The weight battle.

patrickredeyes · July 2009

Ok so in the past 2 months I've dropped 25 to 30lbs and I'm not done yet. I don't weigh myself all the time but I notice the difference daily. Waking up each day and seeing and feeling the results is such a high I can't describe. And when friends and family tell me they can see the results it's the best freaking feeling. But now I'm afraid of putting any of the weight back on. I've never felt like this so its a new thing for me. Always been a big guy and I have no plans on being a skinny thing. Just with everything happening to my dad in the past year. I have changed my ways and just wanna make better health choices and help prevent things from happening down the road. But you have to eat sometimes and I do. I watch what I eat and sometimes get upset with myself if I eat something that I know is not good for me. You have to reward yourself of course but I don't give myself any slack. I don't even know what I'm really trying to say. Ok well maybe I do. Anybody else getting back into shape and dealing with this feeling/fear of not wanting to put the weight back on? Dropping weight is one thing but keeping it off I'm seeing is a whole different battle. lol

Any advice or books I could check out or even web sites? Like I said this is kinda new to me and for the first time in a very long time I am serious about keeping this weight off. Cause dammit I look good and feel good and wanna keep this up.

Peace

lephty · July 2009

since may of 2008 i've lost over 100lbs! the natural way of eating right and exercising. i am healthier than ever and never want to go back. went from 300+ to 190~. no surgeries to lose the weight, but i have been thinking of getting an abdominoplasty. can someone lend me 5-10k?

i think a good trick to keep you focused on keeping the weight off is to schedule events. i have a half marathon in september to stay in shape for! then maybe other events. i've been looking at biathalons and doing random biking events.

find an activity that you like to do and look online.

good job and keep it going! (if you need to)

teddysgirl · July 2009

lephty wrote:

good job and keep it going! (if you need to)

The same goes for you too!

Well done to the both of you

wolfbear · July 2009

Congrats to you both! It just gets harder the older you get, so keep it up.

Watch what you eat most of the time and exercise, that's what works.

QuarterToTen · July 2009

it is indeed a battle every single day.

somehow i have managed to keep off about 80 pounds i lost a few years ago.

lean protien
lots of fruits and vegetables
lots of water
whole grains
and lots of walking

pretty simple and a huge commitment, and it can be extremely hard to stick to at times.
but the payoff is indescribably satisfying.

and you have to treat yourself from time to time, absolutely.
don't ever feel guilty about that. ever.

best of luck.

patrickredeyes · July 2009

lephty wrote:

since may of 2008 i've lost over 100lbs! the natural way of eating right and exercising. i am healthier than ever and never want to go back. went from 300+ to 190~. no surgeries to lose the weight, but i have been thinking of getting an abdominoplasty. can someone lend me 5-10k?

i think a good trick to keep you focused on keeping the weight off is to schedule events. i have a half marathon in september to stay in shape for! then maybe other events. i've been looking at biathalons and doing random biking events.

find an activity that you like to do and look online.

good job and keep it going! (if you need to)

Wow congrats first off on the over 100 lbs loss. That is alot of weight and great job. My goal for myself is 75 lbs or so. I've cut alot of foods out and don't drink soda anymore. I drink anywhere from 1 to 2 gallons of water daily. I eat lots of fruits and veggies and do the fish and chicken thing. I totally get what you mean by keeping busy with events like hiking and biking. I'm in Denver and there is so much to do to keep active. Also having a great support group of friends around me while out in Denver is driving me to keep going.

I used to jog 5 mile runs a long time ago. I prefer to hike then run but maybe will do a run soon.

Thanks so much for the advice and congrats again. Like yourself I don't wanna go back. I'm doing it and loving the results and trucking along.

Thanks also to everyone that replied in this thread.

LikeAnOcean · July 2009

You need to train yourself for a different lifestyle.. eating smaller portions frequently. Breakfast being the most important to get your metabolism running.. Its really half life stlye and half genetics, but definitely there things you can do to keep healthier.

dimitrispearljam · July 2009

great work,,keep on,,we all need to loose this extras

_ · July 2009

Congratulations to all of you!!

Patrick - If you're looking for a book that will help, I highly recommend the Body for Life plan and especially the Body for Life Journal. I thought it was a gimmick until I saw my friends turn into new people. Then I tried it, did a half-ass job, and still lost 35 pounds! The plan is basically just to eat healthy meals, in small portions, several times a day, and to exercise. Once a week you have a free day so you can eat whatever you want without feeling guilty. The journal may seem hokey, but it really helps with staying focused every day on your goals and the steps you will take to achieve them.

PJGARDEN · July 2009

First of all, congrats to everyone!!!

I've lost more than I care to admit over the past few years. Hard to admit b/c I still don't like to say that I ever got to that point. For me, it has been small changes here and there. Nothing major all at once. I started by working out. I actually enjoy working out so that wasn't really a problem for me. Then I started watching what I ate. I would cut certain foods little by little and now I eat very very healthy. Trust me, at one time, I was the one that considered a healthy meal pizza without extra cheese.

When you make small adjustments to your lifestyle, the changes will stick. I used to worry about gaining the weight back but I don't really think about it anymore. I could never see myself living lifestyle I did before. I feel great now and have so much more energy. Most of the people I met that have lost a significant amount of weight the right way have kept it off. It seems like the people that go for the fad diets and the surgeries that seemt to gain the weight back.

Don't worry too much about it. Take each day at a time and you will be fine.

soulsinging · July 2009

I'm working on that too. I'm not overweight, but I'm at the highest tip of target weight and all of added pounds are fat. So I'm kinda soft and trying to kick my ass into shape. I just hit the age where my metabolism no longer keeps me effortlessly thin as it did all through hs/college and I can see myself slipping. Working out isn't too big a problem, I really like doing that. But since I've been living at home for the summer my diet is shit. There is so much junk food around this place and my mother is like a heroin dealer the way she pushes sweets and my dad has the worst diet I've ever heard of (one meal, at 9pm, usually pizza or something fried). Hopefully once I move to start my job this Sept I'll be able to bring the two (diet and exercise) together. I had the diet pretty well in hand while in school, though I didn't exercise. Now I exercise, but eat like shit. One day...

covered in bliss · July 2009

although battle is the perfect word to use, you won't be fighting forever.

If you do it the right way, and stay committed, you will reach your goal. the key to the whole thing is realizing that you're not just reaching a goal, you are changing your lifestyle. If you think you can lose weight and go back to old habits, you will be disappointed.

when you fall off the wagon, get right back on. If you have a substantial amount of weight to lose, it won't happen overnight. don't cut out bad foods... work on portion control instead. It's not realistic to tell yourself you can never have pizza or ice cream again.

There are a lots of websites to turn to for inspiration.. it sounds like you've hit a slump and are feeling discouraged... totally normal and I can relate.

stick with it... seek help from outside sources if you can... It might take a few years but you WILL get there if you really want to.... and the changes you make will last FOREVER!

Cateeto · July 2009

You've been doing a great job, Patrick, and I can totally tell that you feel better! Moving to Denver has done a ton of beneficial things for you and you losing weight is just like an added bonus. Awesome! So kudos to you for all the work you've been doing to keep the weight off and to look better each day. I have seen a lot of people go through weight loss and what I discover is that a person doesn't look good until they feel good and you've already arrived at that point, so again, awesome!!!

Weight loss is difficult. I myself have been battling through it over the last year or so when my body took a turn and added some extra weight. I'm still working on losing weight, but you just have to take it one day at a time and change up your lifestyle. I would say that the most important thing to help you lose weight is to start with the motivation. Once the motivation is there there is no limit as to how far you can take your health :P

Do the typical stuff... Smaller meals, eat more frequently, keep active, exercise, and the likes... You already have an awesome support group and that helps. Having people around you all the time to cheer you on and even work out with you is the best. You've also eliminated soda. That's a big one there! Just go through your daily life and pick out the things that don't benefit you and replace them with things that do.

Keep up the good work Patrick!

PJGARDEN · July 2009

Also, I have used this website some. There is a message board over there. I have never posted but have gotten some really good tips and information. There are some people that have lost a ton of weight and have gained even more knowledge in the process. They tips are good but it's also nice to see people say they have reached and maintained their goals. Check it out.

http://caloriecount.about.com

covered in bliss · July 2009

forgot something and maybe it's been mentioned.... alcohol.

try to eliminate alcohol for a period of time... you'll not only see huge results, your resistance will go down and you'll be a cheap date.

purple_chick79 · July 2009

Why does food have to taste so good????

PJGARDEN · July 2009

covered in bliss wrote:

forgot something and maybe it's been mentioned.... alcohol.

try to eliminate alcohol for a period of time... you'll not only see huge results, your resistance will go down and you'll be a cheap date.

LOL!!! I cut out alcohol until a few weeks ago....then I discoved how cheap of a date I was! My tolerance isn't what it used to be

patrickredeyes · July 2009

covered in bliss wrote:

forgot something and maybe it's been mentioned.... alcohol.

try to eliminate alcohol for a period of time... you'll not only see huge results, your resistance will go down and you'll be a cheap date.

Oh I have and to be honest I'm not a huge drinker. I drink lite beer and if I do the hard stuff it doesn't take much for me. And usually the next day I'm out biking or hiking to work off the calories.

patrickredeyes · July 2009

purple_chick79 wrote:

Why does food have to taste so good????

I know it's not fair. lol

wolfbear · July 2009

patrickredeyes wrote:

purple_chick79 wrote:

Why does food have to taste so good????

I know it's not fair. lol

No kidding! Back on my good eating after yesterday for sure. Too much good food.
Good luck and keep up the good work.

patrickredeyes · July 2009

wolfbear wrote:

patrickredeyes wrote:

purple_chick79 wrote:

Why does food have to taste so good????

I know it's not fair. lol

No kidding! Back on my good eating after yesterday for sure. Too much good food.
Good luck and keep up the good work.

Yea yesterday I treated myself and enjoyed a few brats from the charcoal grill.

Going for long bike ride 2morrow morning.

]

Thanks for the reply and the congrats. It's still a work in progress but I'll see yea next month.

wolfbear · July 2009

patrickredeyes wrote:

Thanks for the reply and the congrats. It's still a work in progress but I'll see yea next month.

Yep, getting so excited for Chicago but we have lots of guests in-between! Makes it hard to focus on a good diet! But I am trying for sure. I'm not looking forward to the heat and do way better if I'm not overweight!

dimitrispearljam · July 2009

purple_chick79 wrote:

Why does food have to taste so good????

,,SO TRUE...!!

Brisk. · July 2009

Have been at uni for the past 8 months or so and i lost weight. But ever since i've come home for the summer i've so put on the pounds. My mum always has soo much food, mainly loads of snacky type things and its just so tempting sometimes. I swear i never got hungry at uni though, i think thats because i knew i didn't have much food or anything, i never brought chocolate or anything etc as i thought it was a waste of money and it probably is, but yeah, its tought being at home, as im now trying to resist all this food ahh!

ZiggyStar · July 2009

You look great, Patrick! I was looking at a Facebook pic of you today thinking how much weight you've lost!

purple_chick79 · July 2009

I wish there was a Chantix for food! I stopped smoking after 15 years! To bad there isn't a diet pill that actually works. Maybe there is and I haven't found it. I heard that Alli works, but who knows. Food can definatly be an addiction.

The Stugots · July 2009

I reached my goal weight (from approx 200 pounds to 165) back in April, and "treated" myself to a package of 3 one-hour sessions with a nutritionist. I love to cook, so I wanted to learn about food and not just have someone tell me what to eat at every meal. I've also become very active, so I wanted to be sure I was fueling myself enough entering a maintenance phase. I found there were so many opinions out there, from books to others who found success, but my nutritionist took into account my specific background, activity level and food interests and was able to give me some invaluable tips and strategies, not to mention a contact email that I've been able to bounce ideas off of still today.