Hello Everyone, my name's Mike.

qualgen

Hello All,

My name is Mike. I am new here. I have a long history of yo yo weight patterns. I am at just about the heaviest I have ever been and I am tired of it. I am here to change. I am here to get serious. Sad to say, I feel I need to be held accountable. This is new for me as I have never been in the position of having to be held accountable before. I have always been in positions where folks were accountable to me.....starting with lead positions in the Air Force and continuing in civilian life as a manager/director at all positions after the Air Force.

But, as time has gone by, I find that I have let my body down. I have always lifted on and off. I currently sit at approximately 34 percent body fat at approximately 295 pounds (approximately because I have made the mistake of weighing myself every single day and watching the scale go up and down....though not below 285 for about 2 years now). I do not believe in the BMI because if you go by my current LBM (~195 pounds), and if I were at 0 percent body fat (an impossibility as you need a minimum of 2% body fat to sustain life....depending on what publication you read), I would still be at a BMI of 31.5.....obese, according to the BMI index. Therefore, it is not weight I am trying to lose, but rather, fat. More than having a goal in pounds, I am shooting for a goal of approximately 8-10 percent body fat. I am trying to not go below a LBM of 180 to 185 pounds.

I find that this was a lot easier when I was 19, 29, and 39. However, it is seemingly harder at 49. Not only that, but surprise of surprises, I measured my height yesterday and it seems I have shrunk about 1 and 1/2 inch since I was 20.

They say that one is more likely to succeed in this endeavor with support from others. I must admit, I have pretty much never asked for help in just about anything. My Dad was military, my Mom was military, I was military, and yup, a whole lot of emphasis on and pride in being self sufficient has come with my lifestyle.

So, without further ado, I hesitatingly am asking your opinions.......and your help. Do you think it really is a key factor in losing the fat......community support that is? If so, well, this is the first time I am going to ask for help in my endeavor to lose fat. If you believe it is important, I would humbly request that you would help me......to hold me accountable......in this endeavor.

I have read quite a few of your stories and I have to admit, I admire a lot of you folks. A lot of you have accomplished so much. Your stories, your efforts, your results, your before and after pics...........all very inspirational.

Thank you for letting me take up a little of your time. Thank you for taking the time to read a little of my story. Please, let me know if you would like to help me. I do appreciate your time and your thoughts. I have nobody I know with whom I can share this endeavor. My wife is a wonderful lady but I have 'cried wolf' so many times she doesn't know what to believe anymore.....and that is my fault. I need to rebuild that trust to where when I say I am going to do something, she automatically believes it will get done.....just because I said so.

So, again, thank you.

Take Care,

Mike

RebeccaP1972

Good morning, Mike. Yes I think (know) that for me it is a key factor. When I've tried to do it all by myself it just didn't work. It's an ongoing process but I know you can do it !!

kareneastwood865

Hey Mike! At 49 this is my second go round here. Not going back. Good luck! Feel free to add me!

qualgen

Thank you, Rebecca. And thank you for adding me as a friend. Sad to say, but I need that accountability. I will admit, this is harder to do than I thought.