The Biggest LOOSER -- running weight loss thread

Thanks, Matt.

I just got tired of being such a couch potato. Not that I'm young (51) but I'm to young to be as immobile as I was becoming. Putting on socks and shoes was a chore. If I didn't do something I figured I was going to be dead within five years. Now I'm feeling better both physically and mentally.

Did another six miles tonight. Wanted to do seven but felt so lousy at the two-mile mark I was happy with six. Also found out during the cool-down that the treadmill shuts down at 100 minutes. I'll have to read the manual a bit more. You can restart right away at least.

 

This morning, I weighed 158.

A couple of days ago, I went out to the barn and found a box of jeans and dress pants I put away about seven years ago because they were too small. Now, about half are wearable, again (the rest are too long or out-of-style).

I had to put slime tubes and tire liners in the bike wheels because the stickers (mainly goat heads) in the park where I ride are bad. And, I had to rebuild one of the shifter controls because the lubrication was old and gummy. But, I'm riding noticeably harder-to-pedal gears on the uphill stretches and an hour of riding doesn't leave my legs twitching the way that they were when I started this bout.

I'm almost light enough, again, to think about running without wrecking my knees.

Considering I weighed 180 in mid-November, the weight has come off quickly. The challenge will be to maintain a reasonable weight through the cold of Jan.-Feb.

I've made a promise to myself to run or ride at least one timed event in 2012.

 

I used to be at close to 280 a few years ago. I'm in the Army now and got down to as low as 188 in Basic Training in December 2010. Now I'm back up to 205-210. I want to get back down to where I was and hopefully reading y'all's success stories will help me do that.
My ultimate goal is to run a marathon one day.

 

Hi Joe

I started at about 285 lbs and got down to about 190. I've gained a little bit back, especially over the holidays, so I'm getting back on track too. Good luck to all of us!

 

I'm stuck between 205 and 215 and can't seem to get much lower. I work out multiple times a week doing PT and on my own at home (both doing extra running along with pushups and situps) and try to eat right. However, it just seems like I can't get any lower. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks....

 

Joseph .... write down every single thing you eat. And when you eat, use measuring cups and spoons. Amazing how our perception of quantities can be way off.

May not work for you but was a revelation for me.

 

Anyone have any recommendations for food with high protein?

I've been eating a lot of this lately:

-Boiled egg whites
-Fish
-Almonds
-Peanut Butter
-Chicken
-Steak
-Cottage Cheese

I'm running out of ideas though. If you have suggestions or recipes to share it would be greatly appreciated.

 

I've been eating a fair bit of Greek yogurt - low fat and high protein and very tasty.

 

I've started tracking my food on sparkpeople.com as I try to lose 15 pounds before I have to fit my tux for my wedding in late April. The nutrition section is pretty good, but the workout section stinks.

Anyway, even with a lost weekend of Jose Cuervo and way too much food, I was down two pounds today after starting tracking my food intake late last week. I've tracked it in the past on my own, but with Miss L doing the same, it helps to keep us on the path.

With my goal and my starting weight, I'm allowed 1,550 to 1,850 calories per day. Some days, it's easy, some days not so much. Last night I allowed myself one square of Ghiradelli chocolate after supper, and that was it. I can already see my beer belly getting just a little bit smaller.

Joe

 

Nice work Joe... do you find it takes a lot of time to track everything like that?

I presume the wedding will be more than enough motivation.

As for myself, I've been stuck at the same weight for four months now. My wife developed gallstones from losing too much too quickly and needed surgery, and a few other things happened that got me away from my workout routine. Given all of that, I actually feel lucky I didn't gain weight.

Back on the bus now though partying on the weekends is my new downfall. We did put out veggies and dip instead of nachos Saturday night however. It's the little things, right?

 

Mr. Pyle,

If you keep track of it throughout the day, it doesn't take much time at all to keep up. I just added everything I had for lunch, and it took less than five minutes. For me, it's just a way to keep myself accountable. Which is what I need.

Joe

 

I started eating a lot better about three weeks to a month ago, and I'm really starting to notice it.

As a broke 20-something writer, I haven't invested in a scale yet but I had a real "Holy crap" moment about two or three days ago. I was doing laundry day and a shirt that I haven't been able to fit into for quite a while was brought out. Usually I'd have a little gut protruding through the bottom (yeah, it was one of THOSE shirts. Sorry for the image) but it actually fit. It was a little snug, but it wore correctly for the most part.

That, and I've lost two belt notches as well as feeling my class ring slip and slide a lot more than it used to - I may have to invest in some tape for it.

I have a long, long LONG way to go, but this is the first time I've really sustained this kind of habit this long and I'm really proud of myself.