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Anyone else losing weight?

Original Post
Charles Kinbote · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 5

Long story short, I got a new job last May and got fat. I've been gradually losing the pudge since December. 10 pounds down, 15 to go. It's coming off consistently, but the daily grind is starting to get to me. Anyone else out there grinding it out and losing that beer belly and love handles? This ish is gross.

Sys Ex · · Lake Forest, CA · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 65

Running 20-40m daily will melt that fat away. Diet is key though. Caloric deficit, nutrition, physical activity. Cardio being the best.

Sounds like you're getting bored with your routine, so perhaps change it up a bit. If you can't then just be patient as it appears what you're doing is working, anyway.

Charles Kinbote · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 5

Jake - I'm eating tons of veggies. Crushing raw broccoli and carrots by the fistfull. Great way to fill up without a lot of calories. Just can't escape the fact that when ya eat at a caloric deficit, yer gonna be a little hungry sometimes.

Sys - I enjoy road cycling, and I know it would drastically speed up the process, but the weather has been friggin' awful this winter. The roads are covered in snow, ice, and salt. And I don't want to pony up the money for an indoor trainer.

Just gotta be patient I suppose.

Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 270

I've dropped from 190 to 170-172. trying to get to 165. I've just been doing the caloric deficit + climbing a lot thing. For some reason, I still can't get my legs to shrink :( and that last little bit of belly pudge is sooooooo resistant

Marek Sapkovski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 65

My weight goals are fairly modest, I need to lose 10 pounds back to 137. The very last bits are so hard to get rid of, though, literally need to starve myself to get there and get real unhappy. Don't know, maybe I should start smoking cigarettes to suppress appetite.

StonEmber · · Raleigh, NC · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 35

If you are 147, Marek, and worried about losing ten pounds, than you should DEF start smoking cigarettes.

Oh, I broke my ankle years ago playing soccer, and went from 170 to 195. After trying everything, I started going on 4-8 hour hikes. Started shedding weight quick with the sustained, low heart rate cardio

Dobson · · Butte, MT · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 215

Have any of you tried just alpine climbing? I'm actively trying NOT to lose weight, but alpine keeps messing with my efforts.

Dustin Drake · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 5

I'm currently grinding as well. It's not fun, especially as someone who likes to eat and lift weights. It just comes down to being patient and willingness to suffer for an extended period of time. Just gotta suck it up and stay committed.

koreo · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 85

I'm the anti-climber as far as losing weight is concerned. Put on some lean mass and the fat will fall.

Marek Sapkovski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 65
Ari Kantola wrote:If you are 147, Marek, and worried about losing ten pounds
I know it sounds like a joke. Getting your weight down is the easiest way to get your grip to weight up. My peak climbing weight was 130 (59kg) and I am 5'10" (179cm), but I doubt I can ever get there again.
Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Jake Jones wrote:Dude, I went plant-based whole foods diet like a month ago just for shits and giggles and I have lost 7 lbs with no change in routine. Haven't had much trouble adjusting, but then again I was never really a chow hound. I'm 6'2" and right at 190. My best performance weight is around the 175 to 180 range which is where I was at in October just before I had knee surgery. So like you, I'm about halfway there. Hang in there and keep in mind that the belly and love handles will be the last thing to go so don't get discouraged.
Could you describe your routine a little more? Did you become a vegetarian?

Similar issue for me, knee problems (patello-femoral syndrome in my case) totally derailed my cardio, and on went the pounds.
Eric G. · · Saratoga Springs, NY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 70
Marek Sapkovski wrote:My weight goals are fairly modest, I need to lose 10 pounds back to 137. The very last bits are so hard to get rid of, though, literally need to starve myself to get there and get real unhappy. Don't know, maybe I should start smoking cigarettes to suppress appetite.
Do you think that's a healthy goal?
Mitch · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 95

Have you guys tried throwing up?

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 269
Charles Kinbote wrote:I enjoy road cycling, and I know it would drastically speed up the process, but the weather has been friggin' awful this winter. The roads are covered in snow, ice, and salt. And I don't want to pony up the money for an indoor trainer.
You can sometimes score a good deal on the trainers on CL - they make awful noise and NYC apt sizes don't help I suppose. I had scored a nice Cyclops one for $50 when I lived there. They are extremely boring though, so make sure you get endless recordings of Tour de France or something like that...
Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245
Charles Kinbote wrote: I enjoy road cycling, and I know it would drastically speed up the process, but the weather has been friggin' awful this winter. The roads are covered in snow, ice, and salt. And I don't want to pony up the money for an indoor trainer. Just gotta be patient I suppose.
You need to find something to do durin the winter months, or else you'll gain weight every winter, job or no job. If your body gets accustommed to burning a certain amount of calories and then you decrease activity, there is only one thing that is sure to happen, you're gonna gain weight. Maybe CX? That's what all the cyclists do aroun here in winter. Although we don't have snow covered roads... I think it's just an excuse to get another bike.
Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245
Hobo wrote:Have you guys tried throwing up?
That's not funny.
The Call Of K2 Lou · · Squamish, BC · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 20

I'm getting back in shape after injuries to shoulder, ribs, ankles and heels last October. I had lost 20 pounds last summer but put 10 back on over Christmas (I knew I'd be on the fitness plan as soon as I was healed, so I figured what the hell). Been at it about 3 weeks, lots of hiking up hills, easy bouldering, and starting to add some running and weight training.
As for diet, I usually eat fairly healthy, and in the past 6 months I've phased out the really unhealthy facets of my diet (drive-thru type stuff). I've also started counting calories to pinpoint where improvements could be made.

kenr · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 16,608
Charles Kinbote wrote:Crushing raw broccoli and carrots by the fistfull. Great way to fill up without a lot of calories.
I think that philosophy of high-volume low-calorie food is good. How about some more variety -- different kinds of vegetables, different mixes, experiment with different spices.

In the last couple of months, I had to lose some weight after I over-gained, after I needed to build muscle-mass after an injury. At first it wasn't getting anywhere, but then I got serious.

Counting:
Fundamentally, losing weight is a numbers game. So if you're truly serious then you have to count (approximately): calories eaten, calories burned in basal metabolism, calories expended through incidental fidgeting and getting around in daily life, calories expended in explicit exercise.
The exception I make is that I don't count any calories from true vegetables (Note that potato + corn are not vegetables). Otherwise ...
I do count all the calories from healthy foods. Otherwise it's easy to overdo it on healthy food. Losing weight is not much about unhealthy versus healthy, bad food versus good food -- it's mainly about finding excuses to eat less food.

When the roads are bad for cycling, snowshoeing (actually often people use micro-spikes for hardpack trail conditions) or cross-country skiing can be a good alternative.
-> But really cardio doesn't burn so many calories. I think it has a more important purpose ... to distract you from eating. So the key is not to be sipping energy drinks or munching bars or goos all the time while you're doing it.

A trick to teach your body fat-burning is to exercise on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

Ken
Marek Sapkovski · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 65
The Cowardly Noob wrote: Do you think that's a healthy goal?
Climbing is not really a healthy sport :) An anorexic has a much better chance at the crag then a fitness model.

When I was climbing harder, I'd actually try to cycle my weight depending on the stage of the training cycle. When training endurance or power, I would eat more and gain a few kilos, but by the time to send my project, I'd be as thin as I could be.

Hobo wrote:Have you guys tried throwing up?
All the time. My favourite past time.
Mike Belu · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 135

I like to think that the blubber I've strategically placed on my body this holiday season is like a built in weight vest. It's so hard to eat healthy for me. Put down the double cheese burger and walk away...

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974

I found the book "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald (recommended by Dave MacLeod) pretty helpful.

I can't bring myself to count calories, so focus on daily weigh-ins and making a point of simply eating my usual diet, but less of it when trying to lose weight.

It is hard to get down the last 5 pounds and stay there.

I also liked a suggestion from a different thread, to have a panic weight, and if you hit that on the way up, to do whatever to get back below it.

PS Kenr, welcome back. Not a serious injury I hope?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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