New guy here, has many questions

[youknowwhoibee]

Hey all ) Im Joe from Baltimore, MD. I was referred here by briansol. I am in need of some direction i should go in my pending weightloss. Before i begin to ask my questions let me just breif you first.

January 2006, I weighed 190 lbs, and i am 6'4''. So i was a comfortable weight. Not fat nore skinny, very toned and athletic. I could run a mile in 6:30. So i was happy, but then i moved into my own place. I got a 2 bedroom apartment with my current girlfriend. I didnt have a job when i moved in because it was to a new area and i had a cushion to survive on. I received a new computer and got addicted to computer games. Counterstrike Source, Call of Duty 2, Battlefield... all first person shooters with no end to it. So i will play them for 6-8 hours a day. I put back a 12 pack of Pepsi each day. I would eat like a pig and sit all day. I was depressed i couldnt find a job and was lazy.

I could feel it, i would lose my breathe walking up to my third floor apartment. My face would break out and i just felt a gut forming. So I continued to play these god forsaken games, and never exercised anymore. Well a few days ago i got my first stretchmark. So that is the turning point in my eating habits. I went out and bought a scale... 265! I am one fat slob. I notice i have a gut and some huge thighs. I have no clue how to get rid of it. I want to look good for my wedding and it is coming up next fall. So i need this gone and that brings me to these questions.

1. Should i join a gym, or are at-home exercises just as good? If at home applies, what types should i do?

2. Does the Weight Watchers point system diet work? Or should I just do proportionate dieting?

3. Is it possible to lose 70 pounds in 7 months if i work hard?

4. What are soem good alternatives to Coke or pepsi? I dont need a sugary juice or lemonade. I would like to find something with some taste that isnt full of calories.

I dont wanna be a World Strongest Man, i just want to be "tone" again. I saw myself at a all time low of 170 pounds 16 months ago and i looked good. But i know it is not possible. I just want my fiance to be happy with my looks and i want to be happy with my health. I need alot of guidence, Feel free to give me websites or add any additional information to this thread. I need all the help i can get :(

[Sportsmedjosh]

Originally Posted by youknowwhoibee

1. Should i join a gym, or are at-home exercises just as good? If at home applies, what types should i do?

A big factor has to do with your comfort level. Do you feel comfortable working around other individuals, do you see yourself making the drive each and every day between your house and the gym? If you worked out at home would you push yourself as hard if you were working out around other individuals. I personally prefer to work out at home. Any exercises you do at the gym can be replicated at home with limited equipment. Dumbells, bench or ball, pull up bar. I know thats not a lot of equipment but you can add more as time goes by.

2. Does the Weight Watchers point system diet work? Or should I just do proportionate dieting?

I would stay away from a weight watchers point system as it's not designed spec for you. It doesn't take into accout your RMR/BMR (metabolism) at all rather assign point values for specific food. In reality you could eat all your points in junk food if you wanted to. I would say a lifestyle change is going to be required. Check out our post about nutrition as their is a lot of good stuff there. If you need any more specific help I work with an RD and she sets up our members with a pretty good deal, if you want something super specific.

3. Is it possible to lose 70 pounds in 7 months if i work hard?

2 lbs is what is recommended at a healthy rate to loose. 4 weeks time 7 months is 28 months. Once multiplied at 2#/week you get 56 #. Which is close to 70. If you work under the supervision of a practioner I do not see why you couldn't excees this weight loose. Remember though it's not weight loss that we are really concerned about, it's body fat percentage.

4. What are soem good alternatives to Coke or pepsi? I dont need a sugary juice or lemonade. I would like to find something with some taste that isnt full of calories.

I would say water but thats just me. If your really hard core about loosing this your going to have to cut out a lot of stuff that you don't "need". If you can go two weeks chances are your body will not crave it anymore.

I dont wanna be a World Strongest Man, i just want to be "tone" again. I saw myself at a all time low of 170 pounds 16 months ago and i looked good. But i know it is not possible. I just want my fiance to be happy with my looks and i want to be happy with my health. I need alot of guidence, Feel free to give me websites or add any additional information to this thread. I need all the help i can get :(

I hope the info i posted helps you out. It's pretty simple and straight foward. You should post your diet for a couple days on here so we can also look it over.

[LoveGuinness]

If you want to work out at home, but don't think you can push yourself to getting a maximum work out, see if you can get a personal traniner to go to your home and work out with you.

[briansol]

welcome aboard joe :)

I did the gym thing for a while.... but eventually i got lazy and stopped going. i think i paid for it for over a year before i actually canceled my membership without going once. I got home equipment now, and its MUCH more convienent for me. I can work out when I want to..... not just when the gym is open. No waiting in line.... going at your own pace.

You can still eat what you want... but do it in moderation. I lost 17 pounds in about 3 weeks.... and my diet has been anything but "spec on". I've had pizza, chicken parm, and lots of other things that should be boycotted from a good diet. but instead of housing a whole medium pizza, i'd have 2 or 3 slices and a salad. It makes it much easier to live with, doesn't change your lifestyle too much, and with moderation you can still shed some weight.

Most people here will disagree with that. And to some extent, i do too. But doing a complete 180 on your lifestyle and eating habbits will have you forgetting about it and going back to yoru old ways in no time at all.

Over time, 2-3 slices becomes 1-2 slices, and more salad. eventually, the salad takes over, and eventually, the dressing disappears altogether. Transition is key.

For drinks, i like Fruit2o. its got that splenda crap in it which isn't exactly good for you, but its not nutrasweet and its not sugar. 0 cals, tastes good.
I also drink a lot of tea. real tea... not the bottled crap.

Weight watchers is for 40 year old ladies. not you.

With some motivation (you have it... you're gettiing married), its all in your head.
get off your ass and do something.

turn off the tv... go for a walk.

snows? shovel it instead of the snow blower.

shopping? park as far away as possible... longer walk.

simple stuff can add up.

[youknowwhoibee]

Sportsmedjosh- Thanks for the great info. I live in a smaill 1 bedroom apt. But i do have a gym at work. It has 4 treadmills, 2 bikes, 1 eliptical, 3 benches, someother things i dont know what they do ... lol. So i feel going there would be just like doing it at home. I am definatly comfortable at home, but i am not comfortable with my forming man boobs :( I honestly want to be healthy. I need to find out some simple recipes because i suck at cooking. Do you feel the eating after 9 is crucial? Because the woman makes me meals every night and sometimes their not the healthiest.

batgirl0711- i think i should take advantage of our free nutrtionist at work. Most are online and over the phone but i can set up meeting used for evaluations, But for a trainer, i am lost on. I dont wanna soend a whole bunch of money for a trainer but i do wanna be healthy again. I dont like the way i look. I dont like when i sit down, my stomach hangs over partially from my belt. I also dont like my waist being a 38 now, when it used to be a 33.

briansol- I admire you, in the most un-gay way possible. I think you seem to have your head on straight. And i honestly think you are going to go far in life. You are 3-4 years old than me so you mainly have ran into most situations i am coming up on. Like college, careers, vehicles :P Your advice is good, and i feel the fruit2o is a good idea. I stopped partying because I am serious about my weightloss. Marriage is scary and i know i am gonna have to work hard but i am not doing this for Holly, it is strictly for me.

I think that alot of my weightloss is from starbucks/coffee and eating at work. I probably spend 80 bucks a week in food and coffee. Like everyone at work orders pizza, hamburgers, subs and i feel i need food why not. I guess i should go out to eat. But when i go out, instead of going to the supermarket, i go to the burger king and get a number one with a cup of sugary coke. So i need help i know it and i am more than open to any opinions and help needed. I am clueless, what exercises to do for what conditioning. I guess i will post around and get some overall answers. Thanks again for the responses, keep them coming.

[LoveGuinness]

First, start off slow. Give yourself a goal of walking 30min instead of running 2mi, that way once you accomplish walking you feel happy instead of feeling bumed out that you got winded trying to run 2mi. The more realistic the goals, the better off you are.

Second, give yourself a day to go against your diet, its essentially your day to cheat and your body will thank you.

Third, your diet should be healthy and not so restrictive that you are depressed because you are eating foods that you really dont want to eat.

Speaking to a nutritionist is going to be very helpful, just make sure you stick to a meal plan that she gives you. Cooking for your gf will be helpful because you are more likely to want to prepare something nice and healthy that the two of you can enjoy instead of just going to burger king.

[briansol]

Originally Posted by youknowwhoibee

briansol- I admire you, in the most un-gay way possible. I think you seem to have your head on straight. And i honestly think you are going to go far in life. You are 3-4 years old than me so you mainly have ran into most situations i am coming up on. Like college, careers, vehicles :P Your advice is good,

:ban

lol. thanks :P I'm not all that. I mess up as much as the next guy.

and i feel the fruit2o is a good idea. I stopped partying because I am serious about my weightloss. Marriage is scary and i know i am gonna have to work hard but i am not doing this for Holly, it is strictly for me.

stopping partying if its something you like to do is also not the answer. See the 180 above.

what you CAN do, is do it in moderation. Instead of having 12 bud heavy's, have 2 or 3 mich ultra's. 80 cals a pop, decent tasting brew (similar to bud light). You still can go out and have a good time, and you can drive home legally to boot.

I think that alot of my weightloss is from starbucks/coffee and eating at work. I probably spend 80 bucks a week in food and coffee. Like everyone at work orders pizza, hamburgers, subs and i feel i need food why not. I guess i should go out to eat. But when i go out, instead of going to the supermarket, i go to the burger king and get a number one with a cup of sugary coke. So i need help i know it and i am more than open to any opinions and help needed. I am clueless, what exercises to do for what conditioning. I guess i will post around and get some overall answers. Thanks again for the responses, keep them coming.

starbucks is for homos.... but i'm a big coffee drinker myself.

coffee itself isn't so bad.... its the sugar and cream you add to it that ruins it.

I'm lactose interolerant, so its probably easier for me than others... but i don't use cream in my coffee. I use 1 sugar per 8oz, so a medium cup is roughly 12-16 oz, so i use 2 sugars, and black.

Sure, i SHOULD be using 0 sugar, but it's just not going to happen.

Originally Posted by batgirl0711

Third, your diet should be healthy and not so restrictive that you are depressed because you are eating foods that you really dont want to eat.

exactly.

[youknowwhoibee]

I tried sticking to working out like a week now. I can run a mile at 6.5 mph easy on the treadmill. So i am not a lazy slob, It is just progressing from there that is hard. I drink straight black coffee. There is a starbucks at work so i grab a cup of coffee with cream and sugar as i hit the steps. So yeah i pay 1.05 for 16 oz of coffee, but it is on the way so it is cool.

My diet basically is no fast food, no added sugars or not needed sugars, and eating foods in proportions prepared "better"
Fried chicken<Baked Chicken etc.
Also substitutions
fries<salad
icecream<fruit.