Overcoming health problems and obesity to become a better me

justincredible2k17

Hi I'm Justin I considered myself pretty normal until I was 28. I was working overnight shift not sure if that was part of the reason but I went through a very bad mental breakdown where I really thought I was on a mission from God and I won't go into too many details but despite not doing any drugs it ended with me being chased by police and me hitting a cop car. I was put in a mental hospital and then went to jail where I had to stay there for 6 months, I had never been in any trouble with the law before.

When that happened I was living in another state from my home state after that happened I moved back to my home town. A few years later had another mental breakdown and went back to jail again no drugs for given a false name to police it wasn't because I was trying to trick them or lie it was because I was out of my head.

So I got on disability because I couldn't work, I believe the meds ended up giving me diabetes that I got in 2016 and in late 2017 at age 35 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, usually people at least 50 years old get it not 35. The only way I found out is I checked my testosterone levels, if I had not done that I might be dead because doctors do not think someone in their 30s would have prostate cancer and would not test for it. My prostate was removed with surgery and I had to follow up with radiation therapy.

So fast forward to now I am currently cancer free with 0 psas (psas are prostate cells) but I have to get it tested the rest of my life because it could come back. I'm on testosterone replacement therapy and it helps with energy and I've been in the gym the last 4 months. I was focused on building muscle but I was eating too much and now weigh 214. Trying to get to 165 still lifting the weights but I have added what I'm sure some would say is too much cardio I am doing 50 minutes every day and weights every other day. I don't plan to do the every day cardio forever but want to lose the weight then I will readjust. Yesterday I started counting calories on here finally.

I haven't had any mental problems in about 5 years I feel really good with practically no depression, just need to lose the weight! I'm also working again it was something I was told by others I'd never do again.

There could be more health problems to come I did just find out something in my bloodwork that's abnormal in my complete blood count called platelets they're elevated it could cause your blood to clot for no reason which can be dangerous so I am getting more tests done on the 10th it could be a variety of things but it could possibly be and hopefully nothing. Will find out next week.

I could easily just justify to myself "you have health problems just take it easy" but that is not me I have a fighter's mentality.

Thank you for reading my story. Hopefully I can reply with before and after pics on this thread in the not too distant future.

L1zardQueen

Hi Justin, welcome to MFP.

quiksylver296

Jeez, that’s a lot for one person to go through! I’m glad you’re in a better place.

Your workout sounds fine to me, and you’re dialing in on your diet. I think you’re on the right track!

Feel free to ask any questions you have along the way. :flowerforyou:

justincredible2k17

After just 2 days of looking at what I'm eating, I really don't know how you get 250-300 grams a day from carbohydrates? Today I ate 37% protein 37% fat and only 26% carbs. I do acknowledge I don't really eat enough fruits. But my total calories was only right at 2000 and I burned about 500+ calories from cardio. Ok, bad, terrible? I'm purposely trying to eat a high protein diet but I am probably eating too much fat.

Here's what I ate today (not the best day of healthy food ever lots of chicken and eggs lol)

FOODS Calories Carbs Fat Protein Cholest Sodium Sugars Fiber
Breakfast
Generic - Protein shake with almond milk, 1/2 cup cooked 170 --g --g 22g --mg --mg --g --g
Chik-fil-a - Hash Browns, 2.72 oz 250 23g 17g 3g 5mg 380mg 0g 4g
Chickfila - Chicken, Egg, and Cheese Bagel, 1 sandwich 480 48g 20g 27g 210mg 1,030mg 8g 3g
Lunch
Generic - Protein shake with almond milk, 1/2 cup cooked 170 --g --g 22g --mg --mg --g --g
Scrambled Eggs - 2 Scrambled Eggs, 2 eggs 199 2g 15g 13g 400mg 211mg 1g 0g
Oatmeal - Oatmeal 1 Minute, 1/2 cup cooked 150 27g 3g 5g 0mg 0mg 1g 4g
Dinner
Great Value - Boneless Chicken Breast, 6 oz 165 0g 4g 35g 98mg 330mg 0g 0g
Snacks
Mcdonald's - 4-Piece Chicken Mcnugget, 4 nuggets 190 12g 12g 9g 25mg 360mg 0g 1g
Generic - Protein shake with almond milk, 1/2 cup cooked 170 --g --g 22g --mg --mg --g --g
TOTAL: 1,944 112g 71g 158g 738mg 2,311mg 10g 12g

EXERCISES Calories Minutes Sets Reps Weight
Cardiovascular
Stair-treadmill ergometer, general 582 40
TOTALS: 582 40 0 0 0

It's hard to tell but it said everything was in alignment but too much protein (I'm actually ok with this) and barely too much sodium but the cardio more than took care of that.

You might think not enough healthy vegetables but about 4 days a week I get take out at a place called Souper Salad and get salad, kale, spinach, carrots, onions with olive oil and broccolli, cauliflowers, kidney beans, beets and sometimes a sweet potato.