The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
The Health of a Gamer
Nerdtendo
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
This is something that I think about. I used to be pretty unhealthy, living off of pizza, hotpockets, icecream, and the like. I sat around, blowing away hours of my day playing online games, eating crap.
I didn't start driving until I was 21, so I walked to work every day until then, and just two years later, I started working at a hospital and it made me think about what I did to my body every day.
I feel like I lucked out. My situation has kept me reasonably active for most of my adult life, and my job at the hospital made me more concerned with what I was eating. I feel like I've been a hardcore gamer for the majority of my life, and probably still would be if circumstances had remained the same. Being a father takes quite a bit of my time up, and I work full time (overtime next week *grumble grumble*).
I worry about my fellow gamers though. I'll log onto WoW, and almost always see some people on my friend list on, or a guild mate that's jumped from level 65 to 70 in less than 24 hours. I realize that some of those players are doing the same thing I used to, which isn't healthy, at all.
I've thought of doing a few things to inspire a bit of activity from them. Such as taking a ten minute exercise break after a boss in a raid. Suggesting a guild "food of the day" to promote some healthy eating. I'm wondering if I could help a few people change their health for the better, or if would be wasted time and effort on my part?
I've got a few questions for some of you guys:
How are you about your gaming? Do you spend entire days at the computer on a regular basis?
Do any of you suffer from the same "easy food" problem I used to? Quick snacks that taste good but are loaded with all kinds of bad things?
For the WoW/FFXI/MMO players, if someone in your guild suggested doing a few pushups and situps between boss fights, maybe with a five/ten minute jog or walk, do you think you'd actually do it? Or would you just browse the web waiting for the time to pass?
And finally, of course, am I just suffering from some sort of hero complex here? I mean, seriously. Should I just give up? Or do you think putting in an effort would be worth it?
I didn't start driving until I was 21, so I walked to work every day until then, and just two years later, I started working at a hospital and it made me think about what I did to my body every day.
I feel like I lucked out. My situation has kept me reasonably active for most of my adult life, and my job at the hospital made me more concerned with what I was eating. I feel like I've been a hardcore gamer for the majority of my life, and probably still would be if circumstances had remained the same. Being a father takes quite a bit of my time up, and I work full time (overtime next week *grumble grumble*).
I worry about my fellow gamers though. I'll log onto WoW, and almost always see some people on my friend list on, or a guild mate that's jumped from level 65 to 70 in less than 24 hours. I realize that some of those players are doing the same thing I used to, which isn't healthy, at all.
I've thought of doing a few things to inspire a bit of activity from them. Such as taking a ten minute exercise break after a boss in a raid. Suggesting a guild "food of the day" to promote some healthy eating. I'm wondering if I could help a few people change their health for the better, or if would be wasted time and effort on my part?
I've got a few questions for some of you guys:
How are you about your gaming? Do you spend entire days at the computer on a regular basis?
Do any of you suffer from the same "easy food" problem I used to? Quick snacks that taste good but are loaded with all kinds of bad things?
For the WoW/FFXI/MMO players, if someone in your guild suggested doing a few pushups and situps between boss fights, maybe with a five/ten minute jog or walk, do you think you'd actually do it? Or would you just browse the web waiting for the time to pass?
And finally, of course, am I just suffering from some sort of hero complex here? I mean, seriously. Should I just give up? Or do you think putting in an effort would be worth it?
Nerdtendo on
0
Posts
Yes to the hero complex. You're not going to save everyone or change anyone's habits if they don't want to.
Doesn't hurt to have the info out there though. If you get even one person up and active, it makes a difference.
Also, my newfound passion for cooking (in a very rpg like manor, ie. feeling each meal I grow experience, skill points and technique) has allowed me to eat much more healthy foods. No matter how bad or fatty that home made baked potato soup is, it won't dare compare with a double brick of ramen.
PS2
FF X replay
PS3
God of War 1&2 HD
Rachet and Clank Future
MGS 4
Prince of Persia
360
Bayonetta
Fable 3
DS
FF: 4 heroes of light
Switch - SW-3699-5063-5018
The military changed my life, it got me into a decent, presentable shape and put me outdoors and working. I play alot of WoW nowadays but I still go to the gym 3 days a week and I avoid shitty food unless Im with my friends. Drink alot more water too. Its really amazing that i'm still alive.
I think everybody should get a good look at what blood from someone who lives off of cheeseburgers, hotdogs, and pizza looks like after going through a centrifuge. There's a visible layer of fat and cholesterol at the top of the tube.
If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.
I see this every day, it's part of my job.
I'll bite. So can we get a pic? I'm curious now.
Blood
Separating gel
Serum
Sometimes a white, gelatinous blob of fat/cholesterol, it has the fluidity of mucus, and it's kind of disgusting but sometimes I have to "squeeze" serum out of them, as the clot soaks up the serum like a sponge.
I was horrified.
After the madcow scare in February and the South Korean riots over the clearing of US Beef to import, I've dropped most of the beef from my diet (I still occasionally go to taco bell or get a whopper with friends). I'm trying to eat a lot less meat in general, going for fish and lean chicken as the stuff I still consume. Unfortunately, I work a midnight shift at the moment (and have for the past year, although I just gave notice), and so I eat junk food before, during, and after work.
The appeal of buying my own groceries is growing on me, so I might start stocking up on the lean cuisines and whatnot. Being a full time student and a full time employee at the same time doesn't give me much time to prepare real meals on my own.
I gotta ask--how old are you?
I feel basically this way. I stopped caring about my body a looong time ago, and games certainly aren't the cause.
You watch your tongue!
Imo having an addictive personality and channeling it onto WoW > going to the bar. I have a highly addictive personality and have never smoked, drank, or done any drugs. Theres lot's of things worse for you then being addicted to gaming. Not that gaming addiction lacks perils.
Also the fat lazy gamer stereotype is some what overstated imo.
Something does need to be done about the lazyness of america in general tho.
The immediate response to this is:
So when do you want to die, sooner or later? Also, I'm pretty sure that the point of the thread isn't to make anyone feel guilty. That doesn't ever accomplish anything in the long-term.
I mean, I don't eat very healthily and don't exercise really, but I feel awful about it. I'm terrified I'll get diabetes someday from too much sugar. When I was 16 I definitely felt the whole "we're all gonna die, why not enjoy tasty food while we're alive" vibe, but at 26 I'm starting to realize that's not really a long-term viewpoint.
Just don't overdo it. You can burn yourself out if you go all out too fast. Which reminds me, I haven't been to the gym in like 2 weeks. Looks like I know what I'm doing tonight. Shit, and I really wanted to play Baldur's Gate.
/g wtf stfu noob i r gud shape kthxbai fgt
/gremove Nerdtendo
but srsly folks:
How are you about your gaming? Do you spend entire days at the computer on a regular basis?
I need my gaming as a way to unwind, so I'm usually on for 2h a night or so. Weekends sometime bump that to 4h or so, but I tend to get up/stretch. Upside of being rather shitty at games is that you get lots of time to wait out the respawn counter.
Do any of you suffer from the same "easy food" problem I used to? Quick snacks that taste good but are loaded with all kinds of bad things?
notrly. I like to cook, so the "hot dog/KD/etc" quickmeal is repulsive enough to me to avoid this problem pretty much entirely.
For the WoW/FFXI/MMO players, if someone in your guild suggested doing a few pushups and situps between boss fights, maybe with a five/ten minute jog or walk, do you think you'd actually do it? Or would you just browse the web waiting for the time to pass?
I don't play any MMO's right now.
And finally, of course, am I just suffering from some sort of hero complex here? I mean, seriously. Should I just give up? Or do you think putting in an effort would be worth it?
Give up, unless you want someone to be typing the commands at the top of the post. :P
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
My gf.
*bdmp tsh*
Without working out, I would require much, much more sleep, and I wouldn't be able to pursue all of my hobbies as actively as I do. I feel more like it's an investment into enjoyment of life. Plus I know that I used to spend atleast an hour a day working on music just in my head, weather it was analyzing harmonies, or various instrument parts in a song, or thinking up songs in my head. Now, I just do something active while I'm doing that, and I've lost out on absolutely nothing.
PS2
FF X replay
PS3
God of War 1&2 HD
Rachet and Clank Future
MGS 4
Prince of Persia
360
Bayonetta
Fable 3
DS
FF: 4 heroes of light
I've definitely lost weight since I got into the series in 2000.
Also loading screens are awesome, push ups chin ups or crunches are great for those long loads. Especially Halo 3 where it can take a while to find games, sometimes I search for Big Team Battle games which take a lot longer to find just so I can exercise. I also do go to the gym while I'm at work as it doesn't cost anything so thats pretty awesome
I do eat a lot of quick food like the microwave pastas, hot stuff's, eggo waffles and some stuff like that. Put I eat usually a good breakfast and a good dinner so I'm not to bad. Currently I'm not playing any MMO's but that will change with the warhammer MMO and the Star Trek Online (Looks schweet!)
But then when do you play Final Fantasy Tactics Advance?
Sport-wise, i've been doing martial arts for 15 years, but my gaming habit has been ongoing for longer than that. As a child and early teen, i was chubby, however now i feel i'm in reasonable shape - decent definition, nothing of Ahnuld proportions - and a black belt in karate.
Having said that, i don't have a particularly wholesome lifestyle, as i grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, so have an ingrained liking for deep-fried foods and sugary drinks. I do, however, use moderation in my intake, so have managed, in spite of frequently eating that sort of crap, to maintain a decent waistline. I'm 29 now, but can't really imagine any serious deviations to my lifestyle. Gaming-wise, i probably only do 2-3 hours a night on weekdays, but on weekends, around 5 hours each day.
I like Nerdtendo's idea, but yeah- it's definitely like Unbreakablevow said- if someone doesn't want to change, they probably won't....
And as for you, Captain K: GET YO ASS DOWN TO THE LOCAL GYMNASIUM!!! Great journeys start with a single step, etc. No point in worrying- go do something! (Please note, i'm not trying to be patronising, just motivating...)
So she cooks the Hot Pockets while you raid?
</deliberate obtuseness>
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Her parents are traditional chinese so she learnt how to make vegetables tasty and therefore passed on a love of tasty vegetables to me along with some basic rules on how to make them so.
Basically learn how to make vegetables tasty and you have won most of the battle, since you need so many of them.
I did recently switch to artificial sweeteners since I'm too much of a sweet tooth and have been taking too much sugar in my coffee for long enough for this body I think.
Gonna have to ween myself off them too eventually but I'm not drinking black coffee just yet.
I have a fondness for bell peppers I never could have imagined.
They are delicious when stirfried with a bit of oyster sauce. I'm talking, yum from a guy who survived on pizzas and burgers for years.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
A lot like girls I know who will go on about wanting to lose weight, and they make themselves eat some wheat biscuit health snack shit, and then because they've been so 'good' they allow themselves something really fatty and the whole thing is just a pointless way for them to feel like they're making the effort.
Also, I hardcore game and do very little exercise, as has been the case since a young age. I eat lots and reasonably healthily, I'm in great physical shape, at least visually, but I'm pretty terrible at running and other cardio. Honestly, until you get a little older and your metabolism slows down you're only going to get really fat and terrible if you eat total shit and/or have bad genes.