I need to lose weight. I want to lose weight. I will lose weight.

I've always, ALWAYS, been significantly overweight. I was a fathlete during my entire childhood and adolescent, weighing 210 lbs at 12 years old. But I'm rounding the corner to 30 years old and realize that I can't depend on youth to keep my health in check anymore. Last year I saw my heaviest, 278, after losing my mother to cancer. There were many dark days that resulted in that number on the scale. After some time, I contemplated getting a weight-loss surgery consultation but my wife was 100% against it. She reminded me that I had never truly committed to a healthier lifestyle. She was right, my Mrs. Always Right. I'm an absolute foodie and loathe the idea of eating bland, tasteless food, but I also hate the idea of having to take daily medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. All of which run in my family. Plus, food can be flavorful and clean.

Plan: I will be using this app to count calories and using intermittent fasting, eating between 2 pm and 10 pm. I will weigh myself every week and track that number, whatever it may be. I will not deprive myself of any food item if I want it. Moderation and discipline will be the keys to my long-term success.

I'm currently 254.1 without truly trying, just eating more normally and not binge eating. I wasn't cutting calories or anything like that. My overall goals are to lose weight and physically transform my body. I'm tired of knee aches and lower back pains. Not sure, ultimately, how much I want to lose but I know I want to be able to hike without feeling like death.

I could definitely use some friends on here.

I may also be documenting my weekly weight-loss on youtube but I haven't decided yet.