Get rid of that spare tire, who's up for the challenge??

[Caper]

Since my knee injury, almost 6 years ago I've gained close to 30lbs, I used to be very active. At 43 years of age I know it's not good for one's health. I have become the classic couch potato, not by choice, a lot of times I just have to get off my feet because of the discomfort. My biggest problem is trying to stay away from the fridge after supper . Everyday I tell myself this is it, time to crack down. Well tomorrow never comes and I have to admit it's not easy to break old habits.

After thinking about this for a while I thought it might be helpful to tackle this problem as a group, Overeaters Anonymous

Starting today I'm staying out of the fridge after supper, I'm setting my goal for one month, I know if I can get there I'll be on the right path. Right now I weigh in at 202lbs, I should be going in at around 160 - 165 for my height. This time next month I'll check back and record my weight.

If anyone else has been thinking about the same thing, join in. No complicated diets to follow just eat a little less and a little wiser. Here I go.

WEBMASTER EDIT: I MADE THIS TOPIC A "STICKY" TO KEEP IT AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE. LETS SEE HOW THIS THREAD DOES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPT. AND THEN DECIDE IF IT NEEDS TO BE A CONSTANT FIXTURE HERE OR NOT.

[chubbyjackson]

Well, I didn't get the name Chubby for nothing. At the beginning of August I gave sugar, wheat and cheese, and it's amazing. I feel much better and have a lot more energy. I still eat as much as I want, and there's still a great variety of good stuff even without those items. FWIW.

[David Barnett]

If you haven't already, give up soda or convert from regular soda to diet. Beer, unfortunately, is the enemy too.

Get some exercise. If you can't join a gym, at least go out and walk every day.

[Darrell]

Started back in June. I weighed 230 when I got married, see sawed up and down. I am committed to keeping it off now. I walk 3 times a week and go to the gym 2 times a week. I am now below 200 and heading to my optimum weight of about 195.

Good luck, but I too recommend exercise. Dieting alone is a long road. Doing both is the HOV lane. Maintaining is easy, once you are committed.

[ne4tt]

I travel for my job and do an hours worth of calesthentics in the room in the AM and PM.

I stay in nice hotels, but they don't maintain their gym equipment.

From 220#, presently 205#, 09 Sep 05

jamie

[Tim Armstrong]

My healthy adult weight ought to be 180lbs (I know this because that's what I weighed the last time I was in really good shape, back in 1984!).

I presently weigh 240 lbs!

I've started walking every day, and recently bought a sea kayak, which is a hell of a lot of fun and a pretty good workout. Gotta try to convince myself to eat less now...

Cheers, Tim

[Colo Springs E]

....at a mere 5 ft 6 inches, I clock in at.....

172 pounds!

[EDIT: MY bathroom scale says I weigh 166; while personally I don't think that's right, it is the scale I have easiest access to, so I'll use that one for our challenge. Either way, my goal is to drop 3-4 pounds within 2 weeks.]

People always seem surprised to hear me say that, so I think I (sort of) hide it ok, but I'd much prefer to be a little slimmer, "athletic" built. I don't care at all for a body-builder body, but I would like to tone up and slim down.

So here it is: On Sept 5, I'm at 172.

I'll weigh in two weeks from now, Sept 19. I'll shoot for dropping 3-4 pounds.

Here we go!!

[cvansickle]

Weight Watchers works! I did this myself in 2001, and dropped 50 pounds in six months. To date, I've kept most of it off. Actually, the wife and I are starting to do it again tomorrow.

The first week of two is a *****, as you're hungry ALL the time. Once you get used to it, it's painless.

If you have to travel a lot, it's a little harder. It is difficult to eat out and mind your points.

[Marc H.]

Weight Watchers.

I weighed in at 276 pounds on January 4th of this year. (I'm 6' 2")

I dropped 66 pounds, and have maintained my current weight for the past month or so.

Marc

[teledude66]

sept. 5th 2005....5'5" 257 lbs.

i live here so maybe this will help me out ...once i get in a routine i usually stay on it for about 3 months and lose really well but i get either bored or lazy and go off the "diet" ...well here's to the loss good luck everyone ...

[stantheman]

A "diet" in the modern lingo is a temporary thing and Ladies & Gentlemen let Me assure You the resulting weight loss is also temporary. And in many cases followed by a significant GAIN.
The right way to do it is simply: Change Your Lifestyle
For Good.
For Me - I became a Vegan.
Now - Two years ago I weighed 336 pounds.
This morning I was 223 pounds.
I do not exercise in fact I detest exercise in most forms with the exception of Chores. If You have
Chores You'll burn FAT.
Do I miss Chicken - Steak - Fish.
Nope - and I don't miss the associated heartburn either.
My goal for ideal weight is 175 - BUT - I'd like to get to
160 and eat back up to 170 and stay there.
When I can get back into a pair of 34's I'll be Home.
And 22 sizes smaller than My peak weight.
Staying outdoors is the biggest help of all.
I won't say the Brand Name - BUT - I eat a bowl of "Good Friends" with WHOLE MILK everyday at night.
I have a simple Breakfast of Coffee with 1 sugar and evaporated milk (blows Starbuck's away) with 4-5 slices
of Pane' Bread with Margerine sprinkled with Garlic Powder and Olive Oil then baked at 250-300 for like 20 minutes or until it's crisp. For Lunch either 2 tubs of LowFat Yoghurt OR an entre of Butternut Squash nuked
for 5 minutes.
I've become addicted to Diet Coke - 2 bottles or cans minimum everyday.
Improving Your Home or Apartment or helping friends do likewise will blow away any gym or stationary macheen.
That's how I'm doing and I've got 48 pounds more to go
but will probably drop 63 and then gain to get the look I want.
If I'm doing it and succeeding You can do it too.
All "exercise" ever did was make Me more hungry.
Chores is the best workout 'cause You're results are instantaneous.
The reason why I always failed in the past was because I believed in order to reach the goal I'd have to suffer which is completely wrong.

[sneakyjapan]

bit on the chunky side there cape man? heeheehee. my weight fluctuates one to 3 kilos and I exercise regularly, have been for almost 30 years now. the cool thing about exercise is, the more you do the better you feel...and look...so you just want to do more. but that combined with proper diet is the key, and the reason my weight is up and down is I don`t always eat right. dang jelly beans. so...what are you gonna do with your speedo?

[ye olde fretmonkey]

5'11", 225 pounds!

But...I work out like a fiend all the time. Low b/p, low cholesterol, low pulse rate, strong like bull.

I'd like to see 200 again someday, though.

[Caper]

Ah it's great to see you guys take me up on this challenge. A lot of good advice here, it is really appreciated. As far as the speedo's go, it's the price to pay Pete :D .

[genelovesjez]

Originally Posted by stantheman

My goal for ideal weight is 175 - BUT - I'd like to get to
160 and eat back up to 170 and stay there.

Congratulations on the progress you've made so far. Nevertheless, I'm curious - why do you want to go down to 160, then back up to 170?

Also, I just assumed that vegans wouldn't drink milk or eat yoghurt, but I admit I don't know very much about it.

And finally, I would encourage you to exercise. Hopefully you're getting enough exercise from your chores, but being fit is far more important to your health than being thin.

[petebradt]

I'm in Sept 5, 6'3 280. I'll checck in on the 19th and let you know. I need to get my BP down before i can join the company gym, vbut once i do that, I should do even better. In the meantime, it's up and out early for a 3-4 mile walk, with my iPod.

[tlecstr]

I have always been very athletic, and had a good athletes build. When I got married, my new mother-in-law was the manager of a bakery, so i gained about 20 in the first couple of years. I always had a physical job, and then I changed to a office job that put me at a desk with very little excercise. In 2 1/2 years I gained 50 lbs.
I am now back to doing physical work, and have lost 23 lbs., but I seem to be holding steady. So, I now have a new gym that has opened up in my neighborhood, and memberships are very reasonable. I now have a goal, I will lose 20 lbs by next summer, and when I reach that I will set a new goal.....baby steps...lol

[moonshiner]

Over the past 4 months or so, I have managed to loose around 25 lbs... One of the biggest things I did was I tried to eat less... I used to eat a lot... I was extremely active, so I needed the fuel. When I quit smoking I lost weight and then after a back injury I "ballooned" out, as it were. So.. I've gone from about 210 to now, around 185.

Having a dog that requires lots of walks also helps for me... as well as having yards and yards of dirt to move. So, whatever your exercise regimine is, do something. Get moving. Especially on days when you don't want to, those are the days you need it most.

Good luck to all of you... I know how hard it is..

Take it slow and easy.. There is no need to rush it...

Edit... I just weighed in at 182 this morning... Did some excersizing over the weekend with the pup-pup...

[Colo Springs E]

....ran for about 25 minutes, did jumping jacks, stretched and used small (8#) hand weights afterwards.

Will eat a bowl of Total with Raisins for breakfast. Lunch is always my downfall, as I'm hungry and on the go. Let's see if I can avoid fast food today.

-E

[Joe-Bob]

I need to lose a bunch, too. So far, I haven't found any way to do it. I hate rabbit food.

I had to sell my full-size jazz box. It was just getting too far away :x Unfortunately, my arms aren't growing at all.

[gls500]

In 2004, I went from 250 to 208 by changing my diet completely and exercising (I'm 6'3 with a pretty big build). It was something like weight watchers, but I didn't count points. I cut out foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup, trans fats, and anything I couldn't pronounce, when I could avoid it.

In december I had a bad ankle injury (that's still swollen today), so the workout was limited, and I had my daughter in late march - which has meant that we haven't had time to cook and have had a lot of takeout. I'm back up near 230.

I hit the bike this morning, so I'm in. Weights tomorrow. Time to get back on track.

[agent2x4]

I have Crohn's disease which flares up about 2-3x a year. It's not uncommon for me to lose 20-50 lbs at a crack because of it. I try to keep a few extra lbs on...I'd hate to be already "thin" and go through a session of it.

I'm 6'2" and weigh about 245...but have weighed as little as 160 during a severe bout that included surgery. I looked like a refugee.

I used to powerlift back in the day and still try to maintain some muscle, but as I get older (42 now) I do much more toning and wayyyyyy less mass producing.

Good luck with your diets folks!

[lewis]

In February I was 245 and decided it was time for a change. Since then I've quit bread and soda (yes, even diet). Now a few months later my 38" waist pants are quite baggy. I haven't weighed myself but I do have a physical next week and will report back then.

[CharlieO]

I know that it's no longer "fashionable" to be on the Atkins diet, but it works for me, and it addresses my diet problem directly. I am addicted to refined carbohydrates like crackers, pasta, bread, chips, etc. With the Atkins diet I was able to lose the craving for carbohydrates after the first couple of days. From that point on the diet was incredibly easy for me.

A little more than 2 years ago I weighed 180 pounds, having gained 30 pounds since I got married and stopped working out 8 years earlier. With Atkins, I dropped to 145 in about 5 months. I stayed between there and 150 for more than a year, but I gave up following the diet a year ago and now I weigh 160. I'm 5'7"and I think that my ideal weight is around 145, so that's what I'm shooting for. I had planned to start today because I have a doctors appointment today, and I'm going on vacation in a few weeks. I'd like to lose 5-7 pounds by the end of the month.

[Smokin' Joe Picante]

Wow! I'm in! I'm 6'2", 226lbs. I really need the spare tire to go, and get down to around 195-200lbs. In the last year I've taken up playing squash (which is an unbelievable sport by the way...), and recently I've changed my "eat after the gig" habit, and I'm joining a gym in a week.

Best of luck to everyone in on this. Let's check back once in a while to check our progress

[Geyser]

but as I get older (42 now) I do much more toning and wayyyyyy less mass producing

Hmmm...I know a guy in the San Francisco area who could help you out. His name's Barry Bonds. He doesn't seem to have any trouble putting on mass in his 40s...

Seriously guys, this thread is great. I'm in. I need a little motivation. I'm 6-0 and about 230. I haven't been able to shake this weight for about 4 years now. I still am very active (basketball leagues twice a week for the fall/winter; golf and softball in the spring/summer). I know my problem; it's the food I'm putting into myself. Staying active makes me so dang hungry that I still eat like I'm 16. I am soda junkie so I know how bad that is for you. I gotta switch to diet. Plus I eat entirely too much fast food. Remember that documentary, "Super Size Me"? That movie didn't seem shocking to me at all. I've eaten, on average, one fast food meal a day for about the past 12 years. Somehow I have normal BP and cholesterol. But my "ideal body weight" is about 175 pounds. Geez, if I could get down to 200 I would feel like a million bucks. I could probably come close to dunking again (not that I ever really could; but I could at least make it close). I'll check back in a week. Hang in there everyone!

[J-man]

I'm about 5"8 and weigh about 140pounds, while that may sound very little I have a small frame, so I need to lose about 20 pounds to get back to normal.

But my weight has always been very erratic, when I had a bad flu a year or two ago I went down to 98 pounds in two weeks because I couldnt keep anything down!

[stantheman]

Toronto Gene, believe me "the chores" if You're not used to 'em will wipe out most of the gym rats and runners. Got a Barn with a capacity of 20 tons of hay
in the loft. My first month in The Country I thought I'd croak And let's not forget "the wood" ah the wood and Winter's coming and Heating Oil is presently
2.59 a gallon - or is that a quart - Oh that's next month
Stay away from KECHUP !!!!! and use MUSTARD it is much better for the body.
Someone mentioned fructose corn syrup - stuff'll kill ya
quicker than butts if You're fat.
Ya I do whole milk and my insight is as follows: It is My belief that lowfat 2% CRAP for years is what made me an Arthritic. It's My belief that WHOLE LOTTA MILK is a
"natural lubricant for dem bones".
Hey - Don't forget the Nectarines, Plums, and Peaches
they're kind of like "the mass transit of elimination".
I think this whole "anti-bread movement" is propaganda
Five Slices of Garlic Bread with Olive Oil or enough to fill a Pizza Pan every morning'll
kill all the "munchy-type cravings" all day - at least it does for Me.
For People who are prone to morbid obesity or close to it
(I was probably on the cusp - saved by My height) Ya gotta make THE COMMITMENT TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
PERIOD.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by stantheman

Don't forget the Nectarines, Plums, and Peaches
they're kind of like "the mass transit of elimination".

Hey, I have a juicer and have recently discovered that fresh carrot juice is not only quite delicious, but is "the rapid transit of elimination". Heck, it's the "Top Fuel Eliminator"!

Glad I could contribute something so fundamental to this discussion!

Grins, Tim

[genelovesjez]

Originally Posted by stantheman

Stay away from KECHUP !!!!! and use MUSTARD it is much better for the body.

Tomato-based foods are great for you! They are an excellent source of anti-oxidants.

[Joel Terry]

Originally Posted by genelovesjez

Tomato-based foods are great for you! They are an excellent source of anti-oxidants.

Yeah, especially those ketchup-flavored potato chips you guys have in Canada. We don't have 'em down here, so I always buy a bag whenever I'm in the Greater Toronto area to bring back home.

Joel

[Rick S]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Hey, I have a juicer and have recently discovered that fresh carrot juice is not only quite delicious, but is "the rapid transit of elimination". Heck, it's the "Top Fuel Eliminator"!

Glad I could contribute something so fundamental to this discussion!

Grins, Tim

Haaaaaa!!! bout now I'm thinkin' laughing this hard could make you brown yer britches too.

This spring I found myself 10 lbs over ideal and I vowed to lose it with increased summer activity, before it got out of hand. Well, I've only lost 5 so far. Not much of an issue as compared to what some of the others will be dealing with, but I know it's not an easy quest. Best of luck to everyone.

[Tim Bowen]

5' 10", 170 lbs. consistently, for about the last ten years. At this point, I'm convinced that the height won't change.

I get up about noon or so, and immediately begin consuming a pot of coffee. I drink 8-12 glasses of water per day. I drink several Natural Light beers each day. I drink a Coca-Cola about once a month. Tea once in a blue moon. I don't drink liquor anymore, but occasionally enjoy a glass of wine.

I rarely eat more than two meals a day. Most often, it's one, and it's not unusual for me to go without eating for an entire day. Honestly, sometimes I just don't think about eating. Usually, I've done the bulk of my day's work before having a meal. I roomed for a while with a physical trainer, but that whole process of eating 37 small meals over the course of a day didn't work for me at all. However, some days I'll just eat grapes all day long.

I really don't think of dining as a social event, like so many folks do. I prefer to get it out of the way and move on. I'm married, but I usually dine alone, and quite quickly at that. Really, I'd prefer just to take a pill for nourishment.

I do enjoy the taste of food. It's just fairly low on the list of priorities. Coffee, water, and beer are pretty high up the list. I have a sweet tooth, but rarely indulge.

I was a vegetarian for about a year. For about the first month, it was incredible. My digestive system really needed a break. The other eleven months were fairly horrible. I was trying to get protein constantly, and my energy level just kept sinking. Enough of that. I have teeth, and I'm a carnivore by nature. I'm convinced that a certain amount of meat consumption is good for me. I didn't get to the top of the food chain by eating a bunch of plants, although I do find several varieties of plants to be quite tasty and munch-worthy. This philosophy will certainly bite me on the ass whenever I find myself in the belly of a shark.

I was a hardcore competive athlete for many years. Serious injuries and nerve damage have forced me to choose between being a musician and being an athlete. My exercise anymore consists of walking a lot, not sitting down too much, and jumping around on the bandstand.

I sleep 5-6 hours per day, but on the rare occasions that there are no commitments, I'll sleep 'til I rot.

What works for me won't work for others. You really just have to pay attention to what your body is telling you. I feel better than I have in years, but it's a known fact that we're all gonna die. Don't worry, be happy.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

I really don't think of dining as a social event, like so many folks do.

I really enjoy going out to eat, whether it's with friends or just with my wife. It is sort of a "social event" for me, so it's tough for me to go very long without eating out.

[genelovesjez]

Originally Posted by Joel Terry

Yeah, especially those ketchup-flavored potato chips you guys have in Canada. We don't have 'em down here, so I always buy a bag whenever I'm in the Greater Toronto area to bring back home.

Next time you're heading up here, be sure to let me know.

[TDPRI]

I like the idea of this thread. I'm tempted to make it a Forum all unto itself. But, let's take it a step at a time.

I'll make it a sticky for the month of Sept. and we'll see what happens from there.

In another life I was 300 lbs (I'm 6'2"). But a divorce got me off my duff and I lost 130 lbs. I started running... a lot and changed all my eating habits. When I married my current wife 20 yrs ago I was 175 lbs. Since then it's been a struggle to keep it off and I flucuate between 185 and 215.

6 years ago at 215 lbs I started on a low carb diet... not really Atkins but the same thing. I lost 45 lbs. but after 5 years on that diet I got really bored with it. Naturally I started eating all the carbs again and now in a year I've gained all 45 lbs back.

Making things worse after 25 yrs of running I've had foot and knee problems and had to give up running. Finally, I'm back to walking 15 miles a week. But I crave the running and hope to get back to it.

I love being at 195 lbs or less. I feel much more confident and enjoy life so much more. So, I'm working on losing that same 20 lbs all over again.

I don't expect quick results. It took a year to put this on I'm guessing it'll take nearly a year to take if off too.
Paul Green

[BB]

I've always been big....well, not big....HUGE! I weighed 164 in 5th grade, 230 in 8th and close to 300 by my sophmore year. I had back surgury at 18 and lost a ton of weight.....down to 178. Right now, I'm 6'5" and around 290.

After I lost weight, I stayed around 205-225 until I hit 35. From 35 to 50, I've ballooned up to my present weight. I carry it pretty well and most people say..."Oh, you're just big...you're not overweight." The mirror tells a very different story however!

I suffer from chronic back pain due to the back surgury going haywire. Had surgury on an arthritic big toe last year and now, I not only have back pain, but have trouble walking due to the pain in my toe. I used to be quite active with football, basketball, etc...but now, I just walk at lunch......and I have to force myself to do that!

I take morphine sulphate everyday to combat the back pain and that drains my energy level to nil. I don't over eat, but my non-existant metabolism and lack of physical excersise has helped pack on the pounds.

I need to do something! I feel like a slug. When I get home from work at night, I want to hit the couch and stay there till bed time. I literaly have to force myself to do some physical activity.

So, I'm in as far a program to lose some weight and feel better. Lets do it!

[Dana]

I'm in. I should be around 145-150. Right now I'm 172. My problem in one word. BEER.

I've done weight watchers. It worked for me. That and exercise got me where I was, and I felt great. I need to get back there.

Another problem is I hate drinking water.

[0le FUZZY]

<li>Much ta do bout nuttin !!
<li>Kant say watt I wanna say but at 63 I ain't never been there and haff a ton of bad habits sum of yew are aware of. I amma tea-tote-ler and hate owch-a-haul but luv me sum ice tea inna Mason jar and 4 or 5 pots of coffee a day along with my udder bad habits.

<li>Dew watt chew kin but behave yer bad seffs. Jes be happy and fill erry day with watt makes yew happy. Bad thangs kin happin no matter watt (or in spite of watt) yew eat.
<li>I gar-on-tee won thang, yew ain't a gonna cee me runnin up and down the ray-road track a wearin out my liddo body.



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