Would anyone be interested in a little dc.com Biggest Loser contest?

[bull]

Having lost 45 lbs over the past three months I've been somewhat inspired to help some of my online friends do the same. So I thought I'd try to put together a little weight loss contest here for you guys who know me well enough to trust me to collect money for a prize. I was thinking about a $10 entry fee and if we could get maybe 10-20 contestants or more I'd take the money and buy something like a gift certificate through a place like Year One or Paddock or BE&A and mail it via cerified mail to the winner. I know $100-$200 doesn't go that far at some of these places but the real win would be losing the fat and getting healthier. Maybe we can post diet and workout tips for each other and stories about what works and what doesn't work. I of course would not be participating due to the obvious conflict of interest and I'd lose anyway because I've almost reached my goal.

I'd appreciate input from you guys as to whether you think this is a good idea and if so how we could work it out so that people aren't starving themselves and passing out while walking down a flight of stairs or something. It would probably be required that everyone who participates first talk to their doctor about it and then we would have to figure out a way to avoid the temptation for some to cheat on the results. Maybe follow up visits to the doctor's office with photos of the scales, I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud here so that's why I need suggestions and some idea if there's any interest. I was thinking the contest would last about six months so the winner would be announced around mid December or so if we could get started in the next few weeks.

What do you think?

[Blown70]

Good Idea but I dont think I qualify......

[Todd Wilson]

I'd be interested in hearing about how you did it. How you ate before and what you changed to lose the weight. I really need to lose 30 lbs myself.


Todd

[moparstuart]

I'd be interested in hearing about how you did it. How you ate before and what you changed to lose the weight. I really need to lose 30 lbs myself.


Todd

I need to and qualify but dont know if i have the commitment .

[konigcharger]

is this retro active becaus ive lost 35lbs over the last 6 mos

[69_500]

If it was retroactive, I would vote for Allen's weight loss. Incredible if you ask me. I had seen a picture of him before, and met him last year at the Monster Mopar and had no idea who he was until he said his name.

[BB1]

I just canceled my gym membership; the reason was that I wanted to be fat and lazy. 

[THE COLONEL]

Congrats Bull.  I have lost 28 pounds myself now.  I still need to lose at least 40 more.  I was 272 when I started a couple months agao, and am now down to 244.  That is the least I have weighed since well before high school.....years ago!!  I have been watching my calorie & fat intake.  I started earting no more the 1,800 calories and 40 fat grams a day.  I've been keeping track in a little diary.  I have also been walking 150 minutes a week, or 30 minutes a day for 5 days.  It just keeps coming off and coming off.   Now that I'm below 250, I have been doing only 1,500 calories, and 33 grams of fat a day, and most days I don't even make 1,500 which is not bad.  It's all about portion size, and fat to me!

[bull]

I'd be interested in hearing about how you did it. How you ate before and what you changed to lose the weight. I really need to lose 30 lbs myself.


Todd

Well, after I got those blood clots in my leg and having people tell me that blood clots are a good way to get a stroke, heart attack and Pulmonary Embolism (fancy talk for blockage in the lung arteries) I asked the doctor about a diet and exercise plan. He's an MD so he didn't tell me squat, instead he referred me to a nutritionist at the hospital. She told me I should be sticking to 2500 calories or less per say and since my blood pressure was getting too high she told me to cut my sodium level to 2000 mg or less per day. So I counted calories and sodium for two weeks and started walking with my dog for 30-45 minutes a day, maybe 4 days a week, sometimes 5. After counting calories for two weeks I had a good idea how much I should be eating and by then I had started sprinting for short distances during my walks. I weighed 290 during my first visit to the doctor's office and two weeks later I weighed something like 278. I just kept at it because I didn't ever want to get to 300 lbs and I also was basically motivated by the desire to stay alive. It sounds morbid but I really could have died from one of those conditions I listed above.

So I discovered you can survive on 2500 calories or less a day. Before this I never exercised except maybe going for a walk 4-5 times a year with my wife. Also I would eat out a lot like $6 burgers at Carl's Jr. and often go to the all-you-can-eat places and definitely get my money's worth there. In the past three months I think I've eaten out four times.

Anyway, the short answer is that I watched my portions and started exercising. I think it helps a lot to have a one-on-one with a nutrition and/or exercise professional to help you get an idea of what you should do. In my case it was much more motivational to me to talk to someone in person than to look up a bunch of stuff on the internet. And of course the threat of death helps too.

[Brock Samson]

good for you Bull, did you stop smoking too?..
oh, while your at it are ya gonna get a magnum sedan?.. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

I hadn't been able to weigh myself at home for YEARS ... the scale just didn't go that high 

I wound up weighing myself on the freight scale at work...340lbs 

I know from the fit of my clothes that I had been heavier than 340, I'll bet I topped 350 at one time, but I have no proof of that so we'll stick with the 340 figure.

I weighed myself at home this morning....259 lbs 

I'm 6'4" 

I'm down 81 lbs + or -   

It's taken about four years to lose it, I've just started walking a few days a week, up to this point it's all been one thing...STOP EATING LIKE A FU^&ING PIG!

I used to stop at McDonald's every morning on the way to work and fill up on a couple of the McCrusty mystery egg sandwich of the day, Go to Hardee's (Carl's Jr. for you western guys) for lunch and pig out on at least two of those 1/2 pound hamburgers, sometimes just to mix it up I'd go to Dairy Queen for lunch and get four of their gooey cheeseburgers and a large cheese fry

I'd also maintain a constant supply of chips, cookies and whatever else within easy reach throughout my work day. And a constant flow of Mountain Dew.

For supper, on Mondays the local pizza dude would be summoned to my door to perform his duties, then at least three nights a week the Ol' Lady (She's 125 lbs soaking wet, wearing boots with the metabolism of a hyper-active humming bird  ) and me would hit the local Ponderosa Steak House all-you-can-stuff-down-your-neck buffet...Then there was the sunday morning breakfast buffet at Shoney's-EVERY Sunday-and we can't forget the huge bowl of ice cream almost every night right before bed...

In my case it took a huge commitment to become such a fat-ass. Once I realised this I was able to start backing off on the caloric intake, I drive past McDonald's and Hardee's every day like they're not even there. I'll hit the dairy queen for lunch about twice a month and I'll get two of the cheese burgers instead of four...but I still get the cheese fries

The local Ponderosa steak house buffet has since gone out of business, the building torn down and a Wal-Greens put up in it's place-Everybody tells me it's my fault since I stopped spending my paycheck there 

[bull]

good for you Bull, did you stop smoking too?..
oh, while your at it are ya gonna get a magnum sedan?.. 

I never said I was a smoker. And no. No Phagnum sedan.

[bull]

I hadn't been able to weigh myself at home for YEARS ... the scale just didn't go that high 

I wound up weighing myself on the freight scale at work...340lbs 

I know from the fit of my clothes that I had been heavier than 340, I'll bet I topped 350 at one time, but I have no proof of that so we'll stick with the 340 figure.

I weighed myself at home this morning....259 lbs 

I'm 6'4" 

I'm down 81 lbs + or -   

It's taken about four years to lose it, I've just started walking a few days a week, up to this point it's all been one thing...STOP EATING LIKE A FU^&ING PIG!

I used to stop at McDonald's every morning on the way to work and fill up on a couple of the McCrusty mystery egg sandwich of the day, Go to Hardee's (Carl's Jr. for you western guys) for lunch and pig out on at least two of those 1/2 pound hamburgers, sometimes just to mix it up I'd go to Dairy Queen for lunch and get four of their gooey cheeseburgers and a large cheese fry

I'd also maintain a constant supply of chips, cookies and whatever else within easy reach throughout my work day. And a constant flow of Mountain Dew.

For supper, on Mondays the local pizza dude would be summoned to my door to perform his duties, then at least three nights a week the Ol' Lady (She's 125 lbs soaking wet, wearing boots with the metabolism of a hyper-active humming bird  ) and me would hit the local Ponderosa Steak House all-you-can-stuff-down-your-neck buffet...Then there was the sunday morning breakfast buffet at Shoney's-EVERY Sunday-and we can't forget the huge bowl of ice cream almost every night right before bed...

In my case it took a huge commitment to become such a fat-ass. Once I realised this I was able to start backing off on the caloric intake, I drive past McDonald's and Hardee's every day like they're not even there. I'll hit the dairy queen for lunch about twice a month and I'll get two of the cheese burgers instead of four...but I still get the cheese fries

The local Ponderosa steak house buffet has since gone out of business, the building torn down and a Wal-Greens put up in it's place-Everybody tells me it's my fault since I stopped spending my paycheck there 

Good for you! Sounds like there aren't going to be too many eligible contestants. I hear you about stopping in at every greaseburger joint you can think of because I used to do that too. I got fat over the course of about 13 years and 3 lbs. at a time.

[moparstuart]

I hadn't been able to weigh myself at home for YEARS ... the scale just didn't go that high 

I wound up weighing myself on the freight scale at work...340lbs 

I know from the fit of my clothes that I had been heavier than 340, I'll bet I topped 350 at one time, but I have no proof of that so we'll stick with the 340 figure.

I weighed myself at home this morning....259 lbs 

I'm 6'4" 

I'm down 81 lbs + or -   

It's taken about four years to lose it, I've just started walking a few days a week, up to this point it's all been one thing...STOP EATING LIKE A FU^&ING PIG!

I used to stop at McDonald's every morning on the way to work and fill up on a couple of the McCrusty mystery egg sandwich of the day, Go to Hardee's (Carl's Jr. for you western guys) for lunch and pig out on at least two of those 1/2 pound hamburgers, sometimes just to mix it up I'd go to Dairy Queen for lunch and get four of their gooey cheeseburgers and a large cheese fry

I'd also maintain a constant supply of chips, cookies and whatever else within easy reach throughout my work day. And a constant flow of Mountain Dew.

For supper, on Mondays the local pizza dude would be summoned to my door to perform his duties, then at least three nights a week the Ol' Lady (She's 125 lbs soaking wet, wearing boots with the metabolism of a hyper-active humming bird  ) and me would hit the local Ponderosa Steak House all-you-can-stuff-down-your-neck buffet...Then there was the sunday morning breakfast buffet at Shoney's-EVERY Sunday-and we can't forget the huge bowl of ice cream almost every night right before bed...

In my case it took a huge commitment to become such a fat-ass. Once I realised this I was able to start backing off on the caloric intake, I drive past McDonald's and Hardee's every day like they're not even there. I'll hit the dairy queen for lunch about twice a month and I'll get two of the cheese burgers instead of four...but I still get the cheese fries

The local Ponderosa steak house buffet has since gone out of business, the building torn down and a Wal-Greens put up in it's place-Everybody tells me it's my fault since I stopped spending my paycheck there 

Thats awesome dude , great for you . Wish i had the will power !

[my73charger]

I am down from 268 to 235 over the last year.  I want to get back down to 200 lbs.  I feel much better.  I can actually breath.  Plus my car may even be faster at the track! 

[MOPARHOUND!]

Wish I had the will power.  Try to diet, then a holiday or birthday party or the like comes along and I blow it.  Working out makes me hungrier, crazy as it sounds.  6'3", 305 lbs, and can still run up and down a basketball court for an hour and a half.  Need to be around 255lbs.

[ramit]

I am down from 268 to 235 over the last year.  I want to get back down to 200 lbs.  I feel much better.  I can actually breath. Plus my car may even be faster at the track! 

Hey, I saw you a couple weeks ago at the Tires Plus and just driving by I thought you looked different.  I wasn't really sure if it was you or not but remember I was driving by at 40 mph.  I was 276 last year and am down to 235 now.  I keep trying to get down to 200 but I haven't been eating real healthy lately.

[ChgrSteve67]

I was 267 about 4 years ago, started drinking a lot of water and lost 60 pounds.  My arms and legs started hurting and my feet felt like they were always cold or numb. Went to the doctor and had some blood work done. A1C test was 13.6  Lab results had a big fat DIABETIC written across the front (BTW anything above 6.5 is bad - more than twice the legal limit).  At one point I was down to around 180 pounds (not good) and am now up to 226 (not good either).  Just bought a Wii Fit and have been doing Yoga and Strength training.  Need to get to around 200 and stay there.  I love food and it has become my worst enemy.

Good luck to everyone that is on the weight loss train, just remember to do it safely and consult your doctor about which ever diet you choose.  There is no replacement for exercise and healthy eating.

-Steve

[Steve P.]

My hat is off to you guys. I too have been dropping some weight. Though not as much as some of you, I have been kind of steadily losing it. The food part of it hasn't been my problem. The exercise is. I have tried walking the dog more often than I should. Though she is learning quite well, she still has that puppy power in her and wants to get to everything NOW.. That's too much on my back and I find it hard to do again in the next day or two.

I have found those SMART ONES to be pretty good. Like cheap beer, once you've pounded a few the rest go down easier.. At any rate I am down around 20 pounds over the last couple of months.. 40 or 50 more to go. 

Good luck to all of us working on a lighter life....   


Did I say I still like beer?? 

[chargerboy69]

Good for you! Sounds like there aren't going to be too many eligible contestants. I hear you about stopping in at every greaseburger joint you can think of because I used to do that too. I got fat over the course of about 13 years and 3 lbs. at a time.

Bull, I looked through the T-Shirt order list Troy had up, and I never saw so many XXL shirts ordered. There are plenty of heavy weights on the board. And yes, I am a fat ass who ordered a XXL shirt.

I quite smoking several years ago and gained a lot of weight. Last year I joined the Army and dropped 90 pounds. I then tore up my knee during drills and put back on 70 pounds because I am on a very restricted exercise program until my knee heals up. In the last month I have lost 30 pounds. I have myself on a 1200 calorie a day diet.

Good luck to you on your weight loss.

[Mike DC]

   

I went from about 200-180 lbs during 2006/07, and I don't really even know how the hell it happened. 

I think I just stressed it off.  Not eating consistently and no decent sleep. 

[THE COLONEL]

   

I went from about 200-180 lbs during 2006/07, and I don't really even know how the hell it happened. 

I think I just stressed it off.  Not eating consistently and no decent sleep. 

You overweight?  Not when I saw you at Dukesfest....in what 06 & 07?

[chargerman68]

I'd be interested in hearing about how you did it. How you ate before and what you changed to lose the weight. I really need to lose 30 lbs myself.


Todd

second that im needing about 25

[dkn1997]

does it count if one would get rid of about 150lbs by getting a divorce?

[my73charger]

I am down from 268 to 235 over the last year.  I want to get back down to 200 lbs.  I feel much better.  I can actually breath. Plus my car may even be faster at the track! 

Hey, I saw you a couple weeks ago at the Tires Plus and just driving by I thought you looked different.  I wasn't really sure if it was you or not but remember I was driving by at 40 mph.  I was 276 last year and am down to 235 now.  I keep trying to get down to 200 but I haven't been eating real healthy lately.

Hey Gino next time stop by for a couple minutes. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

does it count if one would get rid of about 150lbs by getting a divorce?

[Mike DC]

You overweight?  Not when I saw you at Dukesfest....in what 06 & 07?

Swear to God it's true.  Between 2005 and 2008 I've hit some numbers on the scale that were 20+ pounds apart.  Maybe even 23-24 pounds.  I've looked a bit different at times, but it wasn't quite enough to actually change my clothes over it.  Some of that weight change was probably muscle too; my activity/exercise level is as unpredictable as my eating. 

My body & health is just inconsistent as hell.



True story: 

One time when I was in high school I went on a big hardass 2-week camping/canoeing trip.  I left weighing 170-something and came back weighing 150-something.  The difference was insane; it was literally something like 21 pounds lost in 14 days.  (And I didn't start out with much to lose.)   It scared the sh*t out of my mother.  She said she woulda thought I was dying if I hadn't come back so suntanned. 

       

[bull]

does it count if one would get rid of about 150lbs by getting a divorce?

The old stress diet works every time. I've known quite a few people who've tried it with great results. Of course the emotional ramifications can be deadly...

[THE COLONEL]

You overweight?  Not when I saw you at Dukesfest....in what 06 & 07?

Swear to God it's true.  Between 2005 and 2008 I've hit some numbers on the scale that were 20+ pounds apart.  Maybe even 23-24 pounds.  I've looked a bit different at times, but it wasn't quite enough to actually change my clothes over it.  Some of that weight change was probably muscle too; my activity/exercise level is as unpredictable as my eating. 

True story: 

One time when I was in high school I went on a big hardass 2-week camping/canoeing trip.  I left weighing 170-something and came back weighing 150-something.  The difference was insane; it was literally something like 21 pounds lost in 14 days.  (And I didn't start out with much to lose.)   It scared the sh*t out of my mother.  She said she woulda thought I was dying if I hadn't come back so suntanned. 

       

Well, that is aood in a way.  You have good matabolism then.  Shoot, until I statred losing weight a few months agao, I could look at food, and seemed to gain weight.  I really think it doesn't help when your family is overweight too.  Some can lose it fast, soem can lose it slow.  I feel so much better now, but am still overweight.  I need to lose about another 40 pounds, but with the diet I'm on, it hasn't been that hard to lose 28 so far.

[TeeWJay426]

After my back surgery, the Doctor said I needed to drop 50 pounds, as that was the only way I was going to get any relief from the arthritis in my spine. Have gotten off to an OK start, dropped about 15 so far, just through exercise and portion control. I have a feeing the next 35 will be much harder to make disappear, though.....

[Mike DC]

. . . just through exercise and portion control.

I agree that portion control can really be major.  In the example of that canoe trip I went on, we mainly ate just powdered food we had brought along because it was the smallest practical way to bring a large amount of food.  I was eating less in a (very active) day than I could normally eat in one meal at home. 




I once heard an old Dennis Miller standup show from his early days.  The interesting thing was that he spent a couple of minutes on a routine about the absurdity of 7-Eleven starting to offer a 32-oz drink cup.  This was like 1984 and it seemed to strike him as a disgusting excess.  He was saying stuff like, "I can't imagine ever willingly putting 32oz of any liquid into my body at one sitting.  What are they gonna do, back a dump-truck up to my mouth when I order this thing?" 

Nowadays, 32oz cups are everywhere. 
At McDonalds today a 32oz cup is nothing.  It's not the Super-Size, not even the Large, but now just the MEDIUM size they put with everything.   

[ChgrSteve67]

You can get a 64 oz cup at the 7-11 around me.

Wonder when they are going to start making drink cup holders in cars big enough to hold it.

[WingCharger]

I wonder how this thread will go.

[mikepmcs]

I've gained over 40 pounds since retiring from the Navy.  Mostly because I ran about 6 miles 5 days a week just to keep in standards.  That was brutal and my back and knees really took a beating over the last 20 years.  As soon as I retired, I quit exercising and am up to about 221 in the last year.  I've always been heavy and people couldn't believe I weighed 180 and wore 31/32 jeans at 5'7"  Been up and down all my life on the weight scale.  Graduated high school weighting 220, lost 101 pounds when I was 19 in less than 8 months down to 119 and my mother said gain some weight or you are going to the hospital so I went back to 140 and joined the Navy in 87.  Lifted for a while in the early 90's and that is where the bulk of the weight came back up to about 180 or so, hovering there all those years.  Now, i'm a lazy fat slob with a screwed up back and other parts and I drink too much cause I have nothing else better to do with my time.   
Here is a truism for all us overweight fellas and like I said I've been up and down all these years and know what works and what doesn't.  Lay of the beer(if you drink more than a few a night) and you'll most likely lose weight without even doing anything.  But, the real answer is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change, stay/get active and eat healthier or at least normal portions and you will lose the weight.
I won't enter the contest because i'm spiraling into hell, but I'll let you know in december if I decided to get off my lazy arse and if I lost anything. 
I say I don't care anymore, but we all know that isn't true, anyone that is heavy cares and wants to be a little lighter.
Ok, gotta get another beer now.   
v/r
Mike

[dkn1997]

I once heard an old Dennis Miller standup show from his early days.  The interesting thing was that he spent a couple of minutes on a routine about the absurdity of 7-Eleven starting to offer a 32-oz drink cup.  This was like 1984 and it seemed to strike him as a disgusting excess.  He was saying stuff like, "I can't imagine ever willingly putting 32oz of any liquid into my body at one sitting.  What are they gonna do, back a dump-truck up to my mouth when I order this thing?" 

I love that particular miller routine, one of his very early ones.  he elaborates in saying that the 32 oz drink is for the guy who came from the surface of the sun directly into the 7-11. 

I'm in on the weight thing.  I am 5'7' and weigh 225.  I am in pretty decent shape for my size, I just ran a 5k on 4th of july and I run twice a week minimum, but I eat like shit.  If I didn't run, i'd be 245 easy.  I was there at one time and it wasn't pretty. 
how do we begin....?

[TheGhost]

I thought this thread was gonna be about Silver.  Nevermind, then.  Carry on.

[gordo1968charger]

i ve lost 15000 pounds since i bought my charger.
uk pounds that is

[moparstuart]

i ve lost 15000 pounds since i bought my charger.
uk pounds that is

  hey me too but dollars

[Back N Black]

I eat because I'm unhappy, I'm unhappy because i eat. Its a vicious circle. 

[dkn1997]

I thought this thread was gonna be about Silver.  Nevermind, then.  Carry on.

That post rules!

[Chryco Psycho]

they would put me in hospital if I lose 40 lbs good luck to those who need to lose though

[bull]

I eat because I'm unhappy, I'm unhappy because i eat. Its a vicious circle. 

Next time you get unhappy do some exercising, visit some friends or work on a hobby instead of eating. Try an activity other than eating that will take your mind off your depressing situation.

IMO there are two major schools of thought regarding any illness, including depression. One comes from the medical field which seems to focus too much on drug treatment as opposed to discovering and dealing with the cause of the problem. The other comes from the health and wellness (an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure) crowd where exercise and a healthy diet are emphasized. I'd rather figure out what's wrong with me and deal with that issue instead of "fooling" the mind and body through drugs and ignoring the core problem. That's not to say all problems can be cured with diet and exercise but I think there's way too much emphasis these days on treating symptoms with pills instead of figuring out what's really wrong and fixing it. It's kind of like trying to fool a fuel/air sensor in your car into thinking it's getting the correct mixture and then driving like that until your engine blows up.

[41husk]

I wish you would have started this a few years ago!  I was over 360 lbs 3 years ago, I fluctuate between 190 and 210 now.  170 lbs lost on a light day and have maintained for a couple years now.  No surgery, just eating better and moving more.

[moparstuart]

I wish you would have started this a few years ago!  I was over 360 lbs 3 years ago, I fluctuate between 190 and 210 now.  170 lbs lost on a light day and have maintained for a couple years now.  No surgery, just eating better and moving more.

great job man

[bull]

I wish you would have started this a few years ago!  I was over 360 lbs 3 years ago, I fluctuate between 190 and 210 now.  170 lbs lost on a light day and have maintained for a couple years now.  No surgery, just eating better and moving more.

[gordo1968charger]

i was about 238 lbs when i got my charger,with all the extra graft i do now i ve dropped down to about 200lbs,i can t work on a full stomach anymore,it just makes me lazy.

[Back N Black]

I eat because I'm unhappy, I'm unhappy because i eat. Its a vicious circle. 

Next time you get unhappy do some exercising, visit some friends or work on a hobby instead of eating. Try an activity other than eating that will take your mind off your depressing situation.

:

Just kidding, I"m in the Military and i'm in charge of physical fitness training for my unit. I sweat more before 0700hrs than most people sweat all day. 

[Mike DC]

IMO there are two major schools of thought regarding any illness, including depression. One comes from the medical field which seems to focus too much on drug treatment as opposed to discovering and dealing with the cause of the problem. The other comes from the health and wellness (an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure) crowd where exercise and a healthy diet are emphasized. I'd rather figure out what's wrong with me and deal with that issue instead of "fooling" the mind and body through drugs and ignoring the core problem. That's not to say all problems can be cured with diet and exercise but I think there's way too much emphasis these days on treating symptoms with pills instead of figuring out what's really wrong and fixing it. It's kind of like trying to fool a fuel/air sensor in your car into thinking it's getting the correct mixture and then driving like that until your engine blows up.

I think there are so many different aspects of modern life that individually aggravate depression, it's probably easier to list the ones that don't. 

[bull]

Yea, pretty sad. I wonder how many "cures" are actually killing us too.

[Tilar]

I lost 150 pounds back in 1995. I think she's living around the Dallas area now. 

[41husk]

I lost 150 pounds back in 1995. I think she's living around the Dallas area now. 

Hell, if mine only weighed 150 I wouldn't want to lose her

[Blown70]

I lost 150 pounds back in 1995. I think she's living around the Dallas area now. 

Hell, if mine only weighed 150 I wouldn't want to lose her

I have informed my current Girl Friend I have a weight limit..... she is well aware if she gets LARGE, she will not be around me.  AHHHH TRUE LOVE huh?

[mikepmcs]

I have informed my current Girl Friend I have a weight limit..... she is well aware if she gets LARGE, she will not be around me.  AHHHH TRUE LOVE huh?

That's how I roll!  I don't care what I look like but they better be smokin' hot!

[gordo1968charger]

i had an e mail sent to me a couple of years ago,how true i do nt know!
a guy gets an e mail from a bird he went to school with from friends reunited.the girl was a hottie in the day.
the girl suggested meeting for a drink,
the man replied that he is bald now
the girl says she likes bald men
he says i ve put weight on since school
she replies so have i
man says"f$ck off"

[mikepmcs]

I'm bumping this thread.  I'm on the train now.  quit drinking/smoking about 3 weeks ago, no issues so far.  first couple days were rough.  guess i've lost about 10 or so thus far.  running about 2.5 every day on the tread mill.  I know i'll get ocd and climb back up to 5miles or so before i know it, but i'd like to keep it to about 30-35 minutes a day.
Anyways, just thought i'd update and was wondering how everyone else is doing.  if you find yourself slipping, then pull it together and get back on it!
Believe me, i drank way too much and just decided to walk away.  I didn't need any counseling/intervention, etc... just good ole willpower.  If you have the same addiction to food, you can do the same.

v/r
Mike

[TeeWJay426]

I've been stuck at 15 lost since July.... just cutting down only went so far. I can't run anymore since my back surgery; that was always my sure-fire weight loss method before. Without that I'm finding it much harder to do. And with the holidays coming up, I'm not anticipating a whole lot of progress will be made over the next month, either. 

[Back N Black]

I'm bumping this thread.  I'm on the train now.  quit drinking/smoking about 3 weeks ago, no issues so far.  first couple days were rough.  guess i've lost about 10 or so thus far.  running about 2.5 every day on the tread mill.  I know i'll get ocd and climb back up to 5miles or so before i know it, but i'd like to keep it to about 30-35 minutes a day.
Anyways, just thought i'd update and was wondering how everyone else is doing.  if you find yourself slipping, then pull it together and get back on it!
Believe me, i drank way too much and just decided to walk away.  I didn't need any counseling/intervention, etc... just good ole willpower.  If you have the same addiction to food, you can do the same.

v/r
Mike

Hey Mike, good for you. I quite smoking 6 years ago and it is one of the hardest thing that i ever done, but now its like i never smoked. Your not an alcoholic until you go to the meetings.

[JoeyGowdy]

I've been on-again/off-again with the NutriSystem for a while - after a bad breakup with the ex-fiance in 2004 I fell into a depressive state that almost finished me off... started N.S. in 2005 at 385 lbs and got down to 255 lbs in 2007 while rebuilding the General Lee and quit N.S.  A year passes and I'm now 295 lbs so I've re-started the N.S., check out my progress:

http://members.nutrisystem.com/Community/MyPage.aspx?UserID=3050759

http://www.w8book.com/me.php?gb=JoeyGowdy

[bull]

My weight loss has leveled off quite a bit here over the past month or so. I've lost a total of 70 lbs since March (down to 215 from about 285) and I do some type of workout 4-5 times a week, usually by riding my bike to work. But with the weather getting lousy my consistancy is getting sketchy. Last night I didn't ride to work but I walked for an hour this afternoon. I might ride in tonight. Rain doesn't bother me much but wind does. It's very annoying when you're riding at 12 mph and get hit in the face with a 12 mph head wind.

[jaak]

Over the past few years I gained weight at a rapid rate, I tried diets only to fail. In October 2006 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. The doctor told me my weight played a role in the sleep apnea, but the sleep apnea played a role in my weight, because I had little to no metabolism with the sleep apnea. He put me on diet, and a c-pap machine to wear while I sleep. I stuck with the diet, and when I went for my 6 month check up I had only lost 7 pounds. To say I was disappointed was a huge understatement. It was then he asked if I ever thought about gastric bypass surgery. I had a family member that had it done with great success, so I decided to check into it. Well after about 6 months of paper work and waiting to get approved I had surgery on September 17, 2007, weighing 368 pounds. Some think this may be drastic or the "easy way", but it was tough in the beginning. You still always have to work at it because it isn't a miracle surgery, there is still the possibility of gaining it back. They are certain foods I cannot have, and the biggest thing on the list is no more sodas ever, they are empty calories and make you gain faster that anything. As of today I weigh 178 pounds, I have lost 190 in a little over 14 months. To sum it all up, I have more energy, no more knee/joint pain, have been taken off my c-pap machine, and feel good about myself. Would I do it over again, you bet! If any members are thinking about having this surgery done and have any questions, feel free to ask.

Later, Jason

First Pic was taken Summer 2007 a couple of months prior to surgery. Second pic was taken July 4th, 2008. BTW had another kid also, He's in the July 4th pic.

[mikepmcs]

good for you Jason, nice job man!!!

Gastric isn't for everyone, but it definitely works for some.  how did your skin take to the weight loss in such a short period of time.  you're pretty young still so i'm sure you bounced back quick.  What do you do for exercise now?

[Big_John]

I've had issues with weight all my life. I could lose some... gain some... lose some and gain it back. Whatever I did, I couldn't get the weight off and what I did take off, I couldn't keep off. I tried a lot of different things and had the best results with Atkins, but even that would "plateau" and I couldn't get any more weight off.

Keep in mind, I'm a healthy guy.. good blood pressure.. good cholesterol levels etc. I'm active, eat well, but not to excess and no fast food or any of that crap. The biggest problem I have with the weight is it has beat up my ankles and knees bad over the years.

I finally went to this weight loss doctor and she did some tests and told me I was severely Vitamin D deficient. WOW! No doctor ever told me that one... doubt if they ever even checked it. She also said I needed to eat more often, like 6 times rather then 3. She put me on a 1500 calorie diet and had me sit down with a dietitian. I use "optifast" shakes for my between meal snacks per their direction and  take vitamin D supplements. They kept me eating pretty much the same things I ate before because I eat very "healthy". The doc said I was one of the healthiest big guys she'd seen.

Turns out vitamin D deficentcy and obesity go hand in hand. No one ever told me that.

They predicted a 2 pound weekly loss and I've hit that mark every time. No hunger and I feel great after dropping 30 pounds. I've got more to lose, but I've gotten through the point where I usually stall and stop losing weight.

[bull]

That's cool, Big John. I like to see people getting the professionals involved instead of doing some fad diet and then wondering why they feel crappy all the time.

[Big_John]

That's cool, Big John. I like to see people getting the professionals involved instead of doing some fad diet and then wondering why they feel crappy all the time.

That as the best thing I could ever do. The doc told me a few things that completely contradicted everything I'd ever heard about losing weight. One thing was to vary my intake of food every day. Sometimes 1500 calories, next day 1700, day after 1400 and so on. The key thing she said was you have to eat to lose weight. By not eating your metabolism slows and you stop losing weight.

What I really liked about this was it isn't a "one size fits all" approach.

[jaak]

good for you Jason, nice job man!!!

Gastric isn't for everyone, but it definitely works for some.  how did your skin take to the weight loss in such a short period of time.  you're pretty young still so i'm sure you bounced back quick.  What do you do for exercise now?

Yeah I dont have much of a skin problem, the only place I have some extra skin is on my stomach, it isn't too bad, though. As for exercise my Doctor preaches alot walking more than anything. There is a park nearby with a walking trail, I go there to walk/jog, but since the weather has gotten cool, I've slacked off. I also have to take several vitamins and supplements everyday (multi-vitamin, calcium citrate, B12, biotin, zantac, and 2 tums).

Jason

[bull]

That's cool, Big John. I like to see people getting the professionals involved instead of doing some fad diet and then wondering why they feel crappy all the time.

That as the best thing I could ever do. The doc told me a few things that completely contradicted everything I'd ever heard about losing weight. One thing was to vary my intake of food every day. Sometimes 1500 calories, next day 1700, day after 1400 and so on. The key thing she said was you have to eat to lose weight. By not eating your metabolism slows and you stop losing weight.

What I really liked about this was it isn't a "one size fits all" approach.

Yea, I have to agree about the variation in diet. I weighed myself this morning and was surprised to discover I had lost 1 1/2 lbs. since yesterday. That was about 15 hours after two plates of T-giving dinner with gravy on everything followed by two pieces of pumpkin pie, a piece of apple pie, a small piece of cake, two helpings of raspberry cobbler and four cups of sparkling cider.

As for exercise my Doctor preaches alot walking more than anything. There is a park nearby with a walking trail, I go there to walk/jog, but since the weather has gotten cool, I've slacked off. I also have to take several vitamins and supplements everyday (multi-vitamin, calcium citrate, B12, biotin, zantac, and 2 tums).

Jason

Yup, I lost about 45 lbs. just by walking with a little jogging thrown in. I didn't start riding my bike until I got down to about 235 or so.

[superduperbee]

We tried a weight loss thing on Pete's Charger site. I lost 20 lbs. Then the weight loss thing died out after a couple months [everyone disappeared], so I'm just getting back in shape on my own, weights, walking, biking if the weather's nice. I cut out snacks and most pop [still have a Coke in the morning as I don't drink coffee] otherwise eat the same.

[mikepmcs]

How's everyone doing?  Hanging in there over the holidays?? 
Doing good here.  Back to 3 miles a day, dropped about 4 pant sizes.

Hang in there and get back on it if you are slipping.

v/r
Mike

[mikepmcs]

I've gained over 40 pounds since retiring from the Navy.  Mostly because I ran about 6 miles 5 days a week just to keep in standards.  That was brutal and my back and knees really took a beating over the last 20 years.  As soon as I retired, I quit exercising and am up to about 221 in the last year.  I've always been heavy and people couldn't believe I weighed 180 and wore 31/32 jeans at 5'7"  Been up and down all my life on the weight scale.  Graduated high school weighting 220, lost 101 pounds when I was 19 in less than 8 months down to 119 and my mother said gain some weight or you are going to the hospital so I went back to 140 and joined the Navy in 87.  Lifted for a while in the early 90's and that is where the bulk of the weight came back up to about 180 or so, hovering there all those years.  Now, i'm a lazy fat slob with a screwed up back and other parts and I drink too much cause I have nothing else better to do with my time.   
Here is a truism for all us overweight fellas and like I said I've been up and down all these years and know what works and what doesn't.  Lay of the beer(if you drink more than a few a night) and you'll most likely lose weight without even doing anything.  But, the real answer is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change, stay/get active and eat healthier or at least normal portions and you will lose the weight.
I won't enter the contest because i'm spiraling into hell, but I'll let you know in december if I decided to get off my lazy arse and if I lost anything. 
I say I don't care anymore, but we all know that isn't true, anyone that is heavy cares and wants to be a little lighter.
Ok, gotta get another beer now.   
v/r
Mike

Just reread this reply in July.  I guess the answer was yes, I got off my butt. 

[bull]

How's everyone doing?  Hanging in there over the holidays?? 
Doing good here.  Back to 3 miles a day, dropped about 4 pant sizes.

Hang in there and get back on it if you are slipping.

v/r
Mike

Way to go, Mike.

I'm still doing ok. I gained a little weight because my schedule got super screwy over the past two weeks (80+ hours of overtime and switching back and forth between night and day shift) which got me out of my predictable meal/workout routine. But I've managed to hang within 3 lbs of my goal weight through it all so that's a good thing considering the circumstances.

[mikepmcs]

Awesome!!!

[mikepmcs]

Been a few months and winter is over...how's everyone doing.  I'm still running 3 miles in the morning and doing well with the weight.  I'm back down to my Navy weight again of about 180 or so.  I've always been more dense/stocky than most so it's about where I guess I need to be.
Any thinner and I will struggle and over think everything and not good IMO.  I have OCD so it can really get out of control with the working out(example: I got up to over 8 miles a day once upon a time, spending hours in the gym etc......)

So anyway to tally it up, I've lost about 58 pounds from my high of around 238 this time around.  I say this time around because I've done it before, just never that heavy. I'm in between a 32 and 33 pants again.

So if you are slacking a little, get up and do something about it.  I know it's tough but hang in there and it only takes one day to get started.....next thing you know a month goes by, next thing you know you feel great and your clothes fit better, then when you reach your goal, you just do enough to maintain.

What a difference from my post almost a year ago..
v/r
Mike

[bull]

  That's great.

I'm still hanging in there for the most part. I haven't been able to do as much exercise until recently (I only do outdoor routines) but I've been able to keep my weight steady. Right now I'm holding at 212-213 but I'd like to get down to about 190 if possible. My body seemed to say "screw you" when I got down to the 210-215 range because I just can't seem to lose that last layer of belly fat. Later this summer, maybe late June, I'm going to hit it hard for a while and show it who's boss.

[THE COLONEL]

I'm still going too.  I have lost 56 pounds so far.  I'm down to 216, and have about 16 more pounds to go.  My body is kind of saying screw you too.  It really gets tough to lose that last bit, but I will!!!