I'm 300 lbs and need some advice

Jerry Walker79 said:I’d definitely suggest grabbing some vitamins to go along with that diet, since my levels aren't exactly "normal."

Honestly, I don't think you even need supplements. Synthetic vitamin pills aren't always the best thing for you, especially when you're just guessing on your own—especially if you're trying to drop some weight. This UN diet is actually loaded with fruits and veggies, which are basically nature's multivitamins anyway. And the best part? Nothing is off-limits! You just sort your food into different groups.
Just stick to the plan and maybe get some light exercise going to start with. It really does work, I swear!

15 years old and weighing 275 lbs?
How much are you actually moving during the day?
Honestly, all those diets and calorie counting won't mean a thing if you're just glued to your desk all day playing Doom III and snacking on junk food.
Having deli meat for dinner? Just so you know, your body isn't going to process that well—it’ll basically just turn straight into fat, haha. Plus, processed deli meat is pretty low-quality stuff.
Try this instead: trick your stomach. Whenever you feel hungry, eat some salad. It’s low in energy density, so your stomach feels full because it has something to actually "work" on. But don't go grabbing something heavy like a Greek salad with tons of feta; stick to simple greens or maybe some cabbage. Just don't grab the bagged stuff—keep it somewhat fresh. It's all up to you.
If you've got the willpower, I'm rooting for you. Let's hit the pavement and run together.

Oh yeah, I bet his joints will be absolutely thrilled when he tries to go out for a run at 300 pounds.
Look, man, you're either trolling or just as thick as you are heavy. You've bounced from specialist to specialist, tried everything under the sun, but did it ever cross your mind to stop eating literal garbage? 👏

Edward Green said:Oh sure, I bet his joints will be absolutely thrilled when he tries to go jogging at 300 pounds.
Man, you're either trolling or just as dense as your body weight. You've been bouncing from doctor to doctor, trying every little thing, but did it never cross your mind to stop eating straight garbage? 👏

And what exactly is so "garbage" about myelin or whatever?
But seriously, just be honest and tell me what you actually eat in a day.
And for the record, I don't eat junk.

I'm grateful to the rest of you for the help.
Starting tomorrow morning with the UN diet, plus an hour of brisk walking in the evening.

Look, I have a cousin who was in pretty much the exact same boat as you were about six months ago. Granted, he was sitting at 240 pounds, though he’s shorter than you are. He cycled through all sorts of nonsense diets, but the results were always the same: lose five pounds, gain ten back. However, by following this specific regimen, he dropped down to 185, and the weight hasn't crawled back because it actually resets your metabolism.
It’s called the Astronaut Diet. I don't know every single granular detail, so you should probably do some digging online for the specifics, but the gist of it is this:
You follow a four-day cycle where each day has a different menu, and those four days repeat throughout the three-month duration of the diet. If you can just grit your teeth and push through those three months, you’ll succeed—after all, what's three months compared to the rest of your life?
On the first day, you eat meat; the second is starch-heavy; the third is your carbohydrate day; and the fourth is fruit day!
I realize this might sound daunting, but if you really study the mechanics, you'll see that you end up eating roughly the same volume as you do now. In most cases, you won't even feel hungry, except perhaps on the fruit day. The whole trick lies in how you combine foods. For instance, if you eat one steak with a few potatoes and then follow it up with a chocolate bar—which doesn't sound like much—you're doing more damage than if you had just eaten five steaks on a meat day. And I know he ate that much; he would have several steaks for lunch and maybe three for dinner.
This diet optimizes your metabolism, and the concept is actually quite straightforward: simply don't combine certain food groups. Once those three months are up, the weight won't come back—well, unless you revert to your old, unhealthy habits within six months.
In my opinion, this diet was practically made for someone in your position. Honestly, I don't think any other method even comes close; most other diets are just glorified starvation sessions that inevitably lead to gaining it all back.
While you're on the program, you don't strictly need to be hitting the gym because the weight loss will happen regardless, but once you hit the 220-pound mark, you should start getting active again while maintaining a healthy diet. You absolutely have to cut out the sweets, chips, and especially soda and carbonated drinks—those are the worst offenders.
Everything requires willpower, obviously, but things get significantly easier when you step on the scale after two or three weeks and realize you've already dropped ten pounds.
I truly recommend this approach and suggest you clear your head of all those other options; they generally won't help you and are incredibly difficult to sustain. I really hope you pull this off.

Don't go trying to play doctor with your own metabolism; leave the diagnoses to a medical professional.

That said, you're overeating. I'm thin, so I know I'm not exactly the right yardstick here, but I'm fairly certain two bowls of stew, two drumsticks, and an extra cut of meat constitutes an excessive single meal.
And you really ought to consider how much that weight is impacting your health—it's about much more than just how you look in the mirror.
Good luck, big guy. Keep us posted on the results...

Someone mentioned how bad deli meats are. Honestly? I'm right there with you... whenever I cut out that industrial garbage for even a month—mostly because I just get sick of it—I drop a few pounds easily. It applies to everything, really. Try to minimize anything that’s "grab-and-go" or just needs a splash of hot water to eat. We're talking bologna, hot dogs, mayo, candy bars, cookies, pre-packaged salads, maybe even certain cheeses. Modern life makes it impossible to ditch it entirely, but I feel like a new person when I take a break from it all.

neonbear4 said:What the hell is so trash about myelin anyway?

I grab a sandwich or a little pizza at school around 9:00.

Garbage.
So, you want to lose weight, right? You go running to the doctors for advice, but then you turn around and shovel white bread, salami, and pizza down your throat? Seriously? Great plan. Superb. 😉

Back when I was in school, I’d occasionally grab a Bounty or maybe a Twix if I was feeling fancy. Not that often, though.

Garbage.

For dinner, I’ll just grab two or three slices of bread with some spread or deli meat. That's it.

And again—total garbage.
So, you actually think white bread and pâté counts as healthy food? Give me a break. 😁

Alright, let's be real here—what do you actually eat in a day?

That can't be your only benchmark. If I dropped 55 pounds, I’d fit inside a single shoe. But if you dropped 55 pounds? You'd still be a big guy.
Whatever, I still eat less than you do—unless I’ve been starving since breakfast, like today. 😁 😁

Honestly, my wife and I are both at a total loss. We have no idea what we're supposed to do anymore.

Start eating actual breakfasts. Stop grabbing candy bars as snacks. Make yourself sandwiches at home using whole grain bread and some veggies. Scale back on lunch—eat skinless chicken breast or fish, throw in some soup and a salad. You don't need to eat an entire cow just to feel full. For dinner? Just make a salad again or grab a yogurt. Drink plenty of water, but for God's sake, none of that soda or sugary crap. It’s not exactly rocket science.
Look, if you want actual long-term results, there's only one way to get them: healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Period. Forget those stupid crash diets where you drop 10 pounds just to gain 20 back the second you stop. It's a joke.

I’m asking you guys to please stop with all the comments.
Eat less. Work out more. Simple as that.

Eat more and work out less. Seriously. Keep this up and you’re gonna be sleeping at the stadium soon because your bed won't even fit you anymore.
That’s solid advice. Whatever you make of it.

alexx, you can be pretty harsh on this forum sometimes... don't you think instead of attacking people, we should be helping them? It feels like you just want to criticize and judge. Not every thread needs to be a confrontation. I guess since you're young (I assume), you might be a bit impulsive, but hopefully, you'll learn how to read the room eventually.
Attacking a 15-year-old during such a sensitive age, especially regarding a topic this delicate for boys, isn't going to help. It’ll probably just cause him to withdraw even more and feel ashamed. Honestly, the fact that he can see and admit there's an issue is actually huge progress—that's something we should encourage and support.
Besides, none of us eat perfectly healthy, so maybe before lecturing others about "junk" food, take a look at your own fridge. Let people live how they want, or offer friendly advice, but ultimately, it's up to them whether they listen or not.
The most important thing is tracking calorie intake, and for his weight, it doesn't seem excessive (unless he's really sedentary). Of course, it would be healthier to grab three apples instead of a Twix, but let's be real—hardly anyone in school does that.

Regarding the topic itself, here is what I'd suggest...
Don't go chasing strict, written diet plans or setting rigid deadlines (especially short ones). Those rarely work. There's no such thing as a "magic" quick fix; if a diet shows results too fast, it either destroys your mental health or leads to the yo-yo effect where you just gain it all back.

You have to change your relationship with food, and by extension, yourself (which is the hardest part).
First, try to figure out the root cause—how did the weight pile up in the first place? Once you identify that, try to reflect on it and work through it. If you're an "emotional eater," try to stop that cycle, find the trigger, and address it. If you just love food and struggle with self-control, start practicing gentle discipline. You won't see overnight results, and you have to work on this long-term, especially since you're young and your body has "learned" how to carry extra weight. The weight will want to come back, and you'll pay for every slip-up. Basically, you have to stay mindful for life and shift your entire perspective on eating.
From my own experience, I can tell you that no prescribed, strict diet is easy. They always sound promising, but you'll likely burn out and binge very quickly, so it's better to skip those.
Try cutting out dinner first—nothing after 7 PM. That's a major one.
Second, tweak your habits slightly. Try to eat more whole foods, but feel free to indulge in a treat once in a while... just watch the portions. Portion control is everything. Try making every meal a little ritual—appreciate the smell, the taste, and the presentation, and chew slowly. This helps you feel full sooner and satisfies your senses. When people bolt down food, they don't actually enjoy the meal, so they end up snacking again later just to get that sense of satisfaction (that's what I call "spoiled palate"). 😬
Eat more frequent, smaller meals, and try to stick to things that are boiled or baked rather than fried. For lunch, focus on vegetables and salads, and keep the meat and carbs to a minimum.
Avoid sweets, but it's okay to have a small piece of chocolate occasionally—just set boundaries. I mean a *small* piece. Or swap the chocolate for something like a nice pudding, a snack bar, or yogurt; it hits the sweet spot much better.
Try switching from white bread to whole wheat to start, then maybe move to rye later. For spreads, stick to cheeses or dairy products (forget the mayo or heavy dips, though you can indulge if you really love them).
Try buying "light" versions of products when possible, and educate yourself on calorie counts. Just casually tracking your daily intake each day will help you get a feel for it.
Always keep some fruit at home so that if a craving hits, you reach for that instead of the bag of chips Mom hid in the pantry.

Focusing solely on weight is the wrong way to approach nutrition. Until you fix that mindset, you're going to keep running into the same wall. No diet is going to save you if your head isn't in the right place—and even if it does work temporarily, the weight will just come back, leaving you feeling even more frustrated. Honestly, you just need to commit. A little bit of willpower is usually enough to get things moving.
Don't sit around waiting for massive breakthroughs or hoping for miracles. Just keep pushing forward; the pounds will eventually drop off on their own if you stay consistent. I’d also suggest not obsessing over the scale too much—maybe check it once a week at most. That way, you aren't letting the number dictate your mood, and you can keep the focus where it belongs: on what you're actually eating...
In the beginning, I wouldn't suggest hitting the gym too hard. It might be a bit extreme and could just spike your hunger, making those cravings for junk food almost impossible to fight after an intense workout. Once you've dropped some initial weight, then you can start working on building muscle. For now, though, just walk. Whenever you feel a craving hitting, just go out for a ten-minute stroll. Try to get at least thirty minutes of movement in every day, though ideally, an hour or two would be great. You could also try some light cycling, but nothing too intense. Given where you're starting from with your weight and maybe your current fitness level, jumping into high-intensity stuff probably isn't the best move right away...

And forget about sodas. Stick to water or maybe some tea with sweetener. (A single can of Coke has about as many calories as two mandarins or a piece of toast with spread, so you really have to choose...)
Maybe you can indulge occasionally, but you have to watch the portions. Unsweetened iced tea is a decent option, and you can use sugar-free syrups diluted in water, but make sure water remains your main base...

That’s pretty much my take on it. Just stay brave and keep going.🙂

Look, none of us eat perfectly healthy. So before you start lecturing everyone about "junk" food, maybe take a look at your own damn fridge first.

Oh, you want to know what my diet looks like? 🙂>
How many pounds of fruit I crush every week, how often I grab fast food, how many days I skip breakfast, how many times a month I grab a sandwich, or how often I reach for a Twix instead of almonds or dried fruit...
Even when I go through those phases where I’m eating pancakes twice a day, or just living on tortellini, or snacking on Twix on a daily basis—I can handle it. 😉>

Quote:>>

The main thing is tracking calories, and for his weight, he isn't even overeating.

Aha, my bad. I totally misunderstood and thought the goal was to lose weight, not just maintain it. My mistake.

And whether it's "sinful" or not, I find it absolutely moronic when someone struggles desperately to drop weight, hops from one doctor to the next, spends a fortune on specialist visits, and yet hasn't realized they need to stop eating white bread, stop eating meals large enough to feed a small village in Ethiopia, and quit the candy bars. Then they have the nerve to say, "Don't tell me to eat less and move more." I don't know, maybe they should try asking a doctor for some magic pills if that's too much work for them.

quiethound45, you really helped me out here
but I'm still leaning towards starting a UN diet since it doesn't look too brutal compared to what I was doing on my last one
basically, I was just eating meat and nothing else, and I had to choke down vitamins because I was deficient

I'm not even mad at Edward Green, she actually said a lot of things that were true

And honestly, I didn't expect this kind of support
I've actually gotten way more support from you guys than I ever did from any doctor
Thanks to everyone
Once those first results start rolling in, I'll post them right here
Alright, I'm heading off to weigh myself and get exact numbers, none of this guessing crap

neonbear4 said:quiethound45, you’ve been such a huge help
but I think I’m still going to stick with the UN diet. It doesn't look too intimidating compared to what I was doing on my last diet.
Basically, I was just eating meat and calling it a day, which meant I had to chug vitamins constantly because I was totally lacking everything else.

I’m not even mad at Edward Green; honestly, she actually said a lot of things that were true.

And one more thing—I really wasn't expecting this kind of support.
To be honest, I’ve felt more supported by you guys than I ever did by any doctor I've seen.
Thank you all so much.
As soon as I start seeing some real results, I’ll post them here.
Right now, I'm heading off to get weighed properly so I have actual numbers instead of just guessing.

I really hope you can pull this off, because at this point, it isn't even about looking good anymore—it's about your health. Carrying extra weight causes so many issues and can seriously cut your life short... we're talking heart attacks, high blood pressure, joint pain, trouble walking, all that stuff. Now is the time to step up, fix your quality of life, and trust me, you won't regret it later. I spent my entire puberty struggling with my weight due to hormones, and it wasn't until I hit a breaking point in college that I finally dropped 15 pounds. I'm not trying to compare our situations because I know your journey might be tougher, but I am so glad I found the courage to do it. My only regret is not getting my act together sooner.
Better late than never, so just go for it... We're all rooting for you! And if you want more info, there's a guide for the UN diet on the Health forum if you want to join in.🙂

Sure, maybe none of this matters much for those of us in our late 20s or 30s who are already fully developed—but from what I can tell, neonbear4 is still basically a kid... excuse me, a young guy who is still growing and developing. It’s not like anyone said things won't improve just because you're getting taller. My trainer always says genetics are about 90% of the battle when it comes to losing weight—meaning someone like me, with a whole line of overweight parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles (yeah, that's me), has to work about 90% harder than some girl from Malibu whose entire family is naturally thin. But look, don't listen to those "just stop eating" types of tips—and for heaven's sake, do NOT start smoking (shame on you, Maria Moore4). You need to find a way of eating that actually works for you. If you're mostly a meat eater, maybe try Atkins or Montignac; if you prefer veggies, go Mediterranean, or even that UN diet which I hear people swear by. Most importantly, though, get some blood work done. Look, for crying out loud, check your levels and see if your weight is just a matter of calories and lack of movement, or if there's something more serious going on under the hood. Try reaching out to a real nutritionist who can put together a personalized meal plan for you. Then, try finding a personal trainer—it's pricey, sure, but two months of coaching is usually enough to get you set up to fly solo. I'd recommend Equinox; they have both nutritionists and trainers on staff (feel free to PM me if you want details), and they're the reason I dropped 13 pounds—and they haven't come back. Anyway, hope that helps!

Don't you dare start smoking, seriously!
Why don't you just head to a weight loss center? There are plenty of them all over the city. They'll help you put together a meal plan, give you a place to work out, and provide all the other advice you actually need...

lonefox7 said:You don't even need to be popping vitamin supplements. Honestly, those synthetic vitamin pills aren't exactly great for you, especially if you're just taking them whenever you feel like it—definitely not ideal if your goal is to drop some weight. The UN diet is loaded with fruits and veggies, which are basically the gold standard for vitamins anyway. And the best part? Nothing is off-limits; you just organize everything into food groups.
You just have to stick to the plan and maybe get some light exercise going to start with. It actually works.

But dairy is missing here.
I know this one guy who drinks light yogurt while following this program, and he's doing just fine. 🙂

Edward Green said:Oh yeah, I bet his joints will be just thrilled when he decides to go out for a run at 300 pounds.
Man, I can't tell if you're trolling or if you're just as dense as you are heavy. He's been bouncing from specialist to specialist, trying everything under the sun, but did it ever cross your mind that maybe—just maybe—he shouldn't be eating straight garbage? 👏

Lunch looks fine to me. Stew, meat... that's actually healthy stuff.
The issue seems to be breakfast and dinner, though I wouldn't go so far as to say it's some massive, astronomical amount of food.
Teenagers (especially guys) eat whatever they want and still look like sticks.

Either the kid is HIDING what he actually eats, or he’s dealing with a serious metabolic or hormonal issue.
Or, honestly, maybe he's just trolling. 😁

neonbear4 said:quiethound45, you’ve actually been a huge help
but I still think I’m going to start on the UN diet. It doesn't seem all that daunting compared to what I was doing on my last diet
meaning, I was basically just eating meat and calling it a day, and I had to chug vitamins constantly because I was getting so deficient

I'm not even mad at Edward Green, honestly, because she actually said a lot of things that were true

And one more thing—I really wasn't expecting this kind of support
In all honesty, I’ve received way more encouragement here than I ever did from any doctor
Thanks, everyone, seriously
Once those first results start rolling in, I’ll post them right here
But for now, I'm heading out to get weighed properly so I have actual numbers instead of just guessing

That UN diet is a solid choice 🙂
But you absolutely have to add in some low-fat milk, yogurt, and maybe some low-fat cottage cheese! You’re young and still growing, and you’re definitely going to be missing out on essential calcium with that plan. So, grab a yogurt whenever you feel hungry👍
It's healthy and it'll actually keep you full for a bit.
As for working out—sweetie, go swimming. Once you hit around 220 pounds, you can start running, and then slowly move into the gym.

Emily Adams2 said:Fifteen years old and 275 pounds?
How much are you actually moving during the day?
Honestly, all those diets and calorie counting won't mean a thing if you spend your entire day glued to a computer playing Doom III and snacking on junk food.
Having deli meat for dinner? Just so you know, your body isn't going to process that properly; it’ll just turn straight into fat, haha. Plus, processed deli meat is total garbage.

Give me a break. My brother spends half his day sitting at his desk too. From the moment he wakes up, he eats whatever he wants—and we aren't talking small snacks. He'll come home at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning and practically clear out the fridge, topping it all off with half a jar of peanut butter, and he still never weighs more than 150 pounds...

And now everyone is jumping down his throat about eating junk, as if you people live on nothing but broccoli and kale. Imagine never having a sandwich or a slice of pizza in your life. Good luck with that. 🙄

I don't really have any groundbreaking advice to offer since I've only tackled a diet once, and honestly, it worked!
Basically, I stuck to a carnivore diet for about four and a half months and managed to drop 105 pounds!!!!
But, of course, there is one MASSIVE downside to this way of eating: the second I try to eat normally again, I just absolutely binge!!!!
Besides, I can't even imagine eating organic fruit, so the UN approach doesn't really suit me!!

Best of luck to everyone!!!!!!👍

I can only imagine how exhausting this journey feels for you... you feel like you've tried every trick in the book, yet nothing seems to stick. In my view, people tend to surrender far too early; everyone wants to shed massive amounts of weight overnight, but true transformation requires an immense amount of time and steady patience. If you are dealing with metabolic issues, you have to embrace a lifestyle change for the long haul—you don't have the luxury of quitting just because you've lost a few pounds. However, you shouldn't view this as a restrictive "diet"—I personally can't stand the idea of dieting, like being forced to drink nothing but water all day—but rather as a fundamental shift in how your entire household eats. I am no expert on calorie counting, but I believe cutting back on processed meats and sodas is vital, keeping lunch to a single plate rather than two, having fruit for dinner, and staying well-hydrated. As for exercise, start simply with brisk walking—perhaps with a dog on a leash or a partner by your side—and gradually increase your pace and distance as your stamina builds. If you don't enjoy physical activity, you'll find it tedious and likely give up; persistence is everything. For me, the perfect balance eventually becomes a mix of running, swimming, and cycling, though you shouldn't jump into the intense stuff immediately or you'll burn out. Don't starve yourself either—treat yourself to a little chocolate now and then—and don't try to run ten miles a day right away; anything in excess is counterproductive. I truly wish you the best of luck... and please, let go of any sense of shame. We all have things we are self-conscious about, but at the end of the day, this is about your health and nothing else.