Hello,
My first post here - I would like to start a thread that (hopefully) gains the attention of those more experienced and intelligent than I on balancing low-carb diet weight lose effort and working out.
See, I am 42 years old, just over 6 ft, 350lb fat body. Even though I am mordibly obese I am very healthy (knock on wood) in regard to my heart and suffer (as of today) from no illnesses.
I was not always fat. In fact I was a pretty decent athlete and stayed in good shape up to my early 30’s when I quit smoking, had kids, and got involved in a caustic relationship. Now, the kids are raised, the soon-to-be-ex-wife is no longer in the picture, and I am left with many years of abuse riding around on my body.
My goal: To methodically obtain a 200lb frame again that is stronger than it has ever been (note: I’d be happy with 225 or so if it was more muscle than flab).
I’m not fooling myself into thinking that I could ever look like many of you on this site - but your dedication, drive, and determination has been a big reason I decided to write this post so I would like to ask for advice on how best to achieve my goal.
I have been on Atkins for the last 3 weeks and have really noticed a difference in my energy levels (going up), my pants are already fitting looser, and I am ready to go back to the gym. What I am missing is a solid workout routine that ensures I’m not wasting my time on useless exercises or the wrong exercises. The internet searches provide more confusion than help.
My plan: Go to the gym for 1.5 hours per day / 5 days per week (weekends rest).
My current strategy: 30 minute cardio warm up. Stretches (as much as a fatboy can stretch) and ‘wake up’ exercises like jumping jacks and push up (the few I can do now). I can currently bench right at 200lbs at failure (I know, that is a joke to many of you, but I’ll get there) and I’m even weaker on squats (very hard exercise for me cause of my stomach/sack of fat). I cycle through the usual curcuit of exercises (e.g. Monday chest and back, Tuesday thighs and calves, Wedneday biceps and shoulders, etc…) and I am needing a solid and reliable weekly regiment that I can perform and work up to.
If anyone has a serious, helpful suggestion (even if it is to tell me to go away to another site)I would greatly appreciate the guidance. If you have a solid workout regiment that I can follow that will let me maximize weight lose AND see gains in strength - please reply back.
I see myself as a large lump of clay (in more ways than one…) and as a work just beginning.
Your comments/advice/suggestions would greatly be appreciated!