What kinds of things does everyone do to battle the bulge?

Paul....Hoisting 16, 24, and 32 ounces at a time is not exercise....

Been swimming since June and do 2 miles 4 times a week...great NO IMPACT exercise!}

I work out at an athletic club that is a few blocks from my house! Does lying in a hot tub count?

I work out 3-4X a week at my gym, taking exercise classes. I used to weight train alone but it got rather old. I love the classes - it's a bit social, plus the teachers I have are great.

Andrew

I'm a bit of a fitness freak. My wife would say "zealous" fitness freak.

I'm the kind of person who can't wait to get to the gym and workout. Enjoy playing basketball 1-2 times a week. Take a 3 mile walk with my wife 2-3 times a week. Weights 3-4 times a week. Run a couple of times a week. Been this way for over 20 yrs.

However diet is also key. I am constantly tweaking things particularly as I get older. I try to eat organic as much as possible too.

Third key to staying healthy: PMA-Positive Mental Attitude. Got loads of that too. Without PMA, diet and working out would be fruitless.

**drink lots of water.

I bike. everyday. well, from april to october. I do the waterfront 2.7 mile ciricut plus. about 5 miles a day. The springwater bike trail is excellent for newbies -- its FLAT! None of that fake gym workout for me.

I love basketball, but nobody my age can keep up with me -- none of that 1/2-court/no-fast-breaks pussy stuff for me!

also diet watching is vital. If you violate your calorie count for the day, get on the bike and ride some more.

ps: bike info: dump your old (or new) cheapo bike. Nothing discourages riding a bike for excercise than having to ride a heavy bike. Pay the $500 to get a LIGHT "urban style" bike and you'll go further and ride longer. Don't get the uber-light "road-style" bikes because it won't last in city use -- curbs, potholes et al. Mountain bikes are a no-no unless you're actually riding on dirt trails, again, why lug all that weight needlessly in the city? no need to pay uber-dollars for a name brand. REI's house brand is just as good, $200 less. Watch out for those damn tri met buses!

I lift 3 days a week. B-ball on Tuesday and Fridays. Swim on Wednesday and play with my kids everyday!!!!

Skep: "none of that fake gym workout for me"

Now just a hold on thar pardnur! I've been fakin' that thar gym werkout fur 21 yars. Comes in handy taking on you yungins' in basketball. I may not jump likes I usta...but my big gloots can plant your hinnie on the court with just a little nudge.

Good points about the bike. However I went to the Bike Gallery on NE Sandy a couple of years ago and bought a new Trek for around $300 and then added some accesories. Light weight for sure. Was great when we biked around the San Juan Islands this past summer.

I really do not need to go swimming as much as I do because I get way to much exercise at work anyway. See my daily Work Workout program below:

The Corporate Exercise Program

Activity...................................................Calories Burnt

Beating around the bush.........................................75
Jumping to conclusions...........................................100
Climbing the walls..................................................150
Swallowing your pride.............................................50
Passing the buck.............................................. .....25
Throwing your weight around.................................50-300
Dragging your heels...............................................100
Pushing your luck.............................................. ....250
Making mountains out of molehills............................500
Hitting the nail on the head.....................................50
Wading through paperwork.................................... .300
Bending over backwards..................................... ....75
Jumping on the bandwagon.................................... .200
Balancing the books................................................25
Running around in circles.........................................35
Eating crow.................................................. .........225
Tooting your own horn............................................ 25
Climbing the ladder of success..................................750
Pulling out the stops.............................................. .75
Adding fuel to the fire..............................................160
Wrapping it up at the day's end.................................12

To which you may want to add your own favorite activities, including:

Opening a can of worms ............................................50
Putting your foot in your mouth...................................300
Starting the ball rolling...............................................90
Going over the edge.............................................. ...25
Picking up the pieces after..........................................200


LOL

chris, I'm willing to bet I be a wee bit older than you!

I've a thing about using threadmills, excercise bikes and stairmasters when the alternative is to actually be walking, biking or climbing stairs. But that's me. I suppose whatever gets one excercising is perfectly ok with me.

Ah but skep you maybe not much older than I. I just sound younger on this message board.

I do agree it is better to get outside and walk, bike, hike or whatever. My wife and I walk 2-3 times a week for an hour and cover 3 miles. We also drop by the PO Box along the way because "dats where da money comes."

I run when I get the chance. Even if it's to get out of the car and go to a building.

Have kids, so there is a bunch of exercize right there.

Taking the stairs is always a good thing to do.

"Even if it's to get out of the car and go to a building."

Les Schwab has a job for you!

With just a couple of weeks to go until I hit 50,
I ran my first half marathon a couple of weeks ago.

I know I should be doing something with less impact, but I find everything else pretty boring.

The way I figure it, knees are easier to replace than the heart.

A well stocked iPod can make a few miles something to look forward to.

Last 6 years, 3 miles (5k) jog every other day, 48/52 weeks a year.
Shoot for 12 weeks on, one week off.

Started jogging 2 to 3 times a week in 1994.

Then 220 lbs, now 180 lbs.

10 more to go.

Knees ok, ankles ok. so far. OK OK, early spur left heel.
Got off the cement as much as possible, run in the street
on the side streets. No track close enough to suit me, I like
rolling out the door and getting started.

Muscle strains and such sure don't heal as fast as they used to.

I love the Les Schwab work ethic in that way. It's just cool to know you are getting some service right now!

About running: You either do it, from time to time, or never do it again. Besides, it saves time and sometimes money!

I've been getting extra healthy lately, it's damn hard but at least I'm doing it. Instead of smoking Marlboro Reds, I now smoke Marlboro lights. Im down to smoking only one pack a day. Baby steps
I also stoped drinking hard alcohol on the weekdays. Its beer only. Thank god its almost saturday because I have a nice weekend date with a a guy named Jack Daniels.

1 box of nails instead of two will still put the lid on the ole coffin earlier than it should. Give em up.....you won't miss em after a while.

It's tough but surely worth it.

Nope, I've decided I will never ditch the cigs or booze. It's the nagging wife that needs to go

Probably nagging you about the cigs and booze.

That's funny....she said the Cigs could stay but the little guy had to go.....oh ya and the husband also...LOL

I heard this joke on Hee Haw
Buck: This life of wine, women and song is getting me down.

Roy: Me too Buck I think I will have to give up singing.

I've noticed that some people use "non-optimum" bikes for commuting. I see a lot of people out here in Hillsboro using mountain bikes for that purpose, and I also see a lot of younger guys riding these little kiddie BMX bikes that can't be all that comfortable because they are just too small for the rider.

I have a second-hand mountain bike and an old 1970s vintage Sears 10-speed. The mountain bike is probably heavier than ideal for a commuter, and its knobby tires weren't meant for street riding. The 10-speed is pretty heavy for a road bike, but its smoother tires are better suited to street riding. Next year, I am thinking of buying a commuter bike, but I'm wondering, where should I start looking? I think that for a commuter, it would be nice to find something that has an internally geared hub instead of a derailleur, but these bikes tend to be pretty expensive because they are not in very high demand in this country (I think that many of the ones that are sold here were originally intended for the European market and then sent here by resellers, thereby adding more middlemen and customs fees).

I did ride the 10-speed in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle classic and I did the Bridge Pedal on the mountain bike, so the extra weight didn't hold me back too much. The people with the lighter bikes just had a nasty habit of passing me up.

Go to REI. They'll let you test ride anything. They're not likely to sell you the wrong bike just to get your cash.

In my opinion, you'd want a derailleur and a fatter tire than your road bike. You're gonna hit a curb edge on, count on it. Better to bounce right over it resulting in no bike damage than to crash, bending a wheel.

oh, knobbies and wet substance on concrete don't mix, but your elbows already know that.

Another possibility for commute bike... single speed. This avoids the complexity, expense and weight of an enclosed gear hub and also avoids problems (like snow clogging) that can occur with an exposed derailleur system.
Try an experiment with your 10 speed... can you ride to work without changing gears?
Many an old 10 speed has entered a new phase of usefulness with the addition of fatter tires, fenders, more upright handelbars and a single speed hub. Makes for great around town bike.

check out these handelbars:

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/16027.html