Pretty Individual Problem At Hand...

[Resistance]

Dear all,

This is my first post on Epoc Fitness Forums. I'm 17 years old and have a pretty unstable fitness story to tell. What I mean by this is that every time I get motivated to exercise, that motivation lasts for a week, in some cases a few months, then it completely stops and I regain all my lost weight.

The more specific issue that I wanted to address in this post is the excess fat in my chest area - call them man boobs if you wish. This problem has been embarassing me and irritating me since I began to mature - say around the age of 13 or 14. It could be genetic, I do almost have my father's exact figure.

My problem in general is that I very rarely get hungry; due to our culture we just have good healthy meals regularly - problem is, I'm not always hungry. I've cut that attitude out.

However, I'm an asthmatic as well - this has always had a psychological effect on me whenever I'm working out. I always tire out quickly, although it gets better as time progresses. This also leads to my metabolism being the worst I have ever come across in a human.

If it makes any difference most of the time when I am not engaged in physical activity, I breathe through my nose and my mouth is rarely open - I don't really feel that I'm ever digesting the food that I take in.

I became slightly more motivated to work out recently - I went to the gym 3 days in a row doing only cardio exercises - no weights. My problem is that I'm automatically de-motivated if I don't see results soon enough - I'm sure I'm not working out in a proper way.

If any of you would be so kind as to help me overcome any of the afore mentioned problems, I would greatly appreciate it.

Just to list my problems with my health/fitness/body etc:

1. Asthmatic
2. Rarely Hungry
3. Pathetically low metabolism
4. Gynecomastia - (male breasts) - this is the main issue that is worrying me and I would like some useful advice as to how I could overcome it.
5. Used to lift weights, stopped, and now have excess fat in my arms, forearms and chest.
6. Get demotivated from working out very quickly.

If any of you could point me in the right direction to solve any of these problems, it would be greatly appreciated.

Stay healthy!

Resistance.

[Resistance]

Oh and I forgot to post my height/weight:

I'm 5'10 and I weigh 200 lb's ----> Age: 17

[Sportsmedjosh]

Welcome to the forum first off!

Sorry to hear about you losing motivation after a short period of time. It seems like all your doing is cardio and a lot of it. Chances are you might be burning yourself off.

There are a number of areas I would like to address:

1. Eating, even though you might not eat a lot this could be a real problem and might be the cause of a slow metabolism. Hardly ever eating your body goes into a semi starvation mode in which is tends to hold onto what it has. Actually eating more will counter act this but it will prob take a little longer for you to see the results of this.

2. Weight Lifting - I think one of the biggest things you should also do is focus on weight training. An increase in lean muscle mass will increase your lean body mass which will in turn speed up your metabolism allowing your body to consume and process more calories efficiently.

3. Use to lift weights now fat - The fat where around your arms have nothing to do with stopping lifting weights but rather your nutrition profile. Muscle cannot turn into fat.

What are you currently doing for exercise now? It seems you might be getting bored of all the cardio that your doing.

[cabezon]

Welcome. Dubai huh? I hear nice things about that place. I hope that you can find something that interests you. Are you going to school? is there a sport that you enjoy? I find that having a commitment to other people helps me stay focused on the days that i don't want to go and do, whatever it is i am to do. A running club that meets once or twice a week motivates me to run other days too. a soccer club that plays on Sunday might keep you motivated.

Habits take about 21 days to form, good or bad. If you only schedule one weeks worth of workouts, its not enought to get you moving and develope the habit. Once the habit is built, we innately want to keep it going. So, try to schedule at least ten workouts in three weeks of whatever you like to do. keep your workout clothes handy, and on days you don't feel motivated, come and post here and ask permission to take a day off.

[bellavus]

I am asthmatic as well. What is your triggers for asthma?

[Resistance]

@ Sportsmedjosh: I definitely am getting bored of all the cardio I'm doing...I just walk, jog, use the stationary bicycle, the cross-country machine, and a few pushups. I need to lose the belly and the chest fat, and more importantly the thighs that never seem to lose fat.

@ Cabezon: See that's the problem I'm having: if I don't include weight training in my fitness plan and all I'm doing is cardio, I'll get bored of it mainly because it doesn't really show any results.

I'm moving to Uni (just graduated from HS) in just under a month so I have a while to get things going. Um I have membership to a wonderful gym in a great hotel here, because a relative has a residence there etc etc. It's just when I do cardio I get so bored. I'm worried if i work out my chest muscles my gynecomastia problem will just increase.

My main goals are to lose the belly, thigh and chest fat, become fit and healthy in time for when uni begins - both for the appearance factor and that I wanna join the soccer team.

@ Bellavus: my main aggravation is if I'm in a stuffy room - that just kills me. I always have the a/c on high fan and a very low temperature - otherwise I just can't sleep at night. As well as this, grass and pollen cause me to wheeze. I can't really jog for more than 10 mins on the treadmill @ 8kph. Finally I think if I'm stressed out I begin to wheeze as well.


Ok now guys...I just came back from having my 2nd pair of wisdom teeth removed. I had a sandwich for breakfast and because of my increased heart beat at the dentist's I felt I immediately broke down that sandwich :P

The first time I went to get wisdoms removed I couldn't eat for a day - the next day I was so hungry and I just stuffed myself with Burger King. I'd like to know how to control extreme hunger - I mean in cases like these. For example I know I'm gonna wake up tomorrow with a smaller belly but I'm gonna be starving - how do you guys suggest I go about eating just enough/taking advantage of the lost weight?

I really appreciate this guys, thanks! :)

Resistance.

[Sportsmedjosh]

Man i remember when i had my widsom teeth removed i ate nothing put apple sauce. I think i lost 8 pounds.

I suggest you tell us about your diet and see if you're getting anywhere to what you need to be getting.

[Resistance]

Ok well...because it's my summer holiday I stay up really late so I usually wake up in the early afternoons - i.e. no breakfast. Sometimes I'll have lunch which could any of the following:

Fast food, restaurants like TGI Friday's etc, but more recently I stopped eating junk food for about 5 weeks now...and in those 3 days that I did cardio (last wednesday thursday and friday) I had cereal, an omelette and orange juice. For lunch one of the days it was fruit, and sheesh kebab for dinner. However on thursday it was a heavy lunch at the indian restaurant in a hotel and on friday an equally heavy portion of prawns - I'm allergic to all seafood except prawns btw.

Basically...I don't really have breakfast, I cut out junk food, I have the odd sandwich, eat some fruits...but usually I unintentionally go for long periods without eating...then I'll stuff myself with healthy food - like lebanese food...healthy but filling. Then I'll gain weight and have no motivation to go to the gym - my exact situation now...

[cabezon]

prawns are freshwater, not seafood. but anyway...

Dude, don't do that to yourself. everyone has some difficulty maintaining a regular schedule, but if you make it fun, you will want to go. If you plan on playing soccer at UNI, then get out there and kick a ball around. You also might want to give yourself some positive affirmations, you are generally healthy and so what if you have some areas that you would like to change. OK, me too. But I really love myself, bald spot and all. Forget about looks and weight, do it for your health and have fun.

And stop fasting, that's whats causing the weight gain, not the foods that you DO eat.

[Resistance]

ok so now the main problem I'm gonna face in the near future...is my starvation tomorrow (which I'm already experiencing now) because my wisdoms are out. how do I go about taking advantage of the lost weight and dealing with the hunger properly?

[Sportsmedjosh]

I would wait until your wisdom teeth pains are gone and don't hurt no more. Enjoy your time relaxing and watchint TV.

[Resistance]

^ I got bored of that already, I've been doing that pretty much all day :P

Ok and how about when the hunger hits me and I can eat?

[cabezon]

Drink a big glass of water and then eat a sensible meal.