The Biggest LOOSER -- running weight loss thread

You'd be better off talking to someone who works there, a trainer or staff person who can really show you the right way to use all the equipment, check your form, and set up a program that works for what you're trying to achieve.

 

Second 21 on asking the gym staff for help. And I'm a big WeightWatchers fan. Have lost 90 lbs. with them so far.

 

21 is right, but once you're used to the equipment, I get a daily email from Men's Health and it often has new workout techniques, including full programs, that can really blast your muscles. The email newsletter is free.

 

I checked out the Men's Health site and found some good workout routines that I'm going to try starting next week. They also have a smartphone app that will give you the workouts do to, have a timer to track your workout/rest periods, etc.

On a side note, Weight Watchers has made me realize just how much I love carrots. I'm probably eating 1-2 pounds of carrots a day - I've got a big bag that goes with me from my home to my office and back again. Assuming I don't die of a Vitamin C overdose, this should help with a lot of my "snacky" cravings were getting me before.

 

Carrots are great as a replacement for chips because you still get that crunchy bite. Just be careful about using dip with them (if you use a dip at all). The wrong dip can make them worse for you than chips.

 

I used to avoid threads like this but wanted to tell my story here.

I used to be ridiculously active, but that was high school. Gained about 80 pounds in two years after I started college.

Over the years, I got as high as 300 pounds. Every once in a while I'd try to do something about it, but my wife is just as bad off as I am, so I never had someone keeping me in check.

What made it tougher was that I have little willpower. Whatever was in the house, I'd eat. So pop, chips, you name it, I ate too much of it.

Well, 63 days ago my wife and I both decided to get healthy. Long story as to why, I'll save that for another time long in the future.

Anyways, the first thing we did was start buying bottled water for our bar fridge, and tossed the pop. Bought Kool-Aid and Crystal Light for when we needed some flavour.

Second thing was a video game. We started on Wii Fit but soon bought EA Sports Active 2, which customizes workouts as if it's a personal trainer.

We're both playing more golf, and I'm playing competitive tennis twice a week and slow pitch (doubleheader every game night) once a week.

My starting weight 63 days ago was 285 pounds. Today I am 244. And my goal is 200.

Some things I've noticed:
- I'm beating people in tennis at my club who I never thought I'd come close to.
- I've had to tighten my belt five notches.
- I no longer have any shorts that fit me.
- I rarely crave bad food anymore. I'm actually starting to crave some of the good found I've found.

The video game has done wonders, but nutrition is what I'm most proud of. I never ate healthy, even as a kid. I'd come home from school and eat a bag of chips. I never gained weight because I was playing 10 competitive sports a year. I can only imagine what I would've done had I learned proper nutrition back then, but I'll never get those days back.

Anyhow, just thought I'd chime in with an evolving success story. I feel confident enough at this point that I can start telling people, because I'm not afraid of failing anymore.

 

Congrats, Gomer! It's a great feeling, isn't it?

 

Yeah, it is. We have been allowing a couple cheat meals per week, which has made it easier. My biggest problem is snacking when I get home from work (midnight). Any ideas?

 

By the way I read the whole thread before posting, some amazing stories in here. Don't think I'll be doing any 60 km bike rides anytime soon but that is terrific how far you've come. Very inspirational.

 

That's my biggest struggle too. I found it easier when I worked evening in the theatre but now I get home from work at 4:30 and the evening stretches out veeeeeery long and I end up snacking. I go to bed much earlier than I used to which seems to help a bit. I also try to keep my hands busy (cross stitching usually) which helps too.

I also agree that 'cheat days' help a lot. This way you can develop a lifestyle instead of something that will only work in the short term.

Oh ... and I rode 120 kms. 8)

 

Time to take up cross-stitching then...

 

It's mostly discipline. You have to force yourself not to eat within three hours of going to bed. If you know you're going to crave a snack when you get home from work try to eat a healthy snack while still at work to curb your appetite later.

And if you MUST snack that late, for god's sakes avoid carbs and sugar. Someone mentioned carrots earlier and they're great because they have all the characteristics of eating chips (crunchy, reaching for one after another), but they're much better obviously than chips.

A couple of slice of rolled up turkey are good, too. They're filling and loaded with lean protein which is great for when you sleep. Rather than metabolizing the sugar or carbs into fat and storing them, you'll metabolize it into muscle (which you lose every time you sleep). If you have a decent meal-replacement shake that is low in carbs, sugar and fat and high in protein, that might help take the edge off (but not if you're more into the habit of eating, rather than actually being hungry).

But as I said, it's really mostly about discipline and not allowing yourself to do it.