Like i said before in another forum i had a nice layout when i was a kid , But now am much older and bigger Married now my wife seemes to think maybe getting back into the hobby may get my mind off other things like eating what do you think.
Thank You,
Steve
It could work. I have diabetes, and use my model railroading in much the same way.
Nick
It seems that it would work, since I lost about ten pounds in about three weeks after I got my walkaround DCC controller. I was having so much fun, I didn’t realize I was getting exercise![8D]
Building a layout is good up/down exercise. The problem is when you spend too much going out to lunch with the 'guy’s after hanging around the hobby shop!
Jim Bernier
Absolutely! When I’m working on the layout down cellar, I am not checking out the refrigerator! I does keep me from eating quite so much and has helped me take off 10 of the 70 or so pounds i should lose. LOL
I have a fridge in the basement. The only thing in it is water. And I get plenty of exercise going up and down the stairs (“Honey, can you come here a minute??”)…
When I am working on it I don’t even think about eating. I do keep an old coffee pot and some teabags in the room for when I need a brake to contemplate something. So far I have not been abe to string enough hours together in the layout room to make any difference in my weight.
I would think that the only wieght you would lose model railroading is in the wallet. But then again I’m 6’ tall, and only weight 150 lbs. What would I know?[:D] I’ve actually gained 15 lbs. since I’ve started MRing. Alot less excersise than riding a Harley chopper, or sailing.[;)]
I’ve seem to have gained weight the last few years. I don’t think my trains are helping.
My basement fridge contains Buds, the kind with only one “d.” Unfortunately, all that running back and forth works up a powerful thirst. And I can’t even look at that string of beer reefers without popping a cold one. Cheers.
Key to weight loss, get physical!
If you are in the construction phase, are using ‘walkaround’ (run-around?) or decentralized control or operate for hours without a break, throttle in one hand and switch list in the other, you’re burning calories that would have been undisturbed if you had spent the same amount of time in the La-Z-Boy gazing at the one-eyed-wonder.
If, on the other hand, you operate your almost finished empire with one hand on the throttle and the other wrapped around a beverage can (but not violating Rule G, I hope,) the probable outcome will be a net gain in stored calories.
Right now I’m burning off a few calories in the construction phase, and losing about half a kilo a week. If I can continue at this pace for as long as construction is scheduled to last, I might even manage to reach the recommended weight for my height. Working against that - I’m married to a gourmet cook!
Model Railroading isn’t going to help you loose weight. I can just see the sections of fitness books that would be written if it did, lol. Burn calories laying 3’ flex track, WYE you can burn that fat while laying that WYE, easy manual roundhouse turntable warmups, Easy DCC (Daily Calorie Counter). OK thats enough for me being stupid, lol.
Being a bench potatoe (modelrailroader) versis a couch potatoe (tv watcher) will not necessarily cause you to burn enough calories to lose weight. In Value Engineering, there is a term called “Cost Avoidance”, which refers to money saved by not being spent or by choosing a deifferent alternative. The cost avoidance of being a bench potatoe is avoiding the calories you would ingest (and possible weight GAIN) if you spent your time as a couch potatoe.
I don’t think that MRRing will help you lose weight. Will it keep you from extra trips to the fridge? Why would it? It’s the kind of hobby you can put down at a moments notice and head off to deal with your cravings or answer the CFO’s summons to complete an item off the Honey-Do list. If you really want to lose weight, try walking a few blocks in the morning and/or evening and eat a healthy, well balanced diet . Then get back to work on the railroad.
As for people losing wait because of all the walking around they do during operating sessions…I know you’re just trying to be positiive, and God Bless you for it…but MY GOD! How BIG is your layout?!? You’d need a layout the size of a football field for the laps to be having that much of an affect on your waist line. (NOTE: If you’re layout is the size of a football field I am extremely jeaolous! Layout Envy…that’s a new one).
Trevor
Yea, it’s possible. Whenever I really get into a project like building a kit or something, I’ll often times just forget to even eat. The nice thing about MRRing is that you can model but also listen to the radio or TV while you’re doing it. Eating while you model isn’t always as conducive. So, again, it’s possible.
Tom
I think the only way this hobby will help me loose weight is if i jog to the LHS…it’s 35 miles away so that’s definetly out…chuck
Agreed Chuck! That is the answer. My LHS is 15 minute car ride away from my house, it would take me a couple hours at least, to jog there, plus time it takes while the ambulance crew resuscitates (sp) me…
Trevor
Could always try bicycles. My closest hobby shop is about five miles away and so makes a nice Saturday ride when the weather’s nicer. I’m also lucky enough to have it more or less right on the bike trails in the region, but it may be more doable than you’d think. I find it’s a good way to kee me motivated, though. I’m not exercising, I’m going somewhere!
Try a 15 minute walk everyday. Get up to 30 minutes everyday and I think this will help alot. I guess I should take my own advice.[:p]