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So far on this blog, I have focused on tech. Specifically, Nintendo and Apple. However, the technology world has seen a recent lack of news. This is typical for January. The tech industry usually has an extremely busy Christmas season followed by a relatively slow couple of months in the new year.

So, I figured I would write about something else which I find interesting. With the new year comes many resolutions. Some promise to quit smoking while others pledge to quit watching TV eight hours a day. Even more people resolve to lose weight. Gym memberships see a huge fluctuation in membership during January. I have seen it myself this month in the gym. Many resolve to lose weight with little knowledge about the subject. These people tire out after no loss in weight over several weeks.

I used to be one of these people. My sophomore year in high school, I suffered a knee injury in soccer which made it difficult to exercise. I had been a larger kid before the injury. However, this injury forced me into a sedentary lifestyle. This caused me to gain about 15 pounds until my weight jumped up 210 pounds. After I recovered from the injury, I remained at this weight for a little over a year.

Now, only two years after weighing 210 pounds, I proudly announce that I weigh 170 pounds. I managed to lose 40 pounds while keeping the weight off for good. I am often asked about how I managed to lose this relatively large amount of weight. I figured that this time of resolutions would be the perfect opportunity for explaining my secrets.

I must first state a small disclaimer. This diet worked for me as a 17 year old male. I would only suggest this to men between the ages of 16 and 25. In fact, it could be considered the perfect diet for geeks and gamers. I am not sure about how this diet would effect women or people of an older age. If you attempt to diet, I must suggest that you see a physician in order to learn your specific dietary needs.

My diet was very low maintenance. I often tell people that I amazed myself by losing the weight. It was almost as if the weight lost itself. I say these things almost as a joke. The truth is, it required several drastic changes in my diet and lifestyle. However, I think the key to my success involved the path in which I took to achieve these changes. I found several easy ways to change how I ate. Here is my list of keys for those who wish to lose weight this year.

1.) Eat breakfast. - When I was heavy, I would never eat breakfast. I thought that this helped my body with weight by taking in less calories. Good idea, but the body doesn't really work like that. A lack of breakfast will only cause hunger later in the day. That hunger only leads to purging on later meals. Eat something for breakfast, even if it is only a granola bar or apple.

2.) Cut fast foods. - Quite simply, you must stop eating fast foods. This was my first resolution when I began my weight-loss. I was a typical American fast food customer. I would regularly eat fast food meals about 4 times a week. After I eliminated fast foods from my diet, I saw a loss of 10 pounds in only several weeks. If you must eat while on the run, find a Subway or Jimmy Johns.

3.) Eliminate fats altogether. - After eliminating fast foods, I realized that I was still taking in a rather high amount of fats from foods around the house. Chips, cookies, brownies, and ice cream are notorious for their high fat content. I decided to cut almost all fats entirely from my diet. I would not eat deserts or mid-day snacks with fat in them. The key here is to find foods that you enjoy as snacks that are fat-free or contain low amounts of fat. Bagels are great for breakfast. I found myself often snacking on Twizzlers. Twizzlers helped me have some sort of treat that was tasty while I ditched the fats. I began to drink fat-free milk over 2% milk. I also used fat-free salad dressing. Mayonnaise no longer had any place on my sandwich.

4.) Start a work-out routine. - No one likes this part of the diet. You must find time in your schedule for exercise. I suggest checking out a couple health clubs until you find one that suits you. This is the most expensive part of the whole diet. I found a gym close to my school. A gym and workout schedule can totally depend upon your personal preferences. Start by doing basic exercises and find several that you enjoy. I suggest at least three workout session per week AT LEAST with an hour given to each session. If you really want to work on weight loss, get any cardio in several times a week. If you are looking for specific exercises, I suggest a lot of bench press and ab exercises. You won't see a six-pack over night. You will see a big improvement to your core muscles which will lead to an overall better physique. You might notice that if you cut fats from your diet that many of those fats are replaced with carbohydrates, another typical diet "no-no." Don't worry about this at all. Carbs are just dense forms of fuel for your body. If you work out regularly, you should use the extra energy from the carbs anyways. Besides, more carbs is always a better alternative to more fats.

5.) Walk more. - This is a relatively easy change. Try parking in the last row of an aisle at the grocery store or Wal-Mart. Get rid of your television remote and walk to the TV when you wish to change the channel. Little changes in habit make all the difference.

6.) Spend a half-hour less on the computer/video games per day. - Not a big sacrifice. By making this commitment, you will find yourself participating in activites which force you to get out and burn calories.

7.) Spread out snacks and meals evenly during the day. - Many people feel that small snacks throughout the day cause obesity. However, small snacks here and there are much better than pigging out once a day. Your body actually becomes better at digesting food if you spread out your meals and snacks. Many dietitians often recommend up to 5 small meals a day.

I hope these tips are of help to somebody. Working toward better health has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I have never felt better physically. If you have any questions or comments about my diet, feel free to e-mail me at TeenageFanboy@gmail.com

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