprint. I switched from lifting to running / biking / swimming. Love it! Can see myself going back to SL 5x5 from time to time…

Amazing story. You should buy those kids giant ice cream cones and tell your daughter that hurt her knee and finished anyway that she had more guts and determination than anyone in that race! What an amazing show of courage. Even from another continent, I will remember her story when I am down and out and feel like…

You are welcome!

On the subject of a calorie is a calorie, it is true. Calorie is a measure of heat. A gram of protein can produce 4 calories of heat, a gram of fat produces 9, and a gram of carbs produces 4. But our bodies do not respond to these substances and calories the same. Protein contains amino acids that help rebuild cells and…

The idea is that net carbs are the carbs that get converted to sugar in your bloodstream, and require insulin to process. Normally this is just total carbs - fiber. But some low carb food contain sugar alcohols that don't cause an insulin response and can be subtracted. Doesn't mean they don't have calories, but just don't…

Great program. I started on June 22 barely able to run for 60 seconds without being totally out of breath and having to stop. Yesterday I ran 10K in 72 minutes without stopping. Completely unbelievable. If you want to learn to run, this is the way to do it. There is a useful forum also - just search for "c25k forum" in…

I heard him speak on a radio talk show. He makes a ton of sense. Believes that people that are sensitive to insulin quickly store carbs as fat and feel run down and hence don't feel like exercising and get fat. While others that are not as sensitive to insulin keep the sugar from the carbs in their bloodstream longer, have…

I am also a low carber. Feel free to friend me also. I mix exercise with a low carb diet and am now close to my goal weight, and in the best shape of my life.

Feel free to add me. I did the c25k program starting on June 22. I can now run 5 miles without stopping! If I can do it anyone can!

I agree. Don't take carbs to too low except for a short 2-3 week period at the beginning of a low carb diet. 50-100 is low enough. Too many people think of low carb as no carb and that is dangerous. Just make sure your carbs are the right kind - salad and non-stachy veggies. Don't think they can come from 2 pieces of bread…

When I first started doing SL5x5, I was able to complete a workout in 20-25 mins. But the number of warmup sets was much less, and the rest between sets was much less. Now, trying to squat 240 lbs, my warmup is taking 10 minutes between stretching out my shoulder and adjusting the weights. And I am taking 4-5 minutes…

I live in VA but work on a project in Charleston. You can frequently find me at the downtown Y in the evenings, or at the BRB.

Me also. I am a new Christian, interested in discussing how managing your weight and increasing your fitness affects your spirituality, and sharing my interests with similarly minded Christians.

I am sort of the opposite as you. Have been doing mostly strength training for several years. SL5x5 starts out easy, but as you progress the weight increases and gets very intense as you reach the limits of your strength and technique, giving your body just enough time to recover. The key point is that your increase the…

This might be helpful ... http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/body-fat-chart.php

Instead of focusing on the food, focus on getting some exercise. For example, start riding an exercise bike, elliptical, or other exercise equipment. Maybe initially you are only doing 10 minutes at low intensity. But every day if you do the exercise, you will be able to do more and burn more calories. (It's fun and…

Not for induction, but I love this breakfast at this time of year ... Cottage cheese (regular, not low fat) (1/4 - 1/2 cup), fresh blueberries (1/4 - 1/2 cup), fresh strawberries (1/4 - 1/2 cup), whole raw almonds (2-3 Tbls). Stir and eat. Natural, balanced, fast, delicious, great start to an active day IMO. Also, if you…

You don't give any details about the injury. How long ago did this happen? What were you doing when it did happen? Are you taking ibuprofen or anything else and is it helping? I have heard that it is important to exercise your lower back in concert with your abs or you can cause an imbalance and cause injury. My first…

I try to skip the beer and mixed drinks, and go to the alcohol. Easy to overdo it, but a martini will get you in the weekend spirit in a hurry, is pretty diet friendly and no morning aftereffects, at least for me. YMMV

When first starting a low carb diet, some people have a small increase in chloreserol, But usually it falls and overall cholesterol and triglycerides are reduced. You might want to limit saturated fat and carbs (pretty obvious on low carb) which apparently raise cholesterol worse than eating cholesterol. Might consider…

Whatever you are doing seems to be working! My comments about food enhancing performance were more targete at cardio exerise like running or biking. Eating an energy bar before or during can enhance performance.

Exercising is good no matter when you do it. Whether to exercise before or after eating depends on your goal. If your goal is to maximize body fat loss, workout on an empty stomach, and allow time for recovery before eating. This will force your body to burn body fat as it has no options. You may not feel as strong when…

3000 - 3200 calories seems like too much to eat. And, exercising to burn 700-900 calories is not so easy. It would take 1-1.5 hours of significant aerobic exercise to do that. Seems more realistic that you cut your food intake to 2000-2200 calories, burn 200-300 calories at the gym, and be at 1700-1900 net calories. As you…

Age: 52 Height: 5' 8" SW 225 CW 209 GW 185 (-50 lbs fat + 10 lbs muscle) Low Carb / High Exercise

Your body will use the fuel in your stomach to fuel your physical activity before burning the fat on your body. If you eat before the run, you will burn the calories in your food first. Only when it runs out will your body start to burn body fat. If you eat again right after the run, the body will immediately stop burning…