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| LEFT: March 2011 / 249 lbs / 46 inch waist RIGHT: July 2011 / 168 lbs / 33 inch waist |
I have been very busy so it has been more than a year already that I have been loosing weight. I actually started March 2011. Let me share a piece of my story:
When I was in third year high school, I used to weigh 135 lbs as a varsity in taekwondo. When I was in college I stopped training and I gained a lot of weight. Losing weight never came into my mind until a year after college when I was working already. I was 21 when I lost a staggering 55 lbs. I exercised of course but the diet I was having is called starvation diet, which, apparently is not good. It's good I lost a huge amount of weight but after a year whenever, I gained back what I lost and I have no control over it, even if I eat a few the weighing scale just keep on reading unfavorable result.
When I started working for like 3 years straight in the night shift, it became worst. I gained back what I lost plus another 20 lbs. Stress and unhealthy lifestyle are the culprit (I drink beer every weekend, eat comfort foods, then sleep).
It was a frustrating and depressing moment, when I actually have to go back to my starvation diet, and I lost a couple of pounds anew.
It wasnt a good practice because my flesh is as watery as watery bed, and my man boobs is very visible if I wear thin shirts.
I get into sports, but the results are still unfavorable. I became active but ate a lot in return. I tried jogging with high hopes of getting in shape and losing weight consistently without gaining a lot back. For 3 years I have been inconsistent with my diet and exercise but all hopes have gone until I finally gave up.
After all the frustrations, I was courageous enough resign on my call center job, went to Singapore and tried my luck working. I enrolled again in the gym last March 2011, because my health was already compromised. I am in my late 20s now and I am not getting any younger. Our blood-line is 90% likely to have diabetes and high-blood pressure.
So from 250 lbs, I am now 168 lbs for my 5ft 7 inches height. I am still a little bit overweight and I am near the finish line of 150 lbs. I did it from March 2011 to date (July 2011) without worrying of gaining it back. You may wonder how I did that. First, it was gruelling and seemingly impossible despite the busy schedule.
1. Motivation: Yes the first key is motivation. You need to have a goal. Buy shirt that doesnt fit you until such time you will able to wear it.
2. Change of Lifestyle: If you drink beer a lot or party a lot, I didnt ask you to stop, but to moderate. Moderation is always the key. I never stop eating pork, but moderately eating comfort foods on my so-called cheat days. However, the more you think about depriving yourself, the more you got stuck to the idea that you are pressured to lose weight which brings me to my third point.
3. Do not think you have a deadline for your goals. This is waht I always think whenever I started gaining weight and losing weight anew. The gain-loss seesaw will make you feel depressed. Change of mindset, can be one of the key. As point number 2, change of lifestyle, think that you are going to do this for the rest of your life. It is like having a car, and doing a regular maintenance, your body responds as to how you are maintaining it. A V-Power gasoline is more expensive but better than the regular gas. But the body doesnt require expensive food to be fit, it is the contrary, so take it as an advantage. Consistency, and balance.
4. Exercise regularly, and harder. I bet it is true that if you do not feel pain, you are not doing it right.
5. Make your friends understand that you are temporarily on a hiatus of drinking, food tripping while you are in your firs 2 crucial months. I guess we all share the same apprehensions, what would our friends think/react if you do not go out with them for a regular lechon or red-horse session. Trust me, they too would want to follow your lifestyle, only that they lack the motivation to do it and ends up being bitter about by making you stick to the status quo. I got reactions from friends regarding that, sometimes favorable, most of the time unfavorable. They would tease you all the way down from being vain or the often misused "OA" term (which they actually mean exaggerating refusal). Trust me, my friends, they all swallowed their pride and asked me where I go gym after they saw the results. At least you are in the forefront and you are ahead of them. (Which will give you another motivation, would you want them to get ahead of you? hehehe).
6. How could I survive without eating a full-meal dinner? I survived with apples, bananas, whole wheat meal bread, onions, tomato, cucumber, ginger and lettuce, so can you. Mindset.
7. Regular exercise and weightlifting is not just the key, you need to do it RIGHT. If you need to hire a gym trainer, make sure he teaches you right, otherwise, the damage brought in you will be permanent. Having a gym buddy is one, but I would strongly suggest to get a trainer to guide you all the way until you know how to use the equipment right. Make sure they are there to mointor your progress and not just demonstrate then leave you while he/she is busy chit-chatting with his/her colleagues.
8. Water therapy. If you feel hungry, drink. If you still feel hungry, eat. Once youre diet is consistent, you will lose your cravings. Unless the aromatic lechon is just a few feet away, then grab a liter of water then eat, and think about the 30 minutes jog. Would you give in to lechon in exchange of an hour jog? Think again.
9. Sleep at least 6-8 hours.
These are just the routine I have. It is not boring. You will just have to learn how to live with it. I am still trying to burn my beer belly, but the man boobs, which had been my problem part for years, is now defined
I think I've written enough.
Oh wait, calorie counting for the 10th item. Yes, arduous, but worth it. Imagine eating more calories than you burn.
