Tom Stormcrowe

Quick addition: I still, if I suddenly catch my reflection in a door or mirror unexpectedly, turn around to see who's behind me and then realize that it's me!

a2psyklnut

I hit the 300 mark around Christmas last year. Scared me a bit! By April, I was down to 275. I've been flutuating a bit around 285 these days, but plan to start riding more this Fall.

My short term goal is to be at 265 by Christmas and then mid term goal under 240 by Summer '07, and long term goal of 215 by Christmas '07.

My biggest weakness is drinking sodas (especially Mt. Dews).

I can give up sodas for a couple months at a time drinking nothing but water, but then I'll have one and I'm back to drinking up to 2 liters a day again!

Any advice on how to give up the one thing that keeps you heavy?

epix1718

yup, 2003 SAR-1.. just had 100 rounds go through it this weekend

Tom Stormcrowe

Doable! O don't see any problem with those goals!

Tom Stormcrowe

Mine is a 1955 with all original armory marks. The only mod is semiauto only bolt assembly.
Automat Kalashnikova-47

Air

Try diet soda? Allow yourself to have a few a week, but keep track and take something else away. I use fitday.com to see what some of this stuff actually costs me; usually is enough for me to put it down!

I accidentally broke myself of my soda habit when I got food poisoning (bad Mexican) after drinking Dr. Pepper - couldn't drink the stuff afterwards for a long time!

My addiction is food. All kinds. Sigh....

Great job y'll!

I hit about 280 in April which was almost an all time high. Started biking, I'm down to about 260 +-2 and can't seem to drop below (since July). Pants and shirts are looser but can't get past that hump. Would like to be down to 220 before the year's end but I'll have to push that back.

a2psyklnut

First off, I don't like Diet drinks, I've drank them in the past, but if I'm going to do a Diet soda, I'd rather just drink water.

Drinking water is difficult for many, but I drink a lot of H20, wether or not I'm on a diet.

Secondly, Diet sodas have so much sodium in them, I feel bloated after drinking them. I've read that drinking Diet sodas will actually make you retain water.

My problem isn't drinking water, it's NOT drinking mt. dews. The combination of sugar and caffein has me hooked.

Hambone

Diet Rite has no sodium.

Figure out how many calories in the bottle of soda. Figure out how far you have to ride at what speed to burn those calories and then before you have the soda -- earn it.

Also, if regluar soda is such an issue for you... don't have 2 liter bottles in your house. Keep one 12 oz can in the fridge. If you "have to" have a soda... it is there.

Hambone

I was at about 350 pounds with a 48" waist one year ago.

I did the Cabbage Soup Diet for 10 days then started Weight Watchers. In March I started training for my first century. I did that in May.

Now I am a comfy 42" waist and down to 260 pounds.

I've put about 2,000 miles on my road bike. Finished my second organized century and routinely ride long distances for fun.

garysol1 

Funny...LoL....Keep up the good work Hambone or are you done trying to lose weight? Sounds like you are pretty happy with where you are now......

Hambone

Thanks. I'm pleased with how far I have come but I have another fifty (or more) to go.

I'm 6'1" and all torso. (29" inseam) I'm the prototypical Teutonic farmer. So, 200 is about as low as I see myself getting.

rthomse

I'm motovated now! I lost 72.2 at weight watchers.Have 45 lbs to go.

scottmorrison99

Only before picture I have is a newspaper photo of me acting as a terrorist in a mass casualty drill with local law enforcement. Would be an interesting before picture, me being led away bloody and in handcuffs by several armed officers in biohazard gear. ANY after picture would be an improvement. I'll see if the paper will let me use it. Highest weight, 287, current, 221, going to a weekend retreat at Richard Simmon's studio with my wife next month, going on Richard's radio show with my wife this Sunday, and over 3000 miles ridden since Jan 1.

Air

Keep us updated!

FarHorizon

You're my HERO, Hambone! Wish I could do the same! I'm working toward my first century. I had hoped to do it this Fall, but a bicycle accident in June ( https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/201510-catastrophic-wheel-failure-why.html ) kept me from riding most of the Summer. I'm now shooting for ASAP - maybe in the Spring? I'll be doing the ride on my Specialized Rockhopper MTB with street slicks. Any diet or training suggestions you'd be willing to pass on? Thanks!

Hambone

I have to go get the kids. I'll post more tomorrow. In a nutshell:

I did the cabbage soup diet and learned how much less I needed to eat than I was eating.

Then my wife and I did Weight Watchers. It sound strite but if you both want to do it and you do it together it is almost easy.

Biggest thing: Unlike my father who did it at twenty one -- I waited until I was in my thirties to start having kids. Then I saw how much my dad loves being with them and how much they love being with him.

At 350+, I wasn't going to get that. It isn't much more complicated than that. Partially it is about being there for my kids. (Partially it is about being there for me.)

munkyv22

I am 6' 4". I started riding at 270 and now weigh 200.

I rode more and more as I built up my aerobic and LT and just stopped eating crap food.

Now I stand in front of the mirror and admire myself. LOL.

No pics, sorry.

Hambone

My before and now... After is still a while down the road.my old belt.jpg

<edit, I enlarged but it didn't "stick" That is my old belt with a knife stuck in the old hole and a knife in the new hole...>

Tom Stormcrowe

Good measure of progress, Hambone! Good job! Wait til you get to cut a couple of feet off the end! Talk about a good feeling!

Hambone

I bought a leather punch and every once in a while I pull it out and punch a new hole in some belts. I have little leather "Munchkins" in a jar. (I'm thinking of taking them to a taxidermist and having them made into a wallet. but if you rub it...")

I started at 48". If I hit 36", I'll be surprised (or sick.)

Tom Stormcrowe

I started at 74 and am 42" now!

Hambone

Dude, that is friggin incredible.

I'm trying to loose my sons. I have a 4yo and an 18 mo old. If I can loose each month what they gain... Or, said better- I want my total loss to be their combined weight. Of course, come Thanksgiving, they may need to start jogging.

Michigander

My story certainly isn't as incredible and cool as Tom's, but I figured I might as well post pics. They aren't very good, and unfortunatley I'm paranoid about my identity and so I blacked my face out, but you can see my transition from 220-170.

jhs494

I started last Oct. At 6' 2" 230 lbs. Walked for about the first six months then started cycling I was 190 lbs in July when I got my bike, I am 184 lbs average about 180 to 200 miles a week on my bike... I have never felt better.. Very low sodium diet try to keep my intake to 600mgs a day.

newsace

Same problem for me: Mtn. Dew, nectar of the gods. I've managed to go soda-free for as much as a month, but then have one and it's all downhill from there. Tried going with the diet drinks, but just can't stomach them, no matter the artificial sweetener they use or the amount of sodium. Actually do agree with later poster that Diet Rite is good alternative on the sodium end, but even though it's also the best tasting of the diet drinks IMHO, that still doesn't make it palatable. Plus, with the debate over the safety of artificial sweeteners, including Splenda, and the studies reported about people who switch to diet sodas actually gaining weight, I'll take my chances on high fructose corn syrup until I can get my a$$ in gear to cut them out entirely.

Starting from 255 now on my get-in-shape endeavor (after not succeeding a couple of years ago when starting from 220). But first, there's a 12 ounce can of green goodness and a couple of Halloween candies calling my name.

mike