The 2023 weight loss thread - all welcome
Discussion
I've just added my details to the Wiki. I'll be mostly dieting as I've arthritis that makes exercise difficult but will attempt some gentle rides (at first) on our exercise bike, last used approximately five years ago.
I've two important dates (our birthdays) by which I'd like to have made significant progress: April 19th and November 24th.
Good luck everyone!
I've two important dates (our birthdays) by which I'd like to have made significant progress: April 19th and November 24th.
Good luck everyone!
Ambleton said:
Have you used a turbo trainer or excersise bike before?
Ive always done a bit of cycling and enjoy it. I bought a turbo trainer a few years back for over winter and used it twice. The experience was very poor. (I appreciate this isn't a peleton, but bare with me)
The thing that attracts me to cycling (and why I enjoy it) isn't for the fitness aspect (that's an added benefit). It's the sounds of the birds and trees in the woods. It's the freshness of the morning dew on the leaves and the trickle of the stream. It's the snapping and crinkle of leaves and twigs beneath the wheels, the views and freshness of a coastal road in Devon and the rolling hills, fields and spring lambs bounding around.
On the turbo trainer I was in a grey, damp, concrete block garage with music going. There's no wind/breeze to keep you cool (a fan would resolve this), but the whole experience was very lacking of anything really. Suppose it might be better if you're competing against other people and you have a trainer shouting at you.
I used to love spin classes and was very fit doing spinning running and swimming 10 years ago.Ive always done a bit of cycling and enjoy it. I bought a turbo trainer a few years back for over winter and used it twice. The experience was very poor. (I appreciate this isn't a peleton, but bare with me)
The thing that attracts me to cycling (and why I enjoy it) isn't for the fitness aspect (that's an added benefit). It's the sounds of the birds and trees in the woods. It's the freshness of the morning dew on the leaves and the trickle of the stream. It's the snapping and crinkle of leaves and twigs beneath the wheels, the views and freshness of a coastal road in Devon and the rolling hills, fields and spring lambs bounding around.
On the turbo trainer I was in a grey, damp, concrete block garage with music going. There's no wind/breeze to keep you cool (a fan would resolve this), but the whole experience was very lacking of anything really. Suppose it might be better if you're competing against other people and you have a trainer shouting at you.
I still enjoy putting some tunes on and making up my own spin routines from time to time, but the timings of the classes and the instructors mean I havn't really got back into spinning like I used to.
For this year I have cancelled gym because we have to start paying for childcare at £900+ per month, so I don't want to pay for the gym any more.
So thinking of picking up a bike to use at home a few times a week, and hoping this is actually easier to schedule.
We have suspended wooden floors so I find the home workouts with too much movement, especially "plyometrics", bit much. It bangs and crashes and I'll end up with loose floors. That said when the weather is better I can do some of that outside, as well as just running.
I can bash out a 5k in about 30 mins, but I find running a bit boring, but will mix that in. I could actually run to the council pool, have a swim and run back. That will probably work well.
Crikey! I'm 9.9kg heavier than when I fell off last year's wiki (I suppose it's ~4kg lower than when I joined it!). Touch wood, for the first time in 2 years, I have no need to live in hotels and restaurants (wife hospital etc). No excuses. Day 4 of rowing again, but day 1 of watching what I shovel in my gob.
Just added.
Started a keto / low carb diet in September and -14kg so far. I promised myself to be much healthier and lighter by my 50th but spent 24 months putting it off. Now I can see the loss I regret not doing something about it a lot sooner …10 years ago. The shirt I wore on my 50th now hangs off.
Set myself a goal of another 10kg loss to Easter at 88kg then to a final target weight of 80kg. Managed Xmas ok even with temptations littered around every house I visited. I just don’t get the cravings any more for s
te processed food and I’m finding the low carb way much easier ,with a good online presence inc recipes and meal plans, to when I tried Atkins many years ago.
Started a keto / low carb diet in September and -14kg so far. I promised myself to be much healthier and lighter by my 50th but spent 24 months putting it off. Now I can see the loss I regret not doing something about it a lot sooner …10 years ago. The shirt I wore on my 50th now hangs off.
Set myself a goal of another 10kg loss to Easter at 88kg then to a final target weight of 80kg. Managed Xmas ok even with temptations littered around every house I visited. I just don’t get the cravings any more for s
te processed food and I’m finding the low carb way much easier ,with a good online presence inc recipes and meal plans, to when I tried Atkins many years ago. Glade said:
Do people rate the Peloton bikes, or are there decent cheaper alternatives?
There is a whole other thread about that 
.We've had a Peloton for coming up 2 years, the short version is its the Best excerise platform we've ever used.
I do 2-3 'strength' exercises classes on Peloton a week, with a few bike sessions thrown in. Consistency is key, Peloton classes are addictive, there is no argument about that, just look at their membership 'curn' rate, it's a few % every quarter which is mad ownership engagement.
The acutal classes may seem like style over substance but put the effort in and the end results are not dissimilar to more 'hardcore' programs like Trainer road, except the time flies by vs a grind.
Add any consistent excerise regime to a focus on diet and the results on your body is pretty amazing. This is what happened to me in 2022 thread, its not just the bike classes, the strength session deliver results!
Peloton doesn't do anything different interms of excerise but it does make it very easy to engage with a whole variety of workouts, and very little 'excuse' not to do anything as its always there.
This chap has done a very good write up of the Peloton platform.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/11/peloton-bike-i...
I still love real world cycling, treated my self to something really lovely just before Xmas. However the Peloton will 100% remain the stable for our excerise regime in 2023
.
Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 1st January 15:22
Glade said:
Do people rate the Peloton bikes, or are there decent cheaper alternatives?
People seem to be a bit divided on the Peloton…. Most critics say its too expensive others that it’s a poor bike replacement.I’m not into cycling but have a peloton. For me its a great solution to keeping a bit fitter…. I work from home and like the fact i can jump on it between meetings. The competitive side to it keeps me going back. I’m mainly competing with myself but the leaderboard adds in extra competition.
The classes are good and keep you motivated and there are plenty of them.
Dont compare it to cycling, it's a convenient way too keep fit. It’s not the answer to weight loss either, it’s an additional tool towards it….
Cheers guys…
First of all cracking wallpaper, and I’ll check out the dedicated peloton thread.
I do like the David Lloyd “Cyclone” class with the power meter, and power based workouts… but it looks like the peloton interface takes it up a level.
Just need to agree about a space in the house for it!! The mrs has clocked me looking at them and stated it’s forbidden in the front room or kitchen diner!
How much headroom do you guys have… wonder if it would go in the bay window in our bedroom
First of all cracking wallpaper, and I’ll check out the dedicated peloton thread.
I do like the David Lloyd “Cyclone” class with the power meter, and power based workouts… but it looks like the peloton interface takes it up a level.
Just need to agree about a space in the house for it!! The mrs has clocked me looking at them and stated it’s forbidden in the front room or kitchen diner!
How much headroom do you guys have… wonder if it would go in the bay window in our bedroom
Glade said:
How much headroom do you guys have… wonder if it would go in the bay window in our bedroom
You essentially sit the same height as a normal pedal bike. The bedroom would be fine, what your find is usually the rest of the family want to use it too versus something like Zwift etc which is essentially a man cave thing.Golfgtimk28v said:
First session on the year.
Did about 2 hours total, mostly cardio. 1000 calories indicated on machines This was 1st hour 60 mins on xtrainer.
This sums up why I love Peloton over all my previous gym memberships, crosstrainer/rowing machine in the garage etc, . Its not about the bike, and the strength classes need no equipment but generic Argos level dumbbells.Did about 2 hours total, mostly cardio. 1000 calories indicated on machines This was 1st hour 60 mins on xtrainer.
What gives Peloton 'value' is the structured classes, and the user interface that surrounds it.
It doesn't matter how cheesy/ridiculous some of the instructors take it, the presentation/layout of data is on a different level. Add to that music, instructor personalities and you have the perfect way to distract your self from the grind of doing exercise that eventually makes even the most dedicated give up.
The 'addiction' Peloton crates to exercise is very real, I'm going on a 200 mile round trip to do what is essentially a 30 minute spin class in Feb.
I'm trying a new approach this year, and my only rule is all meals and snacks can contain max 50% carbs. Anything else goes.
This cuts out a lot of my problem snacks, like bowls of porridge, toast, crisps.
I can still have all these things, but I'm counting on the extra effort to make up the 50% plus, to be a turn off
This cuts out a lot of my problem snacks, like bowls of porridge, toast, crisps.
I can still have all these things, but I'm counting on the extra effort to make up the 50% plus, to be a turn off
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