The Historian's Ten Month Anniversary - 102 pounds lost!

Friends,

Dally has made the suggestion from time to time that people make a list
of the plusses and minuses of weight loss. Here's mine. During the last
ten months, I've lost, in no particular order:
102 pounds,
12 inches off my waist,
26% of my starting weight,
six pant sizes,
two shirt sizes,
1/2 a shoe size,
seven bags of clothing that is now too big for me,
joint trouble,
back trouble,
stomach trouble,
sleeping problems,
and the other features of the fat lifestyle.

What I traded these items for are:
stamina,
strength,
self-confidence,
better health,
healthier habits of eating,
new hobbies and activities,
a whole bunch of new friends,
the respect of most people I know,
and good looks. (OK, folks, that last one was a stretcher.)

I think I profited on these trades. :-)

Neil
385/283/220
Next goal,
270 by 12/31/06

The Historian wrote:
> Friends,
>
> Dally has made the suggestion from time to time that people make a list
> of the plusses and minuses of weight loss. Here's mine. During the last
> ten months, I've lost, in no particular order:
> 102 pounds,
> 12 inches off my waist,
> 26% of my starting weight,
> six pant sizes,
> two shirt sizes,
> 1/2 a shoe size,
> seven bags of clothing that is ...

....are...

now too big for me,
> joint trouble,
> back trouble,
> stomach trouble,
> sleeping problems,
> and the other features of the fat lifestyle.
>
> What I traded these items for are:
> stamina,
> strength,
> self-confidence,
> better health,
> healthier habits of eating,
> new hobbies and activities,
> a whole bunch of new friends,
> the respect of most people I know,
> and good looks. (OK, folks, that last one was a stretcher.)
>
> I think I profited on these trades. :-)
>
> Neil
> 385/283/220
> Next goal,
> 270 by 12/31/06

Very nice list, Neil! I'd second just about everything you said for
myself.

Seriously, though, you haven't listed any real "minuses" of weight
loss. One does have to give up some things, of course -- eating
unlimited goodies (you mentioned cheese in another post :-)), and a
couch potato lifestyle.

For me, there are a couple of other little negatives: I miss being as
strong as I used to be in weightlifting, and I can't drink nearly as
much wine before I start getting drunk :-). It's way more than worth
it, though!

Chris
262/130s/130s
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

Chris Braun wrote:
> Very nice list, Neil! I'd second just about everything you said for
> myself.
>
> Seriously, though, you haven't listed any real "minuses" of weight
> loss. One does have to give up some things, of course -- eating
> unlimited goodies (you mentioned cheese in another post :-)), and a
> couch potato lifestyle.
>
> For me, there are a couple of other little negatives: I miss being as
> strong as I used to be in weightlifting, and I can't drink nearly as
> much wine before I start getting drunk :-). It's way more than worth
> it, though!

Other negatives for me include:

-Spending more than 20 bucks on "athletic shoes";
- having to buy an entire new wardrobe;
- shaving (I got rid of my facial hair);
- muscle soreness
- occasional sore feet
- I no longer have automatic excuses to avoid doing things;
- having to plan to do things, since there is so much more I can do
now.
- spending time reading ASD posts (just kidding folks!)

Neil
385/283/220

The Historian <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I think I profited on these trades. :-)

Congratulations, Neil.

Thanks for posting this, Neil. It really is a good perspective for us to
think about. Congratulations on your achievements and on helping others.

ep

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1162647281.465492.145150@i42g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Chris Braun wrote:
>> Very nice list, Neil! I'd second just about everything you said for
>> myself.
>>
>> Seriously, though, you haven't listed any real "minuses" of weight
>> loss. One does have to give up some things, of course -- eating
>> unlimited goodies (you mentioned cheese in another post :-)), and a
>> couch potato lifestyle.
>>
>> For me, there are a couple of other little negatives: I miss being as
>> strong as I used to be in weightlifting, and I can't drink nearly as
>> much wine before I start getting drunk :-). It's way more than worth
>> it, though!
>
> Other negatives for me include:
>
> -Spending more than 20 bucks on "athletic shoes";
> - having to buy an entire new wardrobe;
> - shaving (I got rid of my facial hair);
> - muscle soreness
> - occasional sore feet
> - I no longer have automatic excuses to avoid doing things;
> - having to plan to do things, since there is so much more I can do
> now.
> - spending time reading ASD posts (just kidding folks!)
>
> Neil
> 385/283/220
>

The Queen of Cans and Jars wrote:
> The Historian <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I think I profited on these trades. :-)
>
> Congratulations, Neil.

Thank you, Queen.

I celebrated today by hiking a few miles to a local covered bridge:

http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/t...ge/CBHall.HTML

http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104703

http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104706

http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104709

I never knew about the bridge until recently, and I never would have
visited it if I hadn't decided to change myself. On Janaury 3, I was
exhausted after 7 minutes on a recumbent bike. Today I was hiking for a
couple of hours.

Neil
385/283/220

The Historian wrote:
> 102 pounds,
> 12 inches off my waist,
> 26% of my starting weight,
> six pant sizes,
> two shirt sizes,
> 1/2 a shoe size,
> seven bags of clothing that is now too big for me,
> joint trouble,
> back trouble,
> stomach trouble,
> sleeping problems,
> and the other features of the fat lifestyle.

Wow, 10 months is a long time, but you have lots to show. I want those!

> What I traded these items for are:
> and good looks. (OK, folks, that last one was a stretcher.)

I already have that, as long as I keep my shirt on. ;-)

> Neil
> 385/283/220
> Next goal,
> 270 by 12/31/06

Good luck on your continued progress, and thanks for the tips. I'll try
more real fruits and dropping the cheese on Monday.

comp_n_chess@hotmail.com wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > 102 pounds,
> > 12 inches off my waist,
> > 26% of my starting weight,
> > six pant sizes,
> > two shirt sizes,
> > 1/2 a shoe size,
> > seven bags of clothing that is now too big for me,
> > joint trouble,
> > back trouble,
> > stomach trouble,
> > sleeping problems,
> > and the other features of the fat lifestyle.
>
> Wow, 10 months is a long time, but you have lots to show. I want those!

You want the stuff I got rid of? I wouldn't wish that on the trolls on
the chess newsgroups. Well, perhaps on one or two....

> > What I traded these items for are:
> > and good looks. (OK, folks, that last one was a stretcher.)
>
> I already have that, as long as I keep my shirt on. ;-)

Please do.

> > Neil
> > 385/283/220
> > Next goal,
> > 270 by 12/31/06
>
> Good luck on your continued progress, and thanks for the tips.

You are welcome.

I'll try
> more real fruits and dropping the cheese on Monday.

Vegetables, please! More veggies!

Neil
385/283/220

The Historian wrote:
> The Queen of Cans and Jars wrote:
> > The Historian <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I think I profited on these trades. :-)
> >
> > Congratulations, Neil.
>
> Thank you, Queen.
>
> I celebrated today by hiking a few miles to a local covered bridge:
>
> http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/t...ge/CBHall.HTML
>
> http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104703
>
> http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104706
>
> http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104709
>
> I never knew about the bridge until recently, and I never would have
> visited it if I hadn't decided to change myself. On Janaury 3, I was
> exhausted after 7 minutes on a recumbent bike. Today I was hiking for a
> couple of hours.

And today I am recovering. I've got sore feet, and I have a sore left
quad. Perhaps working out at the gym after the hike wasn't the smartest
thing I've ever done.

Neil
385/282/220

The Historian <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:

> The Historian wrote:
> > The Queen of Cans and Jars wrote:
> > > The Historian <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I think I profited on these trades. :-)
> > >
> > > Congratulations, Neil.
> >
> > Thank you, Queen.
> >
> > I celebrated today by hiking a few miles to a local covered bridge:
> >
> > http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/t...ge/CBHall.HTML
> >
> > http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104703
> >
> > http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104706
> >
> > http://www.pbase.com/abh/image/51104709
> >
> > I never knew about the bridge until recently, and I never would have
> > visited it if I hadn't decided to change myself. On Janaury 3, I was
> > exhausted after 7 minutes on a recumbent bike. Today I was hiking for a
> > couple of hours.
>
> And today I am recovering. I've got sore feet, and I have a sore left
> quad. Perhaps working out at the gym after the hike wasn't the smartest
> thing I've ever done.

Perhaps not, but how great is it to find yourself having exercised too
much rather than too little?

The Queen of Cans and Jars wrote:
> The Historian <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > And today I am recovering. I've got sore feet, and I have a sore left
> > quad. Perhaps working out at the gym after the hike wasn't the smartest
> > thing I've ever done.
>
> Perhaps not, but how great is it to find yourself having exercised too
> much rather than too little?

Thank you for putting this in perspective.

Neil
385/282/220

In article <1162617416.215225.218020@h54g2000cwb.googlegroups .com>,
"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Friends,
>
> Dally has made the suggestion from time to time that people make a list
> of the plusses and minuses of weight loss. Here's mine. During the last
> ten months, I've lost, in no particular order:
> 102 pounds,
> 12 inches off my waist,
> 26% of my starting weight,
> six pant sizes,
> two shirt sizes,
> 1/2 a shoe size,
> seven bags of clothing that is now too big for me,
> joint trouble,
> back trouble,
> stomach trouble,
> sleeping problems,
> and the other features of the fat lifestyle.
>
> What I traded these items for are:
> stamina,
> strength,
> self-confidence,
> better health,
> healthier habits of eating,
> new hobbies and activities,
> a whole bunch of new friends,
> the respect of most people I know,
> and good looks. (OK, folks, that last one was a stretcher.)
>
> I think I profited on these trades. :-)
>
> Neil
> 385/283/220
> Next goal,
> 270 by 12/31/06

I am so happy for you, Neil!! Fantastic--you truly are a Poster Boy for
weight loss!!

Amy

The Historian wrote:
> Friends,
>
> Dally has made the suggestion from time to time that people make a list
> of the plusses and minuses of weight loss. Here's mine. During the last
> ten months, I've lost, in no particular order:
> 102 pounds,
> 12 inches off my waist,
> 26% of my starting weight,
> six pant sizes,
> two shirt sizes,
> 1/2 a shoe size,
> seven bags of clothing that is now too big for me,
> joint trouble,
> back trouble,
> stomach trouble,
> sleeping problems,
> and the other features of the fat lifestyle.
>
> What I traded these items for are:
> stamina,
> strength,
> self-confidence,
> better health,
> healthier habits of eating,
> new hobbies and activities,
> a whole bunch of new friends,
> the respect of most people I know,
> and good looks. (OK, folks, that last one was a stretcher.)
>
> I think I profited on these trades. :-)
>
> Neil
> 385/283/220
> Next goal,
> 270 by 12/31/06

My weight loss was only 37 pounds 10 years ago but it produced many of
the same gains you've listed. It just goes to show that any amount of
weight loss will produce significant improvements in health, stamina,
strength, etc.

I'm now on a mission to drop a few more pounds and better my hill
climbing abilities on the bike before next summer. My friends say
they've seen a drastic improvement in this area but I want to be even
better. BF took me to a local park over the weekend and showed me the
hill going over one of the dams. It's perfect - about one mile of
climbing with different degrees of steepness. I have a similar hill in
the park near home. Between the two I should be able to improve over
the winter.

Beverly