It's too personal for fam/friends... So hello internet!

The0neWhoKnocks

Hi all,

I mainly joined just to help stay motivated as it's tough on your own. (Yeah...I don't like to discuss things like this with my family ). So I'm 23, a guy, from the UK, and have always been a bit too heavy for my 6'0. Anyway, I've been making efforts for the first time now to actually get healthy. My specific targets, and they are open to your suggestions, are:

1. Shape/size: I've got a a belly and am on the chubby side. I want to really cut down the fat percentage and, while my build will not allow me to be "slim", I want to reach a healthy or, dare I say, athletic body balance.
2. Fitness: My level is very poor, and my stamina non-existent, huffing and puffing after a few flights of stairs. At 23 this is supposed to be the peak of my physical health! I want to gain a lot of stamina and, tangibly, would like to set a target of doing a 5K in a good time, say under 25 minutes.
3. Strength: I am a large fellow but I want some real strength behind the size. Lifting weights is my main measure to be honest, other than things like how many press-ups I can do.

I know it looks like I'm trying to do everything at once but I'm not trying to get down to <5% body fat or going for Olympic standard fitness etc... My current philosophy is simple: work out as much as possible, and eat a calorie deficit (with a bit of extra effort to keep protein intake decent). The way I see it, strength training and some cardio will increase strength and stamina, while the calorie deficit will help fat loss. I'm not gonna make as serious gains as if I was eating loads but my priority is fat loss.

Sorry for the length of this but...yeah it's good to get it down on paper! Thanks

T0WK