Exercising after long period of not

[GBGames]

Since the weather is getting nicer, I've gotten into the habit of walking home from work. It is about 30 to 45 minutes to walk that distance. The other day, I wanted to get home in time to put a permit on my car to avoid a ticket (Cubs night game parking permits are needed in my area).

EDIT: If this is not the right forum, feel free to move it. I picked this one because it seemed like a lifestyle topic.

I decided to run for a little bit to get home quicker. It wasn't a sprint, but a nice jog. I didn't even run half of a block before I was winded, but I pushed myself until I had crossed the river and got to the next stoplight. It took me a couple of blocks before I had caught my breath.

One thing I noticed was that it seemed like I was not pulling in a lot of air into my lungs. In high school, I used to play soccer and was amazing as far as being able to run for a full game without feeling too tired. I remember being able to pull a lot more air into my lungs.

For those of you who have been here before, is it normal to feel like your lung capacity has decreased, or is it just my imagination, an effect of my relatively inefficient breathing ability? As I get my body used to running again, will it feel like I am breathing more deeply?

I plan to run and build up my endurance. Eventually I'll be able to run for more than 30 seconds at a time. It just seems like I am not breathing in as much air as I would like right now.

[Matthew]

That sounds normal to me. It usually takes me awhile to feel like I'm back in shape if I'm starting activity after a few weeks off.

On the subject of exercise, we do what we jokingly refer to as recess every day. We head down to a nearby park and do 5 sets of three completely random exercises, typically bodyweight stuff: sprinting, sprinting variations (quadrupedal movement, high-stepping, sideways, backwards), pushups, pullups, table jumps, broad jumps, lunges, squats and variations, handstands, planks, etc. The randomness helps keep it from getting boring, and if you really attack the exercises it's less than half an hour of time commitment.

As a group we’ve done it nearly every day since January, and it really helps out energy levels. Some days are more painful than others, so it’s nice to have partners to convince you to go on off days. The low/high temps here have been 80/110F (26/43C), which makes the whole thing a little more nauseating, but we’re still at it.

Anyway, my—rather untrained—advice for you is to try running/walking every other block at first, and then step it up to running more and more. I bet you’ll be surprised at how fast fitness returns.

[ggambett]

For those of you who have been here before, is it normal to feel like your lung capacity has decreased, or is it just my imagination, an effect of my relatively inefficient breathing ability? As I get my body used to running again, will it feel like I am breathing more deeply?
Yes, definitely. I practised Taekwondo from age 6 to 18 and weight training from 16 to 18. My body was in such good shape I walked around in short sleeved shirts during winter (~8 ºC) and I didn't feel cold nor got ill. Then I suddenly stopped exercising completely during the 5 years I did my degree and a couple more because I had lost the habit.

Last year around november I started practising Karate. The first few weeks I felt awful, the way you describe or even worse - I kept pushing myself to the limit so I got to the point of having nausea and almost passing out a couple of times. But since then I've regained a lot of aerobic capacity so this doesn't happen as often even though the current classes are way more intense than they were when I began. Now two weeks ago I started weight training again, same story, the first week every muscle hurt and I couldn't lift any reasonable weight... but the second week is feeling a lot better already.

I guess it depends a lot on your age. I'm 25 so at this age the body can still take it and adapt, I think at 35 it's harder. But I've heard stories of older people (50s or 60s) who started weight training and completely changed their bodies. So I believe it's possible at any age (not considering injuries or illnesses of course), though it may be harder at later ages.

[GBGames]

I bet you’ll be surprised at how fast fitness returns.

Actually, yesterday was the second day I tried to run, and I managed to run farther before feeling as bad as I did. I even ran again after a few blocks of walking, only not as far.

I will also run tonight when I leave my day job. I wonder if I can get my commute home down to 15 minutes by the end of summer. B-)

[GBGames]

I guess it depends a lot on your age. I'm 25 so at this age the body can still take it and adapt ...

Good. I turn 25 in July. B-)

[radishan]

Excercising is also good for the mind. I always feel energized and ready to take on a task after a good workout.

Laying off the junk food helps quite a bit too.

[electronicStar]

Since the weather is getting nicer, I've gotten into the habit of walking home from work. It is about 30 to 45 minutes to walk that distance. The other day, I wanted to get home in time to put a permit on my car to avoid a ticket (Cubs night game parking permits are needed in my area).

EDIT: If this is not the right forum, feel free to move it. I picked this one because it seemed like a lifestyle topic.

I decided to run for a little bit to get home quicker. It wasn't a sprint, but a nice jog. I didn't even run half of a block before I was winded, but I pushed myself until I had crossed the river and got to the next stoplight. It took me a couple of blocks before I had caught my breath.

One thing I noticed was that it seemed like I was not pulling in a lot of air into my lungs. In high school, I used to play soccer and was amazing as far as being able to run for a full game without feeling too tired. I remember being able to pull a lot more air into my lungs.

For those of you who have been here before, is it normal to feel like your lung capacity has decreased, or is it just my imagination, an effect of my relatively inefficient breathing ability? As I get my body used to running again, will it feel like I am breathing more deeply?

I plan to run and build up my endurance. Eventually I'll be able to run for more than 30 seconds at a time. It just seems like I am not breathing in as much air as I would like right now. I think it's because
1-you were younger and
2- you were actually increasing your physical potential so your sensations were multiplied and you consumed more oxygen. Now your metabolism is sleeping and you don't need as much oxygen as when doing a sport session.

BTW 25 years old isn't so old. I reached my physical peak at 27. So you stil have at least a couple of years to take advantage of, so go out and practice as much as you can;)

[Dan MacDonald]

Naa, I was a cross cuntry runniner in college. Every year or so I gain about 20lbs sitting around coding and rinking pop. I get all self concious and start running to lose it. I do manage to lose it too. Every time it's the same though, first week of runs your lungs feel like their tearing up, you salavate almost uncontrollably at the end of a run. You feel like your muscles are ready you just dont have any air. You can barely run 400m at a good pace.

Those symptoms go away around the second week and you'll find you make dramatic improvent in your ability to longer distances once you get though it. Just be careful not to injure your knees or hips during this conditioning phase, if you do you'll have to take abreak and start all over. Or go run on elliptical machines with the girls at the gym :)

[Jason Chong]

I am more of a walker, not a runner.

I walk very long distance to the mall.

30 minutes walk.

[mahlzeit]

Also, the more you run/exercise, the more your body will yearn for it. It's like a positive feedback loop. Just don't push yourself too much too soon. It's better to build it up slowly than to give it up quickly. ;)

[Anthony Flack]

I walk very long distance to the mall.

30 minutes walk.

I... can't tell if you're joking or not...

[yanuart]

I think you just had a simple hyperventilation case, that's normal and nothing to worry about. But if you feel like your heart is about to burst, your eyes starts blurring, etc now that actually mean something. Start eating healthy food and exercise regularly :)

Naa, I was a cross cuntry runniner in college.
you're a what ? cross country ruiner ? :D

[Jason Chong]

I... can't tell if you're joking or not...


To and from, total 1 hour of walk, not inclusive the walk time I take for window shopping. Not everyday nowadays since i've already attained my desired weight.

Previously in my old job, that would be a daily walk of about 40-45 minutes.

20 minutes to the bus stop. then 20 minutes back. ;-)

Waist line still 33 inches, 5 feet 10+ inches and 149.6 lbs.


I do static running when I need to lose fats fast.

Static running as in, running without ever moving from your location.

You can do it in the bathroom, or in your bedroom.

You can run while you're halfway napping, like yoga/meditation.

Just make sure your heels don't touch the ground or else you will hurt your knees. (You know, running like a ballet dancer with mostly your toes)

Stepper machine too.

No air pollution from outside. No worries of getting mugged or hit by a car :-D

My record is losing 22 pounds in 4 weeks with daily 60 minutes of exercise using static running and stepper machines (10,000 light steps a day)

(I broke the stepper btw, totally worn it out. )

;)

[GBGames]

I think you just had a simple hyperventilation case, that's normal and nothing to worry about.

I don't think it was hyperventilation. I didn't feel like I was going to faint. I just felt like my ability to breathe deeply after running was crap compared to how I remember it feeling.

Thanks for your advice, everyone! Static running, eh? I might have to try that. Although girls at the gym don't sound so bad, either...B-)

[Pyabo]

I didn't feel like I was going to faint. I just felt like my ability to breathe deeply after running was crap compared to how I remember it feeling.

Not to worry you or anything, but... there definitely are medical problems that affect your lung capacity. It's something that's easily checked by a doctor though, so if you have insurance why not go and get a physical before you really start exercising again?

Now if you want something FUN to do to get in shape... join your local Ultimate Frisbee league (http://www.ultimatechicago.org/uc/)! :)

[Tom Gilleland]

...temps here have been 80/110F (26/43C)...

Phoenix is just too hot at 110. Down here in Tucson it is a comfortable 109, so I just go swim laps about every other day. And hike a mountain trail on the alternating days in the evening.

Tom

[Matthew]

Phoenix is just too hot at 110. Down here in Tucson it is a comfortable 109, so I just go swim laps about every other day. And hike a mountain trail on the alternating days in the evening.

Ha--a few summers ago, years after I had already been living here, I was in the habit of going out for swims. One day, I changed into my swim trunks, grabbed a towel, and headed down to the pool. I turned back, though, because it was too cold and windy out to get wet. The temperature was in the upper 90s.

You really do acclimate after awhile...

[arcadetown]

Bah just wait till you start approaching 40. I exercise almost every day as if I don't I can get positively evil. The lungs and all are totally willing but it's the other parts that aren't like knees and back. Stopped playing basketball 6 months ago, so miss it. Lower impact stuff for me now like gym, bike riding, swimming, etc. Even thinking of taking up golf, yikes!

[turbo]

There's another lung thing I know about.. it's mild asthsma..
- can hit at any age
- feels like not getting a deep enuff, satisfying enuff breath
- can be brought on by pollution, allergens or excercise.

It's annoying but liveable..

[Screwball]

Swim, increases lung capacity / power. We encourage kids with asthma to take up swimming as it improves their condition. With any hard physical activity after a long absense, especially if your out of shape / have asthma, you should see a doctor / have a check up.

[GBGames]

I definitely need to go for a physical. I haven't had one since I was on the high school soccer team, I think.

[spellcaster]

In my "good days" I had around 10% body fat with 80kg at 176cm body height. Yesterday I realized that I'm fat now. ;)

After thinking about it, I realized that I wasn't doing any phyisical activities to speak of for 1.5 years.

And while I can still do around 30 push-ups (used to do 200/day while still practicing) I realized that I have no endurance to speak of.

So, I started to create a trainigplan for myself. Which I am to embarresed to mention because the first 2 month focus on exercises I wouldn't have considered "exercises" before I realized how bad my shape is at the moment.

What amazes me most is that I didn't realize how out of shape I am. I guess I was so used to "be in shape" that the mirror wasn't able to question the self-image I had ... :)

[dmikesell]

Not to worry you or anything, but... there definitely are medical problems that affect your lung capacity. It's something that's easily checked by a doctor though, so if you have insurance why not go and get a physical before you really start exercising again?

Now if you want something FUN to do to get in shape... join your local Ultimate Frisbee league (http://www.ultimatechicago.org/uc/)! :)

No offense, but that's like recommending the English Channel to someone who gets tired after dog-paddling for 45 seconds. BTW, how is Ultimate in Chicago? I imagine you get a lot of long points when the wind picks up...

[dmikesell]

Bah just wait till you start approaching 40. I exercise almost every day as if I don't I can get positively evil. The lungs and all are totally willing but it's the other parts that aren't like knees and back. Stopped playing basketball 6 months ago, so miss it. Lower impact stuff for me now like gym, bike riding, swimming, etc. Even thinking of taking up golf, yikes!

Just hit 40. Years of Ultimate and pickup basketball have put a hurtin' on my knees and ankles. It wasn't uncommon for me a few years back to come home from an Ultimate game and have 3-4 icebags strategically positioned on my aging joints.

[Pyabo]

Oh I don't play in Chicago... just giving GBGames the link local to him. I love playing Zone, so I'd probably like Chicago Ultimate.

I highly disagree that recommending Ultimate is like recommending the English Channel for a non-swimmer! I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but here in Seattle we have "hat" leagues every spring and summer that are very friendly to newbies, less competitive, and less physically demanding. I certainly wasn't in very good shape when I started playing, but it didn't take me long to get my lungs. I still don't play in the A leagues, but I have plenty of fun and I'm in much better shape.

[WreckerOne]

During the first couple workouts after a period of inactivity your heart rate can be elevated during exercise, so its easier to run out of breath because you're above the 'cardio' zone and into the breathing hard zone.

[GBGames]

This past week, someone had a soccer ball at work, and at lunch we've been going to the company gym and kicking it around.

I discovered that not playing soccer for almost 8 years means I need to practice a lot just to control the ball the way I used to be able to.

I also have really sore legs, sides, and back. B-)

On the plus side, I finally lost that pound or two to get to 174 lbs. A few more sessions of keep-away with me in the middle should get me in shape yet!

[Grey Alien]

Deep breathing just on it's own is very important training, it will prepare you for all other exercise.

[Pyabo]

Deep breathing just on it's own is very important training, it will prepare you for all other exercise.

Hmmmm... OK, I'll bite... what exactly are you talking about here?

GBGames, how are you feeling now, almost a month after the original post?

[KNau]

I imagine he's talking about how deep breathing exercises (like the old inhale for 4 count, hold for 16 count, exhale for 8 count) can increase your lung capacity with time. It's also a great recovery / relaxational tool after a heavy workout.

[GBGames]

GBGames, how are you feeling now, almost a month after the original post?

I definitely feel better, although I'll admit that I don't run as much as I would like. I notice that I get out of breath rather quickly, though. While playing volleyball with some friends, I noticed that I was breathing a little bit hard, and all I did was move rather quickly from my spot to help someone else out in her spot.

When playing soccer with some coworkers at my day job, I was breathing very hard. It was a small room, and so it was like playing indoor soccer: a lot of sprinting. I hadn't done a lot of sprinting before I was breathing very hard.

I guess I'm just that much more out of shape than I thought. I've been working on making a regular schedule, though, and it should help me to see progress towards becoming the athlete I used to be.

And maybe it will also help me get my footy skills back. B-)

[GBGames]

After leaving my day job yesterday, I ran and walked home. That is, I ran for quite a bit, and when I didn't think I could take it anymore, I walked until I caught my breath, then ran again, walked, ran, walked, sprinted, and walked.

I felt awesomes.

Keep in mind that when I did it the first time, I ran for that first part, then walked most of the way home breathing hard. I guess my body is remembering how to breathe.

[Grey Alien]

KNau pretty much answered it. Increased lung capacity happens quite quickly and has a handy side effect of giving you a bigger chest. But the main thing is you lungs can a) take in more oxygen, and b) "process" the air more efficiently. This means that you can train for longer, avoid cramp, don't get as tired or faint, build more stength etc. Plus also from an Eastern martial arts point fo view it's important for building Chi/Ki and releasing it too.

[Jamie W]

This is an excellent subject; and it's quite good and apporpriate (I feel) for indie game developers to take a keen interest in phsical well-being.

Game development, like any programming job, is mostly a mental activity, and taking care of your phyical (i.e. body) is a really good idea, it compliments the mental stuff.

Glad you're feeling awesome GBGames! Hope the positive feeling spills over in to your work.

:)

Loads of fun physical sports and activities to choose from too; tai-chi, salsa (defo recommend this one), running, sky-diving, you name it! Go for it!

:o

[GBGames]

Glad you're feeling awesome GBGames! Hope the positive feeling spills over in to your work.

Actually, I have been more productive with my projects, and sleep is a lot better, too.

A coworker at my day job suggested sprints as a way to build up endurance. Once I get through this crunch-that's-not-really-a-crunch I am in, I will probably take a few lunches in the gym and sprint back and forth on the basketball half-court.


Loads of fun physical sports and activities to choose from too; tai-chi, salsa (defo recommend this one), running, sky-diving, you name it! Go for it!

:o

I get nervous just thinking about being on roller coasters. Sky diving frightens me to the point that I can't even logically think about why it scares me. Which means one day I will end up doing it, be really scared up until the moment I jump, and while I am falling, I will think, "Hey, this isn't actually so bad".

See?! I am getting sweaty hands just thinking about it!

Salsa, on the other hand, sounds really good. I'll probably get sweaty for a different kind of fear. B-)

[yanuart]

nice discussion on how to get in shape :) Any ideas on how to get rid of this beer belly ?

[GBGames]

I was told a long time ago (on these forums, I believe) that you just need to start moving, no matter how slow your progress. Making progress is much more important than not.

So run out your front door and go until you get to a lamp post or sign or some other marker. Then the next day, try to go a little farther. Doing these actions, as opposed to deciding not to do them because they are either "too hard" or "too little", will eventually get you there.

Also, my diet since last summer has changed to include a lot more fiber and less fat. There is a diet called the Zone diet, and while I don't follow it exactly, the basic rule is 30 grams of fiber, 20 grams of fat per day. Anything that is fat free and doesn't have fiber in it counts as either 1 gram of fat, so fat free sweets aren't a way to cheat.

Basically, more fruits and vegetables, less meat, and you'll see results within weeks, supposedly even if you don't change your exercise routine.

But once you get your body used to moving about, I was told that sprints are a good way to build endurance, and getting your heartbeat up for 30 minutes a day for at least three days a week is supposed to be really good for you. I'd aim for that schedule, and once you hit that, you can decide whether or not to go for more.

Since last summer, I've lost 20 pounds. My stomach and face are noticeably thinner, although my stomach still looks a bit pudgy. I might start doing situps or crunches to get some tone. In fact, I might start doing push-ups and jumping jacks as well, just like gym class warm-ups when I was in school.

[Grey Alien]

Any ideas on how to get rid of this beer belly ?
well, uh, stop drinking beer :-) And eating bad snacks.

I'd also recommend martial arts. Now if you don't fancy being punched in the face, try Aikido. I've been doing it for 9 years now 5+ hours a week and it teaches mental and physical dicipline amongst other cool things.

Healthy Body = Healthy Mind

Before sitting down at your computer in the morning, stand up and do deep breathing for 5 mins, you'll feel much more alive. Also a good morning eating routine is:

1) luke warm water as soon as you wake (not cold water)
2) 30 mins later a piece of fruit
3) 30 mins later some carbohydrate like porridge or museli.

The water helps detox, the fruit gives you vitamins and digests properly before you eat the energy filled carbs.

[Cyruz]

Awesome. This thread is just what I need.

As I was reading I tried just doing deep breathing for a bit and that alone made me feel noticeably better. ^_^

[GBGames]

1) luke warm water as soon as you wake (not cold water)


Now this is interesting as I've heard that ice cold water is healthier, but only marginally. Why luke-warm?

[Grey Alien]

OK, so I've seen in a few places now that cold water first thing shocks the system and makes the liver work harder or something (although you'd think it would have warmed up pretty quickly inside you). So warm water that matches your temperature is a bit better for the system. However, any water is better than none.

btw, I do the deep breathing while my PC boots and then carry on for a bit longer. Also like anytime something downloads or is installing or you are backing up, standup and do deep breathing, really fill your chest and get long breaths in the nose and out the mouth. you'll feel more mentally alert and motivated afterwards. Then try to maintain a non-slouchy posture at the PC.

[GBGames]

btw, I do the deep breathing while my PC boots and then carry on for a bit longer. Also like anytime something downloads or is installing or you are backing up, standup and do deep breathing, really fill your chest and get long breaths in the nose and out the mouth. you'll feel more mentally alert and motivated afterwards. Then try to maintain a non-slouchy posture at the PC.

I've been finding deep breathing to be pretty helpful. The other day was pretty stressful at my day job, and breathing helped whenever the debugger or PC crashed.

Funny thing is, I also started thinking about how I sit and type. I've been looking into posture, and moved the keyboard tray.

I also played basketball by myself. Really I just threw the ball at the wall, ran to catch it, and took shots. I did it for about 30-45 minutes. My butt hurts today. B-)

[datxcod]

nice discussion on how to get in shape :) Any ideas on how to get rid of this beer belly ?

yeah, stop spending all day in your home/office playing videogames or making them and get into a gym. or try to find a place in your house for exercise. :)

[Grey Alien]

@GBGames: yep deep breathing is easy to do and it makes you feel better straight away and you are more likely to have a good posture or want to exercise afterwards. I know a lot of people hate them, but I've also got an MS Natural keyboard. Now normal keyboards feel weird!

[Sean Doherty]

I've been finding deep breathing to be pretty helpful. The other day was pretty stressful at my day job, and breathing helped whenever the debugger or PC crashed.


I have a logitech keyboard with a user button. The majority of the time when windows locks and I can't get to the task manager. I just press the user button and Windows takes me back to the login screen. Then I log back in as the same user and cancel the locked task. It works great for full screen games that don't handle alt-tab properly and debugger lock-ups.

Doesn't work for dumps.:)

[GBGames]

@GBGames: yep deep breathing is easy to do and it makes you feel better straight away and you are more likely to have a good posture or want to exercise afterwards. I know a lot of people hate them, but I've also got an MS Natural keyboard. Now normal keyboards feel weird!

I'm starting to think I might want to get one of those keyboards that allow your hands to fit on either side. I've known a few people who have used them, and they say that while it takes a few moments to get used to it, it helps a lot.

[Colfax]

Here's what worked for me:

Keep an eye on the local thrift shops (goodwill, salvation army, etc.) for a good road bike, spend the money to get racks (front and back), fenders, lights, and some tools, and see how long you can go between fillups on your car.

Riding my back to my day-job and back as well as to school makes a tank of gas last about 6-8 weeks in my car, and you'd be surprised how much better you feel.

I know a lot of people on here work from home, but try shopping on a bike, or getting a trailer picking the kids up.

I could never exercise for the sake of exercising, but once I realized I could get exercise and save money I have no trouble with motivation.

-Bob

[Erik Asorson]

Being in good physical condition is also good for business. In 2002, the same year I started my business, I also started taking my physical fitness seriously. I would say that it has been the single most important contributing factor to my success thus far. I have mantained a pretty consistent workout and eating regimen since then, but on occasion I have slacked off for a couple months at a time and fallen into lethargy. When that has happened, innevitably there has been a coincident plunge in the amount of business I seem to get. I've observed this several times and all I have to do is start exercising and eating right again to get things back on track. The mental clarity, positive attitude, confidence and energy you get from being in great physical shape is extremely beneficial for motivation, creativity, ambition and even public relations.

If given a choice between the two I would say that diet is more important than exercise, though both are important. A lot of people exercise without any consideration of their diet though. The food you eat is not only fuel for your mental and physical activities but also provides the raw material from which your body's cells are built. If all you give your body is soda pop and refined foods it will have to make due with those inferior building materials and a weak, diseased body will result. It's not just a matter of fat either, it's your skin, hair, brain, heart, eyesight, the strength of your bones, everything. The old saying "you are what you eat" is true, literally.

About 80% of the food that is available today is inferior for nutritional purposes, and in fact was never designed to be nutritious, but rather to taste good, have a long shelf life and be inexpensive. The best foods you can eat are single-ingredient natural foods. A good rule of thumb is if it has an ingredients list it should probably be avoided. This leaves fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds along with the occasional dairy or grain product. These are the foods that mankind has eaten for thousands of years which have only recently been replaced by manufactured foods, to which we are not yet adapted and may never adapt, given the ever-changing nature of fashion and technology, which have become the driving factors behind what foods people consume in the 21st century.

[Pyabo]

Being in good physical condition is also good for business. In 2002, the same year I started my business, I also started taking my physical fitness seriously. I would say that it has been the single most important contributing factor to my success thus far. I have mantained a pretty consistent workout and eating regimen since then, but on occasion I have slacked off for a couple months at a time and fallen into lethargy. When that has happened, innevitably there has been a coincident plunge in the amount of business I seem to get. I've observed this several times and all I have to do is start exercising and eating right again to get things back on track. The mental clarity, positive attitude, confidence and energy you get from being in great physical shape is extremely beneficial for motivation, creativity, ambition and even public relations.

If given a choice between the two I would say that diet is more important than exercise, though both are important. A lot of people exercise without any consideration of their diet though. The food you eat is not only fuel for your mental and physical activities but also provides the raw material from which your body's cells are built. If all you give your body is soda pop and refined foods it will have to make due with those inferior building materials and a weak, diseased body will result. It's not just a matter of fat either, it's your skin, hair, brain, heart, eyesight, the strength of your bones, everything. The old saying "you are what you eat" is true, literally.

About 80% of the food that is available today is inferior for nutritional purposes, and in fact was never designed to be nutritious, but rather to taste good, have a long shelf life and be inexpensive. The best foods you can eat are single-ingredient natural foods. A good rule of thumb is if it has an ingredients list it should probably be avoided. This leaves fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds along with the occasional dairy or grain product. These are the foods that mankind has eaten for thousands of years which have only recently been replaced by manufactured foods, to which we are not yet adapted and may never adapt, given the ever-changing nature of fashion and technology, which have become the driving factors behind what foods people consume in the 21st century.

Welcome back to the forums, Steve Pavlina! :D

(sorry, couldn't resist -- of course Steve would tell you to all these foods raw also)

[GBGames]

Welcome back to the forums, Steve Pavlina! :D

(sorry, couldn't resist -- of course Steve would tell you to all these foods raw also)

Except he would tell you that an all raw food diet takes too much time for him to continue it. B-)

Erik: I've noticed that even when I don't exercise for a week or two at a time, healthy foods still keep my energy levels up, while eating a relatively unhealthy meal seems to ruin my productivity for the day.