A change for life

bgdave4

bgdave4

New member
Ok. First off, this is a fantastic site and I am glad I finally decided to join. About me: I am 26 and currently begining another attempt at getting my body into shape. This time however, I am not trying to lose weight for the summer, or for Christmas or as a new years resolution. This time I realize that it is a lifestyle change. I realize I can't put a time frame on it. I realize I have to develop habits that I can stick to for life, not for a 12 week program. This realization makes it better!
I was always heavy. In 5th grade I was 185lbs at 5 foot tall! 230 in eight grade! Then I started lifting weights because I knew I was going to play football. I lost 25lbs and grew 3 inches that summer before my freshman year in football. I maintained that weight for pretty much my entire high school football days. I would kick up to about 220 in the offseason, but that didn't mattter, I was a lineman ya know. After my senior year of football was over I got to about 230lbs and left for college in August. When I returned for christmas that year I weighed a hefty 270. The freshman forty (Thanks beer, dorm food, nintendo) came and really never left. A few times during the past 5 years I've managed to go from 245 to 270 and back and forth again.
I recently started lifting again thanks in large part to my younger brother who is in fantastic shape. He reminds me of the kid I used to be. So now I'm back on the cardio and weights and in the past 7 weeks have lost 15 lbs and gained a lot of muscle (first week in the gym I was benching only 150 and recently just pushed up 205) I'm excited to be on this track again. I really want to get out of the 250's and sneak my way into the 240's. It seems to be a sticking point around those even numbers for me. Attached are my pics. Hopefully in 6 more weeks I can post another successful pic.
 
Congratulations on making the connection about lifestyle Dave - its not about going onto some fad diet, starving yourself half to death - then 'finishing it' by returning to eating the same old bad foods that made you fat before is it? Its about taking control of how you live - developing new habits of eating and drinking, new habits of activity and exercise, and re-educating yourself about choice, nutrition, and health - good luck on your journey, we'll be watching out for you!
 
Thanks TF! I actually enjoy the gym. There's nothing like the release of endorphines that come with exercise. I thinks this is one addiction that I'm proud to admit.
At what point in your journy did you realize you were going to succeed?
 
hey dave welcome...... going to the gym is a good step though I always lose interest going at it alone. my friends wound rather hang out at buffet then work out lol...... looks like you have a good plan. It took me years to realize that working out and eating right is all most of us need.......
 
Hi Dave,
Welcome to the WL and to your Diary :D

You hit the nail on the head (and TF summed it up nicely) - this isn't a fad, it's a change of lifestyle. Doing what we've always done kept us fat. Changing what we're doing restores our health and being fit is WAY better then being fat!!

:)

Good for you for taking control!
 
At what point in your journy did you realize you were going to succeed?
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I have been really really lucky because I found it so easy, that it happened almost in a blur. I haven't succeeded at my ultimate target yet - but I have passed several goals. I read somewhere on the internet how some middle aged bloke managed the full journey from obese guy to body builder. Now, that is beyond my ultimate target - but yes, I would like to be able to take off my shirt on the beach and not feel ashamed - I'm getting there! You can never be too old to learn and to go for it!

I didn't weigh my self for the first month at all - when I did - I could hardly believe it! That subsequent motivation has driven me ever since, and continues to.
 
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Way to go! Congratualations on your current weight loss and Good luck for the future weight loss. You seem to be on the right track and in good spirits!
An inspiriation for the rest of us. :)
 
Good Weekend

First off, Thanks for all the comments and encouragement. I feel like I owe you guys something now! I am pleased to announce that I did manage to eat my six meals yesterday and not do anything stupid (like drink too much and then splurge on 1500 calorie breakfast at Denny's) I really hope those days are behind me!
I managed to get to the gym both days this weekend. 1 hour on the treadmill yesterday and a Good bicept and tricept workout to boot. Today I am on target for my meal every three hours. I hit the gym after the Bills game (had plenty of anger after watching what those zebras did to my bills....) anyway just did 60 minutes on the treadmill at an average incline of 4.1 and a speed of 4 mph. I love that workout. It really lets me zone out and dream about what I want to do with my body and my life.
Tomorrow is another day I look forward too. Think it's gonna be a chest workout day, along with the treadmill.
Oh, yeah, today I had an employee at the gym say I looked good. Said I look more muscular. Yessir, that felt good.

Again, Thanks for all the support guys and gals.
 
WTG Dave!!

Great job with exercising - and it feels so good when people start commenting doesn't it!

Keep it up!
 
4 Miles...A million to go

Another 4 miles on the 'mill today. Felt a little tired (could it be the late night of doing laundry and dishes b/c i watched football all day???) Got a nice chest workout as well.

I was thinking though driving to the store tonight about some of the things I've read on here about how people get a little upset that things aren't going as fast as they want, pictures are looking like the "diet pill" ads, etc, etc. I kinda felt that same lil thing that tuged at me and said, hey, you're gonna be stuck at this weight forever. Then I went shopping to get bananna for my protien shakes. Well, the funny thing was that I realized after shopping what little transformations are taking place. I bought tomatoes, bannanas, frozen peaches, whole wheat flat bread, whole wheat tortilla wraps, and some snack packs of fruit. Wow. The more I think about it the happier I am. My attitude is changing. I am eating better. I haven't ate in the company cafeteria in two weeks. I ate breakfast and had my 6 meals today. I looked forward to getting to the gym. I feel better. I know I am doing things better for myself. Ok, so my weight is where it is, and that I can't control. I can control what I do and how I feel. Those are the two most important things.

So I say to those that have hit the wall (as I have many times in the past and just went back to the same old stuff) Remember that this is your life. You can control what you do with it. Nobody is stopping you but yourself. Quit being your own worst enemy and have a little positive mental attitude. You will make it; but the journey doesn't end tomorrow, it starts everyday.
 
So I woke up and got to the gym this morning. A nice start that I hope to continue (2 a days). Walked 3 miles and had breakfast. Work was ok. I did eat at 6:30, 9:30, 12:30 and had my salad at my desk for 3:30 but it was so busy I didn't get a chance to eat it. Had dinner at 6:30 and am now having my protein shake watching the baseball game.

I went to the gym tonight with my brother Ted. He's been working with me to keep my form good and show me new exercises. I got in a little scuffle with him tonight at the gym though. There's something about having someone focusing on me and me only that is a little bit akward. I usually am the one doing things and focusing energy on others. It feels a little akward. Anyway, he said something to me tonight. He said that he pushes me b/c he sees people my weight come into the gym and goof off and lolly gag around. I know he didn't mean any thing by that directed towards me, but I let it take a different meaning. I looked at him in the face and told him to not EVER question my desire or resolution. It got me fuming. I wasn't mad at him and fell a little bad about getting in his face. Why did i bring this up? Because it goes back to another thing that he said. He said awhile ago that everybody has something deep inside that drives them to excel, exceed and succeed. I finally found it tonight and this is it:
I am not a Lazy no good fat bastard! It is known that we are judged on appearance first and foremost. Being heavy and especially being overweight gives other people an easy way to stereotype and judge you. If you are overweight you are lazy. You eat too much. You don't have drive and you're probably a worthless p.o.s. At least that has been the case with me.
The reason I didn't feel overwieght was because I am comfortable and very happy with who I am in the inside. The outside is going to take work. I'm not afraid of that work! I will succeed, I will excel, and I will exceed expectation. I do it in every other aspect of my life, now it's time to focus that energy on the most important part of this life, me.

Can't wait to hit the gym tomorrow morning. Good luck to all you to excel, exceed and succeed!!
 
bgdave4 said:
The reason I didn't feel overwieght was because I am comfortable and very happy with who I am in the inside. The outside is going to take work. I'm not afraid of that work! I will succeed, I will excel, and I will exceed expectation. I do it in every other aspect of my life, now it's time to focus that energy on the most important part of this life, me.
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Dave - I positively LOVE this!!

You're definitely on the road to achieving your goals :D
 
Still Going...

My old man came to visit me this week and is here now, so I've been off the computer for the most part. Worked sucked on thurs and friday and I never did make my lunches for those days, so i didn't get my "good" lunches in . I didn't overindulge in anything though. I got my walks and lifting in. I had a great shoulder workout on thursday and did bicepts and tricepts on Friday.

I feel good. Best thing this week was that my clothes are fitting really good. I have two pairs of pants I want to wear in October and I'm confident that will happen. Things are going good. Another 4 weeks and I'll post another photo. Can't wait to see what another month of lifting and eating right will do for my body. But first things first, I'm gonna enjoy my week off from work. Good luck to all of you!!
 
Just checking in. Today, I weigh 245. 20lbs lost in the last nine weeks. Perfectly healthy way to do it. Now back to watching football ;-)
 
Keep up the good work Dave, 20lbs is an excellent loss and not to rapid either. I like what you said a few posts back about people judging you on your appearance, that has been my experience all my life and I refuse to be judged on my waistline alone. Keep it up, you can do it!:D
 
Day 1 Vacation

Day 1 of vacation and I can admit I did pretty good. Still working on getting in all the water I need, but did well on eating. I got to the gym and had a 1 hour walk and a good chest workout. I had breakfast as well. I feel really good.

It is time to take a hard look at my diet and regulate it. I want to shoot for 1800-2000 calories (really want to keep it near 1800) This is a good week to really plan it out. I feel my weight loss is progressing nicely, but if we fail to plan, our plan will fail. I want to start showing my meal plan and keep a log to keep me honest. Looking at my current pace, I can't wait to see my family at Thanksgiving and see what they think!!! I'm shooting for putting up another picture in about 4 weeks and I want to look good. As always, good luck to all as you progress as well!!!!
 
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