WilTX's diary

WilTX

WilTX

New member
I thought I might go ahead and do a diary, thinking it would be one more way to stay motivated.

I'm 41 and trying to lose some weight and make some positive changes in my life. I'm 6'5" and I've weighed around 310 for the last five or six years. I found where I wrote down my weight in May of 2003 and it was 312. I weighed in May of this year and it was 320.4. In college I was reasonably fit and weighed 220-230, so that should give you an idea where I'm at.

I tend to binge and eat for emotional reasons I think, so I'm currently in counseling to work on that aspect of things. I'm trying to eat a healthy, balanced diet that I can sustain after I've lost the weight. I'm keeping a food log/journal and writing down everything I eat too. I've been going to the gym just about every day for the last week and doing cardio. I plan to add some resistance training soon.

I guess I'll just check in from time to time with my progress...
 
5/3/2009 - 320.4

9/7/2009 - 312.8
9/14/2009 - 310.0
9/21/2009 - 305.2
 
Last edited:
9/28/2009 - 302.2

I went to the gym every day last week, Monday through Saturday and practiced healthy, controlled eating every day. I'm really happy how the last couple of weeks have gone, just have to keep it up...
 
Counting today, I've been to the gym 11 of the last 13 days. I bet it's been about twenty years since I could say that...

:cheers2:
 
9/7/2009 - 312.8
9/14/2009 - 310.0
9/21/2009 - 305.2
9/28/2009 - 302.2
10/5/2009 - 298.8

So far, so good...

:cheers2:
 
Looking good so far!

What's your strategy? In particular, what's your eating strategy? Diet accounts for probably 80% of weight loss.
 
Hi, WilTX; we meet again ;)

You're doing GREAT. 21 pounds already? That's fantastic. I have GOT to get up off my tail and get some exercise :p
 
Well, prior to my trying to eat healthy and exercise...

My diet was about 90% junk food, fast food, pizza, etc. On average I went through a two liter bottle of full sugar Coke a day. On a typical Monday night watching football like tonight, I would go through most of a large pizza and almost a gallon of Coke. I never ate breakfast. A typical lunch would be two double cheeseburgers and a large fries at McDonald's. And zero exercise. That's what got me to ~320.

Now? I eat breakfast every morning. Quaker Weight Control oatmeal with some walnuts, or plain yogurt with fresh fruit, etc. A snack might be an apple and string cheese and maybe a few triscuits. Dinner tonight was grilled chicken, grilled asparagus and some brown rice. That's pretty typical. Just healthy, controlled eating with lean protein, lots of fiber, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats. And then I allow myself a moderate meal of something like pizza about once a week. And I haven't had a regular or diet soda in a month. I brew tea with splenda, or drink water or Crystal Light.

And I go to the gym five to six days a week and do 30-45 minutes of moderate cardio. And this week I plan to start working in two days of resistance training.

I just can't put into words how good I feel compared to a month ago. Like night and day. The biggest things that have helped me are the stickies here, the "Eat This, Not That" books, and a couple of books by Judith Beck on cognitive therapy and how it can help with dieting.

I definitely don't see myself as 'on a diet' or doing something temporary. This is just how my life is now. I'm now someone who eats healthy and exercises.
 
I love your post, WilTX. It reminds me of my mindset when I was losing weight and feeling so good about myself. Then my husband had a stroke and brain surgery, I got pneumonia which eventually resulted in congestive heart failure, and my oldest daughter's house burned down, all in a 9-month period, and all the healthy stuff just kind of fell by the wayside. Posts like yours are helping me find my way back to that mindset again.

Now--what "the stickies here"? That's not something I've found yet. I just picked up _Eat This, Not That_ (at the thrift store, brand new, for a quarter!), but what are the therapy books you mention?
 
The 'stickies' are just the threads that are deemed important enough to be at the top of the different forums here. it will read "Sticky: (fill in the blank with the topic)"

The books I mentioned are written by Judith Beck. Her dad is Aaron Beck, who is the father of cognitive therapy. You could just search on Amazon for more information. They are not so much a diet plan as they give you the skills to stay on a diet plan and make changes to your life in that regard.
 
Ah, THOSE stickies. Those are the ones I tend to skip--maybe I think they are too "party line" for me. No idea, really, why I skip them. I'll go start reading now. And I love books, so I'll definitely check out Beck's work.
 
I just had a crazy stressful week. My mom fell and was in the hospital having surgery. So I could eat a healthy breakfast in the morning and maybe take a protein bar for a snack and was stuck with hospital cafeteria food for lunch and picking up Subway for dinner. A couple of times this week it definitely got the better of me and I ate out of stress.

That, and I was only able to get to the gym twice this week.

Having said all that...

9/7/2009 - 312.8
9/14/2009 - 310.0
9/21/2009 - 305.2
9/28/2009 - 302.2
10/5/2009 - 298.8
10/12/2009 - 297.8

So it wasn't a total disaster.

She was home from the hospital by Saturday, so things got back to normal a little. I ate really healthy Sat and Sun and went to the gym on Sat. Got up this morning and had a good breakfast and I'm about to head to the gym.

Next week I plan to start working in two days of resistance training along with my cardio. I also picked up one of those big, inflatable balls, I'm not sure what they're called. And this TRX suspension trainer thing.

I'll check in next Monday again...
 
10/19/2009 - 292.8

Down 20 pounds in six weeks!

I'm so proud of myself. I scheduled a massage for tomorrow as a reward for myself.
 
10/26/2009 - 289.7

So, ~23 pounds in 7 weeks.

My massage was great, it really helped with the soreness I've been having.

So far, I've just been doing cardio when I go to the gym. But I'm going to work with Steve this week on putting together a more well-rounded program and doing some resistance training.

I'm also going today and having a hydrostatic body fat test done. I'd just like to have a better idea where I'm at.

Other than that things are going great...
 
WilTX said:
10/26/2009 - 289.7
Click to expand...

11/02/09 - 285.8

So I've lost 27 pounds in 8 weeks. And since this summer I've lost ~34 pounds, or 10% of my body weight.

I'm just really feeling good. I'm cooking more and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sunday I went to the local track and tried the beginning of the couch to 5K program. I think I might stick with it, but I'm not sure. I don't want to get so many things going at once that I get overwhelmed.

On Saturday I'm going to the YMCA and taking a swimming lesson. I'd like to be able to get my scuba cetification in the spring.

I plan to take a tour of the local 24 Hour Fitness and see if I might want to join. It'd be nice to have access to a pool, sauna and whirlpool, etc.
 
Mmm ... massage. I used to get them regularly, but finances lately haven't allowed.

I miss my monthly massages.
 
Before this, I've had one in my entire life. But I think I'm going to make it a monthly thing. A nice reward for working so hard.
 
I actually went swimming today. One of the things I plan to do when I lose this weight is learn to scuba dive in the spring. So, not being a great swimmer, I decided to go take some swimming lessons at the YMCA. I had SO much fun. It's the first time I've been in a pool in probably 12 years. I'll definitely be making this part of my daily workouts.

Also, the lady giving the lesson asked me if I was about 33 or so (I'm 41), so that was a nice ego boost as well. lol

I think this also kind of sealed it for me to join my local 24 Hour Fitness. Having access to the pool and whirlpool will be really nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top