mike_c primitive succumbs to fat

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=337x3659

Oh my.

This is old, but there's not much going on today, on Skins's island.

mike_c  (1000+ posts)        Mon May-26-08 04:11 PM
Original message
 
mike_c checking in for a bit of a tune-up....

I'm up to 255 so it's time to do something about it. I'm 6'1" and have a generally large physique, so my ideal weight is probably in the 190 range-- I mean, I'm trim and fit at 190 so that's my target. I need to shed about 65 pounds.

Healthwise my biggest issue-- and impediment to weight loss-- is severe plantar fasciitis, proximally caused by nasty over-pronation but ultimately aggravated, if not outright caused by excess weight. I'm too heavy for my own ankles. This is a drag because foot pain makes it harder to get the exercise I need to help lose weight. Luckily I'm finding ways to manage the plantar problem and biking seems relatively pain free.

My work encourages me to be too sedentary and advancing middle age doesn't help either. On the plus side, during summer I have lots of time on my hands so I can control my diet and exercise more easily. So howdy Weight Loss/Maintenance Group! I'll be spending more time in here.

My feet don't hurt today so I'm off now to take a walk!

auntAgonist  (1000+ posts)        Mon May-26-08 04:20 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. hey Mike_C. WELCOME!

Good shoes, get yourself some good walking shoes. Have you gone to an orthopod or a chiropodist? Maybe some inserts for your shoes would help? I don't know  Just a thought.

Congrats to you on your recognizing the need to get your health and weight under control.

Another thought, water aerobics? You wouldn't have to join a Y or anything if you lived near a swimming pool or even a lake. You could exercise in the water and not put any load on your feet at all.

My thoughts are so scattered these days I hope some of this made sense to you!

Most of all WELCOME, come back often and let us know if we can help in ANY way 

Good, well-fitting, strong shoes are great for encouraging one to be on one's feet, walking around, getting lots and lots of exercise.

That's why franksolich buys only used shoes from thrift stores, as they're already broken in, and comfortable.....and usually only 99 cents a pair.

The only times in his life franksolich has had "feet problems" were those times he purchased brand-new top-of-the-line shoes from expensive clothiers.

mike_c  (1000+ posts)        Mon May-26-08 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. thanks, aA....

My physical therapist identified the cause of the pain and recommended PowerStep insoles-- they've helped a LOT, and although they're not cheap, they're a fraction of the cost of custom orthopedics so I can put them into all my shoes. I've had weeks and weeks when I could barely stand the pain of walking, but lately I've improved to the point where I'm walking recreationally again-- something I'd just about given up on. I walked for a solid hour this afternoon on a local bike trail. It feels great!

Hmmm.  The ungrateful primitive again, the primitive who didn't appreciate that fine Christmas present from her relative:

lavenderdiva  (1000+ posts)      Mon May-26-08 09:43 PM
Response to Original message

3. Welcome to the group, mike_c!

Congratulations on your new beginning! I'm sorry to hear about your feet, and am wondering if you might pursue bike-riding? A couple of other members that post here are doing the recumbent bike or the stationary biking. I think aA's suggestion of good shoes is a great one. Perhaps in the beginning, take short walks so that you don't unintentionally hurt your feet further. Then it will take you longer to get going again; just be careful.

Glad to have you with us!

mike_c  (1000+ posts)        Tue May-27-08 01:04 AM
Response to Reply #3
 
4. yup, I'm a long time bicyclist, but...

...my schedule this last year really disrupted my bike riding. I'm hoping to remedy that this summer!

mike_c  (1000+ posts)        Tue May-27-08 04:39 PM
Response to Reply #5
 
6. thanks for the advice....

I'm using towel stretches in bed in the morning, snagging the ball of each foot with a towel and then hauling on the ends to stretch the PF, and occasional hamstring stretches during the day. I also ice my PF with a frozen water bottle. Frankly, I hate the ice almost as much as I hate the fasciitis!

I'm actually doing pretty well at the moment though-- able to take fitness walks most days, which is a real improvement. PowerSteps have REALLY helped as much as anything else, though. That super arch support makes a big difference for me. I even wear them in my slippers!

54anickel  (1000+ posts)      Tue May-27-08 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #6
 
7. I have something similar (I think) from the Good Feet store. Bought them many years ago before they started the infomercials. Haven't used them in a long time - 1)needed to replace the pad that goes over them and 2)I started wearing clogs. I should dig those up and try them again in my walking shoes. I originally got them to help with back problems which have recently come back, though not as bad (yet).

Ms. Toad  (1000+ posts)      Sun Jun-01-08 07:00 PM
Response to Original message
 
8. Ultimately, Weight is far more connected to what you eat than how much you exercise. If you look at the calories burned for any reasonable amount of exercise, you'll find out you can drop the pounds far more easily by cutting out 500-1000 calories a day from what you are eating now than the exercise it would take to burn that many calories.

An hour of walking, for example, gets you 200 or so calories (depending on weight). It would take me 17.5 days to burn a pound by walking an hour a day - every day. It would take me 7 days to lose that pound by eating 500 fewer calories than I need to maintain my weight. Frankly, I don't find exercise of much value with respect to weight loss - other than when I am exercising a lot I feel less like eating. (Not to say there aren't other benefits to exercise - just not much direct connection in my experience to losing weight.)

Once you have dropped some weight, it will be less painful to exercise and then you can have the benefit of both.

(Just dropped 49 lbs without increasing exercise at all).

[Chris]

Stretching is important especially if you're "older" or un-conditioned.  Same for good ankle and foot support.  Those two things would probably help him.  Walking around in ill-fitting shoes only makes it worse.

My longest walking route is a little less than four miles.  I did that yesterday and forgot to stretch after sitting at work all day.  I made it about a mile and thought I was going to die.  I still finished my route, but it took longer than usual.  Did the same route the day before (after stretching) and didn't have a single problem.  I've been doing it for a little over a month and the beer gut seems to have receeded a bit. 

[Chris]

Even if you're too lazy to swim, treading water for thirty minutes is great exercise especially if you're near a beach and can do it against a current.

[Airwolf]

I have found that you don;t need to really excercise at all to lose weight. In My job,during the summer you can lose weight just standing outside on or near concret 8-12 hours a day and not really have to do much movement. I was about 235 and I'm 6'1". when I started working for this company back in 2005 that is what I was at. Now in the start of 2009 I'm closer to 210 and going down. I haven't done much diet wise and I have had to sweat off alot of the weight. I can do alot more but I don't have the cash to visit a gym right now.

Before.

 

As I am now



One would think that bug guy would lose weight from all that bullshit he shovels to his students.

[Chris]

Argh.  That huge picutre was killing me. 

I fixed that for you.

[Chris]

8-12 hours?  I wish I had that kind of time.  Congrats on your weight loss.  I'm 5'11 and seem to hover around 225-230.  If I can get under 200 and stay there, I'll be happy.

I have no intention of changing my diet.  I love food and I like to eat.  I'm just trying to eat a little less of it (and cutting back on the beer). 

[Airwolf]

Argh.  That huge picutre was killing me. 

I fixed that for you.

Thanks Chris. I only have tha tkind of time because of where I work. Its outside and for the most part in the sun during the summer and no A/C, No place to put it if we had a one . It's just us and our own cars to use at the gate while we work. If we get to a gate where there is a smal shack then its 50% glass on all sides and no A/C in it either so it doesn't count. After the gas prices this year we were not about to run our cars just to use the A/C.

[Chris]

Thanks Chris. I only have tha tkind of time because of where I work. Its outside and for the most part in the sun during the summer and no A/C, No place to put it if we had a one . It's just us and our own cars to use at the gate while we work. If we get to a gate where there is a smal shack then its 50% glass on all sides and no A/C in it either so it doesn't count. After the gas prices this year we were not about to run our cars just to use the A/C.

That sounds pretty awful.

Worst I ever had to deal with was being in a kitchen with a broken AC in the middle of summer in Tennessee.  No AC, standing next to a stack of ovens, deep fryers, and heat lamps, running around cooking stuff.  You started to melt as soon as you walked in the door.  I had some trouble at first, but if you remembered to keep hydrated, you'll be okay.

[Airwolf]

That sounds pretty awful.

Worst I ever had to deal with was being in a kitchen with a broken AC in the middle of summer in Tennessee.  No AC, standing next to a stack of ovens, deep fryers, and heat lamps, running around cooking stuff.  You started to melt as soon as you walked in the door.  I had some trouble at first, but if you remembered to keep hydrated, you'll be okay.

Thats been about the only way we can make it out there. Alot of water/Gatorade or the like. Otherwise it's more then likely that you would end up feeling bad from the dehydration at the least and worse on some of the days. At least with the gate wit hthe shack the firestaion at the Airport  in just across the road and they check on the guards there all the time. The other guards are helped by the Airport Police if they need something .