I'm fat

[jms]

lets see, coping with being fat....
I'm fat, I come from a long line of fat people( my dad was 450lbs and he lost 223lbs through a reasonable diet) I am fairly inactive now, but that wasn't always the case. Working out didn't help me, when I was in the military they worked me like a dog to keep me under the limit, didn't work. Diet worked to some extent. But it is hard to maintain a working diet for a long time. How do I cope with it? I can still move like I did when I was lighter. I can lift heavier things, and nobody messes with me.

As for losing wieght, diet really is key. I lost 30 lbs by just eating slightly less. I lost 60 lbs by eating dramtically less. Stay away from diet drugs, a smart balanced diet with a good balance of carbs, fat, and protien really is the way. My dad used TV dinners to provide the balance in a prepackaged format that made it easy to see what you were eating. diet beverages don't work either so drink water instead and you'll be down to a manageable weight before you know it.

[Storamin]

Originally Posted by LandoAWD

Wierd. I thought he just wanted a little support getting his program going.

Supportive Criticism.

[drz]

Originally Posted by drz

I know all I need to know to get fit. I think I am willing to put in the work.

I don't need diet or exercise tips. Believe me.

Just any encouraging owrds.

I just want you to know that I know why I got fat:
- I started having larger meals
- The simple carb (sugars) and fat content in those foods was high, i.e. I ate plenty of sweets, pizza, and fast food.
- Became sedentary

That pretty much sums it up

I will burn off fact and increase my metabolic rate by:
- Eating food that take more energy to digest (protein, complex carbs, fiber) and avoid saturated fats and simple sugars.
- I will reduce portion size, eating several small meals so that my metabolism stays high throughout the day (which the body must do in order to process the food intake)
- Excersice regularly, both cardio and strength training. Instead of one long session, I will work out a bit in the morning to get my metabolism going, and then augment with an afternoon workout.

Thanks for the fitness tips because I belive they were motivated by good intentions (or so I will make myself believe).

Also thank you for the personal testimonies and words of encouragement.

I will try to put together a before and after thing. I'll keep it work/wife-safe.

Harry, if you ban me I may have to recurr to lesser boards. I have found the two that I like, and I am sticking with those. Thanks for the willingness to ccontribute, though.

[brien4787]

Arn't complex carboyhdrates worse? I thought those were harder to break down..

[drz]

Originally Posted by brien4787

Arn't complex carboyhdrates worse? I thought those were harder to break down..

That is why they are better. More energy is spent to metabolize them. Also, it takes longer to break them down, so you stay fuller for a longer time. Simple carbs make it to your bloodstream very quickly. If that energy is not utlized soon thereafter, the surplus will be stored as fat.

[El Supremo]

I'll pass on something I was reading the other day about diets, and why I think it works (it does for me, mostly).
It was an article on different diets, and they were talking about a recent study on one that worked better than any of the others, and allowed you to eat anything, and keep the weight off longer.
It's really simple, and I don't want to sound condescending, but here's what they said:
When you're hungry, eat whatever you want, whether it is ice cream for dinner, or a salad. It doesn't matter. But, when you are no longer hungry, stop eating. Don't snack during the day just because there is food available, or any other reasons you eat (stress, etc.), only eat when you're hungry, then stop. You might eat 10 times a day, or maybe twice. Doesn't matter.
This is pretty much what I've always done, although I admit I do snack when I know it's something I like. When I was at the doctors last ( about 2 months ago) they were surprised enough that they noted that since 1997 every time I've been in my weight has never been more than 1lb different. I'm about 5-11, 167#.
If you can do that, and work out, or put in a routine of some type of physical activity I would bet the pounds would start coming off at a reasonable rate, and you won't feel deprived of any of the foods you like, either.

[drz]

^^ Supremo, what you mention makes a lot of sense, actually. Controlling portion size and providing your body with calories only when needed is an excellent pattern.

[El Supremo]

Originally Posted by drz

^^ Supremo, what you mention makes a lot of sense, actually. Controlling portion size and providing your body with calories only when needed is an excellent pattern.

The problem for me is putting it in action.
So many times when I sit down for dinner I don't spend enough time to realize I'm actually not hungry anymore before I'm full or stuffed. When I actually slow down while eating it's a lot easier to push myself away from the table.
And sometimes you just feel so hungry you get the 'eyes bigger than your stomach' syndrome. It's just hard to judge sometimes, so it does take a bit of a conscious effort to change even a small eating habit.

[LandoAWD]

I'm going to hijack a bit. My fat ass went 3 miles on an elliptical (sp?), 6/5 on a recumbant bike, and worked lats, chest and arms last night. This is only my 9th workout since I found out I was diabetic two wekks back, but I feel great (sore muscles aside). Down another 2 lbs in the last couple of days, too.

Stick with it drz!

[drz]

^^ Nice, Lando. Keep it up. I have only worked out once this week, but I should be immersed in my new schedule by the end of next.