Starting my journey

Alz_D

Hi,

I originally wrote this on 06/06/2016 but didn't think to post it here.

Ok so I'll begin with a bit about me: I'm Alex (Alz) I'm 33, live in the UK and work as a finance manager for a car dealership some 50+ hours per week.

I have decided that I need to get a grip of myself before it's too late to do anything about it. This was all prompted by a recent set of trips to hospital and lots of tests due to irregular heart beat, palpitations and dizzy/out of breath spells. Scary stuff being admitted to a high dependency ward and hooked up to lots of machines . I suppose it was to be expected at some point, I wasn't doing any exercise and my diet was embarrassing at best (I have always been a fussy eater and too often fall back on pizza and processed food). I was 19st and am 6' 3" when I decided to start this in May this year.

So I had a quiet word with myself 8 weeks ago and actually started using the gym membership I pay for every month (It's a full family ticket in case anyone thinks I'm insane), I have also started looking at my diet and am tracking what I eat using the myfitnesspal app - which I have found extremely helpful. Trying to keep the calories between 1700 ~ 1900 every day and am succeeding most days. I'm now down to 17st 12lb so things are going in the right direction!

This morning I started T25 - I guess most people will know what that it (love it or hate it) but it is a 60 day home workout that I have committed to completing. It fits in well with my work - that is basically the reason behind it - and I am still going to do my best to find the time to go to the gym when I can.

So why have I posted on here? Well, lots of you have been in similar situations and as I go forward I'm sure I will be able to ask for advice as and when I need it. Also if I have a post about it on here then I feel I have some accountability moving forward.

One of the things I struggle with is healthy meals that I'd actually eat. I hate most vegetables - which I need to get over. I can't live eating chicken breast and rice every night for the rest of my life!! Any advice on suggested meals would be great.

When I get to the gym I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on what is best to get the weight off and improve the way I look - currently I do 30~45 mins on the x-trainer (elliptical) then 30~45 mins intervals on the static bike.

Thanks for reading anyway - I'll come back and update this when I have more progress.

Think that is the most I have written in one go since school!!

Any way TL: DR is - I'm overweight and I don't want to be any more, any advice appreciated.

Alz_D

**Quick Update**

The Good

So I completed the first week of T25 - well I will have tomorrow after the stretching dvd. I managed to get up earlier every day and give the workouts 100%, most of the days went well apart from one that focuses on abs and involves a lot of sitting on your *kitten* with your legs and back off the ground in a V shape (I was more like a spoon ) I don't think they have me as their target audience with some of those move, but things can only get better - Right? I also made it to the gym 3 times for 60 minutes of cardio each time.

Food wise I have been there or there about against my calorie goal each day, although I had scampi and chips last night.

One thing I am wondering is what sort of split of Carbs / Protein / Fat I should be aiming for. I've been on quite low carbs and this has for the last few days made me feel pretty crappy and slow. I think I need to up these a bit through the day especially when I'm doing the gym.

The Bad

There wasn't much bad really, I have an issue with both my knees - mainly the right one - and I did have some pain Thursday so I backed of a bit on it and avoided exercises that put too much pressure on it. Both my knees grind a bit and feel terrible through motion, they seem to have very little stability when pressured at certain angles. I have an MOT booked as I am changing doctors so I'll get them looked at when I'm there to make sure I'm not doing anything I shouldn't.

The Result

This week I have gone from 17st 12lb to 17st 10lb so a loss of ~2lb

It's amazing the difference a few weeks of this does to you both physically and mentally. Without going into too much boring detail I have been a long time anxiety and depression sufferer, but these last few weeks I have felt really good in myself - if that makes sense. Positive attitude really makes a difference and lots of people have commented that I seem different. Just have to keep all this going now.

Thanks for reading and any tips on the diet questions I'd be grateful!!