As I'm sure you've already figured out, I'm new around here

I'm 25 years old, and about 50lbs heavier than I should be. I have no designs to be a stick - my body structure will never allow that, but I do want to make sure that I change my body now before it becomes more difficult. I had a shocking realization a month or so ago when I got on the scale for the first time in over a year and discovered I was the heaviest I've ever been. Watching that 200lb mark just a few sodas away honestly scared the crap out of me. I also have a family history of adult onset diabetes, and I've got a rather unstable blood sugar already so I have to watch things.

I've not been as good sticking to a program as I wish. I changed positions in my company, and while I'm now more active at work and not just behind a desk, I get home exhausted and even purchasing an elliptical machine (and having it stare at me in the living room) hasn't been a great motivator. I have changed what I cook for myself any my boyfriend, and I've already seen some results. Just changing diet alone, we've both started to shed a bit of weight.

Hopefully hanging around here I'll find a newfound burst of motivation and willpower to start getting my exercise in on a more regular basis!

Thanks!

Hiya,

You will find that nutrition is actually 80% of the problem! And it seems by the few changes that you've made you are already seeing that.

My rule of thumb... calories in vs. calories out. Basically by creating a daily debt of calories you will lose weight. But you need to make sure that its done at safe levels. I like to use the online calculators to calculate my RMR to see what I should take in then cut back from there.

Please read through the forums for different methods that people use, you will find a lot of different choices available for you.

Good Luck!

Btw, why can't you be a stick? I am not saying being a stick should be your goal, but why couldn't you get as thin as your willpower will allow? I used to say all the time, I am a 2XL because my shoulders and my build... Now some of my large shirts are a bit too big. Anything is possible.

Greetings, eh.

Motivation is what it's all about, really. Burning desire. My strategy consists of two things:

1) Whenever I am about to do something that is taking away from meeting my goals I simply stop and ask myself if what I want more, the immediate pleasure, or the vastly greater rewards of my distant goal. It's not very often that it turns out to be the former.

2) Constantly reminding myself of my goals and reasons with posters, lists, pictures, cue cards, fridge magnets, anything that I'll see constantly. Cuing the subconscious can be a great help all by itself.