Update: 6th Week Edition

Week 6 Weight Loss Update:

Starting weight: 400.2 pounds on 11/16/2010

Current weight: 376 (as of 12/29/2010, 6 weeks into the diet)

Net Change (week): 0.4 pounds gained

Total Net change: 24.2 pounds lost

Goal: 300 pounds within 1 year (by 11/16/2011)

AAARGH! I gained weight?! Given I had Christmas dinner at Maw-Maw Davis' this past week, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I won't let this discourage me too much. I know I"m getting smaller, as I've had to drill a second extra notch into my belt to keep my pants up, and my size 14.5 wedding ring is starting to fall off my hand more often.

Almost 25 pounds down!

Week 5 Weight Loss Update:

Starting weight: 400.2 pounds on 11/16/2010

Current weight: 375.6 (as of 12/22/2010, 5 weeks into the diet)

Net Change (week): 3.8 pounds lost

Total Net change: 24.6 pounds lost

Goal: 300 pounds within 1 year (by 11/16/2011)

I'm almost a quarter of the way there. I've had to drill out holes on my belts so they can keep my now loose-fitting pants on me. I suppose that's a good problem to have though. Still on Pavel's Enter the Kettlebell program minimum of alternating days of kettlebell swings and turkish get-ups. Still on the 16 kg (35 lb) bell for swings, but only doing bodyweight TGUs right now, which is still a workout at 375.6 pounds. Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement.

I've got a fever, and the only prescription...

...is more kettlebell!

Here's where I stand as of week 4:

Starting weight: 400.2 pounds on 11/16/2010
Current weight: 379.4 (as of 12/14/2010, 4 weeks into the diet)
Net Change (week): 2.8 pounds lost
Total Net change: 20.8 pounds lost
Goal: 300 pounds within 1 year (by 11/16/2011)

This past week, I started adding real exercise, whereas up to now I was just trying to take stair at work, go for 15-25 min walks as worked allowed, etc. Because of the high intensity with minimal time investment, I've started kettlebell training. So, far, I'm going foor 10-15 min workouts with a mix of sumo deadlifts, clean & press, and two-handed swings, emphasizing the latter two.

Week 3 Diet Update

Here's where I stand as of week 2:

Starting weight: 400.2 pounds on 11/16/2010
Current weight: 382.0 (as of 12/07/2010, 3 weeks into the diet)
Net Change (week): 3 pounds lost
Total Net change: 18.2 pounds lost
Goal: 300 pounds within 1 year (by 11/16/2011)

I'm scared I'm hitting a plateau here, as my rate of weight loss is decreasing. Still, I'm still losing, and that's good.

Perspective

I love Ecclesiastes. Lately, I've been going back to the words of the Preacher therein to put things into perspective. Especially Ecclesiastes 2:18-25 (English Standard Version, or ESV):

"[18] I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, [19] and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. [20] So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, [21] because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. [22] What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? [23] For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

[24] There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, [25] for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?"

Week 2 Update

Here's where I stand as of week 2:

Starting weight: 400.2 pounds on 11/16/2010
Current weight: 385.0 (as of 11/30/2010, 2 weeks into the diet)
Net Change (week): 4.2 pounds lost
Total Net change: 15.2 pounds lost
Goal: 300 pounds within 1 year (by 11/16/2011)

Initially, I was discouraged, as my weight loss this week was less than half that of last week's. Then again, considering I had three Thanksgiving meals to eat last week, I guess I should be happy I'm still trending downward. Thanks again to everyone cheering me on.

11 down, 89 to go!

I'm making good progress thus far with my diet on loseit.com. Since starting last Tuesday, 1 week ago, I've lost 11 pounds! That's just over 10% progress toward my goal in just one week!

Starting weight: 400.2 pounds on 11/16/2010

Current weight: 389.2 (as of 11/23/2010, 1 week into the diet)

Net change: 11 pounds lost

Goal: 300 pounds within 1 year (by 11/16/2011)

I'm very encouraged by these results and can feel a difference already with the way some clothes fit and my energy level. Thanks to all my family and friends who've encouraged me to stick with it. And thanks to God, for sustaining me and giving me strength to do it.

Weight-ing for a Wake-up Call

After my follow-up with the sleep doctor, I realized I have to get serious about losing some weight. I was 400 pounds. I was so embarassed because that's just below the maximum their scale would read. So, I started yesterday, but posting here. I'm not fishing for compliments or anything, just wanted to share.

Ideally, I'd like to get to my football playing weight of around 300 pounds. So here's my plan of attack (yesterday was my first day):


1) Portion control -- this is a huge one for me. Since yesterday, I haven't had seconds at ANY meal. If anyone knows me, they'll know that's incredibly difficult.


2) No sodas.


3) 1 or 2 [MAX] glasses of sweet tea -- can't give it up cold turkey, I am a born and raised southerner after all.


4) No late night eating -- this will be difficult. Not so much on my days off, but on my workdays. My normal workday schedule is getting up around 5:45 am, arriving at work at 7 am, leaving work at 7 pm. With a 40-45 minute commute each way, by the time I get home, I have to cram food in and go to bed, especially if it's one of those days I get stuck late and/or don't get to leave my desk to get a bite.


So there it is. I hope and pray I stick to it. I hope I'm not being too ambitious. But if David Smith (aka the 600 lb Virgin on a TLC special) can lose 401 pounds in 26 months, 100 in 12 months should be in the realm of possibility. You can read his story here: http://www.staxsystem.com/davids_story.html


Starting weight: 400.2 pounds (as of 8 am this morning)
Target weight: 300 pounds
Goal date: November 16th, 2011