Stumbled In...and Glad...

[lokalloudness]

Hey guys...found this forum while doing a search on Google...what an awesome thing...yeah...I guess I'm supposed to say a lil' something about myself...

I'm a lifelong rock & roller...musician, singer-songwriter, graphic artist, journalist, and known around my parts as the chief coverage guy for area music. More importantly I'm the husband of an incredible wife/defense attorney Jeannie and father to two of the greatest people I've ever known - Alexis and Steven.

In high school I was the "cute" guy. Not the most popular, but I was fortunate enough to be well liked. As a military brat I was privileged to travel and loved organized sports excelling in football, baseball, and especially soccer. Settled in Augusta, Georgia and had both of my children at an early age then got married...the first time. Yeah...we'l both admit...we weren't close to ready.

So five years in we divorced...took seven to get out own acts together...and remarried in 2001. It's been good...but not easy. Over the years Jeannie and I both put on weight...she getting over 300 and me as high as 450. I guess a bunch of events took place that would change our lives in many ways.

December 2007 my grandfather passed, followed in April by my Daughter Alexis and my father the next December. Each time I threw myself back into my work.

Alexis used to give up her fave foods for lent. Having been told it would take six months of evaluation to have weight loss surgery, I decided to give up red meat, fried food, and fast food for lent early 2009...and hit the gym. BY April I had lost 45 pounds putting me at 405 and one of the trainers suggested I do the gyms Biggest Loser program...Three months and 105 pounds later I was at 350 and named winner of the session. Without the goal I was lost but after a weird summer...I made my way down to 290...then decided to take a break. In one week every emotion I put off hit me at once and caused a lot off issues with my health, and personal life. There was counseling, and visits to the doctor. Slowly my weight climbed back up to 350. Where once I couldn't talk myself out of going to the gym, my old procrastination habits once again took over.

This past December my wife had weight loss surgery. It has given her so much energy and a new lease on life not just physically, but emotionally as well. Her new smile just amazes me! I's like we are kids all over again! Even at 350 she finds me just as sexy as always...and I gotta say...she has never looked better...

So I struggle with knowing that after losing over 150 pounds that I CAN do it...but can't seem to finish it off. I eat well (even better now that I split meals with Jeannie...she can only eat so much now lol...)

My wife and Doctor both feel that at my weight and all that I've put my body through to get this far, that I won't be able to finish losing this weight on my own...and both want me to have surgery...and to be honest...have set the wheels in motion...but like last time it was suggested...I see a challenge...six months...I could sit and just enjoy life and do whatever...but I don't want to just lay down and wait...I want to take as big a chunk off as I can...I just can't seem to get the right plan together...

...suggestions? The site my trainer gave me for nutrition doesn't offer advice for nutrition ideas for guys my size...I workout cardio an hour a day six days a week walking the indoor track with some days of circuit training... my weight is not moving up or down...

...thanks guys...I'm digging your stories and I feel privileged to be able to hear them and share mine. Some amazing people here.

John

 

[chelsea_morning]

Wow! You have been on an adventure with your body. So you have decided to have the surgery in six months, and now you want to take off as much of the weight by yourself as you can?


For me, and not to sound like a crazy atkins person, but weight gain comes from carbohyrdates and sugars. Not like I sit around eating donuts and candy all day though. Things like jam, pancakes, waffles, juice, desserts, dinner rolls, potatoes, pasta, cookies & brownies, sugary canned soups, etc are what do it. I can feel a difference in myself when I have a big meal of carbs as opposed to a big meal of protein and vegetables. That terrible swollen feeling where you feel like your belly is up to your chin on the couch after dinner. :yuck: Regular every day items that people don't think of make me gain weight. Even a reasonably-sized breakfast of pancakes as opposed to a reasonably-sized breakfast of eggs and crackbread or something is all it takes. Not even that the portions are huge. It's just how my body processes different nutrients. I like the old-fashioned oats for breakfast with some fresh or frozen blueberries on top, and maybe a little low sugar soy milk. No brown sugar though! You can mix in a tablespoon of peanut butter; that gives it a nice flavor. It takes a while to get used to, because things taste bland for a while after you take away the sugar coating.

Good luck on everything! You can do it, because you've done it before. Just put in that elbow grease!!

 

[lokalloudness]

Thanks! I really haven't changed my breakfast much...pretty boring and mundane...single serving of Cheerios and skim milk...and I agree with the carbs...I'm Italian...didn't grow up on sweets or fried/junk food. Give me pasta and bread over all that. Luckily I enjoy wheat products so that has helped. My only breakfast issue has been mixed suggestions...eat before working out verses NOT eating before working out...well also that my trainers says I need more than just cereal or a single serving of low sugar oatmeal and wants me to add fruit. My concerns are that I take meds for type two diabetes although my sugars are consistently around 100. I believe that I do need to drink more water...and maybe a few more calories...one of my issues is that while I try to eat every three hours following the daily plan of 4 veg/fruit servings, 3 proteins, all 2 whole grain servings...come dinner I still have the majority of my calories left to consume...and therefore...never get them all in...