Martial Arts, fitness, etc...

[sciff5]

Man, I'm jealous of you guys.
I'd love to lose 30 pounds and get back into better shape, but I'm not the type who enjoys exercise.
I don't mind being active if I have something physical to do, but I lack motivation for doing the physical stuff for it's own sake. 

What's your secret for making it fun, or at least bearable??? 

I used to like lifting in college, but as an adult I can't stand any of it. Gyms seem weird to me and I can't run save my life even though I'm in pretty decent shape.
Picked up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 8 years ago.
Theres so much technical about it you don't notice your hearts going crazy and your sweating.

[Venom13132]

i like to do workout videos like Insanity and the lot because I don't need any equipment and can do it in my house with little prep.  I have fallen off the wagon a bit since I got married but I used to be pretty big into triathlon   I went from running my first 5k to finishing my first full Ironman in 33 months.  That is a little aggressive.   

I want to get back into triathlon but will likely stick to sprint and Olympic distances with the occasional half distance ironman.  Doing a full just takes up way to much time for training.

I do like running and need to get back into it.   I like workouts that I don't have to drive anywhere to do and get the most benefit from least amount of time.

Yeah, that's a lot like me.  I want max benefit in minimum time.   No problem with putting in MAX effort, just trying not to spend another 10 hours a week on it (on top of what I already do with running/martial arts).

I don't really like running, which is funny because I run 8-12 miles a week, haha.   I do like beating my records, so it's just competition for me.  I do love the martial arts stuff;  there's a ton of satisfaction in seeing the benefits and while I had good balance before (I used to speed skate competitively and still downhill ski, which are pretty balance-centric) it's amazing to be able to jump kick, land on one foot, do kicks in 3 directions and still be stable.   Really neat stuff and the focus and such of it is great as well.    I do want to look at doing a "sprint" sometime, as I think I can handle that (at least finishing it not in last place) at my current fitness level.   I'm an "okay" swimmer, I do laps at my in-laws lake to practice open-water a bit, but I'm mostly "good enough to not drown" vs. fast, LOL.

if you can ride a bike, can swim a few laps, and know how to run... you can do a sprint tri.   Don't have to be good at any of those things or even have a good bike.    Im guessing you could probably complete one in under 90min  So if you can keep moving for 90min you can do a sprint.   I have a super fancy bike now but I didn't get that till after I did my first 70.3 mile tri (half ironman)

[Cobranut]

I shattered an ankle in a skydiving accident back in 1992.  After 2 surgeries and over a year of therapy I eventually got to where I could walk pretty normal, but never got enough range of motion back to be able to run.
Over the years it's gotten a lot worse, and I even have trouble walking more than a half mile or so at a stretch, so any high impact stuff is out.

I did pick up a nice Trek mountain bike a couple years ago. 
I travel for work, so if I'm going somewhere that has decent terrain and trails I take it with me and try to ride when I get a day off, but I'm usually pretty spent after 10 miles or so.  Biking gets pretty hard on my old back too.
Around home there's not many places that don't have brutal hills, so I don't really enjoy the bike much at home.

I try to use the fitness rooms in the hotels, but the only things I can use comfortably are the recumbent bike and the elliptical.  Neither of which are very exciting though. 

It would help if I my wife would workout with me, but she doesn't really enjoy it either. 
I guess I just have to make myself take the time to get started. (Getting old sucks) LOL

[digitalsolo]

Being old is crap.   When I was 18 I ate a large pizza and had 5 Mtn Dews and weighed the same as granola and soup, calorie counting 36 year old me.   It’s BS.   Haha

[markfluko]

I enjoy BJJ and muay thai. If I had to choose one, it would be BJJ.

I grew up doing karate, TKD, and kung fu... but grew tired of the air punching and katas. I felt you could rarely test your skills besides dancing around. BJJ allows you to go almost 90-100% in sparring and energy exertion without striking each other, and in a controlled fashion... Whereas in striking sparring it's usually wise to only spar at like 20-50% max unless you plan on getting paid to fight, and the risk of your sparring partner wanting to brawl could be more damaging. Bottomline from my .02 is that I am way more fatigued after 6x6min rounds of BJJ than anything else, so I think it would be the best weight loss martial art and get you in lean/physical shape the fastest and safest way. It does sound like a cult though 

[shainiac]

How do you guys get into BJJ as an adult?
I looked around at several places in my area and the all seemed to be geared towards kids and teenagers.

[gc3]

I had a wake-up call several years back after tearing my achilles tendon fooling around on a ninja warrior obstacle as what is known as a "weekend warrior".
basically an out of shape idiot who thinks they can do more and pushes harder here and there than their body can handle.

so after finishing PT on that I dove into rock climbing and it's been taking over my life ever since.

Good for you for working on yourself! Working on cars is easy but improving yourself takes commitment and real motivation!

[digitalsolo]

How do you guys get into BJJ as an adult?
I looked around at several places in my area and the all seemed to be geared towards kids and teenagers.

TKD around here is the same;  my studio is probably 95% kids <14.   I happened to start with my son (most of the adults started alongside their kids) though now that I've been in a bit, I've found that they do have adult only classes, so I go to some with my son (family classes with mostly kids) and some adult only classes (which really means like 13-14 years old and up, I'm regularly the only person over >18 at the class).

It seems odd at first, but as you come up in skill/rank, it becomes less of an issue;  in adult only sparring, I've gotten my ass kicked pretty hard by 14-15 year olds before, haha.

[markfluko]

Ya, I would say a lot of gyms are probably going to be geared more towards kids/teens because I would imagine that is how they pay the bills. But most of them should also have an adult class as well if you ask - especially BJJ - or they would probably know where the closest one is... You want to try and avoid McDojos though... If a place tells you "After X months, you rank up, and in 2 years, you will be a black belt" then it's probably a McDojo. But hey, if you like the place, you feel you are getting a good work out, and enjoy what you are doing - then go for it.  I am only offering caution about the "scheduled rank-ups" because it can go to people's head/ego that a black belt in whatever automatically makes them an ultimate fighter. Whereas in reality, for most people, it would take several years for you to become proficient enough to really deserve a black belt. There is a joke in BJJ about people saying, "Wow, you don't have your black belt in BJJ after 5 years training? You must suck, my 9 year old niece just got her black belt in karate after 2 years."

It really depends on your goals. If you don't care about your actual fighting capabilities, then do what you enjoy the most. You only get out what you put in. The only sport I really follow closely is MMA, so this is kind of personal for me haha.

This is basically how it is:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLaFd3pooF/?igshid=h9kq213ppp59

[kinger]

I did low/no carb to lose 35lbs, last year.  I have been maintaining with intermittent fasting 16:8 method and I when I can I skip carbs, say get a burger I never eat the bun anymore.  I like to lift weights, and do so 1-3 times a week.  I was/am addicted to sugar and the low carb helped kicked some of the cravings and urges.  I mainly did it for that reason.  Also no playing with 48 hr fasts and hoping to maybe do a 5 day once a year.  That is not for everyone but I find it to be a very positive experience for me, and this is coming from a guy that LOVES to eat!  I am also extremely busy and this process helps me keep weight in check and the mental focus alone is worth it. 

[shainiac]

+1 for No carb/keto. I've been doing it off and on for over 2 years. The biggest thing you'll notice is that when your body stops running off simple carbohydrate, your energy level is way more consistent. You don't get those sugar crashes/jolts and you rarely feel hungry. Even if you're not looking to lose much weight, it's a pretty positive experience.

[frijolee]

Mine is all about finding time these days. 

Having Ronin as a second job isn't a very forgiving hobby and there's always more I could be doing to push R&D etc.  No one cares if you're tired and would rather kick back on a evening when they're looking for a response to a email or an update on their orders. 

Keeping project cars running takes more time than I care to admit and both the RX7 and XJ have had to have some love these days.  That's before I finally get free enough to spend some time on the FJ40 here and there.  Of course building the cars isn't the point of cars, having adventures is, so I've been autocrossing and wheeling, and trying to figure out how to buy a house out here.  None, of that happens until I've had some evening time with my fam either. 

Getting back into p90x would be a good call and mornings are my best shot (but damn its hard to get up when you were up late).  Always feel happy sore after a round and spend too much time at a desk so my back can tell when I'm active vs. not.  In the meantime, I'm mostly getting active when I can and trying not to worry about it too much.  Ultimate frisbee on Friday's at lunch.  Bounce around with my kids on the trampoline most evenings.  Occasionally jog around the neighborhood with the girls on bikes.

Brass tacks, just turned 40 so I've been getting after the diet front more than anything else to keep weight in check: my happy place 180 has crept a bit north of 190 these days...  Food goals are pretty simple: real food (less processed), keep the sugar content low (margaritas are harder for me to give up than soda ever was), and finally had to pull the portion control lever too. 

Heard the best term the other day...  A friend mentioned he was working on his "idlevices".  His was video games.  Mine tends to be Facebook and Youtube BMX videos.  Neither does much to further my life these days, but it's fun to keep up with folks (and have my mind blown at things I didn't dream of back when).

-Joel

[Cobranut]

I did low/no carb to lose 35lbs, last year.  I have been maintaining with intermittent fasting 16:8 method and I when I can I skip carbs, say get a burger I never eat the bun anymore.  I like to lift weights, and do so 1-3 times a week.  I was/am addicted to sugar and the low carb helped kicked some of the cravings and urges.  I mainly did it for that reason.  Also no playing with 48 hr fasts and hoping to maybe do a 5 day once a year.  That is not for everyone but I find it to be a very positive experience for me, and this is coming from a guy that LOVES to eat!  I am also extremely busy and this process helps me keep weight in check and the mental focus alone is worth it.

That is probably a much better route for me.  I'm 55, and with my old injuries and other issues, it sounds like something I'd be more likely to stick with than the other, high impact activities.
I need to do some research, as I've heard a couple co-workers talk about keto diets.
I also have the LOVE of food, darn near ANY kind of food, but my weakness is chocolate. LOL

[kinger]

I did low/no carb to lose 35lbs, last year.  I have been maintaining with intermittent fasting 16:8 method and I when I can I skip carbs, say get a burger I never eat the bun anymore.  I like to lift weights, and do so 1-3 times a week.  I was/am addicted to sugar and the low carb helped kicked some of the cravings and urges.  I mainly did it for that reason.  Also no playing with 48 hr fasts and hoping to maybe do a 5 day once a year.  That is not for everyone but I find it to be a very positive experience for me, and this is coming from a guy that LOVES to eat!  I am also extremely busy and this process helps me keep weight in check and the mental focus alone is worth it.

That is probably a much better route for me.  I'm 55, and with my old injuries and other issues, it sounds like something I'd be more likely to stick with than the other, high impact activities.
I need to do some research, as I've heard a couple co-workers talk about keto diets.
I also have the LOVE of food, darn near ANY kind of food, but my weakness is chocolate. LOL

It’s really simple. I enjoy it.  Once you get the food down as to what you can eat it’s very sustainable.  I eat out of the vending machine most days no issue. Sausage egg biscuits just chuck the biscuit.  Easy.  Never hungry, no cravings, always full you will be amazed how much less you consume.  Quite liberating actually!  From 10-12 I get hungry and I pound 2 16oz yetis of water and boom craving gone and good till noon. I drink on avg 4-6 of those a day.  Lots and lots of water.  I feel amazing now!  Nice part is cheat  on weekends. Studies show 5 days of 16:8 are no different then 7.  So indulge on weekends.  It’s so easy to just eat later if you have a party or something the night before.  Great lifestyle change for me.  Easily sustainable. I want to get under 200 lbs when I started but it’s proving difficult, I’m muscular and broad chested and I just don’t fit those BMI charts lol. I feel so good I started focusing on that vs the number.  Just had my check up and tracking vitals like testosterone, cholesterol, etc.  I was worried with all the eggs and cheese and meat I eat.  Never been healthier!  No need for cholesterol meds, BP is under hypertension. I’m very happy! 

[digitalsolo]

You want to try and avoid McDojos though... If a place tells you "After X months, you rank up, and in 2 years, you will be a black belt" then it's probably a McDojo. But hey, if you like the place, you feel you are getting a good work out, and enjoy what you are doing - then go for it.  I am only offering caution about the "scheduled rank-ups" because it can go to people's head/ego that a black belt in whatever automatically makes them an ultimate fighter. Whereas in reality, for most people, it would take several years for you to become proficient enough to really deserve a black belt. There is a joke in BJJ about people saying, "Wow, you don't have your black belt in BJJ after 5 years training? You must suck, my 9 year old niece just got her black belt in karate after 2 years."

This is something I worried about when I started in ATA, as some people talked about that a lot within the org.   I can't speak for all the studios, but ours you definitely earn it.   Fail your board break?   No pass, see ya in 3 months (or 6 if you're a black belt).   Miss your form (they give you a little leeway on knowing early forms, but only a little)?  No pass, see ya in 3 months.   Don't hit classes on time or work hard/know your material?  Same.     One of the instructors kids failed her black belt rank test 5-6 times before she made it through.    I really like it because if you earn it, you earn it.   Now I'll say that some of the kids in the mid-belts get a little bit of a pass through, but once they're up in the brown/red range, shit gets serious, haha.     

I think it's about 4 years to get a shot at black belt if you push hard and pass every exam (which is not guaranteed) and then you're around another year practicing/testing as a recommended black belt before you're a decided.    It's not a small investment of time or money, but I feel like it's a great thing and my son enjoys it as well (and it's been positive on him both physically and in confidence/attitude).   There's a certain satisfaction to knowing you can kick someone in the head if you have to.  LOL