Fensters Diary

Fenster

Fenster

New member
Hi folks, This first post to my diary is a copy and past of my post in the newbie’s section, I just wanted to include it in my diary too.

I am a 35 year old male who needs and wants to loose some weight. I have always been heavy, even as a child and teenager, I am sure many of you can relate. At my heaviest, last winter, I was 365 pound. This summer I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and my doctor put me on medication for it. At that time I was down some from my highest and I weighed 358 lbs. I decided that I wanted to do whatever I could to lower my BP and get off the medication. I started by eliminating everything that contained lots of sodium. This meant getting rid of pretty much everything that was in a box or a can that was in my kitchen. WOW! It is truly amazing how much sodium is in some things that I never new contained it. At the same time I decided that eliminating the sodium alone was probably not going to be enough and I had always wanted to loose some weight so I decided to change the way I eat and get some exercise. I started by walking every night (or at least 5 night a week) and I cut out all soda, junk foods, snacks and no more stops at the mini-mart for late night munchies. I love to eat and I am very good at it (Haha). I have always liked drinking water and drank more than most people I knew, but I also increased my water intake. I began to eat more fruits and veggies and cut way back on portion sizes. None of this was easy but I did it and have continued to do it for 12 weeks.

So far I have not used any diet aids like pills or supplements nor have I used any plan or program. I have not counted calories or used any particular diet. I have only tried to eat more sensibly and in a much more controlled manner.

Thankfully my wife has been very supportive and has joined me by loosing 18 pounds herself. She has a lot less to lose than me but has done a great job so far.

My results so far are that I have lost 60 pounds in 12 weeks and I am down 67 from my heaviest. My BP is now normal and I have cut my BP medication in half and I am planning on talking to my Doctor about when I can try going without any medication. I do not mean to brag and I hope I don’t come across that way, but I am very proud and excited about what I have accomplished so far. What a great feeling to see 299 on the scale, I am not sure when I was last under 300. I know I was somewhere around 306 – 312 in April of ’88 when I was a junior in high school, so it must have been before then sometime. WOW, I just figured it out and that was 18 and a half years ago!

Although I have done really well and I am very happy, my issue is that I seem to have hit a point where I am starting to get bored with just walking and the weight loss has slowed down significantly in the past 1 – 2 weeks. I realize I was losing a lot of weight very, very fast and I did not expect that to continue forever, but I feel as though I am starting to get into a rut.

I do not have a lot of free time as I work full time, am married (we have a 3 year old daughter), and I have gone back to college part time, but I would like some ideas on other things to do. What do you guys and girls do to keep it fresh and stay motivated? What do you suggest I try? I have never actually lost any amount of weight before this and I really want to continue. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I did buy and assembled a home gym this past weekend to do some weight training as I have realized that not only had I gained a lot of weight in the last 15 years, I have also lost a lot of muscle too. I also plan on buying a treadmill to use this winter because walking outside in the winter with no sidewalks in north-western PA is probably not the best idea.

Sorry this post is so lengthy but I have never talked to anyone, even anonymously, about my weight or weight loss and once I got started I just kept going. I guess I had more to say than I thought. LOL.

Thanks all
Fenster
 
A couple days ago I brought my wife’s old exercise bike from her Mom’s house to ours and set it in the garage next to the home gym. I have had the chance to get a couple pretty good workouts in on these in the last couple days and it seems to have really helped me by switching up my exercise routine. I seem to be doing much better this week than last.

We have a small house with not much room for equipment next so my plan is to built a small room, about 10’ x 10’, inside my garage that I can heat to use as a work out room. I will be putting the home gym, exercise bike and treadmill (when I buy one) in there. Hopefully I can get this done soon as it is starting to get cold around here.

Fenster
 
So, I was talking to my wife last night about how well we have been eating lately and how and what we have cheated with (food, not other people, LOL), and I came to a decision. This change in eating is going to have to be a lasting, long-term change so we probably should probably change how we look at certain things. One of those things is “cheating”. I decided I am going to turn “cheating” into a positive thing. I will no longer call it cheating when I eat something bad. I will allow myself to indulge, on occasion, and I will view it as a “reward” for the good job and all the hard work I have done so far.

Had a great workout on the new-old exersice bike last night, it felt really good.

Fenster
 
I will be putting the home gym, exercise bike and treadmill (when I buy one) in there.
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AWESOME!!! Sounds like a very good thing. I wish I had a gym in my home.

This change in eating is going to have to be a lasting, long-term change so we probably should probably change how we look at certain things.
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Definitely!! Just remember that this is more than a diet, but a lifestyle change, because you don't want to put the weight back on after you lose the weight. So just think of it like this... do you ever NOT wanna be able to eat junk food ever again for the rest of your life? No!!! Of course you're gonna want that piece of cake or that bag of chips, but never eat it in excess, try not to go over your calories, and always make up for it in exercise afterwards.

Congrats on starting your journal!! And good luck with the diet. I look forward to reading more. :)

P.S. I also recommend looking at some free BodyPerformanceTV clips at YouTube. This guys got a lot of smart things to say.
 
Hi Fen! Congrats on setting up the home gym - that's fantastic!! And I think it's great that you and the wifey have decided to make this more than a diet. That's a huge step forward!

I HAD to loose weight because of blood pressure issues too. I've gone off of one of my BP meds totally starting this week, which makes me very happy and I've cut another pill in half and waiting on the Dr.'s approval of going off that one too. Yay!!

And the cheating vs. reward thing can be tricky. Personally, I can't think of it as cheating either. I just end up feeling bad about my choices. But I have to becareful labeling is a reward too - with that attitude I can justify anything... lol. It helps me to take a neutral possition: it's there and I can have it... but do I really want it?? And will it be worth the extra work I will have to do to burn it off... usually my answer is no.

Anyway -have a great day Fen!!
 
Hi Fen,
Welcome to the WLF and to your diary! Congratulations on taking the steps you have to be healthier!

Losing 5 pounds a week for 12 weeks is a lot to lose in a very short time and I'm sure the success of that is very motivating! But it's not a sustainable weightloss schedule. My thought is 1-3 pounds seems to be about average, with some weeks being on the lower end, some being on the higher end...the point is to watch the scale steadily come down :)

I'm with Pequin, I don't look at foods as 'bad, cheating or rewarding' foods just are - if I want something that's not necessarily the best caloric/fat choice, I ask if I really want it, if the answer is yes, then I do. Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it isn't...but I plan on keeping this weight off once I reach my goal, and the only way I can do that, is get to a relationship with food where I know how to indulge and when to cut back and what's a portion, etc.

It sounds like you're doing that!
Keep up the good work and enjoy the journey :D
 
Oh Fenster, You have every right to brag brag brag brag brag!!! Specially when you've lost that much weight so far! You should be darn proud of yourself!! :D
It sounds like you have the right attitude to stick with this and get to whatever your goal weight might be :)

You should also think about taking your measurements. If your weightloss is slowing down that doesn't mean those inches aren't going to be melting off :)
For myself.. I've been losing about 1lb a week... but I took my measurements 2 weeks ago... took them again a few days ago and I've lost ALOT of inches and knowing that I'm shrinking it helping me keep motivated :)

Anywho! You're doing amazing!! Keep it up! WOOHOO! :D
 
North-west Pa. eh ?? howdy neighbor !! (by internet mileage) maybe I'll see ya at Salamanca someday :D

Well my first observation is you put all the tools into place to give yourself a sportin' chance to reach any goal so with that in mind, all it is now is mindset and determination bro.

Not to beat down on what others have said, do approach your big early loss as not sustainable over a prolonged period. You may very well lose 5 lbs a week for awhile but don't get all upset if and when you slow down with those kind of numbers.

Personally, I have no problem with the 'going for the throat' because if some people don't see fast results, they end up losing hope and faith and then your expensive equipment goes to charity.

I'm dead serious about researching your menu and probably you should bring in a doctor on what your current plan is too. Feedback on underlying health issues may avoid you from complicated or harmful injury or conditions.

Anything I can do to help, just holler.
 
Wow, thanks for the replies and advice everyone. I think the process of starting to talk about my weight and weight loss has been a major stride and very positive thing for me.

Just remember that this is more than a diet, but a lifestyle change
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Changeforlife, your name says it all, I agree 100%.


And the cheating vs. reward thing can be tricky. Personally, I can't think of it as cheating either. I just end up feeling bad about my choices. But I have to becareful labeling is a reward too - with that attitude I can justify anything
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Pequin, You are absolutely right thank your for your insight. I too end up feeling crappy if I cheat (sometimes I'm to hard on myself). Justification is a specialty of mine also, I have 35 years of practice. I think the "neutral position" approch is my best option too. Thanks you so much and congrats on the effort and success with lowering your blood pressure, keep up the good work. :)


Losing 5 pounds a week for 12 weeks is a lot to lose in a very short time and I'm sure the success of that is very motivating! But it's not a sustainable weightloss schedule.
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M2M, yes it has been very motivating and rewarding:D . Yep, I realize it will not last and I have tried to prepare myself for that, I hope. I have seen a gradual slow down in the weight loss and I am sure it will slow even more as time goes on and I am OK with that (I hope, LOL) as long as I keep heading in the right direction.
I'm with Pequin, I don't look at foods as 'bad, cheating or rewarding' foods just are
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Yep, like I told Pequin, I think you both are looking at it in the right way. I truely appriciate all the feedback I am have gotten, it really helps. Thanks for your comments. Have a great day.


Amunet, thanks I will try taking some measurements, maybe that can be a source of extra motivation, thanks.


North-west Pa. eh ?? howdy neighbor !! (by internet mileage) maybe I'll see ya at Salamanca someday
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Salamanca!!!!, I was born and raised in Salamanca, my folks still live there, I will be headed that way this Saturday. WOW, small world, I am just over the border in Bradford so yep we are neighbors, about 20 miles or so away. Now I have to go back and look at all your pictures to see if I can recognize you.

Well my first observation is you put all the tools into place to give yourself a sportin' chance to reach any goal so with that in mind, all it is now is mindset and determination bro.
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Thanks, I sure am giving it an honest try, I really want it. Thats one of the reasons I joined this site, it seemed like a great place for new ideas and motivation from folk in the same situation.

Anything I can do to help, just holler.
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I may take you up on that, thanks T2. Have a great day and keep up the good work.


Thanks again for all the comments, it truely helps.
 
Thanks Pequin, you too.

Kind of bummed out today, did not get a workout in at all yesterday (wow, never imagined myself saying that). I had to go to the library and study for my final exam in my financial accounting class. Oh well, I will be sure to tear it up tonight, LOL.
 
There's nothng wrong with taking a mini break once in a while. Just get back in the saddle tonight- but don't over do it!! When's your final? Good Luck!!
 
My final is this afternoon at 3:00, I am doing pretty well in the class so I am not stressing to much, gonna look over my notes right now and call it good, thanks :)
 
I'm not a numbers gal - more the creative type. Finals always gave me a headache, even in the classes I was really good at. Especially the last few core classes before I got my degree. Probaby because final sounds so... final! But I'm sure your test won't know what hit it and the professor with have to use hot pads to grade it because it's so smokin hot..lol.
 
LOL, thanks Pequin, I am a very different student today than I was the first time around (1989-1991). It really does not take much more effort to do the job right rather than just getting by...or in my case just not getting by.

Feeling pretty good tonight, did 4 miles on the exercise bike and hit the weights for a couple minutes too.
 
I hear you! I wish I work a bit harder on things.. *cough* algebra*cough*..lol Took me three dang times to pass college algebra and when I really think about it - I could have done it the first time if I really worked at it.

4 miles! That's fantastic Fenny!! And you're getting all buff. Keep up the great work!
 
That's fantastic Fenny!! And you're getting all buff. Keep up the great work!
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Thanks Pequin, same to you, I see on your journal that it looked like you had a good work out too, good job.

changeforlife, thanks, you too.:)
 
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