I’m proud of you for going public and taking control of this issue. One of the biggest takeaways from the Student Life Biggest Loser of this last year is that my body didn’t naturally want to be carrying around that extra weight. Once I jump-started my system, the weight came off steadily b/c my 5’6 frame didn’t need to be lugging around that extra weight.

I did Weight Watchers as well and loved it. I kept an excel grid of every food I ate and how many points I used for the entire 4 months of the contest and it really helped. The reason I was a fatty is b/c I had no self-discipline. Therefore keeping a journal required self-discipline. It’s more than the weight, it’s about changing our natural tendencies.

You can do big daddy!

Brad Barnett

However I have a couple of “big” friends and when I bring them to the house and have them hit the heavy bag in the garage, they LOVE IT.

Why? Cause big guys can really make the bag move. You guys hit hard, the bag swings and sways and creaks. There is a tangible result in hitting the bag. It feels good to pound on something after a long day of work too.

It’s a great stress relief, cheap ($40 or $50 for an old “Rocky” style canvass job) you can do it at home, whenever your schedule allows and it is one HECK of a total body workout!

Try doing it for 30 or even 15 minutes. Break it up into “rounds” of 3 min each. taking a 1 min. break between them. The time really flies if you imagine putting a beat down on that guy who cut you off in traffic, or that stupid editor who sliced up your latest project! You’ll be surprised what you think about when you are punching and “fighting” the bag. VERY cathartic.

There are tons of videos/workouts online explaining good technique/form and routines to work. Be sure to check them out before starting. You can SERIOUSLY mess up your wrists and hands with bad form and inadequate hand protection.

I LOVE my heavy bag. The best piece of exercise equipment I’ve ever bought. I hit it all the time. (less now with all the running) Just buy the bag, some hand wraps and you are off and running…I mean punching and before you know it, you’ll be losing weight, gaining stamina, increasing muscle all over and kicking Taylor and Andy’s butt at will!

Good luck!

Here’s the hard truth. Lots of people encourage. Lots of people ask and offer helpful advice. But only you can do it.

And you do it by yourself. You do it when everyone’s going to lunch and you stay in your office and eat the salad you made. You do it when it’s still dark out and everyone’s asleep but you still get up and exercise even though it’s the LAST thing you want to do. You do it by doing the research to know EXACTLY how many calories there are in EVERYTHING you ingest. You do it by making 1000 tough little decisions every day.

But it gets easier. I promise it does. But you have to start. That’s the hardest part.

We’re in the same boat bro. Not an early riser. Big-time sweet tooth. Love food. Went to the doctor for ankle pain and came out with stroke-level blood pressure.

What worked for me: find sustainable change. For me it was (and still is) a fruit smoothie (that I make myself so I’ll know exactly what’s in it) for breakfast, a salad for lunch (I’ve now moved to soup and turkey sandwiches), and restraint for dinner. Cheat a lot, but only once a day, and make sure your cheats are less than 200 calories (>200 calories = 3 dove dark chocolate promises or 1/4 cup of Jelly Belly’s, see what I mean? do the research). Cut calories, not food (read: eat more veggies. Eat them first so you’ll fill up faster). And then find an exercise regimen that works for you. For me it’s a modified version of Jillian’s “30 Day Shred” in the play room.

That was me. You gotta find it for you. Good luck. You can do it.

But, I have wanted to post since I first read your blog. Here are my thoughts, I’ve dropped about 10 pounds since Christmas (which is probably close to 20 for a guy!) and I have done is make a few small changes. For one thing, I love sweets. Now, instead of just trying to stop (which absolutely does NOT work, I keep dove chocolate squares for after dinner. I know I’m having one after I get the boys down. I don’t eat a dessert anymore, but I do get a treat every night. And I’ve switched to water or diet coke only eating out. I don’t keep cokes at the house, even diet. If I’m thirsty, I have to drink what’s there. Be careful going to the store – If you don’t buy it, you can’t eat or drink it!

Best of luck to you, my friend!

I am sorry you are going to SA without the bham girls! Those drives won’t be the same…just remember all those convos we had that made you nice and comfortable…

Ok, I’m the ultimate fat kid. NOT athletic at all. And I’m ok with it. Recently, kate, space and LH talked (brainwashed) me into running. So, I did. I will say easy-does-it with life changes/exercise is the way to go. I started running/walking slowly and started minorly watching what I ate and LBs started to come off all by themselves. Actually, not all by themselves…I was running my big a up hills, but what ev. Anyway I did the couch to 5k method and then ran a 5k at the end of the 7weeks. YOU GOTTA HAVE GOALS. Saving face at that race was the only motivation I had. I

cliche of the day: I did it, and so can you!

I struggle with my weight. Always have. The healthiest I am is when I eat 5 or 6 small meals a day and exercise regularly in the morning . . . Keeps your metabolism going all day.

You can do it brother. And you are doing it for the right reasons.