It's ON now!

A

ab4ka

New member
I've discovered over the years, that it was much easier to lose weight when I was younger than it is now. When I was 23 I weighed about the same as I do now (not much less), and I felt awful. I stumbled across a program that looked good, picked it up and stuck with it. I weighed 378 when I started it, and in a year I lost 126 pounds. I could have kept going, but I got involved in other things, started misbehaving again, and the weight loss stopped. I maintained pretty well for about 3 years, then got married. Married life was good, but we both chunked up.

Now here I am at age 43 and I weigh 407. Over the last couple of years I've had lots of check-ups due to some suspected issues, even a couple of heart catheterizations, and I've been given a clean bill of health...just overweight. The cardiologist says my heart is fine. The pulomonologist says my lungs are fine. My blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and every other test you can think of are all good. They just tell me I need to lose some weight.

For about the last 3 years it seems like about every 6 months I'll get started, do real good for a month or so, between my eating and exercising, then I just kind of lose my motivation. My wife was found to be diabetic and she's been exercising and has lost some weight and I'm real proud of her, but even that hasn't motivated me too much.

BUT IT'S ON NOW!!!

I don't know why, but I've started really thinking about everything, and it's like my whole outlook on things has changed. There's no medical reason why I can't do it. There's no reason at all why I can't do it. I know by exercising and eating right myself, it will help my wife, too.

Please don't laugh, but I have to admit...one of my main motivations right now, is that the other day I was looking around and the people I work with, and I suddenly felt old. I decided I don't like that. In my mind and heart I'm anywhere from 12-20 depending on what kind of mood I'm in. A couple of years ago my 16 year old niece and her best friend stayed with us a lot, and being around them made me feel young again, and I loved it.

I want to lose this weight so I can get out and do the things I want to do. I want to feel better. I want to look better.

AND I KNOW I CAN DO IT! It might take me longer, but I know I can do it.

I've already started by getting back to exercising. I used to walk every day, and I'm starting that up again. My wife has some videos that I use on days when she has to work in the morning (I work afternoons), then on the rest of the days I go up to the park and walk. I think I'm proudest of myself right now because I've started taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator. I'm on the 4th floor, and I'm out of breath when I get there, but I get there!

I've also got a little motivation in the fact that my niece is coming down next month for a visit and we're going to take her to Walt Disney World, and I'm not about to be the one that can't keep up with everyone.

So, here's where we are:
Current weight: 407
Goal weight: 250
Time frame to get there: I really don't know...it's going to take a while
First goal: to be able to weigh on my scale at home (which goes up to 380) and not to have to go to the hospital and weigh.

I'm so glad I found this website. I spend a lot of time online, and now I can finally do something useful with some of that time!:biggrinjester:

Let the fun begin!:party:
 
Sounds like a great start! I was definitely in the same boat as you... starting and stopping, starting and stopping. Finally something clicked and I've been 'clean' for over 4 months now, it's wonderful!

I hope you find lots of support and motivation here, it is a great resource :)

Best of luck!
 
Making progress...

I don't know if I've lost anything, but I've had to punch another hole in my belt (it was a little loose anyway, but now I've had to actually tighten it up).

I challenged myself to start taking the stairs at work, going up to the 4th floor where I work and I've done it every day since Friday. On every step I think to myself that I'm leaving a little bit of me behind.

I've also begun exercising each day. Since my wife has been working mornings I've been using her videos, and I really like them, but today she's home, so I'm off to the park for a nice walk.

Most of all, I've made a major change in my eating (and drinking) habits. I've started drinking water like a fish (over New Year's I was in the hospital with an obstructed bowel that thankfully cleared itself once they pumped me out, and in my kit of junk they gave me was a nice insulated 32oz cup with a lid and straw, and it has a picture of the hospital on it. This is my "reminder" cup, as in it reminds me that if I don't take care of myself I'll end up back in there. I've been going thru it 3-4 times while I'm at work).

The eating habits are going to be a challenge, but I've done pretty well over the last few days. Yesterday we went to Sonny's Barbecue (if you're not familiar with it, its a chain down South here). Instead of pork, ribs, a big hamburger or anything else I would usually get, I had grilled chicken with vegetables. The hardest part was not getting a great big glass of sweet tea, which is the main reason for going there :) I was a good boy and drank water, but I felt so good when I walked out, it was worth it!

I'm going to wait until the end of the month to go weigh (since I have to go to the hospital and use the freight scale on the loading dock), but I'll be making progress until then!
 
Better off than I thought!

Today just for kicks I went up to the hospital and weighed as I've been feeling good about the way things are going. I have to admit it's a bit embarrassing to have to use the freight scale on the loading dock, but I had good news when I got there.

I weighed in at 395! I checked my paperwork from where I was in the hospital in January and I was 411 in there, so since January I've lost 16 pounds!:party:

I know I didn't do it all this past week, but that was a very pleasant surprise!

I also checked out the gym at work today, and can't wait 'til Monday to get in there and do something besides walking. I enjoy my walking and videos, but it will be a nice change.
 
heya,
congrats on the weightloss! your really doing great! i remember reading your post (i think in the 300+ club), where you said you'd started taking the stairs and felt great about it....i think i also remember you saying that you'd be glad to at least be in the 300's....and now you are! woohoo!

i think all the changes your making are great, plus i think joining the work gym will also help boost things because there's more options in terms of cardio machines and strength training machines. the one piece of advice i can give you is to not care about anybody else apart from YOURSELF in the gym. your doing it all for you, not for others so don't let anything get to you. i remember day 1 at the gym i kept feeling like my heart was going to stop that first time when i had to come out of the dressing room in my gym kit, i felt so embarassed and huge, but i told myself i'm doing this for me, me, me and no one else. having an ipod helped because i could block out the noise, when i say noise it's the imaginary stares that i thought i was getting. but at the end of day 1 after my workout i felt sooo good and have never looked back since.

i'm now at 325, and started at 350 (actually i think at my highest i was around i think 370), but i hadn't stepped on a scale in ages so will never quite know so thats my estimate. i bought myself a good quality scale about a month and a half ago because i found out the hard way that the gym scales don't measure over 330pounds (thats a story for another day), but picture me stepping on all 4 scales in the gym and them giving error readings, it was horrible. it always reminds me that i'm the biggest person at my gym but i don't care anymore because everyday i walk in there i'm making myself a better happier healthier person from the inside out.

otherwise i think your doing great, this journey is a looong one for some of us but we're all here to support each other. WE CAN DO THIS! all the best xoxo
 
cherrygarcia said:
heya,
congrats on the weightloss! your really doing great! i remember reading your post (i think in the 300+ club), where you said you'd started taking the stairs and felt great about it....i think i also remember you saying that you'd be glad to at least be in the 300's....and now you are! woohoo!

i think all the changes your making are great, plus i think joining the work gym will also help boost things because there's more options in terms of cardio machines and strength training machines. the one piece of advice i can give you is to not care about anybody else apart from YOURSELF in the gym. your doing it all for you, not for others so don't let anything get to you. i remember day 1 at the gym i kept feeling like my heart was going to stop that first time when i had to come out of the dressing room in my gym kit, i felt so embarassed and huge, but i told myself i'm doing this for me, me, me and no one else. having an ipod helped because i could block out the noise, when i say noise it's the imaginary stares that i thought i was getting. but at the end of day 1 after my workout i felt sooo good and have never looked back since.

i'm now at 325, and started at 350 (actually i think at my highest i was around i think 370), but i hadn't stepped on a scale in ages so will never quite know so thats my estimate. i bought myself a good quality scale about a month and a half ago because i found out the hard way that the gym scales don't measure over 330pounds (thats a story for another day), but picture me stepping on all 4 scales in the gym and them giving error readings, it was horrible. it always reminds me that i'm the biggest person at my gym but i don't care anymore because everyday i walk in there i'm making myself a better happier healthier person from the inside out.

otherwise i think your doing great, this journey is a looong one for some of us but we're all here to support each other. WE CAN DO THIS! all the best xoxo
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Thanks for the words of encouragement! The last two nights at work I've been in the gym and it's been great! The people that I work with that go in have been very supportive and we've become our own little workout group. Theres 3 girls and one guy. The guy is in the military reserves and he's got to stay fit, and the girls are all trying to lose weight, too. No one is embarrassed and it's almost like we get in and try to outwork each other. Just in the last two nights I've almost doubled what I was doing on my own. I think this is going to work out (pun intended :) ) to be a very positive thing. I almost look forward to going to work now just so I can do my workout afterward :drool5:
 
KaraCooks said:
Wow, you're doing great. I'm so happy for you! :)
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Thanks! I found this picture and it is really helping to inspire me. Before this pic was taken I had lost 126 pounds (this was taken in Feb 1991). I've still got the jacket and it's hanging on my door and I walk by it every day knowing I'm going to wear it again. My brother gave it to me and I had to lose a bunch of weight to get into it. If all goes as planned, it will be 20 years from when I did it the first time until this time, I think it will be kind of a neat anniversary. I showed this pic to some folks at work and it was no big deal until I told them what I did to get to this point, and I'm going to do it again! :D

 
NICE! i think thats a great motivator! Lord knows i have enough outfits that i had to box up when they were still practically new just because they didn't fit anymore....so i'm looking forward to working my way down and fitting into some things that i never even wore once!
ab4ka said:
Thanks! I found this picture and it is really helping to inspire me. Before this pic was taken I had lost 126 pounds (this was taken in Feb 1991). I've still got the jacket and it's hanging on my door and I walk by it every day knowing I'm going to wear it again. My brother gave it to me and I had to lose a bunch of weight to get into it. If all goes as planned, it will be 20 years from when I did it the first time until this time, I think it will be kind of a neat anniversary. I showed this pic to some folks at work and it was no big deal until I told them what I did to get to this point, and I'm going to do it again! :D
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It's been a good week!

I started the week working out with my friends at work, and since then I have more than doubled my workout time. Before I started going in there I was walking 1 mile and it was taking me about 19 minutes. Now I'm doing 45 minutes and going 2+ miles. There's a really nice treadmill in there where you can plug in your weight and different things, and it also has a heart monitor on it. I start out slow and warm up then get busy for a while, then slow it back down for the last few minutes. I check my heart rate several times and make sure it's in range. I feel great!

I've also continued to improve my eating habits this week, and still drinking water like a fish.

It's been a great week!:waving:
 
It's all starting to settle in now

I've been at it long enough now that what started as a shock has become routine. I don't even start to go to the elevator at work now, it's straight for the stairs. The other day I didn't feel like working out, but I pushed myself to do it. What's really nice is I'm not finding myself tempted to eat the things I shouldn't (not too terribly bad, anyway). Of course, today will be a test...I've got to go in and work a short shift for the holiday, and my boss is buying pizza for everyone, and he always gets enough so that everyone has plenty. I'm used to getting a plateful. But not today :) As a matter of fact, it's time to go work out! I'm not waiting until after work tonight.
 
wow, it's always really great to read your posts because your always so positive and making so much progress! all the best xoxo:grouphug:
ab4ka said:
I've been at it long enough now that what started as a shock has become routine. I don't even start to go to the elevator at work now, it's straight for the stairs. The other day I didn't feel like working out, but I pushed myself to do it. What's really nice is I'm not finding myself tempted to eat the things I shouldn't (not too terribly bad, anyway). Of course, today will be a test...I've got to go in and work a short shift for the holiday, and my boss is buying pizza for everyone, and he always gets enough so that everyone has plenty. I'm used to getting a plateful. But not today :) As a matter of fact, it's time to go work out! I'm not waiting until after work tonight.
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cherrygarcia said:
wow, it's always really great to read your posts because your always so positive and making so much progress! all the best xoxo:grouphug:
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Thanks for the encouragement, and it gets better...justs for kicks and giggles I thought I'd try weighing on my scale here at home, knowing it wouldn't work but thought I'd try it anyway. It worked! I've lost 13 more pounds :hurray:

No more having to go to the hospital and use the freight scale:coolgleamA:
 
The good, the bad & the ugly

Another week gone by...

The good: Overall I feel good as I'm still on the right track. I'm starting to see a difference in my clothes. Shirts I used to have to stretch out now fit good right out of the closet and my pants are getting a little looser. I've also had to punch another hole in my belt to tighten it up. Most of all I'm happiest that I don't feel like I'm dying when I get to the top of the stairs at work (I'm on the 4th floor), it's getting easier. I've also noticed it's taking more work to get my heart rate up to where it needs to be when I exercise...it doesn't jump up there as easily as it did at first. I take that as a good thing.

The bad: Monday I walked at the park instead of at the gym, and my shins hurt really bad. I don't know what I was doing differently as I took my time and warmed up. All I can think of is maybe it's the difference between walking on a treadmill and walking on a concrete sidewalk. Also Thursday I had a great day at work so when I went to the gym I thought I'd to the elliptical machine instead of the treadmill. Big mistake! After 8 minutes my knees were killing me, then when I got off I could hardly walk. I've got custom orthotics in my shoes and I guess they had pushed so hard into my arches I could barely move. I rode a recumbent bike for a few minutes but that made other places hurt, but by that time my feet were ok and I was able to get on the treadmill. I did that for a few minutes but just got frustrated and got off. I did some sit-ups and used the weight machine a little and went home. Friday I did a video and only went about half as far as I needed to.

The ugly: Wednesday was my wife's birthday, so tonight I took her out to dinner with some friends from work. We went to an awesome steakhouse, and I did good on the meal (compared to what I would have normally gotten), but afterward I got a big piece of cake for dessert (but only ate about 1/4 of it as it was too rich). I also drank entirely too much :cheers2: I haven't had a drink in forever, but my friends at work all drink so I felt like joining in. I had two giant (we're talking 32oz glasses) Margaritas and a stawberry Colada. It was all good (not to mention I felt fabulous when we left the restaurant) but I know I didn't need the dessert or the drinks.

Overall score for the week: I'll give myself a B. I've continued watching what I eat every day (except today), and I've still exercised every day, albeit not as good as in the past couple of weeks. But, I'm still on track, still fired up, and still going to meet my goals!!!:hurray:
 
Sounds like you're doing well. There's nothing wrong with an occasional "treat" to celebrate something. Yesterday we had a cookout for a friend's birthday and I had fried catfish and cake for dessert. Not great, but I had a small piece of cake and I am back on plan today.

I would say if you're going to run outside, try to run on the roadway or on grass. Concrete is probably the most unforgiving base to run on. My legs hurt when I run on concrete, too!
 
Sounds like you are doing a great job!! We all deserve to have some fun and it's fine to have some treats; just be aware (and sounds like you are)

Kara is right, concrete is not forgiving; if you are outside try some kind of ground path, much less impact on your shins, knees and feet.

Nice job!!
 
Hey there ab4ka,

I agree with Kara, there's nothing wrong with having a treat once in a while. I always think of it like this - you should eat like you're already at your goal. Meaning, when you get to your goal you're not gonna want to gain the weight back, however, you still want to live your life and have occasional treats.

You're doing so well though, and you seem to be very aware of what you put into your mouth and how your body reacts to different exercises.

I have knee problems, and a few weeks ago, I decided to jog, and boy was that a bad idea. My knees were not up for it. But now I know better, and I know to just stick with what works until I get a smaller weight.

Hope you're having a good weekend.
 
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