Decisions... Decisions...

So, i am aware that moderate exercise is one of the key components to a healthy lifestyle. I also know that there are many different types of exercise. Whether that be swimming, weight training, hiking, jogging, kayaking, etc. Now, heres the thing. I worry about working out cause i have used it obsessively in the past and typically do not eat back the cals that i expend. as of now im working out like three times a week with weights for an hor each sesion and i sldo work to take my bike instead of the car as much a i can. I bike it to and from the gym, target, whole foods, whatever and am taking in about 15-1800 a day.

My question is this... what would the better option be workout wise that would focus on health rather than using it to hurt myself or as something i have to overcome to entitle myself to eat more. If anyone has a recommendation i would love it. Not even for right now, but sometime in the future would be awesome. Thanks in advance guys!

(as of now im thinking moderate weight training 5x a week with some light cardio, keeping the body fit and strengthening the bones and what not. Just throwing that out there.)

My vote would be strength training... it's hard to "punish" yourself by lifting. Add in the more social activities like hiking and kayaking, instead of jogging (my personal bias - jogging is a punishment in and of itself!)

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "have to overcome to entitle myself to eat more" but heavy lifting can make you hungry -

maybe if you thinking of it as "I need to eat so that I can gain muscle - which is why I'm lifting in the first place" that would be a better mentality, rather than thinking of it as eating back calories burned?

Yeah, and to be honest I enjoy lifting more. I think I just need to start keeping a more detailed training log so I can track my progress. Focus more on lifting more each week and seein how much stronger I get. I think this is where I lose motivation sometimes.

Original Post by clay010:

start keeping a more detailed training log so I can track my progress.

Best move I ever did - helps immeasurably.

I think the combination of bike commuting and weight training sounds perfect, although I think 4x per week sounds better than 5, but that's just me.  Bike commuting is a good way to travel, and it's hard to overdo it if you don't want to go into Whole Foods being a sweaty mess.

Since you mentioned a problem with not eating back calories, what about setting a rule where you drink a substantial post-lifting protein shake, and then don't log those calories?  Pretend they don't even exist, and then just stick with your 1500-1800 normal daily intake.  Trust that the shake is doing it's job of refueling your muscles and leave it at that.

Clay - eating 1500-1800 a day is a dieters food intake. you are active and also suffering from an eating disorder... trying to gain weight.

do you not think it would be in your best interest to add 1000 cals to your diet

Original Post by fidget84:

Clay - eating 1500-1800 a day is a dieters food intake. you are active and also suffering from an eating disorder... trying to gain weight.

do you not think it would be in your best interest to add 1000 cals to your diet

 ^ This is very impt.

1. Your diet needs to increase cals, esp since you plan on doing weight training. All that hard work in the gym will be counterproductive if you don't eat enough.  Make sure you not only up your cals but get at least 1g per lb of your weight. Without feeding you muscle, allowing the to repair and grow, they will end up 'going away'...

2. You don't need to lift 5 days a week. I'd start off with a routine that is 3x's a week.

Best of luck