Finally, I did it.

[MickMcGeough]

I found for me the biggest thing was reading up on how your body processes food and stores energy. I don't pretend to understand half of it, but I had some pretty immediate results keeping these things in mind:

1) Water is a magic weight loss potion. Drink 2L a day or more.

2) You are eating meals so big that your body thinks you need to store energy for later. Eat 6 much smaller meals a day. Your body will adjust to the constant intake of energy and will begin to store less of it on your body since it is expecting more new food/energy in a couple of hours.

3) Increase muscle density!! This is way too often overlooked. Each muscle in your body burns a certain amount of calories just "idling". The denser the muscle, the more calories it will burn just sitting (or doing anything). If you choose compound exercises (bench press, row, squats, etc.) that work many muscle groups at a time, you can quickly increase your muscle density and greatly increase the rate at which your body uses calories just by sitting around.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Good work!!!!! I have went down from 215 to 153 over the last 5.5 years.

There are certain things I don't eat (white pasta, white bread), I don't eat at much, and I try not to eat at night (after 9ish).

I also run 8km, 3-5 times a week. Probably the best thing I ever did for myself.

Good work!!!

[pope04]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Finally.

After pretty much being overweight my entire life, I've now brought my weight down to an acceptable range. I tipped the scales at only 217 lbs this AM, my lowest since Junior high. While it might not seem like much (and this would even be considered slightly overweight given Normal weight for Height, I am 6'4), this has been quite the struggle for me.

Since about 1.5 years ago, I've lost a total of 128 lbs.

I plan to continue to drop a few more, probably down to 205ish, but 220 was always the mark I decided to set for myself for some reason. And today when I found out I had reached it, I felt really good. It was tough but worth it.

So, has anyone else had any similar sucesses? I know we haven't had a weightloss thread in a while.

Congratulations. Sounds like you're a pretty determined dude.

When I was 28, I decided to quit smoking. In about six months, I packed on about 25 pounds, going up to about 205 - I'm 6'1" - and it took me around a year to lose the weight. I stopped eating "junk" and started exercising. I was probably at my peak of fitness around 2001 or 2002 when I cycled to work 2-3 times per week, going down to around 175-180 lbs. I'm around 190-195 now - cycling to work is not an option as I'm a stay-at-home father - but I'd love to be around 180 again.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I have went down from 215 to 153 over the last 5.5 years.

Wow.....this is impressive, too.

(Wolfwood, you too)

[burn_baby_burn]

Congratulations. It takes a lot of work and dedication to accomplish what you have. Don't fall in a rut. Continue to stay focused.

In the late 90's when I first got out of collage I got pretty fat. I'm 6'0" and I balloned up to 218lbs with not much muscle. A summer student of mine motivated me into running every night after work. I also started eating right 5 days a week. I cheated on the weekends. But I got down to 178lbs.

The next summer the same summer student got me start going to the gym with him after work. Since then I have been able to put my weight back up to 215lbs of muscle. In the last couple of months I have gotten lazy with the cardio and my diet started to slip. So I started with cardio again last night. I got married recently, so I just can't spend 2+ hours at the gym every night any more. I need to get motivated and go in the morning. But the idea of waking up a 5:30am does not appeal to me at all. But I love being healthy and having energy. It will be worth the sacrifice.

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

We've already cut out pop and refined sugar.

That was the toughest part for me. I love pop. LOVE it. Drank it all the time. Cutting out fast food was also tough, because at the time, I was working at Burger King and we got free pop all the time and half priced food. It all comes down to will power and how badly you want it. It's what makes it so darn tough. But once you make it routine, and you start seeing results, nothing makes you want to stick to it more.

[habernac]

A few years ago, I was at 208lbs. It's great when you're planting yourself in front of the net, but when you're 5'7", it certainly doesn't look or feel too good. I started riding my bike to work 4-5 times a week. Fast forward a few years, I'm down to 178lbs, I can probably take off another 15lbs if I start eating better. Exercise is the key. Do something regularyl and you'll see results. Kudos to everyone in this thread for getting it done.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

That was the toughest part for me. I love pop. LOVE it. Drank it all the time. Cutting out fast food was also tough, because at the time, I was working at Burger King and we got free pop all the time and half priced food. It all comes down to will power and how badly you want it. It's what makes it so darn tough. But once you make it routine, and you start seeing results, nothing makes you want to stick to it more.

You hit the nail right on the head.

This takes no special talent or skill, just committment and will power. If you want it you can do it.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by habernac

A few years ago, I was at 208lbs. It's great when you're planting yourself in front of the net, but when you're 5'7", it certainly doesn't look or feel too good. I started riding my bike to work 4-5 times a week. Fast forward a few years, I'm down to 178lbs, I can probably take off another 15lbs if I start eating better. Exercise is the key. Do something regularyl and you'll see results. Kudos to everyone in this thread for getting it done.

Well, i'm 5'7" and 200lbs. You are correct it doesn't feel good but i'm working on it. Congrats on the weight loss!

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by SpecialK12

the number on the scale does not tell the whole story. You may have alot more lean mass where as "fluffy's" body composition might be made up more of body fat.

I don't know what's more insulting, you calling me "fluffy" or the insinuation that I have more body fat

The wife is a fitness freak so no, I'm not exactly a Husky individual just not as jaw dropping as she would like me to be but I'm workin on it

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

I was working at Burger King and we got free pop all the time and half priced food.

Haha. My first job out of high school was at BK - don't ask how long ago. I was the only person there that'd pack a lunch.

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by pope04

Haha. My first job out of high school was at BK - don't ask how long ago. I was the only person there that'd pack a lunch.

Yeah, it was my job during high school. It was horrible. I ended up eating there way too much that the sight and smell of the food started making me sick. That's when I had to start packing a lunch. I lost a couple pounds within the first week of doing that. My boss didn't like it though, something about seeing a BK employee eating non BK food wouldn't be appealing to the customers or something so I had to start eating in the backroom.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

Yeah, it was my job during high school. It was horrible. I ended up eating there way too much that the sight and smell of the food started making me sick. That's when I had to start packing a lunch. I lost a couple pounds within the first week of doing that. My boss didn't like it though, something about seeing a BK employee eating non BK food wouldn't be appealing to the customers or something so I had to start eating in the backroom.

My first job in HS was slinging burgers for McDonalds. Like you I got tired of eating that crap. In fact some of the stuff that went on behind in the kitchen turned me off fast food. I have stories that would turn anyone off McDonalds for good

[Buff]

I was in the best shape of my life when I worked at KFC. I never ate the food very much though I would go across the street and eat at Burger King. Mostly I'd go to a chinese food restaurant a block down and just have rice.

[La Flames Fan]

Congrats Caramon!

You are the biggest loser!

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by Dion

My first job in HS was slinging burgers for McDonalds. Like you I got tired of eating that crap. In fact some of the stuff that went on behind in the kitchen turned me off fast food. I have stories that would turn anyone off McDonalds for good

Yeah, I definitely have stories of things that should be avoided when eating at BK.

Originally Posted by Buff

I was in the best shape of my life when I worked at KFC. I never ate the food very much though I would go across the street and eat at Burger King. Mostly I'd go to a chinese food restaurant a block down and just have rice.

I got in the best shape of my life while working at BK. It sounds really calloused, but seeing some of the larger people that would come in and what they would order, it was a real eye opener. Definitely a great motivator to turn my diet around.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Good work!!!!! I have went down from 215 to 153 over the last 5.5 years.

Dude I can't even picture you with 50+ pounds extra.

POST A PICTURE! POST A PICTURE!

[Titan]

I have also lost and gained and lost and gained. I have had luck with Atkins but put the weight back on.

I have found that using an on line calorie counter like Myfooddiary.com has really helped me to realize what I am eating and how bad it is for me.

The other thing I did was get an elliptical trainer and I play playstation or watch the flames on Tivo. This really makes the time go by easier.

[Crazy Flamer]

Wow what a motivating thread. I am 5'11 and weighed 220 lbs on New Years day. I'm pretty fit as I do qutie a bit of weight training and cardio, but I could stand to loose about 20-25 lbs. Its my goals to get under 200 by my girlfriend's birthday which is on March 8. Right now I'm at 216.5.

Thanks for the motivation!

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Good work!!!!! I have went down from 215 to 153 over the last 5.5 years.

Holy cow!

You know I've battled with my weight for years, except I've had the opposite problem. I was under weight for so long it was scary. I was 6'0" and 135 lbs from highschool all the way through third year university.

I went on internship and started going to the gym for a while. I got up to just under 150 lbs, but then I stopped going to the gym.

Fourth year hit and I went through some massive depression so I tried to combat it by going to the gym every day.

I got to around 155lbs by the end of fourth year and that was the best cardio shape I've ever been in. I was playing ball hockey like crazy and running at least twice a week for nearly an hour.

Couldn't go to the U of C after I finished school and I could buy a membership at Alumni prices until January of last year and after that it was almost every day until I went to China and the UK. Since the summer I've been on and off but I'm up to a pretty normal weight of 175lbs finally.

I'm probably heading to the YMCA downtown for my gym requirements from now on though.