24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

[StartedAt288]

I know for a fact Atkins works because I've tried it before and lost 20 pounds very quick. I just have a hard time keeping it up.

I moved to a big city which is very superficial and reminded me how big I've become over the years.

I'm ready to give this a try again, any advice on what I can read in terms of Menus, Exercises?

I am 5'11 288 pounds. I would like to lose at least 80 pounds, if I focus and keep at it I'm hoping I can achieve that within the year.

Problem is...

I'm not into all of the Super Stuff, I'm a typical man. Tell me to eat this or that daily and I will. All of the super vitamins and flax seeds, etc etc. Measuring cups? LOL, I suck at that very much so.

I need help though, this isn't going to be easy.

Anyone ever lost 80 pounds on here? How long did it take you?

[Georgiana]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

Welcome to the board!

While you don't have to be "into all the Super Stuff", you will have to learn new eating habits... so the sooner you get used to measuring food portions and knowing what you should be eating and what vitamins you should be taking, the better.

That being said...

The only vitamins I take are some multivitamins (Nature Made, if you want to know the brand)... but there is a list of vitamins one should take here:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/vita-nutrient-solution-supplements/51397-vitamins-supplements-nutrition-information.html

and more detailed info here:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/vita-nutrient-solution-supplements/53442-beginners-guide-nutritional-supplements.html

The cups issue... You *must* measure your foods. It's the only way you will know how many carbohydrates/fat/protein/calories you are eating... and this is what stays at the basis of any diet. Not being aware of these things is exactly what makes us overweight in the first place. During induction for example, cheese is limited to 4oz a day. Veggies are limited to 3 cups a day. Your percentages should be around 65% fat, 5% carbs, 30% protein. So without measuring, there is no way you can do Atkins. To track things, you can use online programs like Fitday or DailyPlate.

There are sample menus in the book (DANDR 2002). Exercise is really your choice, do whatever you enjoy or otherwise you won't be sticking with it. What I do is running, badminton, stability ball... and I go to the gym about 5 days every week, where I do cardio and weights. However, you may choose some completely different routine. As long as you get moving, it doesn't matter.

Good luck!

[EverLosing]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

I know for a fact Atkins works because I've tried it before and lost 20 pounds very quick. I just have a hard time keeping it up.

I moved to a big city which is very superficial and reminded me how big I've become over the years.

I'm ready to give this a try again, any advice on what I can read in terms of Menus, Exercises?

I am 5'11 288 pounds. I would like to lose at least 80 pounds, if I focus and keep at it I'm hoping I can achieve that within the year.

Problem is...

I'm not into all of the Super Stuff, I'm a typical man. Tell me to eat this or that daily and I will. All of the super vitamins and flax seeds, etc etc. Measuring cups? LOL, I suck at that very much so.

I need help though, this isn't going to be easy.

Anyone ever lost 80 pounds on here? How long did it take you?

You've gotta get vitamins! Supplements will help your body out too. The previous post makes it simple for you. Great advice. You have to have a healthy intake of vitamins and supplements since you won't be getting all you need from protein and veggies.

I've done Atkins before too and trust me, it was much easier in the past. Get a few measuring cups. Not a big deal. I use my one cup measure more than anything else every day...mostly just for veggies. I'm to the point where I am needing to get a food scale and while I dread it, it'll make estimating my protein consumption easier. One really easy way to up your protein percentage is by eating tuna. I have a can of tuna every day. Protein content is HIGH. Get on fitday.com. I put off doing it and only wish I had done it from day one. It's an awesome, easy tool. It's motivational. You can plug in weight, height, weight goals, food eaten and put in a time line for achieving your goal weight. Go check it out. It's free. It'll keep a food journal for you and when weight loss begins to slow down, you can refer back to when you were really losing and see what you can tweak. It will take some effort but less effort than putting on all that extra weight. You can do this....no SUPER anything required!!

[tfek70]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

I'm glad to hear you are scared, and you should be. I wish I would have been scared at 24, it would have saved me years of living poorly. Unfortunately it took me until I was 38 to get scared. Congrats to you for reaching that conclusion earlier in life. The next truth that you need to wrap your head around is that this isn't a crash diet and that you need to lose 80 pounds quickly. You didn't get to 288 quickly, so no "magic bullet" is going to get you to a health weight quickly. You really don't want to lose it quickly, because you wouldn't respect the process of getting healthy. It will be a long process if you want to do it in a healthy manner and you will enjoy the lifestyle change. I have unsuccessfully done this WOE several times because I didn't make the lifestyle changes neccessary to do it, and instead used it as a crash diet. It caused me to yo yo diet for years.

I got scared in December when I buried my father at 63 due to heart failure. I don't want to be that guy, so I am making lifestyle changes. I have been on blood pressure medication for about 6 months, so I was going down my father's road. I am reversing it now. I have embraced this as a way of life and it far less painful to do it with the mindset that it is a lifestyle change, not a quick way to drop some weight so I can eat pizza again.

The support network here has been very motivating. It's another tool in my tool box that I didn't use in previous attempts. The STAC group, which you should be a member of since you've done this before, is a great support group. Do this right this time! I am looking forward to seeing you frequently on this site and watching your progress. You can do it!

T. J.

[lisau39]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

Use this site to guide you through. There is so much great info here and a lot of very knowledgeable folks that will be more than happy to guide you. Take a bit of time and read through the posts here. You will find many many people have the same problems, cravings,etc..... We are all here to help.I wish you the best.

(((lisa)))

[Desertthorn]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

Welcome 288, glad you found us and joined
THis board has some great recipes and Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home so does Linda. Some are really easy to make, some more complicated.
Breakfast could be as simple as scrambled eggs and bacon, which I can cook in under 5 minutes. Put bacon on a plate over a paper towel and cover with a paper towel. If you like them chrispy, cook one minute per slice.
While they are cooking, scramble eggs. Plate bacon, eggs, if you like I cover eggs with a sprinkling of cheese and a Tablespoon of salsa.
Lunch, get a salad from Subway, eye-balling the veggies to about a cup, add cheese and whatever Protein that looks good.
Dinner can be a fried pork chop, steak, hamburger with another slice of cheese, (Not American), a pickle? If you have any veggies left over?.
Snacks can be pork rinds?

[Lyssie]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

Hmm.. Okay, I have lost 80lbs with Atkins. With sticking to plan, not cheating, and with consistent exercise.

It took me less than a year... not *much* less, mind you. I also started weighing more than you... Low Carb Luxury has some really great recipes that I love.

Good luck!

[Papa Deuce]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

....

Anyone ever lost 80 pounds on here? How long did it take you?

There are people here who have lost 150 pounds or MORE in a year.... I say go take a look at the Before and After pictures on this site if you need inspiration or proof.

Good luck!

[imagood1]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

My advise is to read the forums, post, join a few of the exercise challenges, keep track of your measurements AND your weight, if you get to a point where you aren't loosing check your measurements, I know for a fact this is true. I have been sort of stuck a couple weeks, but I've lost a total of almost 25 inches in a month...so even though the scale hasn't moved my measurements are smaller.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park at the back of the parking lot and walk to the front door. Drink water, chug chug chug!!! You don't have to join a gym, pushups, squats, work your abs, just keep moving, it all adds up. Use FitDay - it is a godsend!

You might not be good at using measuring cups now, but you will be - teach yourself (get the individual cups not the 1 or 2 cup measuring cup that you have to figure out where the lines are. You are worth the work it's going to take to get you to your goal. There are a few men on the forum, a couple great ones have already posted here (T.J. and Chuck), get to know them, men have different issues than women.

Check out the before/after pics - read, ask, learn. We are here for each other if you need help someone will help. Find "finger foods" you can carry with you to get through the first few days....rolled up ham with cream cheese, or just dunk it into mayo, celery (plain or with something on it), go to Linda's website and make a few of her meals (there is a section for induction foods only). There is also a section with receipes here also. Good luck!!

Carole

[mamadee730]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

some quick hints to help with the measuring issues
1st get you a 1 cup dry measuring cup (the one that looks like a miniture sauce pan)
and just use that to scoop your veggie up with tah dah you have just "measured your salad" pretty easy huh? okay now for cheese buy a 8oz block and cut it into 8 equal pieces and put them in baggies you may have up to 4 pieces a day now how easy was that? now for carb counts each cup of salad is aprox 2-3 carbs and each cheese piece is 1 carb count eggs as 1 carb apiece and any thing that you drink or eat that has any kind of sweetener in it count as 1 carb at least then eat no more that the allotted carb per day depending on your level
cant get too much easier than that if you go by that alone you will lose weight, but just remember if you want better results then you have to be more diligent and follow the percentages better like it was said above
and do please get a multivitiman at least (one a day mens formula should work just make sure it has no Iron (most men's dont)

[OzLover]

Re: 24 Year old Male, Scared for my Health. Going to try this again...

Do you have the book & have your read it? That is the best place to get started. ADBB will help you with support, advice & friendship.Explore the board & read all the sticky notes. Great posts from everyone!

Good luck on your journey! You can do this!!