Since April I have lost 170 lbs.

[Mark Phillips]

That's right 170 lbs... No surgery.. I just made the desicion to eat different and workout. It all started with a life changing event. I am a fireman and weighed about 425 lbs. it never made a big deal to me. I was always athletic so I really didn't notice all of the problems that I was havering. So on the day that I woke up and made the change, we responded to a house fire on the 2nd alarm. We got there and the officer turned to me and said "go to the attic and open it up". I was used to this cause they looked at me as the work horse. I was the go to guy. I you wanted a lot of work done it was always me. As I got to the top of the steps in the attic area I came across a large dog in the middle of the steps that we rescued and went back to the attic. As we started to open the walls up the room starte to spin and get dark. The next thing I remember was laying on the ground outside the building with everyone working on me. I was told by my partner that I passed out and he called a mayday. It took 8 guys to get me out. As I sat in the hospital an thought about what I did, the only thing that crossed my mind was my wife and my daughter, and what I could have done by not staying in shape. What really made me cry was the 8 people who risked their lives to save my "large rump" I put those people in a danger that they didn't ask for. What would I have said to their families if one of them would have been hurt or killed. So the doctor told me the someone was looking down and made sure I got out. He also said the I was fat and would die eventually from it. So at this timei made the desicion to never put people in that position again. I don't want my daughter to have to burry me. So in April I went to my PCP and asked what can I do, and I don't want a fad diet. She told me the key Is protein, no sugars above 9 grams, complex carbs, low sodium, and drink water. I know it sounds easy, or some of you will say "yeah right!" I am here to tell you it worked. It is now January of 2012 and I have lost 170 lbs. I know a lot of you are going to say that is to much in that little bit of time. I am under a doctors care and get blood work every month. So at my highest I had been diagnosed with hypoglycemia and weight induced asthma. Today all of it is gone. I am sharing this with you in this forum cause I have seen many new and current members who say they are having a hard time and it will never work. It will and it was hard at the time. I look back at it now and think wow it really wasn't that hard. If I can do it any of you can. I am here for all of you. If you need support... Talk to me. We can all do it! I wish I would have found this web site during my times of need. Thanks and good luck on your journey!

 

[smilin]

Thanks for your post Mark!!! Isn't it the best feeling in the world.... brings back memories for me..i did about exactly the same thing 10 years ago (lost 190pds in about 9 months) kept it off for about 4 years too..then slowly started to gain..then just when crazy and was back up to same weight id started out at. I posted here for the first time 2 weeks ago..so i really enjoyed seeing your post because i know i can do this again.


Maintaining will be harder than losing was...i know this..so i hope you keep coming by and visiting with us and giving all of us encouragement!!! I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!!! Firefighers are the best!

 

[audrijohnson19]

AThis is absolutely amazing

 

[cherokee]

i am just starting out on a low carb diet. thats my problem i have a hard time keeping weight off.

the doctor told me to get gastric bypass or die. because im on so much insulin i can't lose weight.

he said it was imposible. but i decided to try any way. i have lost 3 pounds so far.

i don't have the money for gastric bypass.

 

[HousewivesofHCG]

You don't want surgery- it's simply a "band-aid". You need to get to the root of your eating and squash that to really have successful, long term weight loss. It's not so much about the weightloss- it's changing your lifestyle and re-thinking the way you think about food and its place in your life.

 

[Mark Phillips]

Thanks.. I was going to get the surgery, but i work at Hopkins also and did a lot research on the bypass. What i have found is not enough info on the effects as you get older. You have malabsorption problems after the surgery, but also your body as you get older goes through more absorption problems. So i went with the diet and exercise route. I'm not saying that the bypass is bad, but not for me. I taught myself to eat different and made my body a custom to the smaller meals but more of them. Its hard in the beginning and gets easier as you go on. I'm not low carb per say... i don't eat anything that has more than 9 grams of sugar, also no white breads or rice. It sounds rough but its really not. As for the gym.... i have a strict regiment, but when i started i did the treadmill on the weight loss setting level 2. That setting starts on a walk about 3mph and 4 min in it increases the incline to 4% for 2min. Then back down to flat with a increase of speed to 3.5 mph. I continued that for 20 min. After that i went to the circuit weight loss center and did all 20 stations. It is important to do the weights and the cardio section. Do not skip. That will take all of 1 hr. to complete. If you do this 3 days a week you will see a big difference. I did this with the diet change and in 2 weeks lost 38 lbs. Oh and i forgot... high protein throughout the day stops you from being so hungry. Its work but its worth it. As it gets easier increase the work load by increasing treadmill time, or add another whole cycle to the circuit weight loss center. You can also add in the bike or other cardio work.