Congratulations!!! You have taken a huge step toward living a healthy lifestyle.  I applaude you for that. Although I myself have not had to lose a large amount of weight...my daughter has. And in the last 1 1/2 years she has lost 140 lbs. by changing her lifestyle. That's what it takes.....is a lifestyle change. It is not just a diet but a different way of looking at  and living life. You can do this. I'm proud of you for taking this first initial step. You will find much help on this forum from dozens of great men and women. Stay connected to this forum as much as you can for daily support. All the best!!!!!

About that whole lifestyle-change thing ... you will discover that it's true, and discover that your lifestyle has changed, but don't stress out about it at the beginning. All you have to do at the beginning is to follow the program, and the lifestyle change will follow.

Four years ago I smoked and was a couch potato. My wife started running, and I started that program with her for absolutely no reason other than to keep her company and do something together. I didn't plan on losing weight, and I sure wasn't thinking about a lifestyle change. I don't even like hokey terms like "Lifestyle Change." But surprise! ....... The last run we did last year was an ultra-marathon, 11 hours straight, on a rugged hill trail. And taekwondo lessons 3 times a week. Total lifestyle change, but going into it ... I had no intention to change my lifestyle at all. Just to hang out on what started as a very mild, low-intensity, running program. Just following a program baby-step by baby-step.

Right now, I'm doing BFL now because I had emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix ... I actually don't recommend extreme-sport running for good health or weight loss. BFL is better for health.

So don't get stressed or confused when people talk about a lifestyle change. You don't have to figure that out in advance, and it doesn't mean that the program started out easy for people who miraculously changed their lives on day one. But the mental stuff does eventually follow the physical, and that's the point when things get easier. And a lot of this stuff actually becomes fun, although I realize that it's probably impossible to see at day one. You've got to keep the faith for a while and not expect instant changes.

Edit - I should mention that I'm 44; all this started when I was 40. It can be done.

I'm 47:) I just want to say that it must be obvious to anyone who reads your post that you clearly have everything you need to succeed and will no doubt be an inspiration to others! Thanks for posting---you're optimist attitude has already inspired me!

Thank you so much for your feedback! I also love your quote, how true! I will keep posting updates as I go along as this will help keep me accoutable as I tend to fade out and quit after a while. Tell your daughter GREAT JOB!! Thanks again!

I am 52 now and will be 53 when my first challenge ends in August.  I've lost and gained 100 pounds countless times over the years and it has done some damage to my metabolism.  I know the formula is eat less, move more; I know that apathy is the door and exercise is the key.  I know what to do and how to do it, it's the maintaining at the end that I have issues with, and I will deal with that when the time comes.  

I did cardio for my first day by walking the track at Relay For Life in Fairbanks.  You see, both my husband and I are cancer survivors and this year was my 10th re-birthday in May and his 10th in June.  As I walked wearing the purple survivor shirt, I remembered those that have gone on and those that remain.  I didn't walk last year, because I couldn't move around so well and I was ashamed of the way I looked. This year I was "bold" and went anyway!

Tonight on day two, I lifted weights for the first time in 30 years! I was married to a bodybuilder (for it seemed about 5 minutes, but it was way too long.. lol) and learned a lot from him about lifting properly.  I had forgotten how GOOD it feels to lift weights!!  It all came back to me as I was lifting.  I started out with lighter weights (12 reps with 3 lbs, 8 reps with 3 lbs, 4 reps with 5 lbs), because I am starting over of course and really wasn't sure about doing this at all, but have heavier weights on my list for the next time we go in to town. I'm way to big for the weight bench we have, so I tossed a yoga mat on my massive solid oak coffee table and it doubled as my bench! I dug around in my closets and drawers and found the bands I bought a loooong time ago, the yoga mat, the exercise body balls, and even found some VHS tapes of Richard Simmons "Sweatin' To The Oldies" so you know how long it's been since I've exercised!!  I think I will put those out for yard sale and get something new for those days that I can't go outside and walk....

It's time for my EAS chocolate fudge shake and then bed.  Brightest Blessings to you all!! Thanks for the encouragement!!

NorthWytch, Wow Great story and I applaud you for being bold enough to post your pics right from the start.. Most of us don't "myself included" when i first come on to the BFL forums.. You made a great choice and came to an even greater place to share your trials and tribulations. Surrounding yourself with like minded people just ups your chances of success even more. I look at "Lifestyle change" as a reforming of habits replacing the bad habits with good ones It's a really tough cycle to break but once the new habits have formed things will get easier and better.. You got this and I will be looking forward to hearing about your progress aloha :)

Aloha Island_dude!  Thank you so much for your words of wisdom! Now, how do I workout with weights and no be so flamin' ouchy the next day? LOL! I must have done something right, because wowza! everything was sore until I did a little stretching and then was okay.  I sit for my job as a medical transcriptionist and I got "reminders" every time I reached for a reference book or got up to get water. It was so COOL!!! I was sore because I worked out!!

Tonight was cardio again so I took a walk around the block (about 0.5 mile) and it took me about 15 minutes to do that, which is pretty good considering I am moving almost 340 pounds around and haven't done any exercise in years.  The only issue I had today was "making" myself go outside and walk... It was weird, it was like I was trying to talk myself out of it... maybe my sneakers won't fit, my jacket won't zip up, what if someone sees me, it might rain.  I finally had to tell myself out loud, "Just get out there and walk, it's okay!" And it WAS okay!  Well, except for the skeeters trying to have dinner on me, literally!  But, this is Alaska and it is summer, tis to be expected.  I will be sure to wear repellent next time.

I totally agree with the lifestyle change philosophy you have.  I go by the Rule of Three.  If I do something for three weeks, it becomes part of my lifestyle.  I am replacing a lot of bad habits with good ones and I realize it is going to take time.... a LOT of time, but I am three days ahead of the game right now!

I've finished my first week!! Yay me!! I was a little nervous getting on the scale, but could tell by the way I was feeling and how much easier it is to move around that I'd lost weight, but wholly moley!! I LOST 9 POUNDS!! Seriously??!!?? Over a pound a day and I wasn't hungry once! I actually feel like I've eaten more than ever, but it was good-for-me quality food, real food, not processed, not just carbs (my true weakness), and I also cut out ALL the sugar that I was able to.

I walked a 0.5 mile the first cardio day and it took me 15 minutes, was sweatin up a storm for quite a while after.  The next cardio day, I did laundry and cleaned house without stopping for 2 hours.  For me to be on my feet for that long is a real change from what was "normal" in the past.  The next cardio day, I walked 1.18 mile in 30 minutes. I got a tired toward the end, but counted my step in series of 8's and that helped keep me occupied until reaching home.  I then proceeded to sweat out the 18 glasses of water I've been drinking every day!! LOL!!  The next cardio day, as my wonderfully understanding and encouraging husband was home, we went for a long walk around town, about 1.5 to 2 miles in 45 minutes. Today was also a cardio day and I sweated over my garden beds and boxes, and washers.... that's right, garden washers!  I've got two old fashioned wringer washers in my side yard that I've planted flowers in... too cute! I also swept off the deck, moved the picnic table and benches, and washed down the deck. I was working hard and steadily for about 3 hours out there and sweated, so I count that as good cardio.

I wrote an essay for a work contest a couple weeks ago and received a $25 gift card.  With my bounty, I went to Sport's Authority and bought heavier weights.  I had 3 lb. and 5 lb. weights, now I have 8lb., and 10lb., weights to do lifting with, and lifting gloves to protect my soft hands.  I helped out a young fella who was looking at the gloves and didn't know how to choose.  I remembered what I learned when I bought my first pair of lifting gloves 30 years ago.  He was really nice and actually listened to what I had to say, followed my advice, and bought a pair of gloves!  Hmmmm... perhaps they need help in the store and I could get an employee discount?  I also poked around the store looking at various torture machines, I mean workout machines.. lol.  There are a lot of things out there!!  It's all about choice, I suppose.  There was way more to my adventure in the sporting goods store... putting the manager in the question box, for one, but that will have to wait for another day.  It's time for my EAS shake (vanilla tonight, whoohoo!!) and some much needed sleep!

YAY!!!!  good for YOU!  I love your positive attitude and reading your posts.  Very inspiring!   I found that once I got through the first 3 weeks, I wasn't turning back.  Lots of blood sweat and tears in those initial weeks!   whew!!  Great support here, keep posting!