Sick of being the "fat" guy

[Wannabelean]

Hello.
I have always been bigger than most but not too big. Family and friends call me 'buff' , but I have been called fat by several people...I am a 5'9'', 222 lbs, 18 year old, male.
I have very muscular arms, and legs, but it is my mid section that could use the most work. I am sure it has to do with my eating habits which are not bad, but very southern. My goal weight is 195-200. I don't want to have abs, just lean.

To me, my weight loss is a personal thing. I want to have confidence in myself and not have to think about what that person sees when I take my shirt off at the beach. I have low self-esteem, about this and only this. I have tried losing weight for 3 years, with no success, and now is the time to do it for myself.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am not gonna kill myself with counting or starving. I am cutting fried, processed, and unhealthy foods out of my life starting now. I want to begin working out with a focus on my mid section ( again, any suggestion would be great), some at a gym, but mostly in my home in the mornings and at night.
Thanks for reading and support!
wannabelean~

 

[aloe1]

You can do it

Motivation is half the battle. Sounds like your plan is a healthy one and should have good results. Experts say you can't spot reduce but aerobic exercise as well as weight training will burn calories and build muscle and if your fat is around the midsection, it will come off, especially as you replace those unhealthy foods with lower calorie ones.

 

[Harold14370]

I am not gonna kill myself with counting

I'm a calorie counter. I understand that other people have success with other methods, but I don't really get why some think it is such a huge burden. With all the software and online diet journals available, it's pretty easy. I probably spend less than 10 minutes a day, and that includes taking my blood glucose, blood pressure, and recording the day's exercise. To me, 10 minutes of pointing and clicking on the computer is less effort than 10 minutes of cardio exercise, and more beneficial.

When you weigh yourself at the end of a week, and you have gained a pound, if you have tracked your calories you know. You haven't really gained a pound of fat; it's just water. The laws of physics apply. If you haven't been counting, you have to wonder, don't you?

 

[dobner]

I really hear that you are sick of being fat. Taking your shirt off in front of people at the beach is a big deal. Now is a great time of the year to make this happen for you, yet for this summer season (in the northern hemisphere at least).

I understand that you do not want to count calories or diet. Here is the only thing you ever need to know about losing fat:

Eat less calories per day than your body uses

You can exercise until your body crumbles. Unless you are using the stored energy in your fat, you will not lose weight. Exercise does not create enough energy deficit. I have learned this the hard way.

Get it straight now. Eat less than you need. Start Today.

 

[Liverpool1818]

I have the same body type... When I was your age (I am 30 now) I played college soccer and at 5'9" 190lb I was in VERY good shape. You don't want to hear this because I hate even thinking it, but running early in the morning (don't need a gym for that), and eating your bigger meals earlier in the day is going to be your best method. I am now 205lbs right now hitting the gym twice a day but the stomach area is still not there (again same body type)... Just keep the food intake light at night and make sure to eat more than 3 times a day to help with that... Sorry if I rambled but it sounds like we are in the same boat. You can do it man, dedicate yourself and you got it.