Long post warning.
M32, 5,10'. started 28 of March, 2024, at 208 pounds, I am now down to 154 pounds. 54 pounds lost. Been lurking on this sub pretty much since I started and have gained a lot of inspiration, so I thought I would post here in case it might help someone just a little bit.
A year ago I was discussing something related to fitness with a co worker, I seem to remember it being the shape of my water bottle, as it reminded him of the ones people usually have in his gym (riveting conversation, I know) told him I did use to lift but that was many years ago. After the conversation I started thinking back to those days and for whatever reason, when I got home I went to check my weight so I could figure out my BMI. I was offended. BMI told me I was obese. (30.1 so only just, but still)
I will preface this next part by saying I'm normally a pretty smart person. When my BMI had sunk in, I decided that I was gonna show the BMI chart and scales that I was definitely not obese..... By losing weight...... Not quite sure whatever backwards logic I used in that moment, but hey, it worked.
I had lost weight before, but then obviously regained it (thanks Slimming world) and I knew i didnt want to go back to that, so i decided to calorie count. Took me a few days to find an app that i wanted to use for it, then i started eating 1650 calories per day and weighing myself twice a week, and oh boy was i hungry. After three weeks of this, my girlfriend convinced me it would be better to eat a little more, so I changed my calorie goal to 1800 and kept steadily losing on that, up until the end of November. Losses were becoming slower, so I lowered calories to 1600. This went pretty well.
For many people, including myself, the Christmas period can be difficult to navigate. I had decided that from around 21st of December until the 2nd of January, I was not gonna count calories, and if some snacks crept in before that, that was fine as well. I gained 16 pounds over that period. Quite a big gain (there were a couple other gains throughout the 1 year as well), do I regret it? No, I enjoyed myself and you gotta do that sometimes.
After xmas, I went straight back to 1600 calories and here we are, at my goal weight. That's the story, but i will rant some more with tips and stuff i realised along the way.
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It wasn't until around September where i started concerning myself with the split of macros. Before that I just tried eating somewhat healthy. Since then I make it a priority to get 160g of protein per day (Thank you protein powder). Not really concerned with carbs and fat as long as I get at least a little of both.
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For the vast majority of this weight loss, i did not exercise. Sometimes i would cycle to work as i always have, sometimes i would go for a little walk, mostly to enjoy the weather or get some peace and quiet from the kids 😂 only in the last month, month and a half, have i started running. I bravely signed up to a half marathon that my parents were gonna run in, so now I'm gonna train for that and run it with them.
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To help me stick with a healthy deficit, I have started referring to some things as Anchors. These are things that I have to do, no matter what happens in a day, to help keep myself on track. It might sound a little silly, but i have found that it helped me on not so great days, to be able to say, at least i did that. For me, this was eating... An apple per day. Ground-breaking stuff, I know.
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There were times where I had to get tough with myself, be honest with yourself and realise where you are going wrong. The phrase "suck it up, buttercup" has been used a couple times when i was hungry but out of calories for the day. Worked well for me at least.
Lastly I want to mention plans for the future. Last time I lost weight I didn't have a plan for maintenance, which is why I then regained the weight, at least I think so. This time I have a plan. There is the aforementioned half marathon I want to complete, but I'm also going to be starting in the gym, I have a workout plan ready to go and am feeling more motivated and disciplined than ever. That glorified but ultimately kinda pointless 6 pack will be mine!
So you might ask why I havent started the gym already? Well, I'm lazy, like very lazy, and the gym is a whole 10 minutes by car away. My girlfriend and I are however in the process of buying a house that is a 2 minute walk away from said gym. So when we are moved in, or if i get too annoyed at the long buying process, i will be joining and are looking to pack on some muscle. Who knows, maybe I will do another post in a years time, reporting on my maintaining and muscle building process.
Despite the fact that a lot of people on here doesn't seem to like using food as a reward (understandable really) I will be rewarding myself with a Dominos, a couple beers and a bounty next Friday, on the exact 1 year anniversary of starting my weight loss.
Just because I forgot to mention it, and don't see where i can sort of fit it in: i still drank alcohol, started at one night every 2 weeks, then every 3 weeks, then became more of a special occasions kinda thing. I like drinking, but it does slow down the weight loss, take from that what you will.
Long story over, AMA.
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