Help me totally change my eating habits... PLEASE. - Page 2

bluef0x · #1 01-21-2007, 12:44 AM

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Food: Grill chicken breasts, lean beef, etc. on your Foreman. Buy bagged salads and add some low fat dressing. Frozen veggies can be made quickly and made tasty with cheese, garlic, butter, etc. while remaining healthy.

Exercise: You definitely need to do cardio, and rowing machines are a good source. Definitely walk or bike whenever you have the chance, and possibly run or swim if possible.

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I can't wait until summer so I can actually BBQ some fresh asparagus. Do frozen vegetables actually taste good on the foreman grill? I've never actually tried to cook anything other than burgers and hot dogs on it.

What I find really odd is that if I went and played basketball right now, I'd be winded quickly. Yet if I go to the gym and bike for 35 minutes (on a high level, sprinting for a minute every other minute... this is in case I want to start playing hockey) I won't lose a breath. WTF?

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The exercise bike is a waste of time. You burn far less calories per hour than any other cardio activity besides maybe walking. That you get winded much more quickly playing basketball should not be a surprise at all. I see so many people at the gym not only on the exercise bike, but doing it half-speed while reading a magazine, and I'm just like, why bother?

Running is good, but personally I prefer the elliptical, as my feet blister easily. Really though, I think cardio is overrated in general. Good for losing weight/getting in shape initially, not so much thereafter. I did a lot back when I was first getting in shape, but now I'm eating healthy and on a regular weight-lifting routine so I consider it largely unnecessary. When you lift and add muscle, you increase the amount of calories you burn while resting.

Given your build I'd also recommend getting on a protein supplement (I recommend www.bodybuilding.com), preferably a low-fat one. You can lower your cholesterol and gain weight (muscle) at the same time.

Weight-lifting > cardio. (Although in your case it wouldn't hurt to do some at least for a little while.)

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Well, I was using the bike since that's what I read is great for hockey. I really just want to get into shape first, as I get winded so easily playing basketball. I didn't feel like I accomplished anything on the bike though, so I guess I'll try the treadmill. There's no where to really run around my apartments and I rather not look like an idiot.

edfurlong · #2 01-20-2007, 11:43 PM

You should pick up some kind of beginners nutrition guide. this is the first hit on amazon, I have no clue if its any good, but jesus dude, you sound like a five year old with this [censored].

bluef0x · #3 01-21-2007, 12:53 AM

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You should pick up some kind of beginners nutrition guide. this is the first hit on amazon, I have no clue if its any good, but jesus dude, you sound like a five year old with this [censored].

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I basically am. I've never cooked (parents + gf = wtf would i?). Now, groceries cost a lot and there's not a whole lot of healthy food I eat. I'd like to change it and asked 2+2. I appreciate the help I've received so far.

ChoicestHops · #4 01-21-2007, 01:30 AM

I have recently started to eat more healthy, and I dont like hardly any vegetables. It took me a few days to do this but eventually the taste wasnt too bad - V8. It's supposed to be 2 vegetable servings in a 12 oz. I got a 64oz jug of it at Wal-Mart for around 3 bucks. I drink one in the morning and one for lunch. I try to get it over with as quick as possible, but it's alot better than cooking up some frozen vegetables and having to actually eat and taste it for over ten minutes. My usual breakfast has consisted of one of those, alot of scrambled egg whites w/ green peppers that are already in the carton, a banana, and some OJ.

Stay away from pretty much anything in a box like Pastaroni. I dont remember exactly but I would bet it has about 100% DV of sodium in the entire box. Just think about it realistically - stay away from fast food and crappy processed foods.

fmxda · #5 01-21-2007, 01:32 AM

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I have recently started to eat more healthy, and I dont like hardly any vegetables. It took me a few days to do this but eventually the taste wasnt too bad - V8. It's supposed to be 2 vegetable servings in a 12 oz. I got a 64oz jug of it at Wal-Mart for around 3 bucks. I drink one in the morning and one for lunch. I try to get it over with as quick as possible, but it's alot better than cooking up some frozen vegetables and having to actually eat and taste it for over ten minutes. My usual breakfast has consisted of one of those, alot of scrambled egg whites w/ green peppers that are already in the carton, a banana, and some OJ.

Stay away from pretty much anything in a box like Pastaroni. I dont remember exactly but I would bet it has about 100% DV of sodium in the entire box. Just think about it realistically - stay away from fast food and crappy processed foods.

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What an ironic post. V8 has a crapton of sodium... more than 50% of your daily value in one can IIRC.

ChoicestHops · #6 01-21-2007, 01:35 AM

8oz has 20% DV so you do the math. You can also buy low sodium V8.

bills217 · #7 01-20-2007, 11:52 PM

Healthy Choice/Lean Cuisine/etc. frozen dinners. They have been a godsend for me. 5 minutes in the microwave, very healthy, and the food isn't bad at all.

As for the drinks, there a lot of zero-calorie flavored waters that taste pretty good. Of course if you have to have juice, you can find some that are somewhat healthy, fresh-squeezed OJ, etc.

Wu36 · #8 01-20-2007, 11:56 PM

check your pm

RunDownHouse · #9 01-20-2007, 11:58 PM

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I could bike like 15 miles without getting winded. On the other hand I probably last like 3 miles on a treadmill. I imagine it's like that for most people.

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I wonder if you could do those 3 miles running in under 30 minutes. Its completely anecdotal, but it seems to me like there's no gym cardio that's remotely like running on the road. It'd be great if someone more informed could expound on the differences a bit.

fmxda · #10 01-21-2007, 12:09 AM

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I could bike like 15 miles without getting winded. On the other hand I probably last like 3 miles on a treadmill. I imagine it's like that for most people.

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I wonder if you could do those 3 miles running in under 30 minutes. Its completely anecdotal, but it seems to me like there's no gym cardio that's remotely like running on the road. It'd be great if someone more informed could expound on the differences a bit.

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Takes me around 25 minutes. I usually run indoors in my college's rec center, but I don't see a big difference between a track or a treadmill.