Obesity Discussion Forums

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

One of my biggest regrets in not taking a photograph before I began my weight loss program.

I would certainly recommend to anyone just starting out on any type of diet to make sure that they have one taken at the outset. This would prove to be a very good motivator when you feel down.

Anyway, I am going to try and find a before and after piccy and I will post them on here. Even though I am still considered a "work in progress".

I wish I had done that as well! I've been recording my weight since the beginning, but don't have any pics or measurements that really show my previous shape.

[Groundhog]

Well, I have completed the Santa dash in a time of just over 32 minutes.

It was a cold and damp start but by the finish line the sun had come out and it was a lovely sunny day!

Heres some piccys...

1) Me (left) & my Bro-in-law
2) The gathering of santas
3) Me at the finish
4) Me with my medal (my daughter is on the left looking a little bored )

[William Wallace]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Well, I have completed the Santa dash in a time of just over 32 minutes.

It was a cold and damp start but by the finish line the sun had come out and it was a lovely sunny day!

Heres some piccys...

1) Me (left) & my Bro-in-law
2) The gathering of santas
3) Me at the finish
4) Me with my medal (my daughter is on the left looking a little bored )

: Looking great!!! I would so do that in a heartbeat if we had a race like that out here.

[Audrey]

Looks like you had a great time!

Only 25 lbs to go. So we should give you...what? another couple weeks?

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by Audrey

Only 25 lbs to go. So we should give you...what? another couple weeks?

That would be very nice

However, back to the real world... I got weighed today and lost one more lb, i'm now 214

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

That would be very nice

However, back to the real world... I got weighed today and lost one more lb, i'm now 214

Another one bites the dust!

[Groundhog]

I got weighed yesterday and I actually put a pound back on

I have let my diet slip, not totally but obviously too much. I decided to try eating "normally" but continue training and see how it went

What I don't understand is, my bodyfat % dropped from 23.8% to 23% but I did not lift many weights last week due to a shoulder injury (front deltoid).

Anyway, since starting in August, this is my 1st gain so it has given me a kick up the backside that I probably needed. I suppose it couldn't have come at a better time of the year either.

My personal trainer is off now until Jan 7th so I am determined to get my bodyfat down as low as possible before our next training session.

My shoulder is feeling a lot better after a week off but it is still weak so I will have to be careful.

[Audrey]

Don't beat yourself up too much since the lb gain was obviously muscle gain.

As for eating normally, do you mean normally as in how you used to, or normally as in still eating healthy but just not counting calories (if you count calories)? I finally had to realize that after I had lost the weight, I couldn't go back to eating how I used to, because that's how I put the weight on.

When I stopped counting calories it took me a while to get my brain in order about eating. My weight fluctuated in about a 5 lbs range during this time (which infuriated me to no end).

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by Audrey

As for eating normally, do you mean normally as in how you used to, or normally as in still eating healthy but just not counting calories (if you count calories)?

I have still been eating healthy but I have stopped counting calories over the last week or so.

I couldn't go back to how I was before. My life has changed so much in these last 4 short months, and all of it for the better.

[sass63]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I have still been eating healthy but I have stopped counting calories over the last week or so.

I couldn't go back to how I was before. My life has changed so much in these last 4 short months, and all of it for the better.

That is fantastic I am glad your found out now that you cant go back to eathing the old way. And not after you had a terrible gain.
If we want to stay down in weight and stay healthy this is a lifetime change and going back is not an option.

Congrats on the great progress!

[Groundhog]

The moment I had been dreading has come and gone.

I finally got weighed today after three weeks. I decided to enjoy christmas & New Year and forget watching calories, not totally but just to treat myself.

I had blown all of my personal goals for 2007 out of the ball park, so I reckoned I deserved a good holiday! I still went to the gym every day and even on the days it was closed (Boxing day & New years day) I went on a one hour run.

Anyway, I had a seesion with the trainer at the gym and got on the scales and guess what......

I have dropped 1 lb since last time. I am now 213.8 lb

Now for the bad news.....

My body fat % has gone up

Basically, I have been doing no weights at all and have been concentrating purely on cardio. I injured my shoulder six weeks or so ago and decided to give it total rest until the new year. As a result, I have lost muscle and due to the christmas holiday I have gained body fat.

My new years resolution and goal for 2007 is to reduce my body fat % to below 10%.

I have no idea how difficult that will be but it is a goal and I have to have something to aim for. My body fat % is currently 26%

[chazzyb31]

Woah there, Kenny. Before you go overboard, I suggest you look at a couple of body fat charts:

Body Fat Chart
Body Fat Percentage Charts for Men and Women

You'll see from these that 10% is too low for a guy your age. Fat is important, as it protects your organs and keeps you warm - after all, this is the UK and we need a lot of insulation here!

You've been doing so well, I'd hate for you to set yourself back by going to extremes. If you're still injured try swimming. The water gives resistance and helps build muscle. It's slower than weight training, but it does work - remember Duncan Goodhew in his heyday. Failing that, you could do light weights at the gym until your shoulder is better again. The worst thing you could do right now is exercise through the pain - that's a guaranteed way to do yourself permanent damage.

Listen to your body and only do as much as is comfortable. Be patient and you'll get there; possibly more slowly than you'd like, but you'll do it. You've shown that you have the determination. You did an excellent job of not succumbing over the festive period (which is more than I can say!) and you must remember that you've come a long way and your target weight isn't very far off. You've only got 24lbs to go until you reach your target weight which, at a rate of 2lbs per week, should have you at your target by April. Of course, knowing what you've achieved so far, I'm sure you'll reach your target long before that!

Just be safe, luvvie, and take it easy. This is a marathon, not a Santa dash.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

The moment I had been dreading has come and gone.

I finally got weighed today after three weeks. I decided to enjoy christmas & New Year and forget watching calories, not totally but just to treat myself.

I had blown all of my personal goals for 2007 out of the ball park, so I reckoned I deserved a good holiday! I still went to the gym every day and even on the days it was closed (Boxing day & New years day) I went on a one hour run.

Anyway, I had a seesion with the trainer at the gym and got on the scales and guess what......

I have dropped 1 lb since last time. I am now 213.8 lb

Now for the bad news.....

My body fat % has gone up

Basically, I have been doing no weights at all and have been concentrating purely on cardio. I injured my shoulder six weeks or so ago and decided to give it total rest until the new year. As a result, I have lost muscle and due to the christmas holiday I have gained body fat.

My new years resolution and goal for 2007 is to reduce my body fat % to below 10%.

I have no idea how difficult that will be but it is a goal and I have to have something to aim for. My body fat % is currently 26%

That makes sense honestly...weight lifting while trying to lose weight helps prevent muscle loss, and since you weren't able to lift weights recently you lost a little muscle as you continued to stay at a calorie deficit. I too have a shoulder injury but I lift weights around it in the mean time. I still lift a good amount of weights for my lower body, back, arms and chest, but only exercises that don't impact my shoulder. If you feel comfortable lifting around your injury you may want to give that a shot?

Dropping your body fat below 10% is a VERY ambitious goal, but you may want to consider taking babysteps first? Say under 20% by mid year, etc.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by chazzyb31

Woah there, Kenny. Before you go overboard, I suggest you look at a couple of body fat charts:

Body Fat Chart
Body Fat Percentage Charts for Men and Women

You'll see from these that 10% is too low for a guy your age. ........

Just be safe, luvvie, and take it easy. This is a marathon, not a Santa dash.

I didn't realise 10% was below the healthy recommendation for someone my age.

I just need a goal to set myself to give me something to work towards.

I based my goal on something I read in a post somewhere on here. I think it was a post by Mike (MikeB). I'm sure it stated he wanted to get down to 5% body fat? I asked my trainer what his body fat % was and he told me it was around 10%, but he is in his 20's.

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

That makes sense honestly...weight lifting while trying to lose weight helps prevent muscle loss, and since you weren't able to lift weights recently you lost a little muscle as you continued to stay at a calorie deficit. I too have a shoulder injury but I lift weights around it in the mean time. I still lift a good amount of weights for my lower body, back, arms and chest, but only exercises that don't impact my shoulder. If you feel comfortable lifting around your injury you may want to give that a shot?

Dropping your body fat below 10% is a VERY ambitious goal, but you may want to consider taking babysteps first? Say under 20% by mid year, etc.

You make very good sense. I will make my initial goal to get below 20% and take it from there, but I am setting myself a target of May.

I am back into weight training again. My shoulder feels fine now but I can still feel it slightly when pressing weight but I am taking it very easy with shoulder / chest press etc...

Thank you both for your advice and infomation!

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I didn't realise 10% was below the healthy recommendation for someone my age.

I just need a goal to set myself to give me something to work towards.

I based my goal on something I read in a post somewhere on here. I think it was a post by Mike (MikeB). I'm sure it stated he wanted to get down to 5% body fat? I asked my trainer what his body fat % was and he told me it was around 10%, but he is in his 20's.



You make very good sense. I will make my initial goal to get below 20% and take it from there, but I am setting myself a target of May.

I am back into weight training again. My shoulder feels fine now but I can still feel it slightly when pressing weight but I am taking it very easy with shoulder / chest press etc...

Thank you both for your advice and infomation!

5% is what hardcore bodybuilders and athletes might strive for, and that would be a little much. 10% wouldn't be that bad for you as long as it happened from you being healthy (good eating and exercise), and not starving yourself.

If your shoulder is hurting you or bothering you slightly go easy!

[Groundhog]

I am really back into my training program now.

I trained 6 days last week and burnt up over 6500 calories in the gym.

I got weighed today and have dropped 1% body fat (now 25%) and lost 2 lb !!

[S. Max Gordon]

Congratulations on your loss so far, groundhog!

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by S. Max Gordon

Congratulations on your loss so far, groundhog!

Hey, thanks !

I managed to make it to the gym 6 days again this week.

I got weighed today & have dropped 1 lb. My body fat % is now down by 0.6% to 24.4 %

Slow progress but still a step in the right direction.

[Obesity Discussion]

Still great progress! You're going to hit your goals really soon if you keep this 6 day a week plan going!

[Jack Of Oz]

WTG Big fella... awesome losses :_)

Jack