Getting back in shape

stumblinthrulife

Hi All. I've been using MFP now for a month or so with good results. I figure it's probably time to become part of the community.

I'm a 34 year old male trying to get back into shape after falling off the fitness wagon in a big way after the birth of my daughter six years ago. I reached 220 pounds in the summer 2012, and my cholesterol hit nearly 250, up from 109 in five short years. Not a trajectory I want to maintain. I also had my first two overnight stays in hospital last year, albeit just for kidney stones. Prior to that I've never had a serious health issue.

So on the assumption that perhaps I'm not immortal after all, I guess I need to start caring for this aging engine.

The approach I've worked up to is three pronged :

1. Use MFP to maintain a 1000 daily calorie deficit (net 1300 calories). I've plenty of reserves to work from, that's for sure.
2. Eat a veg, fruit, beans, pulse and grain heavy diet. Low calorie density foods keep the hunger at bay. Avoid almost all processed food, with 80%+ of my grocery shop coming from the fresh sections of the supermarket. Thankfully I'm pretty handy in the kitchen. [Unfortunately my wife and daughter just made me some delicious cookies which could so easily be my undoing if I don't ration them properly...]
3. Disciplined exercise regime - Couch to 5K program Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Moderate weight lifting Tuesdays and Thursdays. Stretching every day. Active play with my daughter and step-son at the weekends.

So far I'm down from 220 pounds to 190 pounds, with the last ten pounds being aided by MFP.

My first weight goal is 170 pounds by this summer, which will hopefully coincide nicely with my first fitness goal - completing my first 5k in <30 minutes. I've never run an organized race before, but I think that's a pretty realistic goal.

After that? Who knows. 155 pounds would be nice, but the wife thinks I'd be too skinny. I live on a lake and we have a pretty big annual triathlon, so maybe that's on the cards. Or maybe I'll learn to love running and push on to 10k, half marathon or even a marathon.

Anyway, that's me in a nutshell. Nice to meet you all.