My Recovery from Obesity

Little John said:
Don't know if you've read any of this guy's stuff about cheats and breaks when you're losing weight, but he seems to know his stuff, if you don't mind the ego in some of the write-ups.
Click to expand...
Wow! Great resource! And you're right, you have to tolerate a bit of self praise in the articles. But he sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Thanks, John.

Steve21 said:
Loving the choice of rower :) Got myself a Model D with PM3 here. Beast of a machine! But know I'll get most of the money back if/when I ever sell it :)

Steve
Click to expand...
ooh, I am SO ready to do this. The tough sell is the cost (but like you said, I can reclaim most of that if I ever choose to sell it) and the footprint. Although it does fold up, it still occupies some space. My boss (aka the love of my life) has to give the thumbs up first. I just got the OK to buy a Vitamix yesterday, so I may have to wait a few weeks (hopefully ONLY) to make another big purchase. When I do, I'll look forward to chatting with you guys more about using it. I think there are 3 people here that I've "met" who use the Concept 2.
 
Don Keykong said:
ooh, I am SO ready to do this. The tough sell is the cost (but like you said, I can reclaim most of that if I ever choose to sell it) and the footprint. Although it does fold up, it still occupies some space. My boss (aka the love of my life) has to give the thumbs up first. I just got the OK to buy a Vitamix yesterday, so I may have to wait a few weeks (hopefully ONLY) to make another big purchase. When I do, I'll look forward to chatting with you guys more about using it. I think there are 3 people here that I've "met" who use the Concept 2.
Click to expand...

You won't regret it. Plus you can join the cult of online rowers (not that I'm one). Would your boss enjoy rowing? It's really a great all-round exercise, and there are gobs of resources out there for how to row, exercise routines, feedback. Plus there's this:

crash_b_2.jpg
 
james100 said:
I empathise with you and I also eat to curb boredom, loneliness and self esteem issues (currently living in a sour marriage situation) and applaud your efforts. As you lose weight you gain more inner power to keep on losing, helped along by the fact that you must be feeling better in yourself as the weight drops.
Click to expand...

Thanks, James, for checking in and for the kind thoughts.

As far as my self esteem... that's a weird subject for me. One of the reasons I ballooned up to such a huge weight is because I wasn't held in check by "normal" pressures a lot of people endure. I have a beautiful, healthy (younger) wife (lucky me!) who has prodded me to get healthier, but accepted me at any weight... so I didn't feel badly because I wasn't attractive to a mate. My hobbies shifted over the years from more active (golf, swimming, racquetball) to more sedentary (fishing, crabbing and casual walks) so the demands on my body were less... so I didn't feel bad about not being fit enough to do my hobbies. Finally, my health (for a ridiculously obese guy) has been remarkably good.... I don't have high blood pressure (borderline, but no meds), don't have high cholesterol, have no heart issues, and get around pretty well.

I was blessed all these years by good genetics and God's grace, i think.

All of these things led to me being very content despite my weight. I was a happy fat guy. :piggy:

Despite this, I did slowly accumulate a number of "things" that made me want to change this all for good:

1. I couldn't participate with my kids in an active physical way;
2. Although I didn't care what others thought about my looks, I secretly hated seeing myself in reflections or photos;
3. I broke THREE plastic lawn chairs while just sitting in them over the years;
4. She may not say it, but I'm sure my wife would like a more slender me back (I was 180 pounds less when we married);
5. I've developed a few digestive issues in the last few years (lost my gall bladder, weird morning BMs, occasional acid reflux, etc);
6. In the last 2 years I've noticed that I had really slowed down a lot... I was really becoming one of those slow, waddling, bloated obese guys.

See, that LAST one was a dagger in my heart. I had been obese for years. But I had walked, talked, acted and moved like I wasn't an obese guy. Does that make sense at all?

One day in December, I stepped on a scale to weigh myself for the first time in a year and read it out loud:
"FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN POUNDS... Ho Lee Sh*t. That's a lot of weight."

THAT is the first time I realized that all the world just sees a morbidly obese guy... not a "big guy who carries it well." THAT is when my ego took a beating. THAT is when I felt ashamed and wanted to hide.

Instead, I decided to take back what is mine... my life. I didn't tell my wife or my kids, my best friend or my mother. I didn't tell anyone. I just started.

It turns out I haven't been living without any regard for what others think... I had just buried it deep enough that I was convinced that was the case. James, you said above that "As you lose weight you gain more inner power to keep on losing, helped along by the fact that you must be feeling better in yourself as the weight drops." Amen to that, brother. A big part of this process for me is opening up and accepting how I feel about myself and how others think of me as well.

My goal is NOT to lose "X" number of pounds or hit a target BMI... my goal is to feel good about myself and feel confident walking down the street again.

Sorry for the long confession, but you said something that struck a chord with me. I'll check in with you and hope to hear from you again.
 
Little John said:
You won't regret it. Plus you can join the cult of online rowers (not that I'm one). Would your boss enjoy rowing? It's really a great all-round exercise, and there are gobs of resources out there for how to row, exercise routines, feedback.
Click to expand...

Secretly I have been thinking about that very thing John. Get in better shape, lose more pounds, and go online with you guys. Don't count me out yet... just because I'm obese and old.... ok, maybe it won't even be close if we ever meet in an online race but I can still try... Is there handicapping in these races?
 
Don, what you said about self esteem resonates with me a lot. I have really good self esteem and find value in myself other than the way that I look. I don't have any health problems (yet), and I know that even if I don't lose weight I will eventually find someone who will love me for me and not for my weight.

However, I also understand completely when you say you don't like mirrors and pictures. Neither do I. I also don't like the way that I feel, physically. I want to feel good and be able to do things that my weight is keeping me from doing right now. I also had a similar relization as you did.

I look forward to the day when both of us can look in the mirror or walk down the street without that niggling of self doubt.
 
-Cory- said:
Don, what you said about self esteem resonates with me a lot. I have really good self esteem and find value in myself other than the way that I look. I don't have any health problems (yet), and I know that even if I don't lose weight I will eventually find someone who will love me for me and not for my weight.

However, I also understand completely when you say you don't like mirrors and pictures. Neither do I. I also don't like the way that I feel, physically. I want to feel good and be able to do things that my weight is keeping me from doing right now. I also had a similar relization as you did.

I look forward to the day when both of us can look in the mirror or walk down the street without that niggling of self doubt.
Click to expand...

Right on the money, Cory. Right now, you have youth on your side. Don't take that for granted. There are many others, like me in age and health, who simply can't do what I am fortunate enough to be able do right now. I am still more able and stronger than lot of people younger and/or lighter than I am. That, I was born with... and it's a big reason why I am able to attack my problem in such a head-on manner. I'm very thankful.
 
Don Keykong said:
Secretly I have been thinking about that very thing John. Get in better shape, lose more pounds, and go online with you guys. Don't count me out yet... just because I'm obese and old.... ok, maybe it won't even be close if we ever meet in an online race but I can still try... Is there handicapping in these races?
Click to expand...

Not tried any direct head to heads but I upload my times in the ranking :) pretty much at the bottom currently! :D but hey, only one way to go!

Been looking at row pro the software that simulates actual boats and racing etc

Steve
 
Don, your confession was really touching - and just as Cory said I think it resonates with a lot of people here (to some extent) including me.
I always think of me as a slim person...until I see pictures. My husband gets tired - because when we take a pic of us - I keep wanting to retake it, and retake it LOL - but it's always the same...and I am like: that's not me!! Well I think it's a good thing - because we want to lose because of ourselves and not because what others might think!!!

Keep up the good work!! You have been doing amazingly well!
 
Steve21 said:
Not tried any direct head to heads but I upload my times in the ranking :) pretty much at the bottom currently! :D but hey, only one way to go!

Been looking at row pro the software that simulates actual boats and racing etc

Steve
Click to expand...

I am one of those guys that immerses myself in a subject before delving too deeply. You and John should prepare to get inundated with questions as I get closer to buying one. As far as being near the bottom of the competetive ranks... that's ok, if we can handicap our races, it'll still be a lot of fun. :)

Justina said:
Don, your confession was really touching - and just as Cory said I think it resonates with a lot of people here (to some extent) including me.
I always think of me as a slim person...until I see pictures. My husband gets tired - because when we take a pic of us - I keep wanting to retake it, and retake it LOL - but it's always the same...and I am like: that's not me!! Well I think it's a good thing - because we want to lose because of ourselves and not because what others might think!!!

Keep up the good work!! You have been doing amazingly well!
Click to expand...

Thank you Justina! As far as pictures... I either avoid them, or ham it up and be the goof. What you said about thinking of yourself as a thin person... I get that. I never think of myself as thin, but NEVER thought of myself as obese either.... just BIG.
 
Down 1.2 lbs in today's weigh-in. I weighed 457 at the start and weigh under 410 pounds today!
That brings my total loss to 47.4 pounds, 2.6 shy of the magical fifty pound mark.
Will I make it before my second month ends? I have 4 more weigh-in days left to hit it, but I'm not going to say yes and jinx myself by saying I will, and I'm not going to let myself off the hook by saying I won't either. Time will tell...

I am proud of myself for working out yesterday. I did abs exercises early in the day, then still managed to do my 30' cycle time at night. I really didn't want to cycle, but did. So that's good on me. I ate well, mostly. Too heavy on proteins, though, so today I'll have LOTS more greens. Drank well, maybe 2.5 liters, so I'll do the same today.
 
Last edited:
Little John said:
Don't know if you've read any of this guy's stuff about cheats and breaks when you're losing weight, but he seems to know his stuff, if you don't mind the ego in some of the write-ups.
Click to expand...

LOL I see that Little John has pointed out the body recomposition forum.

The owner of that forum is "Steve" who used to hang out here... He is extremely knowledgeable... If I had a weight loss problem that I really couldnt solve - he would be the first person that I would ask. I know lots of people that feel the same way. He has made many thousands of postings on this forum. Look out for "Steve" postings here... That's him. :) He deserves an ego - he earned it!!!
 
Thanks, Omega! The ball is still rolling... for now. I'll ride this wave as long as it will let me.

I read several of Steve's articles and saw that very clearly he has opinions based on experience and education. In my mind I delineate between those who speak regardless of their expertise and those with well-founded arguments. He may be a bit of an egotist, but clearly is of the latter group.
 
Don very touching story and tx for sharing. I think we can all relate to some part of your story.

And you WILL achieve whatever you set your mind too. You are doing it already!!
 
Thank you , Mands! I know the real fight is the long term mental battle.
I know that I can lose another 100 pounds... but will I? Time will tell.
 
Quick drive-by as the day is busy and passing quickly...

weighed in at 409 even, down 0.6 lbs on the day and 48 pounds even total.
Three days left to lose 2 more pounds to hit an even 50 lost in the first 60 days... but it looks unlikely at this point. Weekends have not been kind to me for various reasons. Ah well, it was a good run nonetheless.

Have a good weekend and do your best, everyone.
 
Hey you, don't rush it - steady loss is good!! You have been doing remarkably well!
Patience !! i think most of us here agree if we could just push a button and be slim tomorrow that would be perfection...
For most of us it took quite some time to gain those poulds...so it will take the same amount of time (or more and a lot more effort) to lose them!!

Hope you have a good weekend!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top