Time to do something about this... [280lbs -> 210lbs]

Birdcage

New member
Time to do something about this... [268lbs -> 210lbs]

Well...after several failed attempts I think I've finally reached the point where I'm ready to commit to losing weight, and getting back into shape.

I'm George, 21, studying Human biology at Oxford University. At age 16, I looked like a Greek god...then along came two years of injuries that put me in bed. Depression and Dr. Pepper have put me at this weight. Time to stop making excuses and get back into shape, instead of just wanting it.

I'm 6'1", and currently weigh around 268lbs - will have a more accurate number tomorrow when I get the chance to weigh myself at home. Luckily, I look amazing for being morbidly obese [according to BMI anyway - nonsense in my case. I'm certainly overweight, but no way would 168lbs be a healthy weight for me]. Other stats: 44 inch chest diametre, 19 inches from shoulder to shoulder. Heart rate of 72 bpm, blood pressure of 120/70.

I want to go down to 210lbs, as well as getting back into shape. For the last year, I've been involved in a LARP event, playing a pseudo-Viking. I imagine these events would be a lot more enjoyable if I were able to run for more than 20 seconds at a time. Thus, my fitness will be classed as successful when I can jog 2km or more in full armour.

Food-wise, I'm going to stick to 2,500 kcals a day - but for the first couple of months, I'm also going to have two fast days each week. Monday and Friday are going to be these - 600 kcals a day, enough to provide the energy needed to start glycolysis. Typically, this will be two bowls of soup, with a piece of toast with each bowl for the day.

Exercise schedule is thus:
Thursday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday - jogging
Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday - weights
Sit and push ups every morning and night

Sticking with the warrior theme, I also plan on buying a 6' Dane axe, and practicing with it daily. That should be a fairly good workout by itself. I think I'll also do what a friend of mine did...make some chainmail bracelets. When the day's work is done, you can take them off.

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If you're still here after all that, thank you. Bugging me would be a massive help. I think what I need to succeed is people encouraging me when I do well, and bitch-slapping me when I don't.
 
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Day 1 [Thursday]:

Not much to say. Made this thread. Did my first jog - 10 minutes, 1 minute walk, 2 minute jog. Exhausted me. I used to run 4 miles a day...but doing my best not to get down.

Also, couldn't do a single push up. Did 25 "female" ones, on my knees...also, 35 sit ups.

Fast day tomorrow. Have a nice bread roll I made left over - will have with my soup.
 
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Hey, welcome to the forum! I can relate to your desire to want to do better with LARPing. Sometimes on the weekend I play this zombie apocalypse game with my friends. It involves nerf guns and a lot of running. I need to work on my running. :p
 
Mm...I do it 5 times a year with a company called Curious Pastimes. The events take place over 3 or 4 days, with time in from 10am till 2am. 16 hours in armour is hard...running too is harder. I want to be fit enough to actually run at the events this year. Especially as I was promoted in character...wanna be able to play that role better.

Thank you for the message. Another thing imma try is to eat vegetarian 6 days a week. I do love my meat, but I might as well save some money and eat better at the same time. That spare money can go towards a nice, lean piece of meat on my one day a week
 
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Fast day went alright. Ended up eating about 800 kcals, but ah well.

Weighed myself today - I'm 14lbs lighter than I thought I was. Being a poor uni student has helped in one area, it seems

Jogging later tonight. Actually looking forward to it, which surprises me.
 
It'll catch you by surprise like that. I look forward to my exercise almost every night now, which I never would have expected.
 
So, jog went well. Was certainly easier than the first one. I know improvement will slow down over time, but it's really really nice feeling like this decision has made a difference already.

Weights start tomorrow. Was too rushed around today to get them out of the loft.
 
Another good day. Two chicken sandwiches today - don't feel hungry though, despite that being all I ate [shrugs]. Did my first day of weights - went well. Got the intensity right - hard, but not painful. Tuesday is when I next pump iron.

My first fast + jog day tomorrow. Looking forward to the day when I'm not fasting anymore - because by then I'll have lost a chunk of weight and will be running a lot better than I am currently. Trying not to get my hopes up too much...but is a nice idea. Last day of "jog 2 mins, walk 1 min for 10 mins" tomorrow. Wednesday I have a 30 minute walk, then Thursday I start jog 2, walk 1 for 15 mins.
 
Another good day. The jog was hard today - but I imagine that was because I only had 600 kcals. I'll consider moving my Monday fast to Tuesday - doing weights rather than running that day.

Delicious food twice. Chicken breast and mushrooms, roasted in a spoonful of Waitrose tomato and onion relish. Roughly 300 kcals. Had that twice - was nummy.

Took some photos of my body today too. In a few weeks, when I have some progress, will post them with then-current ones.
 
Goodluck on your weight loss journey its a had but good road to travel

I admire someone who can fast, I personally couldn't do it hats off to you :)
 
Thank you very much Tasha. And I agree...it's taken waaay too long for me to get back into shape. At age 16, I looked like a Greek god - rugby 4 times a week, gym and running. Two major injuries, at 17 and 18 put me in bed for almost 2 years straight - no school or job. At least I drowned my sorrow in Dr. Pepper rather than alcohol.

Another measurement I forgot. 42 inch waist. I wonder what that'll go down to.
 
Hey Birdcage, welcome!

Sounds like you have some great motivation to begin your journey. I'm newish here as well so it is always nice to find someone else at the beginning of their journey! I will be curious to follow your experience with fasting. I find that in the summer I naturally tend to crave a day or so "off" of food each week. I've gradually incorporated a day of dedicated fasting here and there but not as consistently as I would like so far. Eager to see your progress!

~Camila~
 
Hey there!
I'm loving your motivation as well... Keep it up! And I agree, drowning your sorrows in Dr Pepper is much better than drowning them in alcohol, lol >.<
 
Thank you both for the replies. It really does make me want to stick at it - don't wanna be letting people down.

Weights done for today. Doing crunches with a 12lbs weight on your chest is hard, heh. Did 3 sets of 10 instead of 2 of 25 in the end. I'll work up to 50.

I really need to get some music onto my phone. Listening to Dream Evil while doing weights really helped. Would help me running too, I imagine.

Is the touch of Viking in me, I suppose. Find it easy to work myself up, especially with music...what I miss the most is the...adrenaline rush I used to get playing rugby. The moment where time slows down, where you have the strength of a titan, when everything you want to do succeeds...
 
@Birdcage - Hello! I am also new and have a similar story... I was not Greek Goddess in high school but I was a dancer and played volleyball. I always felt like I was "bigger" but I didn't look or feel "overweight". I was also voted most athletic. Unfortunately, unlike you I just stopped being active after graduation. It is unfortunate you had the injuries that kept you inactive for so long! It seems like you're headed in the right direction and I look forward to following you on your journey!


@Camile ~ I am also beginning my journey! It looks like we have similar goals! I would be interested in sharing our journeys! :)
 
Thank you for the reply - I have some very good friends near Orlando. Hope the place is doing well?

2,400-ish kcals today. I'm more than happy with that. Thinking of having ribs for dinner tomorrow...should happily be able to fit that into my 2,500 kcals on non-fast days.
 
Indeed! Had the ribs I wanted for lunch - Polish shop nearby does smoked half-racks of them. Pasta with a sausage, tomato and onion ragu for dinner. Total kcals around 1,800.

Had a 30 minute walk today - which signals the end of week 1! Tomorrow I start doing walk 1 min, jog 2 mins for 15 mins. My first step up! Am excited.

Also, my spot at the first LARP event of the year was confirmed. In a fit of excitement, I threw together a rough design for some new leather gauntlets. Going home again Friday, so will be able to do some proper leatherwork then. Until then, you just get a picture of an un-worked leather and duct tape prototype.

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Yummy!! Ribs! Congrats on your first week! That's a great plan for your walk/jogs next week. I LOVE the elliptical! But I also walk and wish I could run! Just recently I've started the intervals like you're planning :)

Also, I replied today to your original message telling you about my smoked wings that I reward myself with. Then I found out they were cold smoked AND fried. So upset, but I'll still go to the same place and have a few beers and wings IF I do good all week. I don't know what happened to the post but I'm pretty upset that it's not here.

I love Orlando, it's been crazy weather-wise. I'd actually like to move to south Florida just cause I like the beach.

Congrats on your LARP event. Not exactly sure what it is but your arm thing is pretty cool!

Hope you have a great night!
 
Woohoo! Officially one week in now. And my first step up with my exercise - successfully did 15 mins of walk 1, jog 2! Super happy right now. Progress is a nice feeling.

As for food today - beans and scrambled egg on toast for lunch, and had some birthday cake and ice cream today - housemate turned 29. Total kcals about 1,700. Was planning on having some pasta as well today, but I'm not hungry.

Fast day tomorrow. Moving my Monday fast to Tuesday, I've decided. I'd rather be hungry doing weights than hungry running.
 
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