Having success so far...

[I am on a mission]

Hello,

I just signed up, as I figured I needed to educate myself more so I can have more success in my goal for a healthy lifestyle. This is my first time on a weight loss/ fitness message board, but I frequent another non-related message board and it is great fun sharing and learning. So I figured I give it a try here.

Earlier this year I started a healthy lifestyle program. I am 5-11.25 and my weight was ~240 pounds. Given that I am older (soon to celebrate 25th wedding anniversary), I was certainly feeling the pains of a poor diet and exercise regiment.

I wanted a change.

I started exercising at the gym 4 days a week, and I cut out the processed food.

I started in January and I have lost 20 pounds and I feel great!

Here is my situation and this is were I would very much appreciate some feedback. First off, I do realize that I have lost a substantial amount of weight in a very short period of time. I understand that losing weight very quickly is not healthy, but I do not know what is considered rapid weight loss. My goal is to be at 200 by June 1, 2017. To meet my goal I will need to lose another 18 pounds.

Where I am today:

1) I continue to work out 4 days a week for 45-60 minutes each day. I met with a trainer and have decided to start meeting with a personal trainer every two week to make sure I am doing the exercises correct and doing the right ones to accomplish my goals. At this point in speaking with trainer the goals are to increase my flexibility and strengthen my core.

2) I cut out the processed food, at least 95% of it. I am eating pretty healthy, at least in my opinion. I will say, I have not created a food log, and certainly that is a shortfall on my part, as least based on what I have learned reading here and in speaking with the trainer. I will start a log today.

Where I want to be:

As I mentioned, I want to lose another 18 pounds by June 1, 2017. Based on today's date that is 11 weeks from now. Or 1.63 pounds per week. Is this too rapid?

Challenges:

I am pretty much on board with the fitness program. I will admit it was a challenge at first. Now it is pretty easy to get motivated to go to the gym. My main challenge now is cutting out the alcohol. I have since done away with the beer, but do like to have wine with my wife. And I also like a mixed drink as well. My wife drinks often, but she is also in very good shape and athletic, so weight is no issue for her.

Thank you and I look forward to learning more here on this forum.

 

[-Cory-]

Hi! Welcome to the forum. I think you are definitely on the right track. 1.63 lbs a week is somewhat aggressive, but not unmanageable. That's actually about what I'm doing right now. Generally you don't want to lose more than 2 lbs/week and a lot of people shoot for 1 lb/week or so because that's what they find works for them. A food log is a good thing to add, in my opinion. A lot of people actually have no idea what and/or how much they are eating until they start to keep track of it.

I would also recommend checking out the diary section of this forum. It tends to be the most active and there are a lot of great people who post there regularly.

 

[I am on a mission]

I am also now noticing that I no longer have much of an appetite. I always seem full. I am eating much smaller portions and fill up faster.

No idea why this is happening, and it is really just recently that I have been feeling this way.