Join me in a fitness revolution -- Motivate!

johnnyzerocool

I track everyday here on MFP, and keep a very detailed food diary. I used to be quite overweight and around the summer of 2011 I had said enough was enough!

I started out at 267lbs (I am 5'9''), Got down to 227lbs by February 2012 (no crash diets, no over the top workout regimen, and nothing medical). For an entire year after, I worked to maintain a steady weight so that I would not have any issues with relapse once I went back to a relaxed but conscious nutrition level. What I really wanted to achieve here was a smooth transition into "everyday" routine and find a balanced, healthy, and active lifestyle. With this being accomplished it would be easier easier move forward and make another big push at a new goal! After mastering the ability to maintain weight, without hardcore training and more strict dieting practices, I am already seeing results as I resumed training 60 days ago @ 227.9lbs and am currently down to 206.7!

If I had to identify the most difficult part in all of this, it would have to be when you WALL UP. You know, cross that plateau where you do and do… and then do some more, and find yourself with a couple days of no positive results. You work hard for those dramatic impacts that would reward all of your hours spent, calories burned, and sacrifices made. It can be highly discouraging and overall cause you to downward spiral in the wrong direction. What does this generally result in? Well, let me tell you that for most it results in emotional eating/snacking, laziness, and a general F-it attitude toward the whole thing. To be honest, if you do not cross this mindset once, twice, or even a few times in the pursuit of your respectable goal.. then you really are not pushing yourself hard enough to begin with! It is what you do when you feel this way that will be the ongoing challenge you will face. In all honesty, this could be applied with any dramatic change in your life. Once you have ceased creating this result to exist, or have learned to control it, then you can truly progress!

Open admission... I cheat sometimes. :noway: There I have said it and you should feel comfortable saying it too. I recently read in an article, from the "Men's Health Nutrition Guide 2013" (which can be found in most magazine racks at your local grocery store or Barnes and Noble), where the question that is most directed to the writer was "Do you ever cheat, or have you always eaten perfectly?". I love his response as it was: "Well, sure I've cheated. How would I know what good eating is if I'd never eaten badly?". The writer of that article's name is Gregg Avedon and he is a known training expert in building rock hard bodies. I would have to say this resonated with me quite well as it is exactly right! Rest assured that I definitely learned more from every time that I strayed off of the path, then if I had not. I suggest picking this special edition of MH to both men and women. It has tons of recipes and tips on how to gain your goals the RIGHT way as well as more valuable information from Gregg and many others!

However, please don't think for a second that this is the one thing that has changed my views, and the way I feel you can achieve your goals…. I have several detailed and calculated nutritional meals, workouts, routines, methods, and much more if anyone is interested and plan to share in time. I have been researching since 2011, and honestly a little bit before that as I was ALWAYS looking for a way to bring my weight down. I wanted to join in on the events, sports, physical activities, and well… even the dating scene that I was so apprehensive of being involved in. This was of course due to self insecurities and fear of rejection due to my size and overall health. I just never knew how to apply it and how much work and dedication it really entailed, and maybe I was a bit jealous of the ones that could achieve these goals easily… especially people that have always been in great shape with little to no effort. Watching friends around me power through a double cheeseburger, fries, beer, and dessert in one sitting and still have rock hard bodies while sitting on their *kitten* after really can be emotionally damaging for those who lust for the same freedoms in eating habits.

Let's be real for a minute though.. the health implications, long term effects, and overall pleasure found in that is overall disgusting. I wouldn't be here to tell you this about myself and put it in a real perspective if I were not in a different place today. I now do not regret or hold so much self loathing over being overweight for most of my life. I am no longer jealous of these individuals anymore… and if anything I am more concerned for those who have done little to no work to maintain effortless results. I do not mean to sound rude here, but let's be honest.. anyone that develops a work ethic, anyone that decides to change in anything and stick with it, moves forward with more of an abundant amount of knowledge than the ones that do not. This is what will make you the best "you" long term in life and that's the harsh reality of it all. This also is not meant to be taken as a poke towards every person that has amazing bodies, or are athletes, but merely a message for those ones that are jealous of the same things that I once was. Hold your head high because every step in the right direction is important and you should feel great about it every day. Calorie counting, mindful eating, 400+ crunches/sit-ups/push-ups/lunges, natural foods, whole grains, and sprinting to gym from your car is only a small portion of the recipe. You make up the rest, so be proud!

This is only a quick tidbit of how much I have to offer as a friend on MFP


I am real, I am honest, and I have exposed a small insight of myself to you. I welcome anyone to share success stories, struggles, even nutrition tips - workouts - routines - etc…. Also, add me to see my daily diary... and let's share some knowledge. I have a massive goal to be down to 170lbs (muscle gain and fat loss included) --- by August.

I will reach it and hope that anyone that adds me will follow me to my finish line, in turn I will do the same for you.

Thanks for reading! :happy:

My personal quote:
"Eat like there is a purpose for tomorrow, work for the milestones you have set forth, and live for your promise of the future!" -JohnnyZeroCool