Weight Loss....Walking, Biking, Rollerblading?

[MagicMan08]

Short Version:
I am 6'4", over weight, but not morbidly, with a bigger build in the first place even if I were in shape...

If I were to go start out at like 2 miles; Weight lost wise, what would be most beneficial to me? Biking, Blading, or Walking? Time is not an issue, and I will eventually make the distance longer and longer.

Does it really make a difference as long as the heart rate is up?


Longer Version:
Route has some minor hills, nothing large, but slow ya down a bit. Walking it takes me I donno 20-25 min or so at a comfy but brisk pace to do two miles, I donno roughly 15 minutes to do the 2 miles blading but it feels way more strenuous (right now anyway), and I am gunna try the biking tomorrow evening.

Can doing one or the other pay a better benefit to weight loss? I am also working on controlling my portions such as well....and have cut out drinking for the most part and already cut like 20 lbs or so....eventually working up to some weight lifting to tone and fill in the emptyness with muscle....

[The_Hammer]

I just started working out again after a year and a half layoff due to 2 back surgeries. But I have a great deal of experience with exercise and exercise science.

So with that said-no, it makes no difference what activity you do-the key is to enjoy it! After you are maintaining an optimal heart rate (see your Doctor before beginning any exercise program; I mean it, I love ya and want you to benefit, not die!) for one hour three times a week, begin some resistance training; weights, Cybex, or Nautilus.

Enjoy your new physique!

[toad]

I didn't have a drivers license for 14 years. The last ten years of my revocation I rode a bicycle. I was 50 years old when I started. The last 8 1/2 without a license, ending in January of 2007, I rode over 40,000 miles on my different bikes. I tried to ride 20 miles a day. Even though I was daily exercising, I did not loose any weight. My eating habits did not change. Of course, I was not trying to loose weight, only to exercise to help with depression and staying sober. When I started driving in 2007 I found that I did not ride my bicycle as much and started gaining weight. I'm 5'8" and last november I weighed 229 pounds. I started going to the ymca and being winter, I started lifting weights and using the tredmill. At first on the tredmill I could only run 1 tenth of a mile and walk about 4 tenths. Slowly over the next few months I became able to run further. With warmer weather I have started running on the road, and most days I run 3.5 miles. I am down to 200 pounds, but find that I have reached a plateau and I am not loosing. The problem is that as I loose weight, my eating picks up. I rationalize by saying to myself, "I have lost some pounds so I can eat at this buffett." Things like that keep me from loosing. Just like my alcoholism, the problem is in my mind rather than my body.

I do enjoy running though............man do I feel good after I wash the stink off.

The way I look at it..........when you exercise, if you ain't starting to stink, you ain't doin' much good.

Welcome to the forum........and thanks for sharing...........toad the tet vet

[MagicMan08]

Yea my doctor simply said lose some weight before you start doing a lot of lifting and stuff, as it is hard on your heart, but according to a new weight I am about 30 lbs lighter now....but I am not 100% how accurate that scale was either

[best]

As my Dr pointed out to me...

My bike has a 2.9 gallon tank. If I put one gallon in the tank daily, I need use the gas daily or over fill the tank by day 3. The energy output needs to be more then the fuel input for me to reach the reserve tank (drop the weight)
Walking... uses more muscles and uses the bigger muscles (good thing)
A bike... uses the bigger muscles and depending upon how brisk you ride it can burn more energy per hour then walking but I find a bike ride could be relaxing and so so on energy use over time if not done in a brisk manner. A board or blading...Well if you can do it...it is just fun to do.

As Toad said...if your not stinking (working up a sweat) you ain't doin' much good.

Walking is said to be very good for our heart and general health. I lean more towards things I enjoy so in that manner I would do it more often and thus gain better results. More energy used... more fuel burned.

[Rarly Harley]

I'm 6' 2" and 210 pounds. I'm not carrying much fat really, except for my gut, which won't budge. Having said that, I am also an alchoholic and I don't know how to eat only one bowl of frozen yogurt, or only two cookies, or one slice of cake. (Progress not perfection LOL). My previous sponsor has about the same build as me, with the same gut and he says " Well at least you can't get arrested for fat driving." LOL....
As far as exercise goes, I'm 55 and I took up downhill skiing again last winter, after a 14 year hiatus, I'm getting more walking in and I even participated in a Dragon Boat race last weekend. What I know for sure, is that stretching before and after any form of exercise is key for me. If I don't, I'm gonna pay with sore muscles, joint and back...Here's a pic of our crew in the race and me stretchin' after....LOL

[The_Hammer]

LOL Rarly in repose.

[Jazzed_N_MD]

I'm a blue collar worker by day, (exercise) and I try to have sex every other night (cardio). Depends on wifey mode.

The economy is dictating my weight right now.

I eat light and only when it hurts from not eating, (addict = wont change till it hurts). I get plenty of rest, (sleep).

I am overweight by my standards, (still think I'm young sometimes and should have a 34' waist). 6' 1" @ 235-240lbs w/ 38' waist (42-44 @ the navel). 2 weeks ago, I was at least 40 in the waist and have no idea what I was @ the navel.

I guess this is my summer trim. Cause at 51...

There is no gym!!!

Vacation may bring more exertion, be sure to balance with more rest. (See pic in previous posting).

[best]

Originally Posted by Jazzed_N_MD

and I try to have sex every other night (cardio). Depends on wifey mode.

I would like to exercise for the two minutes every other day as well *LOL*

[MagicMan08]

I exercise to get to exercise with this new girl i met

[toad]

Originally Posted by MagicMan08

I exercise to get to exercise with this new girl i met

Hey Magic,

How you doing dude?

you said that you still drink. Do you still drink alcohol? If so, how often and how much.............just being curious.


.........In recovery, in service, in unity...........toad

PS...........do you ride?


share this with me.......................

My own people laugh at me. All day long they sing their mocking songs. He has filled me with bitterness. He has given me a cup of deep sorrow to drink. He has made me grind my teeth in gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!”
The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
Lamentations 3:14-23 NLT

About eight years ago I got a hold of these verses of Scripture and I came to realize that they defined my life, how it was, and what happened. Jeremiah was writing about the nation of Israel, but when I read it I could see myself when I was in the death grips of addictions. It all started with “grind my teeth in gravel.” That reminded me of a time in the parking lot of a bar on the Missouri-Arkansas state line when things were not going my way. I have been rolled in the dirt and dust many times either by my own force or somebody else’s. I remember times when peace was stripped away and even my sleep left me because of thoughts that rolled over and over in my mind about the way I was living. I have seen money and many forms of material and spiritual prosperity just slip away with no resistance. Months of my life have been spent as a homeless person bumming a bed here or there, or sleeping where I could. Jeremiah went on to say about the nation of Israel that he would never forget that awful time, and so it is in my life, I cannot forget regardless of how much I wish it was not there. But then………”the unfailing love of God.” And brand new mercy that is extended to me each day by faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross. God’s love is one-way and it just keeps a coming. Even when I screw up, it just keeps a coming. About eight years ago in my recovery from alcoholism and addictions I got this deep in my spirit that I will never run out of mercy from God. I came to know that I never have to drink or use again because of the hope I find new each morning. What a promise……..God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………………toad

“Perhaps we are brokenhearted because of bitter suffering in our family. Maybe our once-good reputation has been ruined and now we are ashamed. Our life has been taken captive and destroyed before the watchful eyes of friends and foes alike………….turning our lives over to God includes giving him our pain and suffering. In our times of grief and shame we can hope, knowing that God will help us overcome the problems we face. God is strong enough to lift our burdens and loving enough to mend our broken heart.” THE LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 943

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by toad

Hey Magic,

How you doing dude?

you said that you still drink. Do you still drink alcohol? If so, how often and how much.............just being curious.


.........In recovery, in service, in unity...........toad

PS...........do you ride?


share this with me.......................

My own people laugh at me. All day long they sing their mocking songs. He has filled me with bitterness. He has given me a cup of deep sorrow to drink. He has made me grind my teeth in gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!”
The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
Lamentations 3:14-23 NLT

About eight years ago I got a hold of these verses of Scripture and I came to realize that they defined my life, how it was, and what happened. Jeremiah was writing about the nation of Israel, but when I read it I could see myself when I was in the death grips of addictions. It all started with “grind my teeth in gravel.” That reminded me of a time in the parking lot of a bar on the Missouri-Arkansas state line when things were not going my way. I have been rolled in the dirt and dust many times either by my own force or somebody else’s. I remember times when peace was stripped away and even my sleep left me because of thoughts that rolled over and over in my mind about the way I was living. I have seen money and many forms of material and spiritual prosperity just slip away with no resistance. Months of my life have been spent as a homeless person bumming a bed here or there, or sleeping where I could. Jeremiah went on to say about the nation of Israel that he would never forget that awful time, and so it is in my life, I cannot forget regardless of how much I wish it was not there. But then………”the unfailing love of God.” And brand new mercy that is extended to me each day by faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross. God’s love is one-way and it just keeps a coming. Even when I screw up, it just keeps a coming. About eight years ago in my recovery from alcoholism and addictions I got this deep in my spirit that I will never run out of mercy from God. I came to know that I never have to drink or use again because of the hope I find new each morning. What a promise……..God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………………toad

“Perhaps we are brokenhearted because of bitter suffering in our family. Maybe our once-good reputation has been ruined and now we are ashamed. Our life has been taken captive and destroyed before the watchful eyes of friends and foes alike………….turning our lives over to God includes giving him our pain and suffering. In our times of grief and shame we can hope, knowing that God will help us overcome the problems we face. God is strong enough to lift our burdens and loving enough to mend our broken heart.” THE LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 943

Toad: I love you Brother, but don't ya think this is more appropriate for the Christians in Recovery Forum...? I do. Let me add my repost....

I feel very strongly about this subject Brothers & Sisters. I am an AA die-hard and I believe with all my heart that God led me to AA and AA led me to God.
When I entered my first AA meeting however, if you folks had of been thumping the bible, quoting scripture and telling me that I had to be saved, I probably would have kicked all the tables over, caused a mighty rucus, stormed out never to return and died drunk. I thank God for his love of us drunks, that he sent Ebby Thatcher to see Bill Wilson one Sunday morning. Bill was drinking gin in his kitchen when Ebby showed up sober. Bill asked Ebby what happened. Ebby said, " I got religion." Bill automatically thought to himself, " My gin supply will last longer than your preaching."
Now Brothers & Sisters, Ebby replied with God's words, when he said, " Bill, why don't you choose your own conception of God..?" Thus the term " Higher Power " was coined as a life saving term that all drunks could swallow and enable them to begin their spiritual journey. The term " Higher Power " enabled me to stay in AA, period. I firmly believe that God gave us drunks AA, so that all of us, whether athiests, agnostics, non-belivers, God haters, religion & church haters, all of us of every colour & stripe, could get through the wide portal of AA and begin their own individual spiritual journey with a Higher Power of their own choosing. That has certainly been the case for me and today I can freely talk about my daily connection with God, the greatest gift that you AA folks have given me.
In AA meetings however, I am very carefull to say "Higher Power" when I know there are newcomers in the room, so I don't scare them away to certain death, with talk of God. I am also very vocal when anyone else starts to speak in religious terms in an AA meeting, whether it be about the bible, church, or having to be saved by Jesus. I let them know in no uncertain terms that religion has no place in AA and their bible-thumping can actually kill people. I am ever vigilant to the fact that the newcomer is the most important person in any AA meeting and I feel it is my duty to protect them from over-zealous, however well-meaning they are, religion thumpers of various colours & hues. I thank God for AA and all His many blessings in my life and I will continue to step up to the plate to help others find their own path, of their own choosing.....

[toad]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Toad: I love you Brother, but don't ya think this is more appropriate for the Christians in Recovery Forum...? I do. Let me add my repost....

I feel very strongly about this subject Brothers & Sisters. I am an AA die-hard and I believe with all my heart that God led me to AA and AA led me to God.
When I entered my first AA meeting however, if you folks had of been thumping the bible, quoting scripture and telling me that I had to be saved, I probably would have kicked all the tables over, caused a mighty rucus, stormed out never to return and died drunk. I thank God for his love of us drunks, that he sent Ebby Thatcher to see Bill Wilson one Sunday morning. Bill was drinking gin in his kitchen when Ebby showed up sober. Bill asked Ebby what happened. Ebby said, " I got religion." Bill automatically thought to himself, " My gin supply will last longer than your preaching."
Now Brothers & Sisters, Ebby replied with God's words, when he said, " Bill, why don't you choose your own conception of God..?" Thus the term " Higher Power " was coined as a life saving term that all drunks could swallow and enable them to begin their spiritual journey. The term " Higher Power " enabled me to stay in AA, period. I firmly believe that God gave us drunks AA, so that all of us, whether athiests, agnostics, non-belivers, God haters, religion & church haters, all of us of every colour & stripe, could get through the wide portal of AA and begin their own individual spiritual journey with a Higher Power of their own choosing. That has certainly been the case for me and today I can freely talk about my daily connection with God, the greatest gift that you AA folks have given me.
In AA meetings however, I am very carefull to say "Higher Power" when I know there are newcomers in the room, so I don't scare them away to certain death, with talk of God. I am also very vocal when anyone else starts to speak in religious terms in an AA meeting, whether it be about the bible, church, or having to be saved by Jesus. I let them know in no uncertain terms that religion has no place in AA and their bible-thumping can actually kill people. I am ever vigilant to the fact that the newcomer is the most important person in any AA meeting and I feel it is my duty to protect them from over-zealous, however well-meaning they are, religion thumpers of various colours & hues. I thank God for AA and all His many blessings in my life and I will continue to step up to the plate to help others find their own path, of their own choosing.....

Sorry...............its part of my recovery and I'll post what I want here. If you don't like it..........tuff.

[MagicMan08]

I am christian, so I can relate....thank you. But I also interpret things my own way, I am afterall an intellectual.

[toad]

Originally Posted by MagicMan08

I am christian, so I can relate....thank you. But I also interpret things my own way, I am afterall an intellectual.

How ya doing Magic.