The Historian's Update - 104 pounds lost!

Hi friends,

I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.

I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
how I do.

Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
employ?

Neil
385/281/220

On 18 Nov 2006 03:38:20 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Hi friends,
>
>I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
>104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
>them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
>muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
>two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
>minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.
>
>I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
>current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
>weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
>little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
>term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
>challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
>how I do.
>
>Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
>quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
>I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
>been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
>motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
>currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
>can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
>raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
>a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
>Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
>drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
>Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
>employ?
>
>Neil
>385/281/220

Neil, you're doing great! Weight loss is naturally going to slow down
a bit as you get smaller and closer to our goal. Are you still eating
at the same calorie level you were at 385? If so, you might want to
think about dropping back some. Otherwise, just accept that a pound a
week is still a very healthy rate of loss.

It sounds like you're doing good things to motivate yourself. My main
motivation was probably clothes shopping, but this isn't entirely a
good thing :-).

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

Chris Braun wrote:
> On 18 Nov 2006 03:38:20 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Hi friends,
> >
> >I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> >104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
> >them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
> >muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
> >two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
> >minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.
> >
> >I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> >current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> >weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> >little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
> >term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
> >challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
> >how I do.
> >
> >Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
> >quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
> >I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
> >been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
> >motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
> >currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
> >can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
> >raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
> >a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
> >Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
> >drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
> >Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
> >employ?
> >
> >Neil
> >385/281/220
>
> Neil, you're doing great! Weight loss is naturally going to slow down
> a bit as you get smaller and closer to our goal. Are you still eating
> at the same calorie level you were at 385?

I hope that was a joke. I've been eating between 2500 and 3000 calories
a day. I really need to cut back to 2200-2500, I think. And increasing
the cardio to an hour wouldn't hurt, either.

If so, you might want to
> think about dropping back some. Otherwise, just accept that a pound a
> week is still a very healthy rate of loss.

OK, but ten pounds a month was more fun!

> It sounds like you're doing good things to motivate yourself. My main
> motivation was probably clothes shopping, but this isn't entirely a
> good thing :-).

I know it's not a "guy thing", but I now enjoy buying new clothes. Once
you remove the fat and facial hair, I am a pretty good looking fellow.
Even with the excess pounds, the lifting has given me some definition
(I can feel muscles under the fat), and my posture has improved. As I
get clothes that fit me and flatter me, my appearance can only get
better. And that can mean only one thing.....

Ladies, I am single! Make your move before I am off the market! :-)

Narcissus
385/281/220

On 18 Nov 2006 05:27:40 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>
>Chris Braun wrote:

>> Are you still eating
>> at the same calorie level you were at 385?
>
>I hope that was a joke. I've been eating between 2500 and 3000 calories
>a day. I really need to cut back to 2200-2500, I think. And increasing
>the cardio to an hour wouldn't hurt, either.

It wasn't a joke, but I realize it was ambiguous. What I meant was,
are you eating at the same level that you started out at when you
first began your weight loss program? Did you start out in the
2500-3000 range? It's to be expected that the same level that let you
lose fast at 385 lbs. isn't going to work as quickly now that you're
so much smaller. I'd agree that a 2200-2500 range sounds more
appropriate for you now. It may be that your current calorie level is
getting kind of close to maintenance for you.

>OK, but ten pounds a month was more fun!

Apart from my first month of dieting I never lost as much as 10 pounds
in a month. But I still lost 130 lbs :-). (I averaged between 5 and
6 lbs. overall.)

>
>> It sounds like you're doing good things to motivate yourself. My main
>> motivation was probably clothes shopping, but this isn't entirely a
>> good thing :-).
>
>I know it's not a "guy thing", but I now enjoy buying new clothes. Once
>you remove the fat and facial hair, I am a pretty good looking fellow.
>Even with the excess pounds, the lifting has given me some definition
>(I can feel muscles under the fat), and my posture has improved. As I
>get clothes that fit me and flatter me, my appearance can only get
>better. And that can mean only one thing.....

This is all good. It's very motivating to enjoy your improving
appearance, I think. (And I know, though you haven't mentioned it in
this thread, that you're also enjoying your much-improved fitness.)

>Ladies, I am single! Make your move before I am off the market! :-)

Well, I'm afraid I'm taken :-).

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

The Historian wrote:
> Hi friends,
>
> I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> 104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
> them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
> muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
> two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
> minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.
>
> I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
> term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
> challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
> how I do.
>
> Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
> quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
> I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
> been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
> motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
> currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
> can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
> raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
> a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
> Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
> drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
> Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
> employ?
>
> Neil
> 385/281/220

Congratulations Neil. This is an amazing accomplishment.

You already have some good motivational tools in place. About the only
thing I could add would be setting a goal in your exercise area. I always
find this results in additional exercise for me as I work toward
accomplishing the goal.

At the present time I'm working on becoming a better hill climber while
cycling. I recently bought a Carmichael training video geared toward
climbing and I'll be using it on the indoor trainer this winter. A friend
and I did a 27 mile ride last week that included a couple of the toughest
hills in my area. I think he was a little surprised when I didn't have to
get off and walk up them. I didn't break any speed records climbing the
hills but I made it!

Beverly

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1163849900.020948.108220@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi friends,
>
> I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> 104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
> them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
> muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
> two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
> minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.
>
> I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
> term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
> challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
> how I do.
>
> Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
> quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
> I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
> been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
> motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
> currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
> can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
> raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
> a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
> Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
> drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
> Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
> employ?
>
> Neil
> 385/281/220

That's awesome progress, Neil. Way to go! It sounds to me like you really
do have a good handle on how to motivate yourself, as everyone else has
already said.

I find reading about nutrition and fitness motivating, myself -- that's one
of the reasons I hang here at asd. It keeps my head on track.

ep

Edna Pearl wrote:
> "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1163849900.020948.108220@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> > Hi friends,
> >
> > I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> > 104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
> > them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
> > muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
> > two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
> > minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.
> >
> > I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> > current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> > weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> > little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
> > term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
> > challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
> > how I do.
> >
> > Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
> > quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
> > I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
> > been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
> > motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
> > currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
> > can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
> > raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
> > a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
> > Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
> > drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
> > Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
> > employ?
> >
> > Neil
> > 385/281/220
>
> That's awesome progress, Neil. Way to go! It sounds to me like you really
> do have a good handle on how to motivate yourself, as everyone else has
> already said.
>
> I find reading about nutrition and fitness motivating, myself -- that's one
> of the reasons I hang here at asd. It keeps my head on track.

Good idea. I found a weight loss book in my local Goodwill. I haven't
read it yet, but perhaps I will pull it out.

Speaking of motivational books, I recommend Fred Anderson's From Chunk
to Hunk. I often find myself reading the book and comparing my
experiences losing weight with Mr. Anderson's.

Chris Braun wrote:
> On 18 Nov 2006 05:27:40 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >Chris Braun wrote:
>
> >> Are you still eating
> >> at the same calorie level you were at 385?
> >
> >I hope that was a joke. I've been eating between 2500 and 3000 calories
> >a day. I really need to cut back to 2200-2500, I think. And increasing
> >the cardio to an hour wouldn't hurt, either.
>
> It wasn't a joke, but I realize it was ambiguous. What I meant was,
> are you eating at the same level that you started out at when you
> first began your weight loss program? Did you start out in the
> 2500-3000 range?

No, I started at below 2000, and when I regularly began to consider
eating my computer keyboard, I increased it to 2500. I've become a lot
less strict over the past few months. I gotta get back with the
program.

It's to be expected that the same level that let you
> lose fast at 385 lbs. isn't going to work as quickly now that you're
> so much smaller. I'd agree that a 2200-2500 range sounds more
> appropriate for you now. It may be that your current calorie level is
> getting kind of close to maintenance for you.

Yes. and there's another problem as well. For most of my adult life
I've been close to my current weight. I can now wear the same clothes I
wore 15-20 years ago - how many men can claim that? So I am probably
accustomed to eating as much as I am currently eating, and being the
size I am presently. What I need to do is "burn those old tapes," the
ones that tell me that 280 is a 'normal' weight for me.

There's also an element of wariness about further weight loss. I've
lived 20 some years of life as a fat guy. I don't know what it's like
to be a thin fellow.

> >OK, but ten pounds a month was more fun!
>
> Apart from my first month of dieting I never lost as much as 10 pounds
> in a month. But I still lost 130 lbs :-). (I averaged between 5 and
> 6 lbs. overall.)
>
> >
> >> It sounds like you're doing good things to motivate yourself. My main
> >> motivation was probably clothes shopping, but this isn't entirely a
> >> good thing :-).
> >
> >I know it's not a "guy thing", but I now enjoy buying new clothes. Once
> >you remove the fat and facial hair, I am a pretty good looking fellow.
> >Even with the excess pounds, the lifting has given me some definition
> >(I can feel muscles under the fat), and my posture has improved. As I
> >get clothes that fit me and flatter me, my appearance can only get
> >better. And that can mean only one thing.....
>
> This is all good. It's very motivating to enjoy your improving
> appearance, I think.

Even if I do have pants in waist sizes that run from 40 to 54! I'm a
46-48 currently.

(And I know, though you haven't mentioned it in
> this thread, that you're also enjoying your much-improved fitness.)

Yes. I am enjoying it a great deal. Even boring cardio at the gym is
less boring now.

> >Ladies, I am single! Make your move before I am off the market! :-)
>
> Well, I'm afraid I'm taken :-).

Even if you weren't, Chris, it wouldn't work. I can't eat eggs in any
great quantity. Mixed marriages are problematic! :-)

Neil
385/281/220

Beverly wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > Hi friends,
> >
> > I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> > 104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
> > them. My exercise this week has been limited because I overstretched
> > muscles in my back and my left quad is still a little sore from my walk
> > two weeks ago. But I was back at the gym yesterday, and spent 36
> > minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting on freeweights.
> >
> > I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> > current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> > weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> > little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
> > term goal is to read 270 by the end of the year. That's a very tough
> > challenge, since three major holidays fall into this period. We'll see
> > how I do.
> >
> > Motivation is getting tougher, since the weight is not coming off as
> > quickly as it did. I've moved to a new department at work, and while
> > I've been coping with the stress of my added responsibilities, I've
> > been eating too much and too many of the wrong foods. So, to help
> > motivate me, I've started to buy new clothes a size smaller than I
> > currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
> > can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a
> > raspberry-fluff brownie. I am keeping up with my donations of a dollar
> > a pound to a not-for-profit for every ten pounds I lose. (The
> > Pennsylvania State Chess Federation gets 10 bucks when the next pound
> > drops off. Previous recipients have been the MS Foundation and the
> > Lance Armstrong Foundation.) Any other motivational devices I might
> > employ?
> >
> > Neil
> > 385/281/220
>
> Congratulations Neil. This is an amazing accomplishment.
>
> You already have some good motivational tools in place. About the only
> thing I could add would be setting a goal in your exercise area. I always
> find this results in additional exercise for me as I work toward
> accomplishing the goal.

OK, I have a few:

I want to ride a bicycle. I don't think I've ridden one since age 10.
That will wait till this spring, when the weather is better and I am
thinner.

I want to be able to do what were called "pull-ups" in my gym classes
30 years ago. I'd like to be able to do push-ups as well.

I'd like to be able to exercise for a full hour on the eliptical
trainer. One of my friends at the gym routinely does this. I can
currently do a half-hour on a good day.

I'd like to go rowing with Andy again and beat him across the lake.

> At the present time I'm working on becoming a better hill climber while
> cycling. I recently bought a Carmichael training video geared toward
> climbing and I'll be using it on the indoor trainer this winter. A friend
> and I did a 27 mile ride last week that included a couple of the toughest
> hills in my area. I think he was a little surprised when I didn't have to
> get off and walk up them. I didn't break any speed records climbing the
> hills but I made it!

Congratulations Beverly!

Neil
385/281/220

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1164115470.027884.304760@e3g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Chris Braun wrote:


<snip>

> Yes. and there's another problem as well. For most of my adult life
> I've been close to my current weight. I can now wear the same clothes I
> wore 15-20 years ago - how many men can claim that? So I am probably
> accustomed to eating as much as I am currently eating, and being the
> size I am presently. What I need to do is "burn those old tapes," the
> ones that tell me that 280 is a 'normal' weight for me.
>
> There's also an element of wariness about further weight loss. I've
> lived 20 some years of life as a fat guy. I don't know what it's like
> to be a thin fellow.

I know what you mean. I seem to move through those psychological barriers,
too. Right now I am at 165, and people have really begun to comment on how
I look. Not something I am used to. Some days, I really want to dive into
a bag of potato chips and eat my way out. Knowing I need to stick to my
eating and exercise program is easy--but adjusting to being the same person
in a different body is hard!! And now, with the holidays here, and seeing
family and friends I haven't seen for at least 6 months, I am having to grit
my teeth and hold on by my fingernails on some days. How do other people
get through this?

The Historian wrote:
> Hi friends,
>
> I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> 104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take

Awesome!

> I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short

I've used a Tanita body fat analyzer for a few years. Remember, it's
only proven accurate +/- 5%--assuming you were careful about eating,
drinking, and trips to the bathroom prior to weighing. Even keeping
those factors the same, it claims my body fat % is as low as 23% some
days and as high as 33% other days.

The best body composition test I've ever had was in a Bod Pod. It's
accurate to within 2% if you wear spandex and aren't a young athlete.

> currently wear. I have the body-fat analysis on my desk at work, so I
> can see it and be reminded of the goal next time someone offers me a

If it motivates you, then it served its purpose.

335/323/215

comp_n_chess@hotmail.com wrote:
> The Historian wrote:
> > Hi friends,
> >
> > I squeezed another pound off this week, bringing me down to 281. That's
> > 104 pounds total. Only 4 pound lost this past month, but I'll take
>
> Awesome!
>
> > I had a body-fat analysis done at the gym last week. After they ran the
> > current through me, the computer suggested that 227 pounds would be a
> > weight at which I carried 15 percent body fat. That still seems a
> > little high, so I am keeping my goal at 220 pounds for now. My short
>
> I've used a Tanita body fat analyzer for a few years. Remember, it's
> only proven accurate +/- 5%--assuming you were careful about eating,
> drinking, and trips to the bathroom prior to weighing. Even keeping
> those factors the same, it claims my body fat % is as low as 23% some
> days and as high as 33% other days.
>
I have a Tanita scale with the body fat feature and I've found it to be
very consistent. Well, it does go haywire when I forget and step on it
in pantie hose<g> I don't know how accurate it is but it does measure
about the same as the analyzer at the gym and a few of the online
sites. I've used it mainly to track my body fat trend and not the
actual percentage.

Beverly

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> writes:

> I want to ride a bicycle. I don't think I've ridden one since age 10.
> That will wait till this spring, when the weather is better and I am
> thinner.

I'm with you on the weather, but believe me, you can cycle now. Last
year, I did a 52-mile ride whilst weighing 280lbs. I just worked up to
it - my first ride was 7 miles, and I stopped at least 10 times to get
my breath back. A guy on uk.rec.cycling did a Land's End-to-John
O'Groats ride last year (that's 1000 miles, give or take) whilst
weighing over 280lbs. The freedom of being far from home, under your own
power, getting excersise in the fresh air, is like a drug.

Heck, cycling is actually easier than walking if you're heavy, in my
experience - your weight is supported on your feet, your backside, and
your hands on a bike, whereas it's all on your feet when walking. As
long as your bike isn't a lightweight racer with fancy spoke patterns,
it'll probably cope fine.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
I have neither been there nor done that
275:253:170

Beverly wrote:
> I have a Tanita scale with the body fat feature and I've found it to be
> very consistent. Well, it does go haywire when I forget and step on it
> in pantie hose<g>

Hehe

> I don't know how accurate it is but it does measure
> about the same as the analyzer at the gym and a few of the online
> sites. I've used it mainly to track my body fat trend and not the
> actual percentage.

Trends are a good way to use it. According to Tanita, while the overall
measurement is only accurate +/- 5%, trends are accurate +/- 1%. I
bought it when I was in better shape. My current goals are more meager:
Move from XXXL to XXL. ;-)

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1164115470.027884.304760@e3g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Chris Braun wrote:
>> On 18 Nov 2006 05:27:40 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Chris Braun wrote:
>>
>> >> Are you still eating
>> >> at the same calorie level you were at 385?
>> >
>> >I hope that was a joke. I've been eating between 2500 and 3000 calories
>> >a day. I really need to cut back to 2200-2500, I think. And increasing
>> >the cardio to an hour wouldn't hurt, either.
>>
>> It wasn't a joke, but I realize it was ambiguous. What I meant was,
>> are you eating at the same level that you started out at when you
>> first began your weight loss program? Did you start out in the
>> 2500-3000 range?
>
> No, I started at below 2000, and when I regularly began to consider
> eating my computer keyboard, I increased it to 2500. I've become a lot
> less strict over the past few months. I gotta get back with the
> program.
>
> It's to be expected that the same level that let you
>> lose fast at 385 lbs. isn't going to work as quickly now that you're
>> so much smaller. I'd agree that a 2200-2500 range sounds more
>> appropriate for you now. It may be that your current calorie level is
>> getting kind of close to maintenance for you.
>
> Yes. and there's another problem as well. For most of my adult life
> I've been close to my current weight. I can now wear the same clothes I
> wore 15-20 years ago - how many men can claim that? So I am probably
> accustomed to eating as much as I am currently eating, and being the
> size I am presently. What I need to do is "burn those old tapes," the
> ones that tell me that 280 is a 'normal' weight for me.
>
> There's also an element of wariness about further weight loss. I've
> lived 20 some years of life as a fat guy. I don't know what it's like
> to be a thin fellow.
>
>> >OK, but ten pounds a month was more fun!
>>
>> Apart from my first month of dieting I never lost as much as 10 pounds
>> in a month. But I still lost 130 lbs :-). (I averaged between 5 and
>> 6 lbs. overall.)
>>
>> >
>> >> It sounds like you're doing good things to motivate yourself. My main
>> >> motivation was probably clothes shopping, but this isn't entirely a
>> >> good thing :-).
>> >
>> >I know it's not a "guy thing", but I now enjoy buying new clothes. Once
>> >you remove the fat and facial hair, I am a pretty good looking fellow.
>> >Even with the excess pounds, the lifting has given me some definition
>> >(I can feel muscles under the fat), and my posture has improved. As I
>> >get clothes that fit me and flatter me, my appearance can only get
>> >better. And that can mean only one thing.....
>>
>> This is all good. It's very motivating to enjoy your improving
>> appearance, I think.
>
> Even if I do have pants in waist sizes that run from 40 to 54! I'm a
> 46-48 currently.
>
> (And I know, though you haven't mentioned it in
>> this thread, that you're also enjoying your much-improved fitness.)
>
> Yes. I am enjoying it a great deal. Even boring cardio at the gym is
> less boring now.
>
>> >Ladies, I am single! Make your move before I am off the market! :-)
>>
>> Well, I'm afraid I'm taken :-).
>
> Even if you weren't, Chris, it wouldn't work. I can't eat eggs in any
> great quantity. Mixed marriages are problematic! :-)
>
> Neil
> 385/281/220
>

I have such a mixed marriage. My DH is a sausage eater! He cooks breakfast
for himself and I take care of me and it works out fine.

Tonia

On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 04:19:00 GMT, "Anonomouse" <guesswho@myplace.com>
wrote:

>
>"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1164115470.027884.304760@e3g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>>

>> Even if you weren't, Chris, it wouldn't work. I can't eat eggs in any
>> great quantity. Mixed marriages are problematic! :-)
>>
>> Neil
>> 385/281/220
>>
>
>I have such a mixed marriage. My DH is a sausage eater! He cooks breakfast
>for himself and I take care of me and it works out fine.
>

We generally fix our own food as well, though a couple of nights a
week we might make a real dinner together. We also have substantially
different outside interests. But it all works fine :-).

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

On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 05:05:39 GMT, Chris Braun
<braun@mill-creek-systems.com> wrote:

>On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 04:19:00 GMT, "Anonomouse" <guesswho@myplace.com>
>wrote:

>>I have such a mixed marriage. My DH is a sausage eater! He cooks breakfast
>>for himself and I take care of me and it works out fine.
>>
>
>We generally fix our own food as well, though a couple of nights a
>week we might make a real dinner together. We also have substantially
>different outside interests. But it all works fine :-).
>
>Chris

We scarcely ever eat the same food, although we do sit down to eat
together unless one of us is out. It works well, and we've been
happily together for around 30 years - perhaps that's why!

We do share a lot of outside interests, though.

janice

Keith Willoughby wrote:
> "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> writes:
>
> > I want to ride a bicycle. I don't think I've ridden one since age 10.
> > That will wait till this spring, when the weather is better and I am
> > thinner.
>
> I'm with you on the weather, but believe me, you can cycle now. Last
> year, I did a 52-mile ride whilst weighing 280lbs. I just worked up to
> it - my first ride was 7 miles, and I stopped at least 10 times to get
> my breath back.

OK, but you knew how. I'm not sure I do. :-)

A guy on uk.rec.cycling did a Land's End-to-John
> O'Groats ride last year (that's 1000 miles, give or take) whilst
> weighing over 280lbs. The freedom of being far from home, under your own
> power, getting excersise in the fresh air, is like a drug.

I see a fellow named Preston Crawford on the bike groups lost a ton of
weight cycling to work each day. He went from 400 to 250. Look at the
photos of him

Before:
http://www.prestoncrawford.com/album/images/mebig1.jpg

After:
http://www.prestoncrawford.com/album/images/me.jpg

> Heck, cycling is actually easier than walking if you're heavy, in my
> experience - your weight is supported on your feet, your backside, and
> your hands on a bike, whereas it's all on your feet when walking. As
> long as your bike isn't a lightweight racer with fancy spoke patterns,
> it'll probably cope fine.

Keith, how about the seat, or what you bikists call the "saddle?" I
suppose I should get one with extra padding?

Neil
385/281/220

The Historian wrote:
> Keith Willoughby wrote:
> > "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> writes:
> >
> > > I want to ride a bicycle. I don't think I've ridden one since age 10.
> > > That will wait till this spring, when the weather is better and I am
> > > thinner.
> >
> > I'm with you on the weather, but believe me, you can cycle now. Last
> > year, I did a 52-mile ride whilst weighing 280lbs. I just worked up to
> > it - my first ride was 7 miles, and I stopped at least 10 times to get
> > my breath back.
>
> OK, but you knew how. I'm not sure I do. :-)
>
> > Heck, cycling is actually easier than walking if you're heavy, in my
> > experience - your weight is supported on your feet, your backside, and
> > your hands on a bike, whereas it's all on your feet when walking. As
> > long as your bike isn't a lightweight racer with fancy spoke patterns,
> > it'll probably cope fine.
>
> Keith, how about the seat, or what you bikists call the "saddle?" I
> suppose I should get one with extra padding?
>
> Neil
> 385/281/220

I'm not Keith but extra padding is not always a good idea. It often
causes more problems than an unpadded saddle. Sheldon Brown's website
is a good place to learn about biking.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html


Beverly

(snipped)

>>I have such a mixed marriage. My DH is a sausage eater! He cooks
>>breakfast
>>for himself and I take care of me and it works out fine.
>>
>
> We generally fix our own food as well, though a couple of nights a
> week we might make a real dinner together. We also have substantially
> different outside interests. But it all works fine :-).
>
> Chris
> 262/130s/130s
> started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

It's just breakfast that we cook for ourselves. We alternate cooking
dinner. I cook super healthy foods (vegetarian dishes, fish & different
vegetables, for example) and he cooks the beef and pork main dishes. It's
been working out really well. When he cooks something full of saturated fat
and calories, I counter with a tofu dish and dark green veggies the next
night.

We watched the movie "Super Size Me" and finally had a constructive
discussion about nutrition and our eating habits. Before that his attitude
was "I'm going to eat what I want, in the quantities that I want." Now,
he's more willing to eat things that are good for him if I find a good
tasting recipe with them, i.e. the Curried Greens recipe I posted a while
back. There's also a Tofu Piccata recipe that he raves about how good it
is. He's lost a little bit of his belly (that's where all his fat is) and
I've lost 26 pounds since July (with still unresolved thyroid and menopause
issues). Of course, I'm working at it and isn't really trying. I still
can't get him to exercise and we have a recumbent exercise bike right in
front of the tv. He teaches 7th grade Math and says since he's on his feet
all day, he doesn't need to. I can't convince him otherwise. Any ideas? I
know there are a couple of other teachers who post. Why do you exercise
after a hard day imparting knowledge to brick walls with human faces on
them?

Tonia
234/200/140

Oops, I left the *he out
"Anonomouse" <guesswho@myplace.com> wrote in message
news5_8h.1557$_H5.1287@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>
> (snipped)
>
>>>I have such a mixed marriage. My DH is a sausage eater! He cooks
>>>breakfast
>>>for himself and I take care of me and it works out fine.
>>>
>>
>> We generally fix our own food as well, though a couple of nights a
>> week we might make a real dinner together. We also have substantially
>> different outside interests. But it all works fine :-).
>>
>> Chris
>> 262/130s/130s
>> started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004
>
> It's just breakfast that we cook for ourselves. We alternate cooking
> dinner. I cook super healthy foods (vegetarian dishes, fish & different
> vegetables, for example) and he cooks the beef and pork main dishes. It's
> been working out really well. When he cooks something full of saturated
> fat and calories, I counter with a tofu dish and dark green veggies the
> next night.
>
> We watched the movie "Super Size Me" and finally had a constructive
> discussion about nutrition and our eating habits. Before that his
> attitude was "I'm going to eat what I want, in the quantities that I
> want." Now, he's more willing to eat things that are good for him if I
> find a good tasting recipe with them, i.e. the Curried Greens recipe I
> posted a while back. There's also a Tofu Piccata recipe that he raves
> about how good it is. He's lost a little bit of his belly (that's where
> all his fat is) and I've lost 26 pounds since July (with still unresolved
> thyroid and menopause issues). Of course, I'm working at it and (*he)
> isn't really trying. I still can't get him to exercise and we have a
> recumbent exercise bike right in front of the tv. He teaches 7th grade
> Math and says since he's on his feet all day, he doesn't need to. I can't
> convince him otherwise. Any ideas? I know there are a couple of other
> teachers who post. Why do you exercise after a hard day imparting
> knowledge to brick walls with human faces on them?
>
> Tonia
> 234/200/140
>

"The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> writes:

> Keith Willoughby wrote:
>> "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com> writes:
>>
>> > I want to ride a bicycle. I don't think I've ridden one since age 10.
>> > That will wait till this spring, when the weather is better and I am
>> > thinner.
>>
>> I'm with you on the weather, but believe me, you can cycle now. Last
>> year, I did a 52-mile ride whilst weighing 280lbs. I just worked up to
>> it - my first ride was 7 miles, and I stopped at least 10 times to get
>> my breath back.
>
> OK, but you knew how. I'm not sure I do. :-)

That was the first time I'd been on a bike since I was a
child. Amazingly, riding a bike really is just like riding a bike - you
never forget ;-)

[...]

>> Heck, cycling is actually easier than walking if you're heavy, in my
>> experience - your weight is supported on your feet, your backside, and
>> your hands on a bike, whereas it's all on your feet when walking. As
>> long as your bike isn't a lightweight racer with fancy spoke patterns,
>> it'll probably cope fine.
>
> Keith, how about the seat, or what you bikists call the "saddle?" I
> suppose I should get one with extra padding?

Almost certainly not, no. Soft saddles distribute your weight all over
your fleshy bits, which can be very painful after more than about half
an hour. If you use a firm saddle, your weight is borne by your ischial
tuberosities, aka the 'sit bones'. Although this can be uncomfortable
for a few days for a beginner, in the long term, it's the only way to
go.

The absolute most important bit about buying a saddle is that it fits
you. People's sit-bones are different widths - one person's comfortable
saddle is another's torture device. If you can, go into a good local
bike shop and see if either that have a device for measuring your
sit-bones, or otherwise a bunch of saddles you can try out.

(I use the Holy Grail of firm saddles - a Brooks. It's basically a strip
of thick leather stretched over a metal frame. It sounds uncomfortable,
but my backside is generally the least painful bit of my body after a
long ride)


--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"Suspected murderer of Tupac murder suspect murdered"