Need advice! [22yo/215lbs/5'11"/Male]

[TheAnswer]

Hey guys,

Found this site while googling, so thought I'd hit you guys up with a question!

Basically, im a 22 year old male, 5'11" and 215 lbs (pretty biggish =[)

Im in college so a lot of my time is spent on studying, in the lab or just travelling to and forth school...right now im not working so I can't afford the gym at this stage...

Im very keen to lose weight, I dont think I eat that badly, cuz I take food from home (cutting costs you see!), but I know I can improve my eating habits...however im getting the feeling im not losing weight or indeed gaining weight due to a lack of sleep (which ive heard can cause this)...

I play some sports on a recreational basis, such as Cricket, Basketball and the like, but not enough....

Anyway, I wanted to get your guys opinion on methods of losing weight on a .... not so financially challenging method? For example, how does shooting a basketball around, drilbbling and practicing layups for an hour or two sound? My college has an atheltics track, but im not great at running so I find that to be discouraging....

I hope im not repeating previous posts on this forum, but just wondering if anyone could offer some advice, or even direct me to some programs I could try (running schemes etc.)

Much much appreciated, thanks for reading my post!

 

[Steve]

Hey guys,

Found this site while googling, so thought I'd hit you guys up with a question!

Welcome aboard.

Basically, im a 22 year old male, 5'11" and 215 lbs (pretty biggish =[)

If you could explain your body, how would you?

Im in college so a lot of my time is spent on studying, in the lab or just travelling to and forth school...right now im not working so I can't afford the gym at this stage...

Your school doesn't have a gym?

Im very keen to lose weight, I dont think I eat that badly, cuz I take food from home (cutting costs you see!), but I know I can improve my eating habits...however im getting the feeling im not losing weight or indeed gaining weight due to a lack of sleep (which ive heard can cause this)...

Doubtful.

Fat is stored energy. Energy doesn't establish itself from thin air.

Anyway, I wanted to get your guys opinion on methods of losing weight on a .... not so financially challenging method?

Well nutrition is primary. To get a feel for how you're eating currently, I suggest setting yourself up a fitday account at so you can track your calories and macronutrients. Also invest in a cheap food scale... can be picked up at walmart for roughly 20 bucks.

In terms of exercise, you certainly don't need a gym in order to get a bout of exercise in. Walk/jog outside, find used weights on craigslist so you can train in your home, or better yet, stick with bodyweight exercises until you can afford better means.

For example, how does shooting a basketball around, drilbbling and practicing layups for an hour or two sound?

Some activity is better than no activity.

I think you need something more structured as mentioned above but I also think it would be a great idea to keep these unstructured activities (like shooting the basketball around) in the mix.

My college has an atheltics track, but im not great at running so I find that to be discouraging....

Walk.

Who said you need to run?

 

[TheAnswer]

Hey mate, thanks for the reply.

Hmm im not sure how to describe my body, ive got a stomach, but i have upper body strength because i can hit a ball hard, and throw real hard, so I have the shoulder strength, its just the waistline that can be done without!

Yeah we have a gym, but my uni has some real exorbitant fees atm, so all I have access to is a basketball court and an atheletics track....maybe ill try some lap(s) tomorrow heh, but its hard when you see some real atheltic folk running on there and im struggling!

I'll try that fitday journal thing, pretty handy thanks for that.

Btw what would be an example of bodyweight exercise?

 

[Steve]

Yeah we have a gym, but my uni has some real exorbitant fees atm,

That's real shitty.

Most colleges around here give all students free access. Of course it's not really free... it's wrapped up in your tuition, but yea...

so all I have access to is a basketball court and an atheletics track....maybe ill try some lap(s) tomorrow heh, but its hard when you see some real atheltic folk running on there and im struggling!

Who cares about that?

Don't get stuck in the 'comparing yourself to others' trap. It's a trap that is hard to get out of and will lead to enough frustration that consistency will be hard to come by.

And if you aren't consistent, you aren't successful. Period.

Do what you can and build on it. People who are into fitness aren't as judgemental as you'd think. They tend to respect anyone who is out working to improve their health.

And if they don't for whatever reason, screw them.

Btw what would be an example of bodyweight exercise?

 

[Alex26]

To Loose Weight, You Need To Weight Train!

Your metabolism is the way to loose weight. The higher it is, the more calories a day your body burns, the more weight you lose. This is why weight training is the best way, you gain muscle, plus your body uses more calories repairing itself too (it supercharges your metabolism).

You should do full-body workouts to rip as many muscle fibers all over your body as you can. You can get a good workout done in 20 minutes, you have 20 minutes a day right? All you'll need to get is a couple of dumbbells and your set.

 

[Steve]

No.

And no.

Oh yea, and no.