Hi there guys. My name is Jamie and I'm 26 years old. I'm about 179cm tall and between 100-110kg (honestly not too sure, haven't got scales). I do very physical work (working in a warehouse, lugging furniture all day) and, while I do try to watch what I eat, nobody's perfect. Generally, I don't eat breakfast in the morning so I'm guessing that would explain why when I finally do sit down to eat, I'm ravenous. I've already taken a few steps towards a better me, but I'm still missing something I suppose.
Unfortunately, I was not blessed with two things - a fast metabolism and an overabundance of self control. Whenever somebody at work goes out to get something for lunch, be it Subway, KFC, even just going over to the local bakery, I always get something. I'm trying my best to stop doing that, not only because of my weight but because it's really bloody expensive. As unloading trucks, putting away furniture, carrying mattresses and moving consistently keeps me active, the downside is that when I get home I'm generally too tired to prepare a meal or exercise, or do much of anything honestly. Due to this, I live a fairly sedentary life. I don't exercise, and when I eat, it's not when I should, or what I should.
I am trying to change, because I know if I don't, I'll continue to be unhappy. I see the people that I'm friends with going out all day, starting new relationships, hell, even just going out and doing things together, but my weight has kept me from doing these things. I've never had a problem with confidence (or at least, giving people the impression that I'm confident), but I know I've got very low self-esteem and I think that losing a lot of the weight I carry would help change things. I understand that there's no "magic bullet" when it comes to weight loss, but I'm trying.
The steps that I've initiated so far:
1) Cut down severely with the energy drinks (at one point I was drinking two or three cans of Monster/Red Bull a day - full of sugar, caffeine and god knows what else. I normally have one in the morning now, but trying to kick that habit completely).
2) Trying to stop snacking during the day on bad foods (chocolate bars, chips, easily accessible junk food).
3) Started drinking a LOT of water instead of the aforementioned energy drinks (some days, especially in the past few weeks with the sweltering heat, I've been drinking upwards of 5-6 litres a day. Big difference considering two months ago the only water I was consuming was in the food/drink that I was putting away).
4) Cutting down on my smoking. I was smoking at least 25 16mg smokes a day about two months ago, and while obviously it's still a bad thing, I've cut down significantly from that. When I'm at work, I'll generally have less than 6 a day, with 4 or 5 at night.
I have a few questions, and I figure the first one will be the most controversial so I'll get it out of the way.
1) I'm guessing you guys have heard of (and seen the ads for) QuickSlim. For those of you that haven't, it's apparently a "snacking alternative" that works by introducing a superfibre that expands in the stomach and makes you feel full, so you don't eat as much. Or, I suppose, can't eat as much. I've heard several different things concerning it, some people raving on about it being a godsend and helping them lose so much weight, but others saying that it's just a fad, and it's actually not good for you. Any thoughts or ideas on it would be greatly appreciated. Would it be worth incorporating something like that into my daily routine to help curb my appetite?
2) Is it actually dangerous to consume as much water as I have been lately? I know the human body is something like 70% water, but sometimes I just feel like it's not a good idea to drink as much as I have been. In the past three to five hours, I've consumed about 4 litres of water.
3) I know that, as I've said before, I work in an extremely physical environment, but despite this I'm assuming it would be a good idea to start doing some exercise in the morning before I actually go to work. Are there any particular exercises that help to increase weight loss? I am, quite honestly, a noob when it comes to fitness and health. I don't own any exercise equipment or have any idea about exercise, so be gentle with me haha.
If I think of any more questions, or you guys would like to ask me a few in return, then I'd be more than happy to oblige. Also, if I'm missing anything absolutely vital (wouldn't surprise me, I am extremely new at this), then by all means let me know.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about myself at length. Sometimes that helps I suppose, just being able to put down your thoughts and ideas so other people can interpret them.