MPLexus301
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Hey guys,
I was referred to the forum as my brother posts here and mentioned that there is a wealth of knowledge on these boards. I am looking for some help with losing weight and getting into better shape, and keeping it off so I guess I should just get into it...
I just turned 21 a few weeks ago and got a new summer internship which required a health assessment. I came in at exactly 6 feet tall (no shock there) and 244lbs (a shock indeed) on the scale. Clearly, we have some issues.
As a kid I always struggled with my weight but in high school I got a bowflex and really decided to take charge of my health. When I was 16 I weighed about 280lbs (the largest point in my life), but from working out and eating better, I slimmed down to about 210lbs in just a few months. I guess they say baby fat comes off easier? I was using my bowflex for ~45 mins each day combined with about 45 mins of cardio, and really cut my diet down...clearly it worked.
Fast forward...I go off to college and get away from mom's cooking and start a regular gym regimen, and drop another 15 lbs, putting me right at about 195- The lightest I had ever been in recent memory. Well on Jan 6, 2007 I got into a pretty horrible car wreck and walked away with what, at the time, seemed like no damage. After a few days and weeks passed it became clear that I had soft tissue damage in my neck, upper and lower back, and shoulder. I was no longer able to work out like I had been and started putting weight back on slowly but surely. I had tried working out again here and there but weight lifting continued to irritate my shoulder, my classes got harder and I took on a job. Not that there are ever excuses for being unhealthy, but my health was no longer the priority that it once was.
I began to realize that I was putting on weight but just didn't have the time or $$ to get back into working out, plus it was later told to me that the soft tissue injures in my neck, back, and shoulder are all permanent and I'm just more or less...screwed. Truthfully I have been blessed with a naturally muscular build and I can hold weight without it being too noticeable. I've got very broad shoulders with a big chest, big calves and thighs, and wide set hips. I feel like a lot of people misuse the term, but I really am "big boned". 195 up to about 215 lbs wasn't much of a difference but after that I noticed that I was slipping back into my "fat" shorts and "fat" shirts more often and just told myself that I would get back into shape when I could.
Well...after my health assessment a month or so ago, I decided that the time is now and I really need to start and take control. I had gone back to my tactics from my previous weight loss, but my shoulder quickly made it known that my weight lifting days were nothing like they had been. As a kid I swam competitively for years and decided to join LA Fitness (the only gym around here with an olympic size pool) and swim laps for an hour or so, 4-5 times a week hoping that the resistance in the water wouldn't irritate my injuries, and thankfully it hasn't. In addition I have really streamlined my diet and ruled out all sweets, almost all breads and pastas except for those that are whole weat, processed foods, snacks, and have tried to really focus on fish, chicken, salads, fruits, vegetables, some nuts, and some dried fruit. I also do not drink more than maybe one drink once a month. Portions have never really been a problem for me, but I am still trying to eat a bit less without being hungry after meals. Just content, I would say. I might go out to dinner once on a weekend, but for the most part I have been working towards a healthier diet for a while not just for the aesthetic reasons, but for internal health as well.
After a month of the increased pool time and more rigorous diet, I am in the same boat that I started in. I know weight loss takes a while and you've got to get into a groove and work towards results...but not one pound in a MONTH? I have always quickly gained noticeable muscle in my chest, abdomen, arms and thighs and all of them feel a good bit tighter than they did before the swimming, and I've been told that muscle weighs more than fat which could be a problem on the scale...but I am still frustrated.
So now I need your help, advice, and input. What types of things should I be doing that I am currently not? Are there supplements that I should consider?
Any other words on workouts, how to deal with injuries, or just general advice would be greatly appreciated.
-Michael
I was referred to the forum as my brother posts here and mentioned that there is a wealth of knowledge on these boards. I am looking for some help with losing weight and getting into better shape, and keeping it off so I guess I should just get into it...
I just turned 21 a few weeks ago and got a new summer internship which required a health assessment. I came in at exactly 6 feet tall (no shock there) and 244lbs (a shock indeed) on the scale. Clearly, we have some issues.
As a kid I always struggled with my weight but in high school I got a bowflex and really decided to take charge of my health. When I was 16 I weighed about 280lbs (the largest point in my life), but from working out and eating better, I slimmed down to about 210lbs in just a few months. I guess they say baby fat comes off easier? I was using my bowflex for ~45 mins each day combined with about 45 mins of cardio, and really cut my diet down...clearly it worked.
Fast forward...I go off to college and get away from mom's cooking and start a regular gym regimen, and drop another 15 lbs, putting me right at about 195- The lightest I had ever been in recent memory. Well on Jan 6, 2007 I got into a pretty horrible car wreck and walked away with what, at the time, seemed like no damage. After a few days and weeks passed it became clear that I had soft tissue damage in my neck, upper and lower back, and shoulder. I was no longer able to work out like I had been and started putting weight back on slowly but surely. I had tried working out again here and there but weight lifting continued to irritate my shoulder, my classes got harder and I took on a job. Not that there are ever excuses for being unhealthy, but my health was no longer the priority that it once was.
I began to realize that I was putting on weight but just didn't have the time or $$ to get back into working out, plus it was later told to me that the soft tissue injures in my neck, back, and shoulder are all permanent and I'm just more or less...screwed. Truthfully I have been blessed with a naturally muscular build and I can hold weight without it being too noticeable. I've got very broad shoulders with a big chest, big calves and thighs, and wide set hips. I feel like a lot of people misuse the term, but I really am "big boned". 195 up to about 215 lbs wasn't much of a difference but after that I noticed that I was slipping back into my "fat" shorts and "fat" shirts more often and just told myself that I would get back into shape when I could.
Well...after my health assessment a month or so ago, I decided that the time is now and I really need to start and take control. I had gone back to my tactics from my previous weight loss, but my shoulder quickly made it known that my weight lifting days were nothing like they had been. As a kid I swam competitively for years and decided to join LA Fitness (the only gym around here with an olympic size pool) and swim laps for an hour or so, 4-5 times a week hoping that the resistance in the water wouldn't irritate my injuries, and thankfully it hasn't. In addition I have really streamlined my diet and ruled out all sweets, almost all breads and pastas except for those that are whole weat, processed foods, snacks, and have tried to really focus on fish, chicken, salads, fruits, vegetables, some nuts, and some dried fruit. I also do not drink more than maybe one drink once a month. Portions have never really been a problem for me, but I am still trying to eat a bit less without being hungry after meals. Just content, I would say. I might go out to dinner once on a weekend, but for the most part I have been working towards a healthier diet for a while not just for the aesthetic reasons, but for internal health as well.
After a month of the increased pool time and more rigorous diet, I am in the same boat that I started in. I know weight loss takes a while and you've got to get into a groove and work towards results...but not one pound in a MONTH? I have always quickly gained noticeable muscle in my chest, abdomen, arms and thighs and all of them feel a good bit tighter than they did before the swimming, and I've been told that muscle weighs more than fat which could be a problem on the scale...but I am still frustrated.
So now I need your help, advice, and input. What types of things should I be doing that I am currently not? Are there supplements that I should consider?
Any other words on workouts, how to deal with injuries, or just general advice would be greatly appreciated.
-Michael
