Hello everyone,
I am new here and decided to create a journal. I don't have a really catchy title for it sorry. I want to say that I think this site is awesome and so are the people here.

I guess I will start with the basics. I am male, 34 years old, 6'6" tale and as of right now 280 lbs and 27.5% BF. I started my journey on July 17th of this year at 328 lbs and 35% BF. I give credit and thanks to everyone here for helping me get to where I am now. But I have a long way to go. That is why I am starting this journal.

It will not be very organized probably. I just want somewhere to share my thoughts with others. Show some people what I have done. Pick up some ideas and suggestions along the way. Help me stay motivated. Just babble on in general. You know, my "Happy Place". I will most likely update it everyday. I am here that often so why not, eh? If you stop by and read it, thanks, but be sure to leave comments. I will get pictures up soon. Of course, like a big dummyhead I did not take pictures at the beginning. So I only have three month pics to post. Oh well live and learn right?

Thanks everyone and good night.

Jim

I have been doing HIIT cardio starting this week. Mostly elliptical. I warmup for 3 minutes then do 60 secs full blast and then 60 secs moderate, just to catch my breath. Then rinse and repeat. Finish off with between 3 to 5 mins cooldown. Depending on what day of the week I do between 12 to 20 mins of rotating 60 sec intervals.

Everyone says that it is the calories burned after the workout throughout the day that really matters. I just don't feel like I "earned it" being there such a short time. Anyone else feel this way? I am pretty exhausted when I am done. On my higher intensity times I can't go any faster than I do. I am slowly increasing the resistance. If I catch my breath easily between intervals I will up the resistance. Hopefully this will work out the way I intend it to.

Jim

I have been doing HIIT cardio starting this week. Mostly elliptical. I warmup for 3 minutes then do 60 secs full blast and then 60 secs moderate, just to catch my breath. Then rinse and repeat. Finish off with between 3 to 5 mins cooldown. Depending on what day of the week I do between 12 to 20 mins of rotating 60 sec intervals.

Everyone says that it is the calories burned after the workout throughout the day that really matters. I just don't feel like I "earned it" being there such a short time. Anyone else feel this way? I am pretty exhausted when I am done. On my higher intensity times I can't go any faster than I do. I am slowly increasing the resistance. If I catch my breath easily between intervals I will up the resistance. Hopefully this will work out the way I intend it to.

Jim


Hi Jim :wave:

I know it doesn't seem like long enough, but with HIIT it REALLY is :nod: I hope you intend to start lifting soon.... lifting helps even more than cardio does :nod: good luck :gl:

I forgot to mention that I have been lifting. I started lifting back in July. I will get my workout routine and meal plan up here soon as well. I kind of just started this journal because I have been putting it off for about 2 weeks now. I figure I could at least get it started and then add to it as I go. I work in a restaurant so weekends are really crunched for me on time.

But Sundays and Mondays are nice. :D Those are my days off. Anywho, thanks for stopping by and saying hi. Hopefully I can become very knowledgeable and start contributing to others as well.

Jim

I forgot to mention that I have been lifting. I started lifting back in July. I will get my workout routine and meal plan up here soon as well. I kind of just started this journal because I have been putting it off for about 2 weeks now. I figure I could at least get it started and then add to it as I go. I work in a restaurant so weekends are really crunched for me on time.

But Sundays and Mondays are nice. :D Those are my days off. Anywho, thanks for stopping by and saying hi. Hopefully I can become very knowledgeable and start contributing to others as well.

Jim

no problem ;) I was just curious :D

Well I have a little bit of time this morning so I guess I could do a proper intro. I am 34 years old married with a 6 year old son. He is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I work in a restaurant, actually two right now. I have been in and out of the industry since I was 16. Going to school off and on to try and get a "real" job. A little while ago I accepted it as a real job and went into management. Oops. Big Oooops. Never again. I realized what they offer up front and what you actually get are two different things. 50 hours a week turned into 65 real fast. I never saw my family. The money was decent, but at what cost. I voluntarily stepped down. Actually I had to quit because they said manage or leave. So I left.

Then I had a gut wrenching reality check. One day a guy I hadn't seen for awhile came in and asked how I was and what I was doing. I laid out my pitiful tale. His response was "Are you ever going to stop checking in produce?" He was right. I was exactly where I was 3 years ago. At that moment I decided I did not want this life anymore. I stopped doing the same things over and over and expecting things to get better on their own. I started researching and thinking. I started planning. It was time for a change.

I will be attending Wright State University in Dayton, OH for computer engineering starting in January. Once I am done I will say goodbye to the restaurant industry forever.

I also started working out and eating right. I needed to do something to make things better. I decided to be proactive for a change. I joined a local 24 hour gym on July 17th and have missed 2 days since then. August 8th and October 8th. Other than that I have been there every day. I am planning my food out for days in advance. I am tracking everything - food and workouts. Religiously. It has become such a routine that I don't even have to think about it anymore. I guess after years and years of failed attempts, dating back to the 2nd year of BFL, I finally am emotionally and mentally ready to change my life.

My energy level is at an all time high. My son and I have bonded like I could never have imagined. He actually chooses to stay with dad instead of the grandparents. Sometimes. :) My wife and I are getting along better. My mental state is much better overall. If I knew then what I know now. Sheesh. :rolleyes: I said something to a coworker last night and she said "Oh and thats because you are so wise and knowledgeable". Well I realized she was right. I think I have learned so much this year. About my family, my body, my life and the world in general. It's amazing that you have to really skrew things up sometimes to get them right in the end.

Well, thanks for reading.

Jim

Welcome Jim! Fellow Ohioan here. I'm about an hour east of Wright State. Keep up the good work!
:gl:

Thanks. I really fell like this is becoming a lifestyle change and not just something I am doing for awhile.

My food intake as of right now:

7am.....wake up
9am.....pwo shake 2 scoops Nitrean, 1 banana
10am...1/2c oats, 4 egg whites, 2 whole eggs, 1 whole grapefruit
1pm.....turkey sandwich with 4oz turkey, 2 slices tomato, 1 slice of swiss cheese, 1 piece of leaf lettuce and 2 slices of 12 grain whole grain bread.
4pm.....6oz chicken, 3/4c brown rice and 2c broccoli
7pm.....repeat 1pm or 4pm meal depending on whether I am working or not
10pm....2 scoops Nitrean, 2 T natural peanut butter

I think the last time I added all this up it came out to around 2800 cal and around 40/40/20. I have been using Fitday to record and track all of my food. I have become very strict about anything that is not on my list is not going in my mouth. I just started this plan this week so I will see how it all shakes out in a week or two.

Jim

Good food day and leg workout. My entire lower body is still warm it feels like. Definitely going to be sore in the morning.

Jim

Legs are still really sore. That's good right? Anyway, another good food day. Did HIIT cardio for 30 mins and then abs this morning. Feels good right now.

Jim

Chest/shoulders/tris today. I worked to failure on almost everything. Man am I weak. Not overly sore or anything. My legs get sore and stay that way for a couple of days. My upper body does not. I wonder if I am not pushing the upper body enough?

Jim