Caiman's weight loss journey

Caiman

Caiman

New member
Having read so many of the diaries here and seen how useful and helpful they have been for other people, I figured I'd start one too- it will help hold myself to account, I hope!

Some background, I'm 26 years old, 6 foot tall and I weighed myself last night, 22 stones 12 lbs (320lbs/146 kg). I've been overweight since my early teens, and I've hovered around this weight for about the last year or so, though went down to around 308lbs around May this year when I gave it my first real attempt to lose weight, changing my eating habits and joining a gym for a while. I'll not make excuses about why I fell off the wagon, I just did.

Despite that, I need to try again and so today is day one, again...

I've got a gym membership currently and intend to make use of it regularly, starting this evening. I am considering going in the mornings before work but first things first I just need to get back into getting there in the first place. I've slowly been trying to cut a few things from my diet again over the last few weeks rather than 'cold turkeying' from today, but going forward hope to avoid the crap snacks, nibbles and carbonated drinks that I usually get through every day.

So, a nice target for me to begin with would be to get down below 300lbs, if I could do that by Christmas I'd be very pleased- long term goal is to lose 100lbs and when (IF!) I get there, see if I need to go any further.

Anyway, will try to update this thread at least on a weekly basis or more regularly if I feel the need. Fingers crossed!
 
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Just thought I would add a little more to this. I currently live just over 1.5 miles* away from where I work- it's about a 30 minute walk for me, which is fine and it is downhill most of the way- most days I do walk all the way to work, but about half way between where I live and my place of work there is a tram stop- and there is also a tram stop outside my office. A couple of times a week I am very lazy and jump on the tram for all of two stops- less than three quarters of a mile. This is one of the first things that needs to stop. The same goes for the return journey, every other day I get a lift up to my place from a colleague, or a tram half way- to walk is a little more effort as it's about a mile of uphill (not too steep). That's 3 miles every day I could and should be walking, just as part of my routine.

My office is about a 2 mile walk from the city centre, where my gym is located- it's then about a 3 mile walk back to my flat from the city centre. If I walked to work, walked to the gym and walked home, on top of whatever workout I got I could put in over 6 miles of walking in a day. Spread across morning and evening that sounds achievable, so I'm going to give it a go a few times this week and see how I feel.

*I've used a google maps measuring tool to calculate actual distance of roads traversed for a more accurate measure of the distance I walk, not point to point direct mileage.

I've started a little diary to record my breakfast, lunch, dinner and daily exercise in and will go about chucking that up here on a weekly basis or so, coupled with a weekly weigh in.
 
I think the walking is a great idea! You've really looked at your normal daily routine and found a simple way to make it more healthy! Good luck :D
 
I certainly don't want to go down the 'weigh myself everyday' road, I know there are going to be fluctuations throughout the week, depending on all sorts of factors- but I did jump on the scales (well, didn't literally 'jump' of course!) this morning and clocked in at 316lbs. An overnight loss of 4lbs?! Of course not... bodily fluctuations and all that :p Still, yesterday was an interesting day one. I'll not update on my activities again now until next Monday but yesterday went something like this;

Monday 18th October 2010

BREAKFAST
Two slices brown toast with margarine
330ml Pure Orange Juice

LUNCH
Bowl of Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup
1 slice brown bread
Cup of water

DINNER/LATE
Chicken Stir Fry
Bottle of diet coke
Crunchie chocolate bar
Bag of Quavers
Muller Corner Cherry Yoghurt
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work
90 minutes at the Gym.

Breakfast has usually been something I skipped, but want to get into the habit of having a little something each day. I had soup for lunch and found it surprisingly filling (as opposed to my usual lunch at work of a large sandwich, yoghurt, can of coke and a packet of crisps), so I think I'll try with soup for the rest of the week and see how that goes.

On the walk home from work I called into the shop to pick up some bits and pieces and bought a bar of chocolate and a bottle of diet coke. What am I thinking! New 'day one' and I'm succumbing already? Well- that's something I need to work on hard and fast, I find it too easy to overcome my 'resistance' and need to make a more concious and immediate effort not to do that again.

Went out to the gym and did 45 minutes between the cross trainer and cycle machines, then hit some weight resistance machines for the next 45 minutes. Tired me out big time and certainly aren't up for a 3 mile walk home from there just yet. Ate a tangerine on the way home.

Later in the evening I made myself a stir fry, with onion, peppers, cabbage and chicken breast- it was really tasty and filling. Still, later in the night I had a yoghurt and a small bag of quavers. I could probably have... in fact, definitely have done without both. Old habits die hard, in both cases they were the last of each I had in the cupboards and it'll stay that way. Can't snack on what I don't have!

Eitherway, it's still a good start for me and I definitely ate substantially less than a normal day. Knowing I can comfortably cut even more out is quite inspiring, actually.
 
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^The chocolate thing is an issue. I don't eat a lot of it, but if it's within reach I tend to nibble. I sit on a bank of desks at work and the team constantly has a tin of biscuits or a box of chocolates around. When they're scoffing through those all day it is difficult to resist grabbing the odd one or two, but doing that every day is going to add up eh.

Still, I remain pleased with how I've done this week and am looking forward to updating on Monday to see if I have a sustained weight loss of a few pounds or not in the first week, along with what I've eaten and the exercise I've done.
 
Hey all. Well 'week one' is over and below is a pretty detailed list of everything I've consumed last week. This week my aim is for there to be no chocolate or crisps to write down, the bits and pieces I had last week could have and should have been easily avoided. I've also got myself some big boxes of steel cut oats which I am going to try eating for breakfast, after recommendations from here, there and everywhere.

Also I need to apply more attention to the weekends, routine seems fairly easy to maintain through the week while at work, but seems to fall apart from Friday night to Sunday night. Had a few friends around on Friday night so was difficult to avoid alcohol- managed to stay off lager, but still consumed a fair few spirits via drinking games mainly- and when they all got takeaway in I didn't order anything for myself though did sneak in a few slices of their garlic bread. But even still, there are results, which I've posted at the bottom! Determination is higher at the start of this week knowing I could probably have seen even better results minus the snacks I could have avoided...


Monday 18th October 2010 - 320lbs

BREAKFAST
Two slices brown toast with margarine
330ml Pure Orange Juice

LUNCH
Bowl of Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup
1 slice brown bread
Cup of water

DINNER/LATE
Chicken Stir Fry

SNACKS
Crunchie chocolate bar
Bag of Quavers
Muller Corner Cherry Yoghurt
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from wor
90 minutes gym

Tuesday 19th October 2010

BREAKFAST
Two slices brown toast with margarine
330ml Pure Orange Juice

LUNCH
Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich
Strawberry Yoghurt
Cup of water

DINNER
Chicken Tikka Masala and Rice

SNACKS
Apple
2x 50 cal Cookies.

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work

Wednesday 20th October 2010

BREAKFAST
Tracker oatmeal bar

LUNCH
Chicken and Chorizo Salad

DINNER
Chicken Stir Fry

SNACKS
Apple x 2
Tangerine
500ml Coke Zero
3 or 4 (small) pieces of chocolate

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 2.5 miles to gym
30 minutes cardio in gym
30 minutes weights/resistance

Thursday 21st October 2010

BREAKFAST
Two slices brown toast with margarine
330ml Pure Orange Juice

LUNCH
Salami Salad Sandwich
Cup of water

DINNER
Chicken Breast wrapped in Streaky Bacon
Spicy Potato Wedges

SNACKS
Apple
Sausage sandwich

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Friday 22nd October 2010

BREAKFAST
Home made cupcake from a colleague!

LUNCH
Chunky Vegetable Soup
Cup of Water

DINNER
Venison Steak and Spicy Potato Wedges

SNACKS
Pack of Quavers
Small piece of chocolate
2 slices of Garlic Bread
2x 25ml gin and tonic
4x 25ml vodka
2x 25ml whiskey

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles from work

Saturday 23rd October 2010

BREAKFAST
Bowl of Fruit and Fibre with skimmed milk

LUNCH
Tomato Soup

DINNER
Venison Steak and Potato Wedges

SNACKS
Tangerine
Apple

EXERCISE
Didn't leave the house today!

Sunday 24th October 2010

BREAKFAST
Bowl of Cornflakes with skimmed milk

LUNCH
Tomato Soup

DINNER
Breaded Chicken Breast with chips

SNACKS
Tangerine
Bag of chicken breast bites
2 slices of Garlic Bread with cheese

EXERCISE
1 mile of walking
30 minutes cardio in gym
45 minutes weight/resistance training in gym

So this morning I hopped onto the scales thinking I'd not had the best first week really, and negated some of the work I'd done through the week at the weekend. Much to my surprise the scales read 315lbs. I must have stood on and off them about 10 times and that's what it said each time. So I'm going to record a 5lb loss this week- which is insane! But ultimately, I've done quite a lot more exercise than I normally did, and bad snack choices aside, improved what I eat through the week. Eitherway, this in itself is a real motivator, let's see what I can do this week...

Starting Weight: 320lbs
Current Weight: 315lbs
Loss this week: 5lbs
 
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A quick midweek update. I think this week so far has gone better than last, I've so far avoided the 'snacks' and made myself some nice cooked meals in the evenings with lean and fresh ingredients. My body is aching from notching things up a gear at the gym, starting to pay some attention to exerting myself more via weights than the cardio machines- especially as the 2.5 mile walk to the gym gives me a good warm up to get going.

So far so good, though old habits die hard I feel like I'm winning the battle this week and hope I can make it to sunday without any of the slipups I made last week.
 
End of week two! I think I did a better job last week controlling what I ate and could really start getting used to soup for lunch (all of which has been home made rather than out of a tin)! I managed to avoid crisps and chocolate altogether, no mean feat for me! I think next I need to concentrate on cutting out carbonated drinks, especially the full sugar ones like Coca Cola but to be fair, I could do with stopping it altogether.

Confident that I balanced calories well and hopefully that's reflected at the bottom :p

Monday 25th October 2010 - 315lbs

BREAKFAST
A slice of brown toast with margarine
Cup of water

LUNCH
Carrot and Coriander Soup
Cup of water

DINNER
Lean Beef Bolognaise and Wholewheat pasta

SNACKS
Cup of coffee with skimmed milk no sugar
Bottle of water
Apple
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles from work

Tuesday 26th October 2010

BREAKFAST
Apple
Cup of water

LUNCH
Tomato Soup
Coffee with skimmed milk

DINNER
Beef Casserole (Lean Beef, Carrots, Onions and stock)

SNACKS
Apple x 2
Bottle of water

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Wednesday 27th October 2010

BREAKFAST
2 slices brown toast with margarine

LUNCH
Tuna Mayonnaise with Cucumber sandwich
330ml Diet Coke

DINNER
Home-made Chicken Tikka pizza (Thin Crust, marinated chicken breast, spring onions and buffalo mozzarella)
500ml Coca Cola

SNACKS
Apple
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work
30 minutes cardio in gym
45 minutes weights/resistance

Thursday 28th October 2010

BREAKFAST
Apple

LUNCH
Chicken and Leek soup
330ml Diet Coke

DINNER
Beef Casserole (Lean Beef, Carrots, Onions and stock)
330ml Coca Cola

SNACKS
Tangerine
Apple
Small Pepparami

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Friday 29th October 2010

BREAKFAST
2 slices brown toast with margarine
330ml Pure Orange Juice

LUNCH
Vegetable soup
Brown bread roll
330ml Diet Coke

DINNER
Lamb Casserole (Lean Lamb, Red Peppers, Fresh Tomatoes, Onions and stock)

SNACKS
Tangerine
Apple
4 bottles of beer
2 25ml Vodka

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Saturday 30th October 2010

BREAKFAST
40g Bowl Steel Cut Oats

LUNCH
Breaded Chicken Breast with Potato Wedges
Glass of diet lemonade

DINNER
Cheese and Tomato Sandwich
500ml Bottle of Diet Coke

SNACKS
Apple
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Walked for 3 miles

Sunday 31st October 2010

BREAKFAST
40g Bowl of Steel Cut Oats
Glass of pure orange juice

LUNCH
Tomato Soup
1 glass of diet lemonade

DINNER
Square sausage and potato wedges

SNACKS
Apple x 2
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Walked for 1 mile

Starting Weight: 320lbs (18th October 2010)
Current Weight: 310lbs (Monday 1st November 2010)
Loss this week: 5lbs

Anothger 5lb loss, once again I was on and off the scales this morning because 10lbs in 2 weeks seems too good to be true for me but it appears to be the case. I understand I won't be able to keep up 5lbs a week forever but while it's happening it's sure great to see!
 
Hey good job on the weight loss thus far. I like your menu plans so far. They seem like you are making a lifestyle change not just dieting. Good to see the chocolate was replaced by some fruit. Kudos..i know how hard that is to do :D.
Seems like you are doing really really well. Great job. :hurray: keep it up
 
Menu looks AWESOME apart from the fizzy drinks! You're doing so well with the walking and the gym! Keep it up!!!!
 
Thanks, I only managed to get to the gym one night last week, hope to notch that up this week though. The fizzy stuff definitely has to go, as does the customary friday night alcohol! (The most difficult, my friends are supportive but it's hard having a bunch of people around all getting drunk and avoiding the odd bottle of beer or shot of vodka!).

I still need to tweak what I eat and drink a little but yeah, I do want this to be a lifestyle change and not just a temporary 'diet' and so far feel it's working well, I'm not suffering massively from cravings or hunger pangs- hope it stays that way!
 
People are so quick to write off walking, because it seems so base and easy, but it really is one of the more underrated forms of exercise on the weight loss front today.

I think starting a food tracking diary is a great idea; I did that for the first couple months that I dieted, and every time I feel myself slipping, I try it again for a few days to get myself back on track.

Best of luck to you!
 
Indeed- I mean, it's only been two weeks and 10lbs but I've no doubt the walking has contributed and will continue to do so- I've even been thinking about notching it up a gear and just going for a walk around a large park I live by each evening (with a view to eventually running around it, perhaps!).

I figured I'd try to write down what I used to eat in an average day, so below is a typical example and oh dear, it's awful- yet when I really think about it pretty much every weekday went like this, and it might be even worse on a weekend after a tonne of beer was consumed! Fortunately, I've not ate like this for about a month now, realistically- though my new 'regime' actually began just 2 weeks ago- and I hope I never go back- I didn't cook proper meals before through laziness, rather than inability, and to be honest I've really been enjoying it and felt more satisfied eating something I've taken the time to prepare myself.

Breakfast
Bacon and Sausage Sandwich, White Bread with Ketchup
330ml Carton of Orange Juice

Through-the-day @ work snacks
Packet of crisps
Bar of chocolate (Mars/Snickers)
Biscuits
Coffee/Tea with two sugars x 3

Lunch
Large sub-style meat sandwich
Yoghurt
Packet of crisps
500ml Bottle of Coke

Evening snacks (usually on the way home from work)
500ml Bottle of Coke
Bar of chocolate
Packet of crisps

Dinner
Example 1
Large plate of deep fried chips
4 deep fried sausages
Baked beans

Example 2
Large microwave chicken curry
2 small pitta breads
Onion Bahjis

Example 3
Take-away such as;
Meat & Potato Pie, Chips and Gravy from the chippy
or
12 inch thick crust pizza
or
'donner meat' and fries.

Late snacks
Crisps
Chocolate
Coke
 
A bit premature and again, I don't want to get into the habit of weighing myself everyday only to be disappointed by natural 'fluctuations' but I did hop on the scales this morning before work and they showed me at 308- a bit of a milestone for me as that's the lowest I've ever got to in previous attempts (since originally surpassing that weight a good few years ago). Fingers crossed come my monday weigh in I'm down under that!
 
Wow, sounds like you're doing a great job! And the scale tells that its working! Great job! Keep it up!

Walking is a marvelous way to get in some exercise. I'm constantly walking everywhere (I have a very active job) and I love being able to work it into my schedule.

Keep up the great work!
 
Hello :)
Well done on your loss so far, you're going so well!
Just wanted to show my support. I'm big on walking too *thumbs up*

Keep up the great work Caiman!
 
Thanks peeps. Next big test is tomorrow night- I want to quit drinking beer altogether (at least for the duration of my weight loss, and then maybe I can enjoy the odd bottle here or there afterwards). Friday nights I usually have a few friends around and everyone brings beer and buys takeaway- for the last few weeks I've managed to resist ordering takeaway with them, as well as eating any of their pizza etc, but has been difficult not to have a beer or two.

Just to say this site has really been the difference for me this time around, I mean it's not like I've made more than one or two attempts to lose weight in the past, but having such a fantastic community of inspiring 'real' people who have done such great jobs in losing weight, and being able to read through other people's diaries and keep my own, is really helpful. I'm just about past my previous 'low' and really feel like I can keep going. Fingers crossed.
 
Caiman said:
Just to say this site has really been the difference for me this time around, I mean it's not like I've made more than one or two attempts to lose weight in the past, but having such a fantastic community of inspiring 'real' people who have done such great jobs in losing weight, and being able to read through other people's diaries and keep my own, is really helpful. I'm just about past my previous 'low' and really feel like I can keep going. Fingers crossed.
Click to expand...

I SO know how you feel. It is amazing how just being able to read about other people who are going through the same thing can give you all the support, and then all these wonderful people come and tell you you're doing great and that you can do it. I love this website just for that. :)

Good luck with giving up the beer. :) And keep up the great work.
 
I continue to be surprised at how the weight is changing at this early stage, though also somewhat worried that what appears to be 15lbs in three weeks is a little 'too much' to lose so quickly. My goal is two pounds a week, so perhaps I need to adjust my daily intake a little? Eitherway I'm not complaining, I feel comfortable with what I've eaten in this last month and have completed two important milestones, yay;

1st: I am officially below 308lbs, a real milestone for me as that's the lowest I've ever reached before since surpassing that weight a few years ago. Hopefully I'll never see the scales tip over that weight again.

2nd: No beer/alcohol this week at all! wo0t, happy I managed to resist temptation and I think my friends are actually beginning to understand I'm for real this time, and didn't badger me into having any.

Have been looking for other simple things to increase exercise as part of my daily routine and sometimes they're staring you right in the face- I work on the fourth floor in an office building so have started walking up and down the stairs instead of using the lift- challenging in the morning, not so bad in the evening! It all helps. One 'failure' this week as evident below was my lack of a visit to the gym- no real excuses here, it's been a busy week at work and it was also the last week before payday, and I'm not quite upto walking to and from the gym yet. Hopefully this week I can kickstart that routine...

Anyway, onwards to what I consumed last week! Still not quite whittled myself off the fizzy drinks yet but I'll get there...

Monday 1st November 2010 - 310lbs

BREAKFAST
40g Bowl of Steel Cut Oats

LUNCH
Potato and Spinach Soup
Brown bread roll
330ml Diet Coke

DINNER
Chicken Curry and Basmati Rice (Diced chicken breast, rogan josh sauce)

SNACKS
Coffee with skimmed milk
Tangerine x 2

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles from work

Tuesday 2nd November 2010

BREAKFAST
Grilled bacon on brown toast with margarine

LUNCH
Tuna Mayo and Cucumber Sandwich
Cup of water

DINNER
Chicken Curry and Basmati Rice (Diced chicken breast, rogan josh sauce)

SNACKS
Coffee with skimmed milk
330ml diet lemonade

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work

Wednesday 3rd November 2010

BREAKFAST
Two slices of brown toast with margarine
330ml Orange Juice

LUNCH
Butternut Squash Soup
Cup of water

DINNER
Pork Casserole (Diced pork, sliced apple and onions with stock)
250g Oven Chips

SNACKS
Apple
Quavers
Coffee with skimmed milk

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Thursday 4th November 2010

BREAKFAST
Tangerine

LUNCH
Butternut Squash Soup
330ml Diet Coke

DINNER
Chicken Curry (Diced chicken breast, rogan josh sauce)
250g Oven chips

SNACKS
Apple x 2
Handful of grapes

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Friday 5th November 2010

BREAKFAST
2 slices brown toast with margarine
330ml Pure Orange Juice

LUNCH
Tuna and Cucumber Sandwich (White bread)
Cup of water

DINNER
Lamb Casserole (Lean lamb, onions, red peppers, carrots and stock)

SNACKS
Coffee with skimmed milk
Apple

EXERCISE
Walked 1.5 miles to work
Walked 1.5 miles home from work

Saturday 6th November 2010

BREAKFAST
40g Bowl of Steel Cut Oats

LUNCH
Sausage Casserole (Two small pork sausage, mushrooms, onion, carrots and stock)

DINNER
Breaded Chicken Breast with Potato Wedges

SNACKS
Apple x 2
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Didn't leave the flat!

Sunday 7th November 2010

BREAKFAST
40g Bowl of Steel Cut Oats

LUNCH
Small Lamb Casserole (Lean lamb, onions, red peppers, carrots and stock)

DINNER
Breaded Chicken Breast with Oven chips

SNACKS
Apple
Tangerine

EXERCISE
Didn't leave the flat!

Starting Weight: 320lbs (Monday 18th October 2010)
Current Weight: 305lbs (Monday 8th November 2010)
Loss this week: 5lbs
 
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