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 By: Marcus Smith
If you're reading this article then I'm sure you want to make changes to your body. You wouldn't be here otherwise. Most of my life I've been overweight. I was never dangerously overweight but I was way too fat by my own standards. When I made the decision to change my life my waist size was 40 inches, I was 25% body fat, and any shirt I wore was at least a size 2XL.
  Click Image To Enlarge.Most Of My Life I've Been Overweight. Early in September of 2005 I decided to make changes in my life. The deciding moment came when I saw my belly moving as I brushed my teeth. Enough was enough! I was tired of being fat, disappointed with my lack of strength, and hungry for a better body. In order to reach my goals I needed to do a complete 180 degree turn with my lifestyle.
My eating habits were horrible. My diet consisted of 100% unhealthy garbage. These days I look back on my old habits and realize just how poorly I treated my body. Every day I ate something from this list:
Exercising was the farthest thing from my mind. I'd tried it before and it just didn't seem to work for me. Besides I had more important things to do. My schedule was already filled with a 9-5 job, hours watching TV, more hours playing video games, poking around on the internet, and goofing off to pay any real attention to my body.
My thinking was simple: I simply do not have the time to manage my weight. So like millions of others I went to the only place I could for information... Television. There were plenty of people offering me easy solutions to my problem. At one time or another I was tempted to buy home aerobics videos, ab swings, miracle crunchers, lounges, cups, and everything else under the sun. My eyes would glaze over when I saw an ad for "eye popping abs." My heart rate would speed up and I'd immediately grab my debit card. More often than not I'd come to my senses and put the card down.
The announcer seemed to be speaking to my innermost desires. The questions evoked all my strongest emotions. Eventually, I fell powerless.
The hypnotic flow of the interview put me in a trance. I'd nod my head and answer each question with a yes. I was being led along right into the trap. Just as that familiar feeling of doubt crept in I was finished off with an up close and personal view of rock solid abs doused in baby oil. I was hooked! Out came the debit card.
$90 dollars, 1 piece of useless machinery, and a starvation diet later I realized that I had been suckered into wasting my time. Apparently I wasn't going to shed that spare tire by following any miracles.
I decided to reach out to a personal trainer. He was fit and had already traveled the path I so desperately wanted to follow. Lifting weights wasn't entirely new to me so I wasn't intimidated at all. Unsuspecting and unprepared I paraded into the gym to begin my new life. Mentally I was prepared. I just wish my body was as ready as my mind. Personal Trainer Articles: 60 minutes later my sweaty back was pressed against the gym wall. Every conceivable muscle in my body was on fire. My arms and legs were frozen stiff with pain. To make matters worse I still had to pay the trainer for putting me through h*ll. I forked over the $35 and trudged out to my car. Pain flashed through my body again as I took the driver's seat. I hurt so bad that I couldn't even start the car. 20 minutes later I psyched myself up enough to start the vehicle and drive home. That day in September was the most painful day in my life. I hated the trainer and myself equally. I hated him for putting me through the pain and myself for getting so terribly out of shape. Even though I was hurting the thought of quitting was never an option.
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Hated The Trainer And Myself Equally. Looking into that bathroom mirror pushed me to places I'd never been before. Muscle pain couldn't outweigh the disgust I felt. A month into the program my body began to develop a tolerance. What was once h*ll became heaven. My hunger for the gym grew as my muscles began to bulge. My workouts were going great but my weight was going in the wrong direction. I was gaining weight because I totally disregarded my diet.
At the time eating 5-6 healthy meals a day seemed so hard. I started with the common excuses:
I continued to plug away doing things my own way. The pounds kept packing on. Time was wasting away so I did the only thing I could... I caved and began to eat 5-6 healthy meals a day. My eating style went from pathetic, unhealthy, and tiring to lean, healthy, and energetic. Meals with fried chicken and ice cream died a slow and painful death. The new staples were:
The weight began to peel off. Soon I was shedding 7-10 lbs a month! Between November 2006 and May 2007 I went from 252 lbs to 205 lbs by following the old fashion formula. Tax the body with weights, eat correctly, and perform cardio 2-3 times a week.
 Click Image To Enlarge.The Weight Began To Peel Off.
My attitude changed as my waistline got smaller. As I lost weight I realized just how much control I have over my weight (and my life). I've seen how unhealthy habits lead to a lifestyle of being overweight, discontent, and unhappy.
 Click Image To Enlarge.My Attitude Changed As My Waistline Got Smaller. I'm proud to say that part of my life is over and done with. I've moved on to being happy, healthy, and in full control of the things that happen to me. The same is available to you. All you have to do is stay focused, do what's required of you, and reap all the benefits.
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