It's Official - I've Lost 40 Pounds!

[Dannyalcatraz]

First, that IS exquisite, dead guy!

I recognize that diet- when I graduated from High School, I was 5'3" 242lbs.

After finishing my first year of college, I was 5'7" and 193lbs.

I, too, was taking in huge amounts of calories in soft drink form (more than you). I gave them up cold turkey, substituting iced tea (unsweetened), water, milk and fruit juice. Currently, I've added certain diet soft drinks back into the mix- namely Tom Thumb's carbonated flavored waters- cheaper & tastier than any bottled water out there!

It wasn't just the drinks- like you, I also excercised a LOT more than I had been doing before. Specifically, I played intermural sports. All of them. Mens & Co-Ed.

There were some days I was so tired I fell asleep before eating dinner.

Where my diet differed from yours was I didn't alter my content- I altered my eating habits (and portions, to some extent). I allowed myself 3 meals a day + 2 snacks...but anything that passed my lips was either a meal or a snack. The metabolism stayed stoked, and I didn't get munchies. I'd even eat things like ice cream...but I didn't buy it and bring it home- too easy to eat lots of it or eat it right before bedtime that way.

One bit of advice- don't hang out too much with too many people who reinforce your negative habits. Because of situations beyond my control, I had to move back home after school, and gained my weight back...and haven't lost it. The house was full of snacks, etc., there was no portion control- you know how it is.

 

[EricNoah]

Great job!

Calorie reduction and increased exercise helped me greatly last year when I finally got serious about my health. I was able to lose weight on a 1500 calorie diet with a couple of 1 or 1.5 mile walks per day. The music player was helpful for me as well.

Diet-wise, it was important for me to realize that a lot of my cravings had nothing to do with hunger -- they had to do with boredom or seeking comfort. It also helped to do research on food for a while to get the hang of which foods had how many calories. I used websites like http://www.nutritiondata.com/ to help me learn.

During the school year, I find I am quite happy on the following diet:
* breakfast: plain oatmeal with splenda, coffee (150 calories)
* lunch: frozen meal such as Lean Cuisine, fat-free yogurt, diet soda (usually less than 400 calories total)
* a sensible dinner (avoid useless and unsatisfying carbs like potatoes and bread, always include veggies, but otherwise don't worry about the specifics too much as I have 900-1000 calories to play with here)

Also, for over a year I've been in the habit of recording my daily food choices and exercise in a journal. Helps me see patterns, and keeps me honest. Edit: see attachment for the format I use when journaling food and exercise (Word document).

I've slipped off the wagon a bit in the past month (I had six weeks of awesome amounts of exercise from mid-June through late July, lots of biking), but in August my exercise level dropped and I stopped recording my food choices.

It does make a difference in how I look and feel when I'm doing it right. And it's never too late to restart a good habit.

 

[Ebonyr]

Fantastic. I working on a diet as well. I want to lose about 40 lbs. I love bread and sweet things. I have to get the mental part down. Great inspiration.

 

[megamania]

I've lost 15 pounds since January mainly by cutting back on chips, pizza and subs. This has also brought my average Bloodsugar down from 180 to 120 with regular checks under 100 which is beyond awesome for my track record.

When I stopped "real" soda about 8 years ago it was a huge event. Diet soda is so different. Last year by accident I got a regular soda and damn- those things are like syrup and are even gritty for texture. I never knew soda had texture until then.


Anyway- its hard to lose weight and even harder to keep it off. Keep at at and people will notice.

 

[Nelly]

Wow! That truly is success.

Another way to stay in shape is to walk or use the hybrid bike instead of using car, and if you work with lots of troops label the food you get for them, so you are not using it yourself. It works.

Pack it up as soon as possible, use the bike instead the bus to bring the stuff to the mail office, or simply walk.

I ride the bike to the office, it's about an hour away, so I am riding the bike nearly three hours a day. My town is a bycicle town anyway

Also, fruits and vegetable instead of sweets for gaming evening, fish and good yummy salad instead of Pizza or Döner, fries or Hamburgers... Tea and Juice instead of Soda Pop..

Riding the bike for three hours to get to your best friend instead of using train. That all keeps you in shape and let you lose some lbs

 

[green slime]

Congratulations! Keep it up! Especially keep exercising!

 

[Zander]

Well done!

Last summer, I went from clinically obese to normal using the same tried and true method: counting calories and exercising. Since then, I've kept my weight constant (at the upper boundary of normal) even though I no longer count calories religiously and do slightly less exercise. I'd like to lose a few more pounds to get comfortably within the normal range but if I do, it will be gradual.

 

[Nyaricus]

Congrats man

I actually had a similar problem last year; depression + the new GTA game + a guy who has never done much homework for school + no job = me, a stocky by nature, but 5'6 (now 7'!) bloating up to about 220 pounds. My personal "okay" weight is actually more like 175, so you get the idea.

My arms and legs got flabby, I got a gut, and was pudgy all over. I was really deep into the depression at the time, and just rode with it. Sucked bad.

Then, I finally decided last year in March to start doing sit-ups. Back a couple years before that, I could do about 60 no problem. I couldn't even do 10.

But I kept at it, and am now at about 180-185, and feeling great. I am drinking less pop, less chips, less crap in general, and walking everywhere. I workl at a gas station down the street from me and its a 25 minute walk, adn I work about 3 or 4 shifts a week, so it's great

It was really hard to realise that I had a problem (depression) and change it, and in the end it partially helped throw away a 2 year + relationship (although there were many mroe factors thatn just that), some friendships, and my health - for a while.

The main moral is to preservere, and work at doing you best, and sticking to your guns. Congrats to those that have, and those that will

 

[SpiralBound]

Congrats to everyone who has accomplished their weight loss goals. Obesity is the great addiction of modern society. I too would like to lose about 40 pounds. I'm 5' 7' and approx. 220. According to BMI I should be 165, but I don't think that the BMI properly accounts for my stocky and thick skeletal structure. I'm fat, make no mistake, but I am also big-boned - for real! The last time I was 165 lbs was when I was a stocky, but relatively slim 16 year old. Since then, (I'm 33), I've gotten only stockier, structurally speaking. I almost look Dwarven! I think that I would have to be actually ill to be 165 plounds now! A weight of 180 pounds though, now that sounds like a more realistic and healthy weight for me.

While I'm not depressed like Nyarius was, I am rather apathetic towards myself, while simultaneously wanting to change as well. Yes, I know that those are contradictry influences! I want to improve my dietary intake and increase my activity level. I want to lose my "desk jockey flab" and become healthy again! I'm not looking for magic or immediate solutions either. A lot of what people are describing are sensible sounding changes to make. I think I'll keep re-reading this thread for motivation!