Gator Country

**G8rChuck85** · 09-25-2011, 02:19 PM

Question for those of you who decided to get back in shape and lose some weight after years of inactivity. What was "the straw that broke the camel's back" for you? I know and work with people who are always saying "one day I'll" or "I need to" lose weight and start working out. They never seem to, until a dire health dilemma forces them.

Just wondering what motivated some of you to start.

**jdrgator** · 09-25-2011, 04:24 PM

I went from 187 lbs in 1997 to 215 in 2003 to 307 in 2011 (age 42). Struggled doing house chores, back started to bother me. Looked unprofessional and felt much older than my age. Had tried a bunch of times over the last couple of years to get back into the gym, including getting a personal trainer and trying px90, but after talking to a neighbor one day in August, I just decided to do it and the next day, I went in and started back.

ATL_Gator · 09-26-2011, 07:06 AM

Late 20's, 265 lb (6'3"), high blood pressure meds (which the doc said was due to weight), and size 42 pants not fitting much anymore. 42/34 pants are hard to find on the shelves of regular stores. 44 even more difficult.

Now (years later), at 205, no blood pressure meds, and size 34 pants.

Still have some fat to go, currently working on that.

StrangeGator · 09-26-2011, 01:17 PM

I was about to turn 52. Wasn't totally inactive, went to Aikido two or three times a week, so I had something going cardio-wise and was slowly building some core strength, but I was almost 220 at six feet and I was soft. The biggest problem was that I was getting totally gassed in the dojo. During the more advanced classes, I had to leave the mat at least once a night. I was also having some trouble moving the bigger guys.

Once I started working out, I came up with other reasons to work out. It only two about three months to lose most of the weight and get to the point with cardio that Aikido wasn't a problem anymore. I liked looking better and I liked feeling stronger. I'm down to 185 now and doing very well at the dojo. I still have problems with the bigger guys, but that's because I've lost so much weight. I love it when the bigger guys throw me. They used to have a hard time getting me very far off the ground on the break-falls. Now I absolutely fly. Better yet, I bounce right back on my feet to get thrown again.

Now I just want to get stronger, leaner and increase my anaerobic capacity.

**exiledgator** · 09-26-2011, 01:37 PM

Graduated HS: 6'1" 175
Currently: 6'1" 195

I've peaked out around 220 three times in my life.

The first time was early 20s when I stopped playing ball. Motivation to return: girls

Then I peaked again in early thirties when I got a 'real job'. Motivation to return: My still active (weekend) lifestyle of backcountry and inbounds skiing, whitewater kayaking, mountain and road biking, etc. I couldn't keep up w/ my friends / perform the way I used to.

I recently peaked again during the pregnancy and birth of our two beautiful children and all the stress and time required with them. Motivation to return: My kids. I'll be 40 next month meaning I'll be 57 at my youngest's HS graduation and I will not let my kids beat my down the mountain until they graduate and leave the house.

BTW: I have a goal of bench pressing my weight by my 40th Bday (late November): 185lbs.

Currently at 195 and benching plates 3x10. I'm guessing I could put up 150-160 right now(?), so that's 10lbs to lose and 25lbs to gain.

**jdrgator** · 09-26-2011, 02:56 PM

Great reading others experiences!

**fwbgator** · 09-26-2011, 03:09 PM

Two years ago, age 36, my little brother lost his battle with cancer.... He was always at the gym, he was a work out aholic.... Even while battling Cancer he would still go to the gym....
When he died, I hadn't been to the gym in over 15 years when he and I were personal trainers, but a couple of months later after his passing, I joined and I go everyday 5 days a week, I feel a part of him is there with me while working out. And I go regulary in his memory and to get myself back in shape, like he was in shape, well at least hoping...

StrangeGator · 09-26-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exiledgator

Graduated HS: 6'1" 175
Currently: 6'1" 195

I've peaked out around 220 three times in my life.

The first time was early 20s when I stopped playing ball. Motivation to return: girls

Then I peaked again in early thirties when I got a 'real job'. Motivation to return: My still active (weekend) lifestyle of backcountry and inbounds skiing, whitewater kayaking, mountain and road biking, etc. I couldn't keep up w/ my friends / perform the way I used to.

I recently peaked again during the pregnancy and birth of our two beautiful children and all the stress and time required with them. Motivation to return: My kids. I'll be 40 next month meaning I'll be 57 at my youngest's HS graduation and I will not let my kids beat my down the mountain until they graduate and leave the house.

BTW: I have a goal of bench pressing my weight by my 40th Bday (late November): 185lbs.

Currently at 195 and benching plates 3x10. I'm guessing I could put up 150-160 right now(?), so that's 10lbs to lose and 25lbs to gain.

I hear you on the pregnancy and birth thing. It's called "sympathetic pregnancy." My wife started off with triplets and we ended up with twins. She gained about 40 pounds. I gained 25.

My twins turn 18 in three weeks and graduate from high school in June.

deviation · 09-26-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdrgator

Great reading others experiences!

+1

Some great stories.

BossaGator · 09-27-2011, 09:24 AM

Everybody has their own motivation. Personally, I'm training to fight the zombie apocalypse.

LeafUF · 09-27-2011, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossaGator

Everybody has their own motivation. Personally, I'm training to fight the zombie apocalypse.

Bossa I swear I'd rep you if I could. HA

BossaGator · 09-28-2011, 11:34 AM

I need to re-find my motivation. I used to be on a 3 on, 1 off, 2 on, 1 off schedule pretty consistently. The last couple weeks I've slid to basically an every-other-day schedule and need to get my frequency of working out back. Need to keep telling myself that the zombies are coming, sooner or later, and I better be ready.

LeafUF · 09-28-2011, 11:55 AM

I find whenever something throws me off my routine it is a real struggle to get it back. Usually takes a few weeks of sticking to it before I am not in jeopardy of skipping a workout. I usually do a 2 on 1 off but have recently scaled back so that I do 2 on 1 off 2 on 2 off for only 4 days a week in the gym. I prefer the added rest and doing it this way I have buffers in my routine in case I miss a day, I can make it up without messing up my week.

So, I always plan to have M and F off then will work out TW or WTh. Just depends on how I feel Tuesday morning.

gatorsfan530 · 09-29-2011, 12:30 PM

I've been hit or miss on my weight loss over the last few years, but this summer realizing that I'm almost done with college and plan on joining the Navy or Air Force in a two years or so was a big factor.

In the beginning, it was like "Okay, I can workout, but I've got time to deal with the weight." Now, I really needed to cut the weight and do it at a fair pace. I'm not quite where I need to be yet, but definitely making progress unlike a few years ago.

EDIT: Also, I do have a few people I know who've done some weight loss and that's another motivation for me.

Dreamliner · 09-29-2011, 03:08 PM

I never really got out of shape, but my current motivation is two-fold: (1) I just turned 55 and (2) becoming a personal trainer, I realize that my appearance and performance are, in a sense, my bread-and-butter. I need to walk the talk and look the part.

kalaniocc · 09-30-2011, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

I never really got out of shape, but my current motivation is two-fold: (1) I just turned 55 and (2) becoming a personal trainer, I realize that my appearance and performance are, in a sense, my bread-and-butter. I need to walk the talk and look the part.

It has always driven me nuts to see overweight personal trainers.

your_perfect_enemy · 09-30-2011, 08:36 AM

I will say since football season started, my routine has gone to hell but even after adding (way too much) beer back into my diet I've still been able to maintain a calorie deficit so at least I'm not gaining any weight.

Dreamliner · 09-30-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalaniocc

It has always driven me nuts to see overweight personal trainers.

It is a bit disconcerting how many of them are. The best that could be said about this is that they know how to get other folks in shape.

chrisleakfan4life · 09-30-2011, 01:07 PM

I had a great month in August, didn't lose any weight in September.

I'm just taking it one day at a time reminding myself to make the right choices every day at every meal and just trying to lose weight.

I see myself at basically 60-65 pounds of weight loss and i see the other 40 and i know its going to be a long haul.

One of my problems is i seem to be in too much of a rush to lose the rest of the weight and i just need to take my time. I need to create a deficit every day and continue to do some weight lifting 2-3 times a week and i will get there.

My motivation is mostly because im tired of being over weight and not atleast have a little muscle.

Chances are ill never have the six pack of abs or arms like Jeff Demps but that doesnt mean i cant add some muscle.

I find that watching the biggest loser on TV motivates me to lose weight. If the 300 + pound people can do it than so can i.

Ive lost weight before so i know i can do it, i just need to be consistent and stick with it and within 5-6 months i can lose a lot of the rest of the weight i want to lose.
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Dreamliner · 09-30-2011, 01:24 PM

chris, on the other hand ... you're WELL over halfway there!

Also, almost no one actually needs a six-pack.