Hi people! I'm adding my diary recording my journey. The encouragement and feedback that I see on this website is absolutely amazing, and because I'm usually swimming in thoughts about what I can do to maximize my weight loss.

I tipped the scales at 345 lbs in December 08, and made a personal vow to never be that obese ever again, but I was still scared about what to do and how to go about losing the weight. I would look at "The Biggest Loser" and think, "I can do that!"


I can't explain it, but sometime in March of this year, something snapped in me. I found a gym about halfway between my job and my house. I live in the Atlanta area, so I'm sure if you are familiar with the area, traffic congestion is awful, so during rush hour, I'm sweating and panting at the gym.

I also dedicated myself to changing my eating habits. Now, I've done low-carb diets before (Sugar Busters, Atkins, etc.), but I just didn't feel right eating bacon and losing weight.

I also considered Medifast, but felt that reducing my calorie load by that much and constantly being hungry, not to mention paying $300/mo for processed foods did not appeal to me either.

One day, I was on the Internet, and I discovered the website for Tim Ferriss, author of "The Four Hour Workweek". He suggests that people keep it simple with a "Slow Carb" diet. Basically, avoid "white" foods with lots of refined sugar and flour, avoiding soft drinks and lots of protein heavy foods. I also eat similar meals for 6 days/wk. Basically, lots of lean meats, green, leafy vegetables, and legumes (Black Beans and Lentils in particular). I also try to eat 3-4 small meals per day to keep my metabolism going.

I also work out 5 days per week. Mainly HIIT cardio + strength training. It's grueling and one of the hardest things I've done, but so far, so good. I've lost 65 lbs in the last 5 months!

I have pictures here: http://weight-loss.fitness.com/befor...re-during.html that show my weight loss over the past few months.

I have about 80 more pounds that I want to lose (or more), and this forum has really helped me keep my head up to know that I'm not the only one going through this.

In case anyone wanted to know, I'm about 6'.

Example of my meals today:

9:00 AM Breakfast:

Egg Whites
Spinach
Pinto Beans


12:30 PMLunch:

Baked Tilapia
Vegetable Mix of Green Beans, Edamame, Asparagus and Broccoli
Pinto Beans

4:00 PM Dinner:

Grilled Chicken
Broccoli/Cauliflower Mix
Black Beans

My dinner was leftovers from my cooking last weekend.

Had a good workout last night. Did 30 minutes of HIIT on the elliptical, then did some lower body work.

65 pounds lost is incredible. thats awesome. I admire your clean diet. Ive been able to cut my portions down tons. but not even close to eating as clean as you.

Keep at it and never give up.

Thanks size32! I've been cutting down my portions quite a bit myself, but I have a bit of a ways to go. I don't eat nearly as much meat as I did. I learned I didn't have to eat an entire chicken breast all the time for one thing! I am trying to reduce my legumes portions, but they do help me stay full.

I know a lot of people do NOT like the idea of a "cheat" day, but if it wasn't for that, I'd go crazy! And lately, on my cheat days, my cravings are nowhere near what they used to be. I had to force myself to eat a burger this past Saturday. I couldn't WAIT to go and eat a salad!

Congrats on the loss so far!


I agree about the cheat days, I need them or else i'm going to go binge crazy.

I had plans to work out tonight, but one of my cousins recently relocated here for college, and he needed a ride to the store, so my evening consisted of helping him.

However, it's back to the grind tomorrow! I plan to do strength training on my upper body as well as 30 min HIIT + 10 min cooldown.

Breakfast:

Egg Whites
Lentils
Spinach & Brussels Sprouts
w/Roasted Chipotle Salsa

Lunch:

Grilled Chicken
Lentils
Asian Stir Fry Vegetable Mix

Dinner:

See Above

Ugh, caught a sinus infection, so I didn't work out at all yesterday liked I planned to. I did work out pretty hard on Friday and Saturday though.

I'm going to force myself on an elliptical tonight! Maybe I can sweat the snot away? LOL.

I'm eating chicken and broccoli with Oyster sauce. Not too much Oyster sauce though!

I WILL get over this awful plateau. I've been stuck at 280 for the past two weeks

Hey SL. I just read through your diary and I'm really impressed with your dedication. Seen your photos also. All I can say is awsome job so far, your looking good.

Sorry to see you caught a sinus infection. I know that can suck at times. I don't know about you but when I have found that when I'm either sick or stuffed up, working out actually helps me. For some reason the cardo and sweating helps break up all that congestion and helps with my low grade fevers.

Well good luck, I'll stop back some time to see how your doing.

Thanks Grey Ghost Hunter! Congrats to you and your weight loss as well!

Yeah, I managed to do a 45 minute run on the elliptical this afternoon. However, I'm drinking some TheraFlu and going to bed early tonight!

If anyone is curious, I had lentils, braised red cabbage, broccoli, and roasted turkey as my pre-workout dinner.


Also, a quick question for anyone reading this...When you started losing your weight, or if you are planning on losing a significant amount of weight, would people tell you, "Don't get to small!" or, "Bulk up on what you have!" WTH?!?! While people have been complimenting my weight loss so far, the people talking about how "You have a big build, you think you'd look right that small?" have been truly annoying me lately.

I've been struggling with my weight since I was 12 or 13, so I've never known what it's like to be "small" if that makes any sense. I know when I first started out, I had a goal of trying to get to 200 lbs, but I have plans on being a bit smaller, more like around 180-190. I've never been that small in my adult life, and while I don't want to be scrawny, I do want a more leaner build. Most of my fat is in my belly and behind, and according to my mother, I've always had "big thighs" I don't want to think that I have the odds stacked against me in my goals, this isn't going to be smooth sailing either. So yes, it has been rewarding to lose the weight that I've lost so far, but it's still quite frustrating when I'm not losing the weight as fast as I want it to be lost too.

Okay, enough rambling from me (must be the medicine kicking in, LOL), just had to vent a little.

I ordered the iFitness app on my iPhone today. Look forward to working the exercises I see on there.

I'm almost off from work, and I'm rushing to the gym. I'm doing what I can to get rid of this dammed plateau.

welcome!!! Glad to have you here with us! The encouragement here is contagious!!! Draw your strength from it on days that you dont feel that you can get your ass up and to the gym... thats the only thing that has helped me thus far!!!!


Welcome and Glad to have you!