I'm now officially no longer "obese".

[Yollam]

After 2.5 months of strict calorie restriction and daily light exercise, I have gone from 275 (I'm 6'2") to 229 lbs. For the first time in probably 5 or 6 years, my BMI doens't place me in the "obese" category, but in the "overweight" category.

Okay, I realize that the BMI is arbitrary and not all that accurate, but since I don't have access to calipers or a body fat measuring tub, this will do. I'm not a bodybuilder, anyway.

Contrary to the anti-diet folks, I have not felt worn-down, and didn't have hunger pangs after the first 2 weeks or so. My symptoms of gastric reflux, gas, etc. disappeared almost immediately, and after I'd lost 20 pounds my feet stopped hurting in the morning. I don't feel run down, and I mostly eat what I like (but in strictly regulated portions) So I don't feel so deprived.

I completely gave up diet sodas, which I now firmly believe cause me to crave MORE sweets, and were causing me to gain weight. I've also cut out fried chips, fries, cookies, cakes, etc. I may allow a little of that stuff in limited amounts at some point, but for now I have my sights on my goal weight of 170 lbs.

I realize that in order to maintain that weight, I will have to continue controlling what I eat for a lifetime, but I think it will be worth it.

I eat a balanced 1500 calories a day, plus unlimited amounts of carrots, broccoli, etc. lo-cal veggies as snacks anytime. I also take a 30 minute walk every day, do a few push-ups and sit-ups. That's pretty much it. Very simple.

If I kept eating whatever I liked, and just added the exercise, I would not have lost much if any weight. Think about it- you only burn 300 calories in a half-hour jog. How much easier is it to eliminate 300 calories from the already overladen diet of the average American? Delete a Coke and a small bag of chips and you're there.

Diets do work. But only if you stick to them.

[mdmc]

1. awesome!

when I dieted, I was hungry all the time. I used to think "this feeling (being hungry) will help me get chick in the long run.

I need to lose 20 pounds (I am 200lbs, should be 180 ideally, 210 was my heaviest).

[Yollam]

14. I'm generally not hungry. That's one of my problems.

I did have hunger pangs the first few weeks, adjusting from such a rich, calorie-laden diet to the present one, but the cravings are pretty much gone now. I also am very bad at sensing when I'm full, until I'm stuffed and it's too late. That's why calorie counting is good for me. I don't have a good natural sense of how much to eat.

But I do WANT to eat things, but these are more emotional issues, compulsions, wanting to seek comfort in familiar treats, etc. I get that fairly often, but every time I cheat I have to pay the wife $5, so my cheapness has won out over my gluttony. :) But no, real actual hunger has not been a problem. I can always fill up on carrots between meals if I get hungry, and I need a lot less of them than I did during the first couple of weeks. But I do like to eat a few carrots a day anyway, as I think the bulk helps keep me regular - I always start the morning with Raisin Bran or oatmeal. I think with these lower-calorie intake regimens, it's really important to get in enough fiber.

[emmajane67]

2. WOOHOO!!! Congratulations!

That's a fantastic milestone.

Pat yourself on the back.

Well done!

:bounce: :party:

[LaraMN]

3. I hear ya!

Good job Yollam! It takes a ton of committment to do that.

After I stopped nursing my last baby, I went down to a 1200 calorie/day diet, and lost about 55 pounds, in a few months. I exercised alot too, but as you mentioned, it was less about burning calories than about gaining tone and keeping my metabolism up.

Stringent tactics or not, I felt better then than I do now. I can't wait until winter is over so I can hit the pavement again.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Congratulations!

That's wonderful news. You are taking good care of yourself. It is well worthwhile.

The fewer sweets you eat, the less you'll crave them. We only keep cookies in the house as a dessert/homework reward for our son, and I don't feel an overwhelming need to grab one.

I'm also less enamored of eating out. High prices, huge portions, trans fats, too much sugar. Ecccch. I'd rather fix a simple meal at home and enjoy it with family.

[RubyDuby in GA]

5. Great job! I agree with you about alot of this

Way back when....I lost nearly 80lbs by regulating what I ate, cutting out soft drinks all together and walking nearly an hour a day. I wouldn't eat after 5pm. I felt better than I ever had in my whole life.

It only takes a couple of weeks to get your body used to your new cycle and after that the pounds really do start to melt off.

Diet and exercise. The only true way to take any weight off.

Again, great job! :thumbsup: :bounce:

[BikeWriter]

6. Congratulations, Yollam! That is awesome of you!

:)

[flvegan]

7. Congratulations! My BMI says that I'm obese

but that just means I'm where I need to be.

46 lbs in under 3 months is pretty incredible, considering that it's 20% of your total weight. Stay watchful, keep your success and don't rebound.

[Yollam]

19. Thanks. I never intended this to be a crash diet.

I guess I just really ate a lot before, because I eat a pretty balanced diet, I never skip a meal, and with all the veggie snacks I eat, it's probably closer to 1700 cals. I'm never stuffed and satiated and high on food like I used to get, but I'm almost never hungry, either. I honestly did not expect that the weight would come off this fast. I thought that I would lose like 20 lbs, then hit a plateau where it would slow down a lot. I guess the walking helps.

But yeah, rebounding is a big fear, and I know I'll have to be vigilant for that for the rest of my life. But I'd rather monitor my weight for life than go back to all the discomforts of being too heavy.

[auntAgonist]

8. very well done Yollam

I'm glad dieting has worked for you. For so many people it's a lifetime of struggle. Best wishes for continued good health and sensible eating :)

have you checked out the weight loss/maintenance group here on DU? There are so many good people there who will encourage you, laugh with you and yes, even cry with you on days you might need it!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=337

Congrats on a job well done!!!

:applause:

aA

[tjwmason]

9. Congratulations.

A wonderful testimony, and hopeful an inspiration to others.

:yourock:

[AlCzervik]

10. Excellent! I bet you feel like a new person

and you're right, it does work.

[BigMcLargehuge]

11. You've inspired me to duplicate your routine

and see how I do :)

I'll post my results in 90 days.

[mdmc]

12. k/r

for the inspiration!

[auntAgonist]

18. You could

join the weightloss/maintenance group !!!

we're always there to support and applaud your successes. Encouragement goes a LONG way :)

[xmas74]

21. I've received 1000x more encouragement from

our boards than I have anywhere else.
It's a great group.

[Yollam]

23. I guess now that I've got a star, I will!

Thanks.

[Yollam]

22. Good luck.

I think I'm kinda lucky being a man and over 6'2" - 1500 calories would not be nearly as effective a diet for a petite woman. Please feel free to adjust to your individual needs. Everybody has different problem areas, and different things that will work for them.

But the one thing that really encouraged me was finding that I had more energy and felt great - I was very fearful of dieting, as I thought I would have anxiety attacks and be worn down, but it's not been the case. From everything I've read, skipping meals and starvation diets are not a good way to go.

I hope whatever you end up doing works great for you!

[Radical Activist]

13. Interesting comment about diet soda.

I become more convinced all the time that soda in general is one of the biggest health threats to the public today.

Congrats!

[Wapsie B]

15. Way to go!!

:yourock:

That's very inspirational to those of us struggling with this.

[DS1]

16. wow, it took me 6 months of riding a bike every day to lose

that much

what was the number of calories?

[AlCzervik]

20. it took me 7 months of using the treadmill everyday for an hour

and being on the South Beach to lose that amount as well.

[Yollam]

25. South Beach is better than Atkins...

...but I've been leery of the low-carb diets. If anything, I think we Americans take in more protein (esp. animal) than we need already. Sometimes I wonder if the low-carb craze wasn't secretly financed by the meat industry.

Anyway, my routine has been a pretty balanced mix of veggies, carbs and proteins, leaning a bit more on the veggies.

Anyway, I was pretty heavy and had been eating a lot - to my heart's content, in fact, nachos, burgers, you name it. I got a lot of bad habits in my teen years.

Congrats on your progress too, moreso since you had to work more for it.

[AlCzervik]

26. it sounds like what you're doing is very close to South Beach

i eat plenty of carbs, just the unprocessed ones and lots of lean protein. When i started SB i thought it would never work, my life has been about bad carbs and all of a sudden i'm weaning myself off of them--good god. the first 3 days i had a wicked migraine and i though i'd have to stop but on day 4 i woke up and the headache along with the cravings were gone, i was amazed to say the least. I find now i have things when i want them but in moderation and i don't want them very much. Good luck to you, be proud cuz it ain't easy.

[Yollam]

27. I didn't know that.

My impression of SB was that it was a less stringent version of Atkins. That's good to know. I certainly would never argue with reducing intake of bad carbs like bleached flour, High Fructose Corn Syrup, etc. I've not been a zealot about those things, esp. since I'm on a very tight budget and sometimes I have to make do with cheap foods, but I do avoid them when I can.

[Yollam]

24. 1500/day plus unlimited veggie snacks

It may not be for everyone. And it may not work as well for everyone. I'm very tall, so it has worked surprisingly fast for me. For a woman of 5'2", the results might be less spectacular.

Whatever works for you so that you feel good is great! I'm personally sold on calorie restriction because of the research showing its role in increasing longevity. I want to be around for my grandkids' weddings!

[cassandra uprising]

17. That's fantastic

You must be feeling really great about yourself. Keep up the great work and commitment!

[realisticphish]

28. hey, congrats

i've been gradually weening myself entirely off of all beverages except milk and water. The food thing will be harder (especially when i'm eating college food) but i really REALLY want to lose weight. Right now, my goal is 280 (i'm 300 right now) and i'll go from there

[Yollam]

29. Good luck.

Are you giving up coffee and tea? Tea is very good for you if you don't dump sugar in it... I drink more unsweetened tea than anything else.

But really, good luck - a lot of us put on that freshman 10 (or 20). In my case, I gained it after quitting smoking in my early 20s. Not all of a sudden, but very gradually, about 7-8 lbs a year.

[realisticphish]

30. i don't drink coffee

and don't really like tea, though there are some types i do like. I put on quite a bit of weight fresman year, but then have maintained that past two. i'm obviously balenced right now, so if i change some stuff, things should start happening

[northzax]

33. what about beer?

is it possible to live without beer?

[realisticphish]

36. lebatt blue LIGHT

that light is the key... :D

[Yollam]

37. I gave up my Friday night beers...

:cry:


When I'm at my goal weight, I'll allow myself a little from time to time.

I was never a heavy drinker, but it was something I looked forward to every week. Asahi, usually.

[realisticphish]

40. see

that's one thing i CAN'T give up. I'll just have less real food :D

and, like i said, at least it's light beer, and not guinness or something

[schmuls]

31. Wow! That is really an accomplishment. Way to go!

[Taverner]

32. Congrats!

Sounds like you're not following a diet but changing your lifestyle!!!

Kudos to you!

[ThomCat]

34. Mozel Tov.

:applause:

That is friggin Awesome. Good choices, and good results. Good for you!

[otohara]

35. Giving Up Soda's - Best Thing You Could Do

they are poison, toxic - empty calories, deplete calcium and other important minerals. Does a body NO GOOD.

Excellent news - keep up the good work.

[graywarrior]

38. You are a total inspiration.

I dig it when people show respect for themselves. Congratulations.

[applegrove]

39. Keep building up the muscle. Keep lifting weights. And drink Green

Tea. That will keep metabolism high.

Way to go.