A little forewarning, sorry if this post seems like I'm rambling. I'm exhausted!


Hi everyone, I'm 20 years old (about to turn 21 on the 15th!), male, full time student and work full time. The heaviest I can remember being is about 250 a year ago. I tried to cut down a bit since then and was able to drop about 10 pounds. I started really focusing on what I was eating around the middle of May after Spring semester was over. I was down to 240 by then, which became my 'starting weight'.

I usually weigh myself on Sunday mornings, and last Sunday (June 28) I was down to 225. I've estimated that to be 2.5 pounds per week on average. My usual diet has been consisting of either fresh fruit and water, or, a granola bar and milk in the morning; a salad from Chickfila for lunch (no croutons, sunflower seeds, with light dressing and grilled chicken- NOT chicken strips) with water; and whatever my mom cooks for dinner (example, tonight she made club sandwiches, I ate mine with light mayo, no bacon or cheese) with either water or a diet soda (still trying to drop the soda).

I haven't been really doing much excersize wise since I wanted to get used to the diet change before putting my body/life style into total shock. So I decided to join a gym literally 2 minutes from my house on Tuesday. Although it's smaller than a usual YMCA or larger gym, it's open 24 hours and has a lot of machines. Tonight was my first time going. I'm at work during the times that they offer the orientation so I wanted to go at a time where no one would be there so I could get a feel for the machines on my own. I spent 1am to 2am there tonight and I have to say, I think I can really get used to it.

Seems like it's going to be a nice escape from the 'usual' work/class routine I've gotten used to. Can't wait to see the pounds shedding off too!

Just felt like I had to share.

I also have some before pictures from May and before that I may post later on.

Welcome, good luck with your new gym membership

Thanks!

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Woke up this morning and my arms feel like they've been ran over by a truck. Can't wait to go back today though.

Weighted myself this morning, now down to 223.

I consumed about 1,960 calories today. I also completed 1 mile on the elliptical and 1 mile on the treadmill.

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I figured I go ahead and complete this...

-- How much weight do you want to lose?
I began at 240, I want to get down to 160. Total of 80 pounds.

-- What is the timeframe for reaching your target weight?
I began around the middle of May and I'm planning on reaching my goal by January 2010.

-- How do you want to accomplish your goal (what methods do you want to use)?
The first thing I've done is to cut down my food intake to 2,000 calories per day. I've also started a membership at gym and plan to keep going 5-7 times a week.

-- Who or what can support you in reaching your goal?
My coworkers and friends. And anyone who says "wow, are you loosing weight?"

-- How realistic is your goal?
Very realistic. I've calculated it to 2.5 pounds per week. As long as I stick to going to the gym and watching what I eat, the pounds should shed off.

-- When will you start?
Started in mid-May of 2009.

-- What is your current height and weight?
About 5'9"; 223 at the time of this posting

-- If you were at an ideal weight now, what would that weight be?
160

-- At what weight would you like to be at four months from now?
By November, I plan to be around 180

-- Why do you want to lose weight?
I'm tired of being big. It's the small things like seeing a foot between other classmates' bellies and their desks in class, and my stomach's almost touching. I'm also tired of putting my height and weight into BMI calculators and them telling me I'm obese and to consult my doctor immediately.

-- Do you want to lose weight for a specific life event such as wedding or reunion? If so, when is that event?
None really. I'm planning to have it off my Spring semester if that counts though.

-- What obstacles could get between you and your weight loss goals?
Food. And if I hit plateaus.

-- Why do you think that you now have a weight problem?
I've just never really been as active as I should have.

-- What lifestyle changes do you think would help you lose weight?
Eating less and going to the gym.

-- Have you lost weight in the past? If so, what has worked in the past to help you lose weight?
No, not really.

-- Why do you believe that you did not lose weight or you gained the weight back?
I never really tried. I never really realized how big I was.

-- Would you try writing down all food and drink consumed for a given period of time?
Yes, but usually I just keep tally of my calories throughout the day.

-- Do you cook at home often? If so, what do you cook?
No, I'm still living at home during college so my mom cooks.

-- How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go?
Sometimes breakfast and always lunch. 99% of the time it's Chick-fil-a's fresh fruit in the morning and a grilled chicken salad for lunch.

-- What are your three favorite foods?
Chinese, Chinese, and Chinese.

-- What are your three favorite restaurants?
Olive Garden, Chick-fil-a, and Chinese restaurants.

-- What are three things you can do differently when it comes to food?
1) When I eat out for lunch every day, instead of going and getting 2 cheeseburgers like I used to (McDonalds, 850 calories!! ) I go to Chick-fil-a and get a grilled chicken salad with light dressing (285 calories). 2) Rather than getting some kind of breakfast sandwich from somewhere in the morning, I'll eat some fruit or a granola bar and some milk. 3) If I go out with a friend for dinner, I try to get something healthier than I would usually had gotten.

-- If you woke up tomorrow and your body was exactly the way you want it, what would be different?
I would plan a trip to the beach, the pool, walk around shirtless, buy new clothes

-- Do you eat when you are not hungry?
Not any more.

-- Do you binge eat (large amounts at a time)?
Only when I'm really hungry.

-- Do you hide your food or eat in secret?
No

-- Do you eat when you are sad, nervous, or depressed?
No

-- Do you eat as a reward?
Sometimes

-- Do you eat while watching TV or using the computer?
Usually while watching TV

-- What do you normally eat for a meal?
Breakfast: Either fruit/water or a granola bar/milk. Lunch: Chick-fil-a Grilled chicken salad with fat free honey mustard dressing, no croutons or sunflower seeds. Dinner: Whatever my mom cooks.

-- What type of snacks do you eat?
Starbucks, either a light or fat free milk drink. Try to keep them around 200 calories

-- In terms of exercise, what, if anything, are you currently doing?
Right now, I'm trying for 2 miles a day in 30 minutes time. (1 mile on elliptical and 1 on treadmill)

-- Where do you go for exercise? A local public gym? School/work gym? Home?
Local gym

-- What, if anything, are your three favorite types of exercise?
I like running on the treadmill and elliptical. I also like the chest press.

-- What is your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly motivation to move towards your goals?
Just the idea of losing the weight.

-- Do you have rewards for certain goals?
Nope not really. :P

Here's a picture from May to now (-17 lbs). Doesn't seem like much of a difference. I do notice my stomach has gotten smaller, along with the love handles.

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Spent about an hour at the gym tonight. Did 1.5 miles on the elliptical, 1.5 treadmill, and another 0.5 elliptical (3.5 miles!!).

Woo I'm tired. Time for bed.

ZOMG ~! no one has posted again yet ! i luved reading your entry's hehe

good work ! you've got all the right ideas going for you, all you need is to stick with it and you'll be at your goal in no time !

love the pictures by the way, you're right, what you've been doing is working great, love the smile in the pictures btw, very cute ^_^

Lol, thanks Michael! :P

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Did 2 miles on the elliptical and 1 mile on the treadmill (about 40 mins at the gym) today.

Looks like ya doing ok with the cardio well done !

good job with getting your gym membership...now don't forget to USE IT! lol

you can definitely tell the difference in the picture from may to now. your t-shirt is fitting a lot looser. sometimes it's hard to tell the difference when we're looking at ourselves cause we're so critical, but others can easily tell.

good luck on your weight loss journey and keep up the good work!

Thanks Trusylver and Shep, I've definitely been trying.

I wanted to post a close up of my face to show the difference. I can definitely tell there.

Off to the gym!

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Ran 3 miles today. 1.5 on the elliptical (about 20 mins) and 1.5 on the treadmill (25 mins).

Ran another 3 miles today. Did 1.5 on the elliptical, 0.5 on the treadmill, then another 1 mile on the elliptical.

And I don't write this on every post, but I've been keeping right in the neighborhood of 2,000 calories a day.

looks like yor still on track for cardio what sort of strength training are you doing if any ?

I did some strength last weekend, and am probably going to do some more this weekend. Is it ok to focus mainly on cardio while I'm trying to loose the weight, or should I do an even mixture of both??

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Ran only 2 miles today (1 elliptical, 1 treadmill). I was going to skip the gym today since I have to be up earlier than usual in the morning, but I ended up going so that I don't get used to making excuses not to go every time something comes up.