New here

[croker]

To introduce myself..

28 yo male
5'6"
CW: 255.8
GW1: 185
GW2: 165-180


I got a nice Tanita scale to be sure the weight was accurate. My goal is to drop as much fat weight in the next 7 months. I don't know if it's possible to lose 90 lbs. and hit my GW in seven months, but I'm going to try very hard to make this happen.

I'm no stranger to working out, I've had a few gym memberships. But right now my activity level is almost nothing as I've had a desk job for 5 years. So I'm planning to stay on iduction for 2-3 months, maybe longer if I can do that and start weight training. If anyone has experience with working ramping up to 2-3 workouts a week to maximize my fat loss, I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'm ok with putting on muscle weight or having my final weight be higher than my goal, as long as I drop the fat I've been carrying around. I'd like to get into the gym as soon as possible so my muscles do their part and it's not just the Atkins that makes me lose weight. I'm looking for a strong one-two punch, and I'm going to work hard for it.

I'm going shopping tomorrow for chicken, eggs, fish, tuna, and veggies. I'm a simple cook so my desire for easy cooking and a clean kitchen will keep me away from the cheesecake recipes and other things I've seen poking around the site, so if anyone has some low ingredient easy ideas to keep those foods from getting old, that'd be great. But I'm ok with being bored, I'm reprogramming my mind to think of food not as something I taste and enjoy, but as fuel to drop these pounds.

I'm looking forward to my 2 week weigh in!


2/7 EDIT! I wasn't able to go shopping, I'm not making any excuses but I'm going to be accountable for everything to myself, and typing it seems to make that more 'real'. I'm going shopping Friday when I have the day off, until then I'm not eating Jack in the Box, I'm getting Subway ham&turkey subs with no mayo/cheese. It's not Atkins, but it's better than burgers.

[sallyseachange]

Hi Croker and welcome!

Sounds like you have a great plan for success... and are motivated. That's cool!
It's good that you're not fixated on an actual goal weight number, as you clearly understand that muscle weighs more than fat. Why not take your measurements? Inches are a far better indication of your morphing figure than scale readings! I didn't do that when I started out, and regretted it tremendously later on.

As for thinking of food as fuel and not something to enjoy... I reckon that after a while of eating the Atkins way, you will really be able to have the best of both worlds, in that you will consider food a fuel and enjoy it tremendously. Just reading some of the recipes here is quite an eye opener.

Happy losing!

[LoveIsNoColor]

Welcome to the board!

You will find all kinds of great information and wonderful helpful people here. It sounds like you are in a great mind frame and ready to take on your new lifestyle!
Planning your menu will become your best friend!! Do it often!
Way to go on joining us!

[croker]

Thanks for the comments!

I do have a question, and I know it's quite early to be thinking about this, but I am. I'm wondering about the excess skin thing, especially in my face. Will it always be there, or will it tighten up like I was never carrying the extra weight? I don't want to have surgery or anything, it's just with someone my height any extra weight makes a big difference.

[Twilight]

With the surgery, I cannot help. As to your edit from earlier, about not having time to shop and eating at Subway: A lot of places (Arbys, Subway, etc.) have nice, low carb wraps. If you're on the go, try one of those.

And welcome to the boards!

[ValidRouge]

welcome croker

We've got an exercise challenge going on where we are trying to beat our personal bests in running 5K and Weight Training. You're welcome to join. I think it's an 8 week challenge that just started this week.

[ValidRouge]

New Psychotic Challenge

There's the link to the thread. Unfortunately you have to read into it a couple pages to get ALL the details. LOL

[dreamof145]

Hi, welcome. Your attitude is great and will help you tremendously as you make this a new Way of Life. Its normal to worry about the lose skin... exercising and drinking lots of water gives the skin elasticity. You're young and I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well your body adjusts to your weight loss and tightens up. Best wishes....keep us posted on your progress!!

[Lyssie]

Hi Croker!! Don't eat the low-carb wraps while on induction... A lot of the places like subway will make a salad out of a sandwich (ie. put all the meat and cheese on a bed of lettuce) for you.

I started going to the gym about a week after I started this uhmmmm... 2 years ago (ok, so I took a little time off from the eating in-between). I went from being a total desk/mall jockey to doing weights and cardio 5/7 days a week.

Uhm. About the skin thing, everyone has their own opinion about it, how long you've been overweight, how much water you drink, genetics, etc. Basically, you're still pretty young, so your skin should still have some elasticity left in it... It might take a while to go down though... I strongly believe in the water.

We *did* just start a challenge this week, as Joy has given the thread and stuff, here's the lowdown (so you don't have to read like, 10 pages of stuff) - you pick 5 weight lifting exercises you want to improve on. You give the max weight you can currently do (with max being you get about 8 reps per set at that weight before you want to keel over) and your best time for running/walking/jogging/skipping 5k (3.1 miles). Each time you go up in weight by 5lbs for an exercise, or decrease your running time by 15 seconds, you get a point... I'll do the website soon, I swear.. then at the end of the 8 weeks, I'll figure out something fantastic.

Oh, and welcome.

[hereIam]

Welcome to the board croker! It's good to have you with us!