Getting Myself In Shape

MattHakor

MattHakor

New member
Hello everyone. After having lost track of this forum (Computer broke and had to get replacement parts :p) I've finally found my way back. Anyway here's my deal. I've always had major weight issues....here I am back in August 2010...





In that photo I weigh 252 pounds! I'm so ashamed at myself that I let myself get to that point. So I started to eat better and exercise with a lot of a good results.




This photo was taken yesterday (May 16, 2011). I'm at aprox 212 pounds I'd like to say. (I wasn't able to keep up with my gym membership so my last weigh in was about three weeks ago. I was 215 pounds then)

Mmm...so...I've been going to the gym but it's become too costly (I haven't been able to find steady week). I'm still eating right BUT what sort of exercises can I do to keep myself on track? I've done some running but I'm not really sure how to train properly for it.

Thanks! Any tips to keep me going would be great. My current goal is to get below 200 pounds.
 
Matt, there's alot of bodyweight excerises you can do. This is using only your bodyweight to do the work, no weights. You can workout this way without going to the gym! But I think diet is the most important.

Push ups are great, you can also do diamond push ups, and pull ups.
Check out bodybuilding.com, has lots of great excerises.
 
Update: I offically have gone down from size 40 jeans to size 36 jeans. It's an improvement! Also I'm able to fit into some my clothes that I had around my parents' home that hasn't fit me in a good decade. Reading everyone elses stories helps me stay motivated. It's great to know that I'm not alone in my efforts!
 
Awesome job. If you are worried about working out, just go for a jog. I use the couch to 5K on my iphone . Great introductory application to start up running. Basically if you are a couch potato it will train you to run 5K in 8 weeks. I'm on week 3 and I've noticed a huge difference from week 1 - 3 and have lost 11 lbs in 5 weeks just from jogging.

P.S: You live in Hawaii? I'm jealous...just came back from there. Beautiful...surf is amazing! People are great!!!
 
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Yeah. Hawaii is pretty awesome.

UPDATE: I weighed in today at 202 lbs meaning I've lost 50 lbs so far! At what weight should I seriously begin to lift weights for toning purposes? I'm 5'6 1/2...still have a belly (and "moobs" to a lesser degree) that seems more stubborn than the rest of the fat which has mostly left. (UGH!)
 
Awesome job, Matt! :)

Way to go! You've done amazingly, and you look great! :D

I'm nearing the point where I may be asking the question regarding weight lifting as well. I've only done light strength training Mon/Wed/Fri for the last year. It only involves some sit-ups, push-ups, and a few things with a 35lb kettle bell.

Anyway, congrats on all your success! :D
 
Here I am at 201 lbs (Based on my weigh in yesterday)! Time for me to start saving money to rejoin the gym. I was a member of one for a while but couldn't keep up with the payments (I was out of work...finally employed again). In spite of that I've continued to lose weight by watching my calories and walking/running.
 
MattHakor said:
Yep! Diet is the key. I've been using Livestrong's myplate to track my calories.
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This is exactly right, very little weight loss comes from exercise unless you're doing cardio literally all the time, it's much easier to lose weight through diet.

I also use myplate to work out my calories for a 2lb a week weight loss and also track my calorie usage, it's a great way to keep a diary because it's so easy to go back and look at stats over time, it's really nice to see my weight graphed since I started and seeing a downward trend over time.

Anyway I suggest diet and calorie counting to lose weight, and exercise (cardio) for general health, weights and tension training for muscle and tone.

I diet to lose weight and do weights for upper body to keep some muscle mass as I lose weight, since diet tends to reduce both muscle and fat and ideally you want to retain that lean muscle.
 
Aye. I'm still working on finding that balance in my regiment. I shared this latest photo with all of my friends and they are amazed at how far I've gotten. From a psychological standpoint how do I teach myself to not carry myself on the inside like I did before I started to get myself in order? I keep looking at those old photos with digust and shame at myself. I'm probably beating myself up over it but I'm angry at myself for getting that way over the years.

To put it in perspective I haven't been at the weight I am now some 8th grade...

Also..thank you for the kind words Frosteh and Sara. :)
 
MattHakor said:
. From a psychological standpoint how do I teach myself to not carry myself on the inside like I did before I started to get myself in order? I keep looking at those old photos with digust and shame at myself. I'm probably beating myself up over it but I'm angry at myself for getting that way over the years.

To put it in perspective I haven't been at the weight I am now some 8th grade...
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Very well done on your weight loss! It has been nice seeing you progress .
Reminds me of myself.

I have lost 95 lbs from being severely obese. It's not good to beat yourself up, just because you were heavier does make you any less of a person in any way. There's no reason to beat yourself up for anything, for example I often look at myself with digust too, all the time, sometimes, even now. I ask myself, "Man I was fat. How did I become that fat? What was wrong with me? No wonder I couldn't get a girlfriend." Thus, I blamed my weightl on qualities that had absolutely nothing to the truth. I don't know if you do this in any way, but try and keep a log of your thoughts. Write them down, and everytime you get a negative thought, try and challenge it. I think part of the problem is I still see myself as a fat person since when I was overweight. Actually, sometimes I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself for a brief instant. Does this happen to you?

Best wishes to you Matt

Also, I wanted to say, to both you, it may be a good idea to start weight training/body resist or any other type of strenght training excerise as soon as possible. As you lose weight, this will help preserve muscle ,while losing weight. Make sure to get enough protein too.
 
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SparkErosion said:
I think part of the problem is I still see myself as a fat person since when I was overweight. Actually, sometimes I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself for a brief instant. Does this happen to you?
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It's very funny that you say that because I keep staring in the mirror disbelieving who is staring back at me. To a degree I suppose that's why I share my updated photos with my friends from home who knew me beforehand so that I make sure I'm not just dreaming.

I would definitely like to start my weight training up again (I belonged to a gym from August up until May when I wasn't able to keep up with the payments due to still being out of work at the time...thankfully I'm employed now! I just need to wait until I have my refund check from school (I'm working on my Masters Degree) before I'll have enough extra to pay for such things. When I do get the ball rolling what sort of routine would you recommend?

UPDATE: After I made this post I did a weigh in. I'm happy to announce that for the first time since I was 14-years-old I'm below 200 lbs. My weight as of 7/20/11 is 199.5 lbs! ^_^
 
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Well what I used and worked for me day was a major body part a day, isolate that major body part, and do it 5 days a week. Now, I do Stronglifts 5x5, which I think may be better because it uses all free weights, teaches you proper form, and helps stablize you better. Also, there's a rest day between each day, and your muscles do need to recover. This is important. Muscle growth I've heard is mostly done when muscles are in recovery. I began to see this, and stopped working out 5 days a week aiming for 3-4 days, taking a day off between each day to rest. I really think working out while losing the weight, and doing cardio, helped me maintain some of my muscle mass.

Try doing things like push ups, pull ups, reverse crunches, planks, squats,deadlifts etc. Try using excerises which help your core and tone your whole body. Squats are great to tone your whole body as well as your legs. Gymnastic
excerises are also good I've heard, try looking into doing some of those once you get into the hang of things.

I'm currently doing stronglifts 5x5, try it if you want, its good for beginners.


Also, here's a good site on nutrition, bodybuilding, and working out:
 
Thanks! Haha I think it's time for me to size down in clothes again. I can fit some L shirts now..meaning when I buy new shirts I should start trying to see if they will fit. Also..if you can take your pants off easily without unbuttoning or unzipping...it's probably safe to say that you've lost more inches around your waist eh? :D
 
MattHakor said:
Thanks! Haha I think it's time for me to size down in clothes again. I can fit some L shirts now..meaning when I buy new shirts I should start trying to see if they will fit. Also..if you can take your pants off easily without unbuttoning or unzipping...it's probably safe to say that you've lost more inches around your waist eh? :D
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lol, yep - that's a pretty good indication that you're about due for some new wardrobe :]
 
Update: 8/10/11

Okay...so I'm planning on rejoining the gym next Monday. (I was forced to quit for a few months due to being out of work unable to cover the bill....finally working again) How should I go about losing the remaining 40-50 or so pounds that I need to drop as far as exercise (cardio/weights) are concerned?
 
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Today's Photo Update: Here I am successfully wearing a size Large shirt for the first time since Middle School!

Also...I finally had the money to rejoin the gym today. :D
 
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