I want the body of a Greek God

.

cheers

Nigel

Vuk, you're such a Funny Man.

Why are you doing all these push-ups and bananas? Anyone can tell you you don't need those to "enjoy success with girls in their early twenties". All you need is a substantial lack of confidence in the masculinity department and, possibly, a working car.

Well, Mick, looks like you can go either way. Either completely change your life and eat rabbit food or just get a little less desert and a little more movement. You know, those Greek gods aren't having all that much fun, standing bare-assed in the museum. Hope it's going to work.

Herman

I substituted spring onions for the bananas and spring lambs for the pears and just watched the pounds tumble off. Young twenty-somethings flocked towards me (when I promised to enhance their modelling careers). The only downside is that Anya and the kids had to live in an oxygen tent for six months.

Alex

Vuk,

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The fact that I continue to enjoy success with girls in their early twenties is that I still look like I'm not much older, even though I'm about to turn 36 this summer.

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Anyone who boasts about their prowess with the laydeez on a predominately male internet forum very obviously hasn't pulled in a long time

Dev

Mick,

I always think that dieting is not the best solution to being healthier unless you are really overweight because your aim is one of looking better or being 'more healthy', I don't know very many people who actually can keep committed to something with that kind of motivaion.

I would aim to get fitter, set yourself a goal (run a mile, run a half marathon, cycle round Swindon, do the London Brighton cycle ride, whatever) and then stick to it. You will then be able to keep eating what you do now and know that this isn't a problem, you may well find that eating fatty and sugary food is les appealing when you feel fitter. If you find something that motivates you and gets you cardivascular system working it will make you feel better, going on a diet will just make you miserable.

Also, drink lots of water, when you feel hungry, drink water first then eat.

cheers

Matthew

Training for a triathlon and wondering why at the moment!

Coincidence I am 53 also and I felt I was heading into the danger zone...mine is a sedentary job in an office..so two years ago I sold my car (kept a family one) and bought a mountain bike. I cycle 4 miles to work (and of course 4 miles back) EVERY working day come rain or shine, every weekend we walk in our local national park for at least 3 hours (with packed lunch).

Whatever you do decide it MUST BE SUSTAINABLE, therefore NO gyms (boring and expensive). Walking, cycling and swimming are best bets, but you MUST do it regularly and get into the habit. Try to make it something you HAVE to do, like me, walk or cycle to work.

As regards food...DO NOT cut out your favourites, you will not be able to resist effectively !!
Just reduce the amounts (especially the puddings !), try lower fat alternatives, but beware most are tasteless and not lower fat at all (e.g. low fat spreads are awful and not guaranteed to be good for you - use small amounts of butter - more natural), check out fat and calorie contents but don't get paranoid, fill up on potatoes, bread, veggies, salad etc., pasta is great (good for energy), aim for satisfying meals, if you are not satisfied you'll be tempted to eat more or snack. Keep up the wine (good anti-toxin). Drink LOADS of water (say at least 1 litre a day).

NEVER, NEVER eat diet foods or meal replacements.
They tend to impose unnatural eating habits which you will not be able to sustain.

Exercise is the key. Try to lose about 3-4lbs a week..more and you might be losing water or muscle.

Good luck

Tone

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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

I can't necessarily agree with all you say Andrew.

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Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
This means that if you keep 100% commited 6 days a week, you can afford to take Mrs Parry on a slap-up meal during the 7th day (whenever that is). Again this takes *commitment* over the initial 6 days, treat the 7th day as your reward. Your body takes a running average, so providing you don't add additional "reward days" you should be fine.

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I personally hate this idea of 'treat and reward' ! We are not naughty children, the changes should be in total lifestyle not just 6 out of 7 days. If you feel you have to 'treat' yourself then the regime is perhaps too strict to sustain. Don't lose sight that this is a 'for life' thing and should be sustainable without a diary.

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Diet.
Sugar is the biggest flab-factor.... far bigger than fat. Sugar gets converted into fat far easier than fat. <snip> So skipping puddings will make a massive difference.

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Don't agree. Sugar releases large amounts of energy very quickly and is more easily burned off by muscles. Fats get stored for later slower release into energy.

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Fruit, when taken in moderation is good for you - it contains many essential vitamins and minerals.

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Why 'moderation' ? Nearly all fruit is good in any amounts..it fills you up with virtually 'empty' calories

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Refined sugar MUST BE AVOIDED at all costs (except on your reward day when pudding is allowed).

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You should allow some refined sugars for taste..no taste, no satisfaction, attack the kitchen again !!

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Meat should be lean, particularly chicken - chicken breasts are the leanest part of the chicken and TAKE THE SKIN OFF.

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Ughhh!! Taste & satisfaction issue again..if you grill or roast chicken nearly all the fat in the skin drains off and what remains leaves the meat moist and more palatable.

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DO NOT COOK IN OLIVE OIL as the cooking process turns it into saturated fat (I discovered this recently and the results were quite pronounced).

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ALL oils turn to saturated on heating above a certain temperature and turn slightly toxic if heated repeatedly (as in deep frying). Olive oil is still the best for cooking and salads.

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Do not have fried foods, except maybe on your reward day.

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Agreed !! Grill or roast everything, possibly with a little butter for taste and texture.

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The old adage about eating like a king in the morning, like a prince in the afternoon and like a pauper in the evening is true. Eat most of your calories towards the beginning of the day for when you need them (rather than having them left over when you sleep, which will then turn to fat - also related to not eating complex carbs after 8pm).

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This is an 'old wife's tale'. There is no evidence to support this. Whatever calories you take in during a 24 hr period should be more than balanced by your calorie usage during the same 24 hr period. Some thoughts are that to sleep hungry results in poor sleep patterns.

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Contrary to popular belief, bodybuilders eat around 6 small meals a day, each containing no more than around 30g of protein (as that is the max a body can absorb in 1 hour) and 50g of carbohydrate, nothing exceeded as excess food turns to fat.

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Whoever said body builders were FIT ?? They just have lots of muscle...their cardio / vascular systems are usually rubbish. They are not out to burn calories just make muscle.

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Exercise.
Exercise NO MORE THAN THREE TIMES A WEEK. Each session should LAST NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR.

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NO, NO !! Exercise EVERY day if possible so it becomes a part of your daily life, but make it light and enjoyable (walking, cycling, swimming) not bashing your brains out for an hour in the gym...barmy !! The guy want's to get FIT and stay fit for the rest of his life, NOT look like Schwarzenegger used to (look at him now !!)

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Treat this as a "once in a lifetime" experiment, as a hobby even. Seek improvement in small steps, check your progress on a weekly basis. Don't be too critical (but stick to the routine) to start with, as it takes about 3 months to see the glimmer of an improvement (9 months to see a definite improvement).

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Please treat this as a 'for life' regime, NOT an experiment. You must find solutions that you like, for you and for ever. Dont forget after 50 comes 60 !! and you don't want to be going to the gym and missing your treats when you retire !!!!

Tone

So Mick

Lots of advice here. All of it seems sounds.

So what are you going to do?

Tom
Enjoying it all

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

Dev.

Such things no longer concern me now that I have adopted a celibate lifestyle. I merely mentioned the young girls with the assumption it would provide some credibility and inspire dirty old Mick.

Vuk.

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.

quote:

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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

Mick - a description of Crystal Meth for you.

As far as advice goes, I would echo Andrew Randle; whatever you do, commitment is the number one factor to making it work.


Overview: Crystal and crystal meth are common street names for methamphetamine, the most hyper-charged member of the amphetamine drug family. Widely used in the 1960s and early '70s for its intense effects, crystal virtually disappeared in the mid-'70s, but has resurfaced on a large scale in recent years.

Appearance: White crystalline powder. Although legal amphetamine is odorless, illegal forms of the drug often have a strong ammonia smell, due to incomplete clearing of solvents or reagents during manufacture.

Street Names: Crank, meth, go-fast. Smokeable forms of crystal are called "ice" or "glass."

Actions/Effects: Crystal increases arousal in the central nervous system by pumping up levels of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine. At low doses, it boosts alertness and blocks hunger and fatigue. At higher doses, it causes exhilaration and euphoria. At very high doses, the drug can cause agitation, paranoia, and bizarre behavior. Physical effects include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

...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