themikescanlan
New member
Hi my name is Michael Scanlan and this is my weight loss story. I am 22 years old, a recent Penn State graduate and I live just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My entire life, I was always labeled the "fat kid" and I was tired of having that label. During June of 2011, I ballooned to the biggest weight I have ever been - 333 pounds - and I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I had chronic lower back pain, my knees would constantly ache, and I would just feel tired 24/7. I was disgusted with myself and I knew I had to change. I knew that I needed to find a healthy diet that worked for me and more importantly, I needed to commit myself to fitness. I motivated myself to begin to live a healthy lifestyle and to this day, I am down 108 pounds to my goal weight, 225 pounds.
Going to the gym each day, working on my cardio and eating healthy has helped me accomplish my goal of becoming a healthy and slim young man. For the first 3 months, I worked out 5-6 times a week, twice a day but walking/jogging/running 2.5 miles at the local track, running up and down bleachers 8 times, and running up and down hills 10 times. At the gym, I would run on the tread mill for 20 minutes, use the elliptical for 20 minutes and bike for 20 minutes. I would then play about 2 hours worth of pickup basketball. Since then, I go to the gym about 4 times a week and mix in basketball as well as cardiovascular machines to stay at my goal weight. As for what I ate on a daily basis, I have completely cut out sugary drinks and sugary snacks. When I was obese, I would drink a gallon of iced tea a day with numerous bags of gummy bears and chocolates. I have added lots of fruit to my diet (all I eat is grapes and bananas!) and I only drink water and fat free milk. I eat a very healthy lunch that consists of fruit, glass of water and fat free milk, a ham or turkey sandwich on 100% whole wheat bread, and a handful of unsalted peanuts. In the beginning, I ate a very healthy dinner as well, such as healthy sandwiches at subway like black forrest ham and steamed Chinese food. As my weight came off and I was able to control what I ate on a daily basis, I let myself eat dinner foods that I like but in proportions Instead of going and getting a double bacon cheeseburger with fries, a soda, and a piece of cake for dessert, I would eat a single patty burger with a healthy side like vegetables. I believe that you can not deprive yourself of everything good in the world. I am able to control my sugary drinks intake which was the biggest killer for me so I ration that with eating some foods I like for dinner.
Since my weight loss, I have helped other friends who wanted to lose weight by sharing my life experiences with them and continuing to motivate them to live a healthy lifestyle every day. To this day, I continue to workout each day by either running around the neighborhood, playing pickup basketball with friends, or simply giving my dog a walk around the block. Fitness changed my life and I want to use that to change other lives as well. My advice for the world to be to never give up. I was obese for my entire life. I never thought I would change. I always thought I would be that fat kid. But you can change. You can lose weight. Remember, everything is mental. Everything is in your head. Just fight through temptations and they will eventually go away. When you get into your healthy lifestyle routine, everything will be second nature to you. You can do it and do not quit. It will be the best decision you could ever make! I feel like a completely different person. My body is pain free and I am full of energy! I went from a 3X shirt to a L/XL shirt and a 46 pant to a 36/38 pant. I enjoy looking at myself in the mirror and seeing my new self in pictures because it's something I worked hard for and I can see the results. "Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it." Thank you for letting me share my story.
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Going to the gym each day, working on my cardio and eating healthy has helped me accomplish my goal of becoming a healthy and slim young man. For the first 3 months, I worked out 5-6 times a week, twice a day but walking/jogging/running 2.5 miles at the local track, running up and down bleachers 8 times, and running up and down hills 10 times. At the gym, I would run on the tread mill for 20 minutes, use the elliptical for 20 minutes and bike for 20 minutes. I would then play about 2 hours worth of pickup basketball. Since then, I go to the gym about 4 times a week and mix in basketball as well as cardiovascular machines to stay at my goal weight. As for what I ate on a daily basis, I have completely cut out sugary drinks and sugary snacks. When I was obese, I would drink a gallon of iced tea a day with numerous bags of gummy bears and chocolates. I have added lots of fruit to my diet (all I eat is grapes and bananas!) and I only drink water and fat free milk. I eat a very healthy lunch that consists of fruit, glass of water and fat free milk, a ham or turkey sandwich on 100% whole wheat bread, and a handful of unsalted peanuts. In the beginning, I ate a very healthy dinner as well, such as healthy sandwiches at subway like black forrest ham and steamed Chinese food. As my weight came off and I was able to control what I ate on a daily basis, I let myself eat dinner foods that I like but in proportions Instead of going and getting a double bacon cheeseburger with fries, a soda, and a piece of cake for dessert, I would eat a single patty burger with a healthy side like vegetables. I believe that you can not deprive yourself of everything good in the world. I am able to control my sugary drinks intake which was the biggest killer for me so I ration that with eating some foods I like for dinner.
Since my weight loss, I have helped other friends who wanted to lose weight by sharing my life experiences with them and continuing to motivate them to live a healthy lifestyle every day. To this day, I continue to workout each day by either running around the neighborhood, playing pickup basketball with friends, or simply giving my dog a walk around the block. Fitness changed my life and I want to use that to change other lives as well. My advice for the world to be to never give up. I was obese for my entire life. I never thought I would change. I always thought I would be that fat kid. But you can change. You can lose weight. Remember, everything is mental. Everything is in your head. Just fight through temptations and they will eventually go away. When you get into your healthy lifestyle routine, everything will be second nature to you. You can do it and do not quit. It will be the best decision you could ever make! I feel like a completely different person. My body is pain free and I am full of energy! I went from a 3X shirt to a L/XL shirt and a 46 pant to a 36/38 pant. I enjoy looking at myself in the mirror and seeing my new self in pictures because it's something I worked hard for and I can see the results. "Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it." Thank you for letting me share my story.
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