Group: Beginners to Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 970, Messages: 18927

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College + Gym = Hard to Schedule

fighting_london
fighting_london
Posts: 89
Joined: 2005/12/25
United States
2005/12/26, 09:14 PM
I'm fighting the "Freshman 15." Instead of gaining 15, I want to lose 15-20 pounds. I'm 18 years old, 5'3" and 145 pounds (but I don't look it - I have a little bit of fat on my stomach, but most of it is in the breasts and buttocks).

I live on campus, I have workout videos that are 10-20 minutes in length (mostly yoga and some cardio), and there's a gym on campus.

I take a multivitamin daily (One A Day Women's), but other than that, no supplements or vitamins. The food on college isn't too healthy, but with the limited funds, I can't exactly go out and buy all my own food.

So my first question is this: How healthy is this diet?
Breakfast - bowl of Cheerios with 2% milk
Lunch - usually a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, or some other sandwich (sometimes a burger, sometimes grilled chicken) with fruit
Supper - baked chicken (or some kind of pasta) potatoes other and vegetables.

My brother says I'm taking in too many carbs and not enough protein. I'm not a big fish eater, nor do I eat eggs.

Also, when is the best time to workout?
Before I started college, I used to work out 4-5 days a week after work (before supper but after 6pm). I had a decent routine and took up cardio kickboxing twice a week.
Now with classes and being away from my gym, I experimented with times to work out. I find that I like working out alone in the mornings the best (I'm not a morning person, but that boost of beta endorphines really does me good) but working out after dark is nice too.

And another question:
I broke my foot and am currently in a cast. I'm not a member of a gym in my (new) hometown. I get the cast off before I go back to college (on holiday right now). Its really hard to workout with a broken foot. Right now, all I seem to manage are some stretches, pushups, and crunches. Are there any more things I can do to keep in shape until I'm back both feet (preferrably cardio)?
wrestler125
wrestler125
Posts: 4,619
Joined: 2004/01/27
United States
2005/12/27, 02:45 PM
I'm not even going to read what you are eating until I see that revised into 6 smaller meals, rather than 3 big meals.
Also, that said, the average american eats too many carbs and not enough protein. However, your average dieting american feels that carbs are an enemy that should be avoided at all costs. This is not the answer either.

Right before dinner would be an excellent time to workout. I always eat right after a workout as this replenishes glycogen stores and helps towards recovery.

As for the injury, I am a competitive fighter and a powerlifter that went through the same thing. Here is what I decided to do, and some other great advice...
http://freetrainers.com/FT/jsp/Message.jsp?f_ix=15&t_ix=958

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Pain is only temporary, it is in your mind. If you can still walk, then you can still run.

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Quoting from 7707mutt:
The squat cage is holy ground.
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fighting_london
fighting_london
Posts: 89
Joined: 2005/12/25
United States
2005/12/27, 08:44 PM
Well, those are just my main meals that I eat in the cafe. Its nothing really too big in my opinion. The sandwich is probably the biggest thing and its a rather small sandwich.

Its hard to get in 5-6 meals a day when you're only allotted 18 meals per week in the cafeteria. I snack between meals to keep my digestive system churning (mostly fruits and raw veggies, sometimes cheese).

Also with the meals, I can't really cook anything in a dorm room. The diet portion of the program is my biggest kicker.

Thanks for the thread - looking at it now. Thought about swimming for cardio.
wrestler125
wrestler125
Posts: 4,619
Joined: 2004/01/27
United States
2005/12/28, 02:20 PM
I'm a college student as well. I understand where you are coming from. However, not every meal has to be cooked. You can get a months worth of protein powder for about $12. You can get tuna @ $.50 a can. Or eggs @ $.89 a dozen.
A snack in between meals is exactly what I mean.

--------------
Pain is only temporary, it is in your mind. If you can still walk, then you can still run.

============
Quoting from 7707mutt:
The squat cage is holy ground.
============
2005/12/28, 04:36 PM
get a small microwave....where there's a will there's a way....most healthy things can be cooked in it....including meats.....

I would get a better cereal to eat than cheerious....look for cereals that have at least 7-8g of fiber per serving...they taste great and generally have very little sugar/sweetners and other unhealthy ingredients....as well as much higher protein count.....they are a bit more expensive but you can manage it......you don't need to eat it every day...

take skin off chicken before you eat it......i would also lean towards boiled, steamed, and grilled for a more healthy alternative to cooking it....

black beans+brown/black rice and some other vegetables makes a good vegetarian/vegan meal as well...100% rye breads are also good choices for sandwiches....

i would work body unilaterally given that you broke your foot....you can do just about anything...even leg training...try to work your healthy foot....

take fish oil supplement....
2005/12/28, 04:36 PM
get a small microwave....where there's a will there's a way....most healthy things can be cooked in it....including meats.....

I would get a better cereal to eat than cheerious....look for cereals that have at least 7-8g of fiber per serving...they taste great and generally have very little sugar/sweetners and other unhealthy ingredients....as well as much higher protein count.....they are a bit more expensive but you can manage it......you don't need to eat it every day...

take skin off chicken before you eat it......i would also lean towards boiled, steamed, and grilled for a more healthy alternative to cooking it....

black beans+brown/black rice and some other vegetables makes a good vegetarian/vegan meal as well...100% rye breads are also good choices for sandwiches....

i would work body unilaterally given that you broke your foot....you can do just about anything...even leg training...try to work your healthy foot....

take fish oil supplement....
fighting_london
fighting_london
Posts: 89
Joined: 2005/12/25
United States
2005/12/29, 12:30 AM
I've got a microwave, but I'm always real skeptical about cooking meats in a microwave. I doubt that I can cook meats at a temperature high enough to kill off the "bad bacteria" from undercooked meats in a microwave. Unless, of course, its pre-cooked.

I'm looking at a little George Foreman grill. I'm allowed one in college, and it'll be perfect to grill chicken and my other meats on. I have one at home that I use (its my mother's) and its wonderful. I eat a lot of grilled food. I love pasta too (whole wheat pasta with grilled chicken instead of hamburger - YUM).

Those protein powders - can you get them tasteless? The ones my brother uses (Whey Matrix or something like that - really big canister) smell rather horrid. I haven't tasted it yet, but I'd prefer something tasteless (or even in a pill) that I can mix into yogurt instead of making a shake. Is it possible, or am I SOL?

Love peanut butter. Its in a lot of my snacks. Pretzels and peanut butter, crackers and peanut butter, celery sticks and peanut butter (with raisins, if I have it). The snacks I got covered; its the meals I need help with.

I don't have a gym in my hometown. My brother has personal trainers at Gold's Gym and I'm going to go with him as a guest until I get back to college. I don't have anything at home, so I'm trying to do some weight-free workouts.

2005/12/29, 06:04 AM
ofcourse you can...if anything you can put the meats/poultry inside water....and boil it in the microwave........microwave tends to cook food from the inside out......

foreman grill is a pretty good idea also....