BrakusJS

Newest batch of progress photos. 7/8/2016: 222 lbs. 8/8/2016: 215 lbs. I'm still on level 3 gym, but I'm right about to graduate from 40 lb dumbbells and going up to 45 very shortly. I've also modified the number of reps and going 10 reps of each exercise instead of 5, according to some advice I've gotten from a few Facebook friends and a few suggestions from the Facebook men's forum. I can do 8 unassisted chin-ups and do a 20-second bar hang, but that's not enough to defeat Thunderlord Oversquat yet. I'm working to take care of my mental health this month. I recently had some personal events happen to me in my life over the past couple weeks, and I really felt at times on edge, depressed, angry, and happy. I've had some mood swings, and I started to feel like I'm scaring some of the people I love. So I've been using an online therapist for a while, and I'm seeing a psychologist tomorrow afternoon to get some additional insight and help in getting myself back to a sound mind to go with my sound body. And as anyone who knows Soul Eater knows, "A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and sound body." I hope to make more progress by the time September 8 rolls around- by then I should be well under 210 lbs. Wish me luck, and thanks for your support.

I have posted in the Men's Facebook group and the LGBTQIA Facebook group, and I'd like to post here so I can get some of your insight. So - yesterday, while on Facebook, I noticed one of the friends I'm following has posted some of his pictures of his upcoming cosplay. In this case, it was Hot Ryu (Bearded Ryu) from Street Fighter V. ( Link to photo. ) And for some reason, instead of complimenting him for his look, I started feeling very insecure and jealous. I felt like, "What if I still don't get the body I want after I hit 200 lbs, or even 180 lbs? I mean, sure, I'll have lower blood pressure and a lower risk of heart disease, but so what if I will never get the body I want?" I think I might have always had body image issues, even before I joined the rebellion. I always felt more drawn to people who were bulkier and/or more muscular than I was. And then I start feeling wistful and helpless. I've tried to put those feelings out of my mind whenever that happens, and for the most part it seems to work. But I just felt like that picture was the trigger that send me filled with feelings of despair again. I don't want a body like Brad Pitt. I don't even want to have the body like the guy whose photo I linked to. I just want to look good naked, or at least pull off convincing cosplay of some of my favorite characters in anime and video games. I just want to be reassured that I'm doing the right things.

Yeah, I'm working on getting that belly down. Don't mind the "man boobs" too much since they are hiding my pecs which will eventually come out. But I didn't notice the back until you pointed them out to me! So I guess I am making some credible progress. I am really wanting to get rid of the spare tire (the belly) for the longest time. I know there are abs hiding underneath, and depending on my angle I can see them starting to come out, but I just want to get rid of that spare tire. I know it will happen with time. Again, at least I'm showing measurable, credible progress so far. Thanks for the encouragement.

So, it's been one month since I officially joined the Nerd Fitness Rebellion. I've joined the Academy and I have re-incorporated lifting weights in my workouts. Mind you, I've been losing weight since I got the mandate from my doctor in March to start losing weight again. In March I was weighing 260 lbs. Here's a link to some progress photos. 6/8/2016: 234 lbs 7/8/2016: 222 lbs I'll be taking more measurements shortly. I just leveled up to Level 3 and already I'm lifiting 40-45 lb dumbbells. Can't quite do an unassisted pullup yet. But I like my progress and feel happier with the strength, stamina, and energy I gained from the pounds lost. Here's hoping for more progress over the next month -- hopefully down to 210 lbs in a month's time!

Hi everybody! I just joined the academy a couple days ago, and I figure this will kickstart the health boost that I need. Three months ago I was at 260 and decided that I needed to get that weight down once and for all -- after trying and failing many times before. After getting a clean bill of health from my doctor, and enlisting the help of a dietician, I've brought my weight down to around 235 lbs. I want to see about getting that number down to at least 200, ideally by the end of September/beginning of October 2016. Basically my big why is this: I refuse to become another health statistic. I've seen friends (and some of their friends) drop dead at relatively young ages, simply because they didn't take charge of their health. I am not going to die at age 42 - I feel like I have at least another 40-50 years ahead of me. I want to live to have the body I've always wanted - big, strong, powerful, sexy, amazing. I don't care how long it takes, but as long as I feel confident in my health, I am confident that I can make this change happen with my body. I hope I can get friends to come along with me for the ride.