I originally wanted to start losing weight in November, and of coarse that didn't happen...until now. I joined a gym last Wednesday and I'm on a journey to lose 50 pounds by the end of this year. I am currently 270lbs right now. So far I've been going to the gym 4 days in a row and it's getting hard because I'm really the one who wants to see quick results! I mean, I have faith that eventually I'll see results but it get's tiring cause I feel that it's getting pointless (anyone ever felt this way?). Anyways, I plan to go to the gym everyday even if I get tired of it.

The main reason I want to lose weight is for more confidence. I'm usually confident when I appproach people people, not that shy. But sometimes I feel like I can't measure up to them. Most of my friends are "skinny" and I always feel different, especially when we go to the mall or whatever.

Anyways, thanks alot for taking the time to read this and please leave your comments. Thanks!!

Wally, you're starting exactly where I did, at 270. When I was your age (I assume you're in your 20's?) I was just like you -- I wanted to get the weight off FAST!

And I did. And I put it right back on again.

Losing weight is partly a matter of patience, partly a matter of resolve, and a lot a matter of knowledge. Doing the wrong thing will undermine your patience and your resolve.

So spend a lot of time going through the advice on this board. In particular, I would recommend reading the posts from Steve, Leigh P., and Tony McLellan. They have a lot of good, sensical advice that doesn't rely on gimmicks and fads.

Congrats on setting you your journal too. That's a good way both to get support and to hold yourself accountable.

Read through some of the other journals, and you'll see that we're all facing the same struggles you are.

Go for it!

Welcome aboard man. I like you already! I can tell you have a great personality.

Tom made a very good post above. This is all about adopting new habits and changing your lifestyle, forever. I have been helping people lose weight for a large majority of my life, and I can tell you this....

The people who don't take the time to understand how their bodies work fall off the wagon. There are great people here that will not only motivate you, but also educate you.

I have seen you discuss a lot of exercise. But you need to understand that most of your success will be derived from your nutritional strategy. How are you eating? What are you eating?

Exercise is a distant second in importance when it comes to your nutrition. That said, it is still important.

So what have you been doing in the gym?

Thanks, at the gym I've been using the treadmill for about an hour. After that I'll do 3 sets of 15 curling 15lbs. Then I'll do 3sets of 15 leg curls of 10lbs. they way I eat is very screwed up. I hardly ever eat breakfast. Most of the food I eat at my house is rice, chicken, beef.

Are you looking for advice? I don't want to start throwing things at you and offend you. This said, I can tell you, you have a lot of work to do on both ends of the spectrum, nutritionally and with your exercise, if you are going to optimize your regimen.

Not that I would expect you to drop what you are doing and adhere to my advice over night.

But, at the very least, I would be giving you something to think about.

I would like and would very appreciate your advice.

You say you are eating on average 1500-2000 cals per day. Is that how you think you've always eaten? I said in your other thread, this level of caloric intake did not take you to 250+ lbs. If you think it did, you are either really off on your calorie counting, or you could have something else at play medically.

I would suggest signing up for something like FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal and start logging your food.

I know I haven't always been eating 1500-2000. In the past I've probably eaten 3000+. Since february I'd say I eat around 1500-2500 but I don't know for sure cause I haven't really been counting.