Any Gamers Out There Into Fitness?

Another descriptive title! Are there any of you out there that are deeply interesting in fitness (weight-lifting, powerlifting, etc)?

Post your workouts, goals, and diets, I would love to see what the other gamers out there do!

@oompaville: Yep! I'm one of those running people. Current pb of 42.34 for 10k and 1.35.20 for a half marathon. Hoping to do under 1.32 in my next race. I use endomondo and strava, search for Derrick Warren.

My diet is eat what I want, when I want. Though, it helps that I like a good salad!

@froggles: How do you do it man? I hate running!

@oompaville:

I am a bit out of shape now (had to basically do nothing except study since March of 2013), but am getting back into my workouts. I wake at 6 AM, jog for 30 minutes, do some basic weight training with 15 lb weights and that is about it for the day. I am very boring when it comes to workouts :(

what is that

I'm into fitness in about as much as it's a thing I do to no longer be fat. Kudos to people who do it because they enjoy doing it or want to maintain a good body or what have you, but for me it's that thing I have to do.
Mostly it consists of over the past couple of years walking/jogging/running for an hour a day, recently I started to lift small weights while running, nothing too big, like, 5-10 pounds but it's a start, I only lift for half of the workout otherwise my arms get way too tired.
My diet is mostly healthy throughout the week an apple in the morning, sort of misc handfuls of things throughout the day ( I don't do lunch meals unless I'm with friends or something, I go by when my body tells me I'm hungry and just have a bite of something) and then just a nice plate of mostly healthy stuff for supper, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, that sort of stuff, and then maybe some hash browns or a piece of chicken, although I've been attempting to cut out meat, super hard to do though.
I then tend to pig the hell out on the weekend, gain a pound or two but never over what I lost during the week then rinse and repeat, I suppose if I didn't do what I did on the weekends I'd have lost a lot more weight by now, but, I dunno. I'm kind of fine with going slow and steady, so long as I get results, and I've lost over 100 pounds so I've got some results, it's all good.

For a while I tried to combine gaming and workout out by getting an indoor bicycle, one of the ones with like a chair seat and not a bike seat but uhhh, you really get what you pay for when it comes to those, it was a piece of shit that would come apart in the middle all of the time and my butt would get super sore from the hard seat but for the brief moments here and there where it did work it was kind of fun working out while playing a game.

@captplaceholder: As long as your doing something! I am big into powerlifting.

@zolroyce: That's amazing, keep up the good work man. Meats and fats are super important to have in your diet. Chicken and fish especially are two of the greatest sources of protein known to man! A glass of whole milk will give you energy for days man, and as long as your exercising, you won't gain an ounce of body mass. No one seems to realize how important fats are to living.

Nothing special, i go cycling outside and do Kettlebell workouts. Works for me to just stay healthy.

If you consider hiking, climbing, occasional swimming and canoeing fitness, then yes: Lots of it.

I guess so, by-product of doing combat sports. I use kettlebells, bulgarian bags but mostly body weight. Lot of push-ups, lot of pull-ups. It is what I prefer to do. Fits with my style. I'm a sports dietician and thus eat properly most of the time. I do not have a structured diet, I pick and choose as I go.

I've started working out lately and am slowly working up to 5k runs. The Nike Running up is cool because it kinda turns running into a game, and I'm all about that.

Fit gamers? LOL!

*goes back to Cheetoes and Monster*

I was always relatively athletic in that I played sports growing up.

Started training in earnest in my last year of college (21 yo), and for me it's just a matter of maintaining a healthy, strong body.

Stretching, weight training, and sufficient cardio is all I do, barring the occasional pickup sport here and there.

I took about 2 years off after a back injury, and have just gotten back into it again over the last 6 months. Don't think I'll ever not exercise again. I feel amazing compared to when I wasn't.

I also put in about 15-30 hours of gaming a week depending on if I have a game I'm really into.

We gamers can be fit. It just takes some effort. You're stuck with this stupid body for your entire life. Might as well take care of it.

I started jogging regularly and doing push-ups and crunches on the side about one year ago. By now I lost about 25 pounds (I wasn't that overweight, just had a little belly). Last week I finally got me a gym membership and started weight-lifting. So yup, I've become pretty interested in fitness recently and I got to say, being in shape feels great. My only regret is that I didn't discover this lifestyle a couple of years earlier.

Running, weight lifting, Insanity, and a great diet (love eating fruit). It feels good being physically active, and looking good feels good too.

I'm not quite into fitness per se, but I love putting a workout into the past every day. Post-workout days are better than non-workout days. It's the pinch of salt that makes playing videogames, and other leisurely activities, extra sweet. Been doing it for 5 years now, after like 5 years of letting myself go after a serious knee injury from competitive sports.

Working out is about suffering strain. The fewest people are actually into suffering. Suffering is not a thing most people want. In the case of workouts, it's about will, not want. The thing is, your body can trend two ways, other than inevitably aging into decrepitude. You can go grow stronger, or you'll become softer and softer, to the point of being decrepid - not of age, but of softness.

My fitness goal is to reposition my daily workout the be the first thing I do in the mornings. I'm not yet tough enough to take that step. In general, when it comes to fitness, do as the Army does, I say.

I just ran the Colfax Marathon in Denver yesterday. I got into running about 2 years ago (hit the big 35 and figured it was the most safe mid-life crisis hobby I could take up). Marathons have become a fun thing to plan trips around - ran the Phoenix Marathon and the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon - and turned both into family vacations. This year I'm running in Honolulu and in march of next year I'm running in the Los Angeles Marathon- taking family on these trips as well. Its a great way to see a city - and you really feel like you earn the rest of your vacation.

Might sound weird, but I took up running partly because of podcasts like Bombcast and 8-4. I'm either listening to a podcast or an audiobook every run. It was a great way to turn something I was doing already into something positive for my health.

2 years ago I weighed 38lb more than I do now - so its been a fun thing all around. If I can lose another 10lbs I'll weigh what I did in College!

@oompaville: Start off doing shorter or slower runs (or both) and then build up from there. Do try and get into a routine, you'll start craving a run after it becomes habit!

I started working out somewhere around three years ago when I managed to not break any of my legs for en extended period of time for the first time since I was eight years old (I have a weird disease).

First it was about weight loss, and I lost maybe 25 kgs, but a year ago or so ago I started to get really into powerlifting. I recently did a 100 kg squat and that was a huge moment for me. My left leg is significantly weaker than the right one since it's always been more misshapen and injury prone so my squat should be going up pretty quickly as I focus on building that up, which is fun. I can see how you could get obsessed with setting PRs.

I also do HIIT for cardio probably not as often as I should. It's summer now so I've been sporadically doing some hill sprints and it feels terrible and I hate them.

As for diet I'm eating to gain strength at the moment so I pretty much eat a lot of everything, protein, carbs, fat, sugar, I just put it all inside of me.

@markies: Some of the heavier kettlebell stuff is tough. I have been using a 35lbs bell now and my shoulders are shredded.

@pimblycharles: Why yes I do! Very scenic areas there man!

@bemusedchunk: Hey you can be fit and eat those things!

@orlandodoom: That's right! Take care of it while you've got it.

@cptbedlam: You just have to stick with the weight-lifting for a while to see any difference. If you need any tips, I would be glad to help.

@calmgamer: You are crazy man! Running is hard. Mad props to you. The number on that scale means nothing, I guarantee what you weighed in college compared to now is simply a muscular difference.

@alnor58: That is awesome!! I am totally obsessed with PR's. At what weight did you squat 100kg(220lbs)? I got 275lbs and 145 bodyweight. Btw, HIIT cardio is the bomb.

@froggles: I ran 5 times a week for 6 months and hated it! Now I prefer HIIT training and higher intensity lifts, they tend to get the heart pumping the most for me.

@oompaville: Thanks. Yep, I know that persistence is the key to success here. Also, for me the journey is just as good as the goal. I feel great after every workout (and after every time I went jogging)). That alone already makes it more than worth it, even if I didn't gain a single gramm of muscle mass. Furthermore, I did set my goals realistically: I want a lean and well-defined body, not a mountain of muscles.

As far as tipps for workouts and nutrition goes, I turned to scooby1961 on youtube. Also, a friend who's been doing weight-lifting for about a decade is instructing me. :)

@pimblycharles: That scenery looks really nice. What part of the world is that?

I used to only exercise when forced at school or for my rugby team. I was a pretty damn good cross country runner. Since school I've tried a few times to get back into but I can't out of laziness and because there's no one to compete against.

just recently started taking my fitness a little more seriously. Nothing crazy, just doing pushups and an ab workout in the morning. Get to the gym a few times a week maybe to get some cardio in since they have a child watch program. Only been at it a few weeks and starting to look a little more trim. Plus it's fun to pick up my wife and carry her around and have that be easier.

@oompaville:

Thanks Man!

Here's my only advice to anyone who is thinking about giving running a try - start slow and with short distances - and quickly sign up for a 5k or 10k. The earlier you sign up the cheaper the entry. It gives you something to train for and to look forward to. Whatever level of fitness you are at you will fit in on race day.

I lied - one more piece of advice about running. Incorporate some type of cross training to strengthen your core - its injury prevention. I throw in P90x or join my brother at a Crossfit gym he goes to. Since I have started this I have had no injuries.

I love hockey and as I have gotten older it has become clear that it is not a sport you play to get into shape. It is a sport you enjoy if you are in shape. As a result, I tend to work in a lot of cardio between games. I rotate through p90x and am currently working through Insanity. When I am at home and one of the available xbox fitness workouts lines up with my schedule I do it through xbox instead of using the DVD and I really enjoy it. It forces you to really push the tempo at times. It does need some work though.

@rebel_scum: New York State, USA. One is from Letchworth and the others in the Adirondacks. Used to run cross country too, and was decent at it. Also did the 800yd, 1600yd and 3200yd in indoor/outdoor track. Maybe you should consider doing a local marathon or race if you want some competition? So many years running on tarmac and concrete have done a number on my knees, so can't do to much running anymore :(

Rugby's awesome btw. Could never find enough duders at college to play, and you know... the whole Football deal in America...

@oompaville: What do you do for lower body workouts since you seem to not enjoy running?

@pimblycharles: Squats, deadlifts, sprinting, etc. I don't enjoy the long distance stuff. My quads are giant btw, it is my favorite body part.

I almost always have a gym membership running yet I go there maybe ten times a year. I really want to get into but I don't really want it, since I'm doing jack shit. I guess I just like the idea.

@sjupp: Try HIIT training instead. The easier stuff only takes about 4 minutes and the cardio is about as effective as a 30 minute run

I'm not into lifting weights although I wish I was. I really like to run so that's good but it results in me having pretty strong leg muscles and fairly skinny arms. I used to hate running when I was younger but I now I've run almost everyday for the last two years. I have no specific running routine, rather I run based on how I feel that particular day. There's been days where I only ran a couple miles but the next day I ran 10. Generally the only thing that stops me from running is lack of time or alcohol. I used to think the whole "runners high" was complete bullshit shit but now it has become something that I legitimately crave.

I have the worst eating habits in the world though so I should really try and address that particular issue.

I take two 30 minute walks every day. That's about it

Never did sports, never any good. Never a fan of cardio. Got tired of being fat early '12 and started light fitness stuff. Have since gotten a lot deeper into lifting and enjoy a "body builder lite" life style. I'm not doing it to get on stage but I want the physique. The will is there but I have a lot to learn and need to be better at preparing food and not letting other things get in the way. Lost 100+lbs at my lowest but have been adding weight and muscle back since then.

Do what you want right? I just couldn't be the fat nerd anymore.

biking and running, I like the sense of being alone and pushing myself. I do something about 10 mile bike ride along the beach coast, it's nice environment never feels dull.

@vortextk: My kind of style man. I have been doing the bodybuilding thing for about a year now. I am having mad troubles bulking up! My metabolism is insane and it pisses me off! I have gained around ten pounds of muscle over the period of a year and have leaned wayyyy out.

I've always played sports and fitness training has naturally developed as a side activity. It's not my main hobby or focus but I do some swimming, running, and weight lifting.

@oompaville: Yeah HIIT's are definitely the way to go especially if you're into power lifting. HIIT's is good for those fast twitch fibers (it's basically the lifting version of cardio!). I got a walking desk earlier in the year but haven't been walking much anymore as I think it's been having a catabolic effect on the muscles. What do you use to track your fuel btw? Do you have a calorie tracker going? I think my plateau now is my existing philosophy of "listening to your body" and eating when hungry, eat often in small servings, but never get too full, and making sure I get some carbs before some cardio and some protein after a workout. It's worked out for me in this weird non-scientific way as I look and feel great but if I want to take it to the next level it would probably be calorie tracking; knowing what my maintenance is and then subtracting/adding to it as needed, but I've always found calorie tracking to be very mechanical and inconvenient (i.e. having to weigh any food that isn't packaged and doing that math before a meal).

@pimblycharles: my roommate got me into climbing and bouldering recently. Yes, those are workouts, screams my forearms and quads.

Also to get to the meat of this thread, I (brace for insanity) took up dance at the beginning of college. It's been a not half bad cardio/training mechanism. All forms of ballroom and (insanity inbound again) breaking.

@lanechanger: Yes! I don't track my caloric intake. I can't eat enough to gain a single pound, so counting calories is kind of pointless to me! My entire families metabolism is crazy. We are all at least semi-jacked. I have been getting pointers from Mr. Brian Whitacre, an old family friend and WNBF world champ bodybuilder, he has told me that I need not worry about counting calories, just worry about eating as much as I can.

Ever since college I've been a long distance runner, but during college I got off of where I really wanted to be fitness-wise (both to stay in shape and because I genuinely enjoy it) so for the past month or so I've been working really hard to get back into shape. First 5k in a long time planned for June 14th! The goal eventually is to complete a half-marathon at some point this year. Also, working out is helping to prevent me from spending too much of my life in spelunky...

Is there a like fitocracy or whatever group for giantbomb duders?

@oompaville: lifter here. Been lifting since high school.

I love running. No interest in lifting or team-sports. I stay fit so I can sprint for the train and not worry about what I cook. I've been under the weather for the last week and I've really noticed the drop-off in my fitness level. The upside is that I never feel better than when I'm improving.

I try to get to the gym 3-4 times a week, I can't use any of the free weights though due to back problems from my teens. I'm also vegan so I don't make any real gains.

I also don't get people who like running, I just find it kinda boring and also it hurts the arches of my feet no matter what shoes I'm wearing. I can run 5k in just over 30 minutes and that's good enough for me.

I'm into free climbing which means that besides the climbing itself (2-3 times per week) I have to work out. Also, I just started practising Wing Chun and so far it's really neat.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter.

@calmgamer: Congrats on Denver! Planning a trip around a marathon is great. Good luck in Honolulu, I bet that will be beautiful!

@flyingace16021: Good luck with your 5K! That's my favorite distance. They're short but very intense.

I'm trying to get back down to 6:30-6:45 mile/pace for my 5Ks. I've taken a lot of time off for an injury (first a pelvic stress fracture and then Achilles Tendonitis) and right now my pace is 7:30-7:45 per mile. My goal for this year is to stick to the shorter distances and not re-injure myself, but seeing how things go I might sign up for the Detroit Marathon and a 50K in the Fall. I'm just happy it's warm enough to run outside now, this was a brutal winter!

@goldone: Im a vegetarian, so I still eat whey protein,but I know there are soy based protein powders. Also alot of veggie burger brands have a suprising amount of protein in them. You can make gains as a vegan i assure you

I like people who are fit.. Because they're attractive...

@mageemagoo:

Yeah, I know you can still make gains, and I do but just not as much as the other people at the gym who aren't as limited in their diet was more what I was getting at. I have tried a few different brands of veggie burgers but my issue with meat is a taste and texture thing, so the ones that are trying to imitate meat make me feel ill. I think the protein stuff I'm using at the moment is brown rice powder.