. . . and I’d like to not be fat anymore. I’ve gone from about 190 pounds to 250 in the two years since we moved to Ohio (and that’s after going from about 160 to 190 in the Tennessee years).
Now, I don’t expect (or even want) to go back to my high school/college weight of anywhere between 150 and 175. Looking at pictures of myself from those days, I wonder how I even survived being that skinny. I look darn near emaciated. (And honestly, short of some horrible disease ravaging my body, I don’t think I could get there even if I wanted to). I actually like being a bit bigger than I used to be. I just don’t like having a gut.
So, I suppose if I have a weight goal, it’ll be 200. Fifty pounds lost. In reality, though, my only goal is a flat stomach. I actually feel fine, but I hate the way I look in just about everything I wear.
Thing is, I have no idea how to get there. I’m convinced that running/jogging is from the Pit of Hell, so that’s out (or at least a last resort). I used to play tennis avidly, but haven’t played in years and have no one to play with here. As far as diet is concerned, that’ll be a little easier. Far fewer high-fat foods/sweets. More veggies. Less beer (maybe . . . three a week isn’t much at all).
Any success or failure stories are welcome.
12 comments ↓
I hear ya brother! I was 150 when I joined the Air Force. I’m now about 225 or so. When I look at pictures of me then I looked like a walking skeleton almost.
You don’t look fat, you look solid. As in, “I’m not going to get in a fight with Rae!” solid.
My wife and I are talking about South Beach. I’m not crazy about those glycemic manipulating diets but the “eat less and exercise more” thing doesn’t work as well at 40 as it did at 30 ifyouknowhatImean.
I keep my gut down by doing crunches. I do 40 every other day. I still have some flab but I don’t have that beer belly look. Also, I tend to put the pounds on in my chest, not my belly. I agree with you on running. I only run when being chased. By someone bigger than me. Who’s armed. And then I only run faster than the next slowest guy he’s after. You might consider some free weights. Getting your muscle mass up helps increase your metabolism. That helps you burn weight when you’re not even exercising.
Having said that means that I’ll have to dig those dumbells out now. Dang.
Go for it, Rae. I started out just north of 240 when I got out of college. (I’m 6’4″, so that’s not too awful overboard.) I got pretty disgusted last summer when the scale topped out just north of 270. So I made those two magic changes – diet and exercise.
On the diet part I’m only semi-successful. I still eat too much sweet stuff, but I’ve cut out pretty much all non-diet pop, most of my snacking, and definitely those afternoon McDonalds double-cheeseburgers on the way between work and church meetings.
On the exercise part I’ve been moderately more successful. Becky and I joined a gym which gives me the opportunity to use the equipment whenever. The cost of that membership ought to be enough to get me motivated to actually use it on a regular basis.
I was a slacker for the first part of the summer, but I’m starting to get back on track. At least, last week was a good week, and I’m gonna do my darndest to keep that streak going this week.
The end result? In just under a year I’ve seen the scale go from a max of 273 to last Saturday’s lowest-in-a-while 259. I’d like to break 250; hitting 240 is kind of a dream that I’m not sure I’ll attain. But I know that when I get my lazy butt off of the couch and start doing stuff I feel better, sleep better, and dang it, I might just look better, too.
Water is your friend. You should be drinking about 108 ounces daily. Yes, I said 108 ounces.
Where in TN did you live?
I’m at 200ish and I want to get back down to my normal 150ish. I’m going to the gym everymorning and trying to at least be more concious of what I am eating as well as trying to lay off the soda. NO ONE CAN TELL ME TO NOT DRINK BEER!
swim & tennis – that’s the ticket!! each twice-a-week, cut way back on bread and sweets and beer, and call me in the morning
You’re always welcome to join Mike, Chris and I at the “Judgement (sic) Free Zone” three days a week. Planet Fitness is very cheesy, but it’s only $10/month. And we don’t run on those days. I actually haven’t made it much since the baby, but I’m looking to get back this week.
Dangit Rae. Now you got me on a guilt trip. And to top it all off I read this post AFTER I got my new driver’s license and compared it to my old license picture and declared myself a lard ass.
I am 6′-4″ and am tipping the scale at about 260 right now. I want to get to 210. About 4 or 5 years ago I successfully went from 250 to about 215 in about 8 months but I did it the hard way. Only eating fruit, veggies, chicken and fish – no dairy, no bread, etc. Running 3 times a week and weights twice a week plus one night of hoops and one night of softball.
The reality is that I am not disciplined enough to keep that up. I like steaks and chocolate too much. I absolutely ABHOR running unless it is done during a sport. So I am hoping to maybe do something like that diet I did before except give myself one or two nights a week for steak and dessert. I think I may be able to handle that. As for exercise…..I just need to nut up and start going back to the gym again. That’s just one of those things I need to make myself do until it becomes a habit.
It sounds like we need to have our own little contest with among your readers. Several of us are looking at losing 30-50 pounds…..maybe a contest could help motivate us.
Dude, I am right there with you. When I married Alyssa I was hovering right about 210. Now I am at a stout 260, which on a 6’2″ guy does not horrible, but does not look great.
IT IS THE BEER!!!! The baptists are right, it is evil…… but such a tasty evil.
Have you tried running with an iPod? It definitely makes the experience a ton more bearable…
running with an iPod is just hell with a soundtrack! (lol)
South Beach is an awesome diet, and I had some great success with it when I was on it – but the recipes can get fairly pricey.
Weight is something I’ve battled with for a long time, and the only lasting success I’ve had in dropping off the pounds is focusing on changing my lifestyle into a more healthy one rather than focusing on losing the weight. I hate the running/walking thing too – so swimming and water aerobics are my choices of exercise. It makes exercising fun!
Leave a Comment