New here, and in big trouble...

I'd say try and get back into doing some of the physical fitness stuff you used to do as a firefighter,

See if your old buddies will let you join them for some training. that will give you a great kick start.

Make sure to watch your sodium and Sugar intakes on here, and try to cut out some of the high fat high calorie foods you may be eating and replace them with leaner meats and veggies.


Start small, baby steps. You didn't get this way in a day, and its not gonna come off in a day. But first of all.. get that keester moving!

Good luck!

Working on making it as a career firefighter. I would go back to cardio if at all possible to shed some of the weight you want.. Stay with it sir

This is actually my first post. Welcome, I have been on MFP for over a year, I have started and stopped several times.
I am 5' 3' and weigh 225 and have not been under 200# in years. I know surgery is not an option for me. The friends that have had it have had some trouble not only physically but mentally as well.

Why do you eat? I am an emotional eater, I eat when I am lonely, bored, happy, sad you name it! I love a good opportunity to overeat and drink things that are comforting and delicious. Find out why you are eating and then you can build your strategy for how you are gonna win this battle. My strategy is simple, I have to move more and eat less with consistency!

The tools on this site have been my saving grace. Make sure you track all your food and exercise. I have found being able to see what my daily numbers are has helped me to see exactly where I am at at all times. Which directs me and helps me make better choices throughout the day. Sometimes my struggle is honestly hour to hour. I look forward to seeing you progress...

First off - thank you for your career of service.

Definitely use the calorie counter, BMR calculator, etc. on MFP...weight gain comes from consuming more calories than you burn. Start with 15 min of cardio a day (about a week) then 30 min a day (~ 2 weeks) 45 min a day (~1 week) until you can reach 1 hour a day.

I'm not a nutritionist or physical trainer but I find that gradual - but firm - steps make a difference in the long run. Best of luck!

Hi there,
You have taken a great first step by joining MFP, I know wieghtloss may seem impossible now but just take things one lb at a time. Small changes are key.
Walking is a really good start.

welcome to the rest of your life! You are just 53, lots to live for. Start off slow, cut some sugar, take a 10 min walk. You can do this and you owe it to yourself to be the best version of you!!

Get out and walk. You don't have to do anything heroic to get immediate results. I was 320 lbs when I started, and just had back surgery. Walking each day, starting out at about a half-hour and working up to an hour, has been the majority of my cardio workout (I later added swimming and elliptical). I lost almost 70 lbs my first half-year on here, only to go back to the sedentary lifestyle and eating habits. Friend me if you'd like - we can support each other. It's all about accountability. You can do it!

I just joined yesterday. Realized i need to start making some changes....

I'd love some 'buddies' to help with motivation and keeping me from cheating...

Good luck !
Ariana

Are they going to repair the aneurysm? My father had the same thing and they successfully remove it and replaced the injured portion of the aorta.

I would make sure and talk to your doctor, cardiologist etc before starting ANY exercise....you don't want that to rupture....... but you could start focusing on healthier eating....just a little bit each day. Small changes. We will be here to support you! Congrats on the hardest parts....seeing the problem and asking for help.

A couple psychological things I immediately thought of reading your post.

As a firefighter, you had a routine. Every day you were required to do your Fitness Program, right? And every day you had jobs to do around the fire house regardless of your calls, right?

Maybe set yourself a schedule like the one you had at work. Exercise, chores, chat with friends, give back to the community.

Find a rec center and join. You'll get exercise and fellowship. Then volunteer somewhere. You are still useful, and people still need you.

The best thing you can do is just START. If you mess up, forget it and just carry on. It's a daunting prospect having so much work to do so don't think of it like that. Think of it as starting a new phase in your life, a healthier phase. You want to change what you've been doing because what you've been doing has got you where you don't want to be.

Have a read of the boards, ask for advice, help, motivation. Log what you're doing now (food, drink and exercise) so you can see where the changes need to be made.

And always remember, this isn't a quick fix, there aren't any that are permanent. These are changes for life that you need to make for a healthier future.

You can do it! Take it one day at a time and make conscious decisions - for me, joining MFP was the first step in a HUGE lifestyle change.

Hey there I sent you a friend request. My advice for you: start small. Go out for a brisk walk in the mornings, start to cut out junk food from your diet and replace them with more fruit, veggies, lean meats, and nuts. Another thing: drink lots of water! I shoot for 64 oz a day. Just by drinking more water, people have kickstarted their weight loss and shed a few pounds.Realize that losing weight is a lifestyle change, and that you can't go back to your unhealthy eating and exercise habits!

Getting used to eating healthier is the hardest part, but once you get back in the swing of things you'll notice how much better your body feels just by feeding it with good, healthy food and staying hydrated. Possibly the most important thing is to LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR BODY IS SAYING. If you're hungry, eat. If you're tired, go to bed. If you're really sore, don't exercise. Just try to make the best choices you can

Hi, everyone. I'm a 53-year old retired firefighter who has let himself go to hell in the food department. I'm six feet tall and went from 229 lbs. on the job, and inflated to 360 lbs. after only 21/2 years of retirement!!! My doctor has me on all kinds of medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, gout, anxiety, and diabetes. He had sent me to have a sonigram to check for a possible fatty liver.

Yesterday, the doctor not only found a fatty liver, but also an aortic anyeurism, which, in time, could burst and - poof! - gone in an instant! I'm trying to lose weight on my own, but it's tougher than any fire I've ever faced! The doc wantrs me to have my stomach stapled, but I have no faith in that. (My 50-year old uncle had it done and died two years later...didn't do HIM any good, did it?)

Please help me. I want to see my grandchildren someday.

Did he tell you what the dangers of exercise were with the AA? Are there any? Seems like getting your heart rate up too high could cause it to rupture, but I'm not a medical professional, so...

It's going to be tough, but I would suggest:

1. Cut out anything that's boxed, bagged, or canned, as well as all fast food. The first three days are the worst because your body will begin going through withdrawal from all the chemicals and sugars found in processed foods.

2. Also, watch your sodium, and increase your water consumption. Buy a 32oz. sport bottle and keep refilling it through out the day.

3. When you go grocery shopping, avoid the center aisles unless there is something specific you need (i.e. whole grain cereal, raw almonds, etc...).

4. Some frozen veggies are okay, but avoid the ones with sauces and such (stick to the plain veggies) and buy fresh when possible.

5. Get rid of red meat and stick to lean poultry and fish.

6. Also eliminate all oils except for olive oil, flax oil, and other sources of omega 3's (this will help increase your good cholesterol and reduce your bad cholesterol).

7. Limit your dairy and buy lowfat or fat free.

I am 35 years old and have had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, fatty liver, and a host of other ailments since I was in my early to mid twenties. I've found that following these guidelines has helped me tremendously in my effort to regain my health. My doctor was astounded at the progress I had made in only three months by doing these things. Feel free to send me a friend request.