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I have something really Non-PC to say about COVID 19 (weight loss during a pandemic and you)

Croatoan

They/Them A-10 Warthog
To be blunt, the reason why the US is getting hammered by this freaking virus is because of the obesity epidemic, and the fat acceptance movement is partially to blame. Just about every metric we have seen has shown that obesity (And its good buddy diabetes), is the primary comorbidity to go along with age in severe cases. Yet none of these freaking commercials and PSAs seem to mention that being a fat ass means you are more likely to get really ill and possibly die. I wonder why that is?...

As an overweight individual myself I was terrified when I saw the data coming out of china about how bad this thing was for fatties. It was enough to get me to make some major changes in my life, and over the last six months I have lost around forty pounds. How did I do it? Well it actually isn't that complicated.

1. I've always sorta been aware that I overate so I cut my food intake in half. I still eat basically the same foods I just eat less of it. No more big lunches, no more seconds at dinner
2. Intermittent fasting: if you don't know what this is then look it up. I fast between 8pm at night, and 11:30am the following day
3. 10,000 steps a day: I don't care how you get them but get them.
4. Exorcise: Start by taking a long walk every night (part of your 10k) then work up to jogging.
5. Lift weights: At rest, muscle burns more calories than fat. Which is helpful if you are gamer and "Rest" a lot.

What I eat:

From 8pm to 11:30am: Absolutely 0 calories. I only drink water. This is intermittent fasting.

11:31AM: Small Lunch; usually turkey sandwich, or PB and J, with a small helping of fruit. Sometimes I eat a small helping of left overs from the night before instead of a sandwich.

Snacks: Only fresh fruit and a single helping of it (like one mandarin, nectarine or a small helping of grapes). I sometimes eat almonds, but I generally stay away from nuts and any carbs for snacks. At the beginning I had to have a snack in between lunch and dinner. Now that my stomach has shrunk I usually don't.

6:00pm to 8:00pm: Moderate Dinner; I usually eat whatever I want here, I just make sure I only get a healthy portion size and I never go back for seconds. My wife cooks really well and we have moved onto some healthier foods but I still eat Meat, pasta, pizzas, ect. Remember it is all about portion control here. If I am still hungry after one portion of whatever my wife makes, or I make, or we order I will eat a single piece of fruit.

Pro Tip: Drink lots of water! Water fills you up and makes it easier to survive how goddamn hungry you are until your stomach shrinks.
Another Pro Tip: Notice something about what I don't eat? Sweets, junk food, drinks with calories, "Diet" drinks, and fast food are a no no.

How I work out:

I started out lifting 3 days a week and walking four days a week. Then I went to lifting 3 days a week, running two days a week, and walking two days a week. Covid got bad here in Texas and started avoiding the gym so now I Run 3 days a week and walk 4 days a week. On the days I walk I get around 12000-15000 steps depending on how many steps I get on my breaks at work.

After six months I still cant really jog for more than a mile and a half. My lungs where in really bad shape when I started this but they have gotten a lot better. As I am getting older my joints are really a problem right now. I am still about 30 pounds overweight so I am hopeful that when I drop down some more jogging will get easier for my knees/legs.

That's it. No special diet, no crazy pills or workout tapes. Just portion control, Intermittent fasting, and exorcise.

Has anyone else used the pandemic as an excuse to drop the weight? I got another thirty I want to lose but its gonna be one hell of an uphill battle!
 
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Pagusas

Elden Member
I was never overweight, but I did use the work from home oppertunity to start walking 5 miles everyday on our trails near my house. And now I use the treadmil when its too hot. I'm looking damn fine while all my coworkers are getting large.
 

DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
Good for you OP. The dividing line will be between people like yourself who take responsibility and people who just wear their masks and wait for a vaccine. Everyone should be reducing any factors that make you vulnerable to this disease, if it is indeed so deadly, but the media mainly just keeps people compliant and scared. Hmm, almost like it is intentional...
 

ExpandKong

Banned
Good for you dude. I've lost about 15 so far myself doing a keto diet and some light exercise in the mornings, got about 20 more I wanna lose. I know I'm at the point where I've probably got to step up the exercise to make more progress but it's fucking hot, lol.

Fat acceptance movement is such bullshit. If you're able to accept yourself as fat then fine, power to you, it's good to feel comfortable in your own skin but don't expect medical science to go along with it. Health At Every Size is a straight up lie.
 

Super Mario

Banned
Good for you. More than half of the world could stand to lose some weight.

Meanwhile, I'm supposed to deny myself of anything enjoyable for the foreseeable future because I need to protect the health of people who never protected themselves. You're spot-on with your assessment. This is just more victim politics. Forever and always
 

Croatoan

They/Them A-10 Warthog
I'm intrigued by step 4: "Exorcise". Is it Exercise + Exorcism?
Like exercising while commanding the fat to leave your body in the name of God?
I fail at spelling :( and spell check failed me as well.

Good for you OP. The dividing line will be between people like yourself who take responsibility and people who just wear their masks and wait for a vaccine. Everyone should be reducing any factors that make you vulnerable to this disease, if it is indeed so deadly, but the media mainly just keeps people compliant and scared. Hmm, almost like it is intentional...
I wear masks as well. I mean, even though I have lost weight I still don't want to get it. Losing weight doesn't guarantee you are OK, just lowers the risk a lot.
 
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DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
Reminder that we have a very active Fitness OT


260lb in 2017. 170lb today. Working outside and giving up soda. I don't even lift. I probably should. But shit, I don't even know where to start. All the gyms here are closed.
Kettlebell, my man. I went from 300 down to 200 from fasting and cold training. Hadn't picked up weights in years but I started back up just prior to wuhan flu lockdown. A 35lb kettlebell is a gym unto itself.
 
This pandemic is giving me bear hibernation fats; I am trying to transition back to keto, IF, and light cardio though.
Last year I was in much better shape than I am now.
 

Calcium

Banned
Good on you, OP. I'm doing the exact same thing myself, so I know how much work you've been putting in. I'm down 35 myself after about 3 months now.
 

poppabk

Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
I've gained about 10lbs since the beginning of the pandemic. Stress + boredom + no gyms open = weight gain.
Went to the gym for the first time since early March yesterday and could deadlift 315lbs for 3 reps so I haven't lost too much strength at least.
 

Riven326

Banned
Reminder that we have a very active Fitness OT



Kettlebell, my man. I went from 300 down to 200 from fasting and cold training. Hadn't picked up weights in years but I started back up just prior to wuhan flu lockdown. A 35lb kettlebell is a gym unto itself.
I actually eat three meals a day and sometimes snack. I eat a couple scoops of ice cream in the evening sometimes, drink milk, etc. I never seem to go beyond 175. I think it's my job. South Florida heat and my phone tells me I walk five miles a day.

But I'm in that skinny fat area. Technically thin, but not enough muscle and definition.
 

Brian Fellows

Pete Carroll Owns Me
I actually lost weight during shelter in place because I was eating a lot more fruit and a lot less junk/fast food/soda than when I’m working. I was also walking my dogs like 5 times per day.
 
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Riven326

Banned
No one wants to talk about the link. There is a few articles here or there. Asian countries and Africa are not hit hard, while fat West is getting hammered.

Refined sugars might be something as well.
What do you think about western countries banning refined sugars? The soft drinks, energy drinks, etc. They are causing all sorts of physical disabilities in our countries.
 

JayK47

Member
Good job. I lost about 40 lbs last summer, gained about 10 lbs over the winter and have been struggling to lose those 10 lbs all summer. I am getting less exercise working from home since I used to bike to work. And I have all of the snacks at home too. When I am at work it is easier to control myself.
 

Meowzers

Member
I eat most my food at night, so don't worry. Overall daily calories determine weight loss. Unless you've got a show to compete in the next few weeks then don't worry.
 

Kenpachii

Member
If you want to reduce fat food etc, government should put a rule forwards that stops shows being supplied by it.

This pandemic is giving me bear hibernation fats; I am trying to transition back to keto, IF, and light cardio though.
Last year I was in much better shape than I am now.

Same here, i am completely out of shape since covid i didn't sport much anymore.
 
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MrFunSocks

Banned
So many people from my work and friend circles said the pandemic and staying home has made them get fat, but that makes no sense. You’ve now got more time to get off your arse and exercise!
 
The fatty fatkins problem will not go away unless the government starts doing something about the shit put in our food and that will never happen. I’ve been on the keto diet for about three weeks now. I’ve lost about 14 pounds, want to lose a little more. But what I’ve noticed is trying to eat healthy is stupid expensive unless you want to live on frozen chicken breasts forever.

But it’s also opened my eyes to how much trash I used to eat and how much sugar is in everything. Now I can go an entire day and eat less than 20 carbs easy, but it’s way cheaper to stuff my face with trash. It’s no surprise the country is the way it is.
 

bigsnack

Member
I 100% agree. I would like to mention that along with obesity and type two diabetes comes internal vascular inflammation. The inflammation makes the cells in your body (blood vessels) more fragile and brittle, which is more likely what causes COVID to wreak havoc.

While inflammation tends to coexist with obesity, people can definitely have vascular inflammation while being a technically healthy weight. Please everyone work to reduce inflammation in the body so this fucking virus can finally become the nothingburger that it deserves to be.

FWIW, I’ve been on lazy keto since 2012.
 
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Great post. It needs to be said and stressed. Watch what you eat, exercise and get healthy. I let myself go and now am in the process of trying to loose 140 pounds. At the end of the day you only have yourself to blame. Look to support from this community and or others to get back to shape and be happy.
 

Polygonal_Sprite

Gold Member
I’m 37, I eat once per day, Whatever I want. I stay 12 stone and I don’t have to do anything else it’s great. Sometimes my meal is 1500 calories, sometimes it’s 3000.

Intermittent fasting is a miracle if you have the willpower to do it (you get used to it after a few weeks). It’s by far the best way of staying a healthy weight if you’re not someone who’s into diets or fitness.

Well done, OP. What weight were you to begin?
 

DavidGzz

Member
Yes, the less healthy you are the harder it will hit you. If people don't know by now that being heavier decreases health, then it's their problem, especially if/when they get the virus.
 

cryptoadam

Banned
What do you think about western countries banning refined sugars? The soft drinks, energy drinks, etc. They are causing all sorts of physical disabilities in our countries.

I don't know about banning, but I would support education, labels, maybe even higher taxes, kinda like cigarettes. For sure kids should be persuaded away from drinking soft drinks, energy drinks, over sugared juices etc...

And if Corona is going to be here "forever" people are going to have to get serious about their health.
 

DavidGzz

Member
Yes, drinking calories is the easiest way to put them away without the feeling of fullness. I try to drink water and when I grab a drink it's a diet.
 

TTOOLL

Member
I know people are different and so on, but it baffles me how a lot of humans just shit on their bodies on a daily basis. Like you don't take care of the one thing that makes you exist.
 

DavidGzz

Member
I know people are different and so on, but it baffles me how a lot of humans just shit on their bodies on a daily basis. Like you don't take care of the one thing that makes you exist.

Hardwired habits from birth. Parents who are ignorant of how nutrition works pass on their habits, lack of knowledge, and lack of interest in a healthy body to their kids. Some wise up on their own and take action like myself. I still struggle but it's a worthy struggle.
 

Sybrix

Member
Same situation in the UK, the UK is the fattest nation in Europe.

Too much acceptance of fat people, pre-covid there were loads of discussions on morning shows about why fat shaming is bad and that its great that their are plus sized models on TV and magazines etcs, the counter argument was its bad for you to be overweight and thats just fact.

I am overweight and have tried to cut down on food and increase exercise over the last 1 year and a bit, however Covid has sped me up and now i run everyday 5k before work. I work from home now which is great so instead of my normal 1 hour commute i go running.

I need to work on my diet however your diet plan OP sounds quite good and will look into that more.

Bottom line is being fat is bad, no matter how some people may want to dress it up, being fat is bad for your health and will only get worse with age or when a Covid pandemic hits.
 

Pejo

Member
Yea I've been using my time at home to get in shape too, OP. Good on you. I totally agree that fat acceptance needs to go the fuck away already. You should never cheer on being unhealthy. It's one thing to go out of your way to shame people about it, but it's another entirely to pretend it's great or "beautiful".
 

MrA

Banned
we should always look to better ourselves when presented with adversity, I've lost a bit of weight during the pandemic (not as much as I wanted too, but hitting I'll always take progress over set back), I've also taken the opportunity to start learning f8 assembly again ( I want to write a Fairchild channel f game), started programming for modern games as well, read 100s of books with my daughter, fixed a bunch of stuff around the house, resumed buying and selling on ebay again as a means to expand my classic game collection while making money, made a few good investments (though events over a certain dragon chaser hit my biggest moneymaker pretty hard)
 

Croatoan

They/Them A-10 Warthog
I’m 37, I eat once per day, Whatever I want. I stay 12 stone and I don’t have to do anything else it’s great. Sometimes my meal is 1500 calories, sometimes it’s 3000.

Intermittent fasting is a miracle if you have the willpower to do it (you get used to it after a few weeks). It’s by far the best way of staying a healthy weight if you’re not someone who’s into diets or fitness.

Well done, OP. What weight were you to begin?
275ish. I am trying to get to 200. Technically I should be 180 but 8 years ago I had to basically starve myself even more to get to that point (then I married my wife and her great cooking and got fat :p )
 
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BigBooper

Member
What do you think about western countries banning refined sugars? The soft drinks, energy drinks, etc. They are causing all sorts of physical disabilities in our countries.
I'd be all for banning hfcorn syrup. Not only would it make sweets more expensive, thus less desirable, but it also make it easier for me to buy a decent tasting soda. Amiright fatties?
 
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