So here's my deal (long post)

[jordan6]

I'm 5'10 and I'm 195 lbs. At one point this year, I wanna say in May, I was about 220 lbs. I lost about 10 over the summer just being more active, playing sports, nothing too grueling. But once I moved back up to school, I started going to the gym more. Sometimes I'd run on the indoor track but I'd usually just hit the treadmill. I'd try to go at least 3 times a week, and be there at the gym for at least an hour, at least doing something, whether it was a machine or the track. I did all of this to lose weight, basically, tht was my reason for going. I ended up losing 15 lbs this semester and I'm down to 195. To be honest, i was very surprised with the weight loss of this semester. it actually took me offgaurd, which is odd since my weight has been a main focus of my mind for years now. People started telling me that i looked like i was losing weight and then next thing you know i was like "oh wow...i did!" haha, it was a nice feeling having people notice that and getting compliments. I feel like I didn't try THAT hard to lose it, i thought it was going to take longer and be harder than it was, but it happened. My goal is to be at about 180 lbs which is where I think I really should be.

Basically what I've done, added to the exercise, is change my eating habits. I really ate like complete crap which is how I gained the weight. I'd do shit like eat a bunch of cheezits before bed just because I was a little hungry. And I'd wake up and see the cheezits and I'd just get pissed. I just made really bad food decisions because I wasn't thinking when I was hungry. I just ate to feel full as quick as I could so I wouldn't make good decisions. But once school started I really made an effort to watch what I was eating. I was living on my own and thought i could make better decisions that way. I was learning a lot about losing weight and being healthier through all of this, and still am. I started getting more fruit in my diet, really watching the fat content of my food. And loosely trying to count calories. But I really liked that I was getting the exercise in to bust out a lot of those calories.

I've been often told that I shouldn't be dieting to lose weight, but rather I should be trying a lifestyle change. It's just difficult because I don't have a "plan" persay for something like that. Yeah, I see where they're coming from with that point, I just don't exactly know how to plan a lifestyle change like that out. I still don't eat super healthy, it's difficult too as I work at an italian restaurant (haha I know, right?). But I have a very loose plan and it can all still get frustrating. I was overweight for a few years and it started to get worse and very embarrassing. I've still got a jiggly gut (not as big as it was haha) and I just want to lose this weight. So I'm here looking for advice and/or a better, more concrete plan to stick to.

I'm a criminal justice major right now and I what I want to do is eventually be a cop. I am a senior right and I graduate in august. From there we'll see what I wanna do with police academy stuff or whatever I find, but what it comes down to is I gotta be fit for that. Very fit. But in this case I need a plan (yes another one). I need a plan to eventually get me in shape for this. At this point as you know I'm still overweight. So I need to both shed the pounds and get into police shape haha. However I get to that point I'm not sure so that's why I'm here in the first place

 

[Ando3242]

It sounds like to me you know how to lose weight and have used the tools to do so. Only thing I can really say is just keep doing what you are doing. Once you reach your goal weight if you just stop dieting and exercising you will just gain the weight back as we all know. Just keep close tabs on your weight and think to yourself "Can I do this for the rest of my life?". You say you loosely count your calories which I think is better in the long run instead of worrying about every single morsel of food...that is if you are still losing weight like you are. Just of course don't go overboard but treat yourself every now and then.

One thing I will suggest is since I read you do a lot of cardio at the gym maybe add some weight lifting. Not only will it get you in better shape for police work, it will help you lose fat and maintain your weight.

 

[weightwizard]

Hi Jordan6

It sounds like you are making progress. When you have a goal, something you really want to achieve, it will motivate and propel you to success. If you study people who are "successful", they tend to talk about knowing what they want to achieve. They visualise where they want to be. They can 'see it' in their minds eye and that is what they focus on.
What would being the fittest cop on the block mean for you. How would you feel to know that you have achieved that and that you are adding value to your community and your colleagues look up to you. Can you imagine how that will feel. Can you see it in your 'minds eye'. Propel yourself there and then turn and look back and take a note of what you did to get there. Does it feel good? Are you prepared to do what it requires so that you can help others?
You have already shown that you can do this.
Power to you.