Big-John's Diary

Big-John

New member
Well trying to loose a lot of weight for the second time of my life and this time I'm even more determined than the last. Lost around 84lb around 5 years ago, and I guess I slipped back into the daily grudge, chainging jobs from a fairly physical job to a desk job. The love for KFC, Large Pizza's and Fish & Chips hasn't been helpfull too.

I'm currently moving about more at work and have managed to change my job requirements slightly to be more active. I'm also trying to find time to walk an extra 4 mile a day Mon - Fri but with a 16 week old baby to look after it's not easy but it's just getting done. I'm also looking to buy a Cross Trainer ( Eliptical Trainer in the U.S.A ) so I can exersize more at home while the little one is having a snooze.

I'm starting at 308 lbs and looking to go down to 196 to 224 not sure yet as I'm over 6ft tall and large skeletal frame. I shall know when I get there.

I'm just following a no nonsence diet which is plenty of white meat, veggies, salad, no alcohol, have also given up smoking. Eating small and often and trying to do a fair amount of exersize.

I'm going to be weighing myself once a week, and will hope fully post some pics on here also to show my progress.

1st Goal - 280 Pounds = Day out with the new family.
2nd Goal - 252 Pounds = Nascar Racing in the U.K.
3rd Goal - 224 Pounds = Free Fall Flying
4th Goal - 196 Pounds = Clothes shopping spree in London

Week 0 Weight: 308lb
Week 0 Waist measurement: 53"

Week 1 Weight:300lb
Week 1 Waist measurement: 52"

Week 2 Weight: 297lb
Week 2 Waist measurement:52"

Week 3 Weight:291lb
Week 3 Waist measurement:51"

Week 4 Weight:286lb
Week 4 Waist measurement:50"



View attachment 6758
Inspiration - Matthew at 13lb

Week 0 (Start Date: 02-June-2008)
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Weight 308lbs
Loss/Gain = 0lbs
 
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Heya John, im guessing you will be Little John by the time you are done :)

Good to see you going sensible!
 
KFC made it all the way to the United Kingdom! Oh my! I have one down the road from me and I try not to look at it when I go by. I love their mashed potato bowls with the popcorn chicken on it.

Nice job losing the 6 your first week, that's about what I lost when I got back on the wagon. 5.8

Hope this week is great for you!
 
Thanks Guys,

It's suprising how much the U.K is getting like the U.S. Especially with food outlets such as KFC etc. I have picked up a great recipe book that I can make your own KFC type chicken and a lot healthier. Will let you know how that one goes. Or was it just the ammount I used to eat ?? :drool5:

I'm quite pleased with myself today. Not just because of the 6lb loss but I feel quite motivated to loosing this amount of weight again. I've also devided a plan at work where I can actually walk a lot more which will be a lot better. And I'm now looking at ways of doing more while I'm at home. Although there has to be time for rest.

I'm actually going to one of my best friends wedding in September and it would be nice to supprise a few people with a bit of a slimmer me. Although my target is around very early February I know it can be possible and would make a great 35th Birthday.

I'm finding it quite hard conditioning to the way I'm easting / snacking now. But I'm also finding part of this quite fun as I'm trying foods I never used to like or just haven't tried before.
 
It's suprising how much the U.K is getting like the U.S. Especially with food outlets such as KFC etc. I have picked up a great recipe book that I can make your own KFC type chicken and a lot healthier. Will let you know how that one goes
there are a couple of cookbooks out there - and a website or two devoted to restaurant "top secret" recipes that you can make at home -and with alittle tweaking you can make them a little heathier.
Or was it just the ammount I used to eat ??
I've said this more times than I can count - I managed to get to almost 400 lbs eating no fast food, no ice cream, nothign anyone would every consider remotely 'bad'... I got there by eating healthy foods...

It's the amount of calories that you're eating first and foremost that contribute to weight gain... :D
 
maleficent -

I couldn't tempt you with one of the U.K's speciality which is a deep fried mars bar then ?
Just imagine a 300 calorie chocolate bar with caramael and having this in a deep fat fryer for 5 minutes. I've never had one and certainly not tempted now.

Anyway meals are changing for me. I'm keeping an eye on portion control & calorific content and also what is in the meal like carbohydrates and trying to stick with white meat like chicken and fish.
 
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my first encounter with Nigella Lawson was whenI was on a business trip to the UK and stumbled intoa cooking show with her making Deep Fried Bounty Bars... Made my ateries hardenjust thinking about it.

Since my "lifestyle" change -i've probably eaten more choclate int he past 2 years than I have in the past 15 prior to that -i just make it work in my day.. No food is evil - no food is banned -there's stuff i won't eat because i don't like it -but i don't consider any foods bad...
 
Yes. No food is bad just in moderation !!


Week 1 (09-June-2008)
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Weight 302lbs
Loss/Gain = -6lb
Exersize 6 x 60 Min walk (24 Miles (39 km) in total)
A good start but mostly waterloss one would presume.
 
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Good start Big John! Keep it healthy and keep it moving. Don't let the scale chain ya down. I look forward to seeing your results in the weeks to come.
 
Thanks Bud.

My first feel good factor hopefully is going to be on September 13th this year when I'm going to be at a best friends wedding that I haven't seen in ages. Also a lot of other friends will be there too I haven't seen in ages.
 
Oh well even before i got out of bed this morning I knew I was having one of those "I Feel Fat" Days. anyway first port of call was the scales and to my astonishment I have dropped down another 4lb's in a couple of days. I think partly this is due still to water loss but it's certainly going down.

Also today for the first of my two 4 mile (6.5km) walk, I had a go at running. O.k. I got a little hot and a little out of breath quite quickly but hey it's a start. I really want to push myself running a little bit more but I think this is only achievable with small goals

All in all not a bad day.
 
Oh well another day and back to the exersize again. Have done my usual walk and run. Well trying to run :) . I've done slightly more running but I'm getting out of breath quite quickly, but I'm sure that will change over time. In comparison I guess that a fat guy needs more energy than a slim athlete to do the same distance. Although that dosen't make me feel 100% better, the fact that I am trying to run and doing something does.

It's Father's Dy here in the U.K on Sunday. So I've not got to let things go downhill. Maybe a nice long walk somewhere and a nice picnic may be in order. Oh and not forgetting my 4 monh old son Matthew. Who incidentaly I've weighed today at 13lb. I just can't believe that I've nearly lost his complete weight already. Absolutely astonished.

(Picture of Matthew in the first post)

Update: Done my second lot of exersize and now I feel like a cardboard cut out. Slightly stiff is an understatement shall see how tomorrow goes and may have a day of rest. :)
 
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Week 2 (15-June-2008)
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Weight 297lbs
Loss/Gain= -5lb
Exersize 10 x 60 Min Walk (40 Miles)
Still partly water loss I think, as the past couple of days I've been the same weight. Now time to burn the fat.
I've also virtually given up on sugar now and use sweetners, salt is now vary scarce in my diet and so is butter/ margarine.
But the biggest change for me is that I've really cut down on bread. Which is a big vice for me as I can't help eating the stuff
and which is probably why the amount of carbs it contains is the way that I am now. More fresh fruit is the way to go.


Just realised another pound or so and I'm below the 100lb to loose mark. WOOOOOHOOOO !!!
 
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Week 3 Exersize Schedule
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Monday - 8 Mile (12.87 km) Walk
Tuesday - 8 Mile (12.87 km) Walk
Wednesday - 4 Mile (6.43 km) Walk
Thursday - 8 Mile (12.87 km) Walk
Friday - 4 Mile (6.43 km) Walk
Saturday - Rest Day :)
Sunday - 8 Mile (12.87km) Walk

Weekly Total = 40 Mile (64.34km)
 
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Well today I've smashed the 100lb to loose figure. So from now on I'm counting in 10's and not 100's. Just 1 more pound and this will be my first metric stone lost.

Keep it coming, this weight is coming down.

Damn cross trainer ( eliptical ) is delayed by a week. Was hoping to have it here buy now, so I can burn lots of calories.
 
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Righty Oh.

So the pics are now up on the first post to show what I was like at 22 St ( 308 lbs) and now nearly ending today at 295 lbs in the next day or so I will post what I'm like at 21 St (294 lbs).

Quite strange posting these pics on here especially with the flubba everywhere. Mind you it's coming off and I'm staying till it's done. :)
 
Hi Big John, finally found your diary, great you're loosing so much:), keep up the good work. Cute little baby by the way.
 
Hi Guys,

Nice to chat with some U.K. residents for a change :). Anyhow I've just gone past my first stone although my trousers still feel as tight. I think when I lost 2 stone last year I didn't feel the effect until I lost 1 1/2 stone. Also I've found a great low calorie cook book that is helping a lot. I have tried a few dishes already and some are really nice (inc soup). Hopefully If I get time tonight I will try and put my latest pics up. I'm trying to do this every time I loose 1 stone.

Soupdragon -

Thanks for the mention of the baby pics. he's certainly getting to be a handfull at nearly 18 weeks old.

Moobs -

Can't weight for the cross trainer, Argos have said 21 day delivery time and they will phone to arrange delivery. which they haven't yet. It will be especially handy when I want to go for my daily walk and it's chucking it down. Or when the wife is out and I get stuck with our Matthew, he can watch Daddy burn of the cals.

Hope your both doing well on your own weight loss.
 
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