Looking for suggestions.

[OohrahRecon]

Need a little help here. I decided I wanted to be one of the few a little over a year ago. At the time I weight 370 lbs. When I went to the recruiting substation near me, I was told I needed to weigh 234 to sign up. Since then I've dieted succesfully and lost 70 of those lbs. I look and feel great, but my problem is I'm still 70 lbs away. I've hit a wieght loss plateau. I've been stuck here for 4 months, no matter how I eat, I'm not getting anywhere. I'm open to suggestions from any and everyone who is or has been where I want to go, where I want to be.

I'm starting a new program called Body for Life by Bill Phillips. Basics of it are 50 minutes of weights 3X a week, and 20 minute "max" cardio sessions in-between the weight days. I plan on running after work as well.

If there are any other questions that would help you help me, ask.

Thanks for all the help!!

Dan

[FullMetalJacket]

Stop hitting the weights. Muscle is heavier than fat. You need to eat more when you lift weights.
I suggest laying off the weights for a while and focus on running and cardio. Your goal is to lose weight and think of losing much more than 70 because once you hit the weight requirement, you'll hit the weights again and pack on the pounds.

[GunnyL]

There's no problem hitting the weights if it's low on the weight and heavy on the repetitions, you need to lean out in areas that just running won't allow you to do.
I've heard some good things about the Body for Life program but have no experience with it. Try it and if it works great, if not then here's the Gunny Plan.
Eat low fat foods, a lot of vegetables, zuccini and cucumbers have no dietary value, no calories so they're good fillers. Drink a lot of water to stay well hydrated.
Eat about 5 meals a day, breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and don't eat after 7PM at night.
When I say meals, I mean small meals.
Breakfast Cereal with Fruit. Not fruitloops and crap like that, grape nuts, special K, total or some equivalent. Some fruit or granola type snack, Plain Bonless, Skinless Chicken breast and rice for lunch with some zuccini, small salad or snack in the afternoon and a small dinner with mostly vegetables and maybe some turkey breast or Tuna.
You need to mix it up a bit because eating the same thing all the time get's boring but you should get the jest of what I'm saying.
Ride a bike if you have one, if you live in the city ride it everywhere you go and walk everyday. If there is a choice between the car and the bus with some walking, take the bus and walk. You will lose the weight, most of all "Believe in yourself" because whether you believe you can or you believe you can't; You're right! You are heavier than most of the guys who came to me in your shape and with the desire to be Marines. But everyone of them who believed they could do it are wearing Eagle, Globe and Anchors on their colars. I did read a story when I was on recruiting duty of a guy who lost over 100 lbs to join so just know that if you believe in yourself, you can definitely make it happen.
Best of Luck to you in your Journey!


GunnyL

P.S. keep us updated with this post and let us know how you are progressing. The Gunny is in your corner and pulling for you!

[vigilantessd]

Sir,

Congrats on deciding to want to be a Marine!

My recommendation is to increase your cardio and instead of doing weight training, do more pull ups pushups and situps. Incorporating 3 middle distance runs (3-5 miles) and a long run (7 - 9miles) each week will def. help. Swimming will also really help

Good Luck on your quest on being one of the Few.

Semper Fi!

-Rajan

[BHABIT]

Keep as GunnyL said light weights high reps...keep the meals in small proportions and if you start to feel drained use a drink that I used pappaya, pre-digested protein, honey, in a blender with ice... blend like a snow cone. Absolutely swim!! the more the better, along with as running. On the run take in prenty of electrolights and potasium.

It's not going to be easy... but the things that matter never are!!!

Good Luck!

[chezzplayr05]

You've got some good advice from some senior Marines...now I'm gonna give it to you from an NCO who was assigned to run fat bodies at lunch time in the Fleet. OK? I'm telling u this because this is what ur gonna be called if u go to boot. Youre recruiter is gonna put u through cause he knows that the DI's are gonna sweat ur ass like u hav'nt. Now You got two choices. ONE: You can wait till ya get to boot and get humiliated like u know u will; or you can get serious and stop lookin at the Marine Corps as your beloved wieght loss program like I know u think you R, and BELIEVE that you are gonna get your ASS sweatted off. So in that case you better believe in youre mind that you are gonna make it. OK?

[woodman]

Here is something you definately need to consider. The 234 your recruiter says you have to weigh will get you in. With in 2-3 days of being picked up by your Drill Instructors you WILL find your self on a diet. You WILL do extra PT. You WILL catch hell for being overweight, and it WILL last the entire time your at MCRD unless your dropped. I went in 30 lbs. over the height weight requirements and even though I only had 8% body fat when 16% is a normal male I was still put on a DIET. I had a 1st class PFT score from day one but that didn't matter. By the end of boot I was at 1 1/2% body fat and enemic but still 22 lbs over the height weight limit. I went through hell and finaly was able to get a waiver for water weighing because of freestyle wrestling but it took 2 years to get it. SO what I'm saying is that you better make sure this is what you want and are prepared mentaly AND physicaly for doing it the hard way. Good luck

[FullMetalJacket]

Ahhh yes low weight high rep. I forgot to mention that. High weight low reps is where you will not lose any weight. Good luck.

[GunnyL]

I put a guy in when I was a recruiter. He was 27, 75lbs overweight, barely passed the enlistment screening test; I wouldn't test him so he went to the Navy Recruiter who tested him, he passed and promptly showed up at my door the next day with his scores. He rode a bike all over Chicago or walked everywhere he went. He came into my office three times a week on his own to show me his progress. I ran with him a couple of times a week and we worked out at the gym together, "light weights, high reps". He did the majority of it on his own and I was just a motivational running partner. He eventually made the weight to ship to recruit training. Yes, he was a diet private! He lost an additional 65lbs in Boot Camp. He broke down twice and was in MRP twice. He was in Boot Camp for 6 Months because of medical injuries suffered in training. He never opted to come home and try again later, he stuck it out and in the end, he Graduated a U.S. Marine. I'd love to say he was one of my biggest success stories but in truth, he was his own greatest success story because he had the Mental Stamina, Moral Courage, Heart and a Deep Burning Desire to become a U.S. Marine. The main advice I gave him was to believe in himself, that if he wanted it bad enough, he would make it happen. He Did!
Chezzplayr and Woodman, this young man isn't looking for the Marine Corps to be his weight loss program; he's looking for some advice and encouragement to do it on his own so that he can earn the title. He obviously knows that it is a hard road ahead of him and he's lost 70lbs on his own already, he hit a wall on the weight loss and is looking for help getting over that hump. He's not waiting till he get's to Boot Camp, he has another 70lbs to get to the point where he can even go to Boot Camp.
Woodman, the Corps' height and weight standards have changed since you were in. You can exceed weight as long as you look good in uniform and are under 18% body fat. There are no more weight waivers. You still have to make weight to ship to Boot Camp but there are no more weight waivers in the fleet.

[BHABIT]

GUNNYL...

Nice... Site!!! I like the mention of football... In a twisted sense we do have a football team... navy...LOL. I've always said the Marines are the MENS DEPT of the dept. of the navy and we can always depend on them for transportation and entertainment.

I also agree with your post... I can see how you became a recruiter.

[OohrahRecon]

Ok Great! Now how bout that low calorie intake part. What would make some great low cal meals?

To chezzplayr05... I wish. If there was a way Uncle Sam and the Marine Corps would pay me to be in boot getting my butt PTd till I dropped (both the weight and literally), I'd sign up today. As is, I'm trying to get some feedback from the best to help me get there.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm using it daily. If you can think of more to add, let me know.

[chezzplayr05]

OohrahRecon

You've got an excellent attitude, and I apologize for stereotyping you.

[woodman]

OohrahRecon

Great attitude !! keep it up and the weight will keep dropping off. Some of the super makets now sell the south beach and adkins diet frozen meals. These can help a little because they are already portion controled. Also try just going and playing some basketball or racket ball sometimes a little cross training will break that plateau you've hit. Stay motivated at one time or another almost all people dropping weight hit a plateau.

P.S.
If it appeared that I was being harsh or beating up on you I wasn't I was just trying to be real world with you. I respect anybody willing to make the sacrafices you are to become a Marine. never say die !

Gunny L
I'm glad the Corps has quit using that outdated system. Thanks for the new info. :marine:

[OohrahRecon]

ok, great, i have a great place to start the workout, but what about food. i've heard "eat healthy", and "count calories"....fine, but how? should i really be concerned with exactly how many calories the food has, or should a "rough estimate" work just fine. i mean how many calories are in an average size chicken breast anyway? all your ideas and thoughts on this will help me with this. thanks again!!!

[Cheezballz]

2000 CALORIES IS THE AVERAGE INTAKE A DAY, U'R AVERAGE MCD'Z VALUMEAL HAS ROUGHLY LIKE 800-900 CALORIES

[OohrahRecon]

My ankles are sore, stiff, and otherwise pretty wimpy. Backstory: I work for FedEx Home Delivery, and I run from my van to the house, or business's, even up stairs sometimes(anything over the second and sometimes third floor, no way, not that I can't, it's a time management thing). I also play basketball at least twice a week. Trying to get my distance running back in gear (fell off in the winter).
So, now you know the kind of punishment I put them through, now I need help with how to deal with it. Wraps, pain medicine, soaking, ice, icy-hot? I'm asking you the ones before me, yet again, for your invaluable advice. Thank you!
As always, if you need more clarifying info, let me know.