2014: 300lb to Spartan Race - My Journey from Fat to Fit.

DailyGeek

DailyGeek

DailyGeek

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I've got huge plans to fix my life in 2014. These plans are around 3 months in the making. I'm going to be making a video diary of sorts and will post here on the forum, as well as other sources online, mostly as a method to keep myself motivated and on track. I hope these videos will serve others as much as they'll serve me as I aim to make them heartfelt, fun and hopefully a little inspiring.

Before I go any further - I know my approach will not necessarily be met with positive responses by everyone here. The fact is, I've tried many, many approaches over the past few years, with varying degrees of success - but never with any ongoing results. All entirely my doing, but also as a result of not managing my expectations properly.

My videos will hopefully come across as honest and accurate. I intend to show the bad and good sides of my journey. I'm around 21st 3lb (will get more accurate figures soon) and I plan to get to 13st as a maximum. I understand this will take some time.

I have a plan involving juicing, progression to a plant-based whole foods diet and on from there. I'm starting DDP Yoga as a low-impact cardio exercise with a view to running/skipping in the future.

My closest friends ran a 5k Spartan Race last year. I'm going along this year on 30th August. I intend to take part - and to complete the race. In my current state, running 0.5k is impossible. But life is too short to observe and not to take part. I'm sick of feeling sick, I'm tired of looking tired.

I welcome comments and support. Berating my approach and choices is not welcome, but I understand you are free to do so.

I've got a couple of introduction videos which I'll post shortly, until then...

Thanks for reading and welcome on board :)
 
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Having been in a similar situation myself, I won't outright chastise your approach as I know how it feels to need to lose weight. You can worry about maintaining your weight once you've gotten it under control.

I will mention a few things. Firstly, what is your mobility like at the moment? When I was over 300lb I found walking a mile to be somewhat of an ordeal, but it was about the only exercise I could take. I was walking about 10 miles a day by the time I switched to cycling and eventually running. Most people will urge you to do resistance training, and I encourage you to do so, but don't overlook simple cardiovascular exercise, especially in the beginning.

Secondly, I strongly recommend logging your food intake - I started off using fitday.com but switched to myfitnesspal.com about six months ago. Fitday is adequate, but MFP has a smartphone application that makes it easier to log your food intake while away from a computer. Logging your food intake makes it impossible to deceive yourself over whether you're eating properly.

Finally, and most importantly; don't give up, no matter how much you want to - it's a journey that's entirely worth seeing through to the end. Looking in the mirror having lost over 100lb is a powerful reminder that you can be committed and ultimately successful. I know, because I have been there too :)
 
I must say I am in a similar situation I have been 18st now for just over a year and I am sick of it, my problem which I really struggle with is having the shear will power and motivation to do something about it and I am determined that 2014 is going to be the year I start, I also want to get to 13st maybe even 12st but I am so used to the way I eat (Fast Food) I find it hard to even stop that also the fizzy crap I drink a lot of.

Good luck to you mate and I hope keeping an eye on this thread will also give me some motivation to get my arse in gear.
 
So started my juicing today. Been a rough day though, got a cold on and didn't get up until midday. Which in some ways is a good thing. I think the 'mean green' juice is going to take some getting used to and I'm going to have a few harsh days but by Sunday I should be feeling better hopefully...
 
I read juicing and thought of something completely different. Ultimately a successful diet is one you can stick to so you have to enjoy what you're eating...

The main thing to remember is it doesn't matter too much what you eat as long as you're under-eating - you'll lose weight - but the extent to which you're under-eating and more importantly the content of what you do will determine a bunch of stuff like what it is you're actually losing, satiety, energy levels, mood etc.

I know you've been prepping already (I did the same when I was fat) but http://rippedbody.jp/ is a good resource (the articles in the diet section) - once you have a solid understanding of how to track what you're eating and nutrition in general, it's much easier to control your own destiny as far as physical composition goes rather than trying a load of diets/approaches that have you doing xyz but avoid getting into the nitty gritty of simply tracking actual intake vs goal intake. Good luck.
 
I wish you the best of luck. I started my diet 15th February at a whopping 26st 8lb. On Christmas Eve I hit 17st 8lb, the feeling of dramatically changing your life for the better is absolutely incredible and seeing your body change keeps your motivation sky high.

I also highly recommend that you do track what you eat using something like myfitnesspal. You learn so much about food and nutrition which makes knowing what you really shouldn't eat so much easier to grasp. I mostly lost my weight by cutting out carbs completely and filling up on protein and fruit/veg. Protein shakes are a brilliant replacement breakfast if you get easily hungry near lunchtime.

Good luck on your journey and if you are truly motivated you really can accomplish anything.
 
Just a quick update before my next video log. It's day four and I'm settling into juicing although still feeling a bit rough, definitely getting there though.

7lbs down already :)
 
AndrewNR said:
Good luck with it.

Out of interest how did you get the dent to the ole noggin'?
Click to expand...

I took part in an international fighting tournament, with expert street fighters coming from all across the globe. I did quite well until I went up against Bison and he KO'd me.


Or - I fell over and split my head open when I was about 3 in my garden on the patio.
 
That film, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is fantastic. I've actually watched it twice now, though haven't started juicing myself. I'm having smoothies (basically thick juices) every other morning and am quite enjoying them, but don't have quite as much weight to lose as you do (aiming at 2-3 stone to bring me down to 12-13st). I find the kale is actually alright, and I've never eaten it before. My feeling is (taking into account that I'm only having them once every two days) that I just have to drink it, no matter what it tastes like. I'm also doing it to help relieve Crohn's symptoms.

I really enjoyed the videos, by the way. Great way to motivate yourself, I'd imagine. Wtf is all that junk in your car?!

Anyway, best of luck, I hope it goes well.
 
Day 12 - Just done my first attempt at the DDP Yoga workout 'Energy'. Totally killed me in 21 minutes. Heart rate was at 165! Had a few tough days mentally with the not eating but feeling better today. Broke the 1st mark this morning, now lost 15lb since NYE!
 
Well done mate keep it up. I lost 10 stone in 10 months a few years ago. went from 24 stone odd to 13.8. Met my now wife and put it all back on :(. Started a diet in August and so far have lost 6 stone of it so well on the way to getting back to where i want to be.
 
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead was a motivator to try and do something for good this time. It is pretty crazy, but I know from previous endeavors that I have to remove food from the equation for a while to start seeing results, motivate myself and also try to reapproach my diet with a fresh set of eyes. It is quite hardcore, but on Day 13 today and I'm not hungry, just having severe cravings for Pizza! It's the Spartan Race that's keeping me focused, I'm starting to feel like I totally want to transform myself and do a good job with my friends. I don't want the three of them having to drag me over walls and stuff.

Just been looking at Crossfit and Krav Maga, as there's a new gym nearby that does both. Sticking with DDP Yoga for now but I'll need more intense training at some point possibly.
 
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