Hi

ccm1313
ccm1313 Posts: 13 Member
in Introduce Yourself
I'm on the path to get in shape. Joined Lifetime(gym) with my family 6/8. Weighed approx 290 -300 lbs.(Didn't weigh myself before I started, I knew I was fat!). High blood pressure(on meds). Smoker - not heavy. Looking to get to 225 with a goal of shedding at least 1.5 lbs. a week. Changing lifestyle is more important than the lbs right now. The lbs. will come, I can be patient.

Just started using myfitnesspal 6/27. Hoping it will help with the motivation aspect. The calorie tracker is amazing, especially the bar code scanner. Haven't found a food in my house that it hasn't recognized!

Been doing aerobics(mostly treadmill pretty steady now. Weights are heavy. :tongue: Body definitely not used to it. My oldest son is getting a kick out of seeing the day after. :wink: Been working out with him a couple times a week. I am not young anymore, so it isn't like I remember it. Was in very good shape when I was around 20. Was even a personal trainer. I need to get back to that shape. Or as close as I can anyway! :tongue:

Good luck to all in achieving their goals. :happy:

Replies

  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
    Welcome to MFP! I'm also a lifetime member and I love their facilities.

    Here's some tips

    1. Go ahead and weigh yourself to get your starting number, I'd do it when you first wake up in the morning. There's no shame in that number, if anything a year from now it'll be a bragging point.
    2. Weigh yourself weekly at the same time every week, don't touch the scale again.
    3. Weight loss isn't a straight line downward, it can be jumpy. Watch trends over a 4-6 week period, it should be aiming downward if you're eating at a sufficient deficit.
    4. I recommend aiming for 1 lb / week of weight loss and no more than 2 lbs per week. You may notice a large drop of weight at first because of loss of water weight so don't worry about that.
    5. Get a kitchen scale for home and work that measures in grams. I know it sounds silly to have it at work, but I can't imagine not having one at my desk with me.
    6. Everything that is solid (including peanut butter) should be weighed, not measured. Liquids are the only thing that should go into a measuring cup or measuring spoon (spices and salt sure but you get my point).
    7. Consider a heavy lifting program. I know you want to lose weight but a lifting program will help you preserve muscle. Typically when you are eating at a calorie deficit you will lose fat and muscle (unavoidable) but, if you are lifting heavy weights and getting your recommended amounts of protein daily you can help mitigate muscle loss. I lift 2-3 times a week, I recommend ice cream fitness 5x5 program for beginners, I love it.
    8. Calorie estimates when exercising. Take MFP's estimates with a grain of salt, they are estimates and bad ones at that. For cardio, I recommend using the machines at Lifetime that monitor heart rate and have cardio exercise programs. I feel safer using heart rate montor machines that allow me to enter my age and weight because that's a better estimate (still an estimate though). When I lift heavy weights, I use MFP's estimates but I cut the calories in half.


    That's about all I can think about right now, I highly recommend you check out the youtube channel for Feeding Fitness. Vismal from this community lost a ton of weight and is very knowledgeable. I'm a major fanboy because this guy went though the same thing you and I are doing and offers pretty solid advice for how to lose weight.

    Knowledge is power, check it out.

    https://www.youtube.com/user/FeedingFitness/featured
  • ccm1313
    ccm1313 Posts: 13 Member
    martinel2099,

    Thanx for the info. :smile:

    1. I did. It wasn't about feeling shame, It was just a matter of knowing I just needed to start. The starting weight wasn't the issue. I needed the lifestyle change mindset. You're right, in a year, I hope to be bragging! :tongue:
    2. I weigh myself daily, but only update when I see 3 or 4 days of a new consistent weight. I am not going to get caught up in the "day-to-day" worries.
    3. Understood and fully agree!
    4.1.5 is just in the middle of that. I'm not going to get "down" if there is a bad week or two.
    5. My wife already has one! I work at home all but 1 day a week, so I just am sure to measure or know the calories of any food that I eat on that day.
    6. I weigh as much as I can.
    7. I know all to well about incorporating a weight training program. Can already feel things tightening and clothes fitting a little looser!
    8. I use feed back from the machines I use. Most come with a monitor and I can enter specifics. They are almost always lower than MFP's, so I feel it is best to go with that!

    Haven't checked out the YouTube channel yet, but promise I will!

    Thanx!

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