Newbie

maxjm79

Hi,

I'm new to the site after being turned to it by a friend who has had success with it. It's only day 3 but i really like the program. It doesn't feel like I'm dieting at all because I'm eating whatever I want just in moderation and staying under my calorie limit per day. It's crazy to see how much I was eating before I started the program.

Height: 5 ft 8 in.
High School weight: 180 lbs. ( I was working out and had some muscles)

current stats: Age 31 weighing 250 lbs. (No muscles and out of shape)

doctor recommends: weight of around 170lbs.

My personal goal would be around 190-200 lbs. (muscles included)... I think I would look sickly skinny at 170 lbs.

Anyhow, Here's to staying motivated and fitting into skinny jeans before they go out of style (j/k about the skinny jeans)

Good luck to everyone.

"FATernally" yours,

Juan.

Nespin31

Here are a couple of tips that have helped me transition into a healthier lifestyle:

1. Before you eat anything, check how many calories you will consume. In this manner, you will not make the mistake of ordering something that is too caloric and high in fat.
2. You will realize that every restaurant, whether fast food or not, has something healthy for you to eat. You just have to find out what it is. Once you do, you won't feel as if you are deprived. As an example, I am a Starbucks fanatic but I no longer order the Mocha Frappuccino (Grande). Instead, I order the Mocha Light Frappuccino (Tall). It's only 100 calories rather than 300 for the non-light drink.
3. On the topic of drinks, avoid drinking anything other than diet sodas or, better yet, water. You will be amazed how easy your calorie count is consumed by drinking non-diet drinks.
4. Be active! If you don't have workout equipment, simply start by taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Trust, it kicks your *kitten* after a while.
5. I believe you already have one but, if not, definitely invest on a good elliptical. If I had to choose one thing that has helped me the most is this machine. It works out your entire body without putting stress on your knees. I became obsessed after a while. I started by doing 15 minutes at an easy pace and soon enough I was doing 60 minutes at a moderate to medium pace, seven days a week! Now that I am working out, I only do 30 minutes after working out to loosen up.
6. DON'T WEIGH YOURSELF MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK! This is important. Your weight fluctuates almost on a daily basis and weighing yourself more than once per week is counterproductive. Weigh yourself on the same day, at the same time, on the same scale and at the same place. You will find that you look forward to "weigh in day" and will work hard to lose more weight.
7. That being said, there will be times where you will go weeks without losing weight (especially after you've lost the first 10-15 lbs. This is natural as your body adjusts to your new lifestyle. Give it time and you will continue to progress.
8. Lastly, as helpful as the weigh scale is, don't let that be the ultimate goal factor in your progress. Rather, focus on clothes and how they fit since that is a more reliable measure.

As hard as it is (and it will be), I can assure you that you will never feel bad after a workout. Soon enough, you will see a major difference in your clothes and then you will have no choice but to buy new ones. I started at size 36 (tight fit) and now am down to a 32 (loose). Anyway, thought I share this with you as you begin to better your lifestyle. I will leave you with one personal thought . As I mentioned to you, my visit to the doctor was the catalyst to begin to change. However, the truth is that after I left the doctor's office, I realized that not taken care of myself was irresponsible and, more to the point, a lack of parental responsibility on my part. After all, I owe it to my wife and kids to do everything I possibly can to be around as long as I can. Now that you have Natalie, l hope that this also becomes your most important motivating factor. Good luck!

maxjm79

Excellent tips. In the past I used to weigh myself often and get discouraged when I wasn't seeing the scale go down. You are so right about measuring my accomplishments by the way clothes fit instead of numbers on a scale. I completely agree with parental responsibility. Also as a healthcare provider I should definitely be healthy myself. No one wants advice from a fat out of shape healthcare provider. I think my biggest concern is going to be patience. I want quick results but I have gotten quick results in the past and gained the weight back. I have to stick with this for long term and start to view it as a "lifestyle" change and not as some diet to lose weight. Well so far so good.

Here's to both of us reaching and maintaining our goals.