M@ as hell...

[MannishBoy]

M@, glad you are working at figuring things out. This fitness/health thing is as much if not more a mental game than it is physical. The physical thing for me followed the mental thing.

I think you are doing an interesting experiment for you. I think you can definitely live without supps and still reach goals, and if that allows you to get off various meds, all the better.

On the exercise, we all work toward balance there. I've gotten pretty comfortable in my own skin in the last year or so and have gotten to a maintenance point that's pretty easy for me. I'm not adding tons of muscle and I'm not super ripped, but I don't feel like I'm killing myself with all the measuring and weighing and tracking, either. Not that I won't have goals to reach in the future, I'm just putting my fitness level in what I think is the proper perspective instead of having to be so deep in I can't see up. Hopefully you'll get to that point as well.

Best of luck.

Originally Posted by smalltex

I've quit taking protein supplements after reading this recently--
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsro.../ucm171458.htm

You really don't know what goes on behind the scenes with this stuff.

I'm on a real food kick now!

I'm not sure that's straight logic from one company having bad practices to a whole supplement industry. After all, we've had huge recalls and even deaths from organic spinach and lettuce contamination. Following the same logic would say to not eat any vegetables from the store

[guava]

Originally Posted by M@

EDIT: Oh yeah! Good example - remember the whole "Matt goes crazy when he goes low-carb thing?" Guess what I do when I cut out carbs? If you answered "Drinks a fuckton of protein shakes!" you're absolutely correct.

EDIT 2: Also, the eureka moment was the news about the peanut butter/salmonella thing. One father was on the news saying that his son was sick and only wanted peanut butter sandwiches. That cycle of poisoning was what got me thinking about supplements. I actually had a dream where I was that kid and instead of peanut butter, I was drinking shakes.

Strange. I wonder why we poison ourselves?

Do you avoid high GI carbs, or do you find them not to be much of a problem? Because when you hear about dietary recommendations for ADHD the first thing they say is to take the sugar out of the diet. I've heard lots of advice about avoiding "additives" as well, but they're often harder to control than sugar, because they're so sneaky, and hide in places that you don't always think to check.

It's good to see that you're focused on your goals.

[Chopaholic]

Originally Posted by M@

I bear a striking resemblance to Jeffrey Lebowski.

[Seltzer]

M@, congrats on your continued avoidance of cigarettes.

You seem to have reached a point of increased clarity about how you want to approach things going forward with respect to your diet, meds, exercise, and supps. Good luck with it and as well with your MCM training.

[M@]

Originally Posted by Kilter

Good luck, man.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by phillydude

You can certainly do MCM in 13 weeks.

I'd better! After having to retire from the Baltimore Marathon and training for 12 weeks - only to skip - the Shamrock Marathon, I'm at the limit of reasonable attempts.

Third time's a charm, though.

Originally Posted by smalltex

You really don't know what goes on behind the scenes with this stuff.

My issue seems to be with the products in general. I try not to peer too keenly into how my food arrives on my plate, as a general rule.

Originally Posted by MannishBoy

On the exercise, we all work toward balance there.

I'll settle for something sustainable.

Originally Posted by guava

Strange. I wonder why we poison ourselves?

'cause it's easier.

Originally Posted by Chopaholic

Originally Posted by Seltzer

M@, congrats on your continued avoidance of cigarettes.

Thanks!

Smoking: I have been quit for 4 Months, 3 Days, 16 hours, 21 minutes and 55 seconds (125 days). I have saved $589.44 by not smoking 2,513 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 1 Day, 17 hours and 25 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 3/18/2009 10:30 PM

Weight: 230.75 lbs

I started a fullbody weight routine today. Nothing special - just a stock plan I pulled off of BB.com. With MCM training, I've only got three days available to lift and the bodypart splits aren't satisfying enough on that kind of schedule.

The great part about fullbody is that I get to work chest and shoulders three times a week. The shitty part is that I get to work legs three times a week.

I was starving after my workout. I went to the grocery store to get some food and stood there in a daze, head spinning, arguing with myself over what to get 'cause I couldn't think straight. I wound up with some weird Odwalla juice (mainly apple juice and raspberry puree), cottage cheese, and a salad. I've yet to eat the salad but the cottage cheese felt good and my belly is happy with it.

[dejavued]

man that's crazy how much of an effect those products were having on you. damn! glad you figured that out. have you ever googled around to see if that's fairly common??

so what have you done with the $584 u've saved not buying cigs??

it's question day i guess.

good job

[M@]

Originally Posted by dejavued

have you ever googled around to see if that's fairly common??

I haven't. My doctor was surprised by it - I had told him about the supplements long ago but neither of us thought it was a big deal since it was only protein powder and I was getting at least 1/2 my calories from whole foods.

Originally Posted by dejavued

so what have you done with the $584 u've saved not buying cigs??

I'm thinking of getting one of these:

[bballer143]

Originally Posted by M@

Smoking: I have been quit for 4 Months, 3 Days, 16 hours, 21 minutes and 55 seconds (125 days). I have saved $589.44 by not smoking 2,513 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 1 Day, 17 hours and 25 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 3/18/2009 10:30 PM

That's fantastic, M@! Congratulations, and keep it up!

[M@]

Thanks Grace!

Smoking: I have been quit for 4 Months, 1 Week, 1 Day, 16 hours, 26 minutes and 12 seconds (130 days). I have saved $612.90 by not smoking 2,613 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 2 Days, 1 hour and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 3/18/2009 10:30 PM

Weight: 229.50 lbs

Not much to report today. Still fat and I'm on my own for dinner tonight. I'm thinking cod & rice. Mmmm.

I've got the worst shin splints I've ever had. They throb constantly and have been waking me up in the middle of the night. I'm off the treadmill and onto the stationary bike for a while. Meh.

[adamh707]

M@? You still not smoking?

Admiration for you mate. My old lady quit, or should i say tried to. Went on prescription medication and did well for a few weeks. Now she goes out the back door and hides and smokes, which I is alot worse and deceitful.

Go hard mate!

[M@]

Originally Posted by adamh707

Now she goes out the back door and hides and smokes, which I is alot worse and deceitful.

It's a bitch of an addiction, man. I feel terrible for her that she has to go out and hide.

Still not smoking. Still fat. Somewhere around 233 lbs. I know what I have to do but I'm not able to make myself do it.

I spent $500 on clothes today - $350 work/$150 workout

I may be a total fatass, but at least I'll be comfortable.

[Shamie]

I have saved $612.90 by not smoking 2,613 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 2 Days, 1 hour and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 3/18/2009 10:30 PM

I spent $500 on clothes today - $350 work/$150 workout

In a sense, the clothes were free, since you posted on 7/27 that you saved $612.90 by quitting smoking.

I may be a total fatass, but at least I'll be comfortable.

Don't get too comfortable

Quote from Seinfeld: Jerry telling George: "You know the message you're sending out to the world with these sweat pants? You're telling the world: "I give up. I can't compete in normal society. I'm miserable, so I might as well be comfortable."

[phillydude]

Originally Posted by M@

Somewhere around 233 lbs.

This can NOT be true.

[M@]

Originally Posted by phillydude

This can NOT be true.

True: I'm 243 lbs as of this morning.

That's hideous.

I'm engaged. I'm still not smoking. My job seems to have finally gotten sane for the first time in years. Time to get this shit turned around.

I ate properly yesterday. No exercise, but at least I didn't eat badly and drink beer. I have meals ready to go in tupperware in the office 'fridge. I'm going to drop all this fat.

[phillydude]

Originally Posted by M@

True: I'm 243 lbs as of this morning.

That's hideous.

I'm engaged. I'm still not smoking. My job seems to have finally gotten sane for the first time in years. Time to get this shit turned around.

I ate properly yesterday. No exercise, but at least I didn't eat badly and drink beer. I have meals ready to go in tupperware in the office 'fridge. I'm going to drop all this fat.

Anything you need, pal... I'm here for ya.

[M@]

Originally Posted by phillydude

Anything you need, pal... I'm here for ya.

Lose 60 lbs for me?

[gravityhomer]

Originally Posted by M@

True: I'm 243 lbs as of this morning.

That's hideous.

I'm engaged. I'm still not smoking. My job seems to have finally gotten sane for the first time in years. Time to get this shit turned around.

I ate properly yesterday. No exercise, but at least I didn't eat badly and drink beer. I have meals ready to go in tupperware in the office 'fridge. I'm going to drop all this fat.

All's I can say is good luck, matt. Don't give up, don't stop believing, etc. I know how you feel. So hard to get/keep/attain that ideal physique we all have in our heads when your body feels like a sponge that just wants to absorb fat at all costs. I'm 6 weeks into my latest fat busting push. so far so good.

[Seltzer]

Originally Posted by M@

I'm engaged.

Congratulations!

Originally Posted by M@

I'm still not smoking.

Originally Posted by M@

My job seems to have finally gotten sane for the first time in years. Time to get this shit turned around.

I ate properly yesterday. No exercise, but at least I didn't eat badly and drink beer. I have meals ready to go in tupperware in the office 'fridge. I'm going to drop all this fat.

It all starts with a first day.

[phillydude]

Originally Posted by M@

Lose 60 lbs for me?

Tell you what... you lose 30 and I'll lose 30 and we'll do it together.

[carguy]

Congratulations on the engagement, Matt. I wish you two the best. You'll get your fitness routine back in gear. You know how to do it. Don't stay away from posting here. It seems that causes you to gain weight.