Oy my back

[You]

I'm something like 5'11" or 6'0". I'm not incredibly muscular, so honestly, I'd point a healthy weight at somewhere from 165-180. Right now I'm approaching 190, which is probably a result of me being out of martial arts and eating a bit more (yay food-wasting family!). This means tighter pants which tinkle me off to no end, and lately I'm wondering if some pain in my lower back is from that, or just because I'm flexing it too much from doing yoga poses and stuff.

Anyway, since I'm not one to diet (it's bad for your heart and your muscles deteriorate without sustenance), what are some things I can eat or do (other than green tea and exercise because I know about those) to slim out a bit.

It's either that, or maybe the extra weight is in my legs because I do an awful lot of squats and hopping around... but if that were the case I'd be more defined and I don't think I am... even if my legs are rock hard.

[Archnea]

Sometimes arthritis can form even when you are young from old injuries even sprains.

Your bones need food as well. If I were you I'd start taking bone Maximizer made f MRM (metabolic response modifiers) or something with calcium, glucosamine and Chondroitin. I took those for years until last winter after I left my husband and couldn't afford supplements. I have never broken a bone in my life and I have been hit by a car and fallen out of buildings and off horses in my youth. I think it is because I keep my bones well fed.

When I got up to 400 pounds I never suffered much back pain even though I was 40. Now I'm down to 300 and 41 and am suffering severe back pain after a near fall down the stairs. 3 doctors claim I need surgery and now I have to meet with a surgeon this week because of a disc in my back pinching a nerve to my right arm. They claim it won't get better.

Then a weird thing happened. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days because my pancreas was suffering from pancreatitis. I am a non-drinker but a surgeon who checked out the hernia in my navel decided that blood pressure medicine was causing the problem. My doctor disagreed but after 3 days off the medication my pancreas was fine and my blood pressure normal. In fact they discovered I was no longer diabetic. The surgeon refused to operate on the hernia saying my stomach muscles were so strong that it presented no danger to me. I was glad to meet a surgeon who isn't knife happy.

After they released me from the hospital I have been feeling spirits healing my body. My neck is getting better after I started taking bone Maximizer a week ago and doing belly dance isolations. (I was a dancer for 20 years.) I am going to tell the surgeon that I am not going to go through with the surgery. I think that my back is healing itself.

[Bex]

Well, I'm 5'9", a girl (I'm assuming you're a guy?) and I weigh about 140.  This is slim, at best, or so I'm considering it -- so you shut up!  .. Eh.  Anyway, I -was- at 230lbs, so it's come a long way, yeah?  I tried everything, and I can't say anything BUT working out and eating right helped.  I tried those pills, I tried the belts, I tried the stupid work out videos.  But I began jiu-jitsu again and I just walked everywhere I could and, for an entire summer, surfed every day.  You may not be fortunate in the martial arts or surfing areas, but you CAN walk more.  Even doing yoga is good.  I'm not really sure where you get exercise and eating right being BAD for your body (or muscles) but I do agree that being OVERLY fit is a bad thing.  Hell, just look as Bruce Lee .... worked himself out to death.  -_-  (R.I.P.)

And by the way, I know what Ranma 1/2 is.  It was my first anime.  <3

You and I have a lot more in common than I first thought.

[You]

Actually he died of a brain aneurism (or drug overdose, or murder, the conspiracists surmise) which wasn't traced to have anything to do with his incredible physique.

No such luck with surfing. I did do Tae Kwon Do, back then I was 170, I haven't done it for a couple months until I fix something with my teacher there, so yeah, that could be it. I have been doing a lot of yoga, but not regularly every day like I want since I usually sleep in and miss all the yoga programs, which are the easiest way for me to follow along.

Not to say I'm unable to do it without the shows, but it's just more exciting and motivating that way. I suppose I should find another person to do it with... but no one in my family wants to. Eh well.

Back pain's gone, by the way, probably got it from bridging or something. I stretch it a lot and am practicing hand stands now. I want to be martial arts break-dancer trickster on the side of my military computer programmer psychic career.

[Bex]

Sounds... busy.  Good luck with that!  And I only know what I've read on Bruce Lee.  Aren't the real videos of him amazing?  I mean, the ones that haven't been slowed down so the audience can follow?  Wow.. to be that great, it's a wonder he was such a nice guy, right?  (I think.)  All I know is that having too many ab muscles CAN lead to internal problems.  I know that because it's something my dad battled with, and he's seen many patients x-rayed and torn up inside.  But that's only in extreme cases!  And that's probably why most of Lee followers look more like Ranma -- all wirey, yet strong.  And it's good to hear your back doesn't hurt anymore.  Probably too much sitting, actually.    I got a tempur-pedic matress cover and it does WONDERS.  They include a pillow too.  It's not as affective as the big matress, but it's less costly.

[You]

I still have yet to try sleeping on a board.

Ranma! YES! Ryoga's stronger though, one handstanded jump with a guy on you...

I doubt ab muscles can lead to internal injury, they protect from it. More likely the cases your dad has dealt with were due to overdeveloping certain muscles and not the other ones necessary for counteracting it (such as doing only crunches and sit-ups). The internal ab muscles need to be just as developed as the outer ones or you could definitely hurt the spine and organs, few people exercise the internals, I only recently found out about them.

[Bex]

Ryouga is stronger, yes, but the point Ranma always seems to prove is that strength is not everything.  Ranma has strength and speed, while Ryouga is slower but more brutal.  If only he could tie Ranma down...  bakusai tenketsu!  .. Ehehehee.  Now I'm having images of Ranma tied down and Ryouga on top of-..  ack!  *blush*   There I go, being bad again.