Hello Everyone

didonato71

Hello everyone, my name is Eliot. I am 48 years old, married, I have 3 kids (two 10 year olds- boy and girl, and an 8 year old boy) with another on the way (boy due in October). I'm originally from Detroit Michigan but I know live in Southern California with my wife and kids. I have a GREAT job, we are buying a new custom built house that we close on this Friday. My wife also has a great career and somehow we manage all of this.

My wife and I both come from Italian families. My wife is a terrific cook and I'm pretty awesome too.

Growing up I was always super skinny. I went in the Army in my 20's and I spent close to 10 years in the Army. Needless to say I was very fit and not over weight. After I got out of the Army and in my early 30's I started to gain weight.

I noticed the sudden weight gain, in my early 30's. I went from an Army weight of just under 190lbs (I'm 6'1" tall) to about 230lbs. I wasn't exercising at all. I joined a gym and worked out with a partner 4 days a week for about 2 hours a day for about 2 to 2 and a half years. I never lost the additional weight but I was very lean and had put on muscle mass. After that I stopped working out, lost a lot of muscle tone and muscle size but still maintained weight around 235lbs.

Skip forward to present day. I currently weigh 332lbs, I don't excercize and I love to eat. I eat everything and know it is not good. My weight gain from 295lbs to 332lbs has been sudden and mostly in my gut. I have stretch marks on my belly from the weight gain. I want to make an immediate change in my eating and lifestyle.

My goal is to get back down to 200lbs. That's a 132lbs that I want to lose and keep off. I plan to use the myfitnesspal app and this blog along the way.

Is this realistic? I think so. I plan to eat better foods, avoiding processed foods, healthy snacks, drink water, walk then run for exercize, and follow a 2040 calorie or less diet and making smart choices for meals and snacks.

This journey begins today. Has anyone else been in my situation or are you currently on this journey? I'll listen to any advice.

Have a great day!!

USAFProud

Welcome to MFP. Thanks for your service!! I too was military and was in the best shape of my life but packed on just over 100 pounds after I got out. I just “gave up”. Now my son is a Marine and he plans on coming next year after deployment and it’s my dream to run a 5K with him. Not jog or walk, but run it.

I don’t think your goal sounds unrealistic at all. We all can do it, we simply need something to spark us into actually doing it. You definitely have the right attitude.

I hope that your journey is successful!!

Ariana