For a fat person ,Cycling or Walking ?

311

Does it make a difference in trying to loose weight which activity an overweight person takes up?
I like cycling ,but if I thought walking would be best I'd walk.

I'm 5'8'' 250 pounds.

justsomebloke

which ever one you enjoy the most as you are more likely to keep at it however there is no rule saying that you can only do one so why not try doing both

311

Good stuff ,thanks.

djfattony2000

Swimming

blorg

I have found cycling to be _extremely_ effective for weight loss. I swim as well although have heard suggestions that cycling is more effective as it makes use of the legs which constitute a larger muscle group (swimming is all about your arms.)

hunnymonster

swimming has the advantage of being non weight bearing which could be a factor for someone who is really obese. Such a person may be able to maintain an effort for longer in the water than on dry land.
As someone said above. Whatever you enjoy you will be more likely to stick with.

311

I got a test back at christmas of cholestrol of 6.125 ,I've not done anything about it until now.So it's probably about 6.2 now.

I gave up drinking for lenght ,so I thought loosing weight would be a good idea while I'm on a roll.
I've cut out butter and started using benecol ,someone also said flora pro-active drinks are good at reducing cholestrol.

I've read a few threads here about what to eat ,found it interesting to hear someone mention ,not to eat carb rich foods later in the day and stick with protein. Would exercising in the evening and then eating the likes of tuna for dinner be a good routine.

zAbbo

Best advice, post up your diet and exercise routine, and what goals you're aiming for.

You've made the first step by wanting to get fit, I think you might need some help on what to eat, and what/when to workout.

Sangre

Try and do both it will prevent boredom!
Also try and get others involved in your activities, ring up friends or family nearby and invite them on your walk. If they're fit enough they'll also help you too push yourself (but not too much).

blorg

Excercising earlier in the day would probably be better as it kick-starts your metabolism. I try to get a cycle/swim/run in before breakfast and/or at lunch. Same goes for food, the saying goes "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper."

rubadub

Try and change your lifestyle, do not just treat exercise as a chore. e.g. walk everywhere you can, so you are walking with a purpose. Cycle to further places. I cycle to work and walk to the shops & pub (well at least I walk to it!).

Traffic is so bad these days it is faster to cycle a lot of the time. My round trip to work is 45mins, it would take on average 70mins in a car, but it is not predictable so I would have to leave earlier in the morning. Not only have I got exercise in, I have more spare time than I would if I had not cycled, let alone the free time that is not taken up exercising.

Cycling is also low impact like swimming. I prefer it since I can go further to new places while walking is just the same boring routes, unless you drive somewhere to walk.

311

blorg wrote:

Excercising earlier in the day would probably be better as it kick-starts your metabolism. I try to get a cycle/swim/run in before breakfast and/or at lunch. Same goes for food, the saying goes "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper."

I never heard that ,but that suits me down to the ground:)

My work means I have to drive ,a van full of tools to different houses each day. It also means I have to make sure I eat lots ,because i have to lift floors hang boilers and radiators.

So I think I should aim for porridge in the morning ,with fruit as sugar 7.30AM

Small snack at 10AM ,maybe sandwich or brown bread.

1PM Lunch Various :Roll with Tuna sweetcorn ,fruit ,yogurt ,any salads ,wholegrain brown bread .
Is there anything that would prevent energy loss between 1PM and 6PM. This is when I find I am at risk of losing energy and head for cans of coke and bars.

Great to be able to post questions about this stuff ,
Most of the mates diets are pints of beer after matches and training:D

rubadub

Try and eat 6 evenly spaced, evenly sized (calorie wise) meals a day. Eating large meals will leave you with less energy since your body spends so much energy just digesting it. The 6 small meals means your stomach will shrink in a month or so, and you will feel full sooner. 6 evenly spaced meals means your next one is never far away so it is easier to resist snacking.

You MUST be aware of your calorie intake, no guessing, or estimates, or reading "portion" sizes. I was reading a museli pack, one I used to eat all the time years ago, it said a portion was 50g. I weighed it and it barely covered the bottom of the bowl, I reckon I was eating 150-200g back then, with full fat milk. My bowl with milk was probably around 800kcal, yet the pack has a portion with milk as under 300kcal.

A bread roll can pack a lot of calories too. You do not have to eat a lot to lift radiators or hang doors, the fact you are overweight may be making this hard, and eating to give more energy will work that day, but the next day you will be shifting around even more weight. Lifting heavy weights will boost your metabolism, make you stronger, make you loose fat, and since you are overweight it is possible to put on decent muscle even while on a calorie deficit. Lifting weights is also a low impact exercise, so well suited to you.

There was a program called half ton man on channel 4 last night. The guy was 76 stone, now he had lost weight and was being filmed eating a bag of crisps on his bed, saying "I have given up all the high fat, high sodium foods", and he eating crisps!
He also claimed he ate "normally" and it was all genetic, yet his doctor said his metabolism was normal and he must have been eating 15,000kcal per day just to maintain 76stone.
He was eating out of a bucket of KFC saying he would save some for later and the wife nodding saying "yep protein", as though it was heatlthy food, no joke!. The wife was buying him all this crap for years feeding him in bed.

Then they kept saying he now had his calories restricted, the wife was cooking eggs for his breakfast and the interviewer asked "how many calories are in that", she said "I don't have a clue". Thought this was appalling ignorance, the guys life was in danger and he and his wife didnt even know how to count calories.

311

Sounds good ,I'll check out calories on everything so .
The stomach shrinking is definetly a must for me ,theres enough meat there to feed america.

Not drinking definetly creates more focus for stuff like this.

Thanks,
Brian.

blorg

rubadub is entirely right, make sure you get a scales and count accurately.

I found www.calorie-count.com very useful indeed when I was losing weight. You can log your exercise in that also.

The exercise will help, certainly, but it's likely going to be diet that will have the greatest effect. Look at things that you are eating that are high in calories and try to swap them for something lower - for example, swapping that roll for a wrap will save you a considerable amount. Swap the Coke for a diet version - this new Coke Zero is actually very decent indeed IMHO. Shrink portion sizes, eat things that are low in calories but are filling, and stop eating when you feel full! Don't feel you have to finish anything just because you bought/made it, throw it out and make your portion a bit smaller the next time.

311

My biggest problem with cutting down on food ,is that I find it hard to maintain energy levels late in the day.
I get a bad fall off at 4 oclock that I find it hard to get out of ,if I could maintain the energy level ,I would be more inclined to exercise in the evening.

I can cycle and walk all day without much bother ,but working and maintaining concentration is very hard when I loose energy.

What food would be best for this type of situation ?