Help me Please

[bostonman]

I have had gynecomastia since 10 years old. I have been tested all through my teenage years and beyond but nothing was wrong according to my doctors.  Now I am 38 years old, I still have them. Same story as everyone else, I hate them. I have always worn a compression vest so no one ever knew. Then I got fat and now no one knows because everyone thinks I am fatso no one cares. So here is the thing I went to a doctor in downtown Toronto, Canada. He is rated best surgeon for this surgery in Canada. He showed all the surgery videos and gave me 1000 numbers to call so I can ask about his results, he told me not mention his name on online I will respect his wishes.
Basically he told me to lose weight I am 230 pounds 5ft 6 and I should be 140 or close to my BMI for best results because it would best for the surgery and agree with him.  No need to post photos but I am blubbery everywhere, classic Cinnabon diet.  Problem is how to lose the weight. He told me this 4 months ago. I lost 30 pounds on the Adkins diet (protein diet) but gained it all back once I added carbs.
I don't know what to do. I have never been athletic so I need a beginners plan. I am so depressed about this I don't know what to do. I am open to any suggestions. I have never discussed this before.

[McGilli]

Hey.

Well, it's nice that you're honest about what you are and are not.

It sounds like you're pretty depressed, and so I don't want to kill any hopes you have, but the fact is to achieve what you want, you are going to have to commit to making a big change or two in your life.

I too did Atkins about 10 years ago, dropped 60 pounds in 6 months. And have never gained it back, but, I am very active. I hate to say it but there's no magic way to drop the weight you need to.

Aside from being active, you need to understand, it will take a long time to drop that weight. Even on Atkins, which obviously did work for you when you followed it - you're probably looking at a year to really do it properly and healthily (please no discussions on if Atkins is healthy or not).

What I'm trying to say is.

You are 38 now. It took you a long time to get to 38. And if you stand back and look at it - devoting a year of your life to work hard and drop the weight - it's not that long. Before you know it you'll be 39 looking back wondering how you got there so fast.

I'm a huge advocate of exercise and have been active for my entire life. So, instead of giving you a typical beginner pep talk like hey just start walking or riding a bike etc etc....

I'm wondering if you know anyone who you could talk to about this, a peer, who might also be willing to start doing active things with you. Many of the people I meet who aren't active, it's because they don't know anyone else to be active with and they get bored or discouraged doing it on their own.

You need someone to motivate you. And if you could be blunt with someone, tell them plain and simple you want to lose xx pounds of fat, you're tired of it and need it for a surgery - and ask them to help motivate you.

Easier said than done I know. But you need to make a change in your brain, to make a change in your body. And I think coming here is a good start.

Good luck.

[bostonman]

Really appreciate your opinion and timely response.  I will take your advice and speak to a peer or someone into working out. One thing you mentioned that stuck out, which was, it might take a year to accomplish my goal. It really did open up my eyes because I have been trying to lose the weight fast. Thanks for the motivation.

[xelnaga13]

Thank you for sharing.

Burn more calories than you consume and you will lose fat. You may have reached the point where you've decided enough is enough. Nothing short of that will suffice.

[hammer]

Bostonman, the other two men give very good advice! If you can be active and get the will power to reduce your intake you will reduce your size! That is a fact, but you also must be patient. That is the hard part because we like to have or see much faster results.

I have been working on reduction over many years! I was in fantastic shape until I needed to start useing insulin. Just as my doctor had predicted I had put on well over 130lbs  with the insulin raising my weight to over 300lbs. I also had become disabled during that time making walking, running and working out almost impossible. So I can only loose by reducing input! I have lost about 70lbs now, however, it has taken 7 years!

So, if I can do that, I know that you can too!


Bob

[bostonman]

Thanks for all of the support guys.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Agree with all the prior comments. 

It can be done -- but substantial weight loss, such as you are facing, will require both strict dieting (the hardest thing to do -- and much harder than to stop smoking) and some exercise.  In essence, it is a change in your lifestyle.  And you have to be wholly committed to do it over the long run -- a year or perhaps more.  Just keep your eyes on the goal.  And at the end, you can get your surgery and as a bonus, you will be much healthier.

Best of luck -- you have brothers on this forum -- keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Dr Jacobs

[jazzer]

I lost 70 pounds prior to my operation. But during the winter I've gained back around 15, but it is my fault. I haven't been exercising as much and eating a bit more carbs. As people will tell you it's not losing the weight, it's keeping it off. My biggest challenge so far.