losing weight

[KS71owner]

One positive thing about a down economy, it gives one good motivation to cut expenses on food. Since April I've dropped about 25 lbs. Things are going so well I'm going to see how far I can take this. At this rate, I could be below 200 by Halloween if I stick with it. I haven't been below 200 since my freshman year in college.

[nvrbdn]

a positive direction  good luck man

[bull]

It's crazy how that works. Less food = fewer calories = weight loss. Seems so simple and yet Americans just keep getting fatter.

[Ponch ®]

Ive dropped 50 lbs in 2 years. No diets. Just lots of running and weight lifting. I'd rather take it slow and enjoy the good things in life (In N Out burgers and Carne Asada burritos) than do it quickly eating rabbit food and being miserable.

Train Like A Horse
Eat Like a Pig
Sleep like a Baby.

[KS71owner]

I've found dieting works best for me, I tried the gym/weights/cardio route and it didn't get me the results I wanted (plus I hate working out). Simple calorie reduction and moderate exercise has given me the best results I've had in years.

[bull]

Ive dropped 50 lbs in 2 years. No diets. Just lots of running and weight lifting. I'd rather take it slow and enjoy the good things in life (In N Out burgers and Carne Asada burritos) than do it quickly eating rabbit food and being miserable.

Train Like A Horse
Eat Like a Pig
Sleep like a Baby.

We've always been able to eat what we want. We're just not supposed to be eating as much as we want.

[jb666]

It's funny.. When I was involved with competitive powerlifting, I was eating myself out of house and home. I could have restored a car with what I was spending on food each month.  When I decided to quit, I never looked back...  I'm 90 lbs less then I was "back then" and couldn't be happier.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I've lost 22 lbs in the last 3.5 weeks...       just cutting back what i eat, and eating healthier stuff -  lots of spinach, greens, and fruit...    I'm staying away from lactose and gluten...     I started jogging 3 miles every other night and hitting the gym for an hour the other nights....      I'm currently down 22lbs and up 60lbs on the bench...    also up 15lbs on dumbell curls - just feeling great-     still have a long way to go -  about another 45lbs

[Mike DC]

 

High Fructose Corn Syrup = bad.   

American soda in all forms, including the "diet" versions = fatness. 

[67tbird]

My sister is high fructose intolerant--try finding something without that in it these days.

[Kern Dog]

In late October 2005 I'd had enough and decided to get in good shape. I was turning 40 in November and decided that it was time. I was at 205 lbs and planned to be at 175 by Valentines Day. I went to the gym 5-6 days per week and cut down (NOT out) on the fast food and my crutch, Mountain Dew. I dumped weight fast with hours upon hours of time on the treadmill. By New years day I was halfway there. I shifted from an ALL treadmill regimen to half treadmill and half weight training. I made my goal weight on February 12th. For the first time in 15 years, I had the abdominals worth showing off.
Now here I am in 2011, back in the 195 range. I'm 45 now but my knees are still good. My back is fine. I'd really like to be where I was in Feb 2006, but I can't seem to muster up the motivation to get started. I know the old saying.." A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Even with that incredibly poignant wisdom at hand, I still can't bring myself to begin.

[ITSA426]

67tbird I understand Traders Joe's grocery stores do not have anything with high fructose corn syrup.  If there is one of those near your sister she might try that. 

My bride has a gluten sensitivity.  Try to avoid wheat products.  It's in almost everything.

[derailed]

Drinking nothing but water and lots of it combined with 45 minutes a day on the elliptical machine for the last 14 months knocked 45 pounds off the scale for me which brought me down below 200 for the first time in 20 years. Could probably do better if I changed my eating habits a bit but I just cant seem to give up my ice cream. By doing it this way you don't have to worry about the weight coming back on 2 fold after you start to slip off your diet.

[Ponch ®]

Drinking nothing but water and lots of it combined with 45 minutes a day on the elliptical machine for the last 14 months knocked 45 pounds off the scale for me which brought me down below 200 for the first time in 20 years. Could probably do better if I changed my eating habits a bit but I just cant seem to give up my ice cream. By doing it this way you don't have to worry about the weight coming back on 2 fold after you start to slip off your diet.

Yeah, that's why I don't "diet". I just keep eating most of the same stuff I did before, just less of it and less often. For example, I cut out fast food during weeknights (I still break down and hit up Taco Bell for lunch some times) - in the past, I used to get home from work, the wife and I would sit around plotting whether to go to Carls Jr, the Bell, or order a pizza for dinner. Not anymore. I also did away w/ little things that I can live without, like ordering a burger w/out mayo and cheese. I dont really drink soda or fruit juices anymore, and when I do, I make sure it's diet or sugar free.

Everyone has a different approach to losing weight / getting in shape, and what works for some doesn't for others. For me, I run 4-5 miles at least 3 times a week and I go to the gym 3 times a week. I lose maybe half a pound or pound a week, but you know what they say - slow and steady wins the race.

Let me run this idea by you guys: over at LXForums, we had a "90 Day Fitness Challenge" thread. It wasnt a competition, since everyone had different goals and approaches, but it was more of a support group/cheering for each other type of deal. We all started out sharing where we were, what our goals were, and constantly posted updates on our progress. There was a point system where everyone started out w/ 100 points, and you deducted one point every time you deviated from YOUR plan (ie. missed a plan workout or ate a "cheater" meal). Its all on the honor system, since you'd just be cheating yourself anyway.

I liked it because people shared tips on working out, eating, etc that I never thought of before and I learned a lot. By the time it was said and done, I lost 13 pounds and my 5 mile time dropped by almost 15 minutes (went from averaging 13 minutes/mile to just over 10). Is this something you all would be interested in doing here? Again, not a competition.  

[nvrbdn]

sounds like a doable thing. no pressure or contest. report the good and get support and tips to help. good idea ponch

[Ponch ®]

sounds like a doable thing. no pressure or contest. report the good and get support and tips to help. good idea ponch

cool. lets see if we get enough interest, and Ill start a thread w/ all the details and "rules" over the weekend. 

[derailed]

Sounds good to me. Also some suggestions on how to break the good old plateau that we all hit. Ive been trying 10 minutes forward on the machine then 20 backwards and 12 more forward. I try to burn about 750 calories a workout and an average of about 17.5 calories/minute on the machine.

[John_Kunkel]

I lost 60 pounds in 6 months by following the old axiom..."If it tastes yummy, spit it out". Chicken, pasta, veggies...yuk.

[stripedelete]

I've been doing Weight Watchers for a month.  Lost 10 lbs. w/ no exercise.  I'll take it!  I don't feel hungry or deprived.  It's no secret formular -just portion control.   

I'm not getting ready for the victory lap, I still have a long road.  Good luck to the rest of you.

[xpbprox]

I cut out fast food completely for the rest of my life, once I actually found out what was in it and how it's processed and handled it just disgusted me! Cut out soda! For life too. Don't eat red meat as often but I still do, mostly chicken and fish twice a week. Work out for about 1 hr and a half a day, going to increas it it to 1 hr twice a day. Then cardio I'm gonna start doing HiiT instead of just running 4+ miles a day. When college starts back up I'll be doing pack runs to my classes from my house, 3 miles each way. I'm doing all this in order to prepare for officers candidate school for the marine corps. Last month I was 196 and I took a little break over the 4th and now I'm at 199, still good considering in high school about a year And a half ago when I was playing football I was a solid 225 hitter.

Good luck to rest of you guys out there! Ain't no motivation like self motivation and pre-workouts haha

[Rolling_Thunder]

X ---  have fun at OCS...      talk about an ass kicking...    buddy of mine just got out and he was in top shape to begin with...    OCS tore his ass up...      Its doable for those who want nothing more than to be a Marine officer.      I plan on going into an OCS program next year myself - not 100% sure which branch yet...    I have multiple existing injuries - I am training to go to USMC OCS myself - if I fall short there's always the Army / Air Force....    (I hate whites)       

Just be warned - pack runs are the quickest way to get hurt out there...     be careful with that. 

[Orange_Crush]

sounds like a doable thing. no pressure or contest. report the good and get support and tips to help. good idea ponch

cool. lets see if we get enough interest, and Ill start a thread w/ all the details and "rules" over the weekend. 

Germ, why don't you post before and after pics of yourself....same with all you other "losers"  give the rest of us a little inspiration.

[xpbprox]

X ---  have fun at OCS...      talk about an ass kicking...    buddy of mine just got out and he was in top shape to begin with...    OCS tore his ass up...      Its doable for those who want nothing more than to be a Marine officer.      I plan on going into an OCS program next year myself - not 100% sure which branch yet...    I have multiple existing injuries - I am training to go to USMC OCS myself - if I fall short there's always the Army / Air Force....    (I hate whites)       

Just be warned - pack runs are the quickest way to get hurt out there...     be careful with that. 

Haha yea thank 
My pack run isnt really a pack run per se, its just my books and maybe my laptop occasionally, shouldn't be more than 20lbs-30lbs depending if I fill the camel back with water or not.
Just weighed myself and im already down 1lb haha

[Rolling_Thunder]

Rgr tht.     I keep about 50lbs in my pack and go walking on the beach ---  sounds easy until you do it for about a mile...   

I am down 23lbs since I started my diet and exercise routine 3 weeks ago...    up 60lbs on the bench and did 2 pull ups today (sounds easy but when you weigh 268lbs its not THAT easy)   haha   

[xpbprox]

Thats good, better than most people. Keep going!!!!