Hello folks.

Brand new to this forum but hoping to make it a regular stop on my way to losing a bit of weight.

I'll set the scene...

I'm a 20 year old male student from Northern Ireland. I've always been 'big'. I'm 6ft 6' and currently weigh in or around 20st. My weight has always been a bit of an issue for me, but as a bit of a giant, my frame has always got away with carrying a bit of excess weight. Throughout school I played rugby until I badly broke my right arm and that was the end of any possible career. While I was still fairly out of shape back then, I was at least getting into shape.

Starting at university last year didn't really help things. Living away from home, it's far too easy to stick to fast foods and far too many heavy nights out on the alcohol! I went through a spell last Christmas of kinda trying the Body 4 Life diet and I had some success. Although I wasn't keeping track of my weight, I knew I was doing something right with clothes becoming baggier etc etc. Slipped out of those good habits for a while and then joined a gym around June last year. From June to the middle of August I trained like i've never trained before. With the help of a mate who worked in the gym, I was there 3/4 times a week and cycling like a champion, doing circuit training and generally doing the right sort of stuff. While my weight proved a talking point in the gym (I managed to put ON a couple of kgs, but looked far leaner than ever before), I was weighing around 18.5st.

Went on holiday in mid-August and it's been difficult to get back into the swing of things. Back at uni i've been at the gym infrequently. But when I have been, i've taken the easy way out and done the chest press, bicep curls etc and very little cardio work.

But in the past 2 weeks things have changed. A death in the family made me sit down and question where i'm heading. I want to change things. For good.

I've started cutting out all the crap in my diet. No kebabs, no McDonalds, no sweets/crisps etc etc. I haven't had any alcohol in that period either. I've cut out eating any carbs after 6pm and i've started a food diary to record everything i've ate. Everything has been going well (last night was my one night off for a friend's birthday - had a meal out, but again, no alcohol).

I just need to get back in training in the gym. It's not that i'm putting it off, it's just with uni work and Easter holidays i haven't had the time to get back to cycling. That'll hopefully change as of Monday.

So basically I've started again. And this time I want to do it for a prolonged period of time.

To keep me at it, i'm contemplating the idea of hiring a personal trainer. Someone to tell me what to eat and how to train. It looks expensive, but if it keeps me motivated, i won't mind too much.

There you have it. While i've no real target weight (I just want to start LOSING weight first), I would love to eventually be down around the 17st mark. I'll never be, nor do I want to be, skinny. I like a bit of muscle and chunk, but the weight needs to come off.

It's an adventure.

A decent weekend of eating but no gym was had. So was up first thing this morning and hit the weights. Did as good a workout as i've done in a while. Worked everything from shoulders down to legs. I hate squats so I made sure i did a few sets of them and my legs are no suffering as a result. It's a good pain though! Followed that up with an 8 minute run and 8 minutes on the crosstrainer.

Weighed myself when I was there. One set of scales says 20st 2lbs, the other says 19st 6lbs. I'll go with the heavier.

Just enjoyed some lunch of scrambled egg whites on a slice of wholemeal toast and it's grilled tuna steaks and veg for dinner tonight.

Back in the gym in the morning for some cycling and rowing I think.

Good job at the gym today...

and sounds like a great dinner too... I love grilled tuna...

Welcome to your diary and much success getting to where you want to be...

Thanks.

Things are going well today. As well as this morning's gym session, I eneded up back again to do some spotting for a mate on the bench press. That spotting ended up in me doing some good benchs too. After that, a 2 hour 4 aside game of football. Very, very competitive but great fun. I'll sleep well tonight. No chance i'm making my 9am lecture tomorrow!

Onwards!