File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Ok /fit/,
I am here to say it. I find myself fucking disgusting. I live with my parents, I weight 240lbs, and I hate myself for it.

I have worked out my BMR (2292), and for the next 2 weeks I will be dieting at 1800 calories a day. A problem I have is that where I work (Apprentice Chef, luxury restaurant), I don't get time to have 6 small meals a day. I work mostly 2pm-10pm (but I usually finish around 10:30-11:30pm), so I am not sure as to what I should do.
Also, my pay is shit. Being a first year apprentice, I only get $320AUS a week, which is shit. Living at home does mean I don't have to buy groceries, but my parents buy shit food, which is one of the reasons I am overweight.
Where can I find out a calorie counter for a load of foods (I live in Australia, so most American list I have found don’t list the brands of food we get here)?

I am also thinking of buying a bicycle soon, for cardio work. Is this a very viable cardio workout? I would probably ride for an hour in the morning (6am-7am), shower and have breakfast, then hit the gym 3 times a week from around 10am-11:30am/12pm.

Is a personal trainer worth getting when I join a gym? Would s/he be able to help me figure out a good workout plan?
>> Anonymous
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to eat 6 meals a day. Its a misnomer. What you have is 2-3 smaller than normal meals a day, and 2-3 snacks spread out. The idea is to keep your body constantly fueled.

You're overweight sure, but thats not the end of the world. If you can bring food with you to work, and have a snack during any little breaks, that'd work.

I also see no reason to get a personal trainer; they're expensive, as are gyms.

I uploaded this as a comprehensive diet/fitness plan (for 1 month at least), take a look: http://rapidshare.com/files/130798782/MF_Rock_Hard_Challenge_2008_pt_1.zip.html

Use the diet plan from that. If you decide to join a gym, they should have everything in the gym you need for that exercise program.

If you decide that you'd rather not join a gym, look at stronglifts.com 's beginner strength training program. You'll have to buy some shit and get a power rack, but it might save you time.
>> Anonymous
>>273209
Downloading the file now, going to look over it soon.
I can't really take food to work, the boss is weird about bringing outside food/drinks to work.
>> Anonymous
>>273209
Just read over it quickly. The workouts are good, but the diets aren't great for me. I would probably cut back more on the low calorie one a little bit to take it to around 1800-1900.
I have worked out some times (roughly) when I am able to eat.
7:30am - breakfast
10am - snack
12:30am - lunch
3pm - snack (I could probably take like.. a sandwich, or some fruit to work, but I would have to make sure the boss is fine with me doing it. I would probably have to explain that I am going through a huge life change thing, and need to eat at regular times for my workout shit, or I can say it's medical).
5:30-6pm - dinner

I don't like eating too soon before I sleep, I always wake up having trouble sleeping, so 5 meals a day would be fine.

Also, about the cycling, is it worth investing in a bike? I heard it's good cardio, but I am worried it's just going to work my legs only.
>> Anonymous
Gyms sometimes give you a trial session for a personal trainer, use that if you can. I think that having one for a few sessions would be a good idea. It gave me an idea about how hard I should be working myself and how to properly do several exercises, but I don't think they have any long term use.
>> Anonymous
>>273329
it's cardio, if your heart rate is up then it works your whole body

cycling will build the mussels in your legs sure, but your whole body will benefit from it.
>> Anonymous
>>273563
Ok, thanks.
Is an hour a day cycling in the morning good? Or should I only ride on days I don't go to the gym? Where I live there are a load of hills, so I would probably ride into town, and ride back.
>> Anonymous
>>273183
know your local laws, and know your company's policy. if there's any possibility to get more breaks, do it.

If you can't, cheat. Sneak it in. a small snack of nuts and a raises can be tucked away out of sight
>> Anonymous
>>274183
OP here, I had a chat to my boss and he said it's fine as long as I ate out the back where no one went.
So I will most likely take a turkey/tuna/chicken sandwich on wholewheat, 2 pieces of fruit, and a handful of nuts, which I will eat during my 8-11 hour shifts.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Here's a thought:
Offer to do the groceries on some days, like saturday. Use this time to buy some decent food (at least for you). Brown rice instead of white rice, brown bread instead of white bread, and avoid all soda's and sugary foods. Definately recommend a bike. Especially a stationary one for home use with changable levels of intensity would be a luxury. I lost like 50 lbs at one point in my life just eating chicken and brown rice every day and doing 1 hour of biking a day. The difference was HUGE.
>> Anonymous
>>274626
Yeah, I am going to offer to go shopping each week, that way I can get some healthier food into this house.
I am looking at getting a normal push bike, because I like riding in the outdoors, and when I get fit enough to ride for long periods of time, I am thinking of joining the local MTB club that goes out each second weekend for long rides around the bike trails through the forests here. I was looking at a bike rack that lifts the back wheel off the ground, letting me ride stationary at home, this way, if it is raining/really hot (it gets to 40 celcius here sometimes, with humidity in the high 90's) or when it's way too cold, I don't have to stop my routine.
>> Anonymous
the personal trainer would definately worth be getting. i'm sure they know more about the whole working out thing better than anyone else would. also they could create a surefire plan to get you fit.
>> Anonymous
5/10

most PT's recommend machine based routines

compound barbell/dumbbell exercises > machine based exercises
>> Anonymous
ITT: The correct usage of the /fit/ board.
>> Anonymous
>>273183

eat protein/health bars, pieces of fruit like apples, oranges. they are quick, can be like a mini-meal, and healthy.

i eat 5-6 meals a day, and peanut butter on a cut up apple is always one, for example.
>> Anonymous
>>274866
Yeah, I have heard of personal trainers swearing by the use of machines. My mate had a personal trainer for a month, and he said his fitness plan was all about using machines, and he was sore from the machines putting him in unnatural positions.

I might tell him straight out that I want to do compound exercises, with no machines use (or minimal), and just get a personal trainer for 1-2 weeks so I can work out what I need to do, and get my form correct.
>> Anonymous
>>273183
I live in Aust too. I use this book, its pretty good and costs $9.
http://www.calorieking.com.au/shop/
>> Anonymous
>>274882
1. Why are you still awake?
2. Thanks so much for that, I might just buy it tomorrow.

I'm going to start taking photo's of myself every 2 weeks and make a blog about my progress. Does anyone know of one of these for fitness related things? Something that has a workout planner that people can see, etc.
>> Anonymous
bodyspace.com
>> Anonymous
>>274889
Thanks a lot.
I will probably make a profile later today before work. I probably wont be starting for another week or 2, as I have some medical issues that need sorting out soon.

Thanks to everyone that has given me information and help.
>> Anonymous
good luck, mate.
>> Anonymous
bodyspace is good to use
>> Anonymous
OP here again.

I have now quit smoking 100%, I tossed my whole pack I bought yesterday into the fireplace here... and 10 seconds later I made a dash for the fireplace, taking a huge draw, then remembered why I am doing this, then closed and locked the fireplace door.
Because I have been smoking for the last 4-5 months, should I start my workout routine gradually? I just see it that I may hurt myself (lungs, throat, etc.) if I just jump right in and do it all. Should I maybe do 45 minutes of cardio for a week, then an hour the next week, and after 2 weeks at 1 hour, move to 1 hour 30 minutes (my goal per day) from then on?