Eh... I think I need help...

Archytas

Right. Can't believe I'm about to do this and I'm sorry its so long but how and ever...

I'm your average 24 year old computer nerd type person... Problem is I'm now fluctuating between 14.5 and 16 stone for about a year now.

Bit o' history. Was a fit enough young lad. Big enough but played a lot of sports. Used to play on the school Gaa teams(both) and the local Gaa football team. Have the medals to prove it Then in college played 5 a side football on a weekly thing with the lads. Then disaster struck and seriously creamed my knee in an indoor game in the college. Worked my way through that with physio and the like, and then did it again on a dublin bus when I went to sit down and slipped. Knee twisted out and when I sat down I made it worse. Stood up... knee twisted back in but had to be taken to hospital. Again, worked through it. Still popped it a couple of times after that but haven't had it go in a while and feel quite confident about it. Physio has helped and I've been walking and jogging on it for a while with no issues.

Now. Im only 6ft and carrying a good bit more weight around my stomach than I should be. I've always been a fairly big lad(wide enough shoulders, strong thighs) so its Not really noticeable to other people cause I dress well and its only on my stomach. but I'd still rather not have it. But I have a couple of questions...

Gym... Should I join one? Would I be allowed join one - being quite heavy? Time wise I think would it be better? I work a long day. From 8 to 6 most days, and only get a lunch break maybe twice a week. (Sounds pretty bad but I get paid very well and lunch is free. Its a great place to work) so when I get home at 7:30 I don't really want to do much after a commute and everything. I think adding it to my day(before I start work or right after) would work out better?

I work right beside two gyms - YMCA and Total fitness - Would either of these suit someone whose never been to a real gym before?

Another problem - I can't really chnage my diet all that much - I don't look after my own food. Its whatever is at home when I get there, and lunch is delivered to the office and is normally o'briens or listons or someone like that... I've cut out chocolate and only eat popcorn or pringles from time to time. And the only things I drink are milk(2/3 litre a day maybe) 7up free(can with lunch) and water. 5 or 6 beers at the weekend too.

So there ya go. I'm not looking for any quick fixes, I'm in it for the long haul. I'm starting back to jogging 5k every 3 nights(hopefully up to 10 soon enough) but any advice/help on the gym side would be appreciated.

TouchingVirus

16 stone is nothing, I wish I was that light.. I put 21stone to shame People guess I'm maybe 16/17 stone because I've extraordinarily wide shoulders and my thighs/calfs are quite muscular.

I'm still losing weight little by little though - like you I'm in it for the long haul. Join up with a gym, if I don't break machines then you wont

juanveron45

Another problem - I can't really change my diet all that much

"If you keep doing what you have done.You will keep getting what you have gotten"

Sorry dude but I can accept you cant change your diet. I mean you are an adult arent you.Is this going to be a priority?

GOAL-This is want you want

ACTION-This is what needs to be done

RESULTS-Taking action to achieve my goal

BossArky

Archytas wrote: »

Another problem - I can't really chnage my diet all that much - I don't look after my own food.

Are you in a prison camp?

Posting here looking for advice is a great first step, but come on.. at least have the gumption to act as well!

Archytas

BossArky wrote: »

Are you in a prison camp?

I live at home. I have a pretty elderly aul lad and I like to keep it simple for him so that he has to only cook the same thing for three of us.

I get home from work at a qtr to 8 or so every night, so to cook for myself is almost impossible, as Im in bed about an hour or two later.

believe me. I cannot change the meals that I eat at night.

juanveron45

post your actual diet and what time you have each meal so we can look at it and suggest some things

Archytas

Okilly dokilly...

Most mornings... Nothing. Apple and Cranberry Juice to drink. Maybe a pint of milk too. Some mornings I have a scone with some jam.

Lunch... My company has a system where you can order your lunch from various vendors and its delivered. to your desk. My department is quite busy so I rarely leave the office at lunchtime. Normally a wrap or white bread sandwich from O'Briens. Chicken, with mayo/tikka or coleslaw or something. 12 or 1 in the afternoon.

Dinner is at 8 or so and is Potatoes, Corn or Carrots, and something like breaded chicken or fish.. Sometimes Sausages. Or once a week we have Macaroni with Cheese and Bacon. Rarely have take away when I'm at home.

Saturday and Sunday is nearly always eating out in a restaurant with the GF.

Clive

My advice is to first read the stickies at the top of the forum.

Then, ultimately, you need to take responsibility for your own diet. You are making the choice to eat badly, and until you resolve to change that, you'll be stuck in the same loop.

You choose to have no breakfast, go with an ordered lunch rather than bring your own, and have your dinner made for you, rather than take the fifteen minutes to do it yourself.

Change your choices.

Best of luck with it.

ali.c

Archytas wrote: »

I live at home. I have a pretty elderly aul lad and I like to keep it simple for him so that he has to only cook the same thing for three of us.

I do kinda take your point, leaving at home when you are given food even if its not whats in your eating plan can leave you feeling pretty ungrateful if you dont eat it. Though i am sure you dad wouldnt mind you handing him up dinner every once in a while

Archytas wrote: »

I get home from work at a qtr to 8 or so every night, so to cook for myself is almost impossible, as Im in bed about an hour or two later.

You can through together an omellete and steam veg in about 15mins

Archytas wrote: »

believe me. I cannot change the meals that I eat at night.

Everything is possible if you try hard enough

At the very least start getting a decent breakfast into you and sort out you lunch and add in 2 decent quality snack (i.e. small portion of nuts or something).

if you can order lunch from various vendors then i am sure one of them has some healthy options to choose from!!

justsomebloke

I don't want to sound offensive but truthfully stop being a lazy bastard and take responsibility for yourself. If you actually want to change then change, stop giving excuses as to why you can't cause when it comes down to it, it is no skin off our back if your remain the weight you are.

The reason you are the way you are is because of what you eat and from what you are saying it seems you don't really want to change anything so how do you think things are going to change.

Truth is if you are going to be able to find time for the gym surely you can then find time to preprepare your food.

mack1

juanveron45 wrote: »

"If you keep doing what you have done.You will keep getting what you have gotten"

QFT!

Mate - if you're not happy with something then change the cause! It's not that hard, as said above YOU choose to skip breakfast, get up 15mins earlier and make some porridge, YOU choose to eat a crap sandwich for lunch, prepare something the night before and then you don't have to leave the office, YOU choose to eat whatever your dad makes, tell him thanks but you're changing your diet and you'll make yourself something when you get in, when you are making your stuff for tomorrow!

I know it looks like we're all raggin on you, but if you want to see a change then you have to make the change happen!

BossArky

Also, I'm not sure if you should be doing 5km 3 times a week with dodgy knees at your current weight.

Diet down a bit first. Maybe a bike would be the best form of exercise at the moment.

Khannie

Lunch may be delivered, but that doesn't stop you bringing in something healthy.

I cook my porridge in the microwave in work. That's a while after I've gotten up so if I don't have some fruit handy, I'll have some nuts before heading out the door (very easy to get 100 calories of healthy food in by grabbing 4 brasil nuts for example).

I'm in a similar situation on the dinner front: My wife cooks dinner for the family so I eat what I'm given. BUT.....I'll avoid the spuds, or ask for less pasta, and sub in more meat or veg or whatever they're eating. It's no hassle for her. I just eat more of one thing, and less of another.

If you have a dodgy knee, is swimming an option?

samsamson

If you take the time to make a nice big stew or something microwavable, then you can save your dad the hassle of cooking for a night or two in a row, while feeding yourself some healthy nutritious food too.

Roisinbunny

Just reading through your post there.. you're quite lucky in that O'Briens usually offer good healthier alternatives - plenty of wraps and salad bowls etc. So if your boss is paying, nice one. Saves you buying all the salad ingredients and preparing it yourself. With that in mind, you really do have the time to have something for breakfast i.e grab some fruit for the commute

I have to agree with Samsamson also - you could really cook meals in advance. Its something I do always when I know I'll have an extra tough day ahead - cook enough for 2 days, microwave the next day et voila.

Archytas

Wow you're a vocal bunch down here... never been so scared in my life!

Anywho. Thanks for the advice everyone...

mack1 wrote:

I know it looks like we're all raggin on you

yes. yes, it does. But I get it.

Khannie wrote:

If you have a dodgy knee, is swimming an option?

Definitely. I used to swim a lot but fell out of the habit when I moved job to beyond Stephen's green. Closest pool is I think the Marki-thingy place beside trinity...

BossArky wrote:

Maybe a bike would be the best form of exercise at the moment.

Funny... This biking dude told me this was the worst thing I could possible do with my knee. My doctor seems to agree.

Roisinbunny wrote:

With that in mind, you really do have the time to have something for breakfast i.e grab some fruit for the commute

Noted. Will pack fruit the night before, unlikely to do it at 6 in the morning!

Archytas wrote:

I work right beside two gyms - YMCA and Total fitness - Would either of these suit someone whose never been to a real gym before?

Anyone have an opinion on either? Not in the GYM review thread... YMCA is half the price but money's not a problem if the other one is twice as good?