My fitness journey officially starts now.
Like most Americans, I’m also a typical obese person.
My hope is that thinking about this topic, writing it out by articulating it through this blog, doing research, and detailing a gameplan, will finally make my goal of being fit come to fruition. I’m done being complacent.
I’ve never saw myself as a real unfit person in my life. Yea… I never really did sports or paid attention to what I ate, but I never felt terrible, slow, or out of energy. But not paying attention to myself has caught up to me in my mid-thirties. Honestly, I still feel good physically, but I’m starting to see and feel some of the extra weight I’m carrying around. The main driver though, is the constant thoughts I’m having about it. Thoughts of “ugh, I’m fat”, “this shirt is tight”, “these pants are tight and my crack is showing”, “my gut is flopped over my waistband”, “I shouldn’t have ate takeout”. These are all just negative thoughts that I need to get out of my head. I need to put a plan in place that will help me clear these thoughts of mine. Once this journey hits the milestone I’m envisioning, I’ll have positive thoughts and continue those thoughts. I’ve been going to the gym pretty regularly the past two years. I’m seeing improvements through my workouts, but my food, weight, and overall fitness hasn’t changed. That’s what’s allowing these thoughts to continue.
I’ve been hearing there’s new research that shows going to the gym and exercising isn’t really “burning calories” as we thought. Apparently losing weight really just comes down to calories-in-calories-out (CICO). This weight loss is going to come down to what I put in my mouth and when.
Here’s the thing – I know what I need to do. But I need to put it in place. I need a lifestyle change. Not a diet. I’ve done “diets” before where I just cut down to a crazy low amount of calories. I’ve actually lost 30lbs before, twice. But both times, I do it to an extreme where once I hit the 30lb mark, I just reverted back to my old habits. I’m needing that lifestyle change that I can sustain for the rest of my life.
It’s terrible to think this (and to even write it out), but I know I’m better than some specific people in my extended family that are also obese. There’s no way I’m at their level when it comes to my drive. But alas, right now, it seems that way as I’m also obese alongside them. I’m constantly seeing other people online be successful with their fitness goals. So if everyone else can do it, so can I. I will do this. I can overcome this. I’m kind of word vomiting, but I need to get these thoughts out of my head, written down, and a plan in-place. Every year, I say to myself, “this is the year – I’m going to lose weight, be on track, and feel even better about myself.” Well, then January of the next year hits, and I think… “What happened?” Time goes by so fast… I need to act now or I’ll never get to where I want to be. Once I have this fitness bug, these better habits, I know I’ll be successful.
Where do I want to be? I’m thinking of a healthy weight, 150-160lbs, for my height is acceptable. I want to be toned, but not overly muscular. A six pack would be great, but lets be logical. That would be above and beyond what I’m looking for. That’s not what is important right now.
I know what I need to do. And here it is:
- Stop drinking calories. No more drinking soda. No more caffeine either. Only water with water packets for flavoring.
- No more snacking. I don’t honestly snack too much, but I do at times when I’m gaming at night. Can’t be having candy bars or Nutter Butters, paired with soda, at night. The calories just adds up.
- No more eating out. I want to give in and allow myself one cheat meal a week, but, I’m not sure. I’ve honestly really been liking my wife’s cooking lately. Her pizzas and other stuff have been great and honestly fill that need of eating out. Utilizing that will help. Plus it helps with the wallet – less money spent eating out.
- Determine proteins to focus on when it comes to meals throughout the week.
- Smaller portion sizes. This definitely applies when eating pasta, pizza, snacks, etc. But now will apply to every meal.
- Sticking to intermittent fasting. Only eating in an 8 hour window every day.
- Counting calories. I’ll never know if I’m on track without actually knowing the specifics. This is one of the tougher tests for me, as constantly counting calories can be tiring.
Just this list above will most likely get me to where I want to be, minus toning. Toning will be driven and completed through my workouts.
I will upload pictures on this post of my current body composition and my weight. Subsequent posts will include those same pics and updates.
I am ready to finally take control of my mind and my goal of having a healthy lifestyle. I will be successful in this endeavor.