Weight Loss, 1 Year Progress

Hello,

It's been more or less a year since I started to think about trying to lose some weight, I don't know what happened or why I decided to lose weight as I was always fairly happy but it happened and I'm glad it did.

I'm 23 male, only short, 5ft 6 but was really very overweight, obese infact(!) weighing about 215 pounds but probably a bit more as I'm not too sure how reliable my scales were.

I started to replace bad snacks with good and eat less carbs, within weeks I felt a lot less bloated, as I made progress I continually improved my diet and got to a stage where I now eat 3 meals a day with my only snacks being fruit and water.

I joined a gym last July, they offered me an introductory scheme for £40 which included 3 personal training sessions, I was a bit dubious about the scheme but was serious about losing weight so went for it...plus the girl selling it to me was really fit and had a low cut top on so my judgement was blurred! Haha! Anyway the scheme was brilliant, did the 3 training sessions and then if I went 20 times in the first 8 weeks I was promised my £40 back as an incentive. It worked, I wanted my £40 quid back so made sure I was hitting the gym at least 3 times a week, it really got me in to the routine of going to the gym, when I got my £40 back I was hooked, I had the ‘bug’ and continued to go 4 or 5 times a week – and I still do now.

I now weigh 158pounds, am aiming for 140 but not sure if I will be able to get there so probably settle for 147 but have to wait and see. My aim now is to lose the last of my belly fat and grow some arm muscles.

My top tips
1. Drink lots of water – your body needs it, it’s good for you and if you think you’re hungry or want a snack your body doesn’t need it...your brain just wants it, so drink some water as it will fill you up and stop you craving food

2. Stick with it, give yourself a chance to succeed – when you decide to do something, anything (running, swimming, eat new foods, drink diet shakes etc) stick with it, you might not enjoy it at first but the more you do it the more used to it you will become and the chances are you will end up enjoying it.

3. No diet & no “cheat days” – this is not a diet, it’s how you should live a healthy life, do not purposely give yourself cheat days as you will not embrace the idea of ‘lifestyle change.’ The easiest way to avoid temptation is to not be surrounded by it...

4. Shopping – go food shopping when the shops are quiet, you will feel less hassled and will be able to make better decisions as you feel like you have more time to make decisions. Make a list and only visit the aisles where the items on your list are, do not venture down the fizzy drinks, sweets, seasonal aisles where there are always lots of ‘can’t be missed’ offers.

5. Running – start running/jogging, not far at first, set yourself goals (i.e. run for 5mins non-stop) and accomplish them. I hated running but have grown to love it, I now run in my spare time(!) I find it relaxing, it’s a perfect chance for thinking.

Don’t get down if you have weeks or a month when you don’t lose, I have had two plateaus, one from xmas to February and one from May until now. The important thing is keeping doing the right things, as long as you don’t put weight on then you are still achieving success.

Throughout my journey I have read this message board but contributed hardly at all but the success stories have really inspired me and helped me to realise that I can achieve my goals so that’s why I am posting this as I want to give others the inspiration and belief that they can do it – like others did for me.

Thank you to all those who posted success stories and pictures which I took courage and strength from.


Wixy

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