Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 40 lbs in 4 months ... starting now... Weight Loss Log and Training journal

So, I know they say 1-2 lbs a week is healthy, but for us larger folks, you can still eat plenty, work out right, and lose more than that in a healthy way.

The wedding is september 19th. Means my last tux fitting is sometime in August probably.

I have at least 1 and maybe 2 triathlons i want to do between now and then, plus a few walk races, and maybe even a charity ride, if I can find one.

I want my fiancee to be really impressed with my commitment to do this, as well as how I look in my tux. But mostly, I want to do this for me. I have been making major strides in my atheltic capabilities, but I still need to make eating properly and losing weight a bigger part of my long term goals. We're going to have gorgeous weather here this weekend, and I'll have at least a little free time with my future sister in law in to occupy my fiancee for the day.

These things work better for me when I'm not just accountable to myself.

Tech.
You can do it. And yeah you are right about losing more than the 1-2, the problem is we can gain more than the 1-2 just as quick *LOL*. I have been doing a modified low carb diet (about 40 carbs a day) which has been working pretty well. Naturally on days when I cycle I increase the carbs a little to say 60 - 80. No where near the 250-300 recommended. Dropped from 309 to 284 then went on vacation and put 11 back on *LOL*. LAst week took 10 of it back off. Will see if I can reach 284 and beyond this week.
Steve

I'm iun the same boat as you in terms of needing t lose weight. The yo-yo effect is real though so you'll have to be carefull. Using my own experience, in the last 16 months I went from 228 in Jan 08 to 203 in July 08 and have now topped out (I hope) at 238. PArt of my problem is a medication issue, but mosly its a discipline and lack f motivation problem. I had almost a 1000 miles in by this time last year and now I'm about to hit 100 for the year. That said, I know what I need todo but changing the habits is tough.

Good luck, and i hope you make this change stick!

Yeah I won't be altering carb counts, just following a weight watchers inspired plan, keeping an eye on my "points" while eating smarter foods and reasonable portions while working out on a consistent basis. It's always easier for me to do this in spring and summer. I managed to maintain throughout the past year, being within 10 lbs of where I had "plateaued" after my big weight loss of 2 years ago. Now, I'm going to push it down again.

I post my starting weight tomorrow morning, along with regular weight reports (havent decided on frequency yet), and daily exercise reports.

Go techknow go! :)

So, I know they say 1-2 lbs a week is healthy, but for us larger folks, you can still eat plenty, work out right, and lose more than that in a healthy way.

The wedding is september 19th. Means my last tux fitting is sometime in August probably.

I have at least 1 and maybe 2 triathlons i want to do between now and then, plus a few walk races, and maybe even a charity ride, if I can find one.

I want my fiancee to be really impressed with my commitment to do this, as well as how I look in my tux. But mostly, I want to do this for me. I have been making major strides in my atheltic capabilities, but I still need to make eating properly and losing weight a bigger part of my long term goals. We're going to have gorgeous weather here this weekend, and I'll have at least a little free time with my future sister in law in to occupy my fiancee for the day.

These things work better for me when I'm not just accountable to myself.

That's right. Don't do it for the tailor, or for your fiance. Do it for you.

That said, I think your goal is extremely ambitious. When I was losing weight back in 2006, I dropped 10 pounds a month, but I'd started at 400 pounds and next to no exercise. You run triathalon and weigh a hundred less than I did. You are going to find it tough to carve off 10 each month.

BTW, I think you underestimate your fiance. If she wasn't impressed with you, I doubt she'd agree to spend the rest of her life with you. :)

Moderation is the key to success.

Always.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Michael

Good luck Tech. I would say write down your goals and your reasons. Keep the card with you and take a look at it when you feel the need to eat. Lots of different ideas on dieting or weight loss. The most current one I am using, it isn't new, is to think of food as fuel. I eat out of boredom or stress lately, so I ask myself does my body need this fuel. I have succeeded in passing up some food items and miraculously have lost some weight. I have also did well by journaling my food consumption and actually measuring my food portions.

Good luck.

BTW, I think you underestimate your fiance. If she wasn't impressed with you, I doubt she'd agree to spend the rest of her life with you. :)

Oh, I know she's impressed with me, but I want her to be extra impressed :D

Oh, I know she's impressed with me, but I want her to be extra impressed :D

That strikes me as wanting an amplifier that goes all the way up to 11. :)

That strikes me as wanting an amplifier that goes all the way up to 11. :)

Yup. And I bet this amplifier does. She's particularly fit (5'4", 126), she actually had to have her hearts electrical output checked because the doctor had noticed a murmur, which occurs often in what he labeled "highly athletic" endurance athletes. So I know she will appreciate my further effort to lose weight :)

Plus, I know I'm starting at a more active baseline, but my food portions have been nuts. The hockey playoff games at home, and the weeks leading up to them offered many opportunities to eat too much, and I obliged those opportunities! :D

Yup. And I bet this amplifier does. She's particularly fit (5'4", 126), she actually had to have her hearts electrical output checked because the doctor had noticed a murmur, which occurs often in what he labeled "highly athletic" endurance athletes. So I know she will appreciate my further effort to lose weight :)

Plus, I know I'm starting at a more active baseline, but my food portions have been nuts. The hockey playoff games at home, and the weeks leading up to them offered many opportunities to eat too much, and I obliged those opportunities! :D

My Spinal Tap reference went right over your head, didn't it? :)

My Spinal Tap reference went right over your head, didn't it? :)

Yes, im a movie guy, but never taken the time to sit down and watch that one.

That strikes me as wanting an amplifier that goes all the way up to 11. :)

and what is wrong with that?

The biggest reason they say you should loose only 1-2 pounds weekly is that most of the time anything over that number and you will be sacrificing muscle instead of nothing but bodyfat.

Being a bigger person with more bodyfat you will definitely be able to loose more bodyfat with bigger numbers because during exercise that bodfat is really converted into an energy source to burn. But it is still important to eat complex carbs and to modify your protein intake to help protect against muscle loss. Does not matter if you are a cyclist or a bodybuilder you want to hang on to as much muscle as possible mainly for he factor that muscle mass serves as a fat burning engine to help burn more fat at a better rate.

Like I've said time and time again us big guys can sacrifice a certain amount of muscle mass at the expense of loosing unwanted bodyfat. I know I don't have a problem with it anymore.

Keep it ups and get lookin good for that wedding.

That strikes me as wanting an amplifier that goes all the way up to 11. :)

It's one louder.

Congrats on your weight loss. As a cycling coach I work with pro racers and folks that just want to lose some weight. Remember to mix up your workout. This will keep your body from adjusting to the work load. If you have been riding on the flats for a couple of hours: Take a day and throw in hills it can be a much shorter ride but the intensity will go way up. Don't let your body get used to your work out.

It's one louder.

ha ha:) great film!

Oh and yeah good luck with the weight loss techknow, hope it goes well for you. be sure to keep it up after the wedding though. make another goal for yourself. best of luck

My Spinal Tap reference went right over your head, didn't it? :)
It didn't go over mine. Having one that goes to eleven is way more cool than making ten one louder.

My Spinal Tap reference went right over your head, didn't it? :)

http://home.comcast.net/~charvel750/pwpimages/Soldano2.JPG (http://home.comcast.net/%7Echarvel750/pwpimages/Soldano2.JPG)

I had a Soldano Hot Rod 50 and it , like all of Soldano's amps go to 11, and Yes its louder. :thumb:


Tech - I am sure you'll do great, look at what you have done so far. Goals are great, just remember progress is progress.


Edit - oops, sorry Mike T, Guess I need to read the whole post before adding to it. :o

4/27 -
So here we are... I'm at 333 this morning, and ready to roll. I didn't sleep great last night, and didn't have time to true the front wheel, so no commute today. I'll be riding or walking this evening though. Food intake over the weekend was pretty good other than 1 meal.

4/27 -
So here we are... I'm at 333 this morning, and ready to roll. I didn't sleep great last night, and didn't have time to true the front wheel, so no commute today. I'll be riding or walking this evening though. Food intake over the weekend was pretty good other than 1 meal.


2 lbs a week is very possible. Drink plenty of water, exercise, small portions throughout the day to keep your metabolism up. Get plenty of exercise. You'll be looking for smaller clothes before you know it.

The secret (according to my doc) to really cutting back and not having your body sacrifice muscle mass for fat is to get pleny of protein. My doc reccommends 70 g protein per day. Sometimes that is hard to do, but with protein supplements (Smoothie King Gladiators...45 g protein, 1 g carb), and sensible meals with small portions (I eat 1/2 -2/3 C per meal), I have lost over 30 pounds in less than 1.5 months.

Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and drink a lot of water. Good luck, but don't over achieve and cause problems.

I walked 3 miles today in about 40 minutes. About on par with my average 5k time pace. I ate about average too. Better than most days of late. I did particularly well with beverages. ok water intake, only calories from beverages was a little milk with breakfast and dinner. Nice small healthy lunch with fiancee. Packing a sandwich tomorrow.

4/28 -
331.8 A nice little drop in the first day of active tracking. I walked about 3 miles in 40 minutes yesterday, and I'll likely be doing the same today. I'm going to shoot for the pool, but I left my suit at home, so the only way I'll make it is if the fiancee can bring me my suit, goggles and towel.

4/29 -
331.2
Yesterday I ate a little more than planned, which is why the smaller drop, but an office party with food all day, and right outside my cube. I only caved on a little bit of puppy chow, but had the equivalent of a footlong subway sub throughout the day. I swam 300M and walked a couple miles.

I went from 240 (Oct 28th) to 208 (April 28th). 32 pounds in 6 months and the winter slowed me down. I think you can do it mate!

4/29 -
331.2
Yesterday I ate a little more than planned, which is why the smaller drop, but an office party with food all day, and right outside my cube. I only caved on a little bit of puppy chow, but had the equivalent of a footlong subway sub throughout the day. I swam 300M and walked a couple miles.

Even shooting for a rapid pace, you should not expect to lose weight every day. Your body's reserves fluctuate, your water levels fluctuate, and so on.

A smaller day-to-day drop than you expected is absolutely meaningless.

I think you should either count your weight as the average of the last seven days, or just start plotting it and look at the best fit line/curve once you get a few weeks in. You will probably have a better idea of what's going on.

Even shooting for a rapid pace, you should not expect to lose weight every day. Your body's reserves fluctuate, your water levels fluctuate, and so on.

A smaller day-to-day drop than you expected is absolutely meaningless.

I think you should either count your weight as the average of the last seven days, or just start plotting it and look at the best fit line/curve once you get a few weeks in. You will probably have a better idea of what's going on.


Oh, I understand completely what to expect. I just also know my first couple weeks of really sticking to walking and watching intake i drop like a brick. Fun to watch the scales move.

4/30 -
330.4

Another .8 off, and I didn't really do much last night, just a short walk. Just being cognizant of the foods we eat, even if we're still working on the portions makes a huge difference. It wont stop raining here. I'm in the pool today and walking, either indoors or out.

5/1 -
329.6

Another .8 off the total. It's even more clear to me now that I was stress eating, and that my metabolism is on fire from all the training the past few weeks. As soon as I stopped stress eating, the weight started dropping. I even had a small amount of ice cream last night. I didnt work out yesterday due to schedule, but Im back in the pool today. 8 days til the next triathlon.

I really need to get my wheels trued too.

5/1 -

I really need to get my wheels trued too.

Do it now! Us bigger riders do seem to stress wheels just a bit and you really don't want to let that get out of hand.

Do it now! Us bigger riders do seem to stress wheels just a bit and you really don't want to let that get out of hand.

I havent been on it the past couple days because of how bad it needs it. I can take it to the bike co-op tomorrow to do it. no tools at home.

5/1 -
329.6

Another .8 off the total. It's even more clear to me now that I was stress eating, and that my metabolism is on fire from all the training the past few weeks. As soon as I stopped stress eating, the weight started dropping. I even had a small amount of ice cream last night. I didnt work out yesterday due to schedule, but Im back in the pool today. 8 days til the next triathlon.

I really need to get my wheels trued too.

I know I'm not telling you anything you have not already heard but the simplest equation is Burning more than you are consuming and at the same time take into consideration what your BMR is and how much it burns in the day and that alone should make you not stress about eating to little or to much. The body needs fuel plain and simple to do the work that you are doing.

Just my .02 cents.

5/2 -
326.2!! I checked it twice!
400M swim yesterday, and not only did I stay inside my points, I really swam hard. drinking plenty of water and working hard. This is the typical drop I'm used to seeing in the first 2 weeks to a month jump because i was overeating enough that I prevented myself from this kind of loss.

5/3 -
325.8!
I didn't work out yesterday, mostly sat on my duff at the sports card show, but I did manage to eat mostly healthy all day. Plus I got my wheels trued so I can be ready to ride this afternoon, and ready for bike to work week starting tomorrow.

5/4 -
327.2
Lbs lost week 1: 5.8

I ate some food later in the day last night during a late night movie showing, so I gained a little bit. No big deal, as I got in plenty of time on the bike yesterday, and I'm sure it'll be gone tomorrow. I'll be walking today.

5/5 -
326.8
A small drop again, drank a lot of water yesterday.

5/6 -
326.6
Even little drops matter. I'm not pushing myself overly this week because I have a race saturday and it's more about just being in shape for race.

5/7-
326.8
I took it relatively easy yesterday, just 300 M in the pool, and had some nice stroganoff for dinner! :)

5/11 -
330.2

Not surprisingly, Im back up a bit. There's always that add on after a race for me. I drank a ton of water over the past few days, and the body is recovering. It'll be gone in no time, especially as I go back into training tomorrow for my next Tri.

5/12 -
327.4

As expected, big drop this morning. Pretty typical 3 day swing after race. Tomrorow should be back at weight from before race. Then it starts down further until the week before the next race in June.

Keep up the good work...

5/13 -
326.2

It's Wednesday, so I've now returned to basically my pre-race low. I'll be hitting the pool today, so it'll be continuing on the downward path! I'm registering for a triathlon with a much longer swim (750M) for the end of June, and that gives me 2 months to get ready.

5/12 -
327.4

As expected, big drop this morning. Pretty typical 3 day swing after race. Tomrorow should be back at weight from before race. Then it starts down further until the week before the next race in June.

Two races and he's an expert at how his body reacts afterward. Could it be TKGN has developed confidence? :)

Two races and he's an expert at how his body reacts afterward. Could it be TKGN has developed confidence? :)


LOL. Well that's two triathlons. I've been doing 5k, 10k, and 13.1's for almost 2 years, so yeah now that I'm where I am I definitiely have developed some confidence. I always cut back on "dieting" the 3 days before a race, to make sure I'm not going into the race low on calories, and the day of the race and day after i pump myself full of water for recovery. I usually have a pretty solid post race meal too.

Of course the trick to good recovery from all that water and food is raisin bran for breakfast every morning! :D

5/12 (cont.) -

So I was able to swim 750M in the pool today. It took me 40 minutes, though I might have been able to do it a little faster because i took it easy to start.

And then I came home and ate like I hadn't seen food before. 2 hot dogs with buns and cheese, a small amount of turkey, and a peanut butter sandwich on potato bread. It was probably a lot better than what I would have eaten if I waited until Damons tonight for the hockey game. It's more than I should have had by 5 or 6 points, but better than a plate full of wings. Now I just have to be careful not to eat much of anything at the restaurant.

The good news is that Im under on points by about 11 for the day, so if I eat a little bit later, it's all good!

5/14 -
recovery day. Not only am I sick, but im tired too. LOL.

I stay away from the scale on recovery days so i dont get a complex and wind up trying to work out when i need to be resting.

5/18 -
327.4

This is absolutely AWESOME! I was gone for 3 days with family, and we went to the casino, to the family picnic, etc, and I didn't gain. Further, after the salt wears off tomorrow, im guessing im down more. I'm getting back into my daily workouts today.