New, looking for direction.

[bigjohn95821]

Hi everybody,

My name is John, almost 48 years old and in a real deep rut. I am currently 6 feet tall, 295 pounds with a body fat well in excess of 30%. I have been as big as 350 pounds about 2 years ago, got as low as 275 but as is my way I have gained back 20 pounds in the last month.

I have always enjoyed the training and even the cardio part of all of this, but diet is my weak point. I will clean up my act, eat great for a week or two and then sabotage my progress and eat like crap for a week or two. I know that I must clean up my diet on a consistent basis or I am just wasting my time. But as it is with many things, easier said then done.

Well, I have decided that I can't live like this anymore. I think and my wife agrees that I try to do much too fast. I think that what I need is to ease into a program of diet, training and cardio and make it a lifestyle and not just a thing I do half way half the time.

Any advice, input, encouragement or anything positive that anyone can offer will be appreciated. Any direction anyone can offer will be helpful as well.

Thanks for your time.

[beckie]

Welcome John-there are loads of experienced trainers and bodybuilders here to help you out!

[bigjohn95821]

Thanks Beckie for the warm welcome. I will be reading through all the training and nutrition info as time allows.

[Roger]

Welcome John, this is the place to get you on the right track. Good luck on your new lifestyle

[bigjohn95821]

Thank you Roger.

[Karrie]

#awelcomesmiley4jo# You are at the right place! There so many people here who will help you in any way possible to achieve your goal(s). For alot of people training is not the hard part but dieting is the issue. I think short term goals may be a good way for you to start AND with a diet and training program that you KNOW you can follow.

[bigjohn95821]

Thanks Karrie. I just found out that my work is having a "Body for Life" contest starting on June 30th so I think I am going to do it. I have read the program and it looks pretty good, simple and effective. Plus I think it would lay a good foundation to build upon. Anyone have any experience with Body for Life?

[fit]

Welcome BigJohn! B4L is not a bad plan at all- it might give you the structure you may need.

HOWEVER: you have to gain discipline. The only way you'll get to your goal is by you taking responsibility and getting across the finish line.

[mrbeefy]

John! Welcome Brother!
Welcome to the BEST site for BB and PL out here. You will be surprised at the amount of experience on this site.

Been there, done that on the diet thing. I fell your pain man!

First: I would go to the fridge and cupboards and start getting rid of junk. By junk I mean anything that is empty calories and anything that will NOT get you to your goals (ie: beer, ice cream, candy, etc)

Second: Repeat after me: I John, swear that I will try to keep away from all types of fast food for one month. (that's just a starter)

Third: Recruit your wife to help you start eating clean. It's more fun when you do this together. Don't jump on a fad diet. You'll fall right off. Start slow. Baby steps. WEAN yourself of of bad foods and just try eating clean first. Oatmeal, egg whits, tuna, steak (lean cuts), lots of green vegatables, salads (non-fat or low fat dressing).

Read labels. KNow what your eating and how much sugar, calories, fat etc, is in your food.

Start a journal. You can do that here if you like and we would be happy to chime in from time to time with our 2 cents of advice.

Last...exercise...cardio (nothing crazy..start slow) start lifting some weights....

SET A GOAL....little steps like, I will lose 1 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. It will be esy at first, then get harder. Expect that.

Do things that you like to do. Get the wife and go for a walk, a bike ride, a swim...California right...walk in the ocean...take stairs instead of elevators, ..getting the idea?

Anyways..... you can do this brother...........time or a new lifetyle change!

Frank
aka
mrbeefy

[bigjohn95821]

Jun 22, 2008 15:23:43 GMT -5 fit said:

Welcome BigJohn! B4L is not a bad plan at all- it might give you the structure you may need.

HOWEVER: you have to gain discipline. The only way you'll get to your goal is by you taking responsibility and getting across the finish line.

I think that structure is one area that I do in fact lack and that self discipline and control are missing also. Being accountable at work will help, have to face people I know and don't want to do it as a failure.

[bigjohn95821]

Jun 22, 2008 15:31:21 GMT -5 mrbeefy said:

John! Welcome Brother!
Welcome to the BEST site for BB and PL out here. You will be surprised at the amount of experience on this site.

Been there, done that on the diet thing. I fell your pain man!

First: I would go to the fridge and cupboards and start getting rid of junk. By junk I mean anything that is empty calories and anything that will NOT get you to your goals (ie: beer, ice cream, candy, etc)

Second: Repeat after me: I John, swear that I will try to keep away from all types of fast food for one month. (that's just a starter)

Third: Recruit your wife to help you start eating clean. It's more fun when you do this together. Don't jump on a fad diet. You'll fall right off. Start slow. Baby steps. WEAN yourself of of bad foods and just try eating clean first. Oatmeal, egg whits, tuna, steak (lean cuts), lots of green vegatables, salads (non-fat or low fat dressing).

Read labels. KNow what your eating and how much sugar, calories, fat etc, is in your food.

Start a journal. You can do that here if you like and we would be happy to chime in from time to time with our 2 cents of advice.

Last...exercise...cardio (nothing crazy..start slow) start lifting some weights....

SET A GOAL....little steps like, I will lose 1 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. It will be esy at first, then get harder. Expect that.

Do things that you like to do. Get the wife and go for a walk, a bike ride, a swim...California right...walk in the ocean...take stairs instead of elevators, ..getting the idea?

Anyways..... you can do this brother...........time or a new lifetyle change!

Frank
aka
mrbeefy

Thanks Frank, I printed out what you wrote and it all makes perfect sense. Working on my goals right now and no fast food for 30 days is in the top 5 goals.

I know that reaching my goals will not be easy but the time has come to kick easy to the curb.

Thanks!!

[Blazin j]

Welcome Bigjohn, I started my weight loss journey at 294 back in March, and I'm now sitting here at 242. You need to get this book, Eat Clean Diet, and read it from front to back. Their you will learn what foods are acceptable, and what isn't. Good Luck..

[bigjohn95821]

Jun 22, 2008 17:22:29 GMT -5 Blazin j said:

Welcome Bigjohn, I started my weight loss journey at 294 back in March, and I'm now sitting here at 242. You need to get this book, Eat Clean Diet, and read it from front to back. Their you will learn what foods are acceptable, and what isn't. Good Luck..

Wow, you have done great!!

Eat Clean Diet, will pick it up asap, thanks!

[Tim Wescott]

Welcome to WOTW John,great to have you aboard.

Frank made some great suggestions.

I think you should start a journal here on the board listing your training and diet on a daily basis...........we all do it and it is a hige help to keep ourselves accountable.

We`ll help you in any way we can............"one day at a time" should be your new mantra.

[bigjohn95821]

Jun 22, 2008 19:39:40 GMT -5 Tim Wescott said:

Welcome to WOTW John,great to have you aboard.

Frank made some great suggestions.

I think you should start a journal here on the board listing your training and diet on a daily basis...........we all do it and it is a hige help to keep ourselves accountable.

We`ll help you in any way we can............"one day at a time" should be your new mantra.

Thanks Tim for the warm welcome.

Will do on the journal and I like the new mantra!

[mrbeefy]

Your Welcome John!
Like Tim said, start your journal and lean into it Bro!
It will be a challenge but it only gets easier (well, somewhat:)) with time.
I started bodybuilding in my early 40's switched over to powerlfitng, and I'll be 51 this year. So WE can help you along, and some of us (ahem) senios have been there, done that!
Right, Tim, Gerry, all the rest? ;D

Take it slow...TOO many changes wil be overbearing, and the next thing you know, you're copping an attitude and saying "hell with it"! So take it slow, and the changes WILL come. We will all support you the best we can....got it?

[bigjohn95821]

Jun 22, 2008 20:46:51 GMT -5 mrbeefy said:

Your Welcome John!
Like Tim said, start your journal and lean into it Bro!
It will be a challenge but it only gets easier (well, somewhat:)) with time.
I started bodybuilding in my early 40's switched over to powerlfitng, and I'll be 51 this year. So WE can help you along, and some of us (ahem) senios have been there, done that!
Right, Tim, Gerry, all the rest? ;D

Take it slow...TOO many changes wil be overbearing, and the next thing you know, you're copping an attitude and saying "hell with it"! So take it slow, and the changes WILL come. We will all support you the best we can....got it?

Got it, and thank you so very much!!

[mrbeefy]

Ok John...A little something I found out on the net to get you started.somew words of wisdom:

"You need to want it more than anything else in the moment
If you want to make progress you need to DIG! You need to want it HEAVY! You need to PUSH IT!! Eat what you know you need to eat. If you don’t know what to eat, read and learn. Lift more weight every single workout no matter what. Kick harder today than you did yesterday. Jump higher! Do more situps! Get in that zone so you can block out the rest of your life, so that the only thing you see right now is that bar on the floor or the heavy bag, and you know that today, right now, you’re about to lift 5 lbs more on this exercise than you’ve ever lifted before, and hell if you can get an extra rep you’ll do that too. Know that you’re about to jump rope for 5 minute straight without it getting caught on your feet. Know that you are about to knock that heavy bag right off the damned ceiling! Get IN that zone, because it’s time to DIG!

“Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning; but give me the man who has the pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing.”

Focus on the task at hand and nothing else.
Strive to set a new personal best or personal record each time.
Avoid those that do what you don’t want to do.
Avoid those that don’t have what you want to have.
Surround yourself with those that do have what you want to have.
Use the environment (music, video, pictures, quotes) to keep you on track.

Now go and get it!

[bigjohn95821]

Jun 22, 2008 21:47:52 GMT -5 mrbeefy said:

Ok John...A little something I found out on the net to get you started.somew words of wisdom:

"You need to want it more than anything else in the moment
If you want to make progress you need to DIG! You need to want it HEAVY! You need to PUSH IT!! Eat what you know you need to eat. If you don’t know what to eat, read and learn. Lift more weight every single workout no matter what. Kick harder today than you did yesterday. Jump higher! Do more situps! Get in that zone so you can block out the rest of your life, so that the only thing you see right now is that bar on the floor or the heavy bag, and you know that today, right now, you’re about to lift 5 lbs more on this exercise than you’ve ever lifted before, and hell if you can get an extra rep you’ll do that too. Know that you’re about to jump rope for 5 minute straight without it getting caught on your feet. Know that you are about to knock that heavy bag right off the damned ceiling! Get IN that zone, because it’s time to DIG!

“Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning; but give me the man who has the pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing.”

Focus on the task at hand and nothing else.
Strive to set a new personal best or personal record each time.
Avoid those that do what you don’t want to do.
Avoid those that don’t have what you want to have.
Surround yourself with those that do have what you want to have.
Use the environment (music, video, pictures, quotes) to keep you on track.

Now go and get it!

I printed that out and put it by the bed, on the fridge, in my car and in my notebook.

Thanks again, kind of feel like I have a Guardian Angel. That will make this easier, but not easy.

[GerryT]

Good luck, John. Lot of great, knowledgable people here, and we're all rooting for you. Best wishes for a good journey.