Hows your exercise/diet plan going?

I'm looking for some motivation by hearing from people who have been trying to get into better shape or just what you've been doing to keep from getting out of shape.
 
Lately i've been trying to make an effort to be more healthy, I started by cutting out certain really bad foods and trying to pick healthier stuff more often.  My choices are slowly getting better even though i relapse sometimes.  I'm also trying to cutback on coffee to one cup a day from 3 or 4.   
 
For exercise i did some light running and pushups for the past 3 weeks, gradually pushing myself a little harder.  This week school started up again so i'm starting to hit the gym a bit harder with the ultimate aim of about 30 minutes of cardio (eliptical, rowing, or bike) followed by 30 min of weights.  For the weights i'm breaking it up by body part 
 
Day A: back and biceps

Day B: Chest, shoulders, and triceps 
Day C: Legs and core stuff 
 
I'm not really too sure what i'm doing, generally i'm trying to do as many compound exercises as possible since i hear they are better for people out of shape like myself, and i'm trying to do high reps with little rest between since my main goal is stamina and weight loss.  I'm aiming to hit the gym 4 days a week for now, might up it depends on how it goes.  I'm 5'8 and 166.4 lbs right now, aiming to get back into the 150's.
 
So please let me know what you're doing, it'll give me (and hopefully others) motivation and maybe some ideas of different things to do.  Also feel free to critique my exercise plan, i'm gonna try to get myself to update this if i make any progress or if i slip and need to remind myself of it.

My diet/excersise has been top notch for the last couple months. I can do 1000 stomach crunches now.

Krav maga, way too much, then i'm stopping that for a few months to learn Mixed martial arts then going back. Overall I get a fighters workout, then back to a military fighting system. I exercise like 4X a week usually, 1.5 hours a day.  
 
You should try to combine cardio with body weight exercises, which means pushups, situps, lunges, jumping jacks. Getting a punching bag will be fun if you learn how to strike it properly, it's a good workout. I highly recommend mixed martial arts as a way to stay in shape ( I only recommend it because i'm doing it and from my experience it really helps, however it's not for everyone, that's why I just recommend something simple like a punching bag)

It's non-existent for me ;)

WHO TOLD YOU??
 
I'm not trying to lose any weight, but I have been trying to eat healthier lately.  I've had smooties every morning for the past couple weeks for breakfast.  
(Low-fat sugar free yogurt, frozen fruit, juice, and just a touch of honey)  Tasty.

" I've lost almost 25 lbs so far. p90 is shaping me up. The key for everything to work is strict food plan. But don't forget  once or twice a month toeat out wiht your friends, it's good for moral. Just don't over do it. "

" i'm stopping that for a few months to learn Mixed martial arts " 

 " I highly recommend mixed martial arts as a way to stay in shape. "

Dude, you cant learn mixed martial arts. Its a sport made up from boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, sambo, BJJ. wrestling and countless other styles. Yes it is a good way to stay in shape but encouraging someone with little or no martial arts experience to jump in at the deep end and put them altogether is pretty dumb.

@Bobdaman18:

If you are really going to take martial arts seriously do not waste your time watching videos, find a class or dojo you can commit to. There are countless stances, ways to kick, punch, elbow, knee and grapple and learning on gaming forums or youtube is not the way to do it.

I did Karate when I was younger, I do Krav Maga, BJJ and Kickboxing at the moment. 

How come I've lost 30 lbs this year and look exactly the same as I did 30 pounds ago?

I already eat healty and I'm really into cardio and muscle building. I just bought light-weight ankle and wrist weights to go wear while I do cardio to help tone up a little more.
I don't lift during the summer because I don't I don't really like the gyms around my house, but when I get back to school I'm going to start up again.

Good luck with your workout and stay motivated :)

"

"

i'm a skinny person so i don't have to diet. 
 
i lift a couple of times. i do:
 
pushup- 25
curls-30
situps-30
bycles- 30
bench-30 
squats-20
 
i do this with 20 pound dumbbell. i haven't exercised in a while as it's summer time and it is hot.

@HitmanAgent47:  

There are so many more things you get out of training from a class than a video. The video doesint talk back, motivate you, tell you if you are doing something wrong and you cant ask it questions either. If its just for punching a bag then yeah great, but there are plenty more effective ways to keep fit.

Video's are fine for pointers for those with the experience but building your technique from ground up watching the TV? No way. (seriously, learning to pass guard from a DVD?)

"@HitmanAgent47: I tried Taekwondo once and broke a toe the first day of class, i prefer to do my own thing when i exercise instead of doing group work anyway.  I've been thinking about getting either a punching bag or a rowing machine so i'd have something i could use at home.  If i got a punching bag and just beat on it with terrible technique would i risk injury? "

@HitmanAgent47: All I am saying is there is more to get from a class than a DVD in any way shape or form. If a beginner cant learn how to punch correctly right away from someone standing in front of them, correcting their mistakes as they make them. How will you know you are making mistakes when this thing cant tell you?

That wasint in reference to anything you said dude, I couldint help but notice big nogs face at the end of the video with " Passing guard for MMA " plastered across it. xD Both him and Anderson are brilliant fighters but they still cant offer much through a TV screen.

Its quite possible dude, Krav tuesday, BJJ and Kickboxing monday,wednesday and thursday. I train with a mate who has a considerable amount more experience than I do in BJJ which helps for practicing techniques, also my dad used to teach jiu-jitsu. I have the resources so why not use them. =)

I have been trying to eat better. Drink only water. Get more exercise.  
 
The three hardest things in the world for me.  

@HitmanAgent47:  I've had people throw chokes and locks on me (and vice versa) and yanked/squeezed as hard as they could and it just doesint work no matter how much it might feel like it does. A dummy cant tell you its not working. I dont think passing guard is neccasary for keeping fit unless you actually plan on doing BJJ, I just made the observation on the video and commented on it. xD 

Even still its the minor adjustments needed that go un-noticed but your right, we can all punch...sort of. =P Techniques take years to perfect, you wont learn properly if its not consistent instruction.

The idea behind krav was simplicity, why have a dozen techniques for a certain situation when a specific one or two does the job? Its simple to learn. I'm not sure how its taught in the US but in the UK its easy to pick up, I passed my first grading after 2 months of training once a week, not because I'm good it just really is that simple a system. Krav was designed for the Israelli military for survival that makes sense and is to the point where as kickboxing is a sport. Why punch/kick to the face when someone could have a granite chin, I dont care how big a guy is, you kick him in the nuts he will crumble. Tools are the same but the means in which you use them are entirely different. =) 

Its Jun-Fan kickboxing which includes elbows and knee's if thats why you ask. Again same tools but the form is different.

We should ruin threads more often =P 

EDIT: I do gi and no gi. Gi is just tradition and is mostly used for sport. True no gi is needed for MMA but in all honesty if you are in a street fight the last place you want to be is on the floor tying yourself up, he could have friends with him. No matter how hard you train in martial arts, you will never be fully prepared for a street fight and thats what Krav was designed for. To the point and no messing around.

Ha ha ha ha.... exercise. 

I have tried on several occasions to get in shape, but one of a handful of things always happens. I will wake up one day after weeks of doing the same thing and just hurt all over- I will literally be unable to move. This always forces me to be laid up for a few days and by the time it's over I have successfully been demoralized to the point that I don't go back to trying to exercise when I'm able to. The worst part is that it wasn't even any kind of real exercise that I was doing. I would just go out and walk around my long driveway and come back in side.
 
The other problem is food. I live at home, and get zero say in what gets bought for groceries. Because of this, the only foods that are ever in the house that I can stand eating are the same handful of "bad" foods that I'm forced to eat all the time. Even if I could buy the food there isn't much out there that I can stand eating. I hate almost all vegetables, and about 90% of fruit I can't eat because it gives me really bad stomach pains and heart burn from the natural acids in them.
 
Plus there is the whole emotional side of needing to be in a state of mind to care about yourself to be motivated enough to want to change and get in shape. Something I have never had.
 
Funfact: Just a little while ago I went to get a bowl of Yogurt and just happened to look at the label and see what was in it. It had 20% trans fat per serving! I thought Yogurt was supposed to be good for you, but it had more transfat in it then most "bad" food that I eat.

I don't exercise much because of my busy schedule... and I'm lazy... 
 
I do eat healthy though. Eating healthy foods makes a world of difference. Also, vitamins! Don't forget to take vitamins and drink lots of water! :D

My exercise plan has been going poorly. I'll give it another shot, though.  TRUCK ON, IF YOU GET ME.

@HitmanAgent47: Both gi and no gi have their pros and cons, the arguement which is better could be compared to the console wars and will never be resolved.

You dont need a gym to train, a mat and a partner is more than enough to be honest. If all you want to do is submit people then maybe you should consider dropping MMA, the submissions come from BJJ, Sambo, Judo, Wrestling etc. MMA is just a host/sport for all styles to be faced off against eachother. 

I was tired of the instructors saying I can't do takedowns or submissions because we are street fighters or we aren't sport fighters we have no rules.

Your instructor is right, in a street fight there wont be time for all these fancy techniques you learn in BJJ or Judo or whatever. Its granted sport fighters will do better at sparring, soley because they spar. When was the last time you seen a street fight where two guys touch gloves and circle eachother? It doesint happen that way, if you try and pull off a submission you think his friends are just going to stand and watch? Whats to stop him biting, kicking to the groin, eye raking, cover all this while sparring? Most people throw technique out the window when put on the spot like that, no matter how much experience they have.

What if your opponent is resistant to pain? or you missed the groin or it's blocked by a kick boxer, now you have nothing but simple kick boxing to rely on.

Find me a guy who can take a full on kick to the groin and keep going I will accept that as a possiblity. Its the same with anything you do, not every strike is guaranteed to land.

" Muay thai at least kicks hard and they know how to spar way more effectively and demolish tradition martial arts... "

It doesint matter what form you study, what matters is the person using it. Sure muay thai striking is pretty solid but take Thiago Alves for example, fantastic muay thai striker, thrown around the ring and embarresed by Jon Fitch in his last fight, a wrestler.

Knives and Guns have been covered already, the way we get taught doesint follow the syllabus in sequence. We only drill through that when there is a grading coming up.

" @Labbo94 said:

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"

Hero. "

I switched to a Vegan diet in January. I went from 170lbs to 130lbs now. I don't exercise.

I've lost 48 pounds since mid-May.  I'm gaining muscle at the same time so I don't actually know how much fat I've gotten rid of.

If I lost any weight, I would vanish.

Good. It's too complex to write down for my tired mind right now, but I juggle diet, workout and rest fairly well.

" @JonathanMoore said:

" @Labbo94 said:

"

"

Hero. "

Haha thanks man. I figured I didn't want my high school years to slip by while I spent my Friday nights playing games and listening to podcasts. It feels great to be able to balance fitness with school, girls, games, friends, and everything. "

1.- I don't drink soft drinks anymore, ever. I hate the fizz of them anyways.  

2.- I don't like chocolate bars, although M&Ms are tasty, i have those occasionally as a treat.   

3.- Eat in small portions, but make sure they are small and you eating 5 times a day. (when i mean small, is small)  

4.- Excercise, but don't do it daily, as when your body gets used to something, it will become harder for you. 3 -  4 times a week (unless you wanna be a body builder, the excercises can change). Remember when you loose weight, is not the day of the excercise that you burning fat, is the day after and while you sleep that the excercise takes place and you loose the fat. Sweating does mean its working and you working real hard, but it doesnt mean you are burning all the calories and fats in the routine.    
I for one cycle, run, and walk a lot through out the week and i used to play soccer, so the training actually helped a lot in the past when i wanted to loose my weight. I was a pretty big girl. I did kick boxing and that will get your heart pumping a lot. Is so good, i love kickboxing. Martial arts is a magnificent way to loose weight, because you learn discipline, and that is one of the "must" when trying to be healthy. Discipline to actually go through one of the hardest things in the world.

 5.- Dedication, passion and optimism.  Always smile and believe in yourself. Always change for you and not for everyone else. That is the best boost you can ever give yourself :) \ 
  
If i can do it. You can! :D
Good luck and keep us posted :)

"I have been trying to eat better. Drink only water. Get more exercise.   The three hardest things in the world for me.   "

Mine is going well. I eat a very consistent diet, so it helps me stay on track. I usually jog or ride my bike a few times a week, and I have a pull up bar in my bathroom door frame. I do two sets of 15 each morning before I leave for work. I'm 30 years old and I feel 10 years younger.

My diet/exercise plan is going great. I've lost 17 pounds and almost 7 inches of my waist!!! You and your plan seem very similar to me. Exercising is good, but most of your results will come from eating properly.
In the Gym-
        Mostly keep doing what you've been doing.
        I know that having little to no breaks in between lifts has kicked my ass into better shape.
        Your muscle group spread out is near impeccable.
        Try going in to the weight room with a plan of what lifts you are going to do, to minimize any time in between you might be resting thinking of your next lift.
        On free-weights focus on working up in weight during you sets, and working down on pulleys and whatnot.
        Don't try maxing yourself out all the time. Sure, Maxes and weights you can do 2 reps of will make your stronger, 20 reps of a lower weight will give you the toning and burning you desire. 
        Go to the gym and lift and do cardio 3-4 times a week, and 2 other times a week do some light cardio. (ie. jog around the block ride a bike around town etc.)
In the Kitchen-
        I think most of my success has come from my new eating habits.
        The main part of my plan has been my eating schedule
                  8:00am Breakfast- protein, carbs, vegetables
                  11:00am Snack 1- protein, carbs
                  1:00pm Lunch- protein, carbs, vegetables
                  3:00pm Snack 2- protein, carbs
                  6:00pm Dinner- protein, carbs, vegetables
        Your diet should consist of mainly protein and "good" carbs.
        Start eating wheat bread instead of white bread.  Brown rice instead of white rice.  Whole wheat pasta or brown rice pasta (my personal favorite) instead of regular semolina pasta.
        Vegetables are on the list because of 2 reasons, first they are high in essential vitamins and minerals, and second, with the amount of protein you should be eating, some veggies will help keep you regular.
        DO NOT eat anymore processed food. No more microwave meals. Even though they might say they are the healthy choice, the real healthy choice is making a meal from scratch for yourself.
        Any dairy products you eat should be either low fat or fat free.
        This probably gos without saying, but keep the meat protein you are eating very lean. We all love ribeye steaks, but they are very fatty. Filet Mingon is a great steak because it is extremely lean and very tender. Experiment with some different cooking    methods to give it the flavor it is missing.
 
Good Luck on all your health adventures. I hope you the best.

The weights program is actually pretty good. I'm surprised if you made it yourself. People often f.eks work out their biceps and triceps the same day.
 
I'm 5'8 too. I've gained weight by working out though. I was skinny before. Over the past couple of months I've gained a lot of progress, so it's working ;) Keep it going, and stay dedicated. Btw, you can award yourself some unhealthyness on saturdays if you want. Just don't eat chips, candy etc any other days :)

I HAVE THE BODY OF ADONIS 

I CAN JUDO KICK A GIRAFFE AND MAKE IT SHOOT CANDY CANES OUT ITS ANUS

 
 I just play soccer (if you dont like soccer you can just play another sport you like and can play),which means i train my legs and muscles.I lift weights,and go to the gym for about an hour each day.3-4 days a week.Eat smoothies for breakfast,and together also an healthy sandwich.