Week 1: My Workouts

Since it's been five to six months since I've have not worked out. I am slowly starting off again. This time around I'm starting off slow to stick with my workouts (exercises) :

This week:

      -Monday | Push Ups

      -Tuesday  | Push Ups

      -Wednesday  | 30 minutes of Cardio

      -Thursday  |  Push Ups 

      -Friday  |  Push Ups  - 1 Hour of Cardio

      -Saturday |  Push Ups - 30 minutes of Cardio

      -Sunday  |  Push Ups - 30 minutes of Cardio

Note: The push ups I do off this website is very interesting. Truth is it does work. It helped me out a lot. I'm back on it again due to the fact that I stopped working out. 

This upcoming week I'm not certain what I will be adding. I'm slowly adding other various workouts little by little because if I add a lot of workouts I might get overwhelmed or not do them, either that what ever the case might be. I am starting off slow this time around so I can stick to my regimen. I stopped due to the fact I thought I was happy where I was at. Truth is I was then again I took one look at myself in the mirror. I said to myself this: "If I lost 131 lbs / 59 kg  why not lose the pending weight that I have left to go?" I notice I go off working hard then out of no where stop. This time around I take time out of the day even though being busy at least 30 minutes out of the day and work out. The weight goal that I have in mind is to be 130 lbs / 58 kg. I made that as an estimate goal that I want to achieve but in all honesty. I want to lose the rest of the fat that I have. Everyone states I am fine the way I am. Truth is I like the way that I am except the fat that I still carry I can get rid of it by working out. Going to start with body weight all over again. This time around sticking with it. Another thing is that if I have came this far why stop now knowing I can continue and be where I want to be. 

Lately, I've been busy working and well working out. Also coming  up with a few projects that I will be posting on here on my blog for all of you to check out. 

-Never Give Up

Check In: 1 (My Weight)

Truth is I dislike stepping on digital weight scales. Why? I don't want to see the weight that I am and then get disappointed. I needed to stop doing that, weighing myself and then be disappointed. What did I do when I got disappointed? I would literally stop working out for weeks up to months. Why? I would tell myself I've been working very hard to get where I wan't to be yet it's not happening. This time around I had to change that up. I needed to stop getting disappointed when weighting myself. What I do now is weight myself, if I'm not the weight where I want to be at I simply smile an say as long as I don't gain 5 lbs. It's perfectly fine with me. What I do is work out when I can since I am busy working or either that doing errands. I still find time to do what I have to do. My job requires me to stand up, twist, squat, and move around a lot. It's fine with me though as long I'm not sitting in a chair behind a desk for several hours as I use to be in the past. I'm happy about my weight. A few days ago I stepped on the scale like two weeks ago and I weighted 183 lbs / 83 kg. I wasn't happy about it at all knowing that I went back to my weight I use to be knowing it's hard to lose it. This time around I didn't disappoint myself at all. I told myself that I have to get back to working out (exercising) even though my days are going to be busy. I got to weigh in myself today and well my weight is back to 178 lbs / 80 kg. Which I am happy about. I notice that I have to continue working out. I will be going to a few stores to get what I need to finish up my pull up bar. Do pull ups with the assistant band. I will be working on that because when my muscles get sore I don't do them the next day. I let my muscles relax for a day. I will be posting out my workouts once again and my meals. I'm thinking about doing a fruit diet for two months. I will check that out on how to get started. 

Note: My meals consist of me eating everything all kinds of food, no fast food though. Home made food and eating small portions.

Got It: Resistant Loop Band

I got the resistant loop band this past Wednesday. I gave it a try Thursday morning. I must admit it does help with assisting me in doing dips. I haven't tried the pull ups or the chin ups at this moment. I have to go to Lowe's to get a few screws that I have been pending for the chin up bar. I have one that goes in between the door. I got that one because I know it can hold me better and well I know I won't be taking it off. I rather have something solid and stable. Later on I will be getting the resistant bands. There are various kinds of resistant band names out there. Of course the prices varies on them because some have more equipment then the other and / or has videos teaching you what workouts (exercises) you can do with the resistant bands. I must admit I like the resistant loop band it does assist me a lot. The resistant that I got is 50 lbs. I was going to get the one for 75 lbs. Then again I prefer to get the 50 lbs. Truth is you have to start with a higher resistant then lower it down. I didn't want to do that because it costs a bit more. I only wanted one which I got. I am very happy about it because I know it will help me until I no longer need the resistant loop band to assist me. 

I'm Resting...

Due to the illness I have which is the flu. I am resting my body, which I haven't worked out nor done any body weight exercises. I am resting, hoping to get better soon.

In Searh: Resistant Loop Band

It's been awhile already that I have been in search of a resistant loop band. I've found quite a few of them but they are pricey. I've read a lot of good reviews on them. Except truth is I don't have enough money to spend on the ones that are pricey. I found one at this one website, saw the various kinds that they had. I read a few reviews back and forth of a few loop resistant bands; either called a jump stretch flexband. They have various difference of resistant, that is why the prices varies on them.This is the Resistant Loop Band that I purchased yesterday. I will be getting it in the mail before the 29th of this month. Once I get it, I will be starting on doing my work outs which consist me of doing pull ups, chin ups, and dips. Once I get back in to my Calisthenics work out's I will be starting off with push ups. (At this moment I'm relaxing and letting the body rest, due to the fact I came down with a cold, which I dislike. Hopefully I get better soon to start working out.) 

I Still Work Out: Busy...

It's been awhile since I have posted anything on my blog due to the fact of me working two jobs. Yes, I was working at two jobs. Now I am currently working in one for the temporary time since there are still not of lot of jobs going on and if there is it's only for a temporary time that they are in need of workers. 

Ever since I've been getting temporary jobs I tend to work two jobs. One tends to be a day shift then the other a night shift. The night shift varies from time to time though. When I was working two jobs in all honesty I couldn't work out because my time at work consisted me to stand up for up to 10 hours. The hours always varied on a daily basis. When I had two jobs I still made an effort to workout (exercise) for 30 minutes. I would from time to time but not every day like I would like too. Now that I have one job I barely got back on to my workouts (exercises). This past weekend I started of working out by doing 30 minutes of cardio walking on the treadmill. I've been doing this since this past Saturday which was on 17th. Then of course I weighted myself and I am still 183 lbs / 83 kg. Of course these past few months I thought it was a weight plateau but then again it's not a weight plateau that I hit. Actually never realized this till a few days ago that it was my calorie intake that I had to change it because I no longer was over 203 lbs / 92 kg. My calorie intake had to definitely change. Never came to mind that I had to change it once I started to lose even more weight. Now that I calculated my calorie intake is 1464 and to maintain my weight 2000 calories. These past few months my calorie intake that I was consuming was 2000. Didn't know I had to change it up till a few days ago. Good thing I realize that. Then again I am a bit mad because all this time that I worked my butt off it did help me of course then again I was maintaining my weight which I dislike it. By this time around I could of lost the 50 lbs / 23 kg that I am still pending to lose it.

This time around I'm not going to worry or work on losing the weight. Instead I am going to focus on building muscle while I shed the fat.

Since, the holidays are here and things will be on sale. I was debating on purchasing a bench press. I was on that back and forth. Till I realize I rather get me a loop resistant band to help me assist with my dips and chin ups. Then get me a resistant band kit that can connect to the door. Then of course an ab roller wheel. Lets see if I can get to purchase all of these things on the holidays. I really do want to get started. Lately, all I do is 30 minutes of cardio walking on the treadmill and / or either 30 minutes of kickboxing. I do it every day after work. Hopefully this time around since I have gotten my intake of calories. Also I have found a bodybuilder to help me out with a meal plan. That is all I need help with. The rest I can do but I really need a really good meal plan a strict one to help me get shredded while I work out. Of course means take more protein, watch out for the fats and the carbohydrates. I will start with a meal plan before or either on the 30th of this month to get it going. Then try it out for the beginning of December. Lets see how my journey goes... Woohoo!!! 

It's been a while...

Sorry for the delay on not posting my continuations of my workouts and nutrition. My time at the moment consists me of being a full time employee temporarily and I have a few pending projects that I have started and yet need to finish. I am still working out (exercising). This time around even though I am very busy I will definitely make time to continue my posts.

Day One: Continuation of My Weight Loss Goal

I had to work out (exercise) on Monday the 3rd of September. Except I didn't due to the fact I was still taking my medication and getting rest to heal from the allergic reaction I have gotten. The allergic reaction I got all over my body was hives. Truth is till this day I am not certain what caused my allergic reaction. Everyone states it might of been the acrylic that my sister used to get her nails done. Then again I ate two handfuls of almonds. In the past I notice almonds started to cause a break out reaction on my face which consist of pimples. Never thought that maybe not certain; almonds would cause me to get hives. This morning I decided to weigh myself and see what the digital scale stated. At the moment I was not going to be surprised if I gained weight at all. I got on the digital scale, waited for a few seconds for the numbers to appear. The numbers appeared like this: 178 lbs / 80 kg. When I saw those numbers appear I got very excited and happy. I started today getting back on working out (exercising). I have to start all over again which is better than doing nothing. 

My work out (exercises) for today: 

• 30 minutes of cardio (walking on the treadmill)

My nutrition for today:

• 1 slice a pizza (combo) - Only on cheat days!
• 1 bowl of salad w/ 6 ceasar croutons 
• 2 tablespoons of Italian Dressing
• 2 cups of chicken breast (cooked) w/ bell peppers
• 2 cups of cabbage (cooked) w/ soy sauce and peppers 

My drinks:

• WATER: the main source I drink with my meals and when being thirsty
• 1 cup of coffee w/ organic sugar 
• 1 teaspoon of cream (in the coffee)

The Nutrition: Which One?

There are various types of nutrition out there, well more like diets. Not certain which one to chose. Most tell me to do the vegan, the warrior, plant base and more. I will be doing more research on them. I might as well try them all see which one best fist me the best or better yet which one helps me out more. I've heard of all types out there. I even heard that Weight Watchers helps out a lot. I have spoken to people that have and it has helped them out a lot. Everyone body is different is not the same. I know nutrition is 80% percent of important as working out (exercising) is 20%. This time around I notice that I have to concentrate more on my nutrition part this time around. I never did concentrate on it 100% fully. 

Due to my illness I had a few days ago which was hives. I got medicine for my allergies which of course include steroids. I went back to 182 lbs / 82 kg. Today this morning I weighted myself and came out to be at 180 lbs / 81 kg. My work out was going very well till this had to happen to me. Not sure what cause my allergic reaction. I am glad my weight is going down even though the steroids making me over eat. Which I dislike but I required of them to help me feel better form all these hives. 

Starting tomorrow going to get back on my workouts. Going to set my alarm clock early in the morning to have a nice 30 minute walk and sprint on the treadmill. Then after that do 1 hour of kickboxing. This time around I will be working on my nutrition starting tomorrow. I will keep you updated and posted on the nutrition and work outs (exercises) I do. 

(Sorry for not updating immediately to do illness) 

Note: I haven't posted any new post lately due to the fact I came down with an allergic reaction. Not sure what I am allergic too. That caused me to have hives. Which I dislike because I ended up going to the Emergency Room since my hives doubled up, turning yellow, and also loss of hearing. Not good! I got a steroid shot and some pills. Which included steroids. I dislike that but I had to take them for my health. Till a week after I am not certain what caused it. I am debating or thinking maybe it's because I haven't taking my multivitamins lately. Meaning my defensive mechanism is low. I will have to visit the doctor starting next month to have a full check up and make sure everything is running smooth with no problems. 

Update 1: Workout

I am continuing my work outs even though I have a busy schedule. Since I work at a warehouse it helps me even more with my weight loss which I am grateful. Even though my work hours vary from time to time. Then of course I tend to sleep in the morning instead of at night. I've continue my kickboxing workouts and it's going very well. I will be taking new pictures and a few videos of me working out. I will be posting them on the blog. I've been doing kickboxing (every other day) and cardio which includes walking / sprinting (every day.) Things are going well so far. Truth is I haven't weighted myself at all. I will weight myself by the end of this month to see where I am at. 

Note: I am in the process of making one of my ideas com to life. I will be posting it once I get the website going. Every one will be able to see it and also give me there comments, advice, and more. 

I Had To Buy Me A Few Treats...

Since I was working I saw this store ad inside the newspaper about Big 5 having on sale a few things this week. The sale would end this Saturday. Yesterday, I made up my mind to invest on a few treats. That would be work out equipment treats. I bought myself a boxing punching bag by Everlast. It cost me like $70.00 / USD. (I use to have one except it teared from the hanging straps. Due to the fact I didn't know that you needed to put duct tape around it before hanging the punching bag.) This time around the new punching bags, well the straps on the punching bag come a bit different, as I looked at the straps they have vinyl sew onto them. Hopefully this time around the punching bag doesn't tear from the straps like it did last time when I was training. Hahaha! Now the UFC gloves cost me $24.99 / USD. Of course the chin up bar I got on sale which I was very glad, for $19.99 / USD. The chin up bar I haven't tried it yet. I was going to last night trying to figure out how to place the chin up bar on the door frame except notice that I need to screw it in. I was hoping that I didn't have to. As I can tell I have to. It's all good! I am hoping I don't break the door framing. Hahahaha! Once I start working out, I work out twice as hard and won't stop. Here is a picture, below, of the punching bag and new UFC wrap gloves I bought: 

Note: I had a great workout yesterday and today which was me working my butt off at work. Woke up with my body being very sore. I love the feeling my body being sore from a great hard work out. :) 

I Got It: Weight Plateau

In these past few days I have been paying very close attention is to why my body is on a weight plateau?  As I looked at my food intake I saw that I am eating under my calories. Which is not bad to maintain the weight. Then again is not very good because it will not help me lose weight. The body needs food for fuel in order to burn the calories. I will have to switch up my food intake. I am thinking about the days I don't work out eat very light food meal. Then on the days I work out a bit of heavy food meals so that my body can burn those calories. I am glad I finally figure out what it was that is making me stay at this weight. 

These are my exercises for today:

• 1 Hour of Cardio (am) 
• 1 Hour of Cardio (pm)
• 1 x 10 : Spartan Push Ups
• 1 x 30 : Decline Bench Crunches
• 1 x 30 : Stability Ball Crunches

Note: I'm working on three major components: Strength, Weight Loss, and most of all losing the fat on the stomach area. (The stomach area is the one mainly I am concentrating on the most)

Switch Up....

Today is Monday, I will be doing a bit of switch up of exercises. My achievement this time around is to do dips on the parallel bars. In order for me to do that I will do a workout / exercise called: spartan push ups. If you are wondering what a spartan push up is, here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OOnqZdw7PI&feature=colike I will start of with 1 set of 6 to 10 repetitions; they will be doing them everyday except for Wednesdays and Sundays. Those days will be my days off  to let my muscles rest for a bit. Of course I will do 30 minutes of cardio, which consists of walking and sprinting. This time around I have to keep continuing to do my works outs / exercises. In order to achieve my goal. 

I am still not certain what is causing my weight plateau. Hopefully by the end of this week or next week. I will definitely know what is causing me to be stuck at a weight plateau. I've been reading a few articles, some say   to go swimming and / or biking. I have those two options. I generally like to go swimming but I have not been able to stop by a friends pool and go out for a swim. I can do biking around my block, it seems like the bike is failing. I need to get some inner-tubes. I will find out how much the inner-tubes cost in order to get them and be able to ride the bike for longer periods of time. 

I'm a bit irritated

I'm a bit irritated because I have so many things to do and yet so little time. Ahhhhhh! I've notice I am still stuck at a weight plateau. As I can see it's been like three weeks straight almost close to a month now. I dislike that!!! I'm figuring out what to change on my food and workouts / exercises. Today is the day I will be busy coming up with some few crazy ideas to work out with. Once I get those ideas going. I will post pics of exactly what I am going to do. I am here figuring out and finding more equipment exercises that I can do. Workout / exercise, without spending a penny. I wanted to buy me a punching bag and the wrap around gloves. Except truth is they are both pricey. As I will change my whole nutrition and workouts / exercises. I know this time around it will work even better. I hope I no longer get irritated and see my weight plateau finally break. I dislike it when it happens and my body tends to adapt at this weight for awhile. Ahhhhhh!!!!

Keep in mind I will keep you posted and updated of a few ideas I will come up with. If anyone out there has any other ideas let me know....

Tell a difference...

Let me see here, my training for now is cardio, jump rope, crunches with the stability ball and also crunches with the decline bench. At this moment I am doing cardio every day but the other workouts / exercises I am  doing them every other day. Then in a week or two weeks change it up to every day. Then once again add more workouts / exercises. I decided to take new updated pics. As I saw with the other pictures I took recently you could not tell that much of a difference. You can see clearly now that I have to work more on my abs this time around my abs and lower abs. That will be the main focus this time, since I have to work very hard on that. Here are two pictures below. 

Yes, I am still on the weight plateau which I dislike. I will be figuring out what is it this time around. That is why I am going to concentrate if it's my work outs this week. If I don't see any changes then it will probably be my food intake. I'm still stuck at 176 lbs / 79 kg. Ahhhh!!! I will soon break that plateau, very soon!!! 

Weight Plateau....AHHHH!

Truth is I've always disliked weight plateaus. I tend to figure out what is the problem at times. Either the food intake or the work outs / exercises. Most of the time is the food intake and when it's not the food intake is the exercises. I have to figure it out all the time. Which I don't mind doing then again when I am continuously doing every thing I can to break that weight plateau it can get a bit frustrating at times. Now this is the third time I've hit I weight plateau. Do I dislike it let me just say this: AHHHHHHHHH! I dislike weight plateaus! I'm stuck at 176 lbs / 79 kg. I will continue exercising, doing cardio that is. All I have to do is figure out now if it's my work outs . exercising that I have change up or either the food intake. I will add a few work out / exercises today and see the difference in two weeks if it's my work outs / exercises. Then from there I will be able to know. What is causing my weight plateau...

On my second weight plateau that I was stuck on it wasn't my food intake nor my exercises. I still decided to change both. Well I notice it was my body getting use to the weight. I remember when being young I use to weigh 160 lbs / 72 kg. I always weight above that weight never less. That is why now that I recall, I am wondering if I will be having troubles when I get to that certain weight. 

As you can tell I've gotten to weight plateaus, and once again they can be very frustrating enough that their where times I wanted to give up. Truth as you can tell I didn't, and yet I haven't. I still continue my journey on this weight loss that is truly my number one main goal. 

Deciding...

Let me see here; since I am employed I am wondering and deciding what equipment to invest on that I know for a fact it would help me out a lot with my calisthenics work outs / exercises. It's a bit difficult because I know what I want then again I ask myself do I really need it? Will I use it often once I get the equipment or will I use it temporarily? I'm not quite sure for the moment what kind of work out equipment I want to invest on. I know for a fact I will debate that for awhile till I make up my mind. Tomorrow what I will do my best on doing dips with the parallel bars I have in the backyard. My father helped me build the parallel bars. Which I am happy about except I haven't used it in months. I have to get back into calisthenics training. We will see how it goes in these past few days, which soon will be months. This time around I am dedicating myself on losing the weight that I have left to sweat off. That is the first achievement that I have to complete before the end of this year. My other achievement while doing that is looking for a better employment. Oh yeah!!!

I have decided to come start back up doing cardio for 35 minutes to 1 hour in the morning, evening or night. This time around using a trash bag though. I wear the trash bag on top of me. This is what I do I wear a long sleeve, then wear the trash bag on top of my long sleeve. No, I do not do it underneath. I heard people put it underneath their sweaters. Heard they lost weight big time. Like people have told me, every ones body is different. You have to listen to your body. That is very true... Tomorrow morning I am going on the parallel bars and be there for a few minutes working on my dips. This time around I have decided to dedicate myself and not slack off. Truth is I have been slacking off due to a few things that have been going on in my life. I have decided that I need to "do me." Make myself happy which means losing the rest of the weight. Oh yeah! By the end of August I will post a new picture of me or in October. I will figure it out. 

This time around no more slacking off; now is : WORK OUT EVERYDAY!!!!!!! 

The Intermediate Process: 3...

As few months passed by I continued to work out / exercise: sprint, walk, jump rope, and calisthenics. After working out for awhile I realized that I was stuck at a weight plateau for the second time. The weight plateau I was stuck at was in between 205 lbs / 92 kg and 200 lbs / 90 kg. I was very upset due to the fact I was stuck at a weight plateau all over again. In the end I would still work out. Till one day I notice that I had a punching bag in the backyard. Since it was bought by my father no one ever used it. I decided to put the punching bag up and use it. The main reason why I decided to use it because I needed to add a new work out, for my body to continue to lose weight. I decided to look up for kickboxing videos on www.youtube.com an learn a few moves on my own. I would do kickboxing every other day, or either that I would do it everyday for a week. When I would do kickboxing for a whole week I would stop for two days then continue to do them every other day. I would switch up my work outs / exercises. After a few months later of working out hard, and eating healthy. Then one day as I was kickboxing, out of no where the punching bag ripped from the hangers. I couldn't believe it after using the punching bag over five months the punching bag from the hangers decided to tear. I switched back on doing what I use to do which is: sprint , walk, jump rope, and calisthenics. I must admit I did stop a few weeks here on working out due to the fact   I got very busy with a few problems and errands that had to be fixed. After that I decided to start off back with walking and biking, after doing that for awhile I came down to 190 lbs /  86 kg.  I still decided to continue to walk and do some bike riding even though I still had several problems to fix. Then I got busy searching for employment, that is when I stopped walking and did bike riding when I had the time and chance too. Even though I ended up being busy when I had a day off free from problems, errands, and more. I would literally get back to my workouts and also went back on the hunt to search for employment once again. While doing that, I still continued to walk if not walk ride the bike. I would do this back and forth, also depending what I felt like doing during that day. I still continue to work out / exercise, eating healthy, and also making fruit smoothies. One day I got a call stating if I was available to come in to work. I said. "Yes!" I must admit I'm very glad that I have employment now after three years. I must admit I was very unhappy without being employed then at the same time I am glad it happen because this is where I am at this moment continuing my journey to lose weight.

Then for awhile I am stepped on the digital scale these past three days and I am now 176 lbs / 79 kg. Truth is I don't have a weight goal but it states on the Height and Weight Chart 'http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm ' that I found states that my weight has to be around 113 lbs / 51 kg to 135 lbs / 61 kg. Here below are two new pics of me. 

Note: I'm still continuing to work out / exercise, even though there are times I have a busy schedule. My workouts are basic calisthenics and one hour of cardio. Even though I can be busy I still find to make time for my workouts. 

The Intermediate Process: 2...

One day of course my ex brother in law decided to longer wanted to attend the gym, due to the fact he had different plans. My ex brother in law decided to cancel both of our gym memberships. The reason being is because he was paying for my membership also. When the membership was canceled, I had left one more month. I would go in here and their. Then I completely stopped working out. Since I no longer had a gym membership, I thought their was no point of me to continue to work out / exercise. After a few months later, I would say two to three months, a friend of mine; I don't quite recall his name (since it's been a long time since we have spoken) by the name of Keith or Kevin. Truth is K helped me get motivate all over again that I could definitely continue without the need of a gym. I would tell K that I couldn't nor was I able to continue if I no longer had a gym membership or could I afford one. Truth is K kept on insisting that I could, by simple telling me to do calisthenics. Then I asked K what is calisthenics? K told me, calisthenics are workouts / exercises you use to do in physical education class; which are push ups, jumping jacks, squats, and more. I simply asked them how can that help me more than the gym, knowing very well the gym has various types of equipment and free weights? He stated it's better! In all honesty I was still a bit confused and wondering how can calisthenics help me out. K insisted for me to start of by walking; if there was a park near to me to walk as long as I could. One Saturday morning, I woke up early and decided to go out for a walk at the school park. By the time I was on the third lap, I was done and over with. I could no longer continue and realized that I couldn't do anymore laps. That I, myself was still overweight. Then I told my friend K, I was only able to do three laps walking. K stated that a start, but to continue walking every day, then sooner or later I would be able to do more laps than I ever thought I could achieve. My friend K continually kept me motivated all the time by telling me: not to give up and to continue. K, would keep me motivated, he would literally give me that extra push of support that I needed. I am very thankful for K helping me on giving me that extra support.


After a few days I was able to do more than three laps. I would literally push myself to the limit to continue to do more laps. That time when I pushed myself to the limit to do 6 laps in 1 hour. When I got to that point able to do 6 laps in 1 hour, I was very amazed. In three months of walking everyday, my weight from 245 lbs / 111 kg suddenly changed to 225 lbs / 102 kg. I was very surprised knowing that walking had helped me very much. Then as I continued walking, this time around though, I was stuck at a weight plateau which was very unpleasant. The weight plateau me being stuck at was 220 lbs / 99 kg. I was not able to do down to anymore. I was very mad at the fact that I wasn't losing weight any longer. Then I decided to do some research on the internet. I came across a lot of information, stating that it had to do with my diet and also the need for me to change my workout / exercise  and routine. The only workout / exercise I had at the moment was walking, my routine for that was everyday. I was on the verge on giving up. Till I spoke to a few of my buddies of mine off Facebook that have more experience than me. I asked them for a few workout / exercise routines. I told them I would usually walk, one friend told me to switch it up, meaning add something to my workout / exercise: sprint for 10 seconds and walk for a few minutes, max minutes to walk 3 to 5, then sprint again for 10 seconds. Then another friend suggest the old trick in the book, jump rope. The jump rope works out your entire body. Truth is, I said to myself, "It doesn't hurt to give it a try right?" I would do what my friends suggested. An entire hour I would sprint and walk. Then after being done with that I would switch it up to jump rope. (Not using a jump rope in a long time, last time I recall using it when I was a child in elementary school. This time around using the jump rope was definitely a work out for me.) The main course as always, the food, they would tell me eat more fruits and veggies. I did it! I broke my weight plateau slowly but surely, even though it would frustrate me losing the weight very slowly. (The other reason why I would get stuck in a weight plateau due to the fact that my body was adapting to that weight.) After a few months of working out hard, over working out, and especially eating more fruits and veggies, it finally worked completely. My weight completely changed being at 225 lbs / 102 kg onto 205 lbs / 92 kg.

The Intermediate Process...

After six months straight attending the gym, even though their where times I was tired and / or busy. I would still manage to find time for me to attend the gym. During that time frame I decided to take supplements. I didn't know much about them. I decided to go to the mall and go inside this store by the name of GNC: www.gnc.com  Then of course I spoke to a gentlemen that worked at that store. In all honesty I could tell he is a bodybuilder and professional at his employment. I knew for a fact he had years of experience. I asked him a few questions and I did get the answers I was looking for, which I indeed I was very happy about. I bought a few supplements and vitamin products. In between those six months I did try a few supplements to help me out with my weight loss to get lean. Some supplements did work and some of them didn't. How could I tell if a supplement would help or didn't help? In two weeks I would see a difference. I did try one but it was not helping at all. Till I found the one supplement that worked for me: GNC Pro Performance® AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60™ - Vanilla. I would use this supplement from time to time, either that I would drink it frequently. It depended on what kind of works outs / exercises I would do for that certain day. I would continually workout / exercise if I did or didn't have my supplements. I made sure I had vitamins. Truth is vitamins are very important for the body. After all that hard work in the gym, I realized I lost a lot of weight when I weighted myself on at the gyms digital scale. (Truth is since I saw myself every day I didn't notice the difference when I saw myself only in the difference of size in the jeans I would wear. Also relatives and friends that haven't seen me in a long time; they notice that I did lose weight.) The numbers that came up on the digital scale I was very amazed and below are two pictures of me weighing at 245 lbs / 111 kg. 

                  

The Starting Process...

After weighing myself in the digital scale knowing very well that I weighted 290 lbs / 131 kg. I decided that for a week up to two weeks I would explore and figure out what each individual equipment would function; for what part of the body. (Me being a newbie at the gym) After those two weeks, I finally knew what equipment worked what part of the body and what I would use to benefit my health. I decided to start doing 1 hour of cardio using the treadmill, walking at a high incline, like if I was hiking. Then after that one hour of cardio, I would do the free weights. I started off with bench press then later the leg press. Now on the free weights I would do two to three hours. Every other day I would do the same thing. Till one day this guy came up to me. Told me if you wanna get skinny all you have to do is use the cardio machines. If you want to get fit do a bit of cardio and a lot of free weights. I told him that I want to get fit. He goes, "I notice you are working the same body parts over and over again. Switch up your work outs every day. If you are doing the same work outs you are tearing your muscles over and over again and you won't see any gains of muscles."  I must admit I was not disappointed when he asked me a few questions. In fact I was very glad that he notice what I did around the gym and gave me advice. Ever since he told me to switch up my work outs I decided to search on the web for a few things. I remember coming across this one site and every since then I frequently visit this site a lot: www.bodybuilding.com I found a few interesting workouts that I decided to try. Then from this point on I ended up going the gym Monday - Saturday (6 days a week) and work out three to four hours everyday. Sundays, rest days. Here (below) is another picture of me at 290 lbs / 131 kg. 

The Beginning...

Approximately three to four years ago I was obese (overweight). Due to the economies financial problems, I became one unemployed. Ever since then once being unemployed everyone does what they have to do, which is search for employment. While I was seeking for employment, I decided to do something for myself, which is become healthy. The reason for me that I decided to change my health around was because I could no longer sleep in bed laying down. I had to literary sleep on the couch but sitting down. I did that for three months straight. Till one day my ex brother in law since he was working during that time, he decided to sign up for a gym membership. Of course my ex brother in law decided to ask me if I wanted to join the gym, I simply told him it would be great but I have no income. He came up with an option, he stated that he would pay the gym membership for me as long as I became his workout partner. I thought about the idea for a few minutes and I gave him the answer, which was, "Yes, we have a deal!" On Thursday evening we found the nearest gym and signed up for the membership (24 HR Fitness). Then on Friday night we decided to start going to the gym. When I enter the gym, I was amazed. Didn't know exactly where to start. In my whole entire life never been in a gym, basically a facility with all these various kinds of equipment to work your whole entire body. 

I felt a bit confused because didn't know where to start. I've seen the treadmills before, I knew about them. Didn't know about the other rest of the equipment, me seeing that was very new to me. What I decided to do first was check my weight. I never knew how much I would weight. I stepped on to the digital weight scale, then a few seconds my weight pops ups: 290 lbs / 131 kg. When I saw that number pop up on the digital scale all I could do was nod my head down. Then I stated to myself, "How did I ever let this happen to me? I thought I was 200 lbs / 91 kg." As you can tell I thought wrong. I had no idea how I let myself get obese (overweight). Here (below) is a picture of me weighing at 290 lbs / 131 kg.