Big guys unite!

[ProdigyCustoms]

Had a rough week at SEMA. Every night someone wanted to go to dinner or drinking, or both! LOTS of drinks, few really bad (fantastic) meals. I mean come on, you cannot go to Del Frisco's and not eat the bread (whole loaf, lol), a huge steak and the Chateau mash potatoes! Had some late night 4AM breakfast to avoid a wicked hang overs. Got forced into sausage and egg biscuits a couple mornings. It is ritual to go straight to In and Out burger soon as we arrive.

But still tried to eat good (buffet) as often as I could and used the Fitness Center (awesome) at the hotel every other day. Walked miles and miles at the show, on my feet all day countered most of the bad food I think. Picked up a 3 LBS in all, a cheap price to pay for a great week, back on the diet now. Lets see what happens.



I must admit it was cool having so many people ask about the weight drop.

[MuscleRodz]

I don't consider myself heavy, but have been gaining weight this last year and now pushing 200, highest I have ever been. Got a scare a about a month ago when I notice a skipping beat and abnormal pains. Went to doctor, sadi everything was OK, probably stress and other bad habits I need to change, so I will be working on eating better and exercising next year to be in better shape when I am 40 than when I was 30.



Frank, you did look much better than when I had seen you at SEMA last year. I guess you can blame Tracy, Mark and I for one of those 4 am nights, it was definitely worth going without sleep. I got 9 hours sleep in 64 hours between Wednesday and Friday when I got home, and can't wait till next year!

[ProdigyCustoms]

Frank, you did look much better than when I had seen you at SEMA last year. I guess you can blame Tracy, Mark and I for one of those 4 am nights, it was definitely worth going without sleep. I got 9 hours sleep in 64 hours between Wednesday and Friday when I got home, and can't wait till next year!

Good friends, good stories, good times. One of my favorite nights.

I figure we all got a great ab workout from laughing so hard!

See ya next year.

[ill steez]

This is a great thread! I love seeing people making a positive change in their lives.

If I can make a suggestion for you guys;

http://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Solution.../dp/0982565844

Buy and read that book. It may seem a little extreme, but I promise the results are worth it.

I personally have eaten strict paleo for the past year and a half and feel better than I ever have before.

[rfalker1]

Suggestion as a pro athlete who loves candy, Moderation and Moderation, even I have packed on pounds during the middle of the season, so I wish each and everyone the best of luck, remember if you don't have it you can't eat, but indulging from time to time is always a must!!!!

[tylers88]

I stopped eating as much and drinking so much pop, plus got myself back on the bike(ching ching not vroom vroom) and in a about 17-18 months I dropped from 265ish to 200-205ish, going to start hitting the gym again soon

[Stg1Regal]

Glad to see you guys out there trying.... I mean "DO" by losing weight.
I just turned 45 this past week, and known for a while that I am overweight.

5'11" at 315 lbs!!!
Dang.... feels weird sharing that.

Now the fun part ... my daughter & her boyfriend live with us ( background note: they blessed us with a beautiful grand daughter:& they are trying to complete their Nursing school training), but the boyfriend is into fitness..BIGTIME and the daughter has taken to it also and worked off the baby fat.
They are on me all the time for my health... there actually to sections of food in the house thier good food and ours. believe it or not I dont eat all that much in bad foods, it's just the amount.

I do wanna loose weight and I have tried, its just harder too ( they try to get me going) got no damn energy.. did the WI fitness a few times, wore my butt out.

The main thing is they do try to get me going, but they do it at their pace, I cant do that, gotta work up to it ..so it gets me down I cant keep up with them.

They do ride my butt kinda hard couple 3 times a day.

So Im planning on just getting out and walking cause its starting to get into spring,then go from there, I am going to put a TV in my basement, with a GAZELE glider fitness piece and plug in the WI.

I don't drink or smoke, I drink tea, not pop or soda. and my wife cooks some damn good meals, so I guess that where my weight comes from, just comfortable and adjusted.

There is a pic posted here on the Pro-Touring website of last years RTTH, at the drags on Sunday, I was standing behind the wall in the pic my gut wasnt.

Gotta fix it...... or DO fix it, I used be known as Gilligan's (my brothers nickname) little brother in H.S., now I look like Skipper.

Open to suggestions......

[6'9"Witha69]

1. Start slow. Too many people try to keep up with those of elevated abilities and it does get disaapointing. It is also hard, depending on what you do, to maybe see the needle not move. Don't judge results just by weight, but by size measurements as well. I ca take a 5% body fat cut and only drop 1 pound. It all about about muscle vs.fat. Total weight can often be deceiving.
2. Portion control. It's not just how much you eat, but when. Breakfast should be your largest meal of the day and work down from there. I also use the grazing technique. I eat little bits all day long, every 1.5-2 hours. It helps promote good consistent metabolism.
3. Muscle burns fat. Everybody who wants to drop weights just does cardio. But Muscle burns fat all day long and even whiole you sleep. Building up muscle through trying various exercises like weight training, heavy effort running like sprints, etc will all help build muscle, helping burn fat. This also attributes back to #1.
4. Variety. Change it up. Your body will soon adapt to this new fitness trend and it will no longer be as effective as when you started. Change up your workout regularly (every 2-3 months). It also helps ensure you don't bored. Also, don't do the same reoutine every time you go to the gym. The big guys, they don't exercise the same muscle group but every 3rd ot 4th time they hit the gym, maybe more. Muscles need time to heal, so amke a workout plan that allows for variety day to day, then change that plan every few months.

It sounds like your daughter loves you and wants you to be around for a while. Heck, you're a grandpa. Give them all the time you can.

And don't worry about meeting their goals, just set and meet your own.

[DarkBuddha]

I've been failing miserably lately... too many personal issues dragging me down. It has been an epic couple of years, and I've let it take over me plain and simple. I get going and then fall off the wagon. I was down nearly 70 lbs this past year and then have rebounded 40+ now. Not good. I don't have many outlets for stress relief and I find myself turning to food over and over. Combined with bad habits, eating when I'm actually thirsty, not getting exercise, sitting in a car driving 3 hours a day, family responsibilities and emotional demands, etc., it's all going to kill me. And worse, it's making it difficult to be physically active with my kids and it's stopping me from enjoying the few things I really do like and look to for stress relief. All of my good intentions have paved a road straight down and I'm feeling the heat under my feet the lower I go. Gotta get it turned around... NOW!

[DarkBuddha]

Got up at 5:15am and went to YouFit. I've been a member for over a month and this was the first time I've gone, but it's a start.

[Thumpin'66]

Hey guys,
I haven't posted in a while so here is a big update on my get healthy decision. I tried some of my usual "eat right and get some excecise" strategy and wasn't doing well as far as staying on track or results. My friend Charles lost 54 pounds in the last 6 months and just got engaged to a beutiful lady from Peru and co-incidently has received promotion offers at work. He did it by utilizing the Take Shape For Life program. I researched it and decided that a structured program would really help me change my habits. I knew that if there was a "plan" and proven results I could do it. The price scared me at first -about $300/mo for food but I really wanted to get off the blood pressure pills and lower my weight significantly from the 300 pound mark I was at. I started the 5 n 1 meal plan on Feb 21st 2011 and here are my results so far:
Begin 2-22-2011 300 pounds
Date: Weight Difference
2/28/2011 291 -9
3/7/2011 282 -9
3/14/2011 274 -8

So, as of last Monday I had lost 26 pounds in only three weeks! I feel so much better and am so confident that this program will work long term for me that I have gone through some training and am becoming a health coach for the program. The beauty of this program is that only the first week was difficult as I sat in front of the tv at night and craved my bag of chips or bowl of ice cream. By week two the cravings were nill. As long as I remember to eat one of my five medifast meals every 2-3 hours I do not get hungry. I have one "lean and green" meal a day and sometimes make it at lunch, sometimes dinner. If I go out to lunch with someone I order a chicken salad or something similar and drink un-sweetened iced tea or diet cherry coke zero and lots of water (64oz/day recommended). It is really easy and after I reach my target weight there is a set plan to gradually re-introduce fruits, dairy, pastas, etc. and move off the medifast meals. I also have my buddy Charles as my assigned health coach and am now helping others as their health coach wich motivates me even more. All of the excuses I had for not doing this before I now realize were un-justified. I wish I would have done this earlier but am really glad I am on the right track now. My goal is to get down to about 215-220 and I am certain I will and that makes me feel soooo goood! If you decide that you want to commit to something that works please don't hesitate to email me for more specific info. I spent a lot on light-weight parts trying to lighten the front end of my drag car to launch better. I can't wait to see what it will be like when I have taken 80 pounds directly out of the driver's seat!

I will weigh in again tomorrow and see how I am doing. I felt more of a change in muscle mass this week than weight loss and will do 30 minutes of cardio excercise this coming week instead of the 15 I have been doing to help me keep the train going. The cool thing is that all of my medifast meals give me all the vitamins, minerals and proteins I need to be healthy with none of the bad stuff and keep me in a fat burning state. Did I mention that I am extremely stoked about this program?? Anyhow, I hope to hear more stories from everyone and wish you all success on reaching your goals no matter how you get there. Please don't take my post as shameless advertising for the program I am on because it is not. If you look at my earlier post in this thread you can see how my feelings were and still are about my wieght. I am just glad I can really do something to help myself and others about it now. Next month I will see my doctor and get a full blood workup to see if my cholesterol and blood pressure are improving as I expect they are.

Russ Wolden

[Motown 454]

Hi Guy's I'm a food aholic. and thats the truth. I used to work construction as a laborer. The last 4-5 years I worked I had really bad ostio arthritis in my back and hip. The hip is replaced now. I worked all day and drove to and from work for an hour by the end I was almost 300 lbs. Then I couldn't work any more because of the hip pain and had to retire which only made it worst. I'm an emotional eater if I get pissed I take a fit then clam up and go eat something. also when I'm bored and almost everything else too. About 6-7 weeks ago I got in my truck and it was tight behind the wheel and my legs are to short to push it back any further. lol I checked and I was 316 lb fully clothed (and you guys are the only ones I've told). I was shocked. I started eating the package dinners Smart Ones . They're actually good, and they fill me up. I find that I am eating less then 1800 calories a day and not hungry. So far I've lost 26 lbs and still going. The weather up here has been pretty crappy so I didn't walk until this week I'm walking 2-1/2 mile in 40-45 minutes 4 times a week. I'll up that later. It was tuff and I had to push my self not to eat extra in the beginning but now it easy and seeing the weight loss is getting me cranked up. Plus I want to be able to fit in the Camaro! They are really cheap to buy they come on sale just about every week and they are 2 for $5. I used to eat more than that in 1/3 of one of my old meals.

Wayne

[DarkBuddha]

He did it by utilizing the Take Shape For Life program. I researched it and decided that a structured program would really help me change my habits. I knew that if there was a "plan" and proven results I could do it. The price scared me at first -about $300/mo for food but I really wanted to get off the blood pressure pills and lower my weight significantly from the 300 pound mark I was at.

That's how I dropped nearly 50 lbs. in 4-5 months last year, and it was going great until I stalled hard. And now, over the last 5-6 months I've actually gained quite a bit back (~30 lbs). The trick is that the moment I deviated or slipped, it was a quick slide back. The first 2 weeks were miserable for me because of the constant hunger pains (and I mean PAINS!) and how tired it made me from dropping from 2000+ calories per day to only 800 on the program. And to be honest, I continue to find it difficult to reconcile the idea of "healthy" eating with eating pre-packaged, boxed, formulated food. I also can't stand the fact that when I'm on the program hardcore that I have to piss every freakin' hour, which is very typical of being on the program. I find that to be a huge inconvenience and actually a bit debilitating... it means I have to plan where I'll be and when I'll get there so I can be sure I get to pee. I'm being completely serious! It really doesn't work well for a guy that may be out and about for hours at a time or hung up at places that it wouldn't be convenient to have to go to the bathroom. And while having a "health coach" is helpful, I don't need a health coach so much as a psychologist, which leads me to the following:

For all my complaints about Medifast (Take Shape For Life), I know it can work, but that doesn't mean it's going to work for me. As I think I've said elsewhere in this thread, I've realized that I've got other issues that go beyond my weight. I've always been fat, and because of that I've learned to accept myself and know how to get along and feel okay about myself while being fat. But those other issues are the ones challenging me, and I've realized I have very little available to me for stress relief, and often have very little flexibility or time to accommodate making better choices. And really, I spent my entire life this way so simply going on a program (one of many I've been on in my life) is not going to solve my weight issue or eating habits. So what to do?

Well, I'm proud to say that I got to the gym everyday this week, and even doubled up on all of my reps and circuit stations today. It's been hard, but I feel better and see the difference in my body and attitude already. And while I haven't actually lost any weight really (maybe a couple lbs.), maybe it'll be enough to get me back onto Medifast. But for now I'm just happy to be doing something that makes me healthier and gives me a bit of an outlet for stress.

[Thumpin'66]

I can relate to the other things getting in the way. I was so stressed at work last year and being an outside sales guy I am always on the road and just happen to know all the good places to eat. I started going to the ymca about 3 months ago every weekday morning (and I still do). It felt good to get my system pumping in the morning before work but I just wasn't dropping the weight. The Take Shape For Life deal is all about a lifestyle change, not about Medifast or losing weight. I wouldn't be able to just do Medifast food and have good results. If you just do Medifast to lose weight you will definitely gain it back after you lose it and feel "done" with the program. The Medifast food is a tool used to train you to get used to eating small meals throughout the day and lean green choices. The key behind keeping it off is the transition stage after you reach your target weight. If you don't ease back in to other healthy foods while slowly replacing the medifast meals you will rebound. As you start to take in those extra calories again you have to adjust your activities/excercise to compensate and balance calories in vs calories out. There is no magical diet that will allow anyone to lose a bunch of weight then go right back to eating junk in massive quantities and not get fat again. Take Shape For Life calls it the Be Slim Lifestyle and offer the support network for someone who chooses to fully embrace the program. As far as having to pee alot, I haven't noticed it even though I am on the road all day. It would have been a good topic to bring up on one of the weekly Doctor led conference calls that are part of the program. I do have trouble remembering to drink 64oz of water so maybe you did better at it then I. I typically take 48oz of water in my lunch box and drink one glass in the morning and one at night at home. I also drink some tea, coffee and soda on occasion for my caffeine fix. I was drinking two of the shakes daily last month and am switching to one shake daily this month and an replacing it with an extra crunch bar. Having my friend as support helps becasue we keep each other honest and remind each other why we are making the changes in our lifestyle. I used to start my day with a venti caramel machiato with whip creme from starbucks then switch to MT Dew to keep the caffeine flowing. I think I needed it to keep me going because any time I drove by a good place to eat I would stop and have my favorites and tell myself it was ok because I work hard and I deserve it. I was always eating large quantities at lunch then going home to a large dinner with the family and having 2nds or thirds. Now I telll myself I deserve to be healthy and fit and I will survive without all that food. I plan on taking my wife out for a nice rib eye steak and potato dinner in August to celebrate our 20th anniversary. I am sure I will have leftovers since I doubt I will be able to finish a pound of meat like I used to.. but that will be just fine with me!

[WildBillyT]

and how tired it made me from dropping from 2000+ calories per day to only 800 on the program.

Is that seriously what they did? A 60% calorie reduction is considered very excessive and well under when most people's bodies kick into survival/starvation mode...

[Thumpin'66]

If you stick to the program guidelines it is around 1100 calories per day. It includes snacks, condiments and a lean green meal you cook yourself.

[WildBillyT]

If you stick to the program guidelines it is around 1100 calories per day. It includes snacks, condiments and a lean green meal you cook yourself.

Ok, that seems more realistic, even though it's still a bit on the low side. The cutoff for most people is 1200. But if it works, no biggie.

[DarkBuddha]

If you stick to the program guidelines it is around 1100 calories per day. It includes snacks, condiments and a lean green meal you cook yourself.

I don't know how you're fitting 1100 calories into the program if you're following it properly...

500-550 calories - 5 Medifast "snacks" (meal substitutes), each is 100-110 calories.

250-ish calories - "Lean and green" meal (one 5-7 oz. serving lean protein + three 1/2 cup servings of veggies). A common example meal would be something like 165 cal. for 6 oz. chicken + 30 cal. for 1/2 cup steamed broccoli + 20 cal. for 1/2 cup steamed summer squash + 30 cal. for 1/2 cup steamed turnip greens. Other meal combinations would be slightly more or less, but it all works out under 300 calories easy.

10-20 calories - extra snack (i.e. couple stalks of celery, sugar free jello cup, etc.)

25-50 calories - condiments. My health coach was pretty strict about limiting 'em and there is no way he would've said 300+ calories in condiments would be okay.

That's the 785-870 calories that I was typically getting when I was hardcore on the Take Shape for Life program. Very tough, but manageable and effective if you can keep with it. I've just found it doesn't work for me very well, but not necessarily because of the calorie limitations.

[WildBillyT]

I don't know how you're fitting 1100 calories into the program if you're following it properly...

500-550 calories - 5 Medifast "snacks" (meal substitutes), each is 100-110 calories.

250-ish calories - "Lean and green" meal (one 5-7 oz. serving lean protein + three 1/2 cup servings of veggies). A common example meal would be something like 165 cal. for 6 oz. chicken + 30 cal. for 1/2 cup steamed broccoli + 20 cal. for 1/2 cup steamed summer squash + 30 cal. for 1/2 cup steamed turnip greens. Other meal combinations would be slightly more or less, but it all works out under 300 calories easy.

10-20 calories - extra snack (i.e. couple stalks of celery, sugar free jello cup, etc.)

25-50 calories - condiments. My health coach was pretty strict about limiting 'em and there is no way he would've said 300+ calories in condiments would be okay.

That's the 785-870 calories that I was typically getting when I was hardcore on the Take Shape for Life program. Very tough, but manageable and effective if you can keep with it. I've just found it doesn't work for me very well, but not necessarily because of the calorie limitations.

Is this a keto diet? It seems that way.

[DarkBuddha]

Is this a keto diet? It seems that way.

Essentially, yes. But it is intended to create a very mild state of ketosis. It is not anything like what folks on Atkins (or similar) experience. It's a very controlled lower carb and lower fat diet, as any good weight loss diet should be. And as a diabetic,I can say that it does very effectively control blood sugar levels and keep them very level (if a bit low for me), which helps control fat burn and insulin levels.