Would You Like Some Butter With That Roll?!!
I can’t do it.
I mean seriously.
When I lost my 30+ lb’s 2 years ago Weight Watchers was my savior.
But I’m dangerously close to falling back into the fat pastor syndrome.
The one who preaches you stop fornicating while wiping jelly donut off his cheek.
ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
I don’t get it.
The first time I did it with flying colors.
I think it was the triple threat accountability.
1. You saw me fail or secceed.
2. I got to video capture myself.
And I always love the camera.
3. I had the weekly weight watchers accountability.
I need to get back on that wagon.
I’m currently 205 and if I wanted to I could make my index finger disappear into the canyon that is my belly button.
So I ask for your health advice…
What has worked for you and why?
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
I've heard this works well.
Seriously though, can't help too much because my metabolism is off the hook. I could eat a box of donuts and lose weight.
weight watchers! you were my inspiration now i am about to throw up my smart one cause of that picture.
anyways… weight watchers. i've lost almost 20lbs in 10 weeks.
Calorie Counting has worked for quite a few people I know. Yeah, it SUCKS, but i've seen it work. And I hear it gets easier after the first few days… or weeks.
My best weight loss success was with Weight Watchers as well. I recently joined a gym and am heading back to WW this month…probably online rather than actual meetings because I didn't find the meetings as helpful as the knowledge that I'd be getting weighed in weekly.
Weight Watchers worked for my husband and my sister and mom are both losing a bunch with Isagenix which is a cleansing/wellness system.
Longtime lurker chiming into say selling my car and commuting by bike has done wonders for me. Diet-wise, calorie counting. I really like the iPhone app Lose It!
I did my 65 with portion control and aerobic exercise.
I think you have it right, you probably need accountability. Get back to the weigh-in every week. Put it out there to challenge and inspire others. I fell off the schedule in the last few months but once you get back on track and seeing results it gets easier. I know I need a good 15 (i crept up some) but nowhere near what I was in this picture.
http://www.lightvox.com/the-ultimate-christian-...
I would say what's worked for me is eating less, but more times, so it keeps your metabolism up. If that's happening, then your stomach works faster. Most people try to stop eating, but really they are keeping the weight because their body stores the fat. This has worked for me daily:
8am – bowl of cheerios with banana, milk/ 1 glass
10am – apple with 2 slices of cheese, water
12pm – tuna sandwich with mustard and very little mayo, water
2pm – apple or other fruit, water
4pm – health bar – not a lot of sugar and good amount of protein, water
6pm – chicken w/ rice/and salad, milk/ 1 glass
8pm or 9ish – light snack – apple or other fruit and/or couple pieces of cheese.
Its hard the first week or so, but after that you end up getting used to it, your stomach shrinks, and you feel great!
Mmm I've fallen off too…contemplating whether to drag my butt back up on the wagon before or after Christmas
Did WW without the meetings and lost 50lbs. I've added back about 30! The best thing lately has been getting into the gym DAILY, and not eating like Godzilla in Tokyo.
I think weight watcher is a good plan but I don't like artificial sugars and they are all about that. We eat as natural as possible. Not as much organic but some. Cut out the processed junk and you can enjoy real food! You just have to eat less and as one person suggested eat more often. It keeps your blood sugar from dropping which causes you to eat more when you do eat. Throw in some exercise and you are on your way!
Good luck!!
Eat Mor Chikn
Oh wait.
We should all do a 40 day cleansing juice fast…
Who's with me?
Me too man. My goal is to gain weight, specifically muscle.
LOL – that video pretty much sums it up!
Five years ago I lost 50 pounds on Lean for life. Unfortunately I have allowed myself to fall off the wagon and I need to get back on!
I'm with you.
Now, it was very inconsistent toward the end, but the RagamuffinTop Challenge worked well for me. No, there was nothing specific about the program other than to try to keep up with the other challengers. It's amazing what one can do with a little competition as motivation. Get back on the wagon Los!
Weight Watchers with the accountability of weekly meetings. My wife and I did it, and I lost 35 pounds. We moved to another church, ditched WW, and I've gained back 12. Without the accountability it doesn't work. Also, I have to make time to exercise.
Check out this pastor's blog ( http://wheresthefatguy.blogspot.com). His name is Roger Blackmore, and he pastor a church in New York. The guys lost 100 pounds (maybe more) on WW, and he's kept it off. He did so well that now he leads meetings for them. He's also in his 50's, and could run circles around me! Really great guy, and informative blog for WW.
just glad i don't see whitie tighties.
Wow, I was just tweeting about needing to start WW again. I lost 30 lbs, then gained back 10-12. Want to lose it again even if they are just vanity pounds.
LET'S DO IT! LOL
I just found Matthew McNutt (http://mattmcnutt.wordpress.com/) last night. He was on The Biggest Loser and is totally behind a book by the Dr. behind the show. I thought I would check it out though… and share the love.
Bonus – he's a youth pastor and he was on the season where they started some of the contestants at home, so he did half of his weight loss with a gym membership and a doctor to talk to…
totally feelin ya man. I currently am in the middle of a six month goal to drop about sixty pounds–and thank God I'm right on schedule. I've come to the conclusion it's all about discipline. Discipline in other areas of my life has been bleeding into my dietary discipline. Eat your veggies, stay away from fat and complex carbs, and be active at least every other day. By doing that I've dropped 20 pounds since the beginning of october. remember its not bout treating the symptom–which may be a little excess insulation in strategic locations–but about getting to the root of what's wrong (poor lifestyle choices).
I've lost 40 points since this time last year. The first few months were a lot more productive than the last few, but I still have about 30-40 more to go.
The problem for me is that I don't really have anyone to travel this road with. My girlfriend is in amazing shape, and while she can encourage me with my eating and excercising, we aren't both on the same journey.
When my husband and I got married (we are both minsters) I found myself gaining about 5-10 lbs a month. Nothing that sucks as much as that!!! So here is what I did.
1.) Walk by faith and not by sight. (Cliche- yes.) Be healthy for health reasons- not aesthetic reasons. If you are trying to be thinner- and not concerned about health then you will find yourself continually unmotivated- because you are looking to the EXTERIOR. Do it for your family. Do it so you can run with your grandkids when you get older. That is REAL motivation.
2.) Exercise. Start small. You don't have to do everything at once. Small changes on a consistent basis will yield BIG results over time.
3.) Portions. You gotta cut them down. My husband and I share meals and that helps a lot.
4.) Wise choices. Eat healthy 90% of the time. Right now I am trying to cut out stuff like the daily Starbucks and replace it with healthier snacks.
5.) Carry snacks with you. Hunger breeds weakness. You can say no to a snickers bar if you have a substitute snack. I eat the south beach Cinnamon raisin bars. Try them not bad!!
More than anything- I would encourage you to ask God for some help. He will give you strength and He will guide you on what you should or shouldn't eat. I know for me, nothing I tried worked until I got the right attitude about health and asked God to multiply my efforts.
no carlos NO!
Amen!
1st off, thats gross (but I have one too), I lost 15lbs in 3 weeks on a Daniel Fast – Fruits, Veggies, Nuts, & Water That's all!! It brings you closer to God and trims you down. I am on the 10th day of my 2nd Daniel fast now.
Care to make this into another challenge where we can all do it along with you for accountability. I do my best going head to head with people. Man I miss it showing I was an athlete in college.
: )
I am a Weight Watchers Life-time member, but that didn't last for me in the long run because I got tired of counting points! I do have friends that have a lot of success keeping the weight off through weight watchers too though. I personally liked the South Beach plan because it was more of a life style change than just another diet. It also broke my sugar addiction and when you cut back the sugar and simple carbs, belly fat drops off so fast! I was doing that until I became a vegetarian about 6 weeks ago, and have modified it to fit my meat free diet. I also have a trainer that is teaching me all about resistance training because muscle burns more calories than fat (even when you're sleeping your muscle burns the fat off!). In general though, 'eat less, eat better, exercise more' is my motto, and I've lost almost 30lbs (and still going) since July 08!
What worked for me was knowing I'd be with three of my high school friends for week with no shirt on.
1. ditch sugar
2. ditch caffeine
3. up your protein
4. eat yer greens
5. drink more water
6. get at least 15-20 minutes of cardio 2-3 times a week.
What happened with the marathon training?
Do some IT band stretches and jump back into training. I might be running the Nashville one in April.
Weight Watchers, Weight Watchers, Weight Watchers. And no, I am not an employee of WW!. It helps to do it with a friend, so not only do you have accountability with WW, but also your friend.
Until you join, make small changes. Cut out sodas and drink an insane amount of water. Skip the dessert. Try to cut out that late afternoon snack.
If I get my husband on board to do it with me, that is a HUGE help. He is a cook and knows all the tricks of cooking light but with flavor.
We are convinced that lots of water, hot sauce and grapefruit were key in our weight loss. But stay within the Weight Watchers Plan – they know what they are talking about.
We have tried the no-carb thing, Atkins, the 10 day diet, you name it. Nothing has worked or changed our eating habits more (for life) than Weight Watchers.
It's so hard, isn't it? Especially this time of year. Keep your chin up! Or should I say….chins?
You should TOTALLY start a Weight Loss Challange with your blog. Talk about accountability. You just need a support group to help motivate. Nothing motivates more than constructive peer pressure!
And EXERCISE. You know how good you feel after?
In about four months I lost 50 pounds by sticking strictly to the Weight Watchers Core Plan, and doing a lot of cardio, at least 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes at a time. I've hit a plateau, largely because I've slacked off some. I realized this week it was time for me to get back on the WW wagon.
I hear you on this one! The first time I did weight watchers it fell off. This time around, pushing thirty, had a baby, it's so much harder and just not working. Good luck to you though!
i did WW too, before i even knew you had done it. to be honest, i didn't have a LOT to lose – the jeans were just getting too tight for liking, and i'm too cheap and proud to buy a new pair in a bigger size
but yes, WW worked. i did it online and counted points (great for someone who can be anal/OCD like me) for about 2 months. started in September and as of this morning, I've lost about 13lbs.
bring back the ragamuffintop challenge! i didn't do it last time! now i want in!!!!
dude..you have to make it a life style.
Weight Watchers has been the only thing that has worked for me. I've been thrown off the wagon into a hole and need to find my way out again.
It's kinda neat that the shadow in your belly button is in the shape of a cross. Can I sell it on ebay? LOL!
What has worked for others may not work for you. If Weight Watchers worked for you then maybe this time hearing it the second time may work. Look who is talking. I need to take my own advise.
Well, considering that I'm 40 lbs overweight I can't offer too much advice, but the one diet the worked best for me is a modified South Beach kind of diet that I got from the YMCA nutrition program. No more than 40 gms of carbs per day, low fat, lean meats, etc. I lost 10 lbs pretty quickly w/o that much working out. Portions were very small (lunch was 1/2 sandwich and that is it! A serving of ice cream was 1/4 cup) .
If I can hijack the blog for just a second— just wanted to throw out a prayer request for the poor gentleman in University City California. He lost his entire family (wife, toddler daughter, 2 month old daughter and mother in law) when an F18 fighter jet that lost control (they think engine failure) crashed into his house and it burst into flames. The pilot ejected from the plane (my prayers go to him as well). This was a Korean family and they are Christians and this poor man is handling it with such grace but our hearts just break for him. Thanks.
Los,
Seriously, Fat Ragamuffin inspired me to lose some weight….and I did, 25lbs! I did it by doing a Bible study called The Lord's Table. It's a 60 day study with a free online bible study, a mentor, and a fasting schedule. It teaches you through scripture to really feast on Jesus instead of food. It's awesome! It helped me break bad habits, create new, good ones and to really look at food differently. Weight Watchers, LA Weight Loss and all those other diet programs are cool, and if you put in the work you will loose weight. But they're just that, programs and most of the time we end up putting the weight back on. At the end of the day, it's about the food, what you can and can't have, with The Lord's Table, at the end of the day, it's about Jesus. I get chills just typing this, because it has forever changed my life. Why? Because when your priorities are where they should be, the weight will come off. Amazing. settingthecaptivesfree.com Click on The Lords Table. It will change your life.
I think everyone has some really great ideas and tactics for losing lbs…
Here's what I'm thinking though…
1) Plan
2) Discipline
3) And most importantly accountability or more specifically a workout partner
I usually get super fired up and start off with a great #1, have #2 for a couple weeks and have no #3 to tell me that I'm still a fat ass and to get back onto the treadmill and drop the donut…
Looking for a #3 for 2009 since I'm firing in at 5'9″ and 218…
Tired of being the fat guy with a hot wife…
Los -
This has nothing to do with your post but I saw it on another blog and thought it seemed like something you would be into…
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
Pretty amazing stuff
Nothing has worked for me in 5 years.
I now weigh 430 lbs
Being fat sucks!
Kids say no to those frakin twinkies!
P90X is amazing. Cardio, strength training, stretching, plus a very balanced healthy eating plan. Total transformation!
Write down every single thing you eat, with its calorie value, and pay someone (a nutritionist) to hold you accountable. Works every time.
I've never used a program, like Weight Watchers, but what's worked for me is just calorie-counting (sucks but you get used to it after a week or so), and then just a bunch of little 'food rules.'
ie- no food after 7pm, always eat breakfast because it speeds up your metabolism, eat the majority of your daily carbs early in the day, and protein later in the day, chew every bite of food 10 times, etc.
Crazy Little thing called the ABS diet. Not even a diet really. Never got all that much attention and it's awesomely not girly like WW.
Look at yo pic!!!
Sassy.
Dude, if you shaved it and painted a face on it, you could, like, do some kind of puppet show or something…
Just kidding. I used to be in great shape, now, I'm a little more smooth (round, that is). I can't stand in on one hand, but on the other, I just love heath bars!
Yeah, I did Weight Watchers too and i attended the meetings…definitely got me back to a good place after college weight gain.
P90X…. i've been trying to talk Perry Noble into it… but he's got a personal trainer these days—-
all i know is until you stretch so intensely that you sweat…… you havent lived—
I love it—
The South Beach Diet. Being a 3rd time Gestational Diabetic the glycemic index has become my friend. It's the best and easiest diet I've ever done. I lost over 50 pounds in less than 8 months and kept it off until I got pregnant with my 3rd baby (I am still preggo, but after this baby I will be doing SBD all over again). I also worked out (at home) 4-5 days a week like it was my religion. I did interval cardio training, pilates, yoga, and free weights. I went from a size 14 post baby to a size 4. Seriously. I also put signs up on my pantry and fridge. The one on my pantry said “chocolate doesn't taste as good as fit feels”. The one on my fridge said “FUEL”.
Good luck! The hardest part is getting started. Two weeks into it again and you'll be all into your new routine. Go for it!!
Seriously Los, you look so skinny in all of your photos lately. You just ran a marathon for goodness sake. Don't beat yourself up.
Hey Los, I am a worship leader from Texas that feels your pain! 4 years ago i weighed 322 lbs, today i weigh 230 and am a certified personal trainer. We all get stuck after losing a bunch of weight its just how it is. My only recommendation is to not fall into a “diet” lie. South beach, atkins, all that works wonderful until you stop. Prayer, exercise, Moderation and healthier foods are really the ONLY answers! Good luck getting back to where you want to be! I am still wanting to lose about 20 more!
Regular, strenuous exercise.
Per week:
1 day / week weights (chest and back)
1 day / week weights (arms and shoulders)
1 day / week plyometrics or kickboxing
1 day / week pickup basketball
2 days / week run 10k
1 day rest
and add in 3 twenty minute ab routines per week – one every other day.
Sometimes I can hardly wait to work out. Most times it sucks, but being lumpy and dumpy sucks a whole lot more.
Read The China Study
CrossFit. http://www.crossfit.com I actually have muscles in my arms. And I can lift my kids and throw them across the pool. (they're 5 and 3) And I can run without passing out. And I can carry $200 worth of groceries from the van in one trip. I can almost deadlift my husband. It's great.
It has to be a lifestyle change. In June I started a fitness bootcamp. Exercising 5 days a week with a group to hold each other accountable (and doing homework on off days) and eating better (smaller meals, more times, better choices) has paid off as I have lost over 40 pounds. I weigh less now than I did when I stopped bootcamp at the end of October. Next month I'm starting Crossfit. Actually there is one opening up this month around the corner from Buckhead church. Check out http://www.btbfitness.com to see when
Oh yeah…. is that what you got?! Check this out! http://marceland.blogspot.com/2008/12/quase-9-m...
The title says something like… “Almost 9 months… but while we don't have Cristina's photos…”
So… be happy with your little bread and butter there.
It's tough man… and wait till you get to be 47 years old like me. Then it's REALLY tough! The only thing that works for me is to eat healthier food (and less of it), exercise everyday (or at least 5 days a week), and have daily/weekly accountability with other fellow strugglers. Check out this link for what I am doing right now to try to combat the “holiday bulge.” http://stevendunham.com/?p=280
haha-I do what I can!
I guess you've been given some good advice: the questions are-
how “fit” you want to be…it looks like there are some ways to lose a good 10-15 lbs based on diet alone another 10-15 with some cardio, and then with weights even more since your metabolism is kickin' and burning calories even while you're not working out.
There are plenty of studies which show losing weight is 80%-90% about healthy eating. In other words, you can workout all you want (and even run a marathon) but unless you support all of that exercise with nutritional foods you aren't going to see significant weight loss.
I just lost about 35 lbs. (245 down to 210) in six months without exercising. My goal was to lose weight first and then build muscle so I focused on being disciplined with my eating first. For me that meant 6 small meals a day with a meal consisting of equal portions of healthy carb and healthy protein (ie. apple and strong cheese, chicken breast and brown rice, etc.). Essentially this is a Body 4 Life type plan. The good news is it allows for one cheat day a week where you can eat whatever you want….and you still lose weight because you are eating healthy 6 out of 7 days a week.
I am now working out using the Crossfit program which is one of the best workout programs I've done but definitely not entry level stuff.
If you want more info feel free to email.
The book “Body for Life” changed the way I take care of myself.
I'm gonna try that picture of your belly… should be a great appetite suppressant
BTW …Did I miss the marathon post? I was looking forward to hearing how that went
I'm right there with ya. I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life. I can't find the motivation to do it – to even try. Sucks.
I was just going to ask if anyone has tried it
http://bodyforlife.com/
Los….
hey man, it's just a phase man, bounce out of it!!! we all go through it! get back on the wagon and remember how good it felt when you were running that 5 miler!
my answer? look at more pictures of hairy man belly and you'll throw up your donuts in your mouth like i just did. sure fire weight loss
either that or eat less and exercise more.
Well, looking @ that picture, for one!
Just kidding. Weight Watchers, Baby! 25 pounds so far!
Love your blog, keep it coming!
I'm feelin' you. I lost 30+ about 8 years ago and of course it's found a way to sneak back on. Last time I did a modifed Slim fast with low carbs and low fat/ workout 4x a week. I was dedicated, I was obsessed, it worked.
Last Jan I lost 15 doing Weight Watchers and working out. I need to do another 15-20 and am targeting Jan to get started. I'm thinking WW's again only because it works and it's fairly easy and of course I'll couple that with getting more dedicated to the gym (read, actually go).
One last thing, I have a friend who dropped 40lbs with the 'Cookie diet' (you can google it). It works, but it's about $8 a day.
Good luck Los.
exercise is a must even if it is only 30 minutes around the block. sweets went out. fried foods went out. fast food is gone. Portion control is the biggest deal.
Isagenix… I lost 100 lbs and have kept it off
debby, thanks for the kind words and encouragement.
I agree, you have to change your lifestyle to lose weight and keep it off, particularly if your lifestyle is sedentary to the max and involves eating lots of fast and junk food. I think WW offers the best, most sensible, way to change ones lifestyle without being obligated to buy someone's “weight loss” pills or food and having to pay that additional expense.
Dude, you did it before, you can do it again…
Ok, so your previous WW weight loss inspired me to go back to WW. I have lost 33 lbs. this year, with a bit more to go until goal….but this time I am doing CORE and I LOVE it!! No counting, just learning new life long eating habits as the main emphasis is on eating healthy: 5 servings of fruits and veggies, limiting sugar and such. I have also started swimming, since moving is such an important part of it, as you know. By the way, WW started a new program this week called Momentum, which you might want to look into. I am still sticking with Core though because if it ain't broke, I ain't gonna fix it!!
You have to try Body For life. It works. You will be better than ever. My husband won it a few years ago, and I might this year- look for me on the website soon. Try it! Don't be a wuss.
When I started working out about 8 months ago, I weighed 190. In the first six months I lost 25 lbs.
I did a lot of weight training in the gym, 4 days a week, focusing on two body parts a day. (chest/ triceps, back/ legs, shoulders/ biceps, then back to chest/ triceps). I also mixed in cardio a few days a week. And of course, started eating better. (cut out fried foods, soda, and just tried to make better decisions.)
It's pretty basic, but you have to be disciplined to do it. That's what has worked for me, now I'm addicted to being healthy and in shape. I feel great, and I can play with my kids without getting tired.
I'm basically sticking with Core until I figure out how this Momentum Plan works. I don't like that it makes you count fat-free dressing and mayonnaise and steak sauce as points; like anyone's going to down a bottle of A1 sauce for a snack
The problem with most famous weight loss programs is that they are not tailored for everyone. Even the program for specific blood groups (winks) did not produce the desired results for some people.
Talking about artifical sugars (aspartame), my, they are deadly! I think there is a real need to be able to read what we are eating!
Then again, it all boils down to self-discipline. People quit smoking, because they feel there is a need to. Same goes for weight loss.
Only drink water.
It's cheaper and better for you.
Once you start your body craves it.
Bro… A ton of good advice here. Lifestyle change (for sure), WW (good concept), eat less food but more frequently (very healthy), etc.
For me, setting goals has worked the best. I sign up for at least one Triathlon a year. That way it's in the back of my head all the time… “I've got to run a triathlon in a few months, weeks, days…”
Now I have an excuse to stay in shape. If I don't, I'm going to kill myself the day of the triathlon. Without a goal, I'm not even motivated.
That's just what works for me… someone else said, “you've got to do what works for you.” Ditto…
Hey Los, watching the biggest loser and saw they are doing a pound for a pound deal. For every pound you lose, they give away a pound of food to people in need…something maybe to look into for your next challenge
Take Sudafed (the generic kind will do). It has Pseudoephedrine which completely kills your appetite. It makes you really thirsty but you will not even think about food. There are no other side affects.