It's my turn to get in shape!

[HannibalX]

Well, I am actually already in shape - round is a shape!

No need for a history lesson, so here is a quick rundown. I was an athlete in high school, ran track, played basketball and hockey. At the time was about 155-160 lbs, six feet tall. After that I got into weight lifting, bulked up to about 185-190 lbs and became a real nail driver. I stayed that way for a few years and slowly started to decline. Then I got married, quit the routine, got an office job doing IT work and here I am at 24 years old, weighing in at 275 lbs (ouch). :frown:

I got very sick in late 2006 which robbed me of almost all of my strength. It took me literally months to recover (immune system and digestive problems - not fun). So now I am thinking if I don't get this weight off and regain my strength before 28-30 years old I am going to be fvcked for the rest of my life by being overweight and having ongoing health problems.

SO! (I know I said this would be short!) I have decided NOW is the time to get the ball rolling. I remember back in my weight lifting days if I needed to drop 10 lbs fast I would just run my ass off. Now, I realize my body is going react different this time around but still it's the only place I know to start and I think the right place to start.

I started my "pre-run my ass off" routine yesterday which is stacking twice a day (ECA) and 30 minutes of stretching morning and evening. My word - let me tell you after a few years of inactivity I have lost ALL flexibility. I was laughing at myself today going through my stretching, it was pathetic what I was UNABLE to do.

So after a week of stretching I plan to start off slow (because frankly, if I tried to run anywhere right now chances are I'd hurt myself). I will be shooting for 2 miles walking per day (one morning, one evening) while continuing my 30 minutes morning/evening stretching. After a two weeks of that if my knees, ankles and lungs are willing I will start running again. I don't know how far or how long, I will need to see where I am at that point.

Some of you might see this as taking it slow, but really I am just playing it safe. I don't want to get hurt because my brain still thinks I can do the same things I could when I was 18 years old. My goal is to be in BETTER shape than I was at my peak level of health, and I realize that is going to take time.

If you look at me now you would never know how healthy and fit I was years ago - I look like a typical schlub now - hell, women don't even look at me anymore (not a big deal, I'm married) but a few years back I had to beat them off with a stick. Man when women quit noticing you, you feel like shit. But I am not doing this so women will look at me, I am doing it for myself, my wife and to be able to live a long healthy life without havening ongoing health problems.

Well this was a little longer than I imagined it would be, but I felt the need to :get it out. I'll be posting my progress on the forum here from time to time.

Cheers.

 

[GenHoth]

Good luck! We'll be around with encouragement and advice if you ever need them!

 

[paulxcook]

Good luck, man. If you want, use this as an ongoing fitness journal. Post some "now" pics and let us watch as they become "before" pics. I think the important part here is that you're doing this for a good reason, rather than just because you have some vague notion of wanting to look good. If you're 6' and 275, now is definitely the time to get back to your old self.

 

[HannibalX]

Currently 270.5 lbs as of this morning folks! This is from simple diet changes, my stretching routine and my walking that I spoke about above (plus ECA).

Next week I will start running. Weee!

 

[GenHoth]

Nice! Keep up the good work!

 

[Grimner]

Good luck! And as a lazy idiot who somehow managed to skip his yoga for the last year, I feel you stretching

 

[XZeroII]

Good job. Keep it up.

 

[Lithium381]

I just started as well, though i have different goals than you. Good luck and keep us updated, sounds like you're making positive progress already!

 

[HannibalX]

First day of running. I am sore as hell. I managed to make it one mile today, which is more than I expected to.

270.0 lbs.

Since everyone else is throwing up pics I might as well get my fat arse up as well. Will have pics later today.

 

[HannibalX]

262 and falling! WooO!

 

[Tarrant64]

Awesome! I started to drop weight again about a month ago. I was letting myself drift up to 200lbs. I'm only 22 and I find I can cut weight easily with a decent workout and change in eating habits. I went from 195-185 earlier this year. this past month I made it down to 177lbs.

Then there was thanksgiving and christmas. I find myself at 186lbs. No more excuses to eat a ton of food anymore so I'll use your post as encouragement!

My goal is 170lbs. Work hard and I bet you you'll see 220 or less by the end of '08!!!

 

[nitrousninja]

Grats on deciding to take your health seriously!

A little advice I learned from experience:

1. Get a heart monitor. I use the F8 from Polar. It will help you by giving you goals and letting you know when you are pushing yourself too hard or not enough. Besides, gadgets are cool!


2. Talk to a nutritionist. 90% of weight loss is proper diet and control. If you eat like crap all the sit ups in the world won't save you.

3. Routine! Get a fitness plan and stick to it. I joined a gym and got a physical trainer. Best descision I ever made regarding my health. You may not need one because you were actively involved in fitness when you were younger but I was not.

You probably already thought about this stuff but I thought I'd throw it in here.



Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Cyraxx]

I suggest a bit of reading too in your free time. Obviously you are suggesting most of that 275lbs is fat now. Well the thing is if you read around, "Running your ass off" unlike popular idea, is not how you lose fat. Why? Because cardio also eats your muscles. Start lifting brotha. And in the mean time, read this http://forums.menshealth.com/e.../295109121/m/474106321

 

[Obsoleet]

Originally posted by: Cyraxx
I suggest a bit of reading too in your free time. Obviously you are suggesting most of that 275lbs is fat now. Well the thing is if you read around, "Running your ass off" unlike popular idea, is not how you lose fat. Why? Because cardio also eats your muscles. Start lifting brotha. And in the mean time, read this http://forums.menshealth.com/e.../295109121/m/474106321

I lifted for years, and always felt sorry for the guys with huge guts who couldnt get rid of them, that were more than happy to lift weights.
The OP's muscles are prob small and far beneath large glumps of fat. I doubt this "eating" of muscle will make him weaker.

I'd suggest light weights at first with jogging, and most importantly permanent dietary changes.

 

[Cyraxx]

Originally posted by: Obsoleet

Originally posted by: Cyraxx
I suggest a bit of reading too in your free time. Obviously you are suggesting most of that 275lbs is fat now. Well the thing is if you read around, "Running your ass off" unlike popular idea, is not how you lose fat. Why? Because cardio also eats your muscles. Start lifting brotha. And in the mean time, read this http://forums.menshealth.com/e.../295109121/m/474106321

I lifted for years, and always felt sorry for the guys with huge guts who couldnt get rid of them, that were more than happy to lift weights.
The OP's muscles are prob small and far beneath large glumps of fat. I doubt this "eating" of muscle will make him weaker.

I'd suggest light weights at first with jogging, and most importantly permanent dietary changes.

Oh no, by all means, cardio wont do you bad, after a nice workout of lifting I always do 15-30 minutes. But people who are fat and want to lose it all sometimes come in with the mentality that fat loss = cardio = long strenuous running, jogging, walking, stairs, and bicycling. Which is false, if you really want to lose the fat, lifting is where it comes from.

 

[HannibalX]

Cyraxx, I think you should stick to your own plan. This is what I need to be doing right now and I will stick with it until I feel I am ready to move on to the second part of my plan. I am not interested in your suggestions.

 

[Cyraxx]

It's not my plan, its science, facts, etc... I suggest a lot of heavy reading but to each their own.

 

[HannibalX]

Cyraxx, you make a lot of assumptions about a person you don't know from a few posts made on an internet forum. I suppose that you think that because I am starting out with running that it's the only thing I intend to do. What a narrow mind.

I think you should skip this thread, I do not need or want your suggestions and your feedback is not needed or wanted. Goodbye.

 

[Cyraxx]

Im not telling you what to do buddy, I didn't assume what you did or did not do. I'm telling you facts, studys, research, choose to ignore it if you wish. I was just trying to help, sorry to see you take it like an insult to your personality or something :roll:

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: Cyraxx
Im not telling you what to do buddy, I didn't assume what you did or did not do. I'm telling you facts, studys, research, choose to ignore it if you wish. I was just trying to help, sorry to see you take it like an insult to your personality or something :roll:

Hah. More assumptions. There you go again. Read your OWN POST to see YOUR error.

Now, if you have nothing else, stay out of my thread. This thread isn't about you yacking about things people already know or you trying to pass along any vital knowledge. It is for me to log my progress which I have decided to share. Goodbye.

 

[HannibalX]

251.5 lbs. None of my pants fit! All of my shirts look like bed sheets!

I am averaging 3 miles a day, five days a week. I have 3 small meals a day with two "large" snacks (about 1/2 the calories of my meals). I am doing about 1700 calories a day. I try not to go over 1800, it's hard when I eat out though because there are no food facts to go on.

Routine at the moment.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
Wake 4am, 30 mins of stretching, light breakfast+ECA. Run 1.5 miles (down to the end of my road and back). Snack around 8am. Lunch around 11am, snack around 3pm+ECA, dinner around 5pm. 1.5 mile run after dinner, 30 mins of cool down stretching. In bed by about 9pm.

Sat/Sun:
Wake up about 7am, 30 mins of stretching, light breakfast+ECA. Run 3 miles. Snack around 9am, lunch around noon, snack+ECA around 3ish. I go out to dinner both these days (hey ya gotta have some fun). No evening exercise. In bed around 11pm'ish.

Tues/Thurs: Same eating schedule just no exercise.

Sometime in middle Febuary I hope to be down to about 240 and at that point I am going to start increasing my caleries and slowly get back on the weights.

PS. My back quit hurting about two weeks ago!

 

[TecHNooB]

You should eat more.. chicken breast preferably Eat at least 2500 calories.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: TecHNooB
You should eat more.. chicken breast preferably Eat at least 2500 calories.

I wouldn't say that much. 2500 is almost close to maintence. I'd say take in about 2200. 1700-1800 is a bit low, so maybe 2000-2200? If you're not having much trouble with hunger, then do what you do, but it'd still be a bit healthier to be slightly about 2k.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: Cyraxx
Im not telling you what to do buddy, I didn't assume what you did or did not do. I'm telling you facts, studys, research, choose to ignore it if you wish. I was just trying to help, sorry to see you take it like an insult to your personality or something :roll:

Hah. More assumptions. There you go again. Read your OWN POST to see YOUR error.

Now, if you have nothing else, stay out of my thread. This thread isn't about you yacking about things people already know or you trying to pass along any vital knowledge. It is for me to log my progress which I have decided to share. Goodbye.

Rider: At this point, what you're doing is helping your body, but some lifting won't hurt. What Cyraxx says about burning muscle is true. Also, if you build up your muscle mass, you'll burn more calories each and every day even if you're not doing anything. Honestly, you're doing a great job, so I say: when you see it fit, start lifting a bit. Doing both lifting and cardio will take you where you want to be. Congrats so far though, man, your results are impressive.

 

[Chrono]

Good job. You've officially messed yourself up. Here are somethings I have to point out to you.

#1 Your caloric intake is too low for your weight. You're officially in starvation mode. Watch out for your metabolism because it's now shot and once you stop dieting your just going to balloon back.

#2. Are you trying to lose weight only or do you mean body fat? Because it seems you've lost a bit of both + some water weight. Have you measured your lean body mass versus the body fat that you have lately?


You may want to include some information about your nutrition, even though it's 1800 calories, it may be 1800 calories of some harmful processed stuff that would not make your body any healthier.