My fat guy declaration

[Rext]

I started the gym in 2011. I had hurt my arm in 2010 and had a good chance of dieing from MRSA/staph. I had put on 20-25 pounds from sitting around for 5 months recovering. Im not the poster boy of health mind you. But since I started going RELIGIOUSLY to the gym, I started transforming the weight/fat to muscle. I still weigh 220 but I can bench 300 now.I still look like a fatass because Im only 5'-8". I am 43 though.My shoulder is starting to ache a bit from the weights.I still cant run very far due to aching in my lower legs but I have felt tons better.Sounds funny.. All in the face of my wifes cooking (everything in cheese) and eating around my two daughters schedules (mostly fast food) due to gymnastics and soccer.
I try to eat better stuff when I can. I try to get pumped for the gym every day. I eat quite a few protein bars and drink the powder(fruit punch is best). I usually feel pretty good. If I could eat better I could get back around 200 I think. Its hard to eat good, and its expensive but you can do it. Its way easier to stay in shape than to get in shape. Drink lots of water and stay away from grease. When Pitino was at UK I remember him saying "eat like a bird and run like a rabbit".
You can do it Gundude ! Stay with it because Obamacare wont help you!!!

[Frailer]

If not for cheeseburgers I wouldn't have any motivation to run.

In my particular case bad food is actually good for me.

[Jason]

Sounds like you're off to a great start man. I've been vegetarian for around 10 years and it took me a while to get used to a "restrictive" diet. I think the best thing to do is to not think of what you can't eat but what you CAN eat. Keep things fresh and interesting. Your diet naturally lends itself to a lot of ethnic foods. Thai, Ethiopian, Mediterranean, Japanese, etc. A lot of that stuff will also be extremely flavorful which is something you may start to miss with the lack of red meat and fat.

I struggle with staying motivated to work out. Getting in a solid routine seems to help, I get home everyday and immediately work out. If I sit down at the computer or start tinkering around with guns, guitars, etc. I'll end up convincing myself there is no time to work out haha.

[RampRat]

I am glad to hear your are making a change for the better. Like the others said, you eat better you feel better. I started near the end of February at 325. Yesterday I checked in at 264. Keep up the good work.