I got tired of how I looked and felt...

[Evil One]

Im a big guy, around 6'4" and somewhere between 300 and 350 lbs since 1995.
Im not very old, 39, and just got tired of it.
This is me at my peak a couple of years ago at around 350.
I do fairly physical work so I am not as big as some 350 lb guys.

I floated between 350 and 335 for a couple of years depending on season... got a nice thick winter coat.

This February I got a new job, and was doing decently physical work outdoors in New Mexico.
I looked at it as an opportunity to make a change.
I went to drinking mostly water and consuming smaller portions.
It was just after this that I found out I was diabetic also.
So yea, good time for a lifestyle change.
By doing nothing other than increasing water/decreasing sugared drinks... and eating a bit less, and working a little harder I started dropping weight.
Im not a gym kind of guy, really havnt used one properly since I stopped playing football in high school.
Its been about 7 months since I increased my physical activity.
About 5 months since I started eating less.
And 3 months since I cut out most sugared drinks and eating healthier foods.
I weighed myself at home over the weekend and am at 263 lbs.
My wife got tired of my clothes falling off of me and took me shopping.
I went from size 42s being too tight and needing 44s, to being an actual size 38... which is the size I was when my oldest was born over 16 years ago.
Me last Christmas, somewhere between 335 and 340.

Me at 275 2 weeks ago...

I tried all kinds of diets... none worked.
So, I just decided to cut back a little and be smarter about what I consume.
And dang.
Its working, blood sugar is also under control.
Sorry about the ramble, but I just wanted to share.


Jim

 

[BarbC]

Wow - that's really impressive!

Not only looking good, but you're going to save yourself a lot of trouble down the road too. I'll bet your knees and back are already thanking you.

 

[Evil One]

Thanks Barb!
My knees have been shoot since high school, on reason I am not a gym kind of guy, and anything I can do to help them... they GREATLY appreciate.


Jim

 

[Beaver]

Boy, your looking good. I've lost/gained the same 40 about 10 times. Your my inspiration. Keep up the good work.

 

[wildfiresrozes]

Great job!

 

[bamabiker]

Great job. A lot of us need to do the same thing, I know I do.

 

[moonclip]

Fantastic!! Keep up the good work.

......moon

 

[n4zov]

Great job Jim! I can tell you from personal experience that what you did will add years to your life. More time to enjoy your family and S&W's!

 

[DeathGrip]

Looking good,How's the Pinto fitting now?

 

[Evil One]

Got a new pair of Chippewa super loggers on my feet... so legroom is a little tighter


Jim

 

[bitstream]

For the knees: Start taking Glucosamine Chondroitin daily. It turned my old knees into smooth working machines; I run 5.3km 3-4 times per week now and the knees don't complain anymore.

For the weight: You've done good; now add a very high fiber diet to your routine. The funny thing is, you can eat more food more often and loose weight. Just be sensible. Eat a high fiber breakfast, then eat a mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and then dinner. Just choose things like apples, bannanas, nuts (great for diet and your heart), etc. The key is to get your body used to being fed all day long so your metabolism goes way up. Just be sure you are eating the right stuff.

I've lost 20lbs just this summer and am running weekly. Before that, I was wearing size 40 jeans and barely ever did any activity. Just make the change.

 

[WC145]

Congrats!! You look great and your story is an inspiration. Keep up the good work!!

In just the last few weeks I've started doing some of the same things, smaller portions, more water less everything else and have taken off about 9 pounds and dropped below 260 for the first time in a couple of years. Now I'm comfortable with the portioning, it's time to add a little excercise. I turned 48 in June and I'm aiming to be back around 200 by my 50th birthday. I haven't been there in a decade or so, it should be interesting.

 

[truckemup97]

Great job! Now if you'd lose another 30 for me....

 

[zercool]

That's fantastic! I've been edging back up to the far side of 250, and certainly not enjoying it. I've tried the gym (more than once) and it's awful hard to stick to the routine. I'm hoping walking the new pooch a couple times a day will help - we're starting with a mile twice a day, and will work up from there. Mid-January that may not be so true... "Dog, it's ten degrees below zero and there's a thirty-mile-per-hour wind. DO YOUR THING AND LET'S GO IN."

 

[jlrhiner]

I hit the wall 1 month ago. 347 at the Dr., dressed. Started Nutrisystem for old fat diabetics, and it appears to be working. I like not having to decide what I'm going to eat and portion control. Knee's are gone too, we are injecting them to buy time before a double knee replacement.

Good job and keep it up. You just made my hero list

 

[AR_Black]

OUTSTANDING! Keep up the good work Jim!

Myself = trying to reduce intake and increase locomotion. We only get one body, and now at 43 I need to take better care of mine. I'm going thru junk-food and vending machine detox. It sucks to be tired all the time, and I'm going to do something about it! It makes me steaming !

 

[Steave]

Congrats, losing weight is never easy, but so worth it!

 

[bitstream]

OUTSTANDING! Keep up the good work Jim!

Myself = trying to reduce intake and increase locomotion. We only get one body, and now at 43 I need to take better care of mine. I'm going thru junk-food and vending machine detox. It sucks to be tired all the time, and I'm going to do something about it! It makes me steaming !

I turn 43 next month; I made my change this spring and haven't looked back. No vending machines. No junk food at all. No sweets (except I allow a modest piece of cake if at somebody's Birthday, etc. as long as it's only once a month or so). See my earlier post; I'm eating all day long (way more than I used to when I was gaining weight) and I've got energy to burn. Just eat fuel, not weight gain. Fiber, lots of fiber (you might want to ease into it; don't go 100% the first day if you know what I mean). I eat a TON of nuts; my favorite is the Planters nut-trician south beach diet blend; it's got lots of fiber and is also very heart healthy plus it tastes the best. (this is NOT the south beach diet, but what my professional nutritionist and doctor recommened). I also eat at least one bannna and one apple a day. A low-fat sandwich like turkey on a high fiber bread for lunch. I get the fiber one breakfast cereals with zero fat milk for breakfast. And then just a sensible dinner (no second helpings and no finishing somebody else's plate!). That's it, nothing magic, nothing dangerous. I've got pants falling off of me in just a couple of months and I'm running 5k runs and beating 20 somethings! One young 25 yr old sergeant was stunned when I ran right past him and left him in the dust last month. He tried to get me a couple of weeks ago by going out fast, but I reeled him in and left him behind again. I used to finish dead last every time as recently as this spring before I started this.

 

[4011]

Hats off to you slim..Good to see your doing something about it at such an early age. What are you gonna do with the jeans you can't wear ??????????????

 

[DavidA]

Congratulations! You are doing great. Keep it up.