My 250 Pound Life

[sbeths15]

As a high school student, I was extremely active. I participated in nearly every sport, so I was fit and healthy. At the end of my senior year, I weighed approximately 150 pounds, which I was comfortable with. Then college came along. I stopped exercising all together and my diet consisted mostly of fast food. The infamous "freshman 15" turned into the freshmen 50 and didn't stop there. As a result, I have gained nearly 100 pounds in about 5 years.

Recently, I decided I wanted to make a lifestyle change. However, I've tried this many a time before. I can't seem to stick with eating right and exercising for more than one week. Does anyone have any tips that might help? Or inspirational stories? I would appreciate anything at this point.

Thanks!

[Dominique]

OK, since this is a Fitbit forum and you’re a new Fitbit user, here is a Fitbit-related advice: wear your Fitbit at all times (24/7) and make a point to reach your step goal everyday. Your goal doesn’t have to be 10k at this point: if you find it too challenging, set it lower, but make a point to achieve it everyday. 

Looking at your profile, I see you didn’t wear it at all last weekend, nor yesterday:

Lifestyle changes come from developing habits, usually one at a time (very hard to change everything at once).

[WendyB]

I would also read the many stories listed in this forum and share your story forum. Lots of inspiration here.

You can do it. Just start to day and keep going! Keep us posted!

[JohnRi]

Like life itself, fitness, or the lack thereof is a journey.  No one decides to become fat.  It just happens over time.  It doesn't take much.  I was eating around 3000 calories a day, and burning between 2500-3500 calories most days.  Problem is I was closer to 2500 more often than I was to 3500...  So over 6 years I gained 60 lbs and hit an all time high of 281.  I was around 225 to 235 from the time I was 25 to 45. 

Next thing I know, I have bad cholestorol, high blood pressure, migraines headaches from the high blood pressure, memory problems from the high blood pressure....  and ...  You get the point my health sucked at 48 years old.  My doctor told me to change, or die in 10 years.

I'm going to guess you are still in your 20's.  Since start of college was 5 years ago.  That's good news.  It is A LOT easier to loss weight in your 20's.  You have a natural higher metabolism.  And your skin will probably shrink if you lose the weight slowly.  Try to not lose more than 2 lbs a week.  This will give your skin time to shrink.  Slow wins the race when it comes to weight loss.

The problem is diet change is permanent.  There are no "diets", so first thing to do is eat a little better every day.  Give your self a month or two, and just eliminate bad things in your diet, and eat healthier.  If you do a little bit every day, it will become second nature.  Now that doesn't mean you have to give up everything you love to eat, but it does mean cutting them back.  I used to eat Cheeseburgers, 5-8 times a week.  Now it's 1 or 2 times a week.  And the burgers are smaller than I used to eat.  My foot long subway sandwich is now a six inch.  I eat a ton more vegetables than I used to eat. 

Make sure you are eating enough calories.  1200-1300 is the recommended minimum for women.  Never eat less than this.

I'm constanly looking for ways to improve my diet.  I log every calorie I eat, and I use the fitbit app to help me decide what to eat when I'm at a resturant. 

By slowly changing your diet for a month or two, you will build up the habit of eating healthier.  Once it becomes a habit, going back won't be an option.

Once you get your diet under control, then the next thing think about is exercise.  Really doesn't matter if you just go for a walk for an hour, or go running.  Bike ride.  Swim. Lift weights.  Whatever.  Try to find some time to do exercise every day.  At first try 15-20 minutes.  Build up to 30.  Then 45.  Then an hour.  Don't be surprised that after six months it becomes 90-120 minutes.  I find that it's kind of addicting once you start.  I'm looking for new ways to exercise.  For some reason I want to try Kayaking.  Not sure why. 

So start slow, give it time to become a habit.  Stick with it.  It really isn't that hard, but you have to commit to change.  My doctor telling me I was dead in 10 years, gave me the reason to change.  I don't suggest waiting until you hear that too.  I'm down 71.1 lbs now.  With another 26.9 to go.  That is my progress after 10 months. 

10 months!  Weight loss takes time!  It will be at least another six months before I hit my first goal, and then I get to maintain my weight, and continue building on strength.

So don't get discouraged, you CAN DO IT.  But only if YOU decide to do it. 

Good luck and stay active!

[divedragon]

I did much the same in college, but then I got involved in ROTC.  That kept me fit for the rest of college and 7 years after in the military.  I kept up my running for several years after the army and had a job where I was able to do a lot of walking.  In 2003, I quite my job and went back to school to become a software engineer.

Soon as I started in the workforce, I found myself sitting at a desk10-12 hours a day.  Then I started traveling for my work and eating out all time.  Exercise went out the window and alcohol consuming skyrocketed.  I went from my normal 170-175 up to 240 lbs over a 5 year perod, then carried that around a few years. Christmas of 2014, one of my sisters gave me a fitbit and my journey began.

Keep in mind that by this time, I'm in my mid 50's, so losing weight is not going to come easy.  I've had some set backs along the way and it's not over yet.  I'm down to 190 and honestly struggling with these last 10 lbs, but I've not given up.  I still travel a lot, but I've adopted Intermittent Fasting and a LCHF diet, but it's my alcohol consumptiong that's interferring with my weight loss.  While I've drastically decreased the amount, I haven't stopped completly.  I also need to exercise more which I've recently started (got me off stuck at 194 down to 190). 

I now fast on M_W_F and eat normally the rest of the time.  I've gotten exercise bands to carry with me as I travel and I sneak off into an empty office 3-4 times a day to try and knock out a few pushups and deep knee bends.  I jog a couple of times a week. 

You're still young and hope it will be easier for you, but whatever method you use to loose the weight, take your journey 1 day at a time.  Try not to think about how far you have to go or even how far you've come.  Just think about what you are going to do today to further your journey.