The New Years diet fred (No Tims allowed)

[Lofty]

So sweaty you can't type properly, real effort. Been weighing every day since I know my mate who had results with a PT does that, 9lbs down since I started. Reluctant to spend tomorrow on the piss and gain it all back now :uhoh:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

My eyes were filled with sweat.

[Foe]

I’m a sweaty mess in the gym too mahow, don’t worry about it.

Just keep at it and it’ll become routine. Once it’s routine you’ll start to enjoy it.

[Ian]

I've never managed to get a point where I enjoy it, even when I've done weeks of multiple days to try and make it become routine or get "hooked" on it as so many exercise bods have told me I will. I think it's just nature's gym freaks assuming everybody will love it like they do if they just stick at it.

[Ben]

It’s just finding something for you. My cardiovascular fitness is abysmal but whatever I do to go about improving that, I just can’t find that enjoyment, apart from swimming.

Similarly weightlifting, I just don’t understand those who can do a billion reps of bench or curls. The only thing that gets my enjoyment up in the gym is going heavy.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I did actually find some enjoyment in it yesterday.

When I was on the treadmill I found myself lolling at a poser who kept doing reps in front of a mirror and then stopping to fix his hair and take some selfies.

[Spikey M]

I don't enjoy it at the time, but I do enjoy the buzz afterwards.

[Foe]

Christ I was just trying to give him some motivation. :D

I’ll try again. It becomes great, you will love it! Losing weight is just an added benefit.

[Foe]

Although getting old can fuck off. Everything hurts.

[Waffdon]

I did actually find some enjoyment in it yesterday.

When I was on the treadmill I found myself lolling at a poser who kept doing reps in front of a mirror and then stopping to fix his hair and take some selfies.

Cardio at the gym will never be fun. Just lift weights and continue your swimming and try get 10k steps in through the day. (Imo)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I didn't mind the cardio I've been assigned tbh. It went pretty fast with my headphones in listening to music whilst watching a bit of Wimbledon.

The routine I've been set is: 5m on the rowing machine, 10m on a bike, 3 x 10 reps on chest press, 3 x 10 on low row, 3x 10 on shoulder press 5m on TOP (like an arm cycling thing) and then 10m on treadmill.

It's been set by my fitness instructor and it's also taking into account my shitty left ankle (chiropodist thinks I sprained my ankle years ago and it didn't properly heal so it's weak as fuck and I've even sprained it whilst sleeping).

[Lewis]

You might as well just go for a decent walk every day whilst the sun is out (ideally first thing in the morning if your schedule allows). Start with an hour, build up to three over a couple of months. It will be easier on your ankle, and the weight you're at it would melt off.

[Spikey M]

That PT is casually stealing a living.

[Boydy]

What is m here? Minutes? Miles? Metres?

[Shindig]

I'd go with minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shindig is correct.

[Waffdon]

I don’t recommend 2 weeks of All Inclusive before going to a wedding. Got 4 days to shed the 1st5 I’ve put on :lol:

A lot of it will be water weight, but still. Cba

[Spikey M]

:D that's a strong effort.

[Waffdon]

I went into holiday mode 3 weeks ago tomorrow and had a few night outs before the holiday itself so it’s basically been 3 weeks on beers, cocktails and 3 course meals for lunch and tea most days.

Bulk szn

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think I'm eating too few calories.

I get bouts of feeling faint now and then, the occasional dizzy spell and I'm always seriously tired around 3-4pm.

I think the two meals I'm eating are sufficient but I need to incorporate a good snack I feel. Other than nuts anyone got any suggestions?

[Offshore Toon]

Just deal with it and keep moving.

[Waffdon]

I think I'm eating too few calories.

I get bouts of feeling faint now and then, the occasional dizzy spell and I'm always seriously tired around 3-4pm.

I think the two meals I'm eating are sufficient but I need to incorporate a good snack I feel. Other than nuts anyone got any suggestions?

Fridge raiders

[Lofty]

So far I have lost 13lbs, weighing every day I see the fluctuation and am not as irked by it as it goes up and down. The best loss I have managed consistently in years and whilst I need to lose more it's a nice start.

[Offshore Toon]

Inflammation is the real demon once you're at a decent level. I find cutting carbs makes a huge difference.

[mo]

I've been focusing on the time of day that I'm eating. I used to be terrible for sugary snacks after dinner, but it's been four weeks now of eating nothing else after dinner. Hasn't made a huge weight difference but psychologically I know that I don't need to eat something unhealthy at that time, which is huge for me. Years of bad habits built up.

My other difficult time of day is between 3-6/whenever dinner is, as I will just stuff my face with crap. Potentially that got worse as, in my head, I wouldn't have that stuff after dinner so I could eat it before. So now, between 3-6 I'll allow myself fruit or veg but that's it. Day two and it's definitely harder than giving up the crap in the evening. Will get trickier when I go back to work too I think, but I've got 6 weeks to get into this routine.

[Offshore Toon]

8 days til I'm away.

3.2kg off pre-Christmas weight.

It shall be done.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I hit 30kg total lost today :cool:

Easily the most I've ever lost and I really think it's going to stick. Still no cravings for crap and I'm still happy going to the gym a lot.

[Spikey M]

Good shit. Well done.

What do you weigh now, 'how?

[Ben]

30kg? That's incredible.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Good shit. Well done.

What do you weigh now, 'how?
135.5KG so I've still got a long way to go.

[Spikey M]

That's still great progress. You've lost 1 Chinese gymnast.

[Ian]

I hit 30kg total lost today :cool:

Easily the most I've ever lost and I really think it's going to stick. Still no cravings for crap and I'm still happy going to the gym a lot.

Excellent work. :cool:

I'm at 4st 5 which Google tells me is under 28kb so you're outdoing me.

[Don]

Mahow you used to do 2-3 litres of Coke or some shit, no? Did you cut that all out? Also, what led to this beside wanting my acceptance?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mahow you used to do 2-3 litres of Coke or some shit, no? Did you cut that all out? Also, what led to this beside wanting my acceptance?
About that a day of Coke Zero, yes.

I still allow myself a can a day or two on the weekends.

I was sick with COVID in March and it fucked my appetite for a few weeks, thought I might as well run with it and it's been easier than I thought.

[Don]

Well in, son.

[Baz]

I’ve done two 24 hour fasts this week, one accidentally and one intentionally, and it’s pretty easy now. Probably helps that I’m very inactive, and don’t particularly enjoy food, but I reckon I could live off one meal a day most days.

[Lofty]

Some days I can manage putting off breakfast but other days I think I would quite easily beat someone to death if I didn't eat something.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not enjoying food, jeez, that's the dream. For me it's like crack, sex and booze all rolled into one delicious plateful.

[Boydy]

Not enjoying food sounds depressing as fuck. It's one of life's great pleasures.

[Don]

A symptom rather than a cause.

[Baz]

A symptom rather than a cause.Probably. I don’t really enjoy anything.

[Don]

This ain't the first time you've said it, get a GP referral for a therapist, Men's Mental Health matters.

[Baz]

Why, do they offer free childcare?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If anyone wants cheap Myfitnesspal premium.

Just change your location to Turkey in app, then go to the website to buy premium. It will show 130 Turkish Lira for a year which is £3.48.

Don't even need a VPN.

[Ben]

You can’t barcode scan with the free version anymore? What a racket.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You can.

No macro breakdown is why I paid.

[Lofty]

Lost 2 stone as of today, plenty left to shift though my wedding ring is a bit loose on my finger which is unexpected.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well in Lofty.

Keep it up, lad.

[Ben]

After years of just lifting weights and otherwise being a lazy twat, I've decided to take up running again instead. My old chest issues cropped straight back up though (tightness after a few minutes) so I've gone full Klopp and got me one of them bad boy steroid inhalers from the GP.

[Boydy]

I started trying to run again recently. Back to couch to 5k. Got to the end of week 1 and had quite a lot of ankle pain. Went to a physio to see about it and he said I've got flat feet. Told me to get orthotics (insoles with arch support for the unaware - I didn't know either). Got some and wore them for a bit when just walking around to see if they helped and they just gave me foot pain in a different place. Fuck's sake.

[Ben]

Yep, I've got flat feet too. Stick with the insoles, they're weird as fuck at the beginning but they really do help.

Ankle pain > knee pain > hip pain > back pain > neck pain, a lot of it comes from the feet up.

[Boydy]

Do you use them?

It feels like they make me walk on the outside of my foot so the outer edge gets very sore.

They also make all my trainers feel too tight now. Maybe need a new pair a half size up.

[Ben]

Yeah I use them, but less and less in recent years as they've done their main job in realigning me. I now only wear them for long walks or other times I feel I could do with extra support.

My flat feet caused my ankles to roll in-over and toes to point outwards when I walked, and the insoles corrected that to a large degree. It took a long time (years) but my posture has been improved immensely by them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I tried using the insoles for a bit but I hated them, made me walk funny and they were a bit painful.

I've still got a chronic ankle sprain (in addition to slightly flat feet) which seemed to be sorted until the last week or so when I decided to start walking. Was just out for a walk now and at around 5k steps it started pulsating so I came home rather than going for a bit longer.

Saw an NHS physio about it, he gave me exercises to do for 5 weeks which didn't help and said he'd refer me to another physio who could do actual treatment for me but I've heard absolute nothing since.

[Ben]

I went through a few types to find something that worked and was relatively comfortable.

Probably spent about £100 eventually but your feet are the only things that touch the ground so don't cheap out (or on shoes either).

[Boydy]

Yeah I use them, but less and less in recent years as they've done their main job in realigning me. I now only wear them for long walks or other times I feel I could do with extra support.

My flat feet caused my ankles to roll in-over and toes to point outwards when I walked, and the insoles corrected that to a large degree. It took a long time (years) but my posture has been improved immensely by them.
I'm pretty sure my feet don't roll in though. The outside of my shoes always wears down first and there's not much wear on the inside. I mentioned this to the physio but he reckoned it was my body having adapted to my flat feet and the insoles would stop that too.

I dunno. I might go to a running shop for gait analysis to see what they say. I just want to be able to run and and have my shit cardiovascular system be the only limiting factor, not some dodgy feet/ankle. Getting old is shit. :(

[Ben]

I'm no expert but maybe the physio is of the opinion that all flat feet people should have insoles (to "force" the arch). Not sure it's such a cut-and-dry solution so get a second opinion. Like you say, running shop is probably your best option, they're always really good.

[Lofty]

Well in Lofty.

Keep it up, lad.

Cheers.

I wear Sketchers Arch Fit like a pensioner these days, it's not fashionable but any of my nice shoes leave me crippled after any intensive use.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've been using Skechers GOWALK6 and they were good to start but I've worn them down so much in less than year.

[Boydy]

I've got a pair of Skechers that I bought last year that happened to have some arch support thing in them. They are very comfy but the built in insoles in the heels of them have worn away quite quickly. So like the insole is still there for the rest of my foot but not my heel.

[CJay]

I started trying to run again recently. Back to couch to 5k. Got to the end of week 1 and had quite a lot of ankle pain. Went to a physio to see about it and he said I've got flat feet. Told me to get orthotics (insoles with arch support for the unaware - I didn't know either). Got some and wore them for a bit when just walking around to see if they helped and they just gave me foot pain in a different place. Fuck's sake.

Just get a set of trainers with excellent arch support and cushioning and forget about insoles.

I have fallen arches and have been recommended insoles at times, but my current go to shoes deal with the issue by themselves.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS - I buy the new model each year.

[Boydy]

Got the gait analysis done today. I don't pronate or supinate, I'm pretty neutral. My heels don't really touch the ground when running though. The guy recommended a neutral shoe with good cushioning all through the shoe and not just at the heel. Ended up getting a pair of Brooks Glycerin 21s.

£165 :cry:


They better turn me into Mo Farah.

[Manc]

Year to date, I've gained around 30 pounds. Admittedly, I was at an all-time low in 2023, but the pounds are coming thick and fast. :uhoh:

[SvN]

My weight has skyrocketed in the last 5 years, which coincidentally coincides with having kids. I'm about a month into an attempt at a healthy lifestyle and lost a stone and a half so far, but I've got a long way to go.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I did about two months of mega-diet back in the spring, lost who knows what but maybe a stone. Went back to eating non-optimally but somehow managed to keep it off so far. I think I'm now so fucking ancient that the body has decided my appetite is half of what it used to be, I used to polish off Man vs Food style marathons without even blinking but now I seem to get full after about six mouthfuls of anything.

Might have another crack at mega-diet at some point, as I still have a fair bit to lose before I'm the right shape.

[Lofty]

Lost a few stone from my starting point but stalled recently and the wife bought a bread machine the other day which seems like a direct threat to my progress.

[SvN]

Weighed in this morning and have hit the 1 stone (6.35Kg) mark. 1 down, 2 too go. I suspect the next two are going to take significantly longer.

:D

Just saw this post from 5 years ago. Those other 2 stone have turned into an additional 4 - so yeah, it took a bit longer than the first stone.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's been a while and I hit what I think is a HUGE milestone for me.

Today for the first time in who knows how long I was under triple figures for KG as I weighed in at 99.5.

That's 66.1kg total lost (just over 10 stones and 5 pounds) now.

Didn't think I'd ever get this far, especially as it all started with no real plan.

BMI also hit 29.7 (I know it means fuck all) which means I'm no longer obese.

I'm sure it will go up tomorrow as it was a big drop on the scales from the day before so I imagine most is water weight but whatever.

I've been doing keto with fasting for the last month or so (I was doing keto without fasting for a while) and I lost a lot of strength, energy and I would occasionally feel dizzy (electrolyte imbalance according to Reddit) but that all seems to have gone away now.

[Kikó]

66kg is ridiculous. Huge kudos to you.

[Boydy]

Incredible effort, Mahow. Well done.

[Lewis]

Well done Mahow. Get some pictures up. Do you have any loose skin?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There's a little bit under my belly button but nothing major thankfully.

[Boydy]

What did you do to sort out the electrolyte imbalance? Bone broth or some shit?

I might give keto a crack again in January to counteract the festive binge.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What did you do to sort out the electrolyte imbalance? Bone broth or some shit?

I might give keto a crack again in January to counteract the festive binge.

Bought some electrolyte tablets, I drink at least two Hydration drinks a day (I use Eddie Hall's sherbet lemon) and use lite-salt (it's lower sodium than regular salt but they also add in potassium) on my food.

I should really track it as I think I'm getting a little too much right now and might drop one of the hydrations.

[Luke Emia]

Firstly that’s massively fucking impressive.

Do you use a food tracker at all? I was training hard for a long while but found I wasn’t losing any weight because I would still eat shite. The second I started looking at what I was eating and started eating for my running rather than running just to continue to eat what I wanted the weight fell off me and my running improved massively as well as a consequence of not just eating shit constantly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Firstly that’s massively fucking impressive.

Do you use a food tracker at all? I was training hard for a long while but found I wasn’t losing any weight because I would still eat shite. The second I started looking at what I was eating and started eating for my running rather than running just to continue to eat what I wanted the weight fell off me and my running improved massively as well as a consequence of not just eating shit constantly.

Yeah.

I've used MyFitnessPal for a bit (with Premium via Turkish VPN) but I wasn't a fan as 99% of the food database seems to be wrong. They're all user submitted and not regulated so I found myself having to change everything.

Decided to use MacroFactor and bought premium (it's a hefty price though) after a trial. Much more accurate and they have some cool features including estimating your total daily expenditure, although I've found it overestimates too much for me.

I do take days off now and then where I don't log what I eat down but still eat healthy.

I also went to Poland a month or so ago for 6 days and tried Keto without calorie counting. Ended up putting on a kilo though, I think I ate too many snacks (oh it's just nuts) and went for too many sauces that probably had a lot of flour and sugar in them taking me out of keto.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Guess it's time for a progress picture.

Here is me in 2019, so not a few years before I started MY JOURNEY but I don't really have anything else. I probably was around the same weight as when I started though:

https://i.imgur.com/J6V7KhU.jpeg

Here's me today (I had lost 72KG before I left for Thailand, I've for sure put a bit on but whatevs) with a couple of gangsters:

https://i.imgur.com/g6mjAQ4.jpeg

I'd say there's a slight difference.

[Kikó]

From doorman to Otto English. Great work

[-james-]

:cool:

[Boydy]

Seriously impressive, Mahow. Well done.

[Pepe]

Which one is you lololol.

[Manc]

I would.

[SvN]

Well done Mahow, incredible progress. You also appear to have joined the #BaldCrew. Welcome.

[Pepe]

I was going to say something but decided to leave the pleasure to Lewis.

[Waffdon]

Legend

[randomlegend]

Well done Mahow, incredible progress. You also appear to have joined the #BaldCrew. Welcome.

Stopped nourishing his follicles.

Seriously incredible work. Mahowsive to MaHOT.

[Lewis]

I was going to say something but decided to leave the pleasure to Lewis.

Didn't even notice the weight loss at first.

[-james-]

It looks like he was overdue joining #baldcrew in pic 1 tbf. Looks good with the beard.

[Ben]

Tremendous work.

[Danny]

From Harvey Price to the Price is Right.

Top work.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The hairline has always been shit but my hair is very thick and grows super fast.

I just keep it short, team bald has not recruited me.

[SvN]

Yeah, that hairline is really thick :happycry:

[Spikey M]

That famous river in Egypt.

Top work anyway, baldy.

[Lofty]

Well done mate. Currently sticking to a pretty strict diet at least Monday - Friday and seeing some success. Lost half a stone in under 2 weeks though I suspect that will slow down a lot once the water retention etc passes and it's a drop in the ocean compared to what I need to lose, positive start nonetheless.

4 weeks til I go to Benidorm for 4 nights so if I can have lost more than a stone before hand I'll be happy, inevitably put some back on there but got something to aim for every month til August after so hoping to use that as extra focus inbetween.