I Begin My Journey At 353lbs

The NEW Internet Acronym, “TTGUOMFLBADS!”…”Time To Get Up Off My Fat Lazy Butt And Do Something!”

This is the beginning of a no holes barred series of blog posts.  Sure, I will still be posting about other random stuff from time to time, but I will now also have a series of blog posts about my personal weight-loss progress.  This is a way to keep me accountable for losing weight, and a physical way to keep me from slacking.  I just got home from swimming at Bally’s for 45minutes, and I haven’t felt this good in a LONG time, so I am more than motivate now to actually DO this.

There is currently a dichotomy in my life that needs correcting.  At work, the one thing I hate most is starting a job that I do not finish.  In order to be consistent, I MUST apply that thought process and practice to my personal life.  I have a tendency to start things and never finish them when it comes to my personal goals, and it’s time to end that.  2008 has been a year of setting new goals for me, and one of these is losing weight.  This isn’t some side project that I will do when and if I can, but rather something that I will consume myself withuntil I reach my target weight of 230.  You might say, “230? That’s huge!”  Well, I am six foot and seven inches tall, so that is actually a good weight for me.  Right now I am close to 350, and possibly more.  In fact letme take a second right now and check my weight on my new scale, that I just bought tonight (still in it’s box).  Be right back…

Ok, so the verdict is in, here are my stats for October 9th, 2008 @ 11:30pm

• WEIGHT = 353lbs
• BODY FAT = 46%
• BODY WATER = 39%

So, obviously these are super high.  I suspected as much, but hey, now I am doing something about it, so hopefully I will be able to get these numbers down.  I have compiled a list of how I plan to attack this weight problem.  Obviously eating right and working out, but here are the baby steps I have come up with for someone like me who only eats fast food, and only eats home cooked meals when friends or family invite me over.  Besides I have a kid now, and need to be in shape for him and my wife so I am healthy, for them as well as myself.

Here are my baby steps for eating:

1. Consume less (week one):I might still be eating bad stuff, but I am eating less of it.  Whenever I can I am cutting out extra things like “Value Sizing” or adding additional a-la-carte items after I’ve already ordered a meal.

2. Consume only before 8pm, then only water after 8pm (week two):No eating after 8pm, no matter how hungry I am.  I am thinking about keepingV 8/juices around for times like this, since I get hungry late at night.  I have also considered trying to go to bed earlier (you can’t be tempted when you aren’t awake)

3. Consume Smarter (week two and three): Eat better foods.  Substitute large portions of fatty meats and sides for more veggies or fruits, or even more chicken/proteins.  Begin to find a way to enjoy fruits and veggies more.  I have never had a problem with sweets, and I do not like deserts, so at least that part wont be a problem.

4. Consume Perfectly (week four+): This involves eating right, in terms of “what” to eat, as well as eating responsibly in terms of “when” to eat. A combination of what I have been trying to do for the last three weeks once I get to this point.

Eating will be harder for me than working out.  Most people are the other way around because going to the gym and working out is a lot of work, while eating differently is just a decision, but not any harder, labor-wise.  For me, working out will be easier because I was in shape until I was 19 from swimming every morning for 2 hours.  I am now 26 and have gained about 150lbs in 7 years.  This has been the cause of why I am on heart medsnow, for the past 2 years.  Anyway, on with the plan…

Here are my baby steps for excercising:

1. Excercise When Possible (week one):Plan when a good time to go is, and just go when you think about it or when I have time to go.  Don’t worry about a rigid schedule right now.  Just “going” at all is hard.

2. Excercise at least 3 times a week (week two: Mon/Wed/Fri): This can be different days, but putting off-days in between will help at first not to get burnt out.  Remember, I haven’t excercised in over 8 years.

3. Excercise 5 times a week (week three+: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sunday):  I chose these days because it seems the best way to space it out.  Also, it keeps two full days separated by the maximum number of workout days so that rest is optimized, at least in my opinion.  Having two rest days together is the worst situation, so having them as far apart as possible in the week must be the best, according to my internal logic.

Some people would say that exercising three or four times a week is enough, but I really want to attack this.  I do not want to take 5 years to lose this weight, I want it off by the end of 2009.

With 120lbs to lose and 14 months until the end of 2009, that is an average of 8.5lbs per month.  Some magazines say you should lose no more than 1lb a week, but that would take me over two years.  No thanks.  I want this weight off before my son turns two.  I want to be a good example for my kids just as much as I want to do this for myself.  A fat father produces a fat son.  Even if he doesn’t grow up physically fat, he will be lazy on the inside due to my example, and my sound physical health is part of that example he needs to see.

Tags: eating, eating right, excercise, excercising, Personal Weight Loss, weight loss, weight loss update