Introduction:
I am a 32 year old male. I grew up a skinny and energetic kid. When I was around 6-8 years old I began to get "husky" as my mom would say. I remained this way for several years and endured both playful teasing and hurtful bullying about my weight and appearance for several years. To put it into perspective, I wasn't obese or even fat, but certainly a short and chubby kid. When I was a freshman in high school I went out for the wrestling team. I had always played sports, including football, but I never played a sport which demanded a premium on conditioning and even weight loss like wrestling did. I started the season at 160 pounds in November and got in better and better shape as it went on, and lost a lot of weight. By seasons end (March) I was 130 pounds and began to get a lot of attention from girls that I had never really gotten. I had finally learned how to lose weight, it felt good, the attention from girls felt good, and I couldn't stop. I ended up down to 100 pounds by June of that year and had a fill blown case of anorexia. Long story short, I beat that without being hospitalized although it came close.
My sophomore year of high school was all about getting healthy and finding a weight that was healthy for me. I didn't know my weight because my parents and doctors wouldn't let me know it, but based on size and how my clothes fit I would say I settled in at about 130 pounds. At the end of my sophomore year I was pretty much back to normal and ready to get back into sports. I hit the weights hard and basically did nothing but lift the summer between sophomore and junior year. I was about 150 pounds going into my junior year, but I was much leaner and muscular than I was at 160 before. I had also grown about 2-3 inches so I was in great shape. I ended up graduating high school at about 170 pounds, but the weight had put on was pretty much all muscle. I was in the best shape of my life. After I graduated high school the yo-yo'ing began.
I was lazy and didn't lift much the summer after graduation. I gained about 10 bad pounds and was 180. I then fluctuated between 180-210 over the next 2-3 years, losing and gaining, losing and gaining. When I was 22/23 years old I really let myself go and went up to about 260. I lost 30 pounds and got down to 230 and stayed there for a while. When I was about 25/26 I really REALLY let myself go. I got up to 298 pounds. I went on a diet (slim-fast) in 2007 and lost almost 80 pounds in 5 months. I was down t0 about 220 pounds. I managed to keep the weight off for a few months but over time put all of the weight back on and then some. I lost 20-30 pounds here and there over the next few years but ended up at an all time high of 308 pounds in February of this year.
I said enough was enough and wanted to make a change this time for good. Not just to lose weight, but to become healthier so I felt better physically and didn't leave my kids without a father. I decided to make a lifestyle change and not go on a "diet". I taught myself how to eat right again and get off the couch and get active. I grew up in a house where the fridge was always STOCKED with soda, there were two drawers full of little debbies tastycakes, etc and we always ate chips, etc. My wife didn't and kept our home and our children healthy but I would eat fast food all of the time, drink lots of soda, and was just lazy. So I made a choice and changed all of that.
I eliminated fast food, period. I've had it ONE time since February. I stopped drinking soda and tea. I drink diet soda some times, but I have only had regular soda twice since February, and no iced tea. I eat fruit and veggies again. I eliminated things like mayo, butter, etc. I eat salads all of the time, with reduced fat cheese and light dressing. I am consuming about 1,400-1,700 calories a day, walking an hour on the treadmill 5 times a week, and just staying much more active in general.
The first 3 months the weight flew off, and I expected this as I was so fat and out of shape. I lost 20 pounds the first month, 15 the second month, and 13 the third month for a total of 48 pounds. I knew the weight loss would slown down at some point, but it has REALLY been a struggle this month. I have one week left to go on the fourth month and I have only lost 5 pounds so far, for a total of 53 pounds. Now, if someone would have told me four months ago that I could be 53 pounds less in four months I would have jumped all over it, but I am getting frustrated right now. I am eating the same, I am working my tail off with workouts, yard work, etc, and the weight loss just isn't there. I guess I have reached a plateau. The last 3 days I have fallen off the wagon. Today I am bound and determined to get back on track and I won't let everything I have worked so hard for fall away. I guess I just need to encouragement and motivation to push through and get back on track.
So, thanks for reading that sob story for one thing. For another, a few questions:
Have I hit a plateau?
How do I get through it and get back to losing weight?
Is 1,400 - 1,700 calories a day too little or too much?
My goal is to lose 118 pounds and go from 308 to 190. I am currently at 255 four months in. What is a realistic amount of weight to expect to lose per week/per month to lose the weight in a healthy way and to best set myself up for long term success?
I understand that this time it's about a lifestyle change and that when I get to my goal weight I have to continue to stay on the right path and not go back to how I ate before or I will gain it all back yet again. I get that. It's been so long since I have lost weight the right way though and I am done with the quick fixes and short cuts. I want to do this right and change my life and be around for my kids for a long time. Any tips, help, encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
I am a 32 year old male. I grew up a skinny and energetic kid. When I was around 6-8 years old I began to get "husky" as my mom would say. I remained this way for several years and endured both playful teasing and hurtful bullying about my weight and appearance for several years. To put it into perspective, I wasn't obese or even fat, but certainly a short and chubby kid. When I was a freshman in high school I went out for the wrestling team. I had always played sports, including football, but I never played a sport which demanded a premium on conditioning and even weight loss like wrestling did. I started the season at 160 pounds in November and got in better and better shape as it went on, and lost a lot of weight. By seasons end (March) I was 130 pounds and began to get a lot of attention from girls that I had never really gotten. I had finally learned how to lose weight, it felt good, the attention from girls felt good, and I couldn't stop. I ended up down to 100 pounds by June of that year and had a fill blown case of anorexia. Long story short, I beat that without being hospitalized although it came close.
My sophomore year of high school was all about getting healthy and finding a weight that was healthy for me. I didn't know my weight because my parents and doctors wouldn't let me know it, but based on size and how my clothes fit I would say I settled in at about 130 pounds. At the end of my sophomore year I was pretty much back to normal and ready to get back into sports. I hit the weights hard and basically did nothing but lift the summer between sophomore and junior year. I was about 150 pounds going into my junior year, but I was much leaner and muscular than I was at 160 before. I had also grown about 2-3 inches so I was in great shape. I ended up graduating high school at about 170 pounds, but the weight had put on was pretty much all muscle. I was in the best shape of my life. After I graduated high school the yo-yo'ing began.
I was lazy and didn't lift much the summer after graduation. I gained about 10 bad pounds and was 180. I then fluctuated between 180-210 over the next 2-3 years, losing and gaining, losing and gaining. When I was 22/23 years old I really let myself go and went up to about 260. I lost 30 pounds and got down to 230 and stayed there for a while. When I was about 25/26 I really REALLY let myself go. I got up to 298 pounds. I went on a diet (slim-fast) in 2007 and lost almost 80 pounds in 5 months. I was down t0 about 220 pounds. I managed to keep the weight off for a few months but over time put all of the weight back on and then some. I lost 20-30 pounds here and there over the next few years but ended up at an all time high of 308 pounds in February of this year.
I said enough was enough and wanted to make a change this time for good. Not just to lose weight, but to become healthier so I felt better physically and didn't leave my kids without a father. I decided to make a lifestyle change and not go on a "diet". I taught myself how to eat right again and get off the couch and get active. I grew up in a house where the fridge was always STOCKED with soda, there were two drawers full of little debbies tastycakes, etc and we always ate chips, etc. My wife didn't and kept our home and our children healthy but I would eat fast food all of the time, drink lots of soda, and was just lazy. So I made a choice and changed all of that.
I eliminated fast food, period. I've had it ONE time since February. I stopped drinking soda and tea. I drink diet soda some times, but I have only had regular soda twice since February, and no iced tea. I eat fruit and veggies again. I eliminated things like mayo, butter, etc. I eat salads all of the time, with reduced fat cheese and light dressing. I am consuming about 1,400-1,700 calories a day, walking an hour on the treadmill 5 times a week, and just staying much more active in general.
The first 3 months the weight flew off, and I expected this as I was so fat and out of shape. I lost 20 pounds the first month, 15 the second month, and 13 the third month for a total of 48 pounds. I knew the weight loss would slown down at some point, but it has REALLY been a struggle this month. I have one week left to go on the fourth month and I have only lost 5 pounds so far, for a total of 53 pounds. Now, if someone would have told me four months ago that I could be 53 pounds less in four months I would have jumped all over it, but I am getting frustrated right now. I am eating the same, I am working my tail off with workouts, yard work, etc, and the weight loss just isn't there. I guess I have reached a plateau. The last 3 days I have fallen off the wagon. Today I am bound and determined to get back on track and I won't let everything I have worked so hard for fall away. I guess I just need to encouragement and motivation to push through and get back on track.
So, thanks for reading that sob story for one thing. For another, a few questions:
Have I hit a plateau?
How do I get through it and get back to losing weight?
Is 1,400 - 1,700 calories a day too little or too much?
My goal is to lose 118 pounds and go from 308 to 190. I am currently at 255 four months in. What is a realistic amount of weight to expect to lose per week/per month to lose the weight in a healthy way and to best set myself up for long term success?
I understand that this time it's about a lifestyle change and that when I get to my goal weight I have to continue to stay on the right path and not go back to how I ate before or I will gain it all back yet again. I get that. It's been so long since I have lost weight the right way though and I am done with the quick fixes and short cuts. I want to do this right and change my life and be around for my kids for a long time. Any tips, help, encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
