2nd Annual Egghead Weightloss Competition

Getting out lots with the new pup

He is oblivious to the snow

down to 196 this week

Shane

Mr Holloway said:

Getting out lots with the new pup

He is oblivious to the snow

down to 196 this week

Shane

I'm not competing in this competition but I would like to offer some encouragement to those who are. 

I began my diet on the morning of November 19th.  I had had enough.  I wanted to do something about losing weight starting right that moment. 

I dug out the South Beach Diet book and re-read it, paying particular attention to the "why" and "how" I got so overweight in the first place.  And just like the first time I read it, it all made sense.  I was eating the wrong foods, too much of it, and not exercising (probably because I felt so tired and was constantly nursing joint pain and just plain feeling miserable). 

So the day started off with less than half the breakfast calories I normally took in.  Surprisingly, I didn't die.  Then four hours later a very light lunch consisting of some turkey slices wrapped in a Romaine lettuce leaf with a teaspoon of very thin low-cal sauce.  And water.  Then armed with a list of what items to get for the next few days, a visit to the grocery.  I thought I would most certainly die when I smelled the foods cooking in the deli, or see displays of beautiful foods just asking for me to buy and eat them.  Well, I didn't die, nor did I purchase anything that wasn't on the list. 

Then we came home and cleaned out bags of all kinds of foods and took them to a neighbor.  Some items had not been opened, including steaks and breads and desserts and chips and chips and chips, and so on until our kitchen was completely bear of all the temptation foods we loved.  Now we were on our own with what we had on hand.

I had weighed myself that morning and came in at 311.8 pounds.  My blood pressure was okay at 118/52, probably due to blood pressure and cholesterol pills.  I began right then keeping a daily log of my weight and blood pressure.

Monday, January 27th, just two days ago, I visited my doctor for a routine check-up.  I had a copy of my daily log with me.  I weighed in 27 pounds less than my last visit.  My doctor was impressed with the loss but cautioned me about trying to lose weight too quickly.  He said too fast and it can damage my heart. 

He also told me that the 1,000 or less daily calorie intake was too little and that I should increase my calories to at least 1,500 per day (my 'maintenance calories' to maintain my 311 pounds was 2,700 based upon my age and inactive lifestyle).  Even at 1,500 I was cutting my calorie intake by almost half, so I was pleased to hear that I could eat a little more.

Then he took a look at my blood work numbers and they looked so good that he said he may completely discontinue my cholesterol and blood pressure meds if I continue to lose weight. Another ten pounds just might do it. 

So here I am, down almost 10% of my former weight and I feel better, my clothes fit better, I sleep better, and I didn't die from changing my lifestyle, especially the part about food.

I fully expect to reach the second leg of my goal (40 lbs) by my next visit.  The first leg was to lose 30 pounds and I can do that by this weekend. So I'm already looking forward to losing 10 more.

And not only am I alive, I'm REALLY alive and doing stuff I thought I could never do again.

Best wishes to all of you who are trying.  It's worth it.

Spring "Less Of Me Is A Good Thing" Chicken

Spring Texas USA