New to the community, just creating a thread where I can share my problems/triumphs and talk to someone about my weight problem.

[John121]

Hi guys,

I'm a male with weight 96.3 kgs and am 188 cm tall ( 6" 2' and 15.2 stone). I have been hovering around this weight for almost 2 years and it very much bothers me and affects my personality. I struggle to be as confident as I'd like to be because often I think that people are looking at my body. I'm 20, so most of my friends are skinny-ish. I also just don't like the extra weight for health reasons. and the way it looks. My ultimate goal is to be 88kgs, however, mainly just to adopt a healthier eating style and create a sustainable healthy eating habits.

The main problems I face is that I binge eat at times and struggle with self-control, I get very worked up about my body and being fat and just get really edgy and uncomfortable being in my own skin. I have decided to follow the NHS 12 week program starting tomorrow and so in week 1, I will focus on switching to higher fibre foods and aiming for 1900 calories a day and cutting portions down and everything included in the week 1 suggestions.

I have decided that I am in the prime of my life and it is time to do something about my weight, I am sick of feeling shit about myself because of my body.

If anyone would be happy to support me through this and follow my progress so that I have someone to share my feelings about how I'm going or to talk to in struggling times, I would much appreciate it and you'd be making a really positive impact on my life. I struggle to talk to people about this face-to-face as I grew up being very athletic and muscular with low-body fat, so becoming overweight has shattered my ability to talk about stuff like this in real life to people.

John.

[Hidden]

You'll do it John. You are right, now is the time. Confidence is an issue for everyone really but as you make changes this will flourish.

Make sure you measure portions and count calories honestly so you don't defeat yourself before you start!

You have age on your side and as you were athletic not so long ago, you'll probably find it less challenging to pick up the exercise. Go for it, best of luck,

Linda

[Huyai]

Hello John. Good for you for deciding to join this community there is a lot of support and great advice from the membership.

I think it is great that you have chosen to start this journey sooner rather than later. I don't want to dwell too long on me, but I felt the same way at your age, and it took me another 12 years to get my act together. Even so, the 12 week plan is pretty effective and if you stick with it you will be surprised. I am at week hmm 20something and at 6' 1'' and starting at 19.5 stone, I am just hovering above 13 stone now.

I know you are feeling low about things now but if you stick with the plan, I think you will be pretty pleased with how things turn out. Back to me (!) again, but every day somebody will comment on how different I look now.

I wish you best of luck, and always free to come hear for inspiration, encouragement, advice and also to let us know how it goes.

[Windswept1]

Hi,

once you get going you will feel better, especially with the exercise and even more so when people notice the changes. Good luck

[Joanne44]

John, congratulations on taking the first step!

I wish you lots of motivation, determination and support on your journey. this is a fabulous forum - really supportive - so just log in when you've anything to share.

Joanne

[Pjsb]

Hi john. I'm not sure my advice will help, but I worry you are looking at this the wrong way round. (Btw I am 52, 6'2" and 103 kgs.... I'm fit and healthy)

My advice is that you are much too young to be starting diets, but you are the perfect age to start getting really fit.... Then your weight won't matter, and best of all your confidence will soar.

It doesn't matter what route you take to get fit, swimming is great though as it gives you broad shoulders and is pretty easy to start.... Also try group sports, you meet great people and have a good laugh whilst you are becoming fit

Hope that helps..... It worked for me at your age and the effects have never worn off

[vodkagirl13]

Hi, my recommendation is keep a food diary, amazing how it makes you think about the food that you're actually putting in your mouth. It's working for me, I've lost 12.5lbs in 3 weeks. Though it's less than a stone, I can tell just by how I find it easier walking about and up stairs.

Never feel guilty if you have an "off day" just focus the next day and put it behind you.

Good luck

Sandra

[scater82]

A food diary is good way to measure whats going in.... just remember if you bite it you write it.

Also fluid intake (specifically water) is hugely important. so worthy of noting that down too.

As Vodkagirl13 put above if you have an "off day" dont worry about it, focus on the next day and what changes you have made already. it takes around 4 weeks to change or create a behaviour and this is what you are effectively doing changing how you look and think about food.

the road to success is never straight forward

residualincomedoneright.com...

[John121]

Hey guys,

First and foremost, thanks for all the advice, I took a lot of it on board and it really helped. I read all of your messages, just don't have time to reply to each one individually, I'm really sorry about this, but they really did help.

I didn't 'progress' after the usual 7 days, because it took me time to get my mind right and feel like I'd successfully learnt the lessons of week 1 and put them in practice. At the moment, after weighting myself, I am 93.0 kgs, so this is a step in the right direction.

At the moment, I am focusing really hard on just eating right over Christmas. I'm on holiday in continental Europe with extended family, and there are just so many yummy foods every day it is a marathon each day to not dig in, but I am managing and every day it is getting easier. I keep telling myself, 'one week of restraint, just one week, you can do it, look at the strength of men and women of the past, they've fought in wars protecting an ideal, it's not too much a question for me to show self-control for a week.'

Anyway, hope it's also going great for everyone else. Don't look at Christmas as a potential hurdle, look it as a time where you can develop your self-control and it's great training for self control. It is always easier to push the human mind with positivity than threaten it with negativity.

Happy holidays guys, and once again, thanks so much for the support!

[zqueenchaosz]

I use MyFitnessPal app on android to keep track of calories, its super easy to do recipes and scan bar-codes.

I highly recommend the couch to 5k and strength and fitness training that are on the NHS website, they are super good for "baby steps" and will help in becoming more fit (which I think is your goal).

Remember not to go binge eating if something doesn't work out the way you would like! Don't dwell, just keep moving, progressing.

Congratz on the first week!