Hi there. How is everyone? I’m 24 and I live in Wales. That’s the little sticky-out bit to the left of England.

I’m not exactly sure what to say here.

I was always kinda large, even as a kid. I was 15 stone when I was 15 and almost 20 stone by the time I was 19. I never felt too bad though. I couldn’t run for long distances, but it didn’t bother me much. Recently though, I’ve been really worried. I get out of breath easily. Certain things are aching when they shouldn’t be. I’m now the wrong side of 300lbs. I’ve tried a few times before to shed the weight but I have a severe lack of will-power. The good side, if you can call it that, is that my weight has stopped going up. I’ve been constant for a year or two. I just want it to go down now.

I’m always on the look-out for something that will help me, and in the new year, I found the podcasts on iTunes. They’re awesome. I often re-listen to older podcasts, just because Scott’s voice is so… well, motivating.

I’m now trying to change my diet and start moving more, but I’m stuck in a rut. At the moment, I know I have to exercise tomorrow, but tomorrow I’ll forget. Or I’ll make an excuse. I’ll ask my willpower to help, but he’ll just sit in the corner saying “Meh. I’ll help you later.”

I need all the help I can get. Which is why I’m here, I guess.

Hey Sheepster,

first, motivation does come from within..... and yes, Scott IS motivating, but you have to ask yourself some important questions.

Why do you I really want to lose weight

How will I feel if I do

How will I feel if I don’t

you can start by setting small goals....knowing this is a lifetime, not a ‘diet’, or ‘exercise program’ meant to loose the weight.  it’s about what you want your life to be, and how you see yourself.

once you do that....take the small steps....

I’d start by doing NOTHING different....except to log everything you eat for a week

(http://www.fitday.com) is a good website to help you do this

next, calculate, after the week, how many calories you have eaten (remember, don’t change a thing of your eating habits, just log EVERYTHING).  this will give you an honest read on what your intake of calories is

next.....look over what you ate, how many calories each day, and see if you can figure out how you can take away 500 calories every day, without depriving yourself......something you can do from this day forward.  you said you have reached a plateau of weight, which means the calories your eating is supporting the weight you are right now.

by reducing your calorie intake each week by 3500 calories (remember, DON’T deprive yourself), pick those calories that you won’t miss, you will lose a lb a week, 52 lbs a year.......that is a healthy weight loss....then just keep going, until you reach your goal.  Someone once said to me....If you want to be 150 lbs (I’m only 5.7), then eat what a 150lb guy would eat.....makes sense, but its easier if you ease into it....recalibrate your ‘500 calories less a day’ every so often, as you continue to lose the weight......

this is very simplistic, but a lot easier to do than you realize.....

Remember, YOU are making the decisions....will power is just a crutch.....using your ‘free will’ will enable you to be the person you want to be......healthy, ‘funtionally’ fit, and proud of your achievements.

keep us posted on your progress!

At the moment, I know I have to exercise tomorrow, but tomorrow I’ll forget. Or I’ll make an excuse.

Schedule your exercise for tomorrow right now, then set an alarm, mark it on your calendar or put a big note on your mirror.  Then get up and take a step and repeat.  Just do it for 5 minutes.  Then do the same the next day but try to do it for 6 minutes or 10 minutes.  Just keep repeating and eventually you will get where you want to be.

Welcome, Sheepster! Tom and Eileen have given you great suggestions! Easing into it is what made the transition work for me. You could start a journal in the Journal of Your Journey section so you can share your experiences and have the support and maybe advice to help keep you going. That and we can all share in your successes too!

Bree

Thanks for the advice! It’s all helping me. I’ve not had that “click” yet, but I’ll ease into it slowly and see what happens.

I like that Fitday website though. Not only does it let me see exactly what’s wrong with what I’m eating, but I have to write down everything I eat and look at the whole list. That’s an incentive to eat better straight away.

The one thing I don’t understand is the calorie chart. It says I’m burning more calories than I’m eating, even on a bad day when I’ve eaten a few bad foods. I always thought that if [Calories Out > Calories In] then you lose weight?

How long have you been eating this way? And you should be losing weight if you’re expending more calories than you take in. What’s the deficit?

Bree

I can’t be sure how long I’ve been eating like this because I only just started noting it all down. See, my meal schedule isn’t regular. I sleep different hours depending on what night it is. I may or may not have breakfast, and when I do, it could be as early as 8am or as late as mid-day. I don’t really have set meals, but I eat throughout the day whenever I feel like something. Not exactly the 6 mini-meals you’re meant to have. More like 2 main meals, 3 or 4 mini-meals and a few micro-meals here and there.

Today though, I think I had what I’d call a regular day. I’ve eaten 2840 calories, and I’ve burned 4634 according to the website. I’m really not sure about my basal rate though. It’s telling me that I burn 2600 calories just by existing! Another 900 calories due to my lifestyle and 1000 calories through various activities.

Then you should probably lose 3.5 pounds a week. So in a week, see what you’ve lost and that’ll tell you how accurate it is.

Why is your schedule so out of whack?

Bree

I would not use the website as gospel...for calories burned...each body is different....

Do you know how many calories you should be eating to be the weight you want to be? Here’s a website to get that
http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/blcalintake.htm

If your eat 1800-2000 calories, even if your working out, you will drop weight.  Your body has it’s BMR (basic metabalic rate)which is how much you burn, just for breathing, etc.  knowing your BMR is important, because from that, you can eat the proper amount to lose weight.

I work out a little bit, and if I go over 2700 calories, consistently over 4-5 days, I will start to gain weight.  I do burn a lot of calories while I work out, but you always have to consider that your body will burn just a certain amount (BMR) even with exercise.

It really comes down to keeping calories at around 1800-2000 to lose the lbs.  It’s hard with your schedule, but you can get into a pattern, and just keep moving everyday.

good job!

Hmm. I need 2000 calories a day to get to my eventual target. I do seem to be taking in a lot more than that. Let’s see if I can’t fix it next week.

Bree - 29 February 2008 09:32 PM

Why is your schedule so out of whack?

Well, I only just finished university last year. I got into some bad sleeping/eating habits in those 4 years and my night time job probably doesn’t help things. I do have a plan though.

I’ve heard that sleeping badly can hinder your efforts when trying to lose weight, so that’s the first thing I’m trying to get into order. Then I’ll be finding a new job with normal hours. I can’t do that until June because I have certain commitments, but once that’s done, I’ll hopefully be in better shape to sort things out.

Thanks for the help so far, guys. You rock.

Sheepster,

I’ve been there.  I am there.

I do what I can, when I can.  If anyone calls, and says “Do you want to go to the gym?” I say, “Yes.” or, “I can’t, child is in bed, husband is at work.  Come over, though, I’ve got a great new video!”

Everyday, I think, I don’t want to get off this couch.  American Idol is coming on.  There’s a new [insert favorite show here] coming on tonight.  Then, I tell myself, “If I don’t do anything, then I won’t have anything to post on MTM tomorrow.” And, I think about the way the scale has started to tip in my favor.  Today is my 28th day of the 100 day challenge.  The end of my first month, and I’ve lost 17lbs.  But, I’m still upwards of 300.  I tell myself everyday, that if I keep moving, I’m going to get there.

Watching what you eat, comes naturally.  The more weight I drop, the more I watch what I eat.  I find healthier ways to eat the foods I enjoy, and I find ways to do exercises, even if I’m sitting at my desk.  If I ever question myself, I come here, and read about everyone else’s success, and I think, “I want that.” So, I get up and do what they’re doing.

Good luck!