Now I always knew I had put on some weight after I got out of the Air Force when I quit drinking and drugs and gave up smokes for 6 months. But last night it really kicked in. My sister (I lived with her ofr a couple months when I first got home from the AF) found a box full of my old uniforms. Just to see, I tried on my dress blues jacket. Pulling the front together as hard as I could to button it, there were still about 5 inches of my stomach separating the buttons from the button-hole. I didn’t even bother trying on the pants.
Jim, my brother-in-law (and ex-Navy man) was having a good time laughing at me. (He still fits in his uniform) He was saying things like, “Damn Ron, looks like you used to be thin. Now the only shape you’re in is round, huh? Actually, from the side you’re more pear-shaped.”
Ha ha. Damn squids.
The only part of the uniform that still fit were the shoes and the hat. The hat was even tight cuz I have more hair now.
So now, on top of my quit-smoking goal (which I will do by New Year’s) I’m adding a losing-weight goal. I want to be able to fit into my uniform again by . . . oh I don’t know. What’s a reasonable amount of time to give oneself to lose about 40 lbs? I’ll give myself till March 1st, how’s that? I will need to lose at least 4lbs a week. If not . . . well, what’s my punishment people?
Four pounds a week is not reasonable. You might acheive it the first week or two, you cannot sustain it for 10 weeks. At least, not if you want to remain healthy and you want the weight loss to be permanent.
If you are under 35, you might, as a guy, be able to steadily do 3 lbs a week. Make sure you exercise and drink plenty of water.
Don’t set yourself up for failure, Crunchy.
And I’m happy to hear you are going to quit smoking. Get the damn book if you really wanna succeed and be happy about it!
Actually, my excerise routine is going to be very similar to boot camp’s physical training program. Start by running 1/2 mile a day every day for one week, keep the time to about 2 minutes a lap. The next week, up the distance to 1/4 mile. Continue upping the distance 1/4 mile every week. Also start off with 10 push ups and sit ups every day for a week, and every week increase the number by 5. No candy, no fast food.
Stoidels - Giving myself till March 1st is 3 months, or 12 weeks, plus the last week of November makes 13 weeks. 40 lbs divided by 13 weeks is approximately 3 lbs a week, so that’s what I’m hoping for, although 4 lbs a week would be nice.
Personally, I wouldn’t set an end date. Just eat less and exercise, and let it take however long it takes. If you’re 40 pounds overweight…2-3 pounds a week is about average. Closer to 2.
Just don’t want you to get frustrated. hugs And if you want diet advice, or a shoulder to lean on, email me.
Falcon, who still has around 100 pounds to go. sigh
Unfortunately, the distance between my place and my GF’s (oops, fiance’s place is too great for this to be feasable. Now if only I could have a personal trainer to make sure I get my three times a day every day . . .
When I joined the Marines, I weighed 185#.
When I left the Marines, I weighed 185#.
When I graduated college two years later, I weighed 185#.
One year (behind a desk) later, I was at 205#.
Now, four and some odd years later, I’m hovering around 212-215#. 'Course, I’m 6’3", so I can mostly hide it, but damn those handles.
You know you’ve lost the ability to seem thin once you can no longer really pull, not suck, in your gut and make it look muscular. Dammit. I know I’m not fat, but I would really like to trade about 15# of gunk for air and another 5 or 10# for muscle.
This is why I weigh 155. If the muscle I have on my upper body were fat (or an appropriate amount were), I’d probably weigh around 140 or so.
CF, make sure you aren’t running and then eating donuts or something. Try to work more water-based stuff (as opposed to fat-based or something) into your diet. Lots of green stuff.
And it probably isn’t a good idea to say “I WILL lose x pounds by X date” because then you slack off and you can really hurt yourself trying to lose 10 pounds in that last week. Go at a rate that’s comfortable with you.
I’m not saying I WILL lose that weight, although it does sound like it from what I’ve posted here; that’s just my goal. I’ve already been to the store and bought a bunch of vegetables and low-fat dip to snack on instead of potato chips and crap like that. As for being comfortable with the pace, I’ve done basic training before and I plan to stick to that routine pretty much the same this time to lose the weight, running and excerising everyday until I get to where I want to be, then doing it 3 times a week.
The problem that caused me to gain all the weight in the first place was a car accident about 4 years ago when I first got out of the service. I was in a wheelchair for a while and even after I was all healed up and able to do stuff, I simply didn’t care anymore. Then I was going to school full time while working full time and didn’t exercise. Then I quit drinking and doing drugs (more weight added - a lot this time!). Then I gave up cigarettes for 6 months (add another 20# or so). Next thing I know, it’s 5 years later and I’m really out of shape. But don’t worry, I’m going to ease myself into things - I’m not going to start trying to run a marathon on day one. Just a half mile to start, every day for a week, then add a quarter mile every week after.
I’ll be doing the standard physical training for the Air Force basic training. Trust me, it’s NOT that strenuous. When I can do all that with no problem, then I’ll start pushing myself a little harder.
And I know this, the problem is that while I was active and all that while in college and, of course, the Marines, I am not anything even close to that level of activity anymore. Therfor, any new weight, though I’d love for it to be muscle, is most assuredly not. <grumble, grumble>
I figure that if I can lose the junk, and get back to fighing trim, 190 or so, I’m golden. taht’s all I meant.
