Working out, Exercising, Supporting Each Other!

[Star Wonder]

So... I am going to be posting updates here on my workouts each day. (Or each day I work out at the gym). I would like this thread to be in SUPPORT of those trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or try and get fit or staying fit! This thread will be for encouragement and support as anyone who tries to lose weight knows how important it is (Unless you're one of those people that can just do it and not need to think about it - I envy you.)

Feel free to post your results! And feel free to ask questions and talk about anything at all exercise related!  :-3

I know one of the things that happens the most is "But it's so hard" or "I don't have anyone to help" or anything like that. This thread is to get rid of that "no support system" and help each other encourage one another!

Please Please PLEASE Do not post anything rude or demeaning as this is important for the mental stability of those trying to get fit and be healthy. Support and praise are the best things for us and we need all the love and support we can get. Keep sarcasm to a minimum as it can so easily be taken the wrong way please :-3

Some Tidbits:

• 
  *I record my stuff on MyFitnessPal and love it because I can keep track of everything and not think about it. It keeps track of how many carbs, now much protein, and anything else you can think if that you're suppose to consume to get the results you want. Just type it in and done! Some others work better by writing it down physically. But this site is free and keeps everything in track and order. It has worked wonders for me. Give it a try.
• *Make reasonable goals. Don't try and lose 50lbs in Ten weeks. It's not safe, dangerous, and can (probably will) do more harm than good even if you don't notice it. An example - I personally want to be a healthy 150lbs. But right now I just want to get to 170lbs.
• *Remember losing just 10lbs you will feel SO much better. You will have more energy too. I notice this all the time.
• *DISCIPLINE! Don't start off with thinking "Oh I exercised today so I deserve a treat" kind of thinking. Avoid that as much as possible. Resist the ice cream, resist giant meals, etc. This thread will help with that as well. Feel free to tell someone you're having cravings and feel free to ask for support. If you start off or end up doing the "I deserve a treat" and don't have self control, you won't get the results you want and/or may not get any at all for that matter.
• *Cut down bad fats and large amounts of red meat. The daily recommended intake of red meat is 70 GRAMS. Not an 8oz steak. There are other ways to get your protein. Red meat is not a good way to go about it. Eggs, Poultry, Fish and Soy are far more recommended by many. There are also protein shakes and other things. REMEMBER - You need fat to break down and absorb protein. Do NOT cut out fat completely. Protein repairs muscle, and if you cannot absorb it, no matter how much of it you consume it will not be taken in.
• *Surround yourself with Positive things. Can't stress this enough.  :hug: :thumbs:
• *Get a Work-out buddy if you can. The buddy doesn't have to exercise, just be with you and keep you company. Makes a world of difference. someone that can support you and pat your back and tell you you did a job well done.
• *Alternate days between cardio and weights. You want to do both because when you start to lose fat your skin loosens. Weight training will help keep flesh tight while working out.
• *Be aware some diets are EXTREMELY dangerous and can do so much harm to you. Some have been known to kill people. So please be careful! And this is also why support and research is good. But don't just take websites opinions. Go into a gym and ask questions they will be more than happy to help you out!

There are many other things and suggestions others will have.

Going to do my frigging hardest to work out like crazy. For those that live near me I would love it if you came over and just went for walks for me or anything. The more exercise I can get the better. Burned 988 calories today. Not including weight training.

Anyone also using it can friend me on My Fitness Pal. Here is my progress and progress bar.  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/Star_Wonder

I currently work out at Goodlife Fitness. They have 3 day free entry passes for anyone that wants to join me any time. Just go online and fill a thingy out. It's a stress-free environment. No one judges. And the staff there are SO goddamn nice it's awesome.

My goal is to try and go every other day and do the same thing as today.

Kuviare and I went at 3 am, didn't get back until 6:45 am.

My reasons For doing what I am doing (you should make one too)

About Me:

I am 27, and I have had a bad history of medications ruining my life. Anti-depressants have made it hard for me to lose weight and instead I gain like mad. I have been on 8 different diets and all of them caused me to gain weight, never lose it. This includes exercises. And I decided why not give myfitnesspal a chance to help myself. Ever since puberty my weight is always horrible. I gain so easily it's not funny. My doctor said I have to work seven to thirteen times harder than the average person to lose weight because of my old medications from when I was younger (Which I was misdiagnosed for sadly enough). So far the site is successful in helping me out.

Why I want to get in shape

I want to be healthy. I want to reduce my asthma. I want to be able to jog across the street without having a full on asthma attack. I want to be healthy and feel good. Being overweight makes me depressed constantly and I am already emotionally unstable, so I want to at least gain some control of my life, and so I chose weight. I am going to get in control of it. I am already healthy food wise. I am vegan, I eat lots of good, nutritional food, in good portions. But I am also on disability for both mental and physical reasons. So getting into shape will help with BOTH of these. I will have back problems all my life (accident at age 13), but at least reducing weight will help keep me out of the hospital. And will reduce my risk for diseases and heart attack. I don't want to end up like my mom who is extremely ill with all sorts of weight related issues.

My Inspirations

  Get rid of some of my depression
   Get in control of one part of my life
   Feel better on the inside
   To be heathy, and in turn, happier.

Now that I've got the ball rolling feel free to continue! Or just offer support <3 I could really use it!  :hug: I am more than happy to offer advice, support or chat about this too!

(If you are interested in Joining Myfitnesspal with me let me know so I can invite you  :-3)

[Neox]

When trying to get "in-shape," the hardest part of doing it is the motivation. It's so goddamn easy to fall into the rut of being like, "I should go to the gym... but I really don't FEEL like it."  But I find that, once you're AT the gym, the switch flips and I get right into it.

I know you and I have spoke of this before, but this method is almost guaranteed for everyone else. The most fool-proof way is to get into a routine. If you work, make sure you hit the gym immediately before or after, and bring your gym-bag with you to work so you don't need to stop at home. If you spend a lot of time at home, set an alarm on your phone that tells you when you need to go start PREPARING for your workout, and set another one that tells you when to LEAVE for your workout. Routine is everything with exercise. Once you break that routine, it becomes a bitch to get back into it. It's like the opposite of quitting smoking, haha.

Having a gym buddy is good, too. I personally find that I rather workout alone because I focus right in on what I'm doing and have no distraction by having a friend there. Some people love having a gym buddy because they feed off each other for motivation and encouragement, and that's a really good thing to have, especially when you set big goals for yourself that are going to take years of hard work.

It is true that at least half of "getting in shape" is mental. It's not just a physical transformation that occurs when you apply yourself, but you notice a huge boost in confidence and self-worth when you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, "My work is paying-off." It's slow. Yes, it takes years to reach goals. But the journey is where all the change happens.

[terutt]

Just to check in, but Fitocracy is a great site with a decently large population of furries trying to get more fit. https://www.fitocracy.com/home/

[Star Wonder]

Just to check in, but Fitocracy is a great site with a decently large population of furries trying to get more fit. https://www.fitocracy.com/home/

Thank you, but this thread is for more personal things and discussion. Since this is a forum many furries are on, and many are in the same boat I am, there are those that feel this could be a good way to discuss and talk. Also there are those that don't want to sign up to another site to do the same as what I have going here. People can go there, but I feel this is a bit more personal and people know each other here face to face better.

[Sevrin]

When trying to get "in-shape," the hardest part of doing it is the motivation. It's so goddamn easy to fall into the rut of being like, "I should go to the gym... but I really don't FEEL like it."  But I find that, once you're AT the gym, the switch flips and I get right into it.

This.

[terutt]

Thank you, but this thread is for more personal things and discussion. Since this is a forum many furries are on, and many are in the same boat I am, there are those that feel this could be a good way to discuss and talk. Also there are those that don't want to sign up to another site to do the same as what I have going here. People can go there, but I feel this is a bit more personal and people know each other here face to face better.

Oh. Okay! Well, I support you on your journey! I have my own trying to get off the ground.

I still can't lift triple-digit weight. When I was in high school, I was called to the counsellor's office twice because they thought I had an eating disorder. Even though I'm a healthy 165 now and don't shop out of the children's section, I'm still, for lack of better term, weak.

Though I've learned one main thing that helps everyone, either gaining or losing weight. Get more muscle.

Muscle is active tissue that requires more energy to maintain than bone, fat, skin, anything. It's the most high maintenance tissue of the body. If you get stronger, your basal metabolic rate will increase. Women lack the testosterone to get huge without chemicals, so there's no worry about getting masculine features. And it never goes away. Being strong makes it easier to diet.

[Sevrin]

Women lack the testosterone to get huge without chemicals so there's no worry about getting masculine features.

*ahem* *cough* *cough*

[terutt]

Women lack the testosterone to get huge without chemicals

[Star Wonder]

When trying to get "in-shape," the hardest part of doing it is the motivation. It's so goddamn easy to fall into the rut of being like, "I should go to the gym... but I really don't FEEL like it."  But I find that, once you're AT the gym, the switch flips and I get right into it.

I know you and I have spoke of this before, but this method is almost guaranteed for everyone else. The most fool-proof way is to get into a routine. If you work, make sure you hit the gym immediately before or after, and bring your gym-bag with you to work so you don't need to stop at home. If you spend a lot of time at home, set an alarm on your phone that tells you when you need to go start PREPARING for your workout, and set another one that tells you when to LEAVE for your workout. Routine is everything with exercise. Once you break that routine, it becomes a bitch to get back into it. It's like the opposite of quitting smoking, haha.

Having a gym buddy is good, too. I personally find that I rather workout alone because I focus right in on what I'm doing and have no distraction by having a friend there. Some people love having a gym buddy because they feed off each other for motivation and encouragement, and that's a really good thing to have, especially when you set big goals for yourself that are going to take years of hard work.

It is true that at least half of "getting in shape" is mental. It's not just a physical transformation that occurs when you apply yourself, but you notice a huge boost in confidence and self-worth when you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, "My work is paying-off." It's slow. Yes, it takes years to reach goals. But the journey is where all the change happens.

Getting fit is far more than 50% mental unfortunately. If it was just half, it would be faaaar easier for myself, and everyone else I know. In fact from what I have read, and been told by both other people that work out and by the gym staff and personal trainers there, it's about 80% mental.

It's also really hard when you get really sick and fall out of your routine. And a great way to get back into it is to have a support group/person. Some people need a kick in the ass (Sometimes physically, sometimes that's what I need) And some people need a gentle touch of encouraging words (Sometimes this is also what I need). The most successful people are those that have support.

When Kuvi and I get to the gym, the only things we do together are weights. We stand in front of each other. Kuvi lies to me and tells me "just one more" and when he's doing the working out I stand there and piss him off so he can be angry through the burn. It's both fun, entertaining, and works like a hot damn. Or I can talk about a part of my body he desires and make him focus on it and he forgets how many reps he's doing. For some this type of distraction gets them through the last few burning reps.

Then you have to figure out what your body, your body type, and all that stuff will have to go through and how it will lose weight and where it will drop the most. My weight has gained over my body fairly evenly. I am constantly told I do not look like I weigh 190lbs because of how evenly I have filled out. So I need to be aware where my weight will drop first. For women? Boobs. Boobs are the first to go. Yup. I go through that a lot. Plus, for weight loss things, because of the chemistry that is messed up with me, I cannot accurately gauge like others how much I will lose, when I will lose it and so on. I have to work so much harder than others because of what I have had done to me through unneeded and dangerous medications. That makes everything more complicated for someone like myself. And I need to go more.

And those that have ADD (not ADHD - not the same thing), know that you are motivated by others. Either for their gain or your own. It's hard to function on your own personal needs and wants. You want to lose weight, that's all well and good, but when you're alone? It makes the hill look like a mountain. It's a mental disability and for some  they need help. It also depends on how mild or severe it is because there are over 2000 forms of ADD (and ADHD). I myself have a very severe case that effected me worst through school. (I failed english 11 twice and english 12 once, even studying after hours with the teacher a day before a test I would still fail the test. There is a mental block and it's hard to overcome. I was too dumb for regular math but super smart for dumb math. Lol Etc.) So when you have mentality issues already, you REALLY need help and support from friends and family.

I don't have family support. I only have Kuvi. And it can be too much for him. So I want to reach out for help from others, especially friends. I have a hard time dealing with strangers with this type of thing but I am not against it. It just can be more difficult to deal with me for those that do not know me.

Getting a routine is not easy for many people. Especially when their sleep schedule is so erratic. I sleep whenever my body tells me to. Sometimes I have insomnia for days. Sometimes I sleep 30 hours in a row. Not even waking to go pee. These are side effects from medications that I didn't need. What I needed and what anyone with Clinical/Chronic or Temporary Depression is what many call DEE. Diet, Environment, Exercise. Environment being the MOST important. Eating right? That is easy. It's called discipline. And it's called, stare at the bad food until you're disgusted with it because you know it's ACTUALLY DISGUSTING and you shouldn't be eating it. And Exercise is important for anyone, any human should know that. But Environment effects EVERYTHING about you and around you. If you're around really negative, depressed people, it makes everything depressing and hard to deal with. Or if you're around people that ignore you, family that doesn't support you, no one to pat your back, etc, again, it makes people go "Why bother?" or "No one cares so why should I?" But I care. I care about everything and everyone. I want to always help even if I am not qualified. I want to do what I can and be there for people when I can. It helps ME get better too. Because I am motivated by OTHERS. When someone is sad, I am motivated to get my butt in gear and help them out. That generally requires going outside, and I have HUGE anxiety issues. So it helps me overcome it just so I can help someone. So if you're in any way similar to my mentality or suffer from depression(s), I just want you to know I am there, I know what it's like, and I can offer that support and advice. Feel free to ask me questions about my personal life and experiences and research I have done to get at this point. As I am 27 now it took me 16 years to be able to acquire this knowledge and actually realize doctors are pill pushing assholes (Some.)

A little bit of interesting fact for those that suffer from depression - Many doctors will call it a "chemical imbalance". This has not been proven. In fact NO research has been done, or has been found as proof or conclusive evidence to whether or not it is true. Doctors more often than not will give people more that two or three different anti-depressants and say "We need to find the right balance for you" or some crap like that. What anti-depressants do is actually break down your chemicals, and replace it with their own. This can cause SERIOUS problems. like with myself. There are others that have severe issues. And others that actually killed themselves. There is a reason why one of the side effects of ALL anti-depressants is "Death". The BEST method, and PROVEN to work, is D.E.E. Doctors go about the medications the exact same way as they did for blood letting and leaching to 'cure' depression. In fact they still do it. Even here in Canada. Sometimes it "works". But from what I have researched, looked up, and asked doctors about, the blood letting and leaching is usually a placebo effect and the light headedness and needing to replenish blood often is the cause of "less depression" but is not a cure. In fact there is no known cure for Clinical/Chronic depression. And Depression is not "oh I'm sad." It's actually more physical as well as mental. So keep that in mind.

All of this plays right back into exercising and physical activity. If you're in pain (caused by depression or other), it's harder to do things. I have Permanent nerve damage in my back. I will always suffer problems no matter how fit I am. (I have suffered this since I was 13 because of an accident.) But there are many exercises I can do to lessen my pain. But I am physically not allowed to lift more than 15lbs. Such as a box or what not. I am allowed to do weight machines. I also suffer from Tennis Elbow. And that never goes away. Once you get it, it flares up and you either get it treated and spend so much money on that, or work through it. Some of the exercises at the gym actually worsen it for me so I have to be careful and aware of my limitations.

If you break your arm or leg or what not, when it's better doing physical therapy is important to gain the muscles you lost and strengthen everything around it. But know when it's okay to do it. Do it too soon and you could cause more damage than good. Talk to your doctor about that.

Okay... I think that's enough wall-o-text.  :-3

[Star Wonder]

This is also a misunderstanding. Women don't need chemicals to get masculine looks. I have seen it personally. One of the trainers at the gym looks like a guy, and does regular drug testing. She says she's never taken anything but protein shakes and what not. I know others similar as well, not as well mind you, but she comes in after she's off work and works out like crazy. I believe it's against the Gym rules to be on steroids and drugs as well because it's a high-rep gym and can be very bad for them if their trainers were taking drugs to help themselves.

[Tiger Paws]

Star has done enough finger exercising for one day XD

[Star Wonder]

Oh. Okay! Well, I support you on your journey! I have my own trying to get off the ground.

I still can't lift triple-digit weight. When I was in high school, I was called to the counsellor's office twice because they thought I had an eating disorder. Even though I'm a healthy 165 now and don't shop out of the children's section, I'm still, for lack of better term, weak.

Though I've learned one main thing that helps everyone, either gaining or losing weight. Get more muscle.

Muscle is active tissue that requires more energy to maintain than bone, fat, skin, anything. It's the most high maintenance tissue of the body. If you get stronger, your basal metabolic rate will increase. Women lack the testosterone to get huge without chemicals, so there's no worry about getting masculine features. And it never goes away. Being strong makes it easier to diet.

A lot of people also forget Muscle weighs more than fat. You can be at the gym, working out, and maintain the exact same weight and have no idea you're gaining muscle at a rate that your fat goes down to keep it even.

And "to diet" is a term one should not use. Diet isn't cutting out EVERYTHING in your daily food regiment. You can still eat things, just be HEALTHY about it. You don't need that third helping of turkey, you don't need ...ANYTHING from Mc Donalds. Most of this stuff can be easy made by making your own food. Also why I recommend Myfitnesspal. It keeps track of everything. It gives you a calorie goal and how much you should consume. And you don't have to think about it. Just try and be at the goal line. I found out I am anorexic by doing this site. I had a hard time consuming 800 calories a day, let alone 1200 that it wants me to. One should never consume less than 1200 calories a day. If you exercise you're suppose to eat the calories you burned if you are limiting to 1200 a day. (for WOMEN. Men are higher. Men should never be at 1200 a day). It will show you how many calories you need for your goals. It's very convenient and I love it personally. It has been the biggest help to me with eating. I still find it so hard to eat 1200 a day. I have to force myself to eat.

[Star Wonder]

Star has done enough finger exercising for one day XD

Lol! Are you kidding? I love finger exercising! I love typing walls of stuff. My wrists hate me for it, not my fingers. XD  :birdy:

[Tiger Paws]

Lol! Are you kidding? I love finger exercising! I love typing walls of stuff. My wrists hate me for it, not my fingers. XD  :birdy:

being a man.. that males me smile XD

[Star Wonder]

being a man.. that males me smile XD

....*bursts out laughing* Oh hahahaha....very funny... XD Yeah I like those finger exercises too!  :-3 ;D