Hi all,

My name's Mike. I'm 22, from the UK, and over the past three years have put on a bit of weight and it's time to start doing something about it.

When I went to university at 19, I couldn't tell you what my weight was, because I had no need to check it. I was broad-shouldered and well built for my height, but not an ounce of fat on me. I was constantly complimented for my naturally buff looks, and had a fair bit of success with the ladies. However, this soon changed.

I'd never exercised before, so this is one of the reasons that as I've got older I put weight on. Being away from home, instead of the past and salad dishes I would be regularly fed by my mother, I was eating fried food, kebabs and chinese takeaways. The occasions when I did cook properly for myself it was usually a curry or something else rather calorific.

Also, being a typical university student, I was drinking rather a lot. I imagine this has contributed rather significantly to my weight gain.

I'd estimate that when I first went to university, I weighted about 150 pounds. I'm now at just over 190 pounds, which is rather a lot in 3 years. I'm only 5 foot 7, which puts my BMI at just over 30.

What really has prompted me to lose some weight is the nasty stretchmarks I've noticed. I have real difficulty looking at myself in the mirror without feeling down - there are horrible stretchmarks on my waist and on my left arm (I'm left handed). I've noticed them start to appear on my right arm now.

So, my target is to get down to 155 pounds, which would put my BMI at a healthy 25, the upper end of what is healthy for me. I've got to lose 30 pounds.

I've started eating sensibly and "little but often", and am now spending roughly an hour in the gym a day (haven't been doing this for very long, so haven't noticed any effects yet). In the gym, I'm doing 20 minutes on the bike, 10 minutes on the hand-bike, 10 on the treadmill and alternating 20 on the rower/cross-trainer. All aerobic exercise that should help me lose the weight.

Just writing that out has made me feel better already. Now, to lose the weight.

LET'S DO IT!!!!

Hey Mike,
I also live in the UK and am at uni (London, at UCL). I have also started putting on weight when coming to uni (although I was never the skinny one) after completely changing my lifestyle (I was a full time dancer before).
I welcome you to this forum, I have joined only a few days ago and have not lost any weight yet, but hope to start soon!
Love, Mila

Hi Mike

You can do it!

Your starting weight is almost my current weight and want to get down to same as yourself. Can you do some weights after your cardio? I have been seeing a personal trainer and has me doing 45-50 mins of cardio followed by some weight lifting. The weights are fair easy in comparison to the sweat pouring out of you during the cardio.

Looking forward to hopefully losing with you. Best of luck to you, i'm sure you'll do great.

Welcome Mike.
Great news-you are still young, a male and that makes weight loss even easier than for our beautiful females. Sorry gals, but we love ya and support you.
You can do it and have already taken the first step.

Wow, three very friendly and encouraging replies. I can see I'm going to have a lot of support from here Off to the gym now...

welcome to the forum and feel free to start a diary so everyone can visit!

Well, almost 2 weeks later and 3 pounds lost. Reasonable going. I've been lax on the gym recently, but have been keeping my calorie intake to ~1500 a day. Seems to be working.

Another 35 pounds to lose to reach my target weight...