This is just a conclusion of what I have learned in the last year and a half, but more importantly the ongoing weight loss since last Oct. This basically marks the anniversary and I am quite astonished by the wealth of info I have learned and applied to get to my goal and push myself beyond. I hope someone can benefit from this.

Methods: There are countless methods of losing weight but each has its ups and downs. You need to research the ins and outs for the after effects and to know why you will lose weight. Some fast diets make you lose more water than anything else, go off a week and up 10 pounds you go, what a waste. I have tried a few and dropped a few, due to my ignorance about dieting, and what my goals were. No quick fix is acceptable, only the long steady weight loss is ideal, not fast water removal diets.

Nutrition: My god the info here is outstanding, from EFA's (essential fatty acids) to metabolic regulation, from joint care to post workout recovery and feeding. Took me a year to know SOME things about nutrition and how to lose weight efficiently while keeping mass on, calorie consumption was fun to learn and it's effect on your quest for weight loss, Carbs were also mystical at one time and the effects on the body are nothing but amazing, from making you hold water, recovery, strength, etc. Take the time to read, nutrition is the key, no use doing an hour of cardio burning 800 cals if you consume more than you burn and eating in the night.

Nutrient Timing: Oh did I have a lot to learn about this! Post workout nutrition and recovery, morning carb meal, protein requirements and consumption, there's always an ideal time to ingest food or protein carbs fats etc, just important as the combination of which you ingest them and the amounts. Never thought I would take Fats (healthy) as a supplement, nor did I realize the benefits.

Training: At first losing weight and gaining muscle was easy, cutting junk food out did a lot, then selective foods, and times at which you eat them. As I learned out more the battle was approaching, the body became resilient (sp) and I became discouraged, but though perseverance and great determination I learned to manipulate the body, adjust my diet and training as well as my outlook on weight loss to break plateaus and eventually set a new goal to strive for at different points of the year.

Weight: First I want to say screw the scales, use a body fat caliper, digital camera photo, or a measuring tape, weight fluctuates all the time from the food we eat, how much, when, frequency, undigested food, sweating, hydration, o.k. you get the point. I can do a low carb diet for 5 days and lose probably 7-10lbs, did I lose fat? No water, never count the first two weeks, when excess water is removed and you are continually losing inches or looking leaner you are losing fat. Water can go in a few days and be put back on in a few hours. Screw the scales. PERIOD.

What others think: To some you may become an inspiration, a role model because of your continued success. Eventually, some of us get into the sport, live it , breathe it and it no longer becomes a goal to get fit, now it's to look a certain way and improve ones physical frame. What I have experienced is that some people are bothered by the fact some of us do crazy things in their eyes to attain our goals. Some say were just outright nuts, or as far as conceited. Although it's not necessarily true, some of us do take our sport or quest too far and others begin to get annoyed. Some are very supportive and make no comments at all, other keep it to themselves when we talk of our success, but nobody wants to be labeled as acting conceited, it's just stubborn pride I think, and we just have to let go of the gym talk and board discussions and tone it down. People act weird when it comes to another person bettering themselves, if it's bodybuilding, losing a lot of weight, financial success, etc.

Cutting it short now, god I can write all day on this topic, main things I have learned was to learn everything you can, question things that don't seem to add up and get others opinions on something, and don't let it consume you no matter how much you love it.

Gibson

About the Author

Gibson has been a member of the HWs Bodybuilding message board for several years, and has battled with losing weight, all the while listening to others and learning from his own experiences.