It's time to try again

[Category]

Hey all, had a scare stepping on the scale this morning for the first time in awhile. I decided I've got to jump on this before it gets out of hand.

I'm looking to lose around 58 pounds exercising alone and/or with a friend with just every day activity and the month of November will be my trial time. I've noticed that I have trouble finishing things I start, especially over longer periods of time so I'm looking for some support to help keep me on track.

I know this won't be easy for me, especially because I've tried improving my physique before but i'm beginning to be extremely unhealthy and don't really like that person in the mirror anymore.

I'm considering writing a blog on my progress, along with already working on a daily schedule of activity (tomorrow being the first of the month, I'll be testing myself to find my current limits and see how far I can push myself).

If I do decide to make a blog on the topic, I'll post the link in the near future in this thread. Thanks all for reading, and thank you VERY much if you decide to help me stay on track in losing some poundage(word?).

All suggestions welcome, anything you've tried before and enjoyed or just some fun exercise ideas.  

[The Magic Pudding]

Doctor Rudi has some words of wisdom.

[youtube:1plsfprb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-jy3OtZAss[/youtube:1plsfprb]

[Tank]

Eat less calories, exercise more, eat as few processed foods as possible. Don't get too hungry, too quickly. If you currently eat 3,000 calories a day and you want to get to 2,500. Don't go to 2,500 immediately and in one chunk. Increase your calorie outgoing a little and reduce your calorie intake gradually. It has probably taken years for you to reach your current weight so what makes you think you could/should reduce it in less time? If you lose 1lb a week, on average, then it'll take 58 weeks to shave off what you want to, how long did it take to put it on? More than 58 weeks I bet! A slow loss is a sustainable loss as it trains you to control you food intake at a reasonable level. Weigh yourself once a week at the same time in the same state of dress I.E. Saturday morning when you get up after you've had a trip to the loo. Write your weight down in a little note book and try to be as dispassionate as you can about what you read. If you are disappointed then think back about what you ate or didn't do that may be the cause of your disappointment and do your best to rectify the situation. Don't panic if you put on a few pounds over Christmas. As long as you are generally losing weight you will reach your target weight it's as simply as that (in a mathematical sense). Simply stopping gaining weight is good enough to begin with. Slimming is a case of 'slowly, slowly catchy monkey.'

Good luck.

PS You could consider posting your weekly weight here each week so you have something to focus on.

[Category]

@Tank I wish it had taken years to put it on, sadly the weight gain and loss of daily activity corresponds with my WoW subscription... So I'm cutting down on my play time, going to start paying attention to my calorie intake, and I was going to use the blog (still not created) to keep a record on weight, activity, calories and other such info that'll help me keep an eye on progress.

I've never been much of an organized sport fan, else I would just join one of the many at my school. I don't expect to lose it all instantly, but I do expect progress in the month of November =]

[Tank]

WoW! That explains a lot  

[DropLogic]

I bought myself a punching bag 3 months ago.  I don't have a set schedule, but I generally beat on it for about 25 minutes 3-4 times a week.  I haven't really change my calorie intake, but I've lost 14 pounds so far.  It does fluctuate, but the general trend is that I'm losing weight.  It doesn't seem to matter what you eat, just how much you're eating.  Calorie counting is really tedious and annoying.  I just try to keep in mind how much I'm consuming when I eat.  One thing I've started doing is instead of bringing the entire bag of chips to the couch to watch tv, is to put a handful in a bowl.  Once its gone, its gone.  That way I don't unwittingly eat the whole bag while watching a good show.
Another good trick is to slow down when eating.  If you usually eat your meal in a matter of minutes, your body doesn't have time to tell you that you're full. If you start taking your time to eat, you'll notice you feel full before you finish your meal.

[joeactor]

Good advice from Tank and DL.

Not much to add, but find a variety of exercises you enjoy.

I walk, Bowflex, and Wii-Fit (plus a little Yoga).
Mixing it up helps keep me on track.
Also got a good scale and weigh myself on a regular basis.

I was pretty portly as a youngster.  Now I'm in fairly good shape, but it's a constant battle.  I can put on pounds just by looking at food...
Currently waging war on 5 lbs.  After that, we'll see where I'm at...

(btw, DL - I hear a heavy bag is great exercise too.)

[DropLogic]

Good advice from Tank and DL.

Not much to add, but find a variety of exercises you enjoy.

I walk, Bowflex, and Wii-Fit (plus a little Yoga).
Mixing it up helps keep me on track.
Also got a good scale and weigh myself on a regular basis.

I was pretty portly as a youngster.  Now I'm in fairly good shape, but it's a constant battle.  I can put on pounds just by looking at food...
Currently waging war on 5 lbs.  After that, we'll see where I'm at...

(btw, DL - I hear a heavy bag is great exercise too.)

I may draw a cross on the punching bag to motivate me further.

I have started mixing it up a bit recently.  I will mix in kicks with the punches.  My goal is to kick the upper 25% (roughly 1.8 - 2m)of the bag while keeping my balance.  Adding attainable goals to your workouts or eating habits makes you feel good when you reach them.  The trick is coming up with realistic ones.

[The Magic Pudding]

It doesn't seem to matter what you eat, just how much you're eating.  Calorie counting is really tedious and annoying.  I just try to keep in mind how much I'm consuming when I eat.  One thing I've started doing is instead of bringing the entire bag of chips to the couch to watch tv, is to put a handful in a bowl.

I think it does matter what you eat, you don't have to be obsessive about it though.
It's hard to eat chips if you don't bring them into the house, don't buy crap, fruit is good.
Food can be cooked without oil, truly, I've done it.
I put sugar in tea, but I don't drink soft drinks or packaged juices.
I made the switch from fresh milk to powdered skim milk years ago, it doesn't take long to get used to it.
Preparing your own food and avoiding packaged crap helps.

[skwurll]

Well, I'm not exactly a weight loss guru (According to my BMI, I'm at risk for obesity), but just adding a little bit of exercise can really help out.
For example, I started walking home from school (a brisk 20 minute walk), and I've certainly lost quite a bit of fat.
It's just little things added into your routine that help, maybe walk more and skip the second helping once in a while (something I have trouble with) and see what happens.

[DropLogic]

It doesn't seem to matter what you eat, just how much you're eating.  Calorie counting is really tedious and annoying.  I just try to keep in mind how much I'm consuming when I eat.  One thing I've started doing is instead of bringing the entire bag of chips to the couch to watch tv, is to put a handful in a bowl.

I think it does matter what you eat, you don't have to be obsessive about it though.
It's hard to eat chips if you don't bring them into the house, don't buy crap, fruit is good.
Food can be cooked without oil, truly, I've done it.
I put sugar in tea, but I don't drink soft drinks or packaged juices.
I made the switch from fresh milk to powdered skim milk years ago, it doesn't take long to get used to it.
Preparing your own food and avoiding packaged crap helps.

It's cold hard math.  Calories in, calories out.  If you're talking long term health, then yes, it is probably best to avoid the processed stuff.  I belong to a local farmers co-op during the summer months.  Fresh local produce is unbeatable in taste, quality, and price.

[Tank]

Well, I'm not exactly a weight loss guru (According to my BMI, I'm at risk for obesity), but just adding a little bit of exercise can really help out.
For example, I started walking home from school (a brisk 20 minute walk), and I've certainly lost quite a bit of fat.
It's just little things added into your routine that help, maybe walk more and skip the second helping once in a while (something I have trouble with) and see what happens.

I can concur about the exercise. I put on about 3kg between one dog dying and getting the next two as there was nothing to get me to go out for an hour long walk every day.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Cycling is excellent low-impact exercise, and it'll get you out of the house too.

If you're lucky you have some good trails around.  If not, be careful in traffic.

[karadan]

I've been cycling to and from work for the last three months and in that time, i've lost half a stone. I'm happy

[Tank]

Cycling is excellent low-impact exercise, and it'll get you out of the house too.

If you're lucky you have some good trails around.  If not, be careful in traffic.

I live at the top of a hill, if I lived in a valley I'd probably cycle more.