h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, some of you may remember me being hugely enthusiastic about how much fat I had binned this time last year, and my Brave New World plans for this year.

Unfortunately two things have caused me big problems, firstly the purchasing of a motor vehicle meant I stopped riding my bike to work.

Secondly (and most significantly) the car accident I had in may. Basically as a result of hurting my back I have found it difficult to play football. I have no problem with exercising, in fact I love it providing it is

a) Competetive

and preferably

b) Contact sport.

Whilst I was happy to go to the gym, or swim it was as an exsesrory to playing football. Namely it made me fitter and I enjoyed it more.

Trouble is I find both swiming and the gym mind numbingly dull. Espescially going on my own and having no one to bounce of/ compete against. As I work a back shift and all of my pals work day shifts this means I always have to go on my own.

I have had 5 or 6 months of ignoring the problem and pretending that I am not gaining weight but unfortunately last week my Dr ordered me to loose weight. Two weeks time I am 26 and he points out that that is lcoser to 30 than being a teenager. With a history of heart disease in the family he says I have got to do it now.

He also made the point that given I prooved last year that I *can* loose weight there is no reason why I shouldn't. So I guesse no excuses Fez, get on with it.

But I sooooooo bacon and cheese, and beer, and cakes, and soured cream.....

Branflakes and skimmed milk for breakfast. great.

Life's a bitch ain't it, FB?

I love swimming, but since I gained loads of weight after some dark family times at the end of 2001 I just don't have the confidence to go anymore. It's a vicious circle for me; need to exercise to lose weight, too self-conscious about my weight to go exercise...

Even taking xenical (prescribed by dr.) and being a complete nazi about what I can / can't eat means I only lose about 1/2 lb per week, if anything at all some weeks, which ain't exactly motivating when there's another 97 1/2 to go... Seems part of the problem is genetics - all the women on my Mom's side of the family are of a similar build and find it very easy to gain weight but almost impossible to lose.

I would love to be able to play badminton again - a sport I used to really enjoy and was reasonably good at (miracle - I have virtually no hand / eye co-ordination when it comes to sport! ) but need to lose more weight first so that it doesn't do my knees in completely.

Do yourself a favour, FB, and listen to your doctor; it's no fun when your not even 40 yet but your leg joints are becoming knackered because of excess weight.

Will be cheering you on all the way.

Well I am stupidly hyperactive to be honest all I have to do to loose weight is exercise and cut down on the exess in me food. In a way that makes it all the more inexcusable to let myself get over weight.

My latest idea is to actually *pay* to join a gym in the hope that if I am paying I will feel that I *have* to go.

I'm in a similar situation to Ancrene in that I put on a fair bit of extra tonnage after an operation six years ago - a combination of hormonal flux caused by the op, my *age* and the fact that I wasn't able to do any real exercise (other than walking) for about three months. And by that time I got so used to doing nothing that I continued doing very little afterwards (also have dodgy lower back which of course got *worse* from not doing any regular exercise . . .)

I also understand your 'vicious circle' problem, Ancrene. I've recently started yoga classes at a gym near my house and I am by far the oldest and FATTEST person in the group. And the unforgiving WALL OF MIRRORS sure doesn't help either. But I'm persevering because it is actually doing wonders for my back (and no doubt other bits).

Lots of with the new regimen, FB. It's always hard to *start again* but it is also always worth the effort. If you like we can suffer here together and keep each other on the straight and narrow, so to speak.


az

ps
paying to go to a gym *does* help, at least a cheapskate like me who hates to waste money . . .


az

You could try coaching FB, then you have to go or the poor ikkle children are left with nothing to do

Is this all linked to the car? Might be worth getting a bike and using that for short trips or a decent set of goretex gear so you can walk more places even in the winter.

I know what you all mean about shifting pounds though. The best thing is like you say find something that is fun and good for you which makes things a whole lot easier to keep doing.

I have really nice pair of trousers 32" waist one day I will wear them again

The thing is because of my job (being a union rep) it is really difficult to have any kind of a lunch break where I dont get constantly harranged about work. If I go into the canteen people come up to me and I cannot help myself but talk to them.

That means going home for lunch and unfortunately because of time contriants that is only plausible in my motor vehicle.

What I need to do is just get back into an exercise regime where I have scheduled time where I am *supposed* to be exercising will help.

Also eating, cut out the snacks, if I have tacos do I really need soured cream and double guacamole? o more take aways as well (it might even save me a few bob!).

Apparantly one of the best tricks is to get some smaller plates, as im am told is a psycological thing to feel your plate needs to be full to satisfy your hunger and having a smaller plate hleps you feel full on less food!

Blicky I am awaiting doing a "referee course" as soon as the Devon FA can give me a date. Not quite the same as 90 minutes of football but it still should give me a reason to keep fit.

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Well, don't see the point otherwise. Kidding! At home we've been making burritos with greek yoghurt instead of sour cream (though this is mostly cos you can't buy sour cream in Spain) but it is actually a very good and lower-fat substitute. Also, homemade guac can also be low fat (though avocados do have a bit more fat in them than other things). But I think you are talking about eating out.

I think it's fair to say that most things you eat when out are going to be more fat-laden than what you would make at home. But it's also possible to find healthier options when eating out that don't leave you feeling deprived.

Really, the basic rule of 'eat a bit less, do a bit more' is the only thing that ever works. And although weight loss may be a bit slow, this is also preferable. I've been told by a doctor friend that one should only try to lose at most 2 kilos a month, and 'preferably' 1 kilo. Over a year this means you will have lost 12-15 kilos and this is weight that is more likely to never return as it means you've made some permanent lifestyle and eating changes.

Scary word, innit? PERMANENT.


az

Well last time I lost 3 stone in 6 months. It looked good but I soon put almost all of that weight back on.

We will see, I dont expect to loose the wqeight as quickly as last time. Hopefully though if I can get savagely back into being a health facist and make it a way of life then I will be ok


P.S. I hardly ever eat tacos out. THey are never any where nearly as nice as my home made ones which are osmething of one of my stock recipes. I thought Avacados were *really* fatty though. Wonders off to check.

I think avocados are about as 'fatty' as bananas. In any case, eating an avocado isn't going to make you fat (even if you turn it into guac, which is simply adding tomato, onion and tabasco).

Three stone in six months is WAY TOO MUCH weight to lose (note the spelling, *not* loose ) in such a short time. And be careful! The more you yo-yo with weight loss and gain, the harder it will be for you to lose it next time round (speaking from vasty experience).

Meanwhile, I think it's important to stop thinking in terms of 'good' and 'bad' food. I once lost quite a bit of weight (slowly) by eating salad with chips every day for lunch and going out for a half-hour run every morning.

There is no such thing as 'bad' food (well, except for McDonalds and other similar crap calling itself food). It simply means that fattier foods should be balanced with less fatty foods on a daily basis, along with regular exercise.

Gaaaa, am I sounding a bit preachy here? I hope not. I'm also reminding myself about what I need to do by reminding you.

I'll tell ya though, it is immensely annoying to be living with can-eat-anything-and-everything-Noggin-who-never-gains-an-ounce!!! Snot fair!!!


az

Tell me about it. I know loads of "eat crud all day and look like a stick insect" types.

I have no intention of doing it as unhealthily as last year. I know this means it will take longer but if it is more succesfull long term then it will be worth it.

Part of my problem was that last time I became totally over the top. I basically cut out all high fat/ high carb (high taste ) food out of my diet completely.

Trouble is I got so fed up with what I had to eat that when I came of it I have been binging every since. that coupled with not exercising so much has made me in weight.

But yeah like you said it aint rocket scinece (or engineering for that matter, just in case SoRB is around ) Eat less/Move more.

A glass of cold water before meals and having one then waiting to see if your appetite goes if you fancy a cruddy snack is a good tip.

Why are pubs so much fun and gyms so bleedin' dull

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Um, because they *are*?

The glass of water before a meal (not sure if it needs to be cold) is a good idea. Likewise, it is recommended that you drink *at least* two litres of water a day. It may sound like a lot but once you get into the habit of it you'll find you are craving water if you haven't had a drink for an hour or so. It's quite a healthy addiction.


az

Yeah I am quite good with the old water drinking. Working in a call centre you end up drinking loads just to give you an excuse to walk to the water cooler. It breaks the day up.

I will have to try the drink a pint of water when you fancy a snack trick though. Allthough having a bladder the size of a walnut I might be in and out of the loo even more than I am now!

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Braggart! I have a bladder the size of a pea. One of the many reasons I always hated camping - having to get up in the middle of the night to peeeee - in the dark in the middle of nowhere.

Still have to do this, though much more comfortable at home.

Funny thing is that I've never noticed that drinking more water actually makes me pee more . . . though perhaps it makes me pee better?


az

Well I notice it most when on the beer.

Obviously drink several pints of a diaretic (right word?) combined with a natural inclination to pee a lot is not a good combo. I usually have to take aobut two pisses per pint, allthough this ration decreases as I get drunker. I think it is because you stop noticing you need to go sooo much.

You mean your bladder gets drunk?

Yeah, of course wine and coffee make me pee more too (can't believe I'm actually talking about this on a public forum!) but I don't notice that more water intake has the same effect.

Noggin never used to drink water on a regular basis, but since living here he is up to at least a litre a day.

Water, water, water, and more water. I love it!


az

Nahhh it is just that as I get pissed I get more interested in other stuff like pool and what I am talking about and dont notice my bladder quite so much. At lerast I think.