For as long as I can remember, I have been (at least) overweight. 12 Years ago, when I finished school, I was weighing about 110 kilos (242.5 lbs) at 191 cm (6’2″) which translates into a BMI of 30.2. So technically, I was slightly obese.
My parents weren’t to pleased about that, but I didn’t really care too much to be honest. But still, the decision was made that I should go to a clinic that specialized in obesity and stay there for 6 weeks. I wasn’t too pleased with that decision, naturally, because this killed my last real summer holidays before I had to enter the working world but hey. They are your parents and at age 19, you tend to still listen to them.
So that’s what I did. I packed my car and took off for the clinic where I spent my days with othere obese children, trying to lose weight through sport and a strict diet and it worked out pretty well. At least while I was there. I lost about 10 kilos (22 lbs), so I was at a BMI of 27.4. Still overweight, but hey. At least I wasn’t obese anymore.
Then I started working at my apprenticeship. Over the weeks and months I slowly gained weight and at the end I think I ended up with 135 kilos (297 lbs, BMI 37, severely obese). At that time the biggest problem for me was, getting clothes and to be honest. Most of my clothes I got from my parents, when they returned home from the US where I had to wear 3XL shirts (which here in Germany is probably 4XL or 5XL). Going shopping wasn’t possible for me here, because not a single shop had my size. Except maybe for the odd shop for oversizes where I didn’t want to go to because I was too embarassed. So that’s what it was. No easy clothes shopping for me.
At some point I decided to go to a gym. I started there with a co-worker of mine and sooner or later, I would see myself going there 5 to 6 times a week because I simply enjoyed going there. I did a lot of weight lifting, met a couple new people and I managed to improve myself. When I left my job to go to an university I clocked at 125 kilos (275 lbs, BMI 34.3, moderately obese).
It didn’t take long and I was back at my 135 kilos (297 lbs, BMI 37, severely obese) and I just thought, well, maybe that’s just my weight and I’ll always get back there (I lost some weight every now and then but basically, I always ended up at 135). Until that one day came where I stepped on the scale and it showed a whooping 142 kilos (313 lbs, BMI 38.9, severely obese) and I decided that I needed to change something in my life. I was about 25 or 26 at that time and finally decided, I had to change something. Most of the pants I owned didn’t fit anymore, I was in a bad mood and a bad shape most of the time and I wan’t able to appropriately shop for clothes at all, except for the times when I went to the US myself.
I signed up for a gym again and started using the Weight Watchers app. I checked my intake and made a slow, crawling progress. I didn’t have enough grit to completely follow through with it. But I constantly lost weight. About 5 – 10 kilos (11 – 22 lbs), and then leveled out for I while. I did not gain any weight. But I didn’t lose any either.
For the last year I basically stayed the same weight, between 112 – 116 kilos (247 – 255 lbs, BMI 30.7 – 31.8, slightly obese). Over the last week or to I finally decided, I’m done with it. I’m fed up with not being able to just walk into a store, try on a shirt that is a decent size and just buy it. For maybe 15 years I have not relly been able to walk into a store and just buy something.
I ordered 7 different shirts the other day. Some of which I really liked and wanted to keep. Guess what. I’ve returned 5 of them. Too tight. This shit, is over.
Last sunday I started working out. Biceps curls, triceps, squats, push-ups, butterfly with weights, crunches, and some stuff to strenghten my lower back muscles (oh yeah, didn’t I tell you? I have a slipped disc in my lower back because of that. Thank you for being a lazy fat slob former me!)
My intention is to finally, seriously monitor my calorie intake, and do my work-out routine every single day.
This morning I stepped on my scale. 110.7 kilos (244 lbs, BMI 30.3, slightly obese). My goal? Well, you guessed it. 85 kilos (187 lbs). This would get me down to a BMI of 23.3. Normal.
In order to achieve that goal I will have to burn off more calories than I take in of course. I have to get a total calorie deficit of roughly 180.000 calories to be precise. I intend to do so by eating less, probably less shitty too, and for once, stick to my work-out regime.
I will try to post regular updates here, on my twitter, and probably on my facebook too. And by all means. Ask me how I’m doing. Constantly. Bug me about this shit. I’ve heard peer pressure is an awesome tool if you want to achieve your goals.
Project 85 (187) has only begun…
Edit: Follow me on twitter @JTFranken for the latest updates
The Mind of a Budget Analyst 