The New Health Regimen: Avoiding Death at the age of ~30

[Metcarfre]

Frankly the city water here is good enough for me.

Especially since I read this...

I think filtering makes water more "appealling"... leave the filter jug in the fridge, it makes it more of a drink than 'boring ol' water' from the tap. I usually accomplish this by ice cubes, but to each their own.

And I can't justify the wasted fridge space when the tap water is fine.

[AlexanderDitto]

I like cold water, so I just fill up a jug with tap water and fridge it.

Also I've found that I quite like the taste of tap water... bottled water either tastes "salty" or "processed" somehow... maybe a few minerals gives it some taste. I don't know.

@metacafre: That's what I said! Water toxicity is baaaad. Very bad. You need electrolytes and not just straight water.
/tangent
In fact, if you are going to be drinking all those energy and sports drinks, you actually need to be something of an elite athlete. Now this means constant activity like hockey or waterpolo, where you're going full bore for up to 5 mins without rest, and doing a LOT of physical activity. Baseball, eh, not so much. I can see for American football the need for sports drinks, and more so for football (soccer) but not so much for the lower-activity sports like curling. And yes I just pulled that one out of my head.

So yeah, that's my thoughts.

-Kirkygirl

You seem to make a point and answer it! The "you can have too much water" thing is kind of silly. It would take a MASSIVE amount of water to get water intoxication, and the fact is simply that people do not drink that much. The problem is so far in the other direction that to warn people against drinking too much is laughable.

And, as you point out, if you're just going to the gym for an hour, you'll be fine as long as you eat something before or afterward, and you don't need to worry about electrolytes.

[Bananafish]

Did chest and shoulders today, I love doing rows even when I'm not working my back because they're just totally fun

I randomly checked PBF today and there was a new comic. I hope this means he's going to make them again.

[epocalypse]

Well guys, I'm a week in and I've lost...

9 lbs! Not a bad start. I'm glad to see that so many other people are ontop of doing this too.

Anyway, I'm doing a whole lot of exercise, and keeping it varied and changing. This seems to be working great so far, with at least a half hour of cardio a day combined with anaerobic exercises every few days, it seems to be working great. I'm already to the point where I can now make it through 30 minutes of totally non stop aerobics (swimming), though not doing laps, so still lots to improve.

On the water note, I'm getting a brita here in LA because the water isn't nearly as good as the water in NYC (NYC is famous for their super clean tap water, I do miss it).

[Bananafish]

9lbs in a week is fantastic, but if you're just starting out a lot of that could be water weight. Typically when people start out they'll find they lose a lot of weight fast but then they lose the water-weight and get discouraged because they're not losing as much anymore. Just remember to stick with it.

[epocalypse]

I will, I'm not expecting to lose weight fast, the goal is to get in shape, so hard work awaits!

[Cade Antilles]

After my own health scare last year, where I was told that I was looking at the possibility of a terminal illness, I was forced to lose weight. As it turned out, I wasn't dying, but I had caused significant damage to my liver due to bad diet.

So, I went on a diet. It turned out that aside from alcohol, to which I had become addicted, the large amounts of sodium in my diet was killing my liver. So, I drastically cut out the sodium. Also, I have been completely sober for six months, and plan to stay that way.

I started watching my fat and cholesterol intake, counted calories, and started cooking for myself more. I replaced my salt with a sodium-free salt substitute, too.

I started this diet at 183 pounds. After three months I weighed 152 pounds. Lost 31 pounds, brought my cholesterol levels back in line, and got my liver working right. Since then, I've been able to maintain the weight.

Oh, and I did this with no exercise!

[Tally]

Cade, that's awesome, good for you!!! And I'm really glad to hear that you're getting better AND not dying after all.

Jeremy's stepdad pointed out a while ago how much salt there is in just about everything. He randomly noticed salt listed as an ingredient in milk, and then started paying attention to how much salt there is in other stuff (after a long discussion on how on earth there could be so much salt in milk anyway - where does that come from).

Basically, it's practically obscene how much salt our food processing people add to just about everything we consume, and I feel like it can get to be a real challenge keeping one's salt intake at a reasonable level.

[epocalypse]

well, make no mistake, though, we need a fair bit of salt. It makes the brain work. The brain is important.

It's all about the right amount.

[Cade Antilles]

We do require a fair amount of salt to function, that is true. The average human needs about 2400 mg per day. However, let's take a look at the sodium in a couple of things in my cupboard that I can't eat anymore.

Can of Hormel Chili w/ Beans - 2400 mg
Can of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni - 1980 mg
Hamburger Helper Cheesy Italian Shells - 1/3 cup = 770 mg

Anything pre-packaged is terrible when it comes to sodium.

I'm a person with a large appetite. I can't limit portions without serious discomfort. So, I've had to cook smart. And, that seems to be working.

[epocalypse]

Agreed! Personally, I have little reason to cut down salt in particular. I need to cut calories, go lower carb and sugar, and more than anything else exercise to get in shape, because my main issue is that my HDL i way too low (my cholesterol in general is quite low, which is good, but my Good Cholesterol (HDL) is below thirty (and you're supposed to have 40 or higher), which is awful. I just need to change the ratios. The best ways to do that? Weight loss and Aerobic exercise. Which is good, I want to be in shape.

[AlexanderDitto]

The amount of salt we need daily is actually quite low, as Cade Antilles pointed out, and we get it from nearly everything we eat. Even if you never buy packaged, processed food, tossing in a pinch of salt in a meal gets you pretty much all you need. 30 grams is not much.

Eat a pretzel, and you're WAAAY over your daily sodium levels. It's kind of ridiculous how much humans like salt, and how little they need it.

I went swimming on Saturday... going to go again tomorrow, since it's my "off" day from weight lifting. Oh man, though, if you want to feel pathetic, try swimming laps in a pool. It was sad. So sad! I swam one length, and I was exhausted.

[korri]

Haha swimming is great. Although you get 'into shape' relatively quickly, before you know it you'll be doing 50 yards, then 100 and then you can do a good lap swim.

The thing I noticed when I swim is that I won't feel that tired in the pool, but as soon as I get out I'm exhausted...

[Cade Antilles]

I used to be a competitive swimmer when I was younger. 50m, 100m, 200m, 1 mile, freestyle, backstroke, breast-stroke, butterfly, relays, you name it. I never won awards, but I loved swimming.

Nowadays, I can't nearly swim as long or as fast as I used to, but I still love it.

[epocalypse]

Today, in my work out escapades, I tread water for 30 minutes non stop for my aerobic exercise.

ahhh... my legs. But still, the hurt is worth it.

[Bananafish]

It's great when your gym routine becomes so regular that when you don't go you start feeling like crap and it's more annoying than any muscle pain

[thadivilhimsewf]

I couldn't establish any kind of exercise routine until I figured out I have that geek pathology of boring very easily. Now I do things that require you to move and think, like dance or martial arts.

[tak197]

RE water: I live in the mountains and have a well. Our water is acidic enough to warrant a treatment tank. But we also have an all-house filtration system. On top of that, we have a water filter in the door of the fridge. Our water is as clean as you can get.

Eat a pretzel, and you're WAAAY over your daily sodium levels. It's kind of ridiculous how much humans like salt, and how little they need it.

And now that you live in Philly, and are SURROUNDED by pretzel stands, you know our plight.

As for sodium savings, that's one of the things they list in the Cook This Not That book that I keep hawking on here. Seriously, if you are avoiding processed foods, get this book.

Also, Muir Glen Organic Stewed Tomatos are your friend, because they have little to no sodium in them and provide the same stuff. Plus, the tomatos are also fire roasted.

[Cade Antilles]

Cade, that's awesome, good for you!!! And I'm really glad to hear that you're getting better AND not dying after all.

I meant to respond to this more directly earlier.

Yes, not dying is good. Between my health woes and Jen's health woes, it has been a very stressful year. We're both on the mend, and very happy about it.

[epocalypse]

Jeez, that sounds like a rough year. Hope your time on the up is long and hardy.

[Telaril]

I'm trying to get exercising again, too. My problem is that over the last two years I've injured both my shoulder and ankle in somewhat-freak-accidents. Despite months and months of physical therapy, neither is 100% up to snuff at this point, so I have to be very careful.

I just got done doing 50 minutes on the treadmill and I can feel my entire shoulder and back. They're tight and slightly sore, but the pain isn't very bad. I'm just going to keep going unless it gets unbearable.

And yes, I've been to the doctor about this. Several doctors many times. The last one was a specialist who X-rayed me and did a bunch of scans and basically said "I can't find anything wrong with you. Maybe if you just use it normally eventually the pain will go away." I figure either he's right or I'll be able to get the injury to manifest in a way he can see and diagnose.

I have a bike I'm going to try to use more, but sadly I think the movers may have punctured one of its tires during my move last year, and I didn't notice until months later. It's flat now, I'm going to try to refill it and see if it holds air. I really don't want to replace a nearly-brand-new tire. Sigh.

[Trymantha]

Yeah I've started going to the Gym this year my biggest help has actually been a mate who is going with me who is making me go and encouraging me to push through the pain, a few of my female friends saying I'm looking good doesn't hurt either, i would have lost more if i had better eating habbits but im still losing weight.

[SammiRei]

I'm one of those annoying people with fast metabolisms who seem to be able to eat anything and not put on weight. I'm 5'7" or so, and for years I've weighed around 8 stone (which is medically underweight, if you go by BMI). In the last year or so, though, I've somehow gone up to 9 stone, (which is healthier for me, since it's into the normal range).
Either I've a) Put on about a stone in fat (personally I don't think it's likely, since I have my Dad's metabolism, and his didn't slow down until he was closing in on twice my current age) or b) put on about a stone in muscle, due to the heavy~ish lifting I do at work and the sheer amount of walking I do (probably the equivalent of a marathon every week)
I'm hoping for b, obviously....

[AlexanderDitto]

Figure I might as well own up, didn't go to the pool today.

Actually, I didn't do much of ANYTHING today. Sat in the office and doodled. I am a failure. D:

TOMORROW. Tomorrow I will swim AND lift weights, probably. Maybe? Is that even a good idea? Tomorrow's normally a lifting day for me. Figure combining it with some aerobic swiming can't be too terrible.

Still sore from front squats on Tuesday, though. Ow. Though having a sore butt is a good feeling, because it means I actually did the squats right.

[epocalypse]

I've been doing aerobic every day with anaerobic mixed in more occasionally. It's been working great so far.