Posts by quietpilot87

Taylor Walker59 said:I didn't drop all these pounds using just one single diet. Over the last three years, I've rotated through several different plans: the Max-Planck diet, carb separation, the Atkinson diet, the UN diet...

From my own experience, I noticed that when I stick to one diet for too long, I start to loathe the food. Then I begin making excuses to cheat, and before I know it, I've completely derailed and gained all the weight back.

So, this time around, whenever I got bored with a specific plan (usually after about a month), I simply switched to a new one. I know the UN diet claims you have to follow it for three months to reset your metabolism, but I never did that. As soon as I was sick of the food, I moved on to something else...

The truth is exactly what doctors say: weight loss is simple math. Burn more calories than you consume, and you'll lose weight. Of course, not every diet works for everyone. There are certain limitations, so you have to choose your approach carefully.

I made mistakes too. There were times I'd crave pizza, burgers, ice cream, or a Coke... and once I finished eating them, I just kept going with my diet. I didn't restart from day one (which is what every diet guide tells you to do if you slip up); I just carried on as if nothing happened. That ended up being an experiment that actually worked.😁

If you get a craving, just satisfy it and move on.

There is an excellent calorie chart on this site. If you head over to that forum, go to the third page and you'll find ten documents containing very detailed tables.
http://www.x3mforum.com/smf/index.php/topic,88.0.html

Combining a diet with physical activity is vital. In the past, like many of you, I lost weight only to return to my old habits and see the pounds come right back. If you want to maintain a slim figure, you have to exercise even after you finish the dieting phase. I have thin friends who haven't exercised a single day in their lives, but for me, I have to work out or the weight will return. Sometimes I hate it.😉

Starting an exercise routine was harder for me than starting a diet. I simply didn't enjoy working out. I preferred strict diets, but as soon as I stepped off them...👎

Eventually, though, you'll grow to love exercising. At least, that's what happened to me.👍

Hope this helps.🙂

Nothing much to add, just quoting the guy here in case anyone missed his post.👍

Oh God 🤣
And here I was thinking I was the one overthinking things.

Honestly, the odds of that actually happening are lower than getting struck by lightning or getting bit by a shark.🙂

Yeah, I'm with you on that 🙂
But whatever 🙂
Does it even matter?

Jeremy Evans80 said:man... if I had a dollar for every person I know who thought that way...
I'd probably have enough for a decent burger...
😬

hehe, yeah, I know I'm pretty much a walking cliché 😁

Larry Harris54 said:haha! 🙂 I was the exact same way—spent five years watching those old Wu Tang clips and basically trying to smash everything in my house just to feel like I could actually fly. Then my dad took me to see "Ninja Elements" at the local theater, and that was the spark. I started obsessing over all those "black belts" and "secret ninja lore," even went as far as carving out my own wool beanie just so I could creep through the park at night looking the part...

I've always been hooked on that flashy Eastern martial arts vibe😁
But back then, I was a total amateur. I figured mastering a skill like that was way too abstract for someone like me. Turns out, I was dead wrong.

Peter Vaughn4 said:I’m dealing with the exact same thing... since you haven't popped up on here lately, I'm assuming you've turned a corner, or at least I hope you have.
Drop a few tips on how to handle lower back pain. Right now, I'm just leaning on a muscle relaxant and some Voltaren cream. How long did it take for you to get back on your feet? I'm on day five over here, and honestly, the progress has been pretty marginal.
Best,

Folks, move—but do it right. 👍

There isn't some magic one-time fix, at least not one that works instantly. 🙂
It’s about constant vigilance over a dozen different things—that's how you keep the pain manageable or make it ghost you entirely.

For me, this pain is basically a shadow—always there, occasionally vanishing, then slamming back into place the second I sit or stand weirdly.
Sleeping is the absolute worst part; there isn't a single position where my spine feels "right." I can only find any relief in a sort of fetal position on my side. If I could figure out a way to sleep and work out simultaneously, life would be perfect.😁
The pain spikes during my period, which is just typical, unfortunately.
When I'm walking or moving around, I barely feel it.
Standing up can trigger it sometimes if my posture slips.

So—here’s my personal playbook for keeping the symptoms at bay. I noticed I mostly don't feel anything when I follow these rules:

- Keeping my weight centered in my core during everything—walking, standing, sitting.
- Engaging the core (not sucking it in, though—that was actually what caused my issues in the first place).
- Taking small steps.
- Moving from the hips.
- When reaching for something, lead with the hips (use the whole body) instead of just stretching an arm and bending the spine.
- If I'm carrying something, I rest the weight on my hip.
- No bending over; just squat.
- Practicing some kind of Eastern martial art or Tai Chi (even though some of them are high energy, they leave me feeling zero pain).

Keeping the spine straight and working on core and back strength doesn't hurt either.

Basically, I try to dodge painkillers whenever possible. 🙂 It's not that I'm desperate for them, since the pain rarely hits a level that's totally unbearable.

I usually hunt for people's weak spots—just to dig in and twist the knife.
But honestly? I only do that to the ones who’ve done me dirty first.

I know, I know—it would be better if I just didn't let them get under my skin in the first place, but sometimes you just can't help yourself.

Anonymous said:Maybe I should go get tested one more time just to be safe? Or maybe spend some time grinding through practice IQ tests? Honestly, I don't even know if there's a point. Is there any actual value in trying to reintegrate with the family? And frankly, I'm starting to wonder if hanging out with hyper-intelligent people is even worth the trouble—especially when you see how they actually use those massive IQ-ove: mostly just to win petty arguments and tear people down.

You’d be better off practicing how to tune out everything your family feeds you. 😉
There’s really nothing new under the sun. 👎

crimsonbison10 said:Alright, I only brought that up because you mentioned Kenjutsu specifically.
Kenjutsu can certainly branch out into other elements beyond just swinging a blade, though honestly, that really depends on which specific school you're looking at. There is the Katori Shinto Ryu style, for instance—though if you ask me, their curriculum seems a bit questionable. Still, you should probably go check them out for yourself.

Explain 🙂

Ashley Smith5 said:And honestly, I train because it’s just part of who I am—it fulfills me. It's about being real with myself, finding that headspace where I'm finally at peace. I've dropped the whole idealistic fantasy act; it's more grounded now. You get out exactly what you put in, which means a massive amount of sweat, dedication, and sheer willpower. But even so, it’s still one of my favorite things in life... Keeps me 🙂 balanced, cleanses the soul, and makes life feel a bit fuller.😍

What I love most about the MMA sessions is that people actually do what they're there to do. No fluff. Everyone stays true to themselves in their training, too. There isn't that constant pressure to conform—unless you let it get to you. The level of mutual respect among the practitioners is honestly insane. You wouldn't believe 😬
It creates this killer atmosphere. Sometimes I feel like a kid again, back in that phase where we'd just scrap around and laugh about it 😁

placidbison20 said:So, did you guys actually pull it off—swapping out the priest for some martial arts? 🙂

Heh, nothing for me to swap out here. 😬
What kind of priest are we even talking about here? Give me a break. 😁

I’m telling you—my first run-in with MA completely flipped the script on how I see everything. It was a total paradigm shift. Also, I realized... what? Honestly, it was the first time in my life I actually sat there and faced my own bullshit.
That post-workout feeling is... mmmmm. 🙂

hiddensailor14 said:Why are you putting such an emphasis on the non-competitive stuff? Honestly, I think you might have it a bit backwards. Most people getting into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or something similar aren't out there trying to win trophies. You can train boxing—or pretty much any martial art—without ever stepping into a tournament or a sanctioned fight. For most, it’s just about staying fit, meeting people, hanging out with some buff guys, blowing off steam, or just having a way to decompress after work... or whatever else fits. No one is going to force you into the ring; though, maybe, just maybe, after a few months or years of training, you might find yourself actually wanting to test what you've learned...

Right now, a few come to mind: Kempo, Shorinji Kempo, Aikido, Kuk Sool Won, Kiaido, Tai Chi Chuan, Pa Kua (Bagua), Wing Chun, Arnis, Capoeira, Ninjutsu, Krav Maga, some local survival JJ, intuitive street fighting, Urban combat, Kung Fu (maybe a local studio in a suburb near Chicago?), and perhaps a few others...?

As for specific addresses, well, I don't have a master list sitting in front of me, and I'm not exactly itching to go hunt one down. How badly do you really need them...😬

🤣
Hitting up the local gym is plenty for me 😁

Thanks anyway, everyone—but my mind is made up 🙂

Hm, most of these people are just here to compete—or am I tripping?
Looking for the ones where there isn't even a contest to begin with.🙂

I'd love it if someone could give me a rundown of all those non-competitive martial arts—you know, the Eastern styles you can actually train right here in Chicago. Thanks. 🙂

Watched it.
Funny at times—but that’s about it.

I’ve got a pair of similar Solomon skates myself—they’re actually pretty decent.
If you're just out there for fun and not trying to go pro, they'll do the job just fine.

Forty-eight hours tops—I just couldn't take it anymore 🙂

Nah... honestly, what's even the best move here? 🙂

That’s pretty much everything you need to be happy 😉
And honestly? It works.

Jonathan Kim4 said:Every single time you iron your shirts, I feel incredibly un-f***ing-settled. 😬

It doesn't take much 🙂