The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Ess_The_Mess

Ess_The_Mess

New member
Hello everyone,

To start things off I'm 25 and weigh 230 pounds. I weighed myself last night and could not believe the number that was staring back at myself. I recently lost my father to a multitude of health factors mostly coming from his lifestyle. Needing a change I found this website and have found the various diaries and before and after stories a great source of motivation and want to be involved in this community and see some of the great results you all have seen.

Anyway, the first major hurdle I am going to face is that 6 years ago I had a major knee reconstruction that basically restrung my ACL, MCL and patella tendon. This knee injury has basically been my crutch for not being in shape over that time period as it causes me discomfort because honestly I don't work it hard enough so it is better.

Today I am going to the doctor to see if he has any suggestions on workouts etc that would be easy on my knees and get the a-ok on my weight loss program. I plan on losing 50 lbs and being down to 180 lbs by my 26th birthday on January 28, 2009. My final goal is to be down to something like 165 lbs by August 1st of next year. These may be lofty goals, but as a goal driven individual I like to aim high. I also plan on running a 10k race on Mother's Day of next year as a part of my goals. Eventually I would like to race in a triathlon.

I will be posting pictures along the way to show some of you my progress. My initial goals are to ride my stationary bike for 30 minutes every day for the rest of this week, Monday to Friday (to ease my knee back into working out) and the week after going to stationary bike for 35 minutes Mon. Wed. Fri. and jogging for 15-20 minutes Tue. Thurs. Once I am back in school full-time in September I plan on going back into weight training 3 times a week and gradually working my way to 5 times a week sometime around November-December. For now I am planning on getting my body adjusted to my plans.

My eventual reward for myself to getting to the 165 lb marker is a half sleeve tattoo that I've been putting off for years because I didn't want to get it and later have it all stretched out because I gained more weight.

Viva the first day of the rest of my life! Thanks for listening.
 
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kk

Sounds like a plan, Stan.

Remember: on a long enough timeline, success is inevitable. But it'll go much quicker if you never surrender. Fall down; get back up! No transition, NO REASON, NO LESSON, NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT. :flame:
 
Thanks man. I like to think I have pretty good willpower as I cut off meat for a year on a whim last year or so (back on the meat wagon now) but the tough part is going to be getting through the rough stretches that life inevitably throws at you.

I appreciate the kind words.
 
Ess_The_Mess said:
Thanks man. I like to think I have pretty good willpower as I cut off meat for a year on a whim last year or so (back on the meat wagon now) but the tough part is going to be getting through the rough stretches that life inevitably throws at you.

I appreciate the kind words.
Click to expand...

It's all about preparation, man. I think a lot of people confuse willpower and discipline. Willpower is that little burst of motivational thunder that gets the ball rolling. Discipline is having the foresight to use that willpower effectively (by anticipating and premeditatively addressing roadblocks) to keep the party goin'. It's not so much that some people have more willpower than others as that some people have a better plan of action.

Also, I just noticed you're from C~town. 'Sup. :D
 
So upon my trip to my physician he felt that something around 170 was a more suitable weight for my target instead of 150 due to my body type etc. I have changed my weight counter accordingly to 165 as again I'd like to aim a bit higher (I'd be more than happy at 170) though.

Even though its only a 15 pound difference it seems much less daunting than before.
 
You can do this! :cool:

Keep checking in with people when you have a bad day and everyone will keep you going.

I love this forum.
 
So I did my second cardio workout on my stationary bike today and after going even harder than the day before my knee its half as sore as yesterday. This is a very good sign!

It feels good to actually sweat for a good reason rather than a bad like doing something casual like playing frisbee with friends.
 
I guess I should have done this right at the beginning.

What is your current height and weight?
5'10 and 230 lbs

If you were at an ideal weight now, what would that weight be?
My ideal weight would be 165 lbs

At what weight would you like to be at four months from now?
In order to reach my goal of 50 pounds by Jan 28 2009, I would like to be down to around 190 lbs

Why do you want to lose weight?
I want to have a healthier lifestyle for not just my body but mind and self confidence.

Do you want to lose weight for a specific life event such as wedding or reunion? If so, when is that event?
I would like to be able to unashamedly go shirtless when I go back to the Coachella Music Festival next April and not disgust everyone who has to see me.

What obstacles could get between you and your weight loss goals?
Life. Full-time job, full-time school, friends etc. I think though after this summer I have found a very good work/life balance.

Why do you think that you now have a weight problem?
I generally didn't care about proper nutrition. I actually mocked friends who hate healthy foods. Now Over the last 2-3 days, I am one of those people AND a calorie counter...gasp.

What lifestyle changes do you think would help you lose weight?
Being more active, eating more smaller meals instead of three large meals. I actually didn't even eat breakfast, a habit I have now changed.

Have you lost weight in the past? If so, what has worked in the past to help you lose weight?
I have lost weight before but I never kept track. In my first stint of University I worked out three times a week and ate healthy during those stints, but often either gave up or nullified it all with draught beer at the campus bar.

Why do you believe that you did not lose weight or you gained the weight back?
Not enough determination to follow through with the lifestyle change.

What, if anything, has not worked for you in the past in helping you to lose weight? Why do you think it did not work?
I think its totally a mental thing and something I have to consciously think about and not give up on.

Would you try writing down all food and drink consumed for a given period of time?
I have done that through fitday and my own personal journal.

Do you cook at home often? If so, what do you cook?
I have been starting to cook more, the challenge is going to be when I am back in school in September.

How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go?
Before these last few days, I'd go out 2-3 times a week. Everything from McDonalds to Subway to Boston Pizza.

What are your three favorite foods?
Ugh. Pizza, Chicken Parm, and although its not a food...beer.

What are your three favorite restaurants?
Subway, Earls, Panago Pizza.

What are three things you can do differently when it comes to food?
Lower portions more frequently and drink substantially more water.

If you woke up tomorrow and your body was exactly the way you want it, what would be different?
I'd hope that my confidence would be through the roof as the person inside now matches the person on the outside.

Do you eat when you are not hungry?
I am sure I do.

Do you binge eat (large amounts at a time)?
There are times after I would eat and I couldn't move I would eat so much.

Do you hide your food or eat in secret?
No.

Do you eat when you are sad, nervous, or depressed?
I usually sleep during those times, which probably is just as bad.

Do you eat as a reward?
Sometimes.

Do you eat while watching TV or using the computer?
Usually in front of the computer at work. Something I vow to stop doing.

What do you normally eat for a meal?
Hot dogs, Kraft Dinner. Nothing too fancy. Which is why I am cooking much more often lately.

What type of snacks do you eat?
Chips, pop, etc. All the crap I know I shouldn't, but too stubborn to care.

In terms of exercise, what, if anything, are you currently doing?
Right now I have started 30 min on a stationary bike to get my body used to cardio, and plan to graduate to jogging every day.

Where do you go for exercise? A local public gym? School/work gym? Home?
For the next month I am strictly focusing on cardio. When school resumes in Sept. I plan on using my campus pass to the school gym.

What, if anything, are your three favorite types of exercise?
I love sports, weight training, and walking. I just need the ambition.

What is your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly motivation to move towards your goals?
Daily motivation is the knowledge that I am doing something for my greater good. Monthly as long as I see the weight going down, thats motivation in itself. Yearly I hope by then it is a motivation to not lose an entire years of hard work losing all this fat and weight.

Do you have rewards for certain goals?
My main goal is to be at 165 by August of next year. When I reach the 165 mark I'm going to get a half sleeve Maori tattoo drawn up and use that as my motivation to tone myself up.
 
So for the first time in my life I'm actually counting calories. I never thought I'd be one of "those people" (which I usually try to avoid being) but its surprisingly fun.

So the first two days of my diet I've gone with 1400 calories and 1700 calories. I hope to stay around the 1600-1800 mark in order to enable healthy weight loss. After reading numerous posts I read that starving one's self is NOT a good thing and eating 1000-1200 calories for a grown man probably isn't the way to go. Which is great because after my first day of 1400 I thought I was possibly losing ground because it seemed like a large number. I now realize this is a marathon and not a race. The main goal is to be healthy, the weight will come in due time with the hard work I am more than willing to put in.
 
Right on !

The loss is going to happen before we know it!

I am pretty pumped about the calorie counting too.

Keep it up......!!:seeya:
 
So it is three days into this journey and I am really finding that I possess more energy than I have in a really long time (I guess eating breakfast does that to you). I also have noticed by spreading my meals in small portions throughout the day I find that I do not get nearly as hungry as I usually do. The only time I was really hungry was last night around 10:00pm, but I thought I'd crawl into bed instead....no eating past 7:00 for me, whether it is a myth or not, I think it is a great policy to have.

I have also found that talking openly with my friends about this journey I am embarking on is extremely helpful. I have two friends who are about to live abroad for a year and coming back next summer and I told them when they get back I will definitely be in shape and I'll have to keep them updated when they are gone. I also asked my best friend if he would join a the Mother's Day 10k run with my next spring. I have found that making these goals not just for myself, but having my friends become apart of it is going to keep me more accountable for my actions. Albeit the weight loss is strictly for me, but having a little encouragement along the way from the ones you care about is never a bad thing.

Anyways, thank you all for reading my little diary here and for those of you who have posted thank you for your kind words.

Cheers!
 
[Focus];485405 said:
It's all about preparation, man. I think a lot of people confuse willpower and discipline. Willpower is that little burst of motivational thunder that gets the ball rolling. Discipline is having the foresight to use that willpower effectively (by anticipating and premeditatively addressing roadblocks) to keep the party goin'. It's not so much that some people have more willpower than others as that some people have a better plan of action.

Also, I just noticed you're from C~town. 'Sup. :D
Click to expand...

I'm actually from A-Town Airdrie actually. One of the major steps in this journey is getting a place in Calgary after I get a job there after I've been trying to get a HR/Labour Relations job there for months...cut down on my commuting time and make it waaaay easier to work out at school.
 
Alright, so yesterday was a hell of a battle in itself. It was my best friends birthday. I ate extremely well throughout the day so I could have 4-5 light beers. Of course we also went to a Chinese buffet because it was 08/08/08 where they had the largest buffet I have seen in a while. I ate 3/4 of a plate of mostly bok choy and brocolli with steamed rice and stayed away from all the bad stuff (ie. Ginger beef, ice cream etc). Little did I know that was only the first part.

Later we go out to a very chachi lounge type deal which is definitely not my scene at all. I almost didn't get in because of my white Adidas sneakers, but apparently the only thing enforced was the "dress code" at the door as there were people throwing up and passed out everywhere with staff walking past it all night without a word. It was kind of depressing but hilarious at the same time. I had refrained from any beverages at this place and the pub beforehand because it was well after 7:00pm so I stuck to water. When we finally left this lounge everyone wanted food. We went into a Pita Place, then a Pizza place for food for everyone I was with. It was difficult as I was starving at the time, but I refrained as I am pretty sure I had met my calorie max for the day.

Needless to say I am already quite happy with my willpower and dedication and I am not even a week into this.

Anyways, thank you for listening.
 
I read your first post and it reminded me alot of .. me. I hope you meet all of your goals, it sounds like you will with how determined you obviously are!
 
So I went and bought a Weight Watchers digital scale today so I can have more of an arbitrary figure to look at when I weigh myself instead of a scale that sometimes you have to guess and interpret and maybe see what I want to see.

I weighed myself and I was at 226 lbs which is awesome, although I am sure its not that I've lost four pounds in the span of the last 4-5 days. Either way it was good to update my tracker for the first time and actually get the actual weight loss started!
 
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WOW Ess!! YOU ARE AWESOME!! That had to of been SO hard, but just that you got through the night of temptations and now you have that to just be so proud about!!!
 
Hey thanks CM!

I think that I've actually been seeing some progress is helping the cravings and not choosing the "bad foods" when I've been out with friends and that.

Last night I had some pizza on a whole wheat crust and only had two pieces. Which isn't a big deal but usually I'd have at least four. The thing was that because I've been spreading out my meals I didn't need to have more than two. I've found even though I've reduced my calories by a pretty decent amount I'm not feeling hungry because of the meals spread throughout the day and that I'm making conscious decisions about the foods I eat. The pizza was only 220 calories per piece which in the grand scheme of things isn't that bad.

Today I did some HIIT on the stationary bike. I think that is the way to go while I am on the bike. I was feeling that even though I was working up a good sweat I wasn't getting my heart rate high enough to actually burn some good calories. I would go at a moderate pace for 9 minutes and then go as hard as I could for one minute and I repeated that for 40 minutes. I was definitely breathing heavy after. Definitely a good thing.

I also weighed myself today first thing this morning and was down to 224 (or 223.8) which is a decrease of 2 lbs from when I weighed myself after lunch yesterday. I think with cutting out the Cola drinks and drinking just water has made a huge difference when it comes to that. I'm feeling really good today. I hope this feeling lasts as long as possible and I don't hit the proverbial wall too soon.
 
I also lost 2 pounds and feel AMAZING! today!! Hopefully whatever is in the air stays in the air ;) HAHAHA SO CONGRATS TO YOU!!!
 
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