I want the body of a Greek God

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I'd suggest taking this further. Regard it as a black and white issue. You'll either win or fail. Every day you go out for your workout- you win. If you miss a day- you fail. DO NOT FAIL.

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Mick isn't an alcoholic, he isn't dangerously obese. He doesn't have a problem.

Giving up puddings and taking up golf (or getting a dog) will adjust his equilibrium.

Paul

Mick,

I suspect you work in that big Post Office building on Dorcan Way, Swindon. I remember you live in Liden, about 1 mile away from it. You probably use the car at lunchtimes occasionally to go to the pub or a restaurant.

The solution is obvious.

Chris.

PS I hope your desire for the body of a Greek God is pure & wholesome.

the human body requires a certain number of calories to maintain itself on a daily basis. this number varies depending on gender, body size, how active you are and a number of other things, but is round about 2300 - 2600 for an adult male.

if you wish to loose weight (body-fat), you need to create a calorie deficit, IE you need to burn more calories than you consume. it's like a credit and debit column in your cheque book, apart from your aiming for more "out" than "in" !

there are 3 ways you can do this

1, reduce calorie intake by improving diet (cutting down on fatty / sugary foods)

2, increase calorie output by exercising

3, combine both of the above.


"diets" don't really work. if you reduce your calorie intake for 12 weeks, you will likely loose weight, but as soon as you come off your diet and resume your old eating habits your body will put the weight back on again, probably with a few pounds reinforcement.

this is because through evolution, your body (and mine, and everyone elses) has an amazing ability to hold onto fuel when neccessary. thousands of years ago, when our ancestors didn't know where the next meal was coming from, this was a great benefit, as they used fat as an energy store. if they went for a long time without food due to famine, the next time they ate, much of the food would be stored as fat. this would then help them through the lean times, when food was in short supply. (i'm simplifying greatly , but am assured the biology is sound).

as a result, any change that you want to make should be a permanant lifestyle change, rather than a dietary quick fix, as the later may work in the short term, but long term is not going to do you any favours.

if you decide to go for exercise, choose something that you can stick with. no point signing up for a gym, and then deciding that it's boring. walking or cycling would be a great start, and if you get his and hers bikes, you can go out and about with your wife, which will help her too, and make it seem a lot less like "exercise" and more like "fun".

getting out of doors in the winter is more difficult, so maybe think about playing squash, or badminton, or something that you can do indoors. try to make it sociable though, so you have that added incentive to go along. plodding around a gym can be pretty boring at the best of times.

working from the other side, cut down on the puddings, cheese, cream and other obviously fatty / high calorie foods. maybe have 2 or 3 days off the booze a week if you can, and try to increase the amount of fresh fruit and veg that you eat. on top of that, try to drink 2 litres of water per day. this will help keep you hydrated, and flush out any toxins from your body.

when you are exercising, eat a number of smaller meals, up to 5 or 6 times a day, rather than 3 large meals. this will put less strain on your digestive system, and make you feel more alert. also, try not to eat too late in the evening, as otherwise the undigested food just sits in your gut whilst you sleep, and is less likely to be burnt off as fuel.

do all of the above, and you'll be much more healthy. maybe not quite up to running a marathon, but that's not what you wanted anyway, is it?

if you've got any question, feel free to drop me an email...

cheers

matt

Chaps

Thanks fot the advice, my plan of attack is as follows.

1. Chuck in the Early Morning Rotarians....the cooked breakfast is a disaster. Its a mega size fry up with loads of cereals and toast with marmalade etc.

2. Continue walking to and from work which is a mile each way. I have also started going home for
lunch. Thats 4 miles per day. I sold the Jag earlier in the year and am still car-less. I will remain car-less thus forcing myself to walk.

3. Cancell all but essential business lunches.
I will allow myself 2 per month.

4. Take the dog for a walk more often. I will let Mrs Mick do it when its raining.

5. I will buy a Bicylce for both Mrs Mick and I after returning from Greece. I find gyms boring so I will not join one. We will go for a spin about twice weekly.

6. No cheese and buscuits during the week.

7. Puddings are out, fresh fruit in.

8. Restrict the size of the meat and load up the veg.

I will see how that goes.

Once again thats for the advice.

Regards

Mick

Dear Mick,

I am not sure whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars, etc, but quitting that is also very beneficial. The only problem is that you might gain weight after quitting.

regards

Dev

You remind me that I was a lithe, fit figure with boundless energy. Then I gave up smoking.

Alex

Dev

In a previous job I used to travel to Paris every week and one of the perks of the job was that I could put my duty free purchases down as expenses.

Therefore, once and sometimes twice weekly, I would buy a bottle of something such as whiskey or brandy and a box of 50 King Edward Invincilbe de Lux. This worked out at 7 cigars per day and I gave up after 5 years back in 1986. I have not smoked since.

Regards

Mick

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You remind me that I was a lithe, fit figure with boundless energy. Then I gave up smoking.

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Tell me about it! Smoking is nearly as good as class A drugs to keep the weight off - you never see a fat smackhead. I gave up tabs about 4 years ago and really gained some weight and have not been able to shift it since (I draw the line at excercise).

I believe the current class A diet drug of choice is crystal meth - keeps you up for about four days with zero appetite. I would pay money to see Mick on crystal meth.

Tony.

Who at nearly 39 weighs five stone more than at 20.

Tony

What is crystal meth ?

Regards

Mick

Mr Parry said "I would buy a bottle of something such as whiskey or brandy "
I thought you drank Scotch Mick.

I'm in for Mick on crystal meth too.

Simon
Who at nearly 39 weighs the same as he did at 20

I fear Mick will be on the meths before the meth.

Alex

who at 42 weighs three times what he did at 20

Try jaw surgery.

Just had it done Tuesday and it's already working.

Of course, pain has a way of reducing hunger anyways.

Cheers

Keith.

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Originally posted by Vuk Vuksanovic:
Dev.

Such things no longer concern me now that I have adopted a celibate lifestyle.

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Oh, of course, why didn't I realise before.

Vuk is an Arisian. There was me thinking all that stuff about Lenses was something to do with cameras.

Say Hi to Mentor, next time you see him!

cheers, Martin

...and in the end you die. So not a very nice recommendation.

Herman

Vuk said:

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The fact that I continue to enjoy success with girls in their early twenties is that I still

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...is that they're young, silly and inexperienced - older women (than those in their early twenties) just wouldn't give you the time of day?

Just a thought anyway, give the H U G E opening you provided for us to shoot through.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

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...and in the end you die

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I think that happens to everyone whatever they do

Chaps

Mrs Mick and I are taking a quick one week break to Greece next week and on our return, will join the National Ramblers Association.

Evidently one good long walk on a Sunday is a good way to kickstart to return to good health.

Regards

Mick

Mick,

Enjoy your holiday, but take the opportunity to get into training by doing two or three 25-30 minute brisk walks whilst you're away. If you don't, one good Sunday afternoon ramble may bring you to your knees.(Ramblers take these things very seriously you know!) - Oh and don't forget your Kagool!

DS

MMmmmm... went there with a previous girlfriend in 1999 - fantastic place, but we went in July and it was a touch on the 'too hot' side of hot.

We stayed in Pefki (Kefki?) near Lindos. You must try the climb up the temple thingie at Lindos, but avoid the rather delicious Kebabs on the way down. Don't be tempted to take a Donkey up the hill, it's a good and manageable walk and in the heat it'll help you sweat some of the calories off.

Or perhaps you're doing the club 18-30 thing (under an assumed identity or some weird alignment of the stars in Uranus) so you might find that 'largin' it' in Faliraki is more your kinda thing. So long as you avoid the Alcopops you'll soon rave the pounds off.

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

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Such things no longer concern me now that I have adopted a celibate lifestyle.

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Hmmmmm... never really met anyone who truly chose a celibate lifestyle as opposed to had it thrust upon them. I take it that you ain't gettin' any then my dear Vuk? I thought that perhaps with your sort of cash you'd be able to afford to buy yourself some...

Personally I once adopted a halibut lifestyle but found that I didn't really get on with all that flapping around on sandbanks and that funny moving the eye thing really gives you a headache after a while...

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

Hi, dosy

Whats your best time for 2000 meters mines 7.17, and 3.29 for 1000 meters. Not bad for a 43 year old!!!

Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know

Are we talking on water or those wimpy ergometer thingies?

And 7 minute miles - over what distances?

cheers

Nigel

Hi, Dosy

7.03 a good time! I might be able to knock mine down a bit, but its just the pain, I only do rowing a couple of times a week or so, usually I just go round the machines/weights. I am 82Kg so that puts me in the heavyweight class!!!.

Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know

Hi,

I know what you mean its great when you stop, or should I say half an hour after!!! its a whole world of pain, I guess Redgrave etc are more used to it than us mere mortals. have you checked out the online rankings? at http://166.82.35.96/sranking/individual.asp or been to the site http://www.concept2.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1 there are some good tips etc or the UK site http://www.concept2.co.uk/v4/

Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know

Chaps

I have kick started this thread because I am kick starting my quest for the Greek body yet again.

I have sold the Jag and still remain carless and I walk to and from the office each day which is about 4 miles in total.

I have all but finished with business lunches and puddings have been "off" for the last few weeks.

Since January, I have lost 4 pounds which although a move in the right direction, is far too slow.

Therefore I have joined a gym and have 3 visits a week. Surprisingly it is less boring than I anticipated although at the moment, I ache in muscles I never knew that I had.

I go in and do 15 minute on a cycling machine, 45 minutes on these weight machines and 20 minutes on a running machine ( I walk at 6 kl/hr up a 6 degree slope.

I hope this will get things going.

Matthew would be proud of me, I wear a nice pair of black velcro shorts. I must confess, I look like a snake that has swallowed an egg.

I will keep you posted on progress.

Regards

Mick