Lost 100 pounds in 6 months.
 

Well, almost.

I’m just a few pounds away from being able to say I’ve lost 100 pounds in 6 months.

Since starting my new healthy lifestyle (not diet) on January 15th of this year, I’ve lost 92 pounds. I started at 344 pounds and I currently weigh 252 pounds. The transformation has been unbelievable.

I want to tell you my story. While this might be presumptuous to say, I’m like many of you who might end up reading this post. I’ve always wanted to lose weight. I’ve tried and failed many diets – at least count, at least 10. Over the years I’ve read countless advice, tips, and suggestions on how to lose weight from websites, forums, magazines, television programs, so called fitness “gurus,” etc.

None of the information being the “magic” answer that I was looking for to help me lose weight

On January 15th of this year, I found the the magic answer: simplicity. I suddenly realized (for ME) losing weight wasn’t about no carb or low carb, counting points, taking a pill, eating cabbage soup, trying the “lose 10 pounds in 2 week diet,” but simple moderation and exercise. I have lost 100 pounds in 6 months by simply controlling the portions of the food I eat (unhealthy or healthy), keeping the junk food in moderation, and going to the gym almost every day of the week.

The trick is to not feel like you’re on a diet. Because honestly, diets suck.

My breakfast consists of bacon, eggs, and toast almost every morning. Pancakes if I feel adventurous. If I want a snack during the day, it’s usually some fresh fruits or veggies. Lunch is a cheeseburger and fries, perhaps a gyro or tuna sandwich. Dinner is almost always a hearty southern meal that my wife makes consisting of meat and two potatoes. Maybe we’ll go out for BBQ. As long as I keep the really bad stuff in moderation and keep my calorie intake around 2,000, the weight has seemed to shed pretty quickly.

My gym workout isn’t anything special. I get on the elliptical or treadmill 30-40 minutes a day. I lift weights 3 days a week. I make healthy choices outside of the gym like parking a little further away from the door when I go shopping, walk down the driveway to check the mail, etc.

It all seems to be working pretty well because it’s simple and sustainable. I don’t have cravings. If I want something to eat, I eat it. Cheeseburgers? All the time. BBQ ribs? Great. M&Ms? Fine. An entire bag is 200 calories, eat ½ of it. There’s 100 calories for your day. Don’t feel guilty about it, don’t call it splurging – just control your portions and don’t end up eating three bags and you’ll be fine.

In addition to eating in moderation and exercising, I’ve also been staying accountable with my friends and family. While you certainly don’t need to setup a weight loss blog like I did, you still need someone to keep up with your progress and to ask you how you’re doing – keeping yourself accountable is hard until you get into the swing of things, and then you get to the point (where I am now) where it’s all about finishing what I started. I’ve lost 100 pounds and have another 50 to go. At the very least, stay accountable to your friends and family by e-mail, facebook twitter, etc. Some way!

That’s what I wanted to share with you guys. I’ve read a lot from 3FC (amongst other places) over the past several months and wanted to give back – I’m tired of lurking. I’m so incredibly blessed to be a success story (albeit, still in progress) and want to answer any questions or concerns that I can.

If you have any questions for me or need some support, please post them up. I am busy during the day with work, but I'll reply at night.

CYA :)

Congratulations on your weightloss! And on your strength of mind: you're absolutely right, eating the right amount of food is the only answer.
Me, I've done it that way before and I'm not strong enough to keep up to it, I need the discipline of calories to keep teaching me what the right amount is.

Kudos to you! :flower:

Congratulations on your weight loss!!!! You must feel marvelous.

I'm so thrilled you found what works for you. That's what it's all about. We are all individuals and require different things - finding out what those things are, are essential to long term success.

I gotta tell you, I too lost a large amount of weight and am a mere 10 days or so shy of 2 years of keeping it off. I too decided "diets" don't work. They're too temporary and I was looking for permanent. But *I* could not do it the way you are. Wow. I mean not even close. We really ARE all different. Give me a bag of M & M's and I want to eat the WHOLE bag. IF I were able to stop at 1/2 a bag, that other 1/2 would be calling out my name - all day - until there were zero left. Cheeseburgers. I don't know. Always gave me heartburn and I needed some fries to go with it. In other words, *for me* moderation doesn't work. I am a mere 5 feet tall and got to be 287 lbs - that didn't happen by doing "moderate". Being able to "just cut back on my portions" never worked either. I was apparently born without a turn off switch. Yup, I need the built in accountability, the forced portion control and the set limits of calorie counting. Something that gives me some rules, and guidelines and feeling of control. I love it and is something I can do forever and ever. I also can't keep those high calorie foods in my life. They make me want MORE high calorie foods. They actually make my cravings stronger and stronger and keep my wants and desires for them very high. No, I needed to dry up those wants. I personally also need LOTS of filling power from my food. I HATE to be hungry. Eating nutrient sparse foods leaves me HUNGRY. I can't let that happen as it sets me up for making poor choices. I also need LOTS of volume. And foods that stick with me and don't leave me hungry in an hour after eating them. Yeah, so for me, I like to stick to the protein, fiber and very nutrient rich foods. When eating a set number of calories, one really needs to get the most vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from them, IMO.

Thanks for sharing your story. Again, I'm so thrilled that you've found something that works for you so well. I wish you continued success as you continue on this journey towards better health. :)

Congratulations on your success. You found what would work for you and stuck with it. Really, that is fantastic.

Well, once again RR elegantly articulated exactly my sentiments. I couldn't eat "those" things anywhere close to a daily basis and obtain success. I also do best eating large volumes of nutrient dense, low-cal foods. I am at my adoptive moms right now. She is morbidly obese. It is terribly interesting to see she cannot eat anywhere NEAR the volume of food I do. She keeps asking me where it all goes.

Yes, we are all so very different. Again, congrats on your success.

Congratulations! You are indeed an inspiration to everyone here. I, just like you, and many others here, have decided that fad diets don't work. I've done everything to try and get my weight down. Finally, I decided to simply eat less and exercise more. And it's working! I've only lost 6 lbs so far, but I'm on my way. Again, keep up the good work! Those last 50 lbs will be gone before you know it! :)


http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar070...6/135/180/.png

such good advice - just cutting out the junk and being more active. I love that simple approach. :)

Congrats!! I hope to be able to say something similar in the near future!!

I like what you said about a lifestyle change and not a diet. That is the right way to think about it if you want to maintain the weight loss. Great job!

:congrat: That is amazing!

Amazing! Congrats :D

You did it!! yea!! well if you ever decide to post pics, it would be wonderful!!

A big :bravo: to you for reaching (almost) 100 pounds lost!!! That's a FANTASTIC accomplishment!

I'm the same as you in many respects. I really, really hate dieting, and I refuse to count calories. I don't want to spend my whole life adding things up constantly when I eat. I want to ENJOY foods that I like, but I want to enjoy LESS of them so that I get smaller. That's what I'm working on, and I'm so glad that I came in here to find that there's living breathing PROOF that what I'm trying to do is definitely possible. Thank you for being such an inspiration and sharing your story!

Tyler, wonderful. Congratulations! Good for you! I too lost 99 lbs in six months but in a very, very different way than you. I did an extremely strict (and am still doing it) version of Atkins. Moderation doesn't work for me; I am highly addicted to carbs and must avoid them altogether. But wonderful for you that your simplicity plan is working!! Yay for you!!

Great Job!!!!
It makes me so happy to see other losing weight and Such a large amount~truely inspires us all.
Thanks for sharing!!!!

WOW... awesome! You know, that is the same realization I had this time. Diets don't work. For ME, I need to control the portions & exercise. Simple - if I can do it. Thanks for the inspiring post!

:congrat:
AWESOME! Isn't it wonderful when you find what works for you? Moderation in all things (including exercise) is a sensible lifestyle plan. Portion control is definitely a key to my success as well!

Way to go!!! Congratulations!!!

I agree that "not dieting" and just changing your diet is the way to go. Simplicity and portion size is a keyword. I really think that portion size is more important than what kinds of food you eat.

I'm assuming this is the Tyler of 344pounds.com and I just wanted to say you're a big inspiration for alot of people. I started following you're progress when I started my diet and you keep alot of people rolling. Thanks!

Personal experience - I lost more than 100 pounds in 4 months
 

If your doctor recommends it, there are ways to lose weight safely. A steady weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is recommended for the most effective long-term weight management.

The preliminary findings of all the studies to date show that combining exercise with a healthy diet is the most effective way to lose weight. Unfortunately, When it comes to exercising people tend to procrastinate a lot.

Now you don't need to spend much time exercising. You can lose thigh fat/fat thighs by exercising less than 15 minutes/day.

The ball is in your court!

Thank You after all the years I've been on this site( I am really a senior member used to be classykaren) had a computer virus and had to start all over. This is one of the best comments I have ever read on here. Thank you

That's fantastic story, keep up hope you accomplish your goal

Greate man

I have an idea as to how to lose weight

I just joined

I have a url but I don't know how to post it it says u need to post 10posts before being able to post a url

I do agree wuth you.

Wow! fabulous, a big achievement. The one who intends to achieve, they definitely achieve. Masha-Allah

To loss 20kg
 

I am set to loss as much as 20kg in order to achieve 65kg

you must have an ambition

how to achieve it
 

I am set to loss as much as 20kg in order to achieve 65kg[/QUOTE]

Congratulations
 

Great result

Great result