I can help...

[rward086]

Just wanted to let you all know that if anyone has any specific questions, I think I might be of some assistance. I have my Bachelor's in Kinesiology and I've been a competitive bodybuilder for the last 6 years or so. I'm also going to soon competing in Powerlifting.

Any specific diet or exercise questions, throw my way! 

[SBG Math Guy]

This is good.     I'm glad we have someone like you right here.

[Timmay]

Hey Ryan, glad you found us.  Hope you enjoy the site.  I added you on myspace...look for me.

[rward086]

Hey Ryan, glad you found us.  Hope you enjoy the site.  I added you on myspace...look for me.

Will do.

[Mikekoz13]

Hi Ryan-

Thanks for offering to put your expertise to work here for us.

I can take weight off with no problem but the wife isn't so lucky.

I've seen her work out and work out but that last ten pounds just won't go away. She gets pretty frustrated.

She eats pretty good when she puts her mind to it but still no luck.

She does two things that I think keep her from losing that last bit of weight.

1) She skips meals and will go for long periods during the day wihout eating.
(I tell her you need to eat a little something healthy every couple of hours to keep the engine burning but she doesn't believe me.)

2) She drinks a lot of diet soda. (I keep telling her to ditch it but she won't believe me that the chemical sweeteners can change your metabolism).

So I'd like you to tell me what you think so that I can show her your response.

Thanks for your help-

Mike

[rward086]

Hi Ryan-

Thanks for offering to put your expertise to work here for us.

I can take weight off with no problem but the wife isn't so lucky.

I've seen her work out and work out but that last ten pounds just won't go away. She gets pretty frustrated.

She eats pretty good when she puts her mind to it but still no luck.

She does two things that I think keep her from losing that last bit of weight.

1) She skips meals and will go for long periods during the day wihout eating.
(I tell her you need to eat a little something healthy every couple of hours to keep the engine burning but she doesn't believe me.)

2) She drinks a lot of diet soda. (I keep telling her to ditch it but she won't believe me that the chemical sweeteners can change your metabolism).

So I'd like you to tell me what you think so that I can show her your response.

Thanks for your help-

Mike

1. Skipping meals slows down the metabolism. When your body goes for long periods without food, it goes into survival mode. When this occurs, your body stores a large percentage of the food you eat as the most abundant source of energy, bodyfat. This happens because the body doesn't know how long it will be till it gets another meal. If your wife doesn't have the appetite for more meals, she should consider a meal replacement shake. The ones that Walmart sells, or even GNC are usually crap. I would highly recommend this product: http://www.t-nation.com/productInfo.do?id=525024

2. There has not been and significant research done that diet soda will affect weight loss goals. However, I would steer away from CAFFINATED diet soda. Excessive caffeine produces cortisol in the body, which hampers weight loss.

[Razor X]

However, I would steer away from CAFFINATED diet soda. Excessive caffeine produces cortisol in the body, which hampers weight loss.

Then why do most of the metabolism-boosting supplements contain high doses of caffeine?   

[pharmer]

Hey Ryan, you stated that the products that wal-mart sells are usually crap.   No offense taken.     However, as a pharmacist I have always recommended the WalMart brand of Ensure Plus as a basic meal replacement drink.  Each drink provides 350 calories and around 15g of protein.  Fairly cheap too (around $1 per can). I'm not a supplement expert by any means.  Do you feel that Ensure Plus is a bad idea?? 

[rward086]

However, I would steer away from CAFFINATED diet soda. Excessive caffeine produces cortisol in the body, which hampers weight loss.

Then why do most of the metabolism-boosting supplements contain high doses of caffeine?   

Caffeine itself is thermogenic (calorie burning). However, chronic overconsumption of caffeine stresses the CNS (central nervous system) which therefore produces cortisol. Caffeine should be limited to certain times of the day when needed, not when drinking diet soda throughout the day.

[rward086]

Hey Ryan, you stated that the products that wal-mart sells are usually crap.   No offense taken.     However, as a pharmacist I have always recommended the WalMart brand of Ensure Plus as a basic meal replacement drink.  Each drink provides 350 calories and around 15g of protein.  Fairly cheap too (around $1 per can). I'm not a supplement expert by any means.  Do you feel that Ensure Plus is a bad idea?? 

Ensure, along with Slimfast RTD's (Ready-to-drink) have a large percentage of their carbohydrates coming for simple sugars. While they aren't horrible, they certainly are not an ideal meal replacement.

[champ007]

Rward,
My job started taking alot of my time about 4 months ago, which I was working out around a hour a day with mainly cardio before I was consumed. I am trying to get back to it but my energy is gone, I think I could sleep 3 days straight right now.
I know when I get back into it I will have more energy, I just need to find the energy to get started.
Any suggestions?  I have been on a fruit bing but its not really helping.

[rward086]

Rward,
My job started taking alot of my time about 4 months ago, which I was working out around a hour a day with mainly cardio before I was consumed. I am trying to get back to it but my energy is gone, I think I could sleep 3 days straight right now.
I know when I get back into it I will have more energy, I just need to find the energy to get started.
Any suggestions?  I have been on a fruit bing but its not really helping.

Watch your caffeine intake. Do you drink coffee? If so how much? Also, what is your diet for a typical day? A poor diet will certainly decrease your energy levels. After knowing the exact details of these questions, I could be of more help to you.

[DJ_Bald]

Hi rward. Good to have you aboard. Myself and a few others on the board have been doing the Power 90 workout (not P90x..but its predecessor). Its basically a 6 day a week of full body workouts...3 days weights--3 days cardio. Any thoughts on programs like these ?
By the way you look good sly...you should keep it that way !

[rward086]

Hi rward. Good to have you aboard. Myself and a few others on the board have been doing the Power 90 workout (not P90x..but its predecessor). Its basically a 6 day a week of full body workouts...3 days weights--3 days cardio. Any thoughts on programs like these ?
By the way you look good sly...you should keep it that way !

First off, thanks for the compliment.

In regards to Power 90, if it's working for you go ahead and do it. I personally think it's a decent program, although some of the science behind it is not exactly valid. I also see a red flag whenever a program guarantees extreme results in 90 days.

Like I said, if it's not broken, don't fix it! If you are seeing results, keep doing it. I think the big question is will this program stand the test of time, or slowly dissapear as other workout video programs have.

Remember Tae Bo?

[Timmay]

Yes I remember Tae Bo.....but now i have to get rid of that image of the blue tights lol.