I reached an INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH personal goal today: 30 lbs.

[cherokeeprogressive]

On March 8th, I weighed in at my doctors office at 295 lbs with my clothes on. I'm 6'1", 48 years old, and will be 49 on Sunday.

Today, when I got out of bed, I weighed in (butt naked) at 255lbs, 2oz. Since I weighed with all my clothes on on 3/8, I figure that today I can say I've lost 30 lbs, maybe a couple more. I'll be happy saying I've lost 30 and leave it at that.

On 3/8 I went on a 1300 calorie diet. 1300 calories a day is a couple of lettuce leaves, and a few grains of rice (compared to my old diet).

Needless to say, I had to change other things than just the eating habits. Of course I also gave up my nightly three tea glasses of wine, stopped visiting the fast food spots (well I HAD to try the "double down" at KFC) and started exercising. I've been doing a circuit three times a week at the gym, followed by 40 minutes on the stationary bike. Also, my Doc gave me Wellbutrin as a diet pill. That's been a tricky one, and some of my posts over the last two months have been influenced more by the drug than my own point of view.

I'm aiming for 220 lbs by the end of the summer. My reward for that, as promised by my wife, will be a cruise to the destination of my choosing, as long as it doesn't last more than 12 days. We've already been to the Caribbean on a Windjammer cruise (we sailed on the Legacy out of St. Thomas), and this time I'm thinking either Alaska or the Panama Canal (suggestions are welcome!).

One last thing... On 3/8 my bp was 200/110 and this morning it was 124/84.

[OhioChick]

1. Good for you!

Congrats on the weight loss and an early Happy Birthday to you. :party:

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Thank You.

I've been working at it... and have notice something I'd like to see change.

ALL FOOD COMMERCIALS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM TV! We laugh about it, and I typed that in jest, but my goodness... what I wouldn't give sometimes for that pizza or Super Star with large fries...

[Dr Morbius]

2. Congratulations, sray with it, and please remember there's more to health

than just one's weight or bp.

Kudos!

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. Absolutely correct.

At my old weight, I was sore all the time. My hips hurt. My knees (both reconstructed, but BEFORE I got fat) hurt ALL THE TIME.

Those things aren't a part of my daily experience today. Well, the knees are, but not to the extent that they were two months ago. They'll ALWAYS hurt, so says my doctor and I've been dealing with them long enough to know he's right on that point.

[flvegan]

5. Congratulations! What a fantastic achievement.

Stay on track, and surely you'll meet your summer goal.

And yes, I realize that you and I don't oft get along. BUT I'm a trainer and a gym rat, and success stories get me in that upper left chest area.

Your blood pressure change is just amazing. You're on your way, and I wish you the best.

Cheers.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Thank you flvegan

Nothing personal on the disagreements, to be sure. In the end we both play for the same team I promise.

The bp is my favorite change, even more than the weight. That and the fact that my cholesterol has gone from over 300 to 230, and when I have my bloodwork done again next month it will surely be better than that. Simvistatin, a change in diet, and some good cardio do wonders.

Thanks for the wishes and remember, when it comes to baseball, nothing is personal bro. Love ya.

[flvegan]

9. You're putting up some great numbers.

300 to 230? I'm about to accuse you of going vegetarian!

I kid. I'm proud of you. Keep it up.

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. I've eaten more salad in the last two months than I have in the last five years.

A two cup salad with lunch, and another with dinner. Did you know that 2 tablespoons of fat-free dressing is not nearly enough to flavor one cup of lettuce and one cup of mixed veggies? Well it isn't. No matter how long you toss it. So I find myself with the pepper grinder until my wife looks at me like I'm crazy and the top of my salad is nearly black.

The cholesterol fight has actually been going on since the middle of last year. We've tried three different drugs, and it was going down slowly, but the diet change and increase in activity level, plus returning to Simvistatin helped turn the corner.

As for the vegetarian thing, my meat intake instantly shrank to 1 2oz chicken breast, 1 3oz steak, 1 2oz piece of whitefish, and 1 5oz piece of whitefish per week. Compared to my old diet, one rich in beef, you could almost say I WAS pursuing a turn in that direction. We shall see. The other day I put a huge portobello mushroom on the grill after marinating it with teriyaki, and could almost imagine that it tasted like beef. Almost.

Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot.

[BurtWorm]

7. Congratulations.

:applause:

I lost 30 pounds a few years ago and felt great (185-155). I've gained back 10, alas, and want to get them off. It feels good to weigh less, doesn't it?

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Don't you know it.

I went into semi-retirement 3 years ago and moved to the mountains. Since then I went from 240 to 295. Hard to tie my shoes... Hell, for that matter it was hard to put socks on. My bike was in the corner of the garage until two months ago.

I've read that it takes six weeks to change a habit, and six months to change a behavior. I've given up the fast food as a habit, and pretty much have given up the daily drinking as a behavior, albeit at only two months.

I breathe better. I sleep better. My wife doesn't wake me up in the middle of the night telling me to roll onto my side so as not to snore. Socks. Shoes (I was actually contemplating buying SLIP-ONS). Everything is getting better. Sex life too.

220 I haven't seen for almost ten years. I've surprised myself with will-power I haven't exhibited in years and years, and am convinced I can do it.

Those Calloways that have been sitting in my closet for the last 3 years or so have been whispering to me lately...

[BurtWorm]

27. That's a good kind of motivation to have, much better than appetite and comfort.

(Although, it is more comfortable in all sorts of ways to be at your fighting weight.)

[fishwax]

10. congrats!

That's a good achievement! :applause:

[KT2000]

11. Congrats to you!!

That blood pressure reduction sure is impressive - amazing actually.
What you are doing is not easy (as you well know) so good going!
Best wishes to you for reaching your goal. :applause:

[abq e streeter]

12. awesome and inspirational -I'm only about 20 overweight; but still need to get rid of em............

I was within about 5 pounds of it a year ago then put it right back on. Hearing success stories like this will maybe get me off my ass.....Thanks for sharing this and congratulations.

[wickerwoman]

13. That's fantastic! And no way your clothes weigh 10 pounds.

You've definitely lost more than 35.

[Crystal Clarity]

15. I was thinking the same thing

I think you can easily say you've lost at least 37 lbs. And in less then 2 months! Congratulations! :thumbsup:

Now that your BP has fallen into the high end of normal, have you talked to your Doc about slowly working in a higher calorie intake? 1300 is a very small intake (especially for a 6'1 man). Obviously you'll want to keep up the exercise, and continue a low calorie regimen until you reach your goal weight. But now that you've nearly gotten where you want to be, you might want to start thinking of long term maintenance. You'll still be able to lose that extra 12 you want (albeit a little more slowly) even with another 200 calories (at least) as long as you keep up your activity level.

Modestly increasing your calorie intake will be good practice in learning how to maintain a healthy lifestyle without the unrealistic (longterm) strictness of very low calorie intake. And doing it now (while still trying to lose) will give you a good idea of where your set point for weight loss vs. weight maintenance is.

Again, Congratulations! And take time every day to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Oh and enjoy that trip you'll be going on!!! :yourock:

[moriah]

14. You might see if your gym has a seated elliptical instead of just a bike....

The bikes at my gym really don't do anything at all for upper body, and only work a few of the muscle groups in my legs.

However, they have one seated elliptical trainer and I've up to 45-50 minutes on it four times a week. While I have not lost as much weight as you have, I've only been on this exercise program for about three weeks, and had to work up from 20 minutes being all I could do. I've been eating between 1100 and 1300 calories a day as well, but I'm female, 30, and 5'1 so that's not as much of a caloric restriction as you are on. In these three weeks I've lost 7 lbs, so I'm not unhappy with my progress at all -- plus I've lost more inches than the 7 lbs would normally account for.

The reason I recommend the seated elliptical is I have not added any separate strength training, but with the "muscle endurance" program I've been able to keep my heart rate at 75% of maximum for the entire 45-50 minutes plus do some strength training (30 seconds of increased resistance, randomly targeting different muscle groups, then a minute of "resting" by lowering the resistance back down until the next set). I have much less difficulty carrying the 40 lb boxes of cat litter I buy, and have more definition in my calves and arms already. My goal is to work up to an hour on the "muscle endurance" program and be able to keep my heart rate up, then start increasing the baseline resistance. I haven't noticed any significant cardiovascular changes, but I don't have high blood pressure -- just borderline tachycardia (pulse of 92-95 when I wake up before I've sat up in bed, and a little over 100 usually when I'm in the doctor's office). My doctor approved the exercise routine, because he'd like to see if a few months of cardiovascular exercise will lower my resting pulse rate back closer to normal before trying beta blockers.

I'm really happy for you, and keep it up! I'll be sweating with you in spirit, if not in the same gym. :)

[KG]

16. no sure how much weight, but i've dropped 2 inches off my waist.

getting back into jeans i haven't worn in 3 years. did my first 20-mile bike ride to the beach in 4 years. woohoo!

[Crystal Clarity]

17. Yay!

Congratulations to you too!!! :fistbump:

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Awesome! My 40 inch 501's will now fall off my butt if I don't keep them tightly belted.

I'm working on making it to 36. I have some somewhere, but will NOT take them out until it's possible I can at least get my legs into them LOL.

Keep up the good work! I've been doing the bike thing as well, and am about to make my first trip around the lake where I live, it'll be 26 miles. Working up to it. I'm up to 12 now.

[mnhtnbb]

20. Good for you!

My brother did an Alaska cruise a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. Personally, I'd do
a cruise of the Greek isles.

[auntAgonist]

21. awesome! Keep up the good work. lower bp is terrific!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

22. most excellent job!! way to go!!

:applause:

[HipChick]

23. Congrats!

[applegrove]

24. Congrats! 30 pounds is a lot. You are obviously very motivated. Bet you don't

fit your clothes.

[apex3350]

25. sounds awesome. Congrats to you

[donheld]

26. whooohoooo

[MorningGlow]

28. You're an inspiration!

Congrats! :applause:

I've been on a 1300 calorie diet for a month now, after a shocking weigh-in at my doctor's office at the end of March. I've lost about 8 or 9 lbs. (hard to tell, as my home scale is weird), which is on target for gradual weight loss of about 2 lbs. per week.

I haven't been tempted by soda or fries or pizza, interestingly enough (although I have stolen a piece or two of my son's busted-up chocolate Easter bunnies--hey, the baggie is right there on the counter--!) but I'm with you about food advertising! I'm assaulted on Facebook daily with a picture of a huge cupcake laden with an inch and a half of frosting. Don't ask me what the ad is about--all I can see is that cupcake. I nuke the ad, but it comes right back. Every damn day. x(

Oh--and happy birthday! :party: