Exercise

Babylon

Babylon

I’ve totally lost motivation at the moment…

I got involved with an 8-week-programme that a friend paid into (and I just helped prep the meals ddd). We went for the trim/tone option, rather than bulk, because although I love to put on muscle mass as much as the next guy, I’ve never committed to a diet or trying to lose the bit of belly/back fat that I have.

To put it in context, I would probably compare my body to someone like Andrew Garfield here:
upload_2022-8-5_19-16-35.jpeg

I was naturally skinny throughout childhood and built a bit of a broader set of shoulders/chest when I was about 18/19 through weightlifting in my bedroom and eating everything in sight. I didn’t used to get any body fat whatsoever until I hit 30 and my metabolism just seemed to change.
But - like Andrew - I wouldn’t say I have a bad body at all. I’ve developed a decent sized chest and arms that fill the right type of shirt nicely, but little definition and an un-toned low level of fat on my stomach.

Anyway, I saw some really nice steady progress using this programme. It’s the first meal plan I’ve tried where I actually noticed a difference, I’ve been working out more regularly than ever, and my start and end photos definitely showed a nice change. I also lost about a stone in weight. However, the plan ended two weeks ago and, even though I’ve been sticking to the meal plan and regular workouts since, I feel like I’m getting a bit of belly back and limited progress. Admittedly, I’ve been snacking more now (on fruit!!) but just feeling a bit deflated I guess. I’m not really going anywhere with this - just needed to vent.

I want to bulk now but really want to lose this final bit of belly. The body dysmorphia I’m experiencing is quite unpleasant at the moment.
 
Glitterizer

Glitterizer

MusicLover1994 said:
I will usually have a banana because it's quite light and high in potassium so always gives me a boost. If I go to the gym after on an empty stomach I crash. Then a protein shake straight after! Sets me up for the day.

Also - isn't it basically ineffective working out on an empty stomach because you haven't started your metabolism? That might be a myth but it was drilled into me growing up that you need to eat before doing anything physical to start your metabolism dd
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Totally a myth, plenty of bodybuilders and strongmen lift while fasted.
 
matthew.

matthew.

Staff member
I don't go to the gym and lift but I do 2 ~40 minute sessions weekly at home with free weights and I can't function without a yogurt or bar or something in me like 60 minutes before the exercise. I'm also marathon training for October so i'm hungry 100% of the time, that probably plays into it.
 
stopthestatic

stopthestatic

he/him
Not sure where to else to put this but MyFitnessPal is changing their app so you have to pay for premium in order to use the scan barcode feature to log food. So ludicrous. They’ll most likely see a huge chunk of users fall off.
 
xondus

xondus

stopthestatic said:
Not sure where to else to put this but MyFitnessPal is changing their app so you have to pay for premium in order to use the scan barcode feature to log food. So ludicrous. They’ll most likely see a huge chunk of users fall off.
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The audacity of them charging $20/£16 a month for direct access to what’s a user-generated database…!

EDIT:
Looks like Calorie Counter by Nutracheck is a good alternative for us UK hunties. Not free, but £24 a year which is a heck of a lot cheaper than MyFitnessPal but with the same functionalities. Food database looks really extensive and they also have pretty much every pub, restaurant and takeaway chain’s menus covered too. Easy to set up your fitness goal and linked up very easily to my Fitbit.
 
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YourLeadSinger

YourLeadSinger

So… anyone (a person of color especially) have any experience traveling internationally with preworkout, creatine, and protein powders? How was it?
 
discoteca

discoteca

YourLeadSinger said:
So… anyone (a person of color especially) have any experience traveling internationally with preworkout, creatine, and protein powders? How was it?
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I've done a couple of times in my carry-on bag and it's been fine. I make sure to immediately bring it to security's attention. I'm as white as the powder itself, though.
 
R

r1ver

YourLeadSinger said:
So… anyone (a person of color especially) have any experience traveling internationally with preworkout, creatine, and protein powders? How was it?
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I do this every time I travel and it’s never been a problem. I always take sealed bags out of the Uk though, but don’t worry about bringing open bags back into the Uk. Once again though, I am as white as they come.
 
CaliDevotion

CaliDevotion

Wrong thread @swim


I went to a gym for the first time today since 2020 and mistakes were made. First, I signed up for a class, second I signed up for 7 AM and didn't eat beforehand, also it was a HIIT workout ... I flew too close to the sun, and my blood pressure plummeted twice during the workout and I had to leave the room and almost passed put in the bathroom ... anyway, that was fun and I'm never showing my face back in that place.
 
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