Inspiration required.

[Slyjoe]

So, I'm 45, bit overweight, drink a bit too much, don't exercise enough, generally stuck in a rut.
Please share your inspirational videos, or books, that will give me the kick up the butt I need to get my arse in gear.
There's nothing really wrong here, just I know it could be better, and I have no mentor or goals. Good job, enough money, free gym through work etc etc.
I'm sure you've got a saved video somewhere that will be the nudge that I need.

[GT03ROB]

Slyjoe said:

I'm 45, bit overweight, drink a bit too much, don't exercise enough, generally stuck in a rut.

You'll be dead inside 10yrs with a heart attack, unless you change your lifestyle......

HTHs

[audikentman]

MTFU!
Buy a bike get out and enjoy the countryside with your mates.

[Moulder]

Getting into a position of not being able to get out of something usually works here. Depending on how fit you are pick a 10k run or half marathon, cycle ride, duathlon, etc and tell everyone you are doing it. Get sponsorship for extra not being able to drop out nearer the time incentive.

I can appreciate you should be doing it for yourself, etc. but having support from others does help. Also if you pick an event (e.g. 10k) there is lots of training information that you are more likely to follow than if you decide to run around a bit every now and then.

[J4CKO]

I am in a similar position, have cut the booze back to just Fri/Sat but am thinking that is going to have to go down even more.

I have been cycling to work for a few years, six or seven, 7 miles each way, got out of the habit tail end of last year, did more working from home, drank more, wore comfy pants and have put on weight so have got back on the bike and set my man shed up with various implements of torture, theory is I cycle one day and do weights the next, its about half an hour each way on the bike and I do an hour of weights so I am trying to do an hour of something most days, even if its just a few miles walking the dog.

My diet was degenerating and still isnt great but it is getting better.

I got some body fat scales the other day and realising I am 30 percent lard has spurred me on more.

Early days yet but you feel better for it physically and more positive generally, I want to be at a stage where I don't feel like a blob when I take my shirt off, and also, having a good physique is a real confidence booster, if you could choose a Ferrari and being a fat mess or a Focus and being in great shape, which would you prefer ? plus getting in shape is cheaper, it is one of those things like being good at guitar that cant just be solved by throwing cash at it, no shortcut, just hard work.

Being mid forties doesnt mean giving up, it feels like a bit of a crossroads to be honest.

[Alex106]

J4CKO said:

I am in a similar position, have cut the booze back to just Fri/Sat but am thinking that is going to have to go down even more.

I have been cycling to work for a few years, six or seven, 7 miles each way, got out of the habit tail end of last year, did more working from home, drank more, wore comfy pants and have put on weight so have got back on the bike and set my man shed up with various implements of torture, theory is I cycle one day and do weights the next, its about half an hour each way on the bike and I do an hour of weights so I am trying to do an hour of something most days, even if its just a few miles walking the dog.

My diet was degenerating and still isnt great but it is getting better.

I got some body fat scales the other day and realising I am 30 percent lard has spurred me on more.

Early days yet but you feel better for it physically and more positive generally, I want to be at a stage where I don't feel like a blob when I take my shirt off, and also, having a good physique is a real confidence booster, if you could choose a Ferrari and being a fat mess or a Focus and being in great shape, which would you prefer ? plus getting in shape is cheaper, it is one of those things like being good at guitar that cant just be solved by throwing cash at it, no shortcut, just hard work.

Being mid forties doesnt mean giving up, it feels like a bit of a crossroads to be honest.

OP - If you can go to the gym for half an hour before each working day you will probably find your more productive! I try and gym on every day off I have and I feel full of energy for the remainder of the day. A large portion of the morning gym goers are 50+!

Jacko, where'd you get the body fat scales from? Recommend them?

[J4CKO]

They are called Ozeri touch, 35 quid of Amazon, not sure how accurate but at least they are consistent and give me some feedback, fits in pretty well with what I thought so prob not that far off, looking at weight alone is a bit pointless if training.

[Slyjoe]

Thanks all so far - I have the gym kit in the car, and will kick it off again.
I have times when I have been making progress, going to the gym 3 times a week, and it makes a noticable difference quite quickly.

[Alex106]

Slyjoe said:

Thanks all so far - I have the gym kit in the car, and will kick it off again.
I have times when I have been making progress, going to the gym 3 times a week, and it makes a noticable difference quite quickly.

I went through periods of going to the gym for six months, then stopping, then going again.

This time around I have an end goal - Tough Mudder. I have a poster on my door so I see it every day when I leave. It motivates me to go even when I dont feel like it. Do you have something like that you want to do?

[nammynake]

Can't get the link right now, but there's a good video on youtube - "Cycling Motivation - I'm Coming Back". Good soundtrack and visuals. Unless cycling isn't your thing, in which case you'll probably just wretch at the sight of so much lycra.

[FredClogs]

Slyjoe said:

So, I'm 45, bit overweight, drink a bit too much, don't exercise enough, generally stuck in a rut.
Please share your inspirational videos, or books, that will give me the kick up the butt I need to get my arse in gear.
There's nothing really wrong here, just I know it could be better, and I have no mentor or goals. Good job, enough money, free gym through work etc etc.
I'm sure you've got a saved video somewhere that will be the nudge that I need.

You need to get into a sport or something competitive, in my experience only narcissists really make the gym a long term habit. If you like playing out with your mates on bikes then that will do, just make sure you're home for your tea, otherwise do the parkrun thing or a martial art, boxing, football, rugby, hockey - they'll be something in your area you can get into, or sign up for a 10km or half marathon.

Just wanting to be a better version of yourself is a bit fudgy to put a stake into and unless you're already having health problems it's unlikely going to worry you into action for a few years yet.

[Slyjoe]

Well, the good news is I got of my arse and went to the gym - I dont seem to have lost anything that I was able to do before. 20 minutes on the cross trainer and a circuit of reps on the upper body machines. A light tea, a walk with the dog for a couple of miles and no booze on a school night. I already feel brighter today.
I bought some of those analysis scales - a BMI of 30 and fat of 28% kinda spurred me on.
Swimming tonight for an hour.
Then I might watch some ladies doing cross fit on you-tube

[toohangry]

Slyjoe said:

Well, the good news is I got of my arse and went to the gym - I dont seem to have lost anything that I was able to do before. 20 minutes on the cross trainer and a circuit of reps on the upper body machines. A light tea, a walk with the dog for a couple of miles and no booze on a school night. I already feel brighter today.
I bought some of those analysis scales - a BMI of 30 and fat of 28% kinda spurred me on.
Swimming tonight for an hour.
Then I might watch some ladies doing cross fit on you-tube

You'll get loads of advice from fatties or former fatties on here about things like fitnesspal and calories this and running that. The advice you want to hear is from people who didn't get fat in the first place as these are the people who have a lifestyle that works, weight wise.

IMO you're making the mistake of trying to do everything at once - suddenly exercising, stopping booze, dieting etc. When you fall off the wagon with one, the rest will fall too. You need to have a sustainable lifestyle, not a flash in the pan one that loses a few pounds but leaves you hankering for a massive curry and 8 pints all the time.

[J4CKO]

toohangry said:

Slyjoe said:

Well, the good news is I got of my arse and went to the gym - I dont seem to have lost anything that I was able to do before. 20 minutes on the cross trainer and a circuit of reps on the upper body machines. A light tea, a walk with the dog for a couple of miles and no booze on a school night. I already feel brighter today.
I bought some of those analysis scales - a BMI of 30 and fat of 28% kinda spurred me on.
Swimming tonight for an hour.
Then I might watch some ladies doing cross fit on you-tube

You'll get loads of advice from fatties or former fatties on here about things like fitnesspal and calories this and running that. The advice you want to hear is from people who didn't get fat in the first place as these are the people who have a lifestyle that works, weight wise.

IMO you're making the mistake of trying to do everything at once - suddenly exercising, stopping booze, dieting etc. When you fall off the wagon with one, the rest will fall too. You need to have a sustainable lifestyle, not a flash in the pan one that loses a few pounds but leaves you hankering for a massive curry and 8 pints all the time.

Surely someone who has actually lived it and knows what works is in a better position, some people naturally dont have to work at it, or have jobs that have them outside all the time climbing ladders and lifting bags of sand ?

I would agree that it needs to be gradual change, my biggest issue is definitely falling off the wagon, life tends to get in the way and when something happens it is easy to say, sod it and carry on as before, when really you need to do damage limitation, have a night off, a curry and a few beers but the next day, back to discipline.

[Alex106]

The turning point for me in relation to exercise occurred when I became aware of sugar contents in foods/drinks and made an effort to reduce my intake I found everything easier. I dont have lots of small sugar highs throughout the day and then lows. I just have more energy all the time. Its made my gym routines a lot easier and generally I feel a lot better about myself.

The main things I did were to stop fizzy drinks entirely, I didnt like them before so this wasnt difficult. Not add sugar to tea/coffee and I stopped having pudding. The first two weeks were the hardest, now if I do have a sugary thing, It makes me feel sick and I realise again why I quit it. I have porridge with various fruit toppings (Mostly blueberries and banana, cinnamon optional) for breakfast most days. No cereal at all.

I get sugar from fruits and milk mostly now. I do get cravings, mostly late at night, when this happens or I am around people that eat that sort of thing Il have a decaf black coffee instead.

I rambled a bit..

[toohangry]

J4CKO said:

Surely someone who has actually lived it and knows what works is in a better position, some people naturally dont have to work at it, or have jobs that have them outside all the time climbing ladders and lifting bags of sand ?

Disregarding the physical jobs, as I agree with you there, do you really think there are people who are 'just thin' or is it that they have a more healthy lifestyle?

I don't know a single fat person who I couldn't, very easily, point at several reasons why they're fat. Likewise, of all the normal sized people I know I can't point at a single one and say 'I've no idea why you're normal'. However, I know a fair few yoyo tubbies and not many who keep it off...

[Slyjoe]

Luckily, I eat very few processed foods - evening meal is usually cooked from scratch. I don't do fizzy drinks at all, I prefer water or tea (1 sugar) my main problems are a vino of an evening and savouries.
Trouble is 80% of my job is sat on my bum in front of a computer.
Also cycling seems to be the new Golf at work, and I'm not sure I ever liked golf for the same reasons.
However - I am lucky enough to be able to cycle or walk to work - so I will take advantage of that.

[J4CKO]

toohangry said:

J4CKO said:

Surely someone who has actually lived it and knows what works is in a better position, some people naturally dont have to work at it, or have jobs that have them outside all the time climbing ladders and lifting bags of sand ?

Disregarding the physical jobs, as I agree with you there, do you really think there are people who are 'just thin' or is it that they have a more healthy lifestyle?

I don't know a single fat person who I couldn't, very easily, point at several reasons why they're fat. Likewise, of all the normal sized people I know I can't point at a single one and say 'I've no idea why you're normal'. However, I know a fair few yoyo tubbies and not many who keep it off...

I know why I am overweight, sedantary job, age, sloth, beer, food and it creeps on slowly. it is indeed pretty simple.

But I do know people who are on the face of it slim, but they are far from healthy, one guy I worked with looked slim but was far from healthy, he smoked, at crap, never exercised and had a heart attack, anyone can have one and it is more likely based on being larger but a 32 inch waist doesn't get anyone off the hook.

Some people seem to eat crap and never put in weight on, a lad I used to live next door to is trim as anything but all he eats is crap, he ate ten Krispy Kreme donuts the other day, a Ginsters Pasty and a load of sweets, god knows how he remains slim, and isnt diabetic, so I would say to him, and do "I have no idea how you are normal", well he isnt normal but he is normal weight. He buys one of those Starbucks sickly caramel coffee things each day for the way home.

So it isn't always down to healthy lifestyle, I see a lot of slim folk stood in the smoking shed at work hacking away, see plenty of people in my local that are int here every single time I venture in, one bloke who is pencil thin, very dapper, drinks six pints of bitter every night, every single, solitary night, how does that work, that is like 1200 calories of beer, says he doesnt do any exercise apart from walking his dog.

[PoleDriver]

I was in the same situation when I was 41. I got a 21 year old girlfriend!
She sorted me out within a year!

I seem to have let myself go again, maybe I should try the same approach?

I do believe that she is 'available' again?!

[grumbledoak]

I think it was this talk:
https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_mcdougall_ar...
(Christopher McDougall, Are we born to run)

and this image:


that got me off my arse at a similar point in my life.