This is the journey of how I’ve gone from 336lbs to 210lbs, turning my life around and improving myself for the better.
I just want to stop anyone before they continue to read in the hope that there’s a magic weight loss pill, a shake or a course that’s going to help you lose weight… There isn’t. I hope that sharing my journey will inspire more people to get serious about their fitness, get involved with something they enjoy or even just shift a bit of weight to fit into a suit they’ve had their eye on.
Here’s how I’ve gone from 336 to 210lbs:
Starting out my weightloss journey
Like anyone trying to lose weight, I’d watched endless YouTube videos, tried so many fad diets yet nothing seemed to have a lasting effect.
Eventually I’d given in and taken up the daunting task of signing up to a gym. It may not seem daunting to some but in my head it was. At 24 stone it just felt like I didn’t belong there. Muscular chiseled people lifting heavy weights, running ridiculously fast on the treadmill.
My first few times walking into that gym were legitimately so scary, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.
What to do when you first start the gym
- Remember, no one is looking at you, no one cares what you’re doing.
- If you’re stuck, just ask someone (trust me gym people are the most helpful, you’re all there for the same reason)
- Take it easy when you first start (a mantra I stuck by is that it took me years to put on the weight so it’ll take just as long to lose it - it doesn’t, but stay positive, the results will come)
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Go off effort and not time…
The reason I left my last point open is because for a period of time when going to the gym I was taking pictures for social media - at the gym - but really I’d just done 10 minutes on the treadmill, gone and got in the jacuzzi and steam room then showered and left.
Hold yourself accountable, the way I did that is on the next part of the journey.
Realising I needed to lose weight
One of the hardest parts of your weightloss journey is coming to terms with the fact that you feel you need to lose weight. When I first started my fitness journey I was around 24 stone at age of 24, a stone for every year I’ve lived. Let that sink in.
I had already started my fitness journey just before I was about to head out to Amsterdam with my new workplace on a business trip. Wearing a hoodie through the airport because I felt conscious, trying to keep up and rush to the gate whilst not trying to get clammy and sweaty. These are all things that were going through my mind.
Upon boarding the plane and sitting down we prepared for a picture, the first work outing. It was honestly great, but when I looked at the picture ready to post to instagram I knew I had to start stepping things up and getting a bit more serious if I truly wanted to shift some fat. I tucked the belt under my stomach too embarrassed to ask for a belt extender.
Stepping up the fitness
Once we landed back in the UK I started to push myself a bit more. One of the directors at the company had got me a discount on a fitness belt and suggested I wore it when I worked out.
Having something that holds you accountable is a great way to track your progress and see how you’re improving along the way.
Losing weight isn’t easy, it’s a long road so find something you truly love and enjoy. Find a hobby in a sport that you love, go and try new things and figure out what it is that you want to carry on doing.
I started off lifting weights along with cardio and eventually progressed towards training Muay Thai and MMA.
Easy exercises to start losing weight
- Walking/Treadmill - When you’re starting out you don’t want to burn your body out or put unnecessary strain on your knees. Start out with fast paced walking, preferably on an incline and if you can. Another way of doing this is to do 10,000 steps a day.
- Lifting weights - You don’t have to get too heavy, just do some research on some basic lifts and create a lifting routine within the notes on your phone to focus on different muscle groups.
- Martial Arts - One of the most enjoyable ways of keeping fit on my weight loss journey is martial arts, specifically Muay Thai. It’s great because you’re getting the fitness in but also learning practical skills to help boost confidence.
- Find a hobby - This ties in with the previous point of finding a hobby. Not everyone is going to like martial arts but with your fitness journey, you should try to make it a part of your lifestyle and not just something you do to cut down weight.
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Aim to burn a minimum of 500 calories per session/day
Best food to lose weight
As a really fussy eater I found it quite hard to diet at first, in all honesty I only got into dieting properly around a year into my fitness journey.
One of the best ways to cut down your intake and to make sure you’re consuming the right foods is by using MyFitnessPal. You don’t need to pay for the app but you do get extra features if you do.
Using MyFitnessPal I logged all of my food, I knew my dinner was going to be the biggest meal of the day so I’d log that first and then eat around that.
A big mistake that people make is not logging and weighing out every piece of food, dips and drinks. You may think you’re doing good by eating porridge but have you weighed it out and seen how many calories you’re consuming?
The reason I bring this certain aspect of my weightloss journey up is because I used to pour huge bowls of cereal and cover it in whole milk. Looking back now, if I'd weighed it out it would’ve been about 600-700 calories.
Best diet food when losing weight
Sadly, there’s no magic pill, smoothie, protein shake that’ll make you lose weight.
It’s really simple, your calories in need to be less than your calories out. That doesn’t mean starving yourself, eat enough to keep you going. Energy rich, high volume, protein rich foods are the best ways to get your calories in and keep you feeling full for longer.
When using MyFitnessPal, make sure you enter all of your details such as height, weight, goals and so on. This will help you along the way when you’re entering your food and completing your daily diary as it will give you a goal to work towards at the end of each day.
Weight loss motivation
Everyone has their own personal reasons for getting in shape, to help you along the way it’s good to have some motivators that aren’t just numbers on a screen or scale.
Don’t be afraid to take pictures along the way of your progress. Everyone has different motivators, I’ve left a few suggestions below that helped me.
- Find a piece of clothing that you want to fit into, buy something new or something that you’ve had lying around and never been able to get into.
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Start a moodboard on your phone or on your wall that you see everyday, this could be a holiday that you want to get in shape for, you may want to play sports or compete at a higher level.
Your motivator may be a little different and that’s totally fine, just as long as you have a vision to work towards.
Next part of our fitness journey
The fitness journey never stops, that’s why it’s a good idea to make it a part of your lifestyle and something you really enjoy. Before you know it, it’ll be a habit that you love and enjoy doing everyday.
Gym Nasty was founded to defy the norm and to help people at every stage of their fitness journey. Whether it’s 10,000 steps throughout the day, some HIIT Cardio, powerlifting, Muay Thai or just about any exercise.
You should be able to feel comfortable when working out and be able to take those progress pictures and feel confident in how you look in the mirror.
Now get ready, go for that run, walk, lift some weights and do what you need to do to get Nasty!
Very inspiring and so very accurate to someone who has often hit rock bottom with their weight. It’s certainly
an eye opener. Looking forward to seeing the products. :)