If you are reading this there is a 50% chance that you’re overweight. Big boned. Chubby. Fat. Call it what you like but you could stand to lose some weight.
There are two reasons why you’re fat, that have nothing to do with genetics.
This ain’t sexy by aroid
1. Food is plentiful and cheap where you live
2. You’re not moving enough
As to the first, my solution would be to add health care costs as a surcharge to fast food. Imagine a $65 Whopper or a $100 Happy Meal. The epidemic of Type II diabetes would be stopped in its tracks.
As to the second, we all know the importance of exercise and its effect on health. Regular exercise decreases the risk of diabetes, some cancers and stroke. lowers blood pressure, boosts confidence and improves sleep.
One problem, most exercise programs are freaking boring.
I have books on exercise and free weights at home. After three weeks of following some regimen, I quit. Lift a weight, put it down, lift a weight, put it down, after a few reps the thought occurs, “I’m a grown man, don’t I have something better to do with my time?”
Aerobics, a.k.a, jumping up and down in one place, just looks silly.
The fate of workout equipment by CrazyJoeDavola
What’s a health conscious man to do? Here is my solution:
A) Buy comfortable dress shoes – A pair that looks good under a suit but has a rubber soles. Use them often. Instead of calling around the office, walk. Accounts is on the third floor and you’re on the 4th floor? Walk there. Need to tongue lash the underlings in Marketing? Walk there. The benefits are two-fold:
You exercise
You get to know everyone and everything. In business as in life, “knowing is half the battle.”
If you’re a midlife male in management no one below you will ask why you stay on the move, and the people above you can understand your explanation.
Second, Live Your Bucket List.
How fit do you need to be to live your dreams?
Due to the vagaries of my existence, I know I need to be fit enough to use my chainsaw for several hours without accident. I need to be fit enough to stand in front of a lathe for 90 minutes, 4 days a week. I need to be fit enough to skydive, swim with sharks (a future post) and do my job.
What about you? How fit do you need to be?
Are you fit enough to play hoops with a teenage son, chase a three your old making a break for the street, make love, surf, climb a mountain?
Set a definite goal and use a minimalist approach to get fit enough. Life is too short to spend it in a gym.
EXTRAS
These two exercises burn fat, build muscle and correct muscular imbalances. They are also boring as hell. The good thing is they can become a form of moving meditation. Learn to do the moves properly, increase the weight and reduce the time spent working out and spend more of it living.
Kettlebell Swing
Turkish Get Up
See also: https://www.writingsofamidlifeman.com/2012/06/25/how-to-gain-ten-pounds-in-four-week/
Great post, Jeremy. I’m finding as I get closer to 40 it’s more and more important to get out from behind the desk and move around a bit. Walking seems to be a great first step, and also a way to clear the head and make room for fresh ideas!
Looking forward to hearing about swimming with sharks 🙂
Thanks for reading Damien. It’ll be even more important after the big 4-0. I’ll be doing a post on the shark thing in the near future.
Hallelujah! I’m not crazy. Someone else shares the conversation in my head. Yes, I have some pounds that have added to the statistics, and I earned it all through culinary savvy and opting for mental vs. physical workouts. Now, I am shifting (movement). My motivation – as a child I was adventurous, curious and nimble. I loved to be outdoors, exploring. I don’t want to be 9 years old again, runnin’ barefoot thru da bush, but I do want to have all the energy and agility I need for my next 30something adventure.
Walking seems not to be enough for me. I love running more. Running is hell is my favorite quote because I can lose weight dramatically! Of course I do not encourage it if you have some health problems, but for me, running is the best way to keep fit after 40!
I like your recommendation to walk more at work. I do that all the time. I also think that face to face meeting are more efficient than emails.
Thanks for saying so. As you get older more time will be spent at work or with children leaving less time for a gym. I believe in getting as much movement as possible wherever I am most. In my case at work.
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Hi,
I was one of those chunky people being 5 8 and weighing up to 265 pounds. Now I weigh 150 pounds and have kept it off for one year now. The only thing I do is not eat 6 things: sugar, bread, any cereals, alcohol,rice, and potatoes. That’s it. I eat alot of food everyday. I eat more than I ever did before. Simple, nothing to sell and no pills to buy.
Hello Juan:
Congratulations on making a significant improvement to your lifestyle. It sounds as if you’ve taken up either a slow-carb or primal diet (not an expert so I can’t tell which one) which is working.
I wish you every success in becoming a healthier, better man.
Hi there, I discovered this blog once, then lost it. Took me forever to come back and find it. I wanted to view what comments you got. Beneficial blog by the way.
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently do you update your site?
Hello Mr. Renker:
Thanks for commenting. I try to update every Monday morning with something that will inspire you for the rest of the week. If you like what you see just subscribe, and you’ll automatically get notice of new posts straight to your inbox.
All The best
can’t put my finger where i heard this before but its still interesting
Spot on! When one door closes etc etc. Rather than seeing rejection as a bad thing I take it as an opportunity to figure out what I really want and am normally steered in the right direction.
Thanks for the comment. I truly believe that a happy life is a mental game. Wishing you every success.