So I wanted to introduce myself. I am Andrew, I'm 23, and I'm a fat guy. I currently weigh in at about 309 lbs and last time I checked I'm at like 25-27% body fat. I am 6'6". I've always been a big dude, but part of that big has been a big gut and some man boobs. I'm tired of it. Spent my life this way and it's time to go. I once got on top of it...dropped down to 270, but still had very little muscle. When I started I was around 315 at 36% body fat, so god knows I've made leaps and bounds. But I'm not where I want to be yet. I feel like I barely have started. I work out like once a week max. I try to make it more, but with a crazy work schedule and bad eating habits, it's killin' me. I've just got to make some changes. Everytime I've kind of lingered in an online community for something, I've always gotten really into it. I always like to feel like I'm part of something, so I'm hoping reading what everyone has to say here and having an outlet for my questions will help. Mostly though, I just want to get fit. There's so much stuff I want to do, but I just can't because I'm fat. I want to do martial arts, take salsa lessons, meet more women, walk around on the beach without being self conscious, shop in a regular store...the list just goes on and on. But most importantly, I want it out of my way so I can actually pay attention to what's important in life, rather then being stopped in mid conversation because I happen to catch my beefy profile in a reflection. John's pictures have inspired me. So Hi everyone, I hope we all get along.

Talio.

Keep at it Talio. This website has all the information you will ever need on how to lose weight the right way and keep it off. Make a priority of yourself, make a plan, and make it happen.

Good luck!

Welcome Andrew! A great thing I did when I first joined was read one of the stickies at the top of this forum titled, "Things I wish I knew..." It describes some pitfalls EVERYONE goes through. This decision to improve your health, appearance and overall well-being starts and ends with you and you only. Read up on everything you can get you hands on and dedicate yourself to some goals; put them down on paper. This is the start of something great for you, I wish you all the luck!

I will keep reading. I think I need to buy a few books too. I think at this point my troubles really are motivation and consistency. I know when I go to the gym I feel my muscles get just a little bit harder and when I eat mostly protein with lots of fruits and vegitables I start to lose weight. It's just a matter of doing it and wanting it bad enough. Part of me really does say that it doesn't matter, I don't need to do this, I'm just fine the way I am and another part says, fine isn't good enough. I need to be better then fine, I need to be good, if not great. I've got years ingrained in my head that people who take care of themselves and work out are idiots. That the guys packed into gyms are just low lives who aren't smart enough to use their brains so they pack themselves into these gyms to compensate for their idiocy. I know now that those beliefs are truly false, but I still catch myself in a gym, looking around at the guys in better shape, and instead of getting motivated to get to that point, I start feeling bad because I'm not at that point and then the brain starts to rationalize. It's a simple matter of changing my attitude so when I'm at the gym, I know I'm doing something that's good for me and I have fun. In truth I love going to the gym. I get to listen to music, be active, make my muscles bigger and get to look at gorgous women. It's just a simple matter of keeping my mind focused on those reasons to go and not on the things that keep me from it.

I'm also thinking about getting a personal trainer to learn the ropes at first. Figure out what exercises I need to do. As of now all I do is that stupid circuit training routine that they gave me when I first started. It's fine, but I really rather would have a more focused workout. Any thoughts on that?

Talio.

PS. Now I just gotta ignore the guy with the big teeth trying to fill all the womens water bottles...eek...creepy.:rolleyes:

I too am thinking about getting a personal trainer talio, I think it would help out a lot. But good luck and stay strong.

I'm not sure what everyone else will say and I'm new and inexperienced but in terms of consistency just try and do whatever you can, whenever you can, whether it's getting off a a few stops early and walking from the bus or using stairs at work. Anything you can think do is a start and the more you do that, the easier it will become to get motivated because you'll start feeling better about yourself as you excercise.

Good work by the way on making a go at this, it's really hard - my brother struggles with his weight on top of a medical condition so it is really hard but I think the rewards are worth it.

Well I've already found a piece of the puzzle my brain was missing. I've always been of the concept work smarter not harder. This was beaten into me from working low paid, hourly, blue collar jobs where if you worked really hard and busted your ass, you made everyone else look bad. In that enviroment, it's better to have friends of the guys then your bosses. There's no place to go in those jobs. Your co-workers can make your life a living hell. So I kind of realize, working smarter is just looking for short cuts.

I'm that kind of guy. I look for the back door to get what I want. I think it's what I did before. I went on Slim Fast and sure, I lost alot of weight and was able to keep it off for some time. But then I got into a lowsy relationship and fell back on food as a comfort and gone was any success I once had.

So, on my "wall-o-quotes", a wall in my bedroom I decorate with fancy decorated, motivational quotes, I will put up a bunch of quotes from a book I just got on how hard work is the key. I realize this is something I've been lacking, looking for the easiest, most effective way, when really I should have just been busting my ass getting done what I want to do. This spills over into the rest of my life. I really should be working harder at everything. Work, my pad, my body and even my relationships. I need to learn to like work.

I think I should start a journal at this point of all this stuff I'm learning.

Talio.