I posted some of the following in the Newcomers forum but figured it would make sense to post it here as well.

I was always the skinny kid right up until I hit my thirties. Married, kids, content with my life and having a physical job, I never really had any issues. Then it happened. I blew my right hip out at work (torn muscles, cartilage), it was a real mess. I ended up having to leave my employment and started to work for myself out of the house. At about the same time, I developed a food allergy to pectin. For those that do not know, pectin is found in basically anything with Vitamin C (apples, oranges, all those wonderful fruits!). I also smoke which will be a battle to win itself but I am up for the challenge.

8 years later, here I am. Overweight, tired all of the time, absolutely no energy to do anything around the house, with the kids, or even for myself. Quite a disappointment I have become. Sure, with others in my family but most importantly, myself. I know who I am, who I want to be and how I want to carry myself throughout the rest of my life but this current situation I find myself in needs to change.... and it is about to.

So... overweight, smoke, no excercise, no cares with my diet. Truly sad. I am at 271lbs now and my goal is to get down to 185lbs in the end... I should say before I get to the end.

I am not new to the concept of getting onboard and doing something about my situation. It has been eating me for some while now and I finally hit the wall where things must and will change.

I actually registered on this site early this afternoon and then one more reinforcing item came to light that obviously means it is time. I was at a pharmacy and did one of those sit down blood pressure checks. 150/93 with a pulse of 89. What a shock! Over the years, I have always had good blood pressure but this really got to me and so here I sit making my proclamation.

The journey begins right here, right now. I am looking forward to what Part II in my life will bring me.

My plan is to overhaul my diet completely by way of cutting out all of the junk with the healthy stuff right off the bat. I will allow a few small cheats here and there so the break will not be too hard at first. Fitness wise, 5-6 days a week: 1 hour cycling outdoors and an hour walk each night when I can. I will introduce weights as well, most likely 3 times a week. Still working out the plan on the weights but they will happen.

I am greatly inspired by many people here, been through a lot of the before and during posts and I am very impressed. I am going to count on you to keep that fire burning underneath me hot.

Cheers and looking forward to 'lighter' days!

Some of my stats:

• Height: 6' 3"
• Current Weight: 271
• Target Weight: 185
• Current BMI: 34.0
• Target BMI: 20.0

Two months have now passed and I accomplished nothing There has been a huge issue with making time but I have decided that it is time to start working towards the new me now.

I completed about half of a workout video this morning and it felt good and I definitely am looking forward to tomorrow mornings workout. Can't wait!

Hey, Dutton. I can really relate to your first post. I've never been the skinny kid, and have made some lame attempts at losing weight over the years, but it never got to me till recently. April of this year, shortly after turning 40, I decided to get on the wagon and I signed on here and I'm back just about every day. In that time I've lost about 45 pounds. My blood pressure is down to 103/60 (I think) resting HR of 63. I'm up in the best shape I've ever been and now I'm looking to do even more.

I guess what I'm saying is that it is possible and the more you do towards that goal the easier it becomes. There are a lot of good people on here that help through the tough parts. Read the stickies, join in one of the clubs or club challenges and you'll be on your way.

Thanks for the support there, Trops.

Well, I am close to being finished my first week of my workout routine and I am actually getting further through the routine. I am using Power 90, just the Sculpt and Sweat 5-6 DVD's. I am really enjoying them and for 45 minutes each morning, I endure the pain and get through them as best I can. Still hate pushups and that is probably the one part if anything I am skipping on the routines right now. Hopefully I can get into them next week but I am not going to push it either.

Eating breakfast now every morning. Wow, energy level is already up. I have gone on skipping breakfast basically over the past 8-9 years so this is a real change.

Water intake is up - especially considering I never drank water. I am now drinking 120 oz's every day.

Last thing, smoking. It is wearing off finally. I am smoking less than half of what I did before. No desire to smoke really now so I will move to the gum in the coming days.

Well that is all for now. I am proud of the little results I am seeing after just 5 days and looking forward to sharing my journey over the months to come.

Cheers!

Eating breakfast
Drinking water
Less smoking

WHOO HOOOOOOOO !! That is indeed cause for celebration. We need to pause and look at our accomplishments because changing lifestyle is a helluva journey. And smart to do this step by step, that's all any of us can do.

You are going to meet your goal.

Nice job, Dutton. You might want to get the push ups in and skip somw other part. Push ups are one of the best exercises. It doesn't just work your chest, it gets arms front and back, shoulders, abs, back, even legs. Even if you do it where your toes are on the floor and your arms are on a chair, that's good.

Keep up the good work

Thanks 2Skinny and Trops.

Yea, I realize thaton the push-up. I should have said i am doing "some" of them, just not the complete set. They kill my abs, a real ripping pain it is So I am just doing them bit by bit but a little further each day.

Guess my abs are just getting back at me for being hidden all of the years.

Yeah, abs are like that some times. I think they hurt the most and show the least. The rat bastard of muscle groups.

Down 6 lbs! Woohoo! Considering my goal is just under 3lbs a week, I am on target (Started Nov 1).

Workouts are going really well. I am managing to get through both the Sculpt 5-6 and Sweat 5-6 of Power 90 now. 45 minutes of pain at times and although I am somewhat taking the lighter movements here and there, I am sticking through it. I will probably introduce a bit more weight for Sculpt 5-6 since 5lbs isn't really making anything burn.

I have spent the last few days diving deep into diet and tracking everything on fitday.com. I am now on a 1260 calorie diet and everything I am eating is healthy, there is little if anything that is processed food and I am eating 6 times a day. I will be switching over to fructose from sugar so I can still enjoy my morning coffees.

The biggest problem I am having at this time is the lack of oxygen during my workouts because of that nasty smoking habit thing I have. Well, it is ending tonight. I have 4 cigarettes left and that will be the end of that little dirty hobby. This will not affect me since I have long prepared for this day and have this little quitting scenario all planned out.

I think that is all for now but I will add more if anything comes to mind.

Cheers!

Good for you on the quitting smoking. I think you will find in the end that it will actually help with your weight loss. You will breath easier making your workouts more effective. Good for you. oh... I mean

There is nothing wrong with a little sugar in your coffee. One teaspoon is 16 calories. In the grand scheme of things this is really nothing. If you do want to cut it out, I recomend honey. Honey is so good for you on so many levels. If you can, try to find a local beekeeper and get your honey from him or her. It will taste better and be better for you, plus you'll be helping out a local industry.

Congrats on the 6 pounds.

After taking a brief period off due to illness and renovations I am looking forward to getting back to my workouts. I have been careful with my diet and the renovations have been a workout in themselves. I was pleasantly suprised to find I only gained 1 pound since I was last here. Considering the holidays, all of the turkey, treats, choclate and booze I took in - well, I am just happy to see my weight inline to when I last checked.

I am feeling wonderful today. Woke up with lots of energy and starting to see the effects of my greatly reduced smoking. I am now down to 5 a day from 20-25. (I know I said they were gone for good earlier but it was just a wee bit harder kicking the habit then I had hoped.) Another week or so and they will be gone for good.

I am sleeping really well. Often now about 8 hours a night. Thinking it might be time to start going to bed a little earlier so I can get to work earlier

Looking forward to my workout tomorrow!

Dutton, glad to see you're back. 2009 is your time, brother.

Thank you, sir Trops! I am definitely looking forward to it. Calorie counting is simple now and I am enjoying the workouts.

My next challenge will be spreading my diet intake around a bit. I have an allergy to pectin which nixes out a lot of the fruits out there. Been using FitDay to learn what some other options are for good calories.

All the best to ya in 2009!

Hee hee. Now I've been knighted.

What a great day! I am down 4.6lbs this week to bring now to my first 10lbs lost!! Woohoo!!

I managed to do my workouts 4 days so far this week (starting Monday) and have been counting my calories like a hawk. Breakfast every morning is helping I am sure however I am still slow on the water intake. Probably only taking in just under half of what I should be. My goal now will be to ensure i am drinking my required amount here on in.

Cheers to all.... have a wonderful weekend!

Oh yea... forgot to add. Down to only 2 of those nasty things a day now. One morning, one night. Sunday I figure will be the end of my old smoking habit once and for all!