Weight Loss - for reals

So I know over the years there have been weight loss discussions and they seem to fade off (usually about Thanksgiving...).

But seriously you guys... I'm 36, weigh right at 400 pounds... I'm gonna die from a heart attack before I'm 40 if I don't watch it.

So, I'm going to try my very best to post here at least weekly (but let's face it, I'm here everyday - it'll be more often) and talk about my struggles and successes, my temptations, what I'm doing to change things, the whole shebang. Who knows - I may take a picture this weekend and post it to track my progress.

So, who's with me?

Right on man!  Let us know how we can be praying for you during this time and also if there are ways we can help keep you accountable and such.

Well, be praying for me.  I am always one of the first to jump in but never seem to have the follow-through with what I envision.  I had lost from 325 down to 259 but am back up to 300.  Lately, I just don't care.  When I do overeat, which is daily, I just get beaten up by guilt.  When I pray about it just for help to say no, I feel like God doesn't care and isn't listening.  I don't want to wake up skinny as that isn't going to happen.  I KNOW it will take real work.  I just don't feel like starting again when I KNOW from experience that I will fail.  It is a horrible place to be, but I just wanted to be real about it.

I'm in a similar situation.  I might seem a bit lighter at 240 lbs, yet I am only 5'-5" tall (so a BMI of 40).  I keep telling myself I am going to eat better (or at least eat less) but can only seem to keep it up for a meal or two.
I've been over weight for almost 20 years now, and it mostly seems like a forgone conclusion that I will never be a reasonable weight again.

I myself feel heavier than I should. Last year, the weight I'd gained was muscle, as I was working physically, but now that I'm in university, I'm finding myself feeling heavier. It started around the holidays, with loads of cookies and chocolates at arm's length. I try to buy relatively healthy food, but it's the quantity I struggle with. I need self-control and exercise, in that order.

I just need the self-control part.  My chiropractor also does health and nutrition counseling that I can't afford.  My insurance won't cover it.  However, he does say that the key to losing weight is in the kitchen--not in exercise.  Most of us working, unless we sit in an office, move around enough to burn off unnecessary calories that were stored according to my doctor.

The big thing that changed it for me, is going to the doctor and getting diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I HAD to quit. Once I did, it became easier. I can even taste when something is heavy with salt now. Do I enjoy it? Not always. One thing nice, is my doctor tells me that you have to enjoy life as well. So a bacon cheeseburger every three months or so is not a bad thing. It's all about moderation and exercise.

If you are truly serious, I would go to a doctor and get a physical and work with them on it. I've been eating right and exercising for a year and a half, and was barely losing any weight and always tired. My sugar levels were great. So I went to another doctor and found out that my testosterone levels were way down as well as my Thyroid levels being low. Once I got on meds, I lost 10 pounds in six months and have more energy.

I'm with you Ishmael.  I'll pray for you as you go through all this.

I recently had an Angioscreen done. I wasn't sure what it was but they did it at work and it sounded like something I should do. The use Ultrasound to look at your arteries. First was on the neck, and everything looked good. Then in the stomach area that also looked good. Then they did on my legs near my ankles. Looked OK but need to work on that, there was some plaque there. They said to lose weight and that would help tremendously. I hit the eliptical at least 3 days a week so I will need to "up" it a bit. The problem is no time... I'm lucky if I get to use it 3 days a week. Last week I didn't use it at all because I was out of town on business. They also said I was overweight but not "obese". They gave me a print out and said next time I have a physical to show it to a doctor. 

My biggest prob is food. I can easily go 3 miles on the eliptical but it isn't enough. Last time I checked I weight about 215 and I need to be about 180. Last summer I got down to around 195 which was pretty good. So I will have to exercise more and try to eat better.



Prices may vary, we had to pay $35 if 100 people signed up to do it and I feel it was worth the $35 bucks.

Thanks for sharing everybody.

I think one of the best things for something like this is the support of close relationships. I had plans to start a 3 on 3 basketball game once a month after I lost some weight. I even have all the guys who would want to play - but now I feel like I need to lose some weight to start.

But my wife and one of the guys (who I'm pretty close to) suggested I go ahead and schedule one in like March, so just to go ahead and do it.

So this week I'm going to look at March and plan something.

Second topic -

Food is an issue for me. I eat relatively healthy quite a bit but I also eat quite a bit, quite a bit. A buddy of mine (who actually weighs my goal weight but is 3 inches shorter and wants to lose some weight) eats whatever he wants but he strictly limits himself and makes sure he has vegetables and stuff. So he may want pizza, but he'll only eat 2 pieces, then have some carrots or green beans or something whereas I'll have 5 or 6 pieces...

Food consumption reduction is very difficult.  I started cutting back very slowly.  Instead of 4 Jr. Cheeseburgers, I got 3.  Then 2.  2 is now sufficient.  Pizza is a killer.  I'd eat 5 pieces of Costco pizza, which are quite large. I'm now down to 2 which is sufficient.  I also tell myself when I want more to eat that if I get hungry later, I can have a snack.

What you see before you is certainly not the epitome of perfection in healthy eating, but I've lost 50 pounds over 5 years.  And I'm keeping it off without trying.

That's the idea Xid.


I quit drinking cream and sugar in my coffee a few months ago and lost about 10 pounds pretty quickly with that small change. Now I've gotten used to black coffee.

I haven't had a beer since December 31 (when I had 3 ) and I've lost some from that. It's shocking how many calories just one bottle has...


Next I'm giving up sugar in other things and trying to limit bread, pasta and rice. We'll see how it goes.

I am officially under 300 pounds.  Have maintained under 300 for a month now.

Way to go Xid! 

I am officially under 390 and have been for two weeks.

Excellent!  I've always put what I've lost back on so to able to lose a few pounds and keep it off is pretty big accomplishment for me.

I had lost 59 lbs a few years back and kept it off for a couple of years but am back up to where I started.  I NEED to lose weight for myself and to help my wife control her diabetes.  Please pray that the Lord will convict me of my sin and won't leave me alone about it.  I need REAL change and not just another failed diet plan.

Diet plans fail for most of us.  I decided to try changing the way I do things.  It's been tough and has taken several years to start keeping weight off.  Still have lots to lose.  I stay away from "diet" foods like soda and low fat crap.  I use real sugar in my coffee and switched from artificial creamers to half and half.  My wife and I try to eat healthy, whole foods.  That doesn't mean living off of salad.  I eat mostly low carb foods.

Low carb was how I lost all my weight a couple of years ago.  I just gave up and started eating whatever I wanted and how much I wanted whenever I wanted.

Xid, I'm doing something similar. It's basically Paleo and Keto put together. Lots of vegetables, lean meats, eggs (lots of eggs - probably my favorite food), low sugar dairy (cheese, whole milk) and minimal nuts and seeds (no peanuts or cashews cause they're actually legumes).

When I started I was at about 410 pounds. I'm down now to 385 and plan to keep losing.

Very cool!

While my lunch was a bit too big, I only had an Atkin's bar for breakfast and have had no snacks.  I've drank one Sprite Zero and a couple of bottles of water.  I am trying to get started again.  It will be easier if we are all in this together.

Pickles are a good snack.  That is if you like pickles.

I like sunflower seeds, if you're doing low carb. They have protein, a little fat and no carbs.

I always felt nuts and seeds had too many fat calories. Fine for when I backpack and need lots of calories but not when I snack at my desk. I have switched to jerky but also eat fruit which has a fair number of calories but figure the other nutrients make it worth it.

I guess I'm a toothpick compared to some of you but it baffles me why I can't lose the 15 more pounds I want to. I realize I have put on some muscle (been doing a pushup challenge at work), but it isn't that much and it shouldn't be around my waist.

Part of my downfall is Mountain Dew since I have always programmed better when drinking it. I only drink 1-2 cans/weekday but plan to wean off of that this summer.

I used to drink lots of Mountain Dew.  Now I only have a couple a month.  Every once in a while I'll have 1 a day for a few days.  For the most part I drink water and coffee.