Ominay

Thank you to everyone who has replied! I've made some positive changes that I'm very proud of. Doing full 5x5 for all the exercises and have even started adding weight to the barbell! Yay! I've dropped soda completely except for allowing myself one on Friday if I make it through the week. Amazingly, once Friday rolls around, I usually don't even want one. For September, I've bumped up my calorie intake to 1700, but the sad fact is, I am still wasted for two plus days after doing a lifting workout. I'm looking into getting some sort of protien shake to have just on those hard workout days to see if it helps at all. Having a hard time with that because I can't have whey (dairy allergy) and soy is out of the question. From the time I originally posted this to now, I have seen changes in my body comp. My first pair of goal pants now fit on my hips. I'm all about the non-scale victories. I'm excited to get them zipped by the end of September/October.

Ivan! Ha! Thanks for pointing that out. I definitely don't do all four in one day, but my wording certainly makes it look as though I do. I'm following the barbell battalion worksheet from the NF guide. Only five reps per set, but heavy (for me) separated into two workouts as you suggested. Started out only being able to hit three sets, but I'm working up to the five listed in the guide. Supposed to do it on Monday, Tuesday then Thursday, Friday. Right now I'm thinking maybe backing down to Tuesday and Thursday and just doing different cardio on the other days? I'd love to lift EVERY day. Love the way it feels, but I think I need to limit myself until I can adjust. It's aggravating because I want to just dive in and do it ALL.

Thanks for the reply! While I would love to workout early morning, because of carpooling etc I have to go after work. Get done about 6:30, go to bed around 9:30-10:00. I've never been a very good sleeper, but it seems to be much worse than normal. I am not a total newb, I was doing the body weight circuit, using some resistance bands and walking 2 miles several days a week. But lifting a barbell is a whole new game. I love it! Calories. Oh the struggle. I've been eating about 1200 for a while, but when I started this, I bumped them up to 1500. "Mostly" Paleo, no dairy (allergy), not perfect, but much better than before.

Hi! I'm very overweight. 5'8" 300lb Female. I've joined a gym and jumped into the Barbell Battalion. I am slowly working my way up to being able to do 5 full sets of each. Right now Ive worked up to the following: 3 sets of push presses with the bar only. 5 sets of body weight squats and a 10lb dumbbell 5 sets of very modified pull ups on the Smith 5 sets of dead lifts with the bar only Thing is, I am completely EXHAUSTED! And not just after the workout. I only went twice last week (partially because I was ridiculously sore, but also because I was so tired) You would think I would fall into head and delve into some delicious, restful sleep, but I've only been able to dose on and off. I'm having a hard time concentrating at work and just being in a good mood in general. The endorphins from the exercise are awesome, but once they wear off, I crash and feel awful. Anyone else experience this? Am I just pushing my very overweight self too hard? Do I need to just focus on two days a week and work up to the four? Any suggestions will be most welcome.

I pop in the headphones and don't make eye contact with anyone. I am there to stay so they can just get used to it! Haven't been thrown out for stealing the barbell off the bench press to do push presses or using the smith machine for modified pull ups, yet. And my workouts are hard and fast. So I'm pretty happy. My original post wasn't that I was discouraged, but incredulous and I wanted to hear others "smack your head" stories, but thank you all!

Have you checked out guys swimming trunks? They actually have some really cute ones now that men are free to wear pink and other colors that used to be considered feminine. I have an adorable black one piece swimsuit that I wear with black swimming trunks. (I wear a lot of black) planning to maybe get some hot pink ones if I get to swim more this summer. I like to feel comfortable and walking around in underwear just doesn't do it for me ;P

I joined a gym. I know that's not always advised, but although I've been doing body weight exercises at home, I thought that I may be more consistent if I were putting money into it. I picked one that was most convenient to my workplace and went in for a visit. In retrospect, perhaps I should have run screaming from the building instead of joining, but I didn't. The buff personal trainer/sales person took me around to the different machines. Pointed out that the thigh abductor is only for women (what?) and then proceeded to inform me that I need to shoot for 24 reps on each machine at a very light weight- also, because I'm a woman. I finished the tour and I'm hoping that I will be able to work out in peace from now on. Has anyone else every had an awkward, WTH moment in a gym?

Thank you to everyone who has posted so far. It is really an encouragement to know that I am not alone.

Thank you JoeDog! That is fantastic! Way to go! I really enjoy being able to blast my emotions into a punching bag. It has saved me several binges in the past couple months. I am planning to join a kickboxing class as a weightloss reward down the road. Keep up the great work!

I love seeing success stories posted all over NF. It is inspiring no matter what the starting weight! Even the smallest victory is a victory to be praised! However, I am getting a little discouraged that I can't find anyone who is anywhere near my level of (un)fitness. Even in the weight loss category... So I am posting here in hopes of finding someone else who has found themselves in a similar position, hiding in a suit of fat and unable to recognize themselves in the mirror. Here is a little about me and some stats. I have been obese since I was 5 years old. I am an emotional eater. I binge. I struggle with depression. I feed my emotions. It's sad. And it needs to stop! Age: 26 Height: 5"8' Weight: 300 BMI:45.61 I have a punching bag, some resistance bands and an elliptical in my basement and I've joined a gym to have close access to more free weights and other workout equipment. I am so thankful for the encouragement and awesomeness provided by Steve and NF. I am making progress and would love to hear from anyone else about their journey.

I've been working out on my own at home, but it's hard to stay motivated all the time. Today, I joined a gym hoping that will give me an extra kick in the pants (plus access to a multitude of free weights!!!) I would really like to have a workout buddy in the area who would meet occasionally (often) for workouts and check ins.

I totally heart Tiffany Rothe! I use her for my 10 minutes of cardio after lifting and also sometimes on my 'non-lift' days. She is fun. Her movements are fluid and I always feel so much more graceful after completing one of her workouts. In a world where most cardio type fitness videos are mostly grapevines and kicks, she is a refreshing change.

Try a google search for "sock bun". I had lower back length, mid to fine hair and I loved it! You basically pull your hair up into a sturdy ponytail and then roll the length of the hair up in a sock (with the toe cut out, rolled up like a donut). I used a thin dress sock because I had so much hair it was a huge bun by the time I got it all rolled up.