Anyone just starting out?

[acappy]

I was just wondering...it seems as if everyone here is already fit, and/or has a great start. Are there any members who are just starting out? I am, but I feel a bit intimidated when everyone is mostly discussing things that they have already implemented...like, 'Oh well I'm in really good shape I just needs to tone my tummy...' I wanted to hear from people who found this sight inspiring and are trying to get started, anyone fit that description?

Thanks

[matalo]

See my post! http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=78

I am starting on Monday! Diet plan ready! Workout plan ready! Going out of town tomorrow! doh! Nice excuse, I know.

[NME]

Originally Posted by acappy

...I feel a bit intimidated when everyone is mostly discussing things that they have already implemented....

Don't be intimidated. Folks who have had results are just proud and hope that their experience can help motivate/educate others.

We're all here to help each other out so that whatever level you're on in your own personal fitness, you can achieve your personal goals.

*cue sappy music*

[Jeannie]

Today is my Day One.
I'm starting my workout today after I get off work. I'm tired of being pale and flabby. I don't actually have a diet plan. I just promised myself that I would eat better. More veggies less sugar type plan. So no, acappy, you are not alone. I'm a beginner too. We all had to start sometime.

[xray]

Originally Posted by acappy

I was just wondering...it seems as if everyone here is already fit, and/or has a great start. Are there any members who are just starting out? I am, but I feel a bit intimidated when everyone is mostly discussing things that they have already implemented...like, 'Oh well I'm in really good shape I just needs to tone my tummy...' I wanted to hear from people who found this sight inspiring and are trying to get started, anyone fit that description?

Thanks

Hi, I'm just at the very beginning at this, just as you. Nothing of my body is in order, and i have to get a fix about all of me, not only my tummy...
i read about John Stone in the news paper here in Norway (amazing he has reached all the way over here!) and he really gave me a big kick in the behind. i have had a "dream2 of reaching a goal of better self esteem, better looks, fitting nice clothes, good health... for SO long, and seeing his pictures and reading his story really opened my eyes and told me it IS possible. even for me. I want to loose 15 kilos (times 4 or so, I think, to get pounds) so I have a far way to go.
we will make it!!
Xray

[Jingo]

It's a bit like going to the gym where everyone is already looking like superman eh? hehe

I started on the 13th, currently 188lb, 24% body fat. Way not already fit

Instead of feeling intimidated, look at those people who have already done it like you would have as a child...

"one day i'm going to be like that!"

[Mahdimael]

I'm restarting after a few months off. I'm in ok shape, but I need to cut down on my weight (190). So I've sworn off all drinks but water, no more sugary desserts, and will exercise at home every night. My goal is 160 lbs by June. I think I can do it- I played football in high school, and since then have alternated between procrastination and determination. I've just not been able to keep it up- mostly because I see no results (I tend to stall around 180 lbs).

To everyone here, good luck, whatever your goals may be.

On that note, btw, is the real allure of John's story- he's not pitching any miracle products, and he's not some pro bodybuilder telling everyone how to exercise- he's just a normal working guy that worked hard and had great results (and I tip my cap to him and his determination).

[workoutgrrl]

I'm just starting out too. I decided after I happened upon John's page that I wanted to get in better shape. I'm not overweight (I though I might be a little, but I'm well within my BMI). But I never exercize, have little endurance, and a low metabolism. Before I saw this site, I thought about starting yoga. I'm going to do that, and some cardio work too, I think.

I'm starting out by reading as much as I can, which I have over the last week or so. I think it's a little harder for me, because most of the sites I've seen are for men. So I've had to do more research.

I just started keeping a very precise log of what I intake. I discovered a lot. I thought I ate pretty healthily, except maybe too many carbs. Wrond. I've kept slim because I eat almost no calories! I'm 5'1 and 110 and have been consuming about 1100 calories MAX a day! Oops. That's way too low... and explains by low energy.

So I'm starting out too, acappy. I suggest research, research, research. Then self monitor before jumping in.

[Lisa Stone]

I am also re-starting, so you are definitely not alone

[Jingo]

ooh, hello Mrs John Stone

[Lisa Stone]

hello Jingo
Now I've committed myself here on the board I HAVE to start LOL

[Leareth]

It seems like we aren't the only ones in the same boat, which is reassuring.

I'm on my semi-day 3, meaning I started Monday supposed to be doing my aerobics today but immediatly leave work and drive madly out a Latin class and then drive madly to the airport to pick up my wife.

Depending on what happens in class I will be sneaking out early to hit the gym on the way to the airport. Hence the semi-day.

Mind you my wife and I were supposed to work out in the morning, but an emergency call from her work (resulting in my driving madly to the airport instead of the gym) put the kibosh on that.

[GorA]

I've been following John's progress for awhile now, and like most of you started my own transformation. It's been a little over 5 months, and I reached a decent look (far from my goal). Anyway, the truth is, at least 80% of us will not see the same results as John has, due to lack of motivation and bodytypes. Because I'm a 19 year old guy, I can't stick with the same diet, count the calories, workout every single day, and most of all, not party hard.
So if you're like me, replace all sodas with water, use light mayo instead of butter, and don't eat a lot of junk food. That's how I started. When I felt a little better about myself, I dragged my ass to the gym and started lifting 3 times a week, with a lot, and I mean a lot, of cardio (whenever I had time). Back then three things motivated me. 1) My girlfriend 2) Volleyball (I play for school) and 3) Health Issues. After I broke up with my girl, became decent in volleyball, and overall healthy, I had nothing to lift for anymore. Than I started taking photos every week. As I was seeing the progress, I visualized the next "stage" in the gym, which helped me push myself even harder. What I found out was that taking pictures was one of the most important mental aspects of bodybuilding, without it there is no way you'll see any progress (in the mirror).

I would recommend you read a book called "Body for Life". Everyone I've came in contact with said it expended their knowledge on weight loss/fitness.

I'm attaching pictures of myself. Hopfully along with John's results they will motivate some of you...

[cuda]

I started the 19th of January!

[WierdBeard]

Great results GorA!
I'm also starting out, I started exactly one week and one day ago, on Jan. 14th. I was one of many people who got to it through Fark. I've almost constantly been on some kind of diet or another, and never had the motivation to stick with it. The most I've lost was 10 pounds in 2 months, with no significant change in body fat, around 3% drop. So since I wasn't seeing results, I quit. John's page really inspired and motivated me, and gave me the proof that this is possible. With hard work and dedication, patience and knowledge, I could also do this! Because of my ignorance I was making things waaay harder on myself than they should have been, and making some serious mistakes like just eating 3 times a day and my philosophy was the less calories the better. I sometimes ate around 600 cals a day. Now of course, I've been constantly reading and am still at it. I've found things are a lot easier and I actually love working out. I've dropped around 5 pounds since I started and gone down 2% body fat!

[GorA]

Thanks WierdBeard!
I had the same mentality a year ago; eat less = lose more. Now that I'm on the right path, hopfully I'll get a 4-pack by the summer.

I guess I don't have to tell you that loosing 1-2 lbs a week is the right way to mentain muscle mass... You did a lot of reading on bb.com right?

I might also add this. My dad lost 57 lbs in 3 months with just dieting. What he did was so called "crush diet". He basically ate 3 times a day, composing of a Chunky's Steak 'n' Potatoe Soup, cottage cheese, and turkey ham sandwich. He stopped drinking beer when watching sports, totally eliminated sweets (ice cream, candy), and ended up in the hospital hehe, not a good way to losing weight.

[Evil Hx Coupe]

I re-started last week. I swtiched from atkins to a balanced diet and alot more excercise.

[WierdBeard]

I'm aware I'm losing too much muscle mass, the hardest part for me is definately the nutrition. I'm still trying to keep my daily cal intake up, but I'm still coming up short (1300 average a day). I'm having trouble upping my calories while maintaining my protein intake and reducing my carb intake. At least on paper, when I make a 1800 calorie nutrition plan, the fat content is through the roof, and if not that, either the carbs or the proteins are too much. Still working at it though, it's quite the juggling act.

[Andrew M]

Hi GorA.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to have darkened as you have trimmed. I assumed that to post pics here, you had to include 20mins per day on the sun-beds.

You really must do better........

Andrew.

[Gohan]

Originally Posted by cuda

I started the 19th of January!

I also started on the 19th.