And so it begins...

wilsedw

New member
Hello, everyone, I'm new here. I'm 24 years old, 6'0", and just weighed in at 256 pounds. That gives me a BMI of about 34. I'm prehypertensive, get winded at the slightest provocation, am easily fatigued, and just do not feel very good in general.

I've had enough. My weight is putting my physical health at risk, it's taking its toll on my self-esteem, and it's preventing me from doing things I used to enjoy doing. In addition, I'm hoping to become a physician of all things, so I also want to get in shape so I can set a good example for my patients some day.

I've told my family and closest friends about my wishes, but I think becoming an active member here will be helpful, too. So many of you here have done amazing things, and I hope continually seeing all of this positive reinforcement will keep me motivated to become a success story here, myself. My ultimate weight goal is 175 pounds, and I'd like to reach it by this time next year.

I've lost weight before (about 30 pounds in 2007, but I unfortunately put it back on), and it happens fairly quickly when I stick with the routine. I'm going to stick with the formula that's worked for me in the past: eat less and make healthier food choices (oatmeal or shredded wheat for breakfast, salad/sandwich/fruit for lunch, and a reasonable supper), exercise six days per week (usually a combination of Tae Bo and walking), and snack on fruits/vegetables when the need arises. However, if anyone has suggestions, I'd be very glad to hear them.

Finally, I've never posted shirtless pictures of myself anywhere. But I figure if I get them out in public, I will be disgusted by them often enough to make these lifestyle changes permanent.

If you've read this far, thank you, and I'm sorry for being long winded! For those of you who have reached your goals, congratulations! For those of you who are just starting out or still working, kudos to you, and I hope I will be worthy company!
 
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Kudos to YOU for making a change ;)

Welcome aboard and good luck on your journey. Its really tough at times but in the end its probably worth it (I am still working..only about half way to my first big goal)

:) :)
 
Hi! I'm not exactly new here, but I took pretty much a year long break from it and I'm only just returning to try again to lose weight. Also, I'm going to be 24 on Christmas Eve so it's nice to see someone else my age who is trying to be healthier. I think it's great that you want to be a good role model to future patients. I sort of feel the same way since I'm working toward my teacher's certification right now. I want my students to look up to me as a role model for various reasons, and being physically healthy is one of them.

I have to object to the word "disgusted" because I think you look great and I'm sure you'll look amazing once you've committed to your healthier lifestyle for a bit. I'm hard on myself sometimes, too, but I'm trying to be positive this time around. Anyway, I'm becoming pretty long winded myself, but I just wanted to say good luck and I hope to see more of you around the forum!
 
Best of luck on your journey! It sounds like you've reached that critical breaking point and you are ready to make a change. Once you get through of few weeks of this new lifestyle and you start to see results, you will likely be hooked!
 
Hello, everyone, I'm new here. I'm 24 years old, 6'0", and just weighed in at 256 pounds. That gives me a BMI of about 34. I'm prehypertensive, get winded at the slightest provocation, am easily fatigued, and just do not feel very good in general.

I've had enough. My weight is putting my physical health at risk, it's taking its toll on my self-esteem, and it's preventing me from doing things I used to enjoy doing. In addition, I'm hoping to become a physician of all things, so I also want to get in shape so I can set a good example for my patients some day.


I looked quite similar to your photos before I started 5 months ago. I am in the 23 BMI range now, and I feel so much better after having lost 26 kg. You can do it, too.

Here are the major things I did:

1) gave up grains
2) gave up salt
3) gave up restaurants
4) gave up canned/processed/packaged foods


BTW, speaking of setting a good example as a doctor, the most obese person I've seen in the past several months was a female pediatrician to whom I took my daughter when she got sick. And she was asking my daughter to step on the scale so she could weigh her!
 
It's been one week today, and I weighed in this afternoon at 252 pounds. I'm sure some of that variance is due to sodium balance and water weight, but some of it isn't, so I'm happy with that. I know it's not much progress, but at this point, any reversal of the trajectory I've been on is fantastic news to me.

I've done Tae-Bo 2 basic #1 for five of the past seven days. I'm definitely seeing progress with how well I'm able to keep up with the routine, and I'm also noticing some improvement in my endurance. I can hardly wait to see the benefits that a full month (and beyond) of this will bring. I plan to add some resistance training next week, after I am finished with my final exams.

I've been eating a lot better, though I still have some progress to make there. I've generally been eating shredded wheat for breakfast, a salad and/or sandwich for lunch, and pretty much whatever my family is having for supper. I did eat out once, at a Mexican restaurant, though fortunately it's pretty easy to make special requests for healthier options at Mexican places.

ktw22689: thank you very much for the warm welcome and vote of confidence! Best wishes to you as you work to achieve your goals.

katharcal: thank you for the compliments! I am very hard on myself, and I've been working on that. Low self-esteem played a big part in my allowing myself to get this way, so I am trying to work on that. Still, I do have quite a ways to go. Best wishes to you on your goals, both to become a teacher and to achieve the health you desire. I am definitely trying to spend some time here each day (even if I don't post anything). It's great motivation.

wiziwig76: that is my hope. Thanks for your reply!

alphaX: that's good advice, though I am a vegetarian, so I can't give up grains at this point. I am, however, sticking to whole grain products and avoiding refined grain products. From what I understand, whole grain products are more nutritious and generally do not contain the empty calories that many refined/processed products do. Please correct me if my thinking isn't correct here, though. Giving up salt is a great recommendation, though, and one that I've been working on this past week. I figured it's probably best to avoid sodium as much as possible, in the interests of restoring healthy blood pressure levels.

Thanks again for the replies and for reading another of my long-winded posts. I'm thrilled with the progress I've seen so far, and I thought I would share. Here's to another successful week!

Cheers,

Ed
 
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4lbs. is GREAT! Just imagine how much weight that will be in a few months if you continue at that rate :) I have been averaging about 3lbs. per week and have lost 9.6lbs. and it hardly feels like I've done anything. Keep on track and you'll see the progress and it will only encourage you to keep going!
 
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