Exercise/fitness (62)

1 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-01-29 06:19 ID:1U5WwnP7

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, if it's not, forgive me.

I was dealt a pretty bad hand at birth; due to genes on my mother's side, I have pretty big legs. I became aware of it in elementary school. The rest of my body isn't exactly fit, but it's thin enough.

Anyone know if this can be dealt with reasonably? If so how?

2 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-01-30 00:54 ID:Heaven

What on earth does "pretty big legs" even mean?

3 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-01-30 06:56 ID:1U5WwnP7

I lack a better word for "fat".

4 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-02-10 22:48 ID:ph4l6j7T

real basic science suggests amputation to get rid of these problems.

5 Name: Cheap Shot : 2007-02-11 08:11 ID:o5hWQKza

I have the same problem, walking helps.. do a TON of walking, and I'm talking like 5 miles a day.

6 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-02-13 07:05 ID:1U5WwnP7

>>4

I was thinking about that, but I'm going to try to avoid that.

>>5

Sounds like a better alternative. I know what you mean, I run a mile a day and nothing ever changes.

7 Name: dmpk2k!hinhT6kz2E : 2007-02-14 06:32 ID:Heaven

Find an aerobic exercise you enjoy (biking, running, swimming, whatever) and maintain around ~70% of your max heart rate for an hour or more per day. One mile a day is a start, but you'll need to slowly work your way up.

Eat a well-balanced diet, like a mediterranean diet. Eat meat rarely, junk food and condiments never, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. No juice unless you squeezed it yourself. No white bread. If it's been processed, it's probably not worth eating.

Weight loss = energy in < energy out. Exercise (a lot) more, eat less.

8 Name: Sage : 2007-02-14 06:54 ID:1U5WwnP7

Alright, I'll take your word for it.

9 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-02-14 17:49 ID:Heaven

>>7

I'm led to understand that energy use by exercise is pretty insignificant in comparison to how much energy you use just to stay alive the rest of the time. So exercise is good for your health but not so much for weight loss. To lose weight, eat less (or better).

Thoughts?

10 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-02-14 19:48 ID:0p0qWegi

Nah, eat better is probably a better advice.
Stop eating crap, I'd say.
No more carbohydrates. Say no to sugar.

11 Name: Anonymous Scientist : 2007-02-14 19:51 ID:0p0qWegi

>>10 Oh and by "no to sugar" I don't mean Diet Coke.
No fake sugar either unless you want to lose a kidney or somesuch.

12 Name: dmpk2k!hinhT6kz2E : 2007-02-15 01:11 ID:Heaven

>>9
Yeah, it's true we use far more energy just maintaining ourselves. Things are a bit more complicated than that though, due to adaptations we have.

Exercise does more than the immediate burning of energy. It raises your metabolism (swimming has a problem here due to cooling) and increases muscle mass, both which help burn more energy while idle. Since sleep causes things to slow down, if you do most of the exercise after waking up, your body will be running hotter for the rest of the day even if you just sit.

I don't know how much of a difference that makes, but a diet alone will just make your metabolism slow to compensate. If you reduce intake further, it'll start cannibalizing your body, using things other than fat first. Things you probably don't want it to be using.

As an aside, if >>1 is a worried about their legs, maybe some weights or other anaerobic activity for the upper body too; a uniform build helps appearances.

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