My life changing story

2Crowded · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:08 am Post subject: My life changing story

My life changing story:

I have not mentioned this on here until now but, I was very very overweight just 11 months ago. That was when I decided I was going to start to change my life for the better starting with the weight problem & then once I have that under control I would begin to focus fully on my other problems.

Here lately I am feeling better about myself sometimes...because of the weight loss. I say sometimes because....of course I stil have those moments where I look in a full length mirror & somehow think I look worse than I did before I started this process...even though I know that can't be true.

I have lost around 145 pounds so far..I am amazed at this feat myself...but I sometimes have a hard time celebrating my progress because I know I have much more to go until I will be totaly happy with it.

I may as well get this out in the open as well...I have been unemployed since the end of 2000 & am now just getting by on SSI for the last 6 months. So my point is...that I have lots of time right now to devote to exercise...& I know that those of you who are working at a job probably don't have the time to put into exercise such as I do. I mention this because I have lost so much weight that I know someone probably would have asked me howI did it anyway..so I figured I might as well explain it now..as to how I have pulled it off in such little time. I have simply turned my exercise into my job in a way. It usualy takes me atleast 5 hours every day to finish my exercise...sometimes more depending on how long I rest in between stationary bike rides. I ride it 1 hour at a time for a total of 3 hours a day & it usualy ends up being between 36-37 miles in distance & 1500 calories burned...then I also do 1000 reps on the cardioglide machine....& that takes about 35-40 minutes to complete. I am now getting ready to add boxing with a heavy bag to my workout as well.

I have totaly changed my diet as well so it's a complete turn around from what I used to be 11 months ago... I had some problems that the doc told me were never going to get better unless I lost the weight...even told me I was going to die early if I did not make a change. It scared me pretty good...& so this is where I am at today...I'm on my way with a passion. I am actualy enjoying the process of exercise every day...I do it 7 days a week & I have not missed a single day in the last 73 days....& I'm telling you the truth...it is boosting my self confidence little by little....people that have not seen me in awile just about have a cow when they see me.

I have 55 more pounds to go to reach 225..which was my long term goal from the start...I was not sure at first if I would ever realy get there but now I think I will... & when I do make it there....200 even will be my next target....I think I would be happy with that forever if I can get there.

There's one problem with all of this weight loss that has been bugging me as of late...like I said..when I look in the mirror....I have alot of sagging extra skin now...I'm sure it will get worse the more I lose...so it kind of sucks because you know everyone wants to look good too when they lose weight....it's just that if you were to heavy before hand your skin will be all stretched after you drop the weight.

Well anyway I seen a show about people getting their extra skin removed after they had gastric bypass done to lose the weight..well it runs anywhere from 35,000-55,000 dollars depending on what all you need removed...so obviously that is depressing news to me...as I don't have insurance...or much money.....of course I am planning on that to change one of these days but ...all in all my confidence level is alot better now with the on going weight loss.

Well that's my story to date....I will post up here again sometime when I have more good news.

Anybody else on here find that exercise improves how you feel day to day?....I find that it makes me feel much beter mentaly & physicaly...I think that is the main reason my confidence level has gotten higher the past couple months.

recluse · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:43 am Post subject:

I'm glad to hear that it's going well for you. I have started excercising again after not excercising for a year or so. Excercise defiantely has a positive effect to ones wellbeing, it increases endorphins in the brain.

putdown · Newbie User Joined: Apr 10, 2008 Posts: 7

2Crowded: glad to hear that!Everything has 2 sides.I was the fattest one in my elementary school,after 20+ years body-exercise,I love sports and my body!Go on! Very Happy

recluse: Thank you for reminding us of the endorphin!

Sacrament · Advanced User Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 423

I love working out. I love how it feels, I love how it tones you up and how it boosts your self-confidence. My only problem is that I don't have enough willpower to work-out when it's cold, ie, during Autumn and Winter, specially at home. When it's hot and sunny, I just love to go out with my bike and go somewhere.

Also, I wish I had decent eating habbits, but I'm doing a lot better than before.

_________________
Alas! Our dried voices, when we whisper together, are quiet and meaningless as wind in dry grass or rats' feet over broken glass in our dry cellar.

putdown · Newbie User Joined: Apr 10, 2008 Posts: 7

to Sacrament: I like riding bike too,may I give you a suggestion? I have 2 bikes,one MTB and a folding bike and I have been doing 3 speeds of walking.Cos of these , I seldom feel boring when I build up my body. Smile

2Crowded · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 3:08 am Post subject:

May 6th...

Time to post my current progress..well, as of today I am down to 269 pounds....everything stil going smoothly..stil riding a wave of better feelings about myself as well. Have not started boxing just yet either...but I will be getting to it soon...Now it's been 86 straight days with out missing a workout....my buns are getting real tired...but I plan to reach 100 straight days or more before I take a Sunday off for a change....not a day off from the meal plans I have set for myself...just the workout.

So thats about 156 pounds lost in about 12 months now....it's amazing really..I feel like a new man...I am a new man.

Very Happy

that1guy · Newbie User Joined: May 06, 2008 Posts: 65

I am a sufferer of SAD and I am very shy. This thread is basically for guys, sorry ladies.
Last year, I grew very angry in a secret way because I wasn't getting the proper respect I thought I should have been getting. I knew it was because of my size because the more "popular" kids would bully me with their words that were aimed at my size. I got sick of it and I took all my anger out on the weight room. Over the summer I went to the weight room four times a week and got HUGE! I gained 15 lbs of pure muscle and now I look jacked. So now a days, those kids still bully me in a way, but in a kidding fashion. They now have respect for me because they know that I have the ability to prove people wrong. I have gained so much confidence because of my work in the weight room. It feels GREAT! The weight room is the best way to take out any anger in a self-advancing way. Just some advice for those who have been storing some secret anger for a long time.

Caseums21 · Intermediate User Joined: Jan 06, 2008 Posts: 115

2crowded, that is amazing news. Just becareful how much you exercise daily. Your body needs rest and if you don't give it enough, you could seriously injure yourself. But to change your life like that is awesome. Congrats to you.

I jog about 5 miles every other day. When I don't jog, I lift weights and ride my bicycle. For years I didn't exercise and drank a lot of pop. Now I'm starting to eat better (no fast food) and never drink pop anymore.

After I'm done exercising, I feel so much better about myself and I feel like doing things. When I injuried my leg and couldn't exercise for awhile, I was tired all the time. Sometimes I don't feel like exercising but if I miss a few days, I know I'll just stop.

Sacrament · Advanced User Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 423

Same here. If I miss a few days of workout, I'll just stop.

_________________
Alas! Our dried voices, when we whisper together, are quiet and meaningless as wind in dry grass or rats' feet over broken glass in our dry cellar.

Carstuar · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

Amazing story, 2Crowded. Truly inspiring. I'm glad you're still going strong and working towards your goal. I'm doing pretty much the same thing here.

I've been as heavy as 145kg (319lbs), and I'm aiming for the 100kg (220lbs) mark, with some extra muscle. I'm not going as fast as you, though Razz

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I've got a training bike that I usually use for one 45min episode of a TV show every other day, and burn between 600 and 650 calories on that.
Then I do some strength workouts that don't require any other tools than my own body.
I also go for a walk in the woods, or around town, every day, and often bring my Powerball, which is a fun way to work out your arms and wrists. (Even if people stare at you because they've never seen a powerball before, you don't have to talk to them. Just give them the evil eye, or smile at them.)

I'm slowly seeing my weight go down, but I'm also feeling harder, better faster, stronger every week, which is an awesome feeling Very Happy

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I went swimming in a lake with my friend yesterday, and it was very refreshing.
It's still a little early in the summer to do that in Norway. The water was very cold ;D.

My new diet consists of fruits, vegetables, fiber rich bread, fiber rich pasta, beans, fried eggs(for the extra proteins after exercise), some meat, and oat meal. I treat myself to one "junk food" meal or snack every week, but try to make sure that I don't eat big portions of anything, by eating something every 3 hours.

I've been deeply depressed for the last 4 years, and medication did not fix that. This recent change in lifestyle, however, fixed it in just a week.

I'm not saying that exercise is the ultimate cure, but it CAN be a good confidence boost in the long run, and it releases a lot of feelgood chemicals in the brain.