Fast-5 Diet and Lifestyle: [fast5] Re: WooHoo!

Time will tell. I already notice people looking at my 'abs' as I pass in the hall. :)

One of the things I learned during my trip to Europe was that most of the people I encountered were very small compared to American sizes. It didn't seem to affect their virility or masculinity. I think those traits are "male" traits that are projected through behaviors and attitudes. Body size, in my opinion, has little to do with masculinity. The marketing folks have done a brilliant job of convincing people that everything needs to be bigger, better, faster. Funny how it even seems to affect self image.

-Rick

--- In fast5@yahoogroups.com, David Nyman <david@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Rick
>
> The point you make about the reactions of other men is interesting.

> Anyway, it will be intriguing to see if in reality the guys - and gals - at
> work respond to a more streamlined version of you as less "masculine" - as
> opposed to more muscular, more active - more attractively youthful,
> perhaps? Methinks Hamlet might consider that they were "protesting too
> much". Or, as Miss Piggy might have said - "Defensive, moi?"
>
> David
>
> On 8 April 2010 13:55, RickS <rstewart@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > David- Thanks for the encouraging words! And a "Well Done" to you for
> > maintaining your weight and health for so long. It occurred to me that it
> > was possible to get WAY down in weight when I realized that the guy in this
> > picture ( http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ ) is 5'10", 57 years old, and
> > weighs 165.
> >
> > I agree it is distressing, even at my age (43), how many of my peers don't
> > want to walk the steps one flight, or ride a bike or walk to the grocery
> > store that's less than a mile from home. In fact, there's a disturbing
> > cultural fear I've uncovered. It may be local to my area or part of a larger
> > issue, tell me if you've heard of such nonsense in England... I've spoken to
> > three men that I work with about my goal to get thin. Their first concern
> > was if my wife would think that was attractive. There seems to be a fear
> > that looking "healthy" (thin and muscular) is too small and feminine. The
> > three guys I spoke to all said that they think they look better carrying a
> > little weight, like 185 or so. Have you run into this idea where you live?
> >
> > -Rick Stewart
> >
> >
> > --- In fast5@yahoogroups.com <fast5%40yahoogroups.com>, David Nyman
> > <david@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Rick
> > >
> > > Congratulations on your commitment to a worthwhile goal! Like you, I'm
> > > 5'10" and of medium build. I'm both a long-time FF-er and exerciser
> > (mainly
> > > based on Len Schwartz's undeservedly neglected Heavyhands protocol), a
> > > combination I've found particularly effective for weight (or more
> > properly
> > > fat) control. My weight is now steady around 160, and according to my
> > > Tanita scale this represents about an 8% level of body fat. I find it
> > > really rewarding to maintain this level of condition - which I haven't
> > found
> > > too tough to do with the FF+HH combo - as I find at age 60 it gives me an
> > > edge of physical capacity compared with most of my age cohort
> > (fortunately,
> > > my wife excepted).
> > >
> > > A recent hiking holiday in the hills of the English Lake District we both
> > > undertook with a family friend of similar years, made this point quite
> > > forcibly. He and I used to hike together a lot 20 years ago, but the
> > extra
> > > 30 pounds or so of weight he's now carrying so wore him out that he had
> > real
> > > trouble completing the first day's hike (perhaps the constant moaning and
> > > complaining also sapped his energy). At one point I actually had to put a
> > > hand in the small of his back and help to push him up the hill! Next day
> > he
> > > couldn't even contemplate anything remotely involving an ascent. By
> > > contrast, for Pam and me, in decent physical shape, a week or so of
> > hiking,
> > > biking, or skiing can still be a pleasurable diversion, not gruelling
> > > physical torture. If an active life is any kind of priority, the
> > commitment
> > > to fitness that is perhaps optional when young becomes a stark necessity
> > in
> > > one's "golden years".
> > >
> > > If my experience is anything to go by, you shouldn't have too much
> > trouble
> > > achieving your goal, or maintaining it. I wouldn't rush my fences though,
> > > especially as you close in on the target. I've found that aiming to shed
> > > not more than one pound of fat a week on average, by a balanced
> > combination
> > > of extra work and modestly reduced calorie intake, works very well, and
> > some
> > > strength-oriented training in the mix guards effectively against any
> > > significant loss of muscle mass during the process.
> > >
> > > Best of luck and keep us posted!
> > >
> > > David
> > >
> > > On 7 April 2010 15:01, RickS <rstewart@> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I've been on Fast-5 for well over a year, but I've always used it for
> > > > health benefits, convenience, and because I don't want to buy food if I
> > > > don't have to. :)
> > > >
> > > > But over the last two months I've been making a concerted effort to
> > lose
> > > > weight using Fast-5 and exercise. My goal is to get down to the weight
> > that
> > > > the doctor's charts say I should weigh for maximum longevity. The
> > charts say
> > > > a 5'10" male with medium bone structure should weigh between 151-163!
> > That
> > > > has always sounded ridiculously low to me- Lance Armstrong weighed 153
> > > > during the Tour de France.
> > > >
> > > > But since F-5 makes it so easy to lose I think I'm going to go for
> > it... at
> > > > least to 165. I've dropped almost 30 lbs since the beginning of
> > February and
> > > > I'm down to 175 now. It's the final stretch, that LAST ten lbs...
> > > >
> > > > -Rick
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>