Hi Everyone! Well, not so sure where to start, so let me just dive right in.
I’m a 46 year old man and I don’t know how to watch what I eat. I mean, I do – but the bottom line is that I make bad choices.
I think before I get too much into it, it might be important for me to back up a little bit and tell you my background and all that because maybe it will all make more sense. Or, maybe it’s just an excuse, I’m not sure.
I spent 10 years in the military, where I was extremely active. In addition to just the nature of being in the military, I also played a lot of sports – there was always soccer, or softball, or volleyball, our weekly racquetball tournaments, or just chasing each other and knocking the crap out of each other like a bunch of idiots.
After that, I was in the construction management space. Always walking job sites, running up and down and throughout buildings that didn’t have elevators installed yet – I couldn’t even tell you how many flights of stairs I was tearing through a day. I did this for 12 years.
So, that brings me to 40 years old, and I never had to worry or pay attention to what I was eating or how many calories I was taking in on any given day because I was burning them as fast as I could get them in me. With that, came me eating pretty much whatever I wanted and tasted good. REALLY GOOD!
40 years of bad habits and never having to watch.
Well, after that, I switched careers – something that put me behind a desk and tethered to a phone.
So now, not only did I hit 40 when my metabolism is going to start slowing down, I didn’t make the adjustment. I really couldn’t – I just didn’t know how. I still wanted bacon cheeseburgers. I still wanted a pastrami sandwich. I still wanted fettucine alfredo. Ugh – you guys get the point, I’m sure.
I’m probably about 30-40 pounds more than I need to be, and the doctor put me on medication because my triglycerides and cholesterol were super high. When I try to diet, I do it in such extreme fashion that it will hold for a week or so, and then I slowly start to get right back to my old habits.
I know it’s self-discipline, but I’m wondering if I’m just going too extreme too fast? My girlfriend tells me that I diet like a 1950’s housewife – I’ll clear out my fridge and get cottage cheese, melba toast, celery, jello, yogurt, etc..
So, I guess the reason I’m here is I’m looking for your experiences and support. I had tried quitting smoking many times in the past, but 12 years ago I found a group not too dissimilar to this (in format, at least), and it was what I needed to get me to the point where I knew I was in control of it. That was 12 years ago.
So here I am, looking to get myself on the right track with this. Any assistance/advice/suggestions would be most welcome. I won’t be afraid to share my successes and/or failures, I’d just like to get onto a path.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to a new journey.
Best,
Eric
I’m a 46 year old man and I don’t know how to watch what I eat. I mean, I do – but the bottom line is that I make bad choices.
I think before I get too much into it, it might be important for me to back up a little bit and tell you my background and all that because maybe it will all make more sense. Or, maybe it’s just an excuse, I’m not sure.
I spent 10 years in the military, where I was extremely active. In addition to just the nature of being in the military, I also played a lot of sports – there was always soccer, or softball, or volleyball, our weekly racquetball tournaments, or just chasing each other and knocking the crap out of each other like a bunch of idiots.
After that, I was in the construction management space. Always walking job sites, running up and down and throughout buildings that didn’t have elevators installed yet – I couldn’t even tell you how many flights of stairs I was tearing through a day. I did this for 12 years.
So, that brings me to 40 years old, and I never had to worry or pay attention to what I was eating or how many calories I was taking in on any given day because I was burning them as fast as I could get them in me. With that, came me eating pretty much whatever I wanted and tasted good. REALLY GOOD!
40 years of bad habits and never having to watch.
Well, after that, I switched careers – something that put me behind a desk and tethered to a phone.
So now, not only did I hit 40 when my metabolism is going to start slowing down, I didn’t make the adjustment. I really couldn’t – I just didn’t know how. I still wanted bacon cheeseburgers. I still wanted a pastrami sandwich. I still wanted fettucine alfredo. Ugh – you guys get the point, I’m sure.
I’m probably about 30-40 pounds more than I need to be, and the doctor put me on medication because my triglycerides and cholesterol were super high. When I try to diet, I do it in such extreme fashion that it will hold for a week or so, and then I slowly start to get right back to my old habits.
I know it’s self-discipline, but I’m wondering if I’m just going too extreme too fast? My girlfriend tells me that I diet like a 1950’s housewife – I’ll clear out my fridge and get cottage cheese, melba toast, celery, jello, yogurt, etc..
So, I guess the reason I’m here is I’m looking for your experiences and support. I had tried quitting smoking many times in the past, but 12 years ago I found a group not too dissimilar to this (in format, at least), and it was what I needed to get me to the point where I knew I was in control of it. That was 12 years ago.
So here I am, looking to get myself on the right track with this. Any assistance/advice/suggestions would be most welcome. I won’t be afraid to share my successes and/or failures, I’d just like to get onto a path.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to a new journey.
Best,
Eric
