Hey guys! Lately, I've realized that I have gained about 10 pounds. My "base" weight would be around 245 (after losing 17 pounds to begin with), but as of yesterday, I was 254. I go on a trip next week to Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL, and there's a very good chance I will not be able to get on many of the rides. I also just don't like how I can see my gut becoming bigger, and my blood pressure creeping up. I have my top surgery scheduled for September, and I would really like to lose the weight....ideally to 220. I want to incorporate working out in my lifestyle, and not just lose weight before top surgery and never work out again (which, in my opinion, may do more damage to the aesthetics of my new chest than good).
All this to say that I am considering getting a gym membership, particularly at Anytime Fitness. I can take the bus up there, and after the start-up costs for a key, etc. (which is like $40 or something), I would wind up paying about $16.50 a month afterwards. I went in the gym yesterday to get a tour of the place and inquire about it, and the experience was fast, confusing, awkward, and intimidating, but it did seem interesting. I wonder if this is something I should invest in. My sister says it would be a waste of money because her and I could just work out like we used to. That is when I actually lost 17 pounds. We would do T-25, and she would prepare healthy meals for me. That was before I got a job though. Once I got a job, my weight still stayed around the same for sometime, but it has crept back up to where I was originally. Since I have gotten a job, it has been difficult for use to coordinate when to work out, and I feel like I should start taking this into my own hands instead of waiting on her.
To be honest, even on my minimum wage, part-time job while saving for top surgery, I feel like I could afford going to this gym. I would just need to cut back on Ebay spending and mall food (which I plan on doing anyway for the mall food as part of the losing weight process), as I probably spend at least $16.50 on those things per week. That being said, just because I can afford it, doesn't mean I just want to waste money. Yes, I could workout at home for free, or even purchase my own T-25 DVDS (which would ultimately be cheaper than a year's membership to the gym), but with my mindset, I am thinking that I would be more motivated if I were actually constantly paying for a gym membership. My sister said that mindset doesn't really work, even though you would think so, and pointed to how our other sister is constantly paying for a gym membership, yet she never goes. Even my mom warned me against "contract gyms".
Another reason why I kind of want to join, is just to get out of the house. I usually just go to work, and go home. It kind of sucks to be cooped up in the house most of the time, so it would be nice to have a change of scenery.
I just don't know what to do. There's a tiny part of me that wants to join, while part of me is skeptical, not to mention that my germaphobe side is screaming no. I know that only I know myself best, but I would like your guys input for the following:
- Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
- If you work out at Anytime Fitness, please tell me what it is like, and if you like it.
- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
Any other comments or inputs would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!
I prefer the gym, as long as it isn't too inconvenient. I find it easier to set a routine. And when I have a routine, I get into it and just do it. If I think about "well, maybe I'll do it a little later" it doesn't happen. I also actually do fall into the "I already paid for it" loop. I'm really aware fo finances and it makes a difference to me that I paid to go to the gym today, I might as well go. I think about it as the per day fee, but mine is more expensive so it's more motivating. I bet if I told myself I paid $0.50 to go to the gym today I'd be able to justify not going.
But mostly, I trick myself until the endorphins kick in and make me want to do it. I make rules for myself and bargain, and for some reason, I don't break my own rules. "If I spend one hour on the treadmill, I can spend as long as I want in the pool after." (or if I'm having an I-don't-wanna day, 20 minutes on the treadmill, just to get me through the door.) I get tv shows and put them on my tablet, and made a rule that I am only allowed to watch tv while exercising. This was probably the most effective. I've found myself doing extra long workouts to finish a longer episode or a second episode.
Lastly, I tell myself it's for my guy body. That if I'm thinner, I'll look more like a guy. If I do more upper body weights, my body will look more like it's supposed to. Honestly, I don't think it's going to do much for me, especially until I'm thinner. But it makes me *feel* better to be doing something about it. And when I feel better, I look better, and I want to keep doing it. So it works anyway.
I work out at home -- I like it a lot better than going to a gym. I find "gym culture" pretty repulsive: neither the spandex "fitness" scene nor the hyper-manly lifting scene appeals to me, and places like Planet Fitness don't have the equipment I want. Also, my budget is limited, and I'm lucky enough to have the space for a workout room/man cave. Basically, I lift weights, aiming to build strength (and muscle along with it, although I don't do "bodybuilding" programs): I do big compound exercises with a few more focused ones, mainly for my shoulders, which aren't as strong as the rest of me. I also do high intensity interval training on a fan bike. I like being able to work at my own pace and rest between sets for as long as I want without having some jerk giving me the stink-eye because I'm "hogging" the equipment.
It sounds like a gym might work for you, though -- you'd have a good variety of workout possibilities (including some classes, I'd assume), which makes it easier to stay motivated, and yeah, it would get you out of the house and in contact with more people, which is always good.
If you want to lose weight and keep it off, the number one best thing you can do for yourself would be to learn to cook and work your way into healthy eating habits. "Dieting" doesn't work worth a crap in the long run, because sooner or later you stop and go back to your regular eating habits. But if you learn to cook and develop a healthy food plan that works for you, you're set for the long haul. A lot of people who don't care to cook on a daily basis spend one 2-3 hour session per week cooking and putting meals together, and then they're set with healthy food which also tastes way better than anything that comes out of a package or from a fast food place. And it can be done on a pretty tight budget: compared to prepared meals from someplace else, you can save a lot of money and enjoy much better food.
Your sister might be able to show you some things to get you started.
That's another thing I like about working out at home: I can put the money I'd spend on a gym membership into good food. (Getting equipment for home workouts is easy: people are always giving exercise stuff away on Craigslist, or selling it for very low prices -- or you can get a good set of resistance bands for under $30, and that's all you need for a lot of really good workouts.)
I've lost over 40 lbs over the past year or so with this approach -- it does work.
I have an Anytime Fitness membership, but am about to give it up for a couple of reasons - primarily the fact that I don't go.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM- Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
I prefer to work out at home. Every gym is different, but I suffer from gym-timidation - feeling inferior to the all of the bulky, ripped dudes at the gym. My gym is very small, so almost every chance that I get to actually go down there it's literally jam-packed. You can't get a cardio machine and have to queue up for the weight machines. I like training at home because I have access to my own equipment whenever I want and don't have to deal with queues or staring.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM- If you work out at Anytime Fitness, please tell me what it is like, and if you like it.
Again, every gym is different. The good thing about ATF is that you can have a membership at one club and access any club worldwide. So if you work in one part of town and live in another, you can go to whichever ATF is most convenient.
As I said before, my gym is small. When I first had the tour, it seemed huge because it was a rare 7am morning where it was virtually empty. I think that if I had the tour when it was "normal" - i.e., crowded - it may have swayed my decision.
My gym has basically one of each kind of weight machine which is part of the problem with queuing - everyone wants to use it at the same time.
The equipment is in good nick, though - the place is clean and has good facilities with drinking water, showers and vending machines.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
This is the biggest issue for me and part of why I'm dropping my membership. I work very long days, so getting motivated to go down to the gym is difficult for me. Gym membership for me is $64 a month so it's too expensive to keep paying for when I'm not using it.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
I think it may be worth weighing up your options. Visit the gym again and look at their equipment - visit during the time of day/night you think you'd most likely be going to see how it really will be most of the time.
Would you be better off paying that much per month for your own home gym equipment instead? That is what I will be doing. However, because your primary goal seems to be losing weight, having constant access to the cardio machines is probably worth it since they can be extortionately expensive to own and maintain.
I actually cancelled my gym membership last month. I'm waiting for my name/gender marker change to come back so I can update my documents, then I'll get a new membership and be stealth. I've been working out at home and doing some running since then, and it seriously sucks for me.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
- Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
I strongly prefer the gym, just because of the variety. At home, I can do cardio or workout DVDs (which are all cardio based). I don't have the space to invest in additional equipment. At the gym if I get bored on the treadmill I can go lift or do circuit training. My gym didn't offer classes, but that might be an option at yours. It doesn't take much to make me lose interest in something, so for me, gym wins.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
- If you work out at Anytime Fitness, please tell me what it is like, and if you like it.
My membership was through Planet Fitness, so no help here. Remember to see what kind of contract your monthly fee locks you into. Mine was no contract, $10/month. But I've heard of people signing up for ones that are $20/month and a year long contract. And if you decide to cancel, you have to pay the fee for the remaining months. Not cool.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
Schedule your workouts. This got me more consistent with working out. Also, create a backup schedule in case the first falls through (maybe you wake up not feeling so well and decide to skip your usual morning workout, but end up going to work and you feel fine after - go work out then). Paying for a gym membership is also very motivating for me. I don't like to pay for things that I don't use, so I figured I needed to work out at least X number of times a month to make that worth while.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
Just do you! I went to Planet Fitness and it's a very mixed crowd there. I never felt intimidated or bothered, and I knew that the staff would be all over it if I told them I did. That's also the benefit to working out at home though - there's no one around to judge or bother you. So it really depends! Personally, I can't wait to get back in the gym.
Also, just remember that nutrition is at least half the battle. Probably more so once you start getting near a goal weight. Eating habits are harder to break than exercise habits, IMO.
You should also look at the weather. It will be summer soon so things like running can be done outside. Some milk jugs with sand in them make good weights. Gym seems like a winter thing but alas I don't go and fallen into the not working out stage, and I eat crap all day.
I have just started going to the gym and its so much better for me than relying on myself to do things at home (which I wont). Wanted to go for ages but I wouldnt go on my own. Now my sister and her husband are going reguarly so I go with them. Used the gym several times and just played 2 hours of badminton tonight (which was more of a workout than I anticipated lol). I want to play basketball too just to practice. I dont have a membership yet Im just paying as I go just now, whether its worth the monthly cost depends on how much I go to whether it would cost me more or less with membership. Not sure yet which would be better off. Idk I can just never get the motivation to do stuff at home. I have an exerice bike and a rowing machine, at my own place I have a cross trainer. I never feel like using them. Its always like ugh I'll do it later, I'll do it tomorrow.. and that goes on for months. Actually going to the gym its like Im going there so Im doing stuff. Im not paying to go there and do nothing. I actually want to go now. I need to lose weight as I was temporarily rejected for top surgery at my consultation in december due to weight. If I havent lost enough to satisfy her by the time Im due back I will be postponed again for like 6 months. Its a case of I have to do this stuff to try get the weight off. I need to be approved next time. I've maintained a better diet since then but exercise was lacking. Especially after my accident the day after my consult, I lost a month to that as I could hardly move. Still cant lift weights with my left hand as a tendon is still sticking out my wrist. I just have to do what I can. If you want to get your weight down and have a better surgery result then use that as the motivation to do it
Working out doesnt just have to be the gym. Exercise can be anything, walking, swimming, riding a bike, playing a sport you like. A lot of different aspects so find something you like and go with it. Dont have to go to a gym but there is a lot of stuff there, you can work different parts of your body instead of doing the same things all the time. Its just up to you. I wouldnt want to go on my own which is why I didnt go before so I get those who are too intimidated to go by themselves. Some people that doesnt bother them. You could always try it out and if its not suiting you then quit. Not right for everyone
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
- Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
- If you work out at Anytime Fitness, please tell me what it is like, and if you like it.
- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
Any other comments or inputs would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!
Sorry, I don't know how to make multiple quotes of the different questions you asked!
1. I prefer the gym or other public setting 100%. I purchased weights, DVDs, bands, etc with the intention of working out on my own at home, but the motivation just isn't there for me. Once I joined a gym and started taking classes, people got to know me and expect me to be there. I'm accountable to them, not just myself. That really helps motivate me to go consistently.
The other big thing that has made the difference for me is a personal experience. I know lots of people just want to go to the gym, do their thing on their own, and go home. But doing classes with people that I'm familiar with, and encouraging each other throughout the workout is a big boost for me. It's kind of like on Cheers... At my gym, everyone knows your name and says hi when you walk in. :)
2. My gym is locally owned, through the parks and recreation dept. I think this is part of where the "personal touch" comes from- I assume you do not get that kind of feeling at the national chain gyms, they seem more impersonal.
3. I pay $50 a month for gym access and unlimited fitness classes. The fact that it's not just $10 motivates me to go so I'm not wasting my money. If I paid less, I might not feel as guilty skipping my workout.
4. Take classes! They are great because they are more than just running on the treadmill or lifting. I take HiiT, cardio bootcamp, and weight training on different days of the week. The variety keeps it from feeling stale or like my progress has stalled. There are tons of different fitness levels and abilities in every class, you just work at your own pace. Knowing the other people in the classes gives a sense of camaraderie so we can compete with each other or encourage each other.
Also, go at your own pace. Everyone has to start at the bottom and work their way up. Never be afraid of looking weak or out of shape. Just do your best and keep improving. At least in my experience, no one is there to worry about anyone else's workout. They aren't judging you or worried about if your binder shows through your shirt or anything like that.
Best of luck man. The gym has been a great thing for me, and I hope you find a great fitness solution that works for you too! :)
I'm MTF but have been going to the YMCA for several years. They have water aerobics classes which I enjoy very much. In the water, you weigh nothing and can do things only a gymnast or ballet dancer could do out of the water.
They also have the usual pin-select weight machines, Ellipticals and treadmills etc. They YMCA will provide a free or reduced fee membership if you really can't afford it.
I weigh around 240 lbs and want to get down to 180 or so. 20 months of Weight Watcher's left me with a gain of 10 lbs.
As your body changes into the gender that is right for you, it's important to improve your health as much as you can.
When the weather is suitable, I walk. I have an app for my iPhone called "Map my Walk". That measures time, distance and calories, and provides a map of where you walk. I also have a one mile route in my neighborhood that I walk. I typically do three laps on my walk. Years ago, I could barely make it around the block, but now 3 miles is easy and I can do 5 miles on a good day.
You will also have the opportunity to eventually try out the men's locker room. Although born male, years of hormones have left me with a distinctively female looking body (albeit with a bald head). Years of estrogen have left me with very little "hangy down" stuff where my penis used to be. I've never had someone say: "Hey buddy, where's your penis?".
A strategically placed towel usually suffices. Likewise, I have a fairly substantial "man rack". I stopped feeling embarrassed by it when I saw an older guy in the shower that had boobs drooping nearly to his waist.
I do the water aerobics wearing male swimming trunks and no top. I've never had a comment or any disrespect, although I could fill a 44B bra. I've never had anyone comment on my boobs. When using the track or machine I wear a stretchy T-Shirt, that shows a distinctly female shape. Again, no comments, no disrespect.
I highly recommend the "Y".
Randi
Hey, I've always been a slim creature, so I'm not the best bloke to give weight loss advice, but as for gym meberships etc. My personal preference is to join something that's got goals and community built into it. The atmosphere - for me - plays a major part in whether I continue with something or not. I have been a long time practicer of karate, and found a club that I love with a great family atmosphere, and as a bonus leans towards the more traditional in style, which I really like. Unfortunately, right now, I am totally out of commission because of pain issues. I'm working on it, but bone fusion takes its own precious time and never you mind about your own schedules and goals!
Best advice I can give you is find something that you want to keep going back for. If it's the challenge of the guy next to you that's already "buff", then go that way, if you like the solitude of an early morning run, get out there, if you need encouragement, find a class or a group doing something you are interested in. If it's not within your interest, it's going to be that much harder to continue and progress to your ideal.
Good luck!
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
Another reason why I kind of want to join, is just to get out of the house. I usually just go to work, and go home. It kind of sucks to be cooped up in the house most of the time, so it would be nice to have a change of scenery.
Any other comments or inputs would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!
If you are truly intending to change your lifestyle, you might want to think about how to incorporate more movement into your everyday life while making your nutritional changes and see how that works for you over a number of months before considering the gym membership. If you want to get out of the house and have a change of scenery, then go outside for a walk! Do this whenever you are bored, or feel like you need something on eBay, or try making it part of your regular morning and/or evening routine. How do you get to work, or the mall, or to your appointments? Would you be able to walk? Or bicycle? Or if you take the bus, can you exit at a stop that is further away and get in more walking? Are you able to use stairs instead of elevators or escalators? If your sister is going to give you a ride somewhere, walk there instead, or have her pick you up halfway. If you are watching TV or using the computer for long periods of time, try standing instead. Take screen breaks during which you do modified body weight exercises for a minute at a time...push ups, sit ups, burpees, anything to get your body moving.
Think first of all the possibilities to add any kind of movement to your day. If you are not motivated enough to do any of these, it is unlikely that any kind of gym membership/activity is going to produce results either. You will need to change how you move through life and adopt this change forever. When you have made some simple lifestyle changes, THEN you might want to take a look at a gym membership to focus on a particular goal or challenge, increase your performance, build muscle definition, or experience team building and camaraderie.
Overcoming obesity is not easy, and it is not just a 'goal' ...It involves changing everything about how you move through the world, and maintaining that change. If your health and well being is important enough to you, it will happen. And you will be the only one who can make it happen. Good luck and good health to you...
I forgot to mention a gym buddy. Whether it's someone you actively work out with, or someone at your gym who notices you there, or a friend or coworker who you make a pact with. Someone to be accountable to other than yourself. It helps me a lot. It's easy to make excuses to myself, but I know those excuses are bulls**t when I have to say them out loud to someone else.
Wow, so many detailed responses, and I want to thank you all for all of them! As one person mentioned here, I guess one of my biggest concerns is, if I don't have the motivation to do the home work outs, then it is unlikely that I will stick with the gym, which is something to consider, but it does go back to if the gym would be better to do because of less distractions, etc. Ideally, I would like to have at least one exercise machine in my house, but we have no room. I wish we had classes at my Anytime Fitness, but I think the only thing that comes close is having a personal trainer. I've also considered going to the YMCA and Planet Fitness (especially the latter), but the bus route is more convenient as I can navigate there easily, and it is in front of my work place, I could work out there, and then just literally cross the street to my job.
The nutrition is another main aspect. My sister would make me small plastic containers of healthy things (baked fish, broccoli straws, etc.) that I enjoyed, so I plan on getting with her so she can we can do that again, and not only that, but have her help teach me how to cook some of these things, and look for the best deals for healthy items.
Rather than be overwhelmed by the possibilities how to get in more exercise, I'm going to sit down and think very hard about my options. I suspect that, in due time, I will sign up for a gym membership, but before I officially do that, I will try to get a head start by getting more active, starting with walking. I'd like to find various places to do walk to from my house that is one of two miles away. For instances, I had planned to walk to Gamestop Friday, but the only reason I didn't was because they were calling for rain, but I do intent to do that soon after I get back from my trip. From what I was told, there is a gym in our hotel, so I'm excited to check that out. I have gotten into a habit of buying fries and milkshakes whenever I am at my job, and I am squashing the habit now. Heck cutting out the fries alone (which cost me 2.17 for a large box) will pay for my gym membership monthly, lol. I also fought hard to resist getting a milkshake today, which would have lost me a little over three dollars. These are small things, but I truly am happy to be making a bit of progress. Heck, even going to the gym to ask about the program was a big step for me. I am curious to see where I will even go with this. Right now, I want to get down to 220, and I think that is relatively achievable if I really put my mind to it. Then, I will go from there. Thank you all so much for sharing your experience and advice!
Quote from: King MalachiteThese are small things, but I truly am happy to be making a bit of progress.
This is the
right way to do it! Set small, short-term goals for changing things: make a small change like cutting out those fries and milkshakes, adjust to that, then pick something else, like walking somewhere you go regularly instead of riding there... Make each of these things a habit before moving on to the next one, and pretty soon they start adding up to a healthy lifestyle.
Quote...look for the best deals for healthy items.
Here are a couple of sites I like for this stuff -- they have some good advice and suggestions.
http://ftmguide.rassaku.net/fitness1.htmhttp://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/11/10/healthy-eating/http://breakingmuscle.com/nutrition/tips-and-tricks-for-healthy-shopping-on-a-budget
"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."
Well done on resisting the Milkshake. do that often enough and you'll have your gym membership fee in no time!
It sounds to me like you have the right attitude and the right ideas, you just need a direction to focus. Good luck finding that thing that will encourage you to keep it up.
- Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
I started out working out at home, and then joined the gym after 2 years. I saw slight results the first few months, but they were only slight and then it plateaued completely. Now that I'm at the gym, I can progress at a much faster pace in an environment that gets me much more pumped up for my workout (working out in front of a tv just reminds me of how much I'd rather be watching tv than working out). I cannot express enough just how much of a difference the gym makes. I get sick every winter and pretty much don't workout all season, but because I have access to a bunch of great gym equipment, once I make it back into the gym I make progress in leaps and bounds. If I were still working out at home, I could never achieve such good, fast results.
- If you work out at Anytime Fitness, please tell me what it is like, and if you like it.
I've joined Planet Fitness, and I really love that place. I've never inquired about Anytime Fitness (the one by me I've heard is expensive), but it looks pretty legit inside.
- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
I don't workout all the time, mostly cuz I'm always sick or my work schedule messes me up too much. But I do what I can, and try to motivate myself everyday by waking up and remembering the changes I'm trying to achieve (this pertains to my exercise regime and my dieting). Since I've stopped really smoking and drinking, sometimes when I get the really strong urge for these crutches, I put on some workout clothes and get moving instead.
- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
First off, I think morbidly is a poor choice of words for your weight. You're not quite that overweight. :)
Second, cardio will be your friend. I prefer the eliptical cuz the treadmill hurts my shins something awful. I HATED cardio before, but once you push past those first 5-10 minutes of pure agony, it gets much easier. I was only doing MAYBE ten minutes at a time, then one day realized I should be doing more for myself. Once I put in that first day of 30 minutes on a stationary bike, I felt like I had pushed past that point that always made me stop before, and it almost became easy!
Also, I do mostly weight lifting, but do 15 mins cardio before and after my workout, and it makes me feel like I've worked out much harder. If youre interested in weight training as well, I'd suggest alternating weight and cardio days. Since weight loss is your main goal, maybe 30 mins cardio everyday, and then weight training every other day or so. If you can't make it to the gym everyday, do cardio videos at home to keep yourself on track! If you can manage to workout 5+ days a week, I'd say do 60 mins cardio on cardio days, with 30 on weight days. :)
Another thing I wanna mention, cleaning up my diet has changed my life. While weight hasn't really been a problem for my all my life, I've always been in terrible health. Since I've started on a clean diet, a lot of my problems have cleared up almost completely! I'm now completely disgusted by all the foods I used to eat just knowing what they did to my body.
As far as starting out a good weight loss diet, I've been drinking hot water with lemon in it every morning before I eat or start my day (real lemon, not that awful juice in a bottle). It's supposed to be good for kicking up your metabolism throughout the day. I also like green tea some days for the same reason.
Good luck dude, just remember anything's possible, you just have to keep your mind on the right track! Don't forget your goals! Wake up every morning and remind yourself of your plans to stay healthy for the day. And do a little bit of research on dieting and working out. When you know how to properly workout, your results will get much greater!
I'm an obese guy. I went from 220 to 160 (then back up to 180 but we'll skip that part). There are two main components of weight loss, there's diet and there's exercise. The problem is that you will get hungry when you exercise.
If you live alone, or have a space to yourself, work out at home. The thing I started with was walking. Try to walk in situations where you would have a short drive. If there's nothing nearby, just walk around your neighborhood. If the weather is crummy, walk around your house. Climb stairs. If you want to make walking easier and more enjoyable, get audio books. Keep a pedomiter on you or download an app to help you keep track (I use moves on android).
Set small realistic goals that increase as you go on. I tend to set my daily activity goal to walking 2-5 miles. This can be achieved easily with daily activities. Maybe sign up for a charity race and have your goal as completing a 3k run within a certain amount of time.
When it comes to the diet portion of weight loss, that's where the trouble is. A serving of food is like a handful, so counting how many servings I was eating was difficult. I didn't even know a handful of chips was a serving til I looked at the back of the label and counted. Get a food diary. Write everything you eat and how many servings. Don't try to hold back, you're more likely to write less than what you actually ate.
Eat all the veggies you want. Lettuce, carrots, celery, broccoli, radishes, cauliflower....beats...peppers. There's others I just can't think of more veggies right now.
Why eat tons of veggies? They're low in calories for the amount you eat.
Just giving an absurd example that's probably not accurate: 6 pounds of broccoli has the same amount of calories of a tablespoon of cooking oil. So if you eat more veggie you'll have less overall caloric intake while still feeling full.
I did previously have a planet fitness membership. It was in my budget at the time and there wasn't a contract. The only downside of a gym like that is the lack of structure for the price. If I wanted a lot of guidance I would need to go to an expensive gym.
Alsoooo want to say that losing weight does not necessarily mean healthier. You can be fat and overall healthy. You can lose weight and become more unhealthy.
Holy fudge sticks I wrote a lot.
Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
AT HOME! I am a big wuss and hate people seeing my weak self trying to exert myself :C Just self conscious. Also, as far as building muscle I am friends with a guy who worked at a fitness place as a maintanace guy for YEARS and his best advice for best muscle gain was the slow low reps: do situps, pushups or whatever and do them as slowly as humanly possible. It burns and aches after one and ten makes me feel like dying, but in a good way, ha ha!
- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
I don't but I have other things I have to do. make it a habit and never let yourself take a break. Unless you are doing damage to your body, suck it up. if you think you have actually injured yourself, do not keep working out. You will screw up your body so much worse that way
- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
Take up something on the side if you can! Even just walking around the block once a day can do wonders for your health. Also, try to permanently change your eating habits, slowly but for the better. All I have done recently is reduce the amount of sugar I am eating per day and i feel a lot of fat has gone away. Though the last five years i have been eatinga ton more broccolli and kale and trying to eat stuff like soy that supposedly helps boost T. There are foods that do that, but I forget where!
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
I work out at both. Started at a gym, loved lifting and bought a rack, barbell and range of plates for at home and later added a TRX and some kettlebells. I love my gym for the community, the boot camp classes and my trainer. It's sometimes easier to be motivated at the gym, I get really competitive working out with friends so it's easy to stay motivated because I push harder. It also lets me be around people who are stronger and bigger than me so I can get tips and form checks from people who have already met my goals and so I know I can always push my goals further. I love working out at home for convenience and not having to wait for equipment but have to be super careful of distractions.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
Currently I'm at the gym 3x a week for training sessions since I have a meet coming up plus a few days at home. My primary motivations are to get on the gym board under the 1000lb club. I also try to stay focused on top surgery. The less fat and more muscle I have before surgery, the easier it will be for them to do.
Quote from: King Malachite on March 27, 2015, 10:42:22 AM
Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
Best advice I can give is what I had to focus on myself. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Wear comfortable clothes that won't restrict you or make you self conscious. Go with a plan in mind of what you want to do or focus on before you get there. The more I wandered around trying to figure out what I wanted to work on, the more self conscious I would get. If I had it planned out ahead of time I was able to focus better on just what I was there to do.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions of people who know more than you do, just wait until they're not in the middle of a set.
I figure an update is due on my situation. I went to the doctor and my blood pressure was creeping on the danger side, so I'm on blood pressure medicine again, and soon to be on Vitamain D (Vitamin D was low too and cholesterol was a bit high). My doctor also told me to drink nothing but water for a month to see what that does. I didn't quite stick to it towards the end, but I did lose six pounds. I was actually 256 when to the doctor, and when I went back, I was 250. He was proud of me because he said some people cannot drink water. It made me very irritable, but I have gotten used to it. I did drink a Mt. Dew yesterday, and it just didn't taste the same. I suspect I can get "re-sensitized" to drinks other than water again, so I'm going to still cut back and only drink that for the most part....or at least I will try. I also asked him if I was okay to workout at a gym (my father didn't want me to sign up until I got medical clearance), and he told me yes. I weighed myself about half an hour ago and the scaled said either 247 or 248. I couldn't quite read it because it wasn't digital, and the markings were small.
About the gym: I haven't signed up yet, because I wanted to try and get in more physical activity before I did. I now add a little bit more walking in. Last week I did a 3.2 mile walk, and I walk do my Dr.'s appointments and library now when I have to. One thing that I find actually helps me get more physically active is jogging in place while listening to military cadences. I now sneak that in while washing dishes. I hate washing dishes, but this makes it a lot more enjoyable. I did that today for about 15 and I had sweat pouring down my face. I'm sure the heat from the hot water I used had a major effect, but it was still awesome. It was super low impact, but I could kind of feel it in my legs. I like to chant along with them and it helps keep me going. The funny thing is, when I was done, I wanted to keep jogging, so did so to about four of my favorite songs before stopping. Now I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate that to a near-daily thing. Maybe twice a day for 15 minutes each? I'm not sure. I actually want to try this running on an actual track, so I made a playlist on Youtube dedicated to my favorite songs from the "Run to Cadence" CDs, and pick the best songs to either buy the CD to or buy the individual track from Amazon. I purchased the "Green Berets" edition as a sample for me and it should be here within the next week or so.
Oh, we didn't get to go to Busch Gardens btw due to an economic mistake on our youth assistant's part. :/ However, I did spend some time at their gym, and it was fun. I find that particularly like lifting weights. There was a certain weight machine there where I put my back against it, and lift weights from the back. The weights were rectangle, and had holes on the side with a peg you put in them, and the lower you put the peg, the heavier the weights are. Is there a particular name for that machine?
Quote from: Tysilio on March 28, 2015, 11:23:29 PM
This is the right way to do it! Set small, short-term goals for changing things: make a small change like cutting out those fries and milkshakes, adjust to that, then pick something else, like walking somewhere you go regularly instead of riding there... Make each of these things a habit before moving on to the next one, and pretty soon they start adding up to a healthy lifestyle.
Here are a couple of sites I like for this stuff -- they have some good advice and suggestions.
http://ftmguide.rassaku.net/fitness1.htm
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/11/10/healthy-eating/
http://breakingmuscle.com/nutrition/tips-and-tricks-for-healthy-shopping-on-a-budget
Thanks for the links, Tysilio! I checked all of them out and they give me a good place to start when it comes to nutrition. I especially enjoyed the last link, which gave me tips of the types of food I should go organic on and the ones that would be fine without, which is something I have always wondered about.. Now I just got to figure out how to fit those meals into my budget.
Quote from: LoriLorenz on March 29, 2015, 11:16:03 PM
"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."
Well done on resisting the Milkshake. do that often enough and you'll have your gym membership fee in no time!
It sounds to me like you have the right attitude and the right ideas, you just need a direction to focus. Good luck finding that thing that will encourage you to keep it up.
Thanks, LoriLorenz! I often think about my motivators to help me want to lose weight. Those motivators include me getting enough weight down and being physically fit enough to join the military, and/or be at a healthy weight to have a phalloplasty done. Those are the two things that are constantly on my mind as my ultimate goal(s).
Quote from: D0LL on March 31, 2015, 03:43:02 PM
- Do you prefer to work out at a gym, or at home? Please tell me why you prefer this.
I started out working out at home, and then joined the gym after 2 years. I saw slight results the first few months, but they were only slight and then it plateaued completely. Now that I'm at the gym, I can progress at a much faster pace in an environment that gets me much more pumped up for my workout (working out in front of a tv just reminds me of how much I'd rather be watching tv than working out). I cannot express enough just how much of a difference the gym makes. I get sick every winter and pretty much don't workout all season, but because I have access to a bunch of great gym equipment, once I make it back into the gym I make progress in leaps and bounds. If I were still working out at home, I could never achieve such good, fast results.
- If you work out at Anytime Fitness, please tell me what it is like, and if you like it.
I've joined Planet Fitness, and I really love that place. I've never inquired about Anytime Fitness (the one by me I've heard is expensive), but it looks pretty legit inside.
- If you pay for a gym membership, how to you personally stay motivated to get up and go there to work out on a weekly basis?
I don't workout all the time, mostly cuz I'm always sick or my work schedule messes me up too much. But I do what I can, and try to motivate myself everyday by waking up and remembering the changes I'm trying to achieve (this pertains to my exercise regime and my dieting). Since I've stopped really smoking and drinking, sometimes when I get the really strong urge for these crutches, I put on some workout clothes and get moving instead.
- Advice for a morbidly obese transguy that wants to work out at a gym?
First off, I think morbidly is a poor choice of words for your weight. You're not quite that overweight. :)
Second, cardio will be your friend. I prefer the eliptical cuz the treadmill hurts my shins something awful. I HATED cardio before, but once you push past those first 5-10 minutes of pure agony, it gets much easier. I was only doing MAYBE ten minutes at a time, then one day realized I should be doing more for myself. Once I put in that first day of 30 minutes on a stationary bike, I felt like I had pushed past that point that always made me stop before, and it almost became easy!
Also, I do mostly weight lifting, but do 15 mins cardio before and after my workout, and it makes me feel like I've worked out much harder. If youre interested in weight training as well, I'd suggest alternating weight and cardio days. Since weight loss is your main goal, maybe 30 mins cardio everyday, and then weight training every other day or so. If you can't make it to the gym everyday, do cardio videos at home to keep yourself on track! If you can manage to workout 5+ days a week, I'd say do 60 mins cardio on cardio days, with 30 on weight days. :)
Another thing I wanna mention, cleaning up my diet has changed my life. While weight hasn't really been a problem for my all my life, I've always been in terrible health. Since I've started on a clean diet, a lot of my problems have cleared up almost completely! I'm now completely disgusted by all the foods I used to eat just knowing what they did to my body.
As far as starting out a good weight loss diet, I've been drinking hot water with lemon in it every morning before I eat or start my day (real lemon, not that awful juice in a bottle). It's supposed to be good for kicking up your metabolism throughout the day. I also like green tea some days for the same reason.
Good luck dude, just remember anything's possible, you just have to keep your mind on the right track! Don't forget your goals! Wake up every morning and remind yourself of your plans to stay healthy for the day. And do a little bit of research on dieting and working out. When you know how to properly workout, your results will get much greater!
Lol I wish I was classified as "overweight" According to the BMI chart, I am morbidly obese. My sister is a runner, and she was saying something similar about how it gets better after if you can get past that "agony" point, and then it is lather, rinse repeat, so it must be some truth to that.
Quote from: Nygeel on March 31, 2015, 05:37:38 PM
I'm an obese guy. I went from 220 to 160 (then back up to 180 but we'll skip that part). There are two main components of weight loss, there's diet and there's exercise. The problem is that you will get hungry when you exercise.
If you live alone, or have a space to yourself, work out at home. The thing I started with was walking. Try to walk in situations where you would have a short drive. If there's nothing nearby, just walk around your neighborhood. If the weather is crummy, walk around your house. Climb stairs. If you want to make walking easier and more enjoyable, get audio books. Keep a pedomiter on you or download an app to help you keep track (I use moves on android).
Set small realistic goals that increase as you go on. I tend to set my daily activity goal to walking 2-5 miles. This can be achieved easily with daily activities. Maybe sign up for a charity race and have your goal as completing a 3k run within a certain amount of time.
When it comes to the diet portion of weight loss, that's where the trouble is. A serving of food is like a handful, so counting how many servings I was eating was difficult. I didn't even know a handful of chips was a serving til I looked at the back of the label and counted. Get a food diary. Write everything you eat and how many servings. Don't try to hold back, you're more likely to write less than what you actually ate.
Eat all the veggies you want. Lettuce, carrots, celery, broccoli, radishes, cauliflower....beats...peppers. There's others I just can't think of more veggies right now.
Why eat tons of veggies? They're low in calories for the amount you eat.
Just giving an absurd example that's probably not accurate: 6 pounds of broccoli has the same amount of calories of a tablespoon of cooking oil. So if you eat more veggie you'll have less overall caloric intake while still feeling full.
I did previously have a planet fitness membership. It was in my budget at the time and there wasn't a contract. The only downside of a gym like that is the lack of structure for the price. If I wanted a lot of guidance I would need to go to an expensive gym.
Alsoooo want to say that losing weight does not necessarily mean healthier. You can be fat and overall healthy. You can lose weight and become more unhealthy.
You may have written a lot, but I really do appreciate the information. I took your advice and ordered a pedometer. However, i went he cheap route and brought it from China on Ebay, so it should be here next month. I thought about the audiobook idea.....and even music while doing activities. I'm looking into buying a n iPod/Mp3, to store music, but the thing is, I don't have the slightest clue as to where to start. I'm doing the research on that is best for me (probably Mp30 and I'm still confused. I am really behind on technology, so until I figure it out, I reckon downloading songs on my PSP will have to do for now. Portion sizes is what really gets me. I live with my mom, and she's the one who brings in the groceries, a lot of it being junk food and soda, but also vegetables when she can afford them, so I take advantage of that and eat all the salad she makes for me, much to her chagrin because there's usually none left for my brother, lol.
Quote from: Aazhie on April 01, 2015, 04:53:47 PM
Take up something on the side if you can! Even just walking around the block once a day can do wonders for your health. Also, try to permanently change your eating habits, slowly but for the better. All I have done recently is reduce the amount of sugar I am eating per day and i feel a lot of fat has gone away. Though the last five years i have been eatinga ton more broccolli and kale and trying to eat stuff like soy that supposedly helps boost T. There are foods that do that, but I forget where!
I am a huge fan of broccoli! I could eat that everyday and not get tired of it. I haven't tasted kale, so I should put that on my list of healthy foods to try. What does it taste like?
Quote from: Call me Ray on April 20, 2015, 09:34:55 AM
Best advice I can give is what I had to focus on myself. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Wear comfortable clothes that won't restrict you or make you self conscious. Go with a plan in mind of what you want to do or focus on before you get there. The more I wandered around trying to figure out what I wanted to work on, the more self conscious I would get. If I had it planned out ahead of time I was able to focus better on just what I was there to do.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions of people who know more than you do, just wait until they're not in the middle of a set.
Awesome advice! Thank you! I find that I am the most comfortable in sweatpants or shorts, but probably sweatpants more because the shorts tend to get stuck in my thighs. :/
Another workout at home (though there are gym workouts in there):
http://hasfit.com/
Stands for "heart and soul" fitness.
Nice at the "lower end of the scale": short workouts, beginner work outs of all kinds. There are yoga, "rehab exercise", weights, "body-weight", etc.
*Very* clear in showing how to do the routines. There are more advanced workouts. Everything is free. No equipment required (though a pair of weights gets you more workouts). Diet programs, etc. ("clean diet" nothing fancy. It's how I eat and tried the low fat skillet lasagna, amazing!!).
There's an app for $2 (android and iPhone-- the iPad is really nice, can do all the exercises using this).
For beginners (can't judge for others), really nice.
BTW, at home I exercise in lounging pants, but I think kung fu pants or gi pants would be amazing.
--Jay
I was going to suggest 15 minute aerobics spurts, but sounds like you beat me to it!
I found that just moving increased my health overall. I'm a writer and a teacher, so a lot of what I do can be done on my butt, but I try to move around as much as possible. In my classes I tend to get pretty animated and I get up and down a lot. At home I'll work on a project and then every 1,000 words or so I get up, listen to some music and do stretching, calisthenics or something else to get my heart going. Whenever I'm on the phone to family I pace around. Just moving can be a great way to get more in the mindset to exercise.
There's a radio program here that plays on my street every day at 3pm that was designed to be a short, 10 minute exercise for office workers. It's basic but I've found that it's actually very enjoyable and it changes enough that you don't get bored. Try looking up radio taiso routines. It's Japanese, but I'm sure you could find it in English.