Hello from New Orleans

cooper1

cooper1

New member
Hello Everyone!

My name is Alex, age 21, from New Orleans, LA and I started my new lifestyle at 340 pounds. Just stopped in to introduce myself. I've been off and on with dieting and other programs since I was 13 or 14. At one point I even considered having a gastric bypass, but I decided that I wasn't at the right state of dedication to undergo such a great change. At age 21 I feel that I am now motivated to make change. Unable to find suitable clothing and not being able to sit comfortably in a booth are only 2 of my many of reasons for wanting to make a change.

Step 1: Out with the old, in with the new and the permanent.
I quit playing World of Warcraft about one month ago, along with any other addicting games I was involved with. I tend to focus on one thing and rotate everything else around it. It was time to focus all of my attention on my health and my lifestyle.

Step 2: Eating habit.
It is a hard concept to take hold of at first. I have been used to "diets". To me a diet means, "I still want those other things, but I can't have them". It will take time, but I have been going strong so far. I want to reach the point where I just don't want unhealthy foods at all.
Me--->:boxing: <---Hunger

I needed something to keep me on track. Family and friends will always offer great support, but I need someone to give weekly results to. I met with and now train with a personal trainer, named Tristan. He is great to work with and helps me kick my ass 3 times a week. I just do homework of doing 1 hour of cardio on days we don't meet and to eat healthy.

It's been a week and a half and I'm down 12 pounds. Now at 328.

I know it will plateau at some point, but I'm at a good start and I'm ready to take on my weight... and my new lifestyle, at full force.

-alex
 
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Hi Alex, and Welcome,

It's great that you have started in a serious way at so early an age. I'm roughly twice your age and struggled with weight between 300+ and 180 since I was half your age.

I think working with a personal trainer is great!

The only advice that I can give you is to stop dieting, you heard me, don't diet! Instead determine how many calories it will take to support your healthy weight and shoot for eating that number today and every day for the rest of your life.

Don't think of it as a temporary thing. Because if you go back to your old eating habits after you are done with your diet you will gain it all back.

But if you begin now to eat the way a moderately active man of 180 lbs (or whatever your goal weight is) then when you do reach that weight you will already be living the lifestyle that will support it permanently.

One more piece of advice, learn to cook, learn about food, learn to pretty accurately judge the caloric level of the foods you like. Processed foods and restaurant food is usually pretty calorie dense, loaded with salt and not the healthiest choice you can make. If you plan, purchase and prepare your own food, most of the time, you can more easily control what you eat for the rest of your life.

Start a diary and keep track of how you are feeling and how you are doing and ask lots of questions. There's a bunch of great people here.

David C
 
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