Jump to content

RyanDean

Review Editors
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,505

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by RyanDean

    Airline Passenger Telling It Like It Is!!-Passenger Grumpiness!!!

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    I guess I've become accustomed to the arcane boarding rituals and the increasingly less-comfortable seats and all that... Where I'm becoming a curmudgeon is around those people who bring huge bags of stinky/sloppy airport food to eat on board. Sure, airplane food was never appetizing, but at least it was tidy and comparatively inconspicuous. I find the enduring aroma of that giant meatball sandwich stewing three rows away to be almost worse than a cranky baby. At least I carry earphones with me so there's the possibility I can block out the baby...

    LOSING WEIGHT ... and the even bigger challenge of keeping it off

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    About 18months ago, I made a series of changes that let to me dropping 80 pounds in about 10 months and, though I've hit a plateau, I've been able to maintain the weight (within about a 5lb window). I'd like to trim maybe another 10/15/20 pounds but I'm not too worried about it. We'll see how the next year goes.

     

    I'm in my mid40s and have a full life. I enjoy my demanding job for which I travel a lot. I love to eat. None of that has changed. What has changed is that I prioritize exercise (especially when I travel) and I do everything I can to eat sensibly, even when I'd rather just eat whatever/whenever.

     

    Before 18months ago, I had lost and gained back the same 40lbs (usually with a few extra) several times. Each time, I monitored my food (using weightwatchers) and upped my activity level (usually by walking more and using cardio equipment). But I couldn't maintain the discipline and, when things got stressful, I started eating whatever/whenever and the weight came back. I had spent most of my life as a chubby person and had always experienced the gym as a stressful, unsafe, shaming place.

     

    What's been different this time is that I started learning how to do strength training (with a trainer) 5-6 days a week IN ADDITION TO monitoring my food and upping my activity. This three-pronged approach (calorie-counting, hitting a "step" target, and 1 hour of vigorous/rigorous activity EVERY DAY) has been a life- and body-changer. Even as my weight has plateaued, my body has continued to change and, while it's nowhere near being pretty (and lots of squishy areas persist), it's been gratifying to feel things firm up.

     

    I'm not sure "how I did it" but this is how I answer when people ask:

    • I use one of those calorie-counting apps (FitnessPal, LoseIt, etc) to log my daily meals, which are mostly whole foods (avoiding processed, packaged or pre-prepared food to the extent that I can). I stopped using weightwatchers and am really glad I did.
    • I use one of those wristband step monitors (FitBit, Jawbone, etc) to log my steps, aiming for 13k per day.
    • I schedule training appointments at my gym or a nearby studio (OrangeTheory, BarrysBootcamp, etc) every day. And I GO.
    • I do all of the above EVEN/ESPECIALLY when I'm busy or traveling.

    Everyone asks if I "feel" better. I can never answer. I guess so. I do know I'm happier, mostly I think because I feel less estranged from my body. I also know it's one-day-at-a-time and, though "results" are nice, the actual reward is that I'm glad that fitness is now part of my daily life.

    Credit/Debit Cards: Do you / would you use them and /or accept them??

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    On the subject of wads of cash: My financial institution runs a cashless office, referring all cash disbursement requests to their ATM. Which is fine by me, I guess. But the ATM leaves me without a ready way to request anything other than a $20. So, my thread-hijacking question is: where can one easily (freely?) exchange a wad of 20s for other denominations? Am I correct in my impression that you must be a customer of a commercial bank to request such a service? [Feel free to PM me, so as to avoid further thread-hijacking, if you like.]

     

    And now we return to our regularly-scheduled, on-topic conversation...

Contact Info:

The Company of Men
5834 C. North Kings Hwy #4343
Alexandria, VA 22303

Email: moderators@companyofmen.org

Help Support Our Site

Our site operates with the support of our members. Make a one-time donation using the buttons below.

$10 $25 $50 $100 $200

Make a recurring donation

Additional Resources

×
×
  • Create New...