I have posted here a few times before.... mainly asking questions, but this kind of like my first post.

I'm a 21 year-old college student in Georgia. I'll be graduating in May with a degree in Economics.

I played baseball and basketball in highschool. Despite always have practice and being active, I always had to fight with me weight - I would let it go up, then I would have to get it back down. During basketball season, my weight was around 200. During baseball season, obviously, it went up. I graduated highschool weighing in at about 210 pounds.

Fast forward 3 years. In September 2006, I stepped on the scales and realized I weighed over 250 pounds. That was the most I had ever weighed in my life. I decided I needed to do something about that before it got way out of control. So, I started dieting and lifting weights and set my first goal. My original goal was to be comfortable taking my shirt off by the time spring break rolled around. Well, here in Georgia, my spring break is the first week in March. So, the time is near. Two weeks away. It ain't gonna happen...

I've made good progress. Nothing as dramatic as John Stone's original weight loss, but I've made progress. Pictures are attached from mid-September when I weighed in right around 250 pounds and then this morning when I weighed in around 223. Now that I haven't reached my first goal, I have to set a new one. My new goal is to be in best shape of my life when I graduate on May 10. That gives me a little under three months.

I've been following Berardi's Precision Nutrition stuff since I started dieting. When it comes to lifting weights, I seem to have ADD. I'm changing all the time. Recently, I've been doing some stuff from Chad Waterbury. As for cardio.... I don't do it. Not as much as I probably should, at least. On average, maybe once per week. Some weeks none. Some weeks maybe twice. When I do perform cardio, it's usually on the treadmil.. Usually 3.5-4.0 mph on a good incline. I may do this for 30-45 minutes.

This was pretty much an about me post - where I was, where I am now, and where I'd like to be in May.

I've read these boards since September, so I know there are a lot of people who can relate to me. A lot of people have started where I was and changed their bodies. That's what I'm trying to do.

Any suggestions and/or criticism is welcome. I just want to get a read whether people think my progress is good, could be better. Maybe some things some people think I should focus more on, and whatnot. Anything.

I Now that I haven't reached my first goal, I have to set a new one. My new goal is to be in best shape of my life when I graduate on May 10. That gives me a little under three months.


What does this mean? Non-specific goals aren't really helpful, I think. "Best shape of my life." What does that mean? How will you know if you reach your goal or not? The purpose of a goal is to see measurable progress, no? How do you measure this?

Apart from that, you're making good progress. Easy to see progress in your belly. No cardio? No problem. Cardio will certainly help you lose fat quicker, but you don't need to do it, for sure, if fat loss is your goal.

Keep up the good work, my friend, and welcome to JSF. Glad to have you aboard.

I would use bodfat measurements to determine a goal, but I get inconsistent readings using the calipers. Sub-15% bodyfat by May would be wonderful...

I'm not too concerned with with weight, but more with how I look in the mirror. I guess I do need to find a better quantitative way to measure results. No man boobs by May! :)