I've Lost 15 pounds!

[FDRLincoln]

One month ago, I stepped on a scale and realized my life had to change.

I was up to 295 pounds.

Now, I'd been gaining weight steadily since I was a college freshman back in 1986. But I was able to ignore it because it wasn't impacting my health in any obvious way, and because my body frame is naturally stocky and muscular. Although I'm just 5-8, I didn't get a "gut" or look fat in any way until I got over 250 pounds. I knew over the last few years that I was getting too fat. I made a few half-hearted attempts to lose the poundage, but more or less ignored the problem.

Until I saw the number 295. Which scared the hell out of me.

One month ago, I decided that this had gone too far and that I had to change my life. For the last month, I have been going to the gym and running a treadmill and/or doing light weightlifting an average of three days a week. For the last month, I've been limiting myself to 2,000 calories or less per day. I have cut out most refined carbohydrates...no more cookies or donuts...but allow myself to eat all the fruits, veggies, fish, or meat I want. I don't worry too much about fat intake. I eat 9-grain bread instead of white.

Well, it's been a month now, and so far so good. This morning I checked in at 280 pounds, a loss of 15 pounds in a month. I've lost an inch off my gut. I feel good, I have energy, and I'm not snoring as much. Next stop 270.

I look at this as a pernament change in my life style. It has to be, because at the rate I was going I was heading for an early death.

[wyldwolf]

1. As someone else who is on an anotomical reconstruction plan...

...can I ask you this?

What was your waist/pants size at 295?

I got up that high last year (I'm 6'0 so it didn't show as much - most estimated my weight at 240 or so) but my waist size didn't increase but one size between 225 and 295 (I've lost 80 pounds)

[MaineDem]

5. Congrats to you, too!

80 pounds is terrific!

I've lost 133.

[BurtWorm]

6. Wow, Maine Dem!

Just plain wow! And congratulations.

[wyldwolf]

7. My weight gain was dramatic...

High school senior - 180.
College Grad - 210

1993 - 225
2003 - 295

Now back to 215

I have found water helps a lot. But I hate water! So I've discovered a brand called Fruit20 - fruit flavored. Drink about 60 ounces a day.

[elfin]

23. Try Ice Water with a good squirt

of lime juice and a little Splenda. Skip those sugary carbs in a fruit drink and see more fat melt away.

[wyldwolf]

28. No sugary carbs in Fruit20...

sweetened with splenda - in grape, lemon, strawberry, orange, and rasberry.

[FDRLincoln]

11. waist

Waist is 44.

My weight went like this.

College freshman 1986: 185
College Senior 1990: 205
Got Married 1992: 220
My wife had our kid 1998: 260
September 17, 2003: 295

[MaineDem]

2. Excellent work!

Sounds like you're taking the right steps to a healthier lifestyle. I congratulate you.

Fifteen pounds in a month is great work!

You may already be doing this but I'd suggest you drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. I find the best way for me to do tht is to keep a liter bottle with me all the time. I keep refilling it. I even went out and bought straws 'cause it was easier to sip it that to gulp it. I find without my water my weight loss isn't as good.

You're doing great and I wish you continued success! Keep us informed of your progress. :)

:toast: (with water, of course)

[KCDem]

3. that's great!

WTG, keep up with the good work. The first 10 and the last 5 are always the hardest. :)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

4. Congrats!

:)

[Jonte_1979]

8. Congrats!

I lost about 20 lbs a couple of years ago with the help of a dietician and it felt great.

Kudos to you!:toast::thumbsup:

[Droopy]

9. Good job, FDR

Makes you feel good doesn't it? I recently lost about 30 pounds and I'm feeling a lot better about myself. I just went to the store a little over a month ago to buy new pants. Now these are getting baggy. A tip: wear your baggy clothes as long as you can and when you have to buy new ones, get them a little tight. That way you'll get more use out of them.

[BurtWorm]

10. Congratulations.

I lost weight when I cut out dessert. I've lost 10 pounds in the last year.

[flamingyouth]

12. I'm proud of you

My dad was 350 and lost 100 lbs. It's a hard thing to do, but you will feel so much better. Hope you treat yourself to a non-food goodie now that you've lost 15 lbs. (some kind of gift for yourself).

[VelmaD]

13. That story sounds so familiar...

it happened to me only my magic number was 275 back in January of 2002. I weighed in at 165 this morning. :-)

You're right on target about making changes to your lifestyle. If you've found a way of eating that works for you that's great. Same with the exercise.

Piece of free advice from someone who has been there. I made little changes one at a time so that I didn't freak out. Cut out sodas. Started having fruit for breakfast instead of a sausage and biscuit. Then replaced all the fatty meats with turkey. Then stopped eating fast food. Then got rid of all the snack foods in my house. Then replaced mayo with mustard. And so on until now I doubt the person I was when I started couldn't fathom the total change. Same with the exercise. I started easy and now I can do the gym almost every day - hell, I took my first Tae Bo class last week and I never thought my knees would hold up to that a year and a half ago.

You can do it. If you ever need encouragement or ideas or advice or whatever you can always come to me and your fellow DUers for support. We're here and we're rooting for you. :-)

[MaineDem]

17. You've come a long way, baby!

Keep up the great work. I'm doing the same things. So far, it's working fine. :)

[wryter2000]

14. That's great

I lost 70 pounds doing more or less what you're doing. Exercise, smaller portions, try to limit the fat. I've kept it off for over a year.

[FDRLincoln]

15. thanks for all the support

Thanks for all the support, everyone. I am proud of myself, yes. But I also realize that I can't look at this like a "diet." I have to see it as a permanent change for it to work. And looking at it like that seems to have helped. I do miss cookies and ice cream, though. :(

[newyawker99]

29. Congrats FDRLincoln!!

:toast:

[SmileyBoy]

16. That's AWESOME!! You and me together!!

I'm down to 222 from 242 in August. I feel a LOT better!!!

[JohnKleeb]

18. Congrads much

I weighed around 190-200 in July and now I am like 175-185.

[thebeaglehaslanded]

19. I found your 15 pounds!

They're not lost. I'm keeping them around my waist for the time being. :(

I'm reading Atkins' new diet book, and am going to start soon. Lost 45 pounds two years ago, and half of that has snuck back on. Yes, my name is thebeaglehaslanded, and I am a carbohydrate junky!

What a cycle we put ourselves in.

Congrats on your efforts.

[sujan]

20. why not lose it the old fashioned way?

[thebeaglehaslanded]

21. It keeps coming back....

I've got to change my habits of always grabbing carbs when I think I'm hungry.

[Ookie]

25. Please be careful with the Adkins diet

You can lose weight with the diet but it isn't real healthy. The diet is heavy on protein which makes your kidneys work very hard. The best way to lose weight is the old fashioned way. Balanced diet rich in whole foods (fresh fruits and veggies) and a sensible exercise program. Doesn't it just suck?!?!?!
I've lost 15lbs so far and want to lose another 10-15. I figure it took me several years to put it on - I'm OK taking it off slowly.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[newyawker99]

30. Congrats thebeaglehaslanded!! 400 posts

:toast:

[Swede]

22. Way to go

It ain't easy,but it is worth it.

[Shakeydave]

24. Alright! Way to go FDRL!

I just had the same epiphany! I'm 6-3 and weighed in at 330 #'s on Monday, the start of my United Weigh-In. It's a fund raiser for the United Way. We get donations for each pound we lose. Each of the twenty participants are subjected to a before photo printed in the daily newspaper and our beginning weight. On February 27th, we have our final weigh-in and an after photo next to our before photo. So far I have $100 per pound that will be donated to United Way. My loss goal is 75 pounds by the 2/27 deadline. If you need support, let me know! It's the best thing we can do for ourselves! :hi:

[xultar]

26. You lost 15, I gained 15

I think I found the 15 you lost. Hummmm....Any chance you want them back?

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. Good for you. That is really great news.

I admire your strength...:party: