I'm going to give it a go.

[My Pseudonym]

Hello. I'm a fairly regular poster on the DIS - been here since 1999. I've created a new username just for the purpose of this particular board.

This weekend I read many of the wonderful threads here. For the past couple of weeks I've started to think seriously about losing weight for the first time in my life. I'm a 38 year old man whose first 20 years was spent underweight, followed by about 10 years of gaining up to roughly ideal weight at age 30. Then, unfortunately it didn't stop there.

I weighed about 185 pounds at age 30, this morning I stepped off the scale at 230 pounds. My waist size has inched up to 40. As a thin-framed guy, all of my added weight hangs around my midsection and has become quite uncomfortable. I have a family history of heart trouble, have escalated blood pressure and borderline cholesterol. Things very foreign to me just a few years ago.

So, the time has come. Time to knock off this gut! I've never attempted to lose weight before, so I'm not exactly sure what course of action to take. I don't believe Atkins or any derivative is right for me, given my heart history. I know that I need to reduce fat in my diet, eliminate most sugar, drink much more water, less soda, less beer, more vegetables, far less fried foods, and excercise. Excercise is my chief problem, as I do absolutely none currently.

So, here goes. 8/3/03, 230 pounds. Goal 12/31/02, 185 pounds.

 

[becka]

Welcome to WISH!!!

If you have specific medical issues you are worried about then I suggest that you discuss eating plans with your doctor before trying anything. The key to losing weight IMHO is developing your plan and then sticking to it. I have never had much luck without having a structured (well at least a little structure) to work with.

You will find that there are lots of us on every kind of plan available although the majority tend to stick with Weight Watchers and Atkins. If you are concerned about Atkins then you might really want to look into a plan like WW that can be more flexible and focuses on more low-fat, high-fiber choices.

I also wanted to add that I respect your right to a pseudonym but I hope that with time you can come out as your "real self". Needing to lose weight is nothing to be ashamed of and no one on this board will judge you for it. I hope that you find WISH to be as great of a support system as I have found it to be for me.

 

[My Pseudonym]

Thanks for the welcome, Becka. Perhaps finding a specific plan is the best way to go - I'll do more research.

As for the username. I should have been more clear. It really has nothing to do with being ashamed. Rather, this board and it's purpose to me are seperate from my discussions concerning the business of Disney. So, it just seemed natural to keep them seperate, kind of a second persona. One focused on this task.

Thanks again for the welcom.

 

[mum4jenn]

Welcome!! Don't forget to join "officially" by posting in the Challenge thread near the top of the page!!

 

[tiggerlover]

Welcome to WISH "My Pseudonym"!!! So glad that you have read the boards and decided to jump in and join us. This is a fabulous place for support and motivation and it is great to have you here. I look forward to reading about your progress and helping in any way possible. Grab a WISH clippie and join us all in our quest to become big losers!!!

 

[Debbie]

Welcome to wish MP. This is the biggest, and BEST bunch of losers around. Choosing a plan is your second most important thing to do, right now. (The first of course, is getting your WISH clippie here , and signing in .here .)

You are right on with your food, water and exercise goals. You might want to check out

Fitday to keep track of where you start and where you are.

If it is any inspiration, I can say losing the weight that I have so far has given me more energy, and THAT I can use when I hit the parks in. . . .

WELCOME!

 

[Rajah]

Welcome!! These WISHers have been excellent motivation for me, and I hope you find the WISH board to do the same for you.

 

[TigH]

Hello and welcome, MP!

You came to the right place, all sorts of support and encouragement here!

As far as exercise goes, start SMALL! It can be kind of overwhelming to jump into a routine, so just try adding it to your life slowly. Maybe try 3 10 minute walks this week just so you can say you DID SOMETHING! If you sit there thinking, "Oh great, I have to jog for 45 minutes tonight and I'm already tired thinking about it," you won't get too far. But if you start with baby steps it will be something you can ease into and YES you will eventually learn to love exercise! REALLY!

I hear you on the beer. When I first joined WISH I was doing my own made up program, but I wasn't really working out and I hadn't cut back on the beer too much. Well, I ended up gaining some weight and decided to go ahead and try WW (from home). I was so determined to stick with the program that the first week I didn't even think about having a beer, and it just got better from there on out. I still have a drink or two on the weekends (ok, maybe during the week if we go out for Mexican too!) but it has been pretty easy to cut back. If I can do it, I know you can too!

Looking forward to seeing you on the board!

 

[mowsie dreamer]

Hi MP Welcome to WISH!!! We can always use another "loser" around here! I'm glad you're going to join us.

I feel your pain on the exercise! I have been a confirmed couch potato for 30 yrs. The most strenuous thing I did was walk from my house to my car and vice versa. Now that I am exercising more, I can't believe the extra energy I have! I agree that starting small is the way to go. I couldn't walk for more than 10 min without huffing and puffing in the beginning, but I am finding that slowly I am able to increase the amount of exercise I do.

Best of luck to you! I'm looking forward to seeing you here often.

 

[Poly Pal]

Allright! Another guy on this board. Welcome MP!

Your situation sort of sounds like mine, although I was never underweight. I've spent most of my life overweight. I started losing on 1/6/03 at 230 lbs and a 40 inch waist (sound familiar?) Here I am 7 months later 53.5 lbs. lighter and able to wear size 34's.

If you have a family history of medical problems, you should seek out medical advice before beginning anything too radical. Lots of people here have had success with Adkins, but I am concerned about all of that saturated fat some folks seem to be consuming - can't be good for the heart. Others follow Weight Watchers which appears to encourage a balanced nutrional approach - unless you spend all your points on potato chips!

I follow an amalgam of the old Weight Watchers (pre-points) program and the Zone. I eat between 5 and 6 times a day, every 3 hours or so (3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks). So I am usually not hungry. I avoid the white, starch carbs (rice, potatos, pasta, white bread). I don't drink soda or beer (well, I had a Corona Light on my birthday ) but I do drink more than a gallon of water a day. I also work out twice a day for a combined total of about 90 minutes. I use free weights and do cardio bench stepping. The excercise has allowed me to "cheat" occasionally. Its not easy, but its part of my commitment to myself.

Good luck to you!

 

[My Pseudonym]

Wow, nearly four years later and I find this thread. I wish I could report that I followed through on my plans. However, quite the opposite. Sadly, I now weigh about 255 lbs. Not entirely sure why I decided to report that now, other than it might spark me to do something about my situation.

I was able to drop some weight, getting down close to 200 lbs. But, obviously, I reversed that and then some.

I suppose this isn't really a sad reach out for support, but perhaps just adding another bookmark that I can turn back to in the case that I can have some success to report.

 

[LilyLake]

I didn't realize this thread was so old when I first started reading. I'm sorry that you didn't have the success you were shooting for, but there's still hope.

Have you ever read Dr. Atkin's New Diet Revolution? If you haven't already, maybe you should at least give it a look. (I check books like this out from the library, rather than purchasing them.) There are a lot of misconceptions about the Atkins plan. Even with a family history of heart problems, you may want to give it a whirl. It seems that much of what we've been taught our whole lives about food and heart health is questionable, at best.

I have a family history of heart disease and a personal history of borderline cholesterol. I started Atkins 5-1/2 weeks ago, and I've lost 8 pounds. I'm not trying to lose fast, though, because I don't have that much to lose. What I'm really interested in seeing are my triglyceride and cholesterol numbers. I plan to get that checked in about a month.

Good luck with whatever you do!

 

[tiggerlover]

It is funny that I was reading this thinking it was familiar and then I page down to see I responded back in 2003! I am sorry that you didn't reach your goal before, but it isn't too late to give it another go. I have been hanging around WISH on and off since February 2003 and I didn't hit my goal until 2 weeks ago. Many starts, many failures and then determination to get there no matter what. You have it in you to succeed, but one thing that I have learned was that you HAVE TO WANT IT. If you truly want to get healthier you can. As with 2003, there are still wonderful threads and wonderfully supportive folks here on WISH. Start making one change at a time, visit WISH for support and get headed on the path to a healthier you.