Don’t try to exercise it all off. hanging your eating will be much faster and easier on your body. Just exercise a bit to maintain muscle mass.Without reading through all the posts : I tried to dump all the junk at once but that's a bad idea because you'll only crave it again and again until you can't stand it and go back into bad habits. I too have had a lot of disappointment in my life but some good spots. I've had friends and family murdered or committed suicide or simply died. All my grandparents are now dead with my grandmother on my mom's side of the family in two thousand and sixteen. My uncle (her son) died about eight or nine months later on the same day one of my friends died from cancer. Although life has put a lot of bad **** in my way I've had to learn to deal with it and get away from the booze and drugs. The latter of the two I did first. I quit smoking since it's a disgusting, filthy and highly expensive habit any way.
The hardest part was getting away from sweets and fatty foods. I've been binging again on garbage because it's available at work. Now I need to get serious as I'm not tall - 5" 8 inches short and around 258 pounds I HATE the way I look and feel!! Plus I now sleep with a CPAP machine which is a pain in the ass - around the clock. The first thing I did in two thousand and twenty one was to go to the gym but all that was wrecked when my a$$hole brother (a story for another day) came home and gave my mom COVID and myself at the same time!! My younger brother came home for a visit TWO DAYS before Christmas - the exact same time I started coughing. I picked him up at the train station. Well we had our get together on Christmas and my Birthday is the following day so we went out for it. When I went outside I was freezing although I was fine for the most part before. I knew I had a fever. It was two days later and my younger brother told me he had COVID! Well that wrecked my time at the gym because I too came down with it and I couldn't go anywhere.
It's been almost a year since I had it but I've only gone to the gym a small hand full of times since then. Now I feel sore and tired all the time as my job keeps me feeling this way which I'm so ready to quit that it's not funny! I quit drinking soda and eating ice cream, candy, chips, pasta, and pizza all the time. Now my skin on my stomach is so loose that it hangs over my belly and looks gross! My belly button is loose too as the skin above it hangs loose so that it feels like a bulge at the top when I touch it. Now I have to get into shape and work out again. That was the only thing that I felt good doing but I wish I stuck with it and that I never got COVID otherwise I would have and I would have lost more weight and I probably would've lost about a hundred pounds! All this has taught me that if you eat junk and don't exercise you get FAT!!! My only advice to you is to be determined. I can't let all this destroy my resolve. Find within yourself as I did that nothing is going to stop you - no day, no night, no consequence or moment will keep you from trying (to quote Enya in Far And Away).
Ditching your vices and losing weight.
- Thread starter Twofingerlou
- Start date
Don’t try to exercise it all off. hanging your eating will be much faster and easier on your body. Just exercise a bit to maintain muscle mass.
I'm going to backup Veg Man here. Don't knock keto until you have given it an honest attempt.
2 years ago I was 255 lbs. I was on medication for blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. For a year I tried eating less and moving more. I only lost 10 pounds. So this time last year I tried keto. I've lost over 45 lbs and I'm off all my meds. This morning I weighed 197 lbs. The first couple weeks were a bit hard but since then it's been a breeze. I seldom feel hungry and I don't have cravings like I used to have.
I also weigh myself every morning and document it. It helps to stay focused.
Way to be supportive. I guess you just like patting yourself on the back.
Oh, I’m sorry. You look fine, man. Don’t worry about it.
What has worked for me (and what I am actually starting again tomorrow):
Daily Fasting (called "intermittent", but I don't consider it intermittent since it's done every day). My eating window goal is about 6 hours (which is an 18 hour fast everyday). The catch is, you HAVE to eat GOOD food to get all your vitamins and electrolytes... it's easy to start getting a bit malnourished with daily fasting if you eat a steak and some pork rinds, lol. Ideally I would OMAD (One Meal A Day), but I haven't been able to stick to that yet.
No sugar. ZERO added sugar, sugar from whole fruits is fine (no juices or juicing). Basically if nature put the sugar in the whole food (like sweet potatoes or fruit), it's fair game. But no table sugar, honey, maple syrup, anything like that. And you need to read food labels because almost everything has added sugar in it.
Light on the carbs. Yeah so this one means very little bread, no chips of any kind, very little pasta. 50g of carbs a day seems to be the goal everyone shoots for, but that 50g really should include sugars, which is also a carb. Rule of thumb: if it's green (spinach, broccoli, mixed greens) you don't have to count it. But you DO have to count the dressing if it's a salad.
Exercise. Alot of people think exercise doesn't count for much, and if you do 30min 3x a week, it doesn't. But if you have the time and the willpower to exercise (and even plain old walking counts), an hour a day 6-7 days a week, it DOES help. And it's not just about burning calories, it's about making you feel better... you breathe easier, your body uses oxygen better, it's a great treatment for mild depression/malaise... and that in and of itself helps with the diet (getting rid of mild depression/malaise). When you actually start FEELING better, you WANT to stick to the diet/fasting MORE. Everything helps everything else.
Daily Fasting (called "intermittent", but I don't consider it intermittent since it's done every day). My eating window goal is about 6 hours (which is an 18 hour fast everyday). The catch is, you HAVE to eat GOOD food to get all your vitamins and electrolytes... it's easy to start getting a bit malnourished with daily fasting if you eat a steak and some pork rinds, lol. Ideally I would OMAD (One Meal A Day), but I haven't been able to stick to that yet.
No sugar. ZERO added sugar, sugar from whole fruits is fine (no juices or juicing). Basically if nature put the sugar in the whole food (like sweet potatoes or fruit), it's fair game. But no table sugar, honey, maple syrup, anything like that. And you need to read food labels because almost everything has added sugar in it.
Light on the carbs. Yeah so this one means very little bread, no chips of any kind, very little pasta. 50g of carbs a day seems to be the goal everyone shoots for, but that 50g really should include sugars, which is also a carb. Rule of thumb: if it's green (spinach, broccoli, mixed greens) you don't have to count it. But you DO have to count the dressing if it's a salad.
Exercise. Alot of people think exercise doesn't count for much, and if you do 30min 3x a week, it doesn't. But if you have the time and the willpower to exercise (and even plain old walking counts), an hour a day 6-7 days a week, it DOES help. And it's not just about burning calories, it's about making you feel better... you breathe easier, your body uses oxygen better, it's a great treatment for mild depression/malaise... and that in and of itself helps with the diet (getting rid of mild depression/malaise). When you actually start FEELING better, you WANT to stick to the diet/fasting MORE. Everything helps everything else.
wrathfuldeity
Friend of Leo's
Dog it. Get a dog that you can walk 2-3 miles twice a day. Every day at about 6 am out the door and walking the mutt for at least 45 minutes. And every late afternoon the same. I've also done intermittent and try to keep the carbs in check. I've lost some muscle mass over the past decade, but not too worried about it... because last Tuesday day 1 of the season went snowboarding, it was meh conditions. But blasted groomers (25-50mph) non-stop from 9 to 2 pm. And called it a day because my mental focus and energy started getting sloppy btw at the ripe age of 64. And this was just on 1 cup of coffee and water. Then returned home, walked the mutt and at 6 pm made a delicious dinner which ended up being a 22-hour intermittent fasting day.
Point is you gradually work and combine eating with lifestyle routine that becomes the new normal. The doodle looking one on the left is the mutt and the other is her girlfriend and neighbor. And they are both conversation starters when out walking... so there is that aspect to living life.
Point is you gradually work and combine eating with lifestyle routine that becomes the new normal. The doodle looking one on the left is the mutt and the other is her girlfriend and neighbor. And they are both conversation starters when out walking... so there is that aspect to living life.
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Happy Enchilada
Friend of Leo's
I've been "overweight" most of my life. It's an ongoing battle.
Also type 2 diabetic. So carbs are my nemesis. Especially the evil pizza.
Dieting is the way to go, along with sensible regular exercise.
"If it don't go in the pipe, you don't have to work it off."
One thing that helps is making a "starch pile."
Say you order something with rice, potatoes, noodles, etc.
Eat the vegetable and protein components of the meal.
Have a little starch, but push about half of it to one side.
When I go to Mongolian barbecue places where you select your own stuff, I totally eliminate noodles and don't eat the rice they bring as a side. Just the meat and veggies.
You'll be amazed how much of restaurant food is carbs. Carbs are cheaper ...
Bacon and eggs are high in cholesterol, but they help you defeat carbs.
When you can't have an omelet or something "eggy" for breakfast, be smart.
Breakfast cereals in general are carbs with sweetners - they're Grrrrrreat (tasting), but evil.
The only breakfast cereal I eat is either bran flakes or Cheerios, usually with fruit.
Pancakes are sheer suicide, as are bagels.
But you can eat oatmeal until it runs out your ears.
Steelcut is best, and avoid doctoring it up with honey, raisins, and other sweet stuff.
I usually do the instant stuff from "Better Oats." It is low calorie and generally better.
Fast food lunches are the worst.
Greasy burger in big fluffy bun.
Bucket of sugary pop.
And the fries - pure carb and grease.
Pop in general is poison, and tea is a better idea - especially unsweetened.
And then there's water - remember water?
Tortillas have roughly half the carbs of a slice of bread, so make that a switch.
You gotta treat yourself once in a while. Life's short.
But limit the quantity. Not 3 hot fudge sundaes when one will do.
Fudgesickles are my go-to because they have built-in portion control.
And get your blood glucose checked - you may be pre-diabetic. Lots of folks are.
Good Luck!!!
Also type 2 diabetic. So carbs are my nemesis. Especially the evil pizza.
Dieting is the way to go, along with sensible regular exercise.
"If it don't go in the pipe, you don't have to work it off."
One thing that helps is making a "starch pile."
Say you order something with rice, potatoes, noodles, etc.
Eat the vegetable and protein components of the meal.
Have a little starch, but push about half of it to one side.
When I go to Mongolian barbecue places where you select your own stuff, I totally eliminate noodles and don't eat the rice they bring as a side. Just the meat and veggies.
You'll be amazed how much of restaurant food is carbs. Carbs are cheaper ...
Bacon and eggs are high in cholesterol, but they help you defeat carbs.
When you can't have an omelet or something "eggy" for breakfast, be smart.
Breakfast cereals in general are carbs with sweetners - they're Grrrrrreat (tasting), but evil.
The only breakfast cereal I eat is either bran flakes or Cheerios, usually with fruit.
Pancakes are sheer suicide, as are bagels.
But you can eat oatmeal until it runs out your ears.
Steelcut is best, and avoid doctoring it up with honey, raisins, and other sweet stuff.
I usually do the instant stuff from "Better Oats." It is low calorie and generally better.
Fast food lunches are the worst.
Greasy burger in big fluffy bun.
Bucket of sugary pop.
And the fries - pure carb and grease.
Pop in general is poison, and tea is a better idea - especially unsweetened.
And then there's water - remember water?
Tortillas have roughly half the carbs of a slice of bread, so make that a switch.
You gotta treat yourself once in a while. Life's short.
But limit the quantity. Not 3 hot fudge sundaes when one will do.
Fudgesickles are my go-to because they have built-in portion control.
And get your blood glucose checked - you may be pre-diabetic. Lots of folks are.
Good Luck!!!
as someone who has done it, food is way more important than exercise.
The simpler the better.
And the hard truth is, it’s all about denial.
You have to deny yourself everything you want to eat.
How about this as a breakfast?
Two vegetable sausage patties, two brown rice cakes, with natural peanut butter not - Skippy or Jiff . (Hint : ground peanuts ) and some 0% fat Greek yogurt with a little fruit stirred in.
That’s breakfast five days a week.
the other two I will have some scrambled eggs with the same fake breakfast patties, and either a rice cake or a tiny cup of yogurt.
That’s the sad facts, Jack !
Drinking?
Maybe 3 beers a week. If I can remember.
A decent lunch eaten before 12 o’clock, and dinner is always some kind of salad mix with protein in it.
And I’m done with that by 7 o’clock and I do not eat after that.
I kind of detest “food” now. I would love if there was just a nutrient pill I could take daily and be done with it. Which is not a bad place to be. If you get to the point, where food is unimportant - that can help a lot.
Follow all this and get back to me.
You’re welcome.
Oh, and nine months out of the year - but not right now - I bike 15 to 20 miles a day.
But that’s usually only good for an additional 15 pounds of weight loss, which I’m not stressed about - that just falls off.
But, once again, diet is way more important.
The simpler the better.
And the hard truth is, it’s all about denial.
You have to deny yourself everything you want to eat.
How about this as a breakfast?
Two vegetable sausage patties, two brown rice cakes, with natural peanut butter not - Skippy or Jiff . (Hint : ground peanuts ) and some 0% fat Greek yogurt with a little fruit stirred in.
That’s breakfast five days a week.
the other two I will have some scrambled eggs with the same fake breakfast patties, and either a rice cake or a tiny cup of yogurt.
That’s the sad facts, Jack !
Drinking?
Maybe 3 beers a week. If I can remember.
A decent lunch eaten before 12 o’clock, and dinner is always some kind of salad mix with protein in it.
And I’m done with that by 7 o’clock and I do not eat after that.
I kind of detest “food” now. I would love if there was just a nutrient pill I could take daily and be done with it. Which is not a bad place to be. If you get to the point, where food is unimportant - that can help a lot.
Follow all this and get back to me.
You’re welcome.
Oh, and nine months out of the year - but not right now - I bike 15 to 20 miles a day.
But that’s usually only good for an additional 15 pounds of weight loss, which I’m not stressed about - that just falls off.
But, once again, diet is way more important.
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I gave up sugar and most carbs 8 weeks ago. I'm down 20 pounds already! I can't believe what a difference it makes. If I had known this when I was younger....
With me the denial almost becomes better than eating. That denial of base instincts becomes a point of pride. Food is fuel and I’m running lean and mean.as someone who has done it, food is way more important than exercise.
The simpler the better.
And the hard truth is, it’s all about denial.
You have to deny yourself everything you want to eat.
How about this as a breakfast?
Two vegetable sausage patties, two brown rice cakes, with natural peanut butter not - Skippy or Jiff . (Hint : ground peanuts ) and some 0% fat Greek yogurt with a little fruit stirred in.
That’s breakfast five days a week.
the other two I will have some scrambled eggs with the same fake breakfast patties, and either a rice cake or a tiny cup of yogurt.
That’s the sad facts, Jack !
Drinking?
Maybe 3 beers a week. If I can remember.
A decent lunch eaten before 12 o’clock, and dinner is always some kind of salad mix with protein in it.
And I’m done with that by 7 o’clock and I do not eat after that.
Follow all that and get back to me.
You’re welcome.
Oh, and nine months out of the year - but not right now - I bike 15 to 20 miles a day.
But that’s usually only good for an additional 15 pounds of weight loss, which I’m not stressed about - that falls off.
But, once again, diet is way more important.
The only downside to losing the weight is that I’m no longer a cuddly heat machine for my wife. We just shiver together until we’re warmed up.
Don’t worry, you’ll feel and look younger sooner, and probably live longer, so you’re making up some of that time.
Engine Swap
Friend of Leo's
I’m 6’ 1” and a few years back, I was up to 230 in 2019
I cut back on snacks and watched portion size. I’ve been a cyclist for 30+ years and ride about 100 miles a week during the season.
I was able to get down to 197 last year, but right now (middle of winter) I’m at 210. I usually put on about 7-8 pound over winter.
On the plus side, I’ve been going back to the gym after a 3-year break because of you-know-what.
A bigger change has been cutting way back on booze. I was pretty much having a drink a day to “unwind” in the evenings. This got a little worse since 2019. I’m now limiting myself to 1 drink on Fri+Sat. Started this in early December. Haven’t noticed the pound falling off, but I’m sleeping better and I’m more clear-headed.
In a nutshell, moderation, diligence, and lifestyle changes work for me. Weighing yourself and tracking help.
I’m turning 60 this year and would like to like to get in the neighborhood of 185. Getting below 200 seemed like breaking the sound barrier.
I cut back on snacks and watched portion size. I’ve been a cyclist for 30+ years and ride about 100 miles a week during the season.
I was able to get down to 197 last year, but right now (middle of winter) I’m at 210. I usually put on about 7-8 pound over winter.
On the plus side, I’ve been going back to the gym after a 3-year break because of you-know-what.
A bigger change has been cutting way back on booze. I was pretty much having a drink a day to “unwind” in the evenings. This got a little worse since 2019. I’m now limiting myself to 1 drink on Fri+Sat. Started this in early December. Haven’t noticed the pound falling off, but I’m sleeping better and I’m more clear-headed.
In a nutshell, moderation, diligence, and lifestyle changes work for me. Weighing yourself and tracking help.
I’m turning 60 this year and would like to like to get in the neighborhood of 185. Getting below 200 seemed like breaking the sound barrier.
Look up insulting and see if your remarks fit the definition. Hint, they will. You do make yourself look good though.
KC
Poster Extraordinaire
Here's a note from the wrong side of 70: now's the time, you're the man, you can do it. Parts of this are going to suck but nothing sucks as bad as a knee replacement, and everybody I know who's been carrying around the extra weight is getting the replacements, knees, hips, the works. Your body just has to work too hard to carry around the extra weight & things break down.
As a practical matter, my GF went with Noom last year & lost a bunch of weight, not quickly but steadily. She swears by it. I tried, not for me, but I'm doing dry January (and so on) and the weight drops automatically when the alcohol goes. Also I'm back in the gym -- addictive, once you get your patterns down.
Good luck, man. When you wake up in the morning six months from now & feel great & have all kinds of energy & look in the mirror & like what you see, it'll all be worth it. Go cat go.
As a practical matter, my GF went with Noom last year & lost a bunch of weight, not quickly but steadily. She swears by it. I tried, not for me, but I'm doing dry January (and so on) and the weight drops automatically when the alcohol goes. Also I'm back in the gym -- addictive, once you get your patterns down.
Good luck, man. When you wake up in the morning six months from now & feel great & have all kinds of energy & look in the mirror & like what you see, it'll all be worth it. Go cat go.
Sometimes, a “hey man, you look like ****” works better than an attaboy.
It works better in person when you can look then in the eye and they know that you’re saying that because you care and not to be mean.
There are more clinically obese people than there are “normal” weight people in this country. The vast majority are in between. Overweight. Maybe being nice isn’t working.
Eat two meals a day and don't binge in-between. Drop the sugar intake and go with low salt. Remember, you're not only talking about your appearance but your HEALTH. You're at an age where you can correct your eating habits and live a long healthy life.
Good luck!
Good luck!
My younger son went from being shorter than me to the tallest one in our family within 6 months. When he shot up, he also shot "out". It took his buddys' ribbing him viciously until he really got serious about losing the weight. He looks great now and is very proud of his achievement in that
too many people are far too comfortable with their shortcomings, and when they say they "struggle" with an issue in reality it's more that they snuggle with it
Just do intermittent fasting guys, all else is BS. Of course you will do this as a LIFESTYLE not a diet ,these NEVER work and are only temporary solutions.
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It's not all BS, but IF can be a great strategy for lots of people.
Digestion ages us. Especially metabolizing sugars. IF gives your system a rest for 16-18 hours at a time which promotes healing processes in the rest of the body.
Anytime someone tells me I look good, I give them a dollar.
It only costs me about $4 a year.
