Revamping my strategy

Hey all, I'm trying to revamp getting back in shape. Other than workout partners and room for a home gym, I have nearly anything I could want at my disposal to make things happen (income/access to stuff). One of my big problems is I continuously make big plans that crash before they become a habit, so I'm hoping you guys can help gauge the reality of my next plan.

Plan:

1. Drop the gym and the personal trainer since they are doing nothing for me
2. Start using the gym at work. We have some weights, ellipticals/bikes, and a weight bench (no bar). I have a list of exercise that was working for a few weeks until I got sick for a month and fell off the wagon
3. I would like to get some sort of workout thing for home that I can use in the evenings for when I miss an exercise, or when I'm just watching TV, or during the months that it is dark, rainy, and cold (my friend suggested a Bowflex Max Trainer? I don't have much room at home to store something big, and that is supposed to be small)
4. I'd like to bike to work a few days (because I think it just makes sense - I already have to get there and back), and it's just now staying light enough at night again. My only fear is that I use a big heavy mountain bike
5. set a timer to drink water
6. I really need to implement some sort of diet thing, but meal planning is my greatest life hurdle.

Can you guys give me an idea of what I'm about to do wrong, or maybe a path to take? Sometimes my plans are really ambitious.
I know that food plays a big role, and it's my greatest issue. Whenever I try to tackle it, there's always some bizarre recipes, pills, specialty buy-a-meals, or plans. Is it impossible to have normal food that I can make in a normal kitchen?? Can't I make a plain PBJ sandwich without needing hummus or cactus pear jelly bought from a hippy?

What's the smart way of getting all of this rolling?

 

Below is about all that stats on me I could think of, in case that matters. Yes, I write a lot.


My stats:

• single
• 35 years old
• 250 lbs
• Computer programmer, 8 - 5pm, so lots of sitting on the job. Work is 11 miles by bicycle if I was to do it.

Here's a picture of me from November (and of course I have to be doing something dorky )

My disposition:

• I grew up being outdoorsy and athletic, but nothing formal - just active. I played sports in school, like basketball.
• I am not afraid of strenuous workouts, though I have a habit of going too far and getting dehydrated trying to achieve what I think the coach is wanting, or what I'm expecting from myself
• I'm a 'people pleaser', so I have a hard time going to a gym on my own unless there's someone there. I'm not going to show off, I'm going because I would be letting that person down/they are expecting my presence
• I've done fun runs like the Warrior Dash, etc.
• I really hate cooking. I'm not totally helpless in the kitchen, I just draw a blank when it comes time to make something, and I hate wasting time making stuff
• I eat poorly because "I'm too busy", "I'm too tired", "I don't want to think about it."
• I do not eat fish
• When I'm at work, I like to walk around and deal with people in person, but I have a hard time getting up from my desk to eat something because I don't think about it. My water consumption is fairly low.
• I feel very self-conscious about it and it's hard to admit, but I can get lonely easily, which can lead me to eating out as a means for social connection.

 

First and foremost is to change your eating habits imo. I see that you are already aware of this and that it's much of the battle.
The types of food we consume are paramount in the quest for a healthier life. Substitute an Apple instead of chips, kick a cup of yogurt's ass instead of sweets and go kick a hippy in the yam sack for fun.

I would also push cardio up on your list and weight lifting secondary to it.
Look into a machine such as the Maxx Trainer by Bowflex, an ass kicker for sure and sparing 14 minutes a day is easy.
Strengthen your core and the rest will follow.
Don't get discouraged and do it for yourself.
The best of luck.

 

I am actually in pretty good shape, but I put on 12lbs over the holidays when I was off work for 6 weeks. I am getting up there in years (almost 43) and it is getting harder to lose weight. I too sit in front of a computer all day. Several overweight guys at work got fitness trackers and they started to lose a lot of weight just by walking the 10,000 steps a day. I normally jog about 4 miles 5 times a week when it is warmer but I stop during the winter days lights saving time I don't do anything. And I also work out on my bowflex about 15 minutes 3 times a week

So I got a Jawbone UP24..and in the first 10 days just by walking the 10K -14K step...I lost 5lbs! and that was with no jogging. I think the key is consistency...no skipping weekends. So now I take about a 20 minute break at work..to walk and I come home and walk around the block about 20-30 minutes and then the rest of my normal walking makes the 10,000 steps which is about 5 miles. You only burn about 2,000 calories a day with the 10,000 steps, so if you don't watch your eating or cut back...you are never going to make any headway. THe fitness tracker is just a great friendly reminder to stay active everyday.

I got my bowflex off craigs list for about $200 in perfect condition...I saw better results from that then I ever did at the gym. And you know how I know....I jog with my shirt off and when I was going to the gym...nothing...when I got the bowflex...girls honk at me everytime I jog...so it has to be working! Just follow the routine. And it at home and only taking 15 minutes for a work out..you have no excuse.

Good luck

 

This^^^^

I lost 40 pounds in 4 months simply by changing my diet.

Cardio is king, walk/jog/run/bike for at least 20 minutes a day, as you start losing weight incorporate weight training/bodyweight exercises into your workout.

And try bodyweight exercises instead of machines. http://travelstrong.net/bodyweight-exercises/