Out West
Member
Sodas and other sugared drinks are pure poison. I admire your discipline. Great work.
Out
West
Out
West
I got tired of how I looked and felt...
- Thread starter Evil One
- Start date
1965
Member
Outstanding! You are truly inspirational to me. Keep up the great work! 
whitecoyote
Member
WOW!
Congratulations!
I'm impressd. You should be very proud of yourself.
Congratulations!
I'm impressd. You should be very proud of yourself.
Evil One,
You have made some outstanding changes. You've gotta feel tons better...no pun intended. Your results are phenominal. Common sense, discipline and persistency have taken you a long way. Congradulations!!!!!!!!!
Your post has come at a very meaningful time in my life.
I'm a big guy....6'5" and currently way too heavy.
I played football as a teenager and was very active throughout ,my college days. Knee reconstruction at age 18 was something I recovered from at the time. Football injuries have lasting effects...the echoes of those injuries and surgeries have resonated in my 30's and now 40's.
Unfortunately for me I let my college eating habits carry over into adulthood but my excercise habits tapered off. Extra weight on the beltline every year. I smoked for a long while, too. I quit the cigarettes for good 6 years ago. In that time I added a lot of weight.
Well time marched on and so did a few more pounds every year.
I made the decision two months ago that enough was enough. I was, by God, gonna loose the weight and get into shape. I pushed myself a bit too hard too soon, I'm afraid. I should have ramped into a program vs jumping into it too hard.
Pain resulted. Aches and pains, mainly in the knees ground my progress to a halt. I took some advice from a coworker and began glucosamine and chrondroitin loaded Osteo BiFlex daily. The results came within two weeks.
I then maintained my vigilance over no sugar drinks, tapered off the sugary snacks and junk food. I resumed lots of walking daily.
I was playing golf with my father a two weeks ago and felt something pop in my right ankle during my backswing. Couldn't walk without crutches. Got in to see an orthopedic surgeon last week.
I had my 42nd birthday last week. On that very day I was told he'd have to operate this Friday. We discussed what/how/when to take safegaurds against reinjury assuming I make a full recovery. The weight...the weight....the weight.....lose it....lose it......lose it. This was a reoccuring theme throughout the pre-op testing I did today from the nurse.
I grinned inside when she said this. What she didn't know is that I've actually lost a good deal of weight during this mess...even with limited mobility. Getting on the scales today proved it.
Zero sugar drinks (I used to love Mt. Dew) and almost no Diet Cokes. Lots of water when I wake up.....usually my daily coffee with Splenda.....then tons of water throughout the day.
Food.....well I've been really enjoying Lean Cusines. Tons of flavor and 250 calories. Also steamed brown rice and fresh vegatables with just a tad of teriaki sauce. Tuna and samon as well. Boneless chicken breasts with low sugar/low sodium marinade/sauce (Don's Seasoning Delight from Augusta, GA....look it up on the web and order some....outstading stuff).
Losing weight with very limited mobility. Cut out a great deal of sugar....severly reduced my sodium intake....no more fried foods. I can feel a big difference when slipping on clothes. I've got a long, long way to go but have reason to be encouraged. I'm looking forward to getting past this surgery and getting my activity level up. I think I'll really see the weight drop off more rapidly then.
The funny thing is my wife. This is the hilarious part of this. She's tall, slim and trim. Very fit. She works hard in the gym almost daily to stay this way. I tell her all the time she is more fit now than she was 20 years ago. Her job is in the wellness field. She assists people every day....smoking cessation, weight loss, designing healthy lifestyles and etc. She's never pushed or demanded me...knowing I'm the stubborn type that would have to come around on my own. She told me the other day she cold see a difference and was very supportive.
I'm grateful to have been on the right track but am aggravated by the injury slowing down progress. The pain that I've felt...and the post-op pain is gonna be a very powerful reminder that the weight has to keep going....going......gone and stay gone.
The journey of 1,000 miles take the first step. We'll mine is temporarily needing some crutches and limps...but still heading toward my goal.
Thanks for your post, Evil One. Good luck to you and keep up the good work.
You have made some outstanding changes. You've gotta feel tons better...no pun intended. Your results are phenominal. Common sense, discipline and persistency have taken you a long way. Congradulations!!!!!!!!!
Your post has come at a very meaningful time in my life.
I'm a big guy....6'5" and currently way too heavy.
I played football as a teenager and was very active throughout ,my college days. Knee reconstruction at age 18 was something I recovered from at the time. Football injuries have lasting effects...the echoes of those injuries and surgeries have resonated in my 30's and now 40's.
Unfortunately for me I let my college eating habits carry over into adulthood but my excercise habits tapered off. Extra weight on the beltline every year. I smoked for a long while, too. I quit the cigarettes for good 6 years ago. In that time I added a lot of weight.
Well time marched on and so did a few more pounds every year.
I made the decision two months ago that enough was enough. I was, by God, gonna loose the weight and get into shape. I pushed myself a bit too hard too soon, I'm afraid. I should have ramped into a program vs jumping into it too hard.
Pain resulted. Aches and pains, mainly in the knees ground my progress to a halt. I took some advice from a coworker and began glucosamine and chrondroitin loaded Osteo BiFlex daily. The results came within two weeks.
I then maintained my vigilance over no sugar drinks, tapered off the sugary snacks and junk food. I resumed lots of walking daily.
I was playing golf with my father a two weeks ago and felt something pop in my right ankle during my backswing. Couldn't walk without crutches. Got in to see an orthopedic surgeon last week.
I had my 42nd birthday last week. On that very day I was told he'd have to operate this Friday. We discussed what/how/when to take safegaurds against reinjury assuming I make a full recovery. The weight...the weight....the weight.....lose it....lose it......lose it. This was a reoccuring theme throughout the pre-op testing I did today from the nurse.
I grinned inside when she said this. What she didn't know is that I've actually lost a good deal of weight during this mess...even with limited mobility. Getting on the scales today proved it.
Zero sugar drinks (I used to love Mt. Dew) and almost no Diet Cokes. Lots of water when I wake up.....usually my daily coffee with Splenda.....then tons of water throughout the day.
Food.....well I've been really enjoying Lean Cusines. Tons of flavor and 250 calories. Also steamed brown rice and fresh vegatables with just a tad of teriaki sauce. Tuna and samon as well. Boneless chicken breasts with low sugar/low sodium marinade/sauce (Don's Seasoning Delight from Augusta, GA....look it up on the web and order some....outstading stuff).
Losing weight with very limited mobility. Cut out a great deal of sugar....severly reduced my sodium intake....no more fried foods. I can feel a big difference when slipping on clothes. I've got a long, long way to go but have reason to be encouraged. I'm looking forward to getting past this surgery and getting my activity level up. I think I'll really see the weight drop off more rapidly then.
The funny thing is my wife. This is the hilarious part of this. She's tall, slim and trim. Very fit. She works hard in the gym almost daily to stay this way. I tell her all the time she is more fit now than she was 20 years ago. Her job is in the wellness field. She assists people every day....smoking cessation, weight loss, designing healthy lifestyles and etc. She's never pushed or demanded me...knowing I'm the stubborn type that would have to come around on my own. She told me the other day she cold see a difference and was very supportive.
I'm grateful to have been on the right track but am aggravated by the injury slowing down progress. The pain that I've felt...and the post-op pain is gonna be a very powerful reminder that the weight has to keep going....going......gone and stay gone.
The journey of 1,000 miles take the first step. We'll mine is temporarily needing some crutches and limps...but still heading toward my goal.
Thanks for your post, Evil One. Good luck to you and keep up the good work.
OH GREAT!!!! As I'm eating my "Big Hunk", I stumble into this thread......I guess I'll finish it and a coors "light" and go off to bed depressed for me and happy for you..........................kidding.....Congratulations!!!!!!
...............kidding.....Congratulations!!!!!!
alde
Member
Great job on your lifestyle change. It suits you well.
I am in a very similar situation at 49 years old and over 260 lbs.. My job keeps me behind a desk and I don't get any exercise to speak of. I love sweets and food in general and eat way too much of what I like. I have been thinking in the last couple of months that it's time for a change as I have been buying 3XL shirts and 46 pants.
If I may I would like to join your support group. Maybe this thread will help extend the lives of a few people. I could use some folks to talk to about this openly.
Keep it up.
I am in a very similar situation at 49 years old and over 260 lbs.. My job keeps me behind a desk and I don't get any exercise to speak of. I love sweets and food in general and eat way too much of what I like. I have been thinking in the last couple of months that it's time for a change as I have been buying 3XL shirts and 46 pants.
If I may I would like to join your support group. Maybe this thread will help extend the lives of a few people. I could use some folks to talk to about this openly.
Keep it up.
JcMack
Member
About 2 years ago I went from full time 40 hrs. to 32 hrs. 4 days a week at work. I did it voluntarily and took SS at 62. (if you take SS at 62 MAKE SURE you understand the whole deal) Anyway I was 6'1 230 lbs. with loose size 40 jeans. When I went part time. I added 20 lbs in 6 mos. I read somewhere that for the average guy every additional 5 lbs means 1 additional inch at the waistband. That held true for me. So when I retired 4 months ago I weighed about 250, size 44 jeans. I am now eating only chicken (white meat) or turkey either one is broiled. Lots of vegetables. I'm comfortable eating only twice a day. I've lost maybe 10 lbs and am down to size 42. I'd really like to get down to a point where I can quit BP meds.
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Hi Jim,
Congratulations! You have done GOOD!!! It's not easy but well worth the effort.
I've been working on my health/weight and know how difficult it can be...I've had to fight to maintain my weight most of my life so what you are doing/have done is very close to home.
Bob
Congratulations! You have done GOOD!!! It's not easy but well worth the effort.
I've been working on my health/weight and know how difficult it can be...I've had to fight to maintain my weight most of my life so what you are doing/have done is very close to home.
Bob
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gunlovingirl
Member
I just got a few minutes to check out some posts and saw this one. What an amazing change! You should be proud Jim! I honestly wouldn't think it was the same person! Many good wishes for continued success and health!
bitstream
Member
Be careful with that, only eating twice/day can get you some short term results, but your body will outflank you and change its metabolism rate to adjust. Then your gains will be more difficult. Both my nutritionist and doctor advised me it is far healthier (and more effective) to eat about 5 times/day in small amounts (see my earlier posts). That causes your body's metabolism to eventually get used to burning hot all day long instead of going into starvation mode where it conserves everything (by saving it as fat). When the metabolism goes high, your fat will drop off you in buckets. Just be sure your 5x day is smart and sized appropriately. Even if you take the exact same food quantity you ate yesterday in two meals and just space it out over the day into 5 snacks! That's far better for you. I used to eat only once/day at dinner and couldn't figure out why I wasn't loosing weight. Now I eat something every few hours and the pounds keep falling off.
Good Luck!!!!
JcMack
Member
bitstream: Thanks for advice. My current approach won't be long term. I hope to loose another ten, so I feel a little better about myself. Once that's accomplished I can go to smaller portions X more meals. A freind of mine weighed 325 this time last year. He has gone the manged meal route. He picks up meals at their location twice weekly. 3 meals a day. $705 a month. He's a bachelor, no other food in the house. He's lost about maybe 40 lbs. He's always hungry.
Jim: Excellent job!! It's so easy to put it on. So very hard to get it off. It seems the older you get, the harder it is to loose weight. So the earlier you start the better.
Jim: Excellent job!! It's so easy to put it on. So very hard to get it off. It seems the older you get, the harder it is to loose weight. So the earlier you start the better.
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Wheelgunner840
Member
This has turned out to be quite the support group! See what you did here Evil One!
Congrats to all for taking better care of yourselves. bitstream is correct with the "eat throughout the day" thing. I have been getting very good results with eating 3 times a day . Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fruit, or other healthy snacks through out the day are helpful in keeping you from overdoing it at suppertime.
At 6'2" and 278, the doctor said the the weight had to go! I am now at 252, and plan on getting down to 225-230 within the next 3 months.
For those with knee and ankle problems, may I suggest swimming, and walking in a pool. Walking in water that is belt to chest high takes a whole lot of weight off your legs, and provides plenty of aerobic exercise. I know it is tough to find a pool for many folks, but a lot of gyms have them.
Here's hoping that everyone meets their individual goals!
WG840
Congrats to all for taking better care of yourselves. bitstream is correct with the "eat throughout the day" thing. I have been getting very good results with eating 3 times a day . Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fruit, or other healthy snacks through out the day are helpful in keeping you from overdoing it at suppertime.
At 6'2" and 278, the doctor said the the weight had to go! I am now at 252, and plan on getting down to 225-230 within the next 3 months.
For those with knee and ankle problems, may I suggest swimming, and walking in a pool. Walking in water that is belt to chest high takes a whole lot of weight off your legs, and provides plenty of aerobic exercise. I know it is tough to find a pool for many folks, but a lot of gyms have them.
Here's hoping that everyone meets their individual goals!
WG840
bitstream
Member
This has turned out to be quite the support group! See what you did here Evil One!
Congrats to all for taking better care of yourselves. bitstream is correct with the "eat throughout the day" thing. I have been getting very good results with eating 3 times a day . Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fruit, or other healthy snacks through out the day are helpful in keeping you from overdoing it at suppertime.
At 6'2" and 278, the doctor said the the weight had to go! I am now at 252, and plan on getting down to 225-230 within the next 3 months.
For those with knee and ankle problems, may I suggest swimming, and walking in a pool. Walking in water that is belt to chest high takes a whole lot of weight off your legs, and provides plenty of aerobic exercise. I know it is tough to find a pool for many folks, but a lot of gyms have them.
Here's hoping that everyone meets their individual goals!
WG840
Good Luck! The best part is, this isn't some fad/book diet, it's just eating natural and healthy. Those popular diets always seemed dangerous or odd. What could possibly be saner than just eating small, healthy portions throughout the day?
Good advice on the pool. I've also found that the stationary bicycle is very good on knees. When My knee blew a couple of years ago, the bicycle is what finally got it back in shape. My physical therapist approved (he also gave me a bunch of other low impact exercises to strengthen the knee).
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Congadulations! I been fat all my life. I am comeing up on 70. My early life was in a country general store. Maybe I got my start raiding the cookie cases and pop cooler. I never have been anything approaching so called normal even in primer school. I remember once my dad getting on me for drinking too much water as he thought it was makeing me fat!
Speaking of dad, while active he never worked out a day in his life and ate anything he wanted, yet at 6ft 5"s and 220 #s, had a perfect athletic build without trying! All my early years I had bull work that not many experiance these days. I did go from that to a easy guard job for my career. I done my damage in my early years as now I eat about a thrid of what I did when young.
I still say genetics is the biggest factor. I have seen sets of identical twins that have fought their weight on and off and sepperatly and still both end up looking identical.
Being fat definetly affected my life from the standpoint of jobs etc. I must have been turned down by the service about 4 times and another 4 or 5 leo jobs. Maybe saved my life?
I tried many diets and temporary gyms. The only thing that did temporarly work was versions of the atkins diet. Maybe 2 or 3 times years ago I lost almost a 100 pounds, however I would almost pass out if I stood up and I went maybe 3 weeks without going to the bathroom!
Everyone told me to get off it! I once had a doctor put me on thyroid pills. He told me I needed to stay on them for life. I lost huge and never felt better! He died. I have went to many doctors since than and asked to be tested. Every time they tested me and told me I am in the low range of normal and not bad enough to take the pills. I dont drink alchoel, dont drink shurgared pop or eat real heavy. If my wife and I might eat out many times we will SHARE a breakfast. We are built similar, she is about 5ft 10 and I am now 6ft and 3 spins! (I was 6ft 2"s in high school and army physicals but shrunk.) The entire world has somehow got bigger. I have read the average japanese is about 6"s taller than before the war. When I was a kid it seemed my dad was the biggest man in the country at 6ft 5"s. Now that wouldnt warrant a secound look! Anyway I look like hell, but feel okay. I have a wife that loves me. I have worked and went to school with countless guys that at my same age were a lot skinnier than me and have been dead a long time! I dont belive everything that "experts" tell me.
Speaking of dad, while active he never worked out a day in his life and ate anything he wanted, yet at 6ft 5"s and 220 #s, had a perfect athletic build without trying! All my early years I had bull work that not many experiance these days. I did go from that to a easy guard job for my career. I done my damage in my early years as now I eat about a thrid of what I did when young.
I still say genetics is the biggest factor. I have seen sets of identical twins that have fought their weight on and off and sepperatly and still both end up looking identical.
Being fat definetly affected my life from the standpoint of jobs etc. I must have been turned down by the service about 4 times and another 4 or 5 leo jobs. Maybe saved my life?
I tried many diets and temporary gyms. The only thing that did temporarly work was versions of the atkins diet. Maybe 2 or 3 times years ago I lost almost a 100 pounds, however I would almost pass out if I stood up and I went maybe 3 weeks without going to the bathroom!
Everyone told me to get off it! I once had a doctor put me on thyroid pills. He told me I needed to stay on them for life. I lost huge and never felt better! He died. I have went to many doctors since than and asked to be tested. Every time they tested me and told me I am in the low range of normal and not bad enough to take the pills. I dont drink alchoel, dont drink shurgared pop or eat real heavy. If my wife and I might eat out many times we will SHARE a breakfast. We are built similar, she is about 5ft 10 and I am now 6ft and 3 spins! (I was 6ft 2"s in high school and army physicals but shrunk.) The entire world has somehow got bigger. I have read the average japanese is about 6"s taller than before the war. When I was a kid it seemed my dad was the biggest man in the country at 6ft 5"s. Now that wouldnt warrant a secound look! Anyway I look like hell, but feel okay. I have a wife that loves me. I have worked and went to school with countless guys that at my same age were a lot skinnier than me and have been dead a long time! I dont belive everything that "experts" tell me.
straightshooter1
US Veteran
I'm always impressed when someone makes such a lifestyle change.
You've done very well.
I have some physical limitations that preclude about every kind of exercise except lifting my trap gun up 300 or so times per day. Thankfully, I can still do that. And, sometimes I even hit that little orangy thing they throw from the traphouse. You know they taste just like chicken if you cook them long enough!
Still, I've dropped 54 lbs. since mid-March and hope to lose another 30 or so. I really would like to see a 32" waist again (on me, that is) and still be healthy enough to shoot. I look pretty good (maybe you'd disagree, but don't say it) with the 38" waist, but I've been here before and know that, if I stop now, I'll go back up. I have given away every piece of clothing as it got too big for me, so it would cost me a bundle to go up again.
I've lost 1000 pounds in my life and gained 1100 back. I KNOW that diets don't work. It takes a change of lifestyle to keep it off.
In my 20s and 30s, I was a runner, 4.2 miles every day and over 6 on the weekends. Unfortunately, this muscle disease, in the MD family, ended that. 32" became 34, then 36, then, finally, 42. 10 inches in added girth can't be good and I ended up in Atrial Fib and with diabetes requiring insulin.
The Atrial Fib is a bit disconcerting when one first discovers it, but, after a few months I don't notice it and the docs say that it, alone, makes me no less likely to have a heart attack than if I was in Sinus Rhythm.
On another Forum, some of the posters decided to do a "group" diet. I didn't participate at first, then got into it. Hearing of others success and about them falling off the wagon and getting back on was helpful to me.
Congratulations again on your changes.
Bob
You've done very well.
I have some physical limitations that preclude about every kind of exercise except lifting my trap gun up 300 or so times per day. Thankfully, I can still do that. And, sometimes I even hit that little orangy thing they throw from the traphouse. You know they taste just like chicken if you cook them long enough!
Still, I've dropped 54 lbs. since mid-March and hope to lose another 30 or so. I really would like to see a 32" waist again (on me, that is
) and still be healthy enough to shoot. I look pretty good (maybe you'd disagree, but don't say it) with the 38" waist, but I've been here before and know that, if I stop now, I'll go back up. I have given away every piece of clothing as it got too big for me, so it would cost me a bundle to go up again.I've lost 1000 pounds in my life and gained 1100 back. I KNOW that diets don't work. It takes a change of lifestyle to keep it off.
In my 20s and 30s, I was a runner, 4.2 miles every day and over 6 on the weekends. Unfortunately, this muscle disease, in the MD family, ended that. 32" became 34, then 36, then, finally, 42. 10 inches in added girth can't be good and I ended up in Atrial Fib and with diabetes requiring insulin.
The Atrial Fib is a bit disconcerting when one first discovers it, but, after a few months I don't notice it and the docs say that it, alone, makes me no less likely to have a heart attack than if I was in Sinus Rhythm.
On another Forum, some of the posters decided to do a "group" diet. I didn't participate at first, then got into it. Hearing of others success and about them falling off the wagon and getting back on was helpful to me.
Congratulations again on your changes.
Bob
OP
Evil One
Member
You are right... dang what a support group.
I have always watched the interactions here like a big scattered out family, and it has always made me smile.
I have fluctuated up and down between 300 and 340 for years... never really trying to lose, but trying not to gain too much.
A few times I did try, sometimes a bit went away... but it always came back.
Looking at it as "this is how I live now" made all the difference in the world.
I'm heading to the store to see if I can finally make my knees feel better, thanks bitstream for the advice.
Jim
I have always watched the interactions here like a big scattered out family, and it has always made me smile.
I have fluctuated up and down between 300 and 340 for years... never really trying to lose, but trying not to gain too much.
A few times I did try, sometimes a bit went away... but it always came back.
Looking at it as "this is how I live now" made all the difference in the world.
I'm heading to the store to see if I can finally make my knees feel better, thanks bitstream for the advice.
Jim
OP
Evil One
Member
Picked up the Glucosamine Chondroitin, dang at the horse pills
Started them tonight... looking forward to less creaking from the knees.
I'm not one to look at myself, most pics are taken and I happen to be there... but I was walking into my motel room tonight and just stopped and looked.
I see me every day and dont notice a lot.
I honestly looked, I want to thank all of you for the kind words.
I used to do my best to not really look.
I have improved more than I had thought.
I am not a thin guy, really dont want to be.
But I can be a happy and content big guy.
Not big and round, but just a "big guy".
If I dont lose another pound or inch, I will still be the happiest I have been with myself in decades.
If I do keep losing, which I should, I will look at each new day as an extension of my happiness.
You people are amazing, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I never thought I would see this again.
Jim
Started them tonight... looking forward to less creaking from the knees.
I'm not one to look at myself, most pics are taken and I happen to be there... but I was walking into my motel room tonight and just stopped and looked.
I see me every day and dont notice a lot.
I honestly looked, I want to thank all of you for the kind words.
I used to do my best to not really look.
I have improved more than I had thought.
I am not a thin guy, really dont want to be.
But I can be a happy and content big guy.
Not big and round, but just a "big guy".
If I dont lose another pound or inch, I will still be the happiest I have been with myself in decades.
If I do keep losing, which I should, I will look at each new day as an extension of my happiness.
You people are amazing, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I never thought I would see this again.
Jim
BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
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My personal experience has been that it's not so much what you take in as what you burn off. The advantage to a better diet is that in the long run it's more efficient, you get more energy for your food dollar.
Frank237
Absent Comrade
Quite an accomplishment! Congratulations.
Your adding years and years to your life as well. Enjoy them.
FN in MT
Your adding years and years to your life as well. Enjoy them.
FN in MT
Great results. I started losing weight after diagnosed as type II as well. Went from 190 to 150 or so. Unlike you I am short(5'6"). I once weighed over 200. Folks told me I looked like a teddy bear.
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