What do you all do for health & fitness?

Im of a certain age now (old fart) and its so hard.  I was a skinny kid until about 10-ish and then fat until about 16/17 when I became more active.  I remember a friend's mom I had seen in years marveling at my weight loss and asking how I did it and my truthful answer was "I eat when Im hungry".  But I had bad self image an always thought I was fat even when I was my usual weight of 215lbs at 6'2" (and pretty broad-shouldered).

Working in bars for years there was a battle between pressure to be in shape (to do the job and because of all the girls) and the fact that we always ate at 3am and drank a lot.  When I was 25 it wasnt so hard.  A couple of times I'd balloon to 250 and then work hard to get back down to 215-225.

When I was around 29 I didnt realise how it had crept up on me and I hit 284.  Worked really hard and ended up at 210.  So its always been an up & down struggle with me.  Then I broke my knee which has never been the same and suddenly the activity level drops.

But as I've aged I found the "easy" way I could get in shape before doesnt work (or not as well).  Im back working out and focusing hard on healthy eating.

So the remarks in the Draft thread of players eating eggs and meat - thats straight out of the low carb plan.  And I've read amazing stories of people that cut out carbs and ate moderate meat & fat.

So...long story short, what are your stories?  What do you do?  Especially if you're over 35 (give or take 5 years lol).

I've done hot yoga and I can echo the "sweat a disgusting amount."  I've never sweat as much in my life as I did during hot yoga.  It feels great afterwards.

My gf once did a Hot Yoga challenge where she went every day for 30 days.  I dont know how she did it. But she was toned as **** after.

13 minutes ago, Atomic said:

I've done hot yoga and I can echo the "sweat a disgusting amount."  I've never sweat as much in my life as I did during hot yoga.  It feels great afterwards.

Never been to Houston?

4 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

Never been to Houston?

Nope but I've been a lot further south than that!

2 minutes ago, Atomic said:

Nope but I've been a lot further south than that!

In my experience Houston is special, 100+ F. and 100% humidity, the only time you don't sweat is when you're standing in the shower.

13 minutes ago, The Unknown Poster said:

My gf once did a Hot Yoga challenge where she went every day for 30 days.  I dont know how she did it. But she was toned as **** after.

The place I go to does that too... to be honest, I've always wanted to try it but I find it hard enough to get out once a week, nevermind every day for a month... I know I'm just making excuses but I'm also not sure if my body can handle it or my washing machine (I'd have to go through a whole lot of towels!)

4 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

In my experience Houston is special, 100+ F. and 100% humidity, the only time you don't sweat is when you're standing in the shower.

Sounds like hell on earth

13 minutes ago, bearpants said:

The place I go to does that too... to be honest, I've always wanted to try it but I find it hard enough to get out once a week, nevermind every day for a month... I know I'm just making excuses but I'm also not sure if my body can handle it or my washing machine (I'd have to go through a whole lot of towels!)

My wife teaches out of a hot yoga studio so I can attest to the never ending pile of towels.

During the 30 days challenges, people will often take back-to-back classes rather than go every day.  The goal is to do 30 classes in 30 days so for some, that's easier than trying to make it to a class every single day.

9 hours ago, The Unknown Poster said:

So this farm is lying?  isnt that illegal?

This is what I ordered:

https://www.myfarmersmarket.com/beef/2692/sirloin-steak-grass-fed-beef-15-oz-approx.html

Its now $12.55 but I double checked my order and it was $9.95 when I ordered last friday.  Must have got a deal.  The link includes a description of the farm (Spring Creek Farm).  So if you're telling me this is impossible, is there a regulatory body to talk to?

The organic / natural food industry is relatively new and is subject to very few regulations - I haven't a clue who you'd complain to.

I don't usually buy steak but a 15 ounce sirloin has got to be worth around 20 bucks at most grocery stores - good cuts of beef are worth $15 - $20 per pound these days.  Grass fed beef at $10 / pound is bloody unlikely (pun intended) 

I'll tell you my pork story too. Back when we raised hogs (commercial operation) a guy who sold 'natural pork' would buy young hogs from us, at the age where they had all their immunizations (2) and whatever antibiotics they would get.  He raised them to slaughter weight in a shed on straw out in the country, then butchered and sold them as 'natural meat, free from drugs & vaccines.'  As soon as we found out what he was doing, our business with him was terminated.

When something sounds to good to be true - it usually is.

Unless you have something more than that, I find it hard to believe a well-advertised farm would simply be lying.  My understanding is that to actually use the term organic takes a lot of time and effort and is subject to inspection. I would imagine the hardcore organic community wouldn't let this stand.  Ill say a small family farm that does its own butchering keeps costs down enough (and I got a deal).

15 minutes ago, The Unknown Poster said:

My understanding is that to actually use the term organic takes a lot of time and effort and is subject to inspection.

lol!  One of the most under-regulated industries out there.  Who told you this?  What inspections??  There are barely even rules let alone enforcement of those rules

42 minutes ago, The Unknown Poster said:

Unless you have something more than that, I find it hard to believe a well-advertised farm would simply be lying.  My understanding is that to actually use the term organic takes a lot of time and effort and is subject to inspection. I would imagine the hardcore organic community wouldn't let this stand.  Ill say a small family farm that does its own butchering keeps costs down enough (and I got a deal).

We eat a lot of organic stuff, but we also realize the organic market is not regulated as well as it should be.  They put the word "organic" on things but the term doesn't mean what everyone thinks it means.

I looked up the place you're buying your meat from.  And I noticed something in the description of the meat:

This beef is raised free range, pastured on grass & natural vegetation

"Natural vegetation" could mean corn, barley, etc...  That's all natural vegetation.  Just because they pasture it on grass doesn't mean that's all they feed them.  I'm not saying they aren't all grass fed, maybe you're right and they're telling the full truth.  But just be careful, because what you may think you're getting might not be what it is.  You sometimes have to read between the lines.  It doesn't say they don't feed their beef any filler, but who knows.  In any case, it's not that the beef would be bad, but just not what you might think it is.  I've bought grass fed beef in the past and normally it's more expensive than regular beef.

2 hours ago, Atomic said:

lol!  One of the most under-regulated industries out there.  Who told you this?  What inspections??  There are barely even rules let alone enforcement of those rules

I said it was my understanding.  I am not a regulatory agent.  I was told this by some people who eat strictly organic.

I guess the option is to assume we're being lied to and rather then eat food grown locally on farms that claim to be drug free, we can order the food we know is pumped full of drugs and other nasty stuff. 

1 hour ago, Logan007 said:

We eat a lot of organic stuff, but we also realize the organic market is not regulated as well as it should be.  They put the word "organic" on things but the term doesn't mean what everyone thinks it means.

I looked up the place you're buying your meat from.  And I noticed something in the description of the meat:

This beef is raised free range, pastured on grass & natural vegetation

"Natural vegetation" could mean corn, barley, etc...  That's all natural vegetation.  Just because they pasture it on grass doesn't mean that's all they feed them.  I'm not saying they aren't all grass fed, maybe you're right and they're telling the full truth.  But just be careful, because what you may think you're getting might not be what it is.  You sometimes have to read between the lines.  It doesn't say they don't feed their beef any filler, but who knows.  In any case, it's not that the beef would be bad, but just not what you might think it is.  I've bought grass fed beef in the past and normally it's more expensive than regular beef.

My understanding with his (and correct me if Im wrong) but corn fed beef became a big thing because corn is cheap.  But corn is not a natural diet for cows and it causes them issues leading to the use of anti-biotics etc.  So that farm also claims its meat is drug free.  I also saw "natural vegetation" and wondered...because thats a pretty general thing.  If they mean grass, say grass.  Those they do describe it as grass fed.

Ultimately, Im not on the farm or in the butcher so I can never know.  But we can make decisions and hope its the truth.  Its a local farm.  They promote their food as being free of drugs and hormones.  They claim their animals are treated humanely.  They could be lying. 

I think the fact they are also their own butcher might be why they keep their prices down.  But again, Im only a consumer so I can only know what we're told.  The government should vastly increase regulation and inspection.  People will and do pay more for this stuff.  We should be protected.

For what its worth, and Im not beef expert so I dont know the different cuts, the prices today are (all grass fed):

Eye of Round Steak  12 oz: $10:55

New York Steak 12 oz: $12.55

Ribeye 1.2lbs: $16.25

Sirloin Steak 15oz $12.55 (this is what I got for $9.99 last week)

I dont know if those are good prices, too good to be true prices or reasonable prices.  Meat expert??  (and which cut is best?)

5 minutes ago, The Unknown Poster said:

I said it was my understanding.  I am not a regulatory agent.  I was told this by some people who eat strictly organic.

I guess the option is to assume we're being lied to and rather then eat food grown locally on farms that claim to be drug free, we can order the food we know is pumped full of drugs and other nasty stuff. 

Why are you getting so defensive about it?  I'm just saying that the organic food industry is not nearly as regulated as people think.

FYI here is the details of the Canadian Organic Products Legislation (Manitoba adopted this as well, for food produced and sold within the Province):

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2009-176/

It looks like a dry read so I did not read it ;-)

1 minute ago, Atomic said:

Why are you getting so defensive about it?  I'm just saying that the organic food industry is not nearly as regulated as people think.

Not defensive at all. 

Just now, The Unknown Poster said:

Not defensive at all. 

Haha if you say so.  The people reading this will judge for themselves and it's pretty clear you're upset by the whole thing.

1 minute ago, Atomic said:

Haha if you say so.  The people reading this will judge for themselves and it's pretty clear you're upset by the whole thing.

Oh no, not the people reading the thread! lol 

I dont get upset here.  My point in my response which upset you was that given the lack of truly knowing, its still wiser to make the effort to get better meat (and other things).  The stuff you get at the store, much of it anyway, you DO know is full of crap. 

So sort of a "Hey lets eat healthy!"  "Nah, its all BS".  "Okay, give me the steroid steak!"  being facetious.

Survey says: TUP is freaking out

17 minutes ago, Atomic said:

Survey says: TUP is freaking out

Its a Fonzie level freak out.

You do have to be careful when looking at organic food labelling, but when you find a source, make sure it is certified organic and available from a reputable store or service. There are strict guidelines as to what can be labelled certified organic and the growth of 'health food stores' helps, somewhat, in taking the guesswork out of it. Private sources may be different, of course, so vigilance is important. 

signed - organically fed, Mr Dee

12 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

You do have to be careful when looking at organic food labelling, but when you find a source, make sure it is certified organic and available from a reputable store or service. There are strict guidelines as to what can be labelled certified organic and the growth of 'health food stores' helps, somewhat, in taking the guesswork out of it. Private sources may be different, of course, so vigilance is important. 

signed - organically fed, Mr Dee

Ooo, you're 100% organic?  When the world comes to an end I'm eating you first.

1 hour ago, The Unknown Poster said:

My understanding with his (and correct me if Im wrong) but corn fed beef became a big thing because corn is cheap.  But corn is not a natural diet for cows and it causes them issues leading to the use of anti-biotics etc.  So that farm also claims its meat is drug free.  I also saw "natural vegetation" and wondered...because thats a pretty general thing.  If they mean grass, say grass.  Those they do describe it as grass fed.

Ultimately, Im not on the farm or in the butcher so I can never know.  But we can make decisions and hope its the truth.  Its a local farm.  They promote their food as being free of drugs and hormones.  They claim their animals are treated humanely.  They could be lying. 

I think the fact they are also their own butcher might be why they keep their prices down.  But again, Im only a consumer so I can only know what we're told.  The government should vastly increase regulation and inspection.  People will and do pay more for this stuff.  We should be protected.

For what its worth, and Im not beef expert so I dont know the different cuts, the prices today are (all grass fed):

Eye of Round Steak  12 oz: $10:55

New York Steak 12 oz: $12.55

Ribeye 1.2lbs: $16.25

Sirloin Steak 15oz $12.55 (this is what I got for $9.99 last week)

I dont know if those are good prices, too good to be true prices or reasonable prices.  Meat expert??  (and which cut is best?)

Hey, if this is anywhere close to being what it says it is, then I'd rather eat their meat as well.  Especially if they don't have any antibiotics or hormones, that alone would do it for me.

Personally I don't know prices either...my wife buys everything.

9 hours ago, The Unknown Poster said:

Unless you have something more than that, I find it hard to believe a well-advertised farm would simply be lying.  My understanding is that to actually use the term organic takes a lot of time and effort and is subject to inspection. I would imagine the hardcore organic community wouldn't let this stand.  Ill say a small family farm that does its own butchering keeps costs down enough (and I got a deal).

I'm not familiar with the organic farming industry, but I do know what it costs to raise beef. If grass fed beef could be produced for that price, no one would be running a feed lot - the grass fed people would be putting them right out of business,

Honestly, there is probably not a thing wrong with the meat you purchased. It just bothers me when people are not completely honest with the consumer.