Author: Huy

In Part 1, I talked mainly about the diet portion of losing weight, and now its ‘exercising’. Exercising goes hand in hand with your diet. Today, it seems like everyone will do anything to lose weight except for dieting and excercise. There are no pills out there that can substitue a good meal and a good old fashion workout. Most people, at least my friends, are weary of exercising as its time consuming, and that they think they’re not athletic enough. Exercise has nothing to do with being athletic.

If you play sports and play for a team it makes the workout much more fun and less of a chore. For those who don’t play sports going to the gym may seem like the only option. As for me, I don’t perfer the gym as I work out at home; it’s more convienent and I don’t have to pay a membership fee. Some people solely rely on the gym for their workout which can limit the amount of exercise they get.

Workouts that involve your legs are usually the most efficient at burning calories as leg muscles are the largest in the body. That means running is the King of exercising. It give you those shapely legs and buttocks, helps your cardio, and burns the most calories per unit of time compared to any other exercises. Also, running doesn’t require going to the gym; just a good route around the neighborhood. Here are some other good lower body / cardio exercises:

Squats
Lunges
Running/Jogging
Jump roping

There are more varieties of workout for the upper body, but it requires a bit more effort to burn the same about of calories compared to lower body workouts. Combining upper and lower body workouts is even better. Here are some good upper body workout:

Bench press/push ups
Military press
Pull ups
Rowing
Arm curls
All forms of sit ups

I won’t go into detail of each exercises, but the important thing is that you should set some time aside each day to fit in a workout; at least 30-45 mins. Try to alternate each day with different workouts. For example, Mondays, Wednesday, and Friday for lower body. Tuesdays and Thursdays for upper body. If you’re just starting out you may want to working out three days a week then slowly increase intensity then increase to four then to five days. Gradual increment is key as it will prevent injury. Stay tuned for part 3.

The most popular New Year’s resolution is to lose weight especially after the Thanksgiving and the end of the year holidays. Local gyms will be packed with people trying to attempt to achieve their goal. Not many will succeed. I’m not a doctor or dietician, but I have several years of experience in losing weight whether it be cutting weight for wrestling in high school and in college, slimming down because I’ve spent the past month eating fast food, or losing weight because of food poisoning. It’s all pretty much the same.

There are three main areas you need to be aware of to lose and maintain your weight; diet, exercise, and motivation.

Let’s start with ‘dieting’. In order to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume (it’s easier said than done). Avoid high calorie foods or densed foods such as those that contain a lot of (refined) sugar. For example, one oreo cookie contains about the same calories as one banana. So next time when you’re craving for a snack grab a banana. You’ll feel better for it, plus its more filling.

Increasing the number of meals and lessen the portions will help you lose weight. By constantly having small amounts of food your body will have feul to consistantly burn which in the end increases your metabolism. Seperating your meals apart will put your body in a mode where it will store the extra calories rather than burning it which will slow your metabolism and increase your weight.

Eat more slowly. Once your stomach has some food it takes several minutes for the stomach to contract and start digesting. Avoid stuffing your face with all the food you can pile on your plate and instead get enough food that can fit in the palm of your hand. Take smaller bites. Get a routine going like taking a bite, then sip your drink, and start a small conversation at the table (try not to talk with your mouth full). You can even try eating with a fork or a set of chopsticks as it will help you stuff food in your mouth slower.

These are some of the few tips that can help you stay on track on losing those pounds. Stay tuned for part II.

I got a few 2006 goals to accomplish. It’s better to make a couple reachable goals and one or two tough goals. One of my first new year’s resolution is to run more races this year and squeeze in two half-marathons while I’m at it. My second goal is to reach a target weight that I’ve set for myself. I’m not going to say what weight, so don’t ask. Third, take a nice vacation probably somewhere out of state or even out of the country. I haven’t taken a real vacation in such a long time. Fourth, to move out, and get my own place. I know living at home can save lots of money, but how much is privacy and having your own kick-ass pad worth? Finally, for my last resolution I want to start a fight club, where the number one rule is that we don’t talk about ‘fight club’. CRAP! I’ve already said too much.

After my last entry I decided to meet some friends at a club downtown. It was already pass midnight and there was a small line to get into the club. There was a group of black guys trying to thug their way in. It took about 20 minutes to let all those black guys in as they wore several layers of Fubu and Sean John clothing. It didn’t speed things up as the bouncers kept finding objects in their pockets even when they have repeatedly told them to empty it. After the ID check and the pat-downs I got to the front table where this lady asked me for $60. She must of been on crack because my friend, who is the DJ, said the cover was only $25. Just by mentioning my friend’s name they decided to let me in for $25. That was the first time it has happen. I thought it only worked on TV and in the movies where dropping a name gets you some sort of hook-up.

Once inside there were plenty of drunk people waddling around. It was fairly a mixed crowd. The blacks at one end and the Mexicans on the other. The Jews where at the bar haggling to get a discount on their drinks. It still amazes me the kind of clothing that women will wear. The temperature was in the low 60s high 50s yet they largest piece of clothing they have on are their shoes. I probably wouldn’t complain if they were hot looking girls. Call me shallow, but they where fat and hideous. No wonder they tried to charge me $60 to get in. The remaining difference was to pay for the freak show. No amount of make-up or dim lighting could save them, yet they were dancing with several guys. It actually wasn’t suprising, they were dancing with the Fubu – Sean John wearing thugs.

The remaining of the night was uneventful. I met up with my old friends and made some new ones in the process. I went home feeling satisfied that I didnt’ spend over $50 just to go to a club then spending ridiculous more money on alcohol to hang out with your buddies.

Ready or not here it comes. As I sit here in my room writing this entry, which I believe about a handful of people will actually read in the near future, who am I kidding, I might get three if some guy types in the wrong URL, people are out partying and getting drunk. So have you guys got your New Year’s Resolution yet? I’m still thinking about mine.

What can we expect from 2006? The Winter Olympic and more antics from the President. With enough wishful thinking, the 49ers might get Reggie Bush for the NFL draft. This is also the year I turn 24. Which is relatively young compared to someone who is retired. But 24 is the age where you should start slowing down the partying and prepare more for the long term. Am I prepared? Maybe. I’m crossing my fingers and wish that this is the year I win the lottery. I probably have a better chance getting hit by lighting while I’m asleep in my room.

About 12 more hours til 2006. Drink plenty and get home safe tonight.

Wow! Vitamin D reduces the risk of colon, breast, and ovarian cancer. Increasing this vitamin is now recommended by doctors.

It’s ironic how the human body produces vitamin D via ultra violet rays from the sun. So you can have more vitamin D when you sun bathe, but it’ll increase your chances of getting skin cancer.

As the nerdy computer geeks would say, “You got PWND!”

When did they stop using footballs?

Pope Benedict and Star Wars’s Emporer, brothers??