Just Obese...Revisited

Saw a friend of mine over the weekend, who just two years ago was very obese. Last time I saw him was in February, he was still pretty fat to the point of his face being covered. Saw him Sunday, and his face had no fat on it, he's still got a little paunch, but he lost it ALL. So, this morning, instead of my usual three egg and meat sandwiches, I only got two, and with the cooler weather, will be walking around the building today.
 
SHS, what was your friends face covered with....fat? How did they lose all of that weight? I think cutting back on your intake and getting out for a walk is great. One of the reasons that Atkins works for me is that I don't have to cut back on the number of eggs or amount of meat, that's what you eat in Atkins. Of course I have to leave the bread out.

I've hit a plateau, I only lost one pound for the week, and for some reason I'm not in Ketosis. The plateau doesn't bother me, they're normal. But, not being in Ketosis has my attention. I don't know where the hidden carbs were to get me out of Ketosis. That's another thing I like about Atkins, being able to check when you are in or out of Ketosis, by testing your urine to see if you're burning fat. Two strict days and I should be back in Ketosis.
 
Alright Phil, day 1 of the Atkins crisis, my wife has decided to go on Atkins with me, (it's always nice to have someone to diet with :) ).

Breakfast was an onion, sausage and cheese omlette, as much as I love that stuff it does get old after a while.

Here's a good low carb recipe/support site click me for low carb diet recipes

Great thread, keep it goin'.
 
I don't see any reason why eating on Atkins has to get old, there are just too many variations of the foods that you can eat.

With that said, I find I eat less if I limit my choices of what I eat each day. Because if I eat the same breakfast and same lunch every day I just eat enough to be satisfied, rather than overeat. If I know I'm having tuna salad for lunch again today, the meal doesn't become that important. Once again, I'm trying to eat to live not live to eat.

T. I hope you and your wife have great success with Atkins. Remember if you're not exercising and taking a vitamin and minerals supplement you're not really following the Basics of Atkins. Get a hold of those Ketostix, they can really help keeping you on track.

Oh, and take Before Photos. If you ever forget why you're going through all of this, look at that photo. ;)
 
I lost some weight on Atkins, and it's what I eat anyway. Atkins is good, but it doesn't work for everyone.
 
Less food, more movement. I struggle with it myself. You don't see fat people in third world countries where they have to walk everywhere. We are the only nation with morbidly obese poor, because we can get away with such limited movement, and eat so much crap. It's a sad fact. What's worse, the majority of jobs these days don't require that much movement either. You got to move to lose, and you can't keep putting fuel in when you don't burn it.
 
I just lost 12 pounds and am pushing to lose 6 more. That should put me at the high end of the healthy range. Ideally, I'd like to get back down to the point I fluctuate between 180 and 185. I have been pushing 210 until just recently.

My motivator? Cash. A $300 bet with a co-worker got my ass outside and running, doing push-ups and sit-ups. And eating better than before. I started watching intake (especially fat) and cut out snacking altogether. Since losing the weight, I do feel more energetic and able to exercise even more. Weight gain and eating can be a vicious cycle really. Often you eat to make yourself feel better, but it doesn't work. So you eat some more. All the time, what would really make you really feel better (and able to exercise) is to lose some weight and regain your wind and cardio health. The place to start is small... baby steps.

I made my weight on the $300 bet (so did the co-worker), so now we have a new bet to lose 6 more by July 17.

Maybe a wager with someone else that needs to lose weight will help keep the discipline?
 
Congratz Guyon, I would say that $300 is in the bank.
Six pounds in a little over a month should be doable, you certainly have the incentive you need. I personally haven't lost six pounds in a month after the first month, which is when most people lose the most weight. However I normally lose anywhere between 3 to 5 pounds in sweat when I go out for a run. Of course as soon as you drink water the weight comes back, but for $300 I would allow myself to go thirsty for a bit. I'd also cut way down on my salt intake the week before.

There is no way I would lose that bet, if someone was dumb enough to bet me.
 
Just started (this morning) biking to work, only 5km, but I don't exactly live in a huge city ;)
Hooray. But at 260 pounds, I have a bit to go...
 
Is that 5km each way? If it is that's quite a good start, 10km a day would be 50km during the week, plus whatever you did on the weekend. 200km a month burning fat, plus what you save on gas, it sounds like a good thing.

Much success, let us know how it goes.
 
I'm in the same boat as many here, but to a slightly lesser extent. One of the biggest things I've found that helps is to NOT eleminate snacking, but instead, regulate what type of snacking you do. We (the family) used to be really bad, and would go for whatever could be found in the pantry that was sweet or generally unhealthy. We've managed to eleminate that problem by placing healthier food in more convenient locations. In the evenings, there's watermelon and orange slices in bowls on the counter, or apples and other fruits in the basket. If I'm hungry now, I just grab a slice or two and go on my way. Even if I do succumb to the temptation of pasta or something else, most of my appetite has been filled by healthy foods.
 
I have to admit that I miss fruit on Atkins, (not as much as I do pasta). You've raised a good point Peter. Keep plenty of the good stuff around so you won't be as tempted by the junk food. A piece of fruit 20 minutes or so before a meal and a big salad with a meal will help you cut back on the higher caloric foods.

If you must eat junk, at least find out what a reasonable portion is. For example if potato chips are your weakness grab the small individual portion bags rather than the Large Family Size. Unless you want to weigh as much as a family of four all by yourself. ;)
 
PhilL said:
Is that 5km each way? If it is that's quite a good start, 10km a day would be 50km during the week, plus whatever you did on the weekend. 200km a month burning fat, plus what you save on gas, it sounds like a good thing.

Much success, let us know how it goes.
Click to expand...

Yeah. 5 each way. Did 17km yesterday between to, from work and taking the dog to the dog park (he runs, I bike, it works well). Nice to live in a small (flat) town - Portland sucked because there were hills everywhere and you got tired really quick. That and call center work with free soda (or a bar next door with awesome chicken fingers) is an excellent way to gain weight.
 
I didn't lose any weight this week. I wasn't in Ketosis for most of the week, but I'm back now. On a positive note, I increased the distance on my route that I walk/jog from two miles to almost three. I've already been able to take five minutes off my best time.

I've been thinking of the wager Guyon has going (post #30 above). I was thinking if someone made me a similar bet, to lose six pounds in a month. Not only would I take the bet, I would ask what odds they would give me to lose that six pounds in a week. Considering I didn't lose a pound all week I know that losing six pounds would be a lead pipe cinch.
 
If you can't find a sucker make a bet with yourself. Put it in writing -- if you lose 6 pounds you'll buy yourself a nice stag-handled knife. No dehydrating, though! You're an honest man, aren't you? And we all know "You can't cheat an honest man" -- so you can't cheat yourself. :cool:
 
Aside from the excellent hydration trick to stop the false hunger pains created by dehydration, another good eating trick is to eat slower than you normally do and take smaller bites. You have less food to work with so it isn't like you are going to spend more time eating. The brain can take 15-30 minutes to register that a person "feels full". If you are eating 1/2 of what you are eating but eating it twice as fast as normal you will suffer more hunger pains than if you eat it slower and allow the brain to register.

Hope that helps someone.
 
Cougar Allen said:
No dehydrating, though! You're an honest man, aren't you? And we all know "You can't cheat an honest man" -- so you can't cheat yourself. :cool:
Click to expand...

I don't see anything particularly dishonest about using water weight loss to win a wager. Most prize fighters use that as a part of making weight for a fight. Even a Lightweigth can put on about ten pounds between Weight In and the first punch.

Of course I'm looking for long time weight loss, not trying to win a bet or make weight. My goal is lose the excess weight, and to reach a level of fitness where I can eat normally without worrying about putting the pounds back on. To reach a balance. I'm comfortable with staying on Atkins for as long as it takes, and I'm making progress with my exercise program.

How are the rest of you folks doing?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top