I'm in shape, round's a shape, right? :)

Archae99 · Post by **Archae99** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 12:14 am

As to the latest strip:Hey! I resemble those remarks! <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">Seriously, I am 6 feet tall and 210 pounds.
So I could stand to lose 20 pounds easy.I have one BIG problem though.Eating is one of my true joys in life.I don't eat to excess, I just don't eat a lot of food that is supposedly "healthy."And like Ben, I love sweets!
(Especially Chocolate.)How about the rest of you?

RHJunior · Post by **RHJunior** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 11:10 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Archae99:
As to the latest strip:Hey! I resemble those remarks! <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">Seriously, I am 6 feet tall and 210 pounds.
So I could stand to lose 20 pounds easy.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>THe author of the strip (that'd be me) weighs in at 265 lbs, and is approx. 5'9" tall. My objective is to *get down to* 210 lbs.... a 6 foot person weighing 210 is at their ideal weight, according to the charts... I'm willing to fudge the data a little for the sake of losing a round number (50 lbs)------------------

IronDog · Post by **IronDog** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 8:00 am

Hello. This is my first post, but I'm not really new around here ... I've been reading the strip for quite awhile. And let me start off by saying that I LOVE it. It's probably my favorite Internet strip. It's consistently funny, the characters are easy to like, and the romance between Ben and Lily is really fun to watch. (I warn you, if they break up, you're gonna get flamed!)I've chosen to jump into the discussion at this point because the topic is weight loss/getting in shape, and I think that I can provide some helpful information and encouragement based on my own experience. I'm an exercise buff, and it's my opinion that, if you want to lose weight and get in shape, exercise is the key. Cutting back on food is helpful, but I frankly don't have the willpower for that, and I think I've got a fair amount of willpower, since I started a regular workout program at age 17 and have never stopped (I'm 44 now). I don't count calories, and I'm as addicted to chocolate as anyone, but I'm not overweight, and I believe that's mainly because I work out. In my case, the exercise program consists of weightlifting (hence the name IronDog) and swimming (no, IronDog doesn't rust--I've been simonized). But there are plenty of other exercises you can do that would work just as well.The key is to find an exercise that you LIKE, because otherwise you won't stick with it. I hate running because it's hard on the joints, so if I tried to force myself to start a jogging program, I'd quit within three weeks. But weightlifting is fun (I say so, that's who), and swimming is kind of pleasant, though a little boring.If any of you reading this are interested in losing weight, I encourage you to start exercising. It doesn't really consume all THAT much of your free time. A swimming program, for example, might only involve going to a pool three times a week. Hop in, swim laps for half an hour, then hop out and go home. It shouldn't take more than an hour of your time, all told. So you'll miss a couple of sitcoms ... so what? Results won't be long in coming, and those results will be worth more than any sitcom.Hey, maybe Ben should find a pool. Bears are good swimmers, right? But let me warn you, if he uses a pool like the one at my local Y, he's going to have a heck of a time getting the chlorine out of his fur!

Archae99 · Post by **Archae99** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 10:45 am

I agree wholeheartedly on the exercize part.I would weigh a lot more if I didn't use as my primary transportation a bicycle.I put in about 10-20 miles a week, going from one part of Sheboygan to another.And I see so much more on my bike, than people in their cars do.Just yesterday, I stopped and just stared at a red-tailed hawk on a fence post, lookign back at me.
We were only a few feet apart.
It was a treat.Ralph, I saw the picture you drew of Ben looking at himself in a mirror while lifting weights.Considering Ben no longer has a car, why doesn't Ben buy a bicycle?
(Maybe even two, one for him, one for Lily?) <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">

Zodo · Post by **Zodo** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 6:30 am

I can attest to the value of exercise.I'm genetically big-boned, as well as having a genetic tendency toward obesity. Just went back home for a family gathering, and noticed that on my mom's side of the family, I'm one of the smaller men. I'm 5'11" and weigh 292.According to most of the charts I've seen, I supposedly have to lose 120 pounds to get to my ideal weight. I refuse to believe that I have that much weight to lose... I'm heavy, but not THAT heavy. Those charts are just too generalized for someone like me.Anyhow, back to the topic of exercising... I started swimming at the beginning of the summer. I go twice a week, and swim 20 lengths at a minimum each time (about a half a kilometer total). It works out my whole body, and is about as low-impact an exercise as you can get. Since I started, I've taken off 6 pounds. That may not seem like much, but it's been the first significant loss that I've been able to keep off in years.I'm looking around garage sales now for an inexpensive bicycle, to supplement that. My current goal is to get my weight down to 250, and assess how I look and Feel at that point to determine where I want my weight to be.My biggest hinderance to exercising in the past was finding someone to do it with. I'm horrible at keeping promises to myself, but good at keeping promises to other people. When I have to meet someone else to exercise, I will go do it. It also makes the swimming far less boring. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">-Zodo, CI
aka BUNNY!
Consummate TroublemakerSPOT the FRIDGE!

UncleMonty · Post by **UncleMonty** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:24 am

I am somewhat blessed, I guess. Because I have inherited weak skeletal joints (what some folks call "double-jointed") I have had to keep my weight down or suffer various painful problems. I am 5'9" and 160 pounds. I could possibly lose a little weight for appearances' sake, but am generally within the normal range.
I find that long walks are easy on the joints and help hold my appetite in check, as do hot spicy foods. Your milage may vary...
I walk to the grocery store, and buy only what I can carry back in a backpack.
I often walk to the local Safeway grocery store for lunch at their Chinese deli section (I like their chicken curry on a "rice bowl") Those walks are a little less than two miles each.Whatever you do, good luck!

Bremel · Post by **Bremel** » Sat Sep 01, 2001 6:31 am

I wish you the best Eddie (oops, sorry, family name--that's what our artist here was called growing up) in losing weight. About 3 years ago, I lost 34 pounds, 20 away from my goal--135. Then along came my third baby, stress from having her too early and I gained it all back. So I'm starting from ground zero again, but the diet that I used previously I'm having great difficulty sticking to. Excersize would be great, but not much oppurtunity w/ 3 kids plus one that I babysit fulltime, and no extra money for the Y or a gym. No sidewalks to walk on around here, so you either don't walk, or run the risk of getting run over(not willing to do that with 4 kids in tow). Ah well, that's the excuses I have <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"> At any rate, good luck Eddie, Keep us updated!!

UncleMonty · Post by **UncleMonty** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 1:15 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by bremel:
Then along came my third baby, stress from having her too early and I gained it all back. So I'm starting from ground zero again, but the diet that I used previously I'm having great difficulty sticking to. Excersize would be great, but not much oppurtunity w/ 3 kids plus one that I babysit fulltime, and no extra money for the Y or a gym. No sidewalks to walk on around here, so you either don't walk, or run the risk of getting run over(not willing to do that with 4 kids in tow). Ah well, that's the excuses I have <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"> At any rate, good luck Eddie, Keep us updated!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Imagines caring for FOUR children. Falls over, whimpering.I have three older sisters, they all have kids, and some of their kids have kids, many of whom I have babysat... But never four, or even three at a time. You have my complete respect and admiration - and if you happen to be carrying a few extra pounds, I'd say you've earned them the hard way!
Now, when the oldest child is ready to do a little babysitting, you *might* have a few minutes to find a park and take a stroll every so often. Best of luck!