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Taking the Strain off of the Suspension

9K views 66 replies 25 participants last post by  Louisville Joe 
#1 ·
OK, if I had weighed this much in college, I'd have played in the NFL. Been effin around with various spurts of diets that suck ditch water and nothing positive.
So recently, I decided to get serious (my doctor is also a long time friend so you can be I've been catching hell from him....yea, Rick), but at 6'3", 265 was too much at age 67 as far as I am concerned. Having half a left leg and a compromised left shoulder rotator cuff after falling some 30 feet after that nice lady in the SUBV left-turned me slowed the exercise program and the weight sort of crept up on me....beer didn't help.....lots of beer....often.
so about a 10 days or so ago I got into a discussion with self and cut back on the calories, stopped the drinking (sot of) in excess (is there any other way?) and kicked it up a notch on the exercise schedule...lots of walking and treadmill. Still a bit leery of the weights because of the shoulder.
So far, starting at 265, was 258 today after roughly 10 days (backslid a bit tonight with a few shots of Single Malt), but the goal is still going to be 240 for this evolution and ultimately, 220. Been there before the wreck, and decided that that B!T(# didn't kill me so eff her, and I'm coming back.
You guys aren't noted for cutting slack, so here's your chance to change from Altimas to calories one me. I have the utmost respect for all of you so my pledge is to giterdone. Hold me to it.
 
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#3 ·
Good for you, kd. I've been working my own weight loss thing for a while. Have Type 2, and control with meds. My goal is to get down to about 210. I'm 6' and started at 270. Tried a number of things and yo-yo'd a bit for a few years. Finally settled down to a program I can live with and that seems to be working for me, I'm currently floating around 230, with the holidays coming.

I use an app on my smart phone to track activity and food daily. I have a set number of calories to stay under. I keep my diet simple, try to keep it high in fiber, protein and low in carbs and fat. My last set of blood work caused my Doc to reduce my diabetes medicine dose a bit.

The app I'm currently using is MyFitnessPal. I went to it because it integrates better with the iPhone telemetry. I used to use LoseIt. But, to get the integrated functionality, I would have had to pay a premium.

I don't drink, but sometimes I miss that a lot. Until I'm off the meds, though, it's best I don't. I figure, if I can get down to 210-200, I should be able to control with diet and maintain that easily.

Part of it is getting your mind wrapped around the idea, setting some reasonable goals, understand you'll hit some plateaus and progress will be slow. Slow is good, though.

Stay focused and positive.



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#5 ·
Wow, I am impressed KD! And, inspired. I too want to lose some weight and you have inspired me to give it another go! I know what my problem is and I will be taking a hard look at drinking less wine and beer (which makes me hungry) and doing more exercise too! I am announcing my retirement today at work to my boss and HR. I expect there will be way less stress after the first of the year, thus reducing the need to drink as much. The 10 lbs my doc has been after me to lose should be easier to get to I think. Be strong KD and I will be watching for your results. Congrats on what you have achieved so far!
 
#6 ·
Kd, years ago I changed my diet to help lower my cholesterol, wasn't concerned about losing weight. But lose weight I did! Over a period of about 10 months I dropped 35-40 lbs. My diet changes and meds are keeping my cholesterol in check.

I don't really diet in the sense that I go hungry, but I am always conscious of what I eat. Major dietary changes for me were: No desserts, period. None. No chips of any kind, ever. No more bologna and cheese sandwiches. No hot dogs. Hardly ever eat anything fried. Salad dressings are either fat free or very low fat. Lite sour cream--in small amounts. Grilled steaks are trimmed of fat. Turkey bacon. No soft drinks. Helman's LOW FAT (not light) mayonnaise. No ice cream. Very little cheese.

Breakfast menu changes were the hardest cause all the good breakfast stuff is so high in fat. Breakfast for me now is cereal with fruit and maybe some toast. At C II I hit the breakfast buffet at the pancake house and had REAL bacon and other stuff I normally avoid. And I intend to do it again at C III, but otherwise I am eating healthier than I used to and keeping my weight down.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Thanks for the input and support, everyone. This AM was no change. Not surprised since I DID have a few drinks last night. Back to the routine today. Had a can of SlimFast for breakfast. Will subsist on black coffee with some riding buddies this morning as usual then will come back and give those weights a try (light ones as suggested).
Hope to keep today under 1200 calories.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the input and support, everyone. Tis AM was no change. Not surprised since I DID have a few drinks last night. Back to the routine today. Had a can of SlimFast for breakfast. Will subsist on black coffee with some riding buddies this morning as usual then will come back and give those weights a try (light ones as suggested).
Hope to keep today under 1200 calories.
Kd, glad to see you trying. I watch fat grams, not carbs or calories. And I ain't no stinkin expert but I did drop 35-40 lbs. years ago and have kept it off so let me share a bit more info that may help you:

First--alcohol. Your drinks/beer don't have any fat. But...., as long as you have alcohol in your system your body is NOT burning/disposing of fat.

Slimfast--you can get better products with less fat & more protein. I buy Premier brand vanilla (they also have chocolate & strawberry but I prefer vanilla) protein drinks at Costco. 11 0z. container, 18 per case, about $22 or $23 per case. And you can make a good smoothie in the blender with a container of protein drink, one or two bananas and one dollop of peanut butter (Peter Pan Reduced Fat) as a "flavor enhancer". And if you got 'em a handful of blueberries in the blender will also be good with the banana. That smoothie will hold you a lot longer than just a can of Slimfast.

I cut back/off a lot of stuff but I still eat all the red meat I want. But I eat lean cuts or well trimmed steaks and hardly ever do we fry anything, mostly grill or fix something in the crockpot.

At a Texas Roadhouse I will order a large steak, salad and will eat their regular Ranch dressing cause they don't have anything low fat I like, but instead of fries or a baked spud with butter/sour cream I will get green beans. And no dessert.

Once in a while wife will get (take out) me two fried fish sandwiches on rye. But I put ketchup on the sandwiches instead of tartar sauce which is almost all fat.

If you have to snack, forgo ALL cookies & chips. Get some pretzels. The skinny stick pretzels are pretty good dipped in a fat free or low fat salad dressing. And Quaker Oats has some granola bars in a number of different flavors. I buy the oatmeal raisin ones cause each bar only has 1 1/2 grams of fat--two of them make a decent snack.
 
#8 ·
Been looking for a regimen that I could tolerate myself.

Came across Alton Brown's (Good Eats) 4 lists:

List 1: Foods to Eat Daily

•Dark leafy greens
•Nuts
•Carrots
•Green tea
•Whole grains
•Fruits

These foods should be a part of your daily diet. Whole grains, like oats, are rich in fiber so they fill you up and keep you satiated for longer. Also, soluble fiber keeps your cholesterol levels in check and lowers your risk of heart disease. And fruits, especially purple ones like blueberries, blackberries and Concord grapes are rich in antioxidants and resveratrol, known to promote longevity. To get these foods in every day, Brown freezes the berries into pre-portioned packets and either uses them in smoothies or just eats them as is. Additionally, nuts are a good source of protein and you can fit them in easily every day by eating a handful about 15 minutes before a big meal to help curb overeating.



List 2: Foods to Eat Three Times a Week

•Yogurt
•Cauliflower
•Broccoli
•Sweet potato
•Avocado
•Oily fish
•Tofu

These foods are healthy for you in moderation. For example, sardines are high in protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are very good for your heart; plus, the tiny bones contain calcium. Additionally, tofu makes a great low-calorie meat substitute that actually has more protein per calorie than ground beef. Brown frequently uses tofu in pasta sauces, tacos and stir-fry dishes. Cauliflower and broccoli are cruciferous vegetables that have been praised for their cancer-fighting properties, like antioxidants that help rid your body of toxins that might damage cells.




List 3: Foods to Eat Once a Week

•Red meat
•White starch
•Desserts
•Alcohol

These are foods you should only indulge in every once in a while. With alcohol, for instance, Brown’s motto is, “If you’re going to have one drink a week, make it count.” So choose a drink or dessert you really enjoy and savor it, rather than going for something that you might drink more of, but not like as much.


List 4: Foods to Never Eat / Foods to Avoid at All Times

•Soda
•Processed meals
•Canned soups
•“Diet” anything

These are foods you should cut out completely. Brown found that when he drank diet soda or ate processed foods, he would crave and eat sweet and processed things more often, contributing to his weight gain. And artificial sweeteners may be to blame. Studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can be addictive and put taste receptors into overdrive, causing the body to release more insulin – a hormone instrumental in storing body fat. So, instead, he stopped incorporating these foods into his diet altogether.
 
#10 ·
Wow,
Some parts of getting old really does suck!!
I have a bit of the old type 2 myself and have been forcing myself to exercise more and eat better. Working on getting blood pressure down too.
Love those BP meds that make you pee all the time...
Down 2 belt notches and about 20lbs...
I miss soda too...
 
#11 ·
Joe, re.: the Slimfast: I have the powder and mix it in a blender with part low fat milk and part ice cubes. Makes like a smoothie and holds me for 3-4 hours. Heard a blurb by Mike Strahan on a commercial about drinking high fiber between meals to keep you full and kill hunger...so I tried that. It does help a lot so 3 of those a day and very low cal.
Brian, I was getting into your list until the tofu. I have been eating pretty much according to the rest of it.
So far for the day I am well under 400 cal intake and getting ready to go out and hit the weights and maybe do a mile on the treadmill. Good thing about the treadmill is that if the leg gives out, I can just get off and sit down...and I'm already at the house.
Yeah, this getting old sucks, but I still have a few young years left in me.
 
#12 ·
Works for me is not eat any thing after dinner. More activity to increase the metabolism. Your on your way KD. Keep us posted...
 
#13 ·
At 5'11" been getting up in pounds, and the Dunlaps on my waist cause the Michelin man to call and threaten me. Not much on exercise either. Decided to get on a little diet called Paleo, but modified my way. Eat mostly lettuce with either grilled chicken or beef, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. For more taste I add up cilantro and i eat the last meal before 7 PM. Did a light workout on a Bowflex too. First 10 days lost 3 pounds. A month later, down 7 pounds only, but lost nearly 2 inches of body fat. Getting ready to step up workout after I clear this flu bug. I also stay away from carbs, sugars, sodas and beer unless I shock the body, once a week and only have 3 to 4. Drink lots of iced cold water which burns fat.
 
#14 ·
Well, it's Friday afternoon, no Halloween candy in the house, and so far 8 pounds seem to have gotten lost. Even resisted the urge to have a few drinks during the football game last night.
Not sure I can see a difference nor are my clothes getting baggy yet, but onward I march.
BTW, yesterday was just a very tiny bit over 1000 cals. Lots of water drinking involved there. Today so far am at approx. 500 cal for the day and time to hit the weights.
 
#15 ·
Congratulations Darryl - takes a lot of will power at our age. Something you might like to try that worked (and is still working) for me is the "5-2" diet. Basically you eat just about anything you want for 5 days a week. The other 2 (must not be consecutive!) days you are allowed 750 calories (for men, only 500 for ladies). Weight loss is gradual so your body gets used to it but also your body briefly goes into starvation mode which not only burns fat but releases hormones that reduce cholesterol, blood sugar etc etc etc. The best thing is, on fasting days you know you only have to survive until tomorrow, then you can pig-out. Funny thing is, tomorrow comes and actually you just eat normally. A friend of mine in VA lost over 40 pounds before stabilising and everythiing they measured at his quarterly medical was down by at least 15%. There's lots of "fad" diets out there but this one really works for me and "she who must be obeyed".
The other thing I learned was that my weight yoyos by up to 4 lbs from day to day. As long as the trend is downwards you should be happy.
If I ever get down your way I hope this doesn't mean that Cajun you promised will have turned to chicken salad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#16 ·
Colin, absolutely no chicken salad on the menu. Got lots of good seafood and such down here to whet your appetite....but the beer comes at ya around 38 degrees.

Back in '03 I lost a bunch of weight on the Atkins diet. Really slimmed down on it, but by the time I was a month into it, I was craving stuff that was forbidden on the diet. Even had dreams of New Orleans style red beans and rice. Thought about trying it again, but I don't think I can take the mental strain.:)
 
#20 ·
Don't for get the old diet stand by. Table push's. As in push away from the dinner table.
 
#21 ·
Billy, not to the point of table pushes yet, but will have a lot of strain placed upon my resolve in a few weeks with Thanksgiving. I've already announced that for at least this year, I won't be cooking my usual spread for friends as I have the last 25 or so years, and a few of us will be going to a restaurant at one of the local casinos. I may eat a regular meal there, but it will be a lot of veggies and salad.
 
#22 ·
All of us who are conscious of what & how much we eat have a little harder time of it at Thanksgiving & Christmas. I pretty much eat all the turkey I want and seasoned green beans but I decline the biscuits w/butter, and have really small portions of mashed potatoes and stuffing. Thankfully my wife cooks "low fat" to the best of her ability and that helps. Her pumpkin pies are almost fat free and fat free whipped topping ain't bad at all since I can't remember what the real stuff tastes like.

And it's about the time of year when you start seeing eggnog on the shelves and in the dairy cases. In the old days I could easily down a quart of eggnog in about a minute! But these days, I buy the low fat eggnog that Kroger sells and I make a quart of it into about 3 servings. Not perfect--but I've come a long way from my days when I considered a Sara Lee cheesecake an individual serving.
 
#23 ·
All of us who are conscious of what & how much we eat have a little harder time of it at Thanksgiving & Christmas. I pretty much eat all the turkey I want and seasoned green beans but I decline the biscuits w/butter, and have really small portions of mashed potatoes and stuffing. Thankfully my wife cooks "low fat" to the best of her ability and that helps. Her pumpkin pies are almost fat free and fat free whipped topping ain't bad at all since I can't remember what the real stuff tastes like.

And it's about the time of year when you start seeing eggnog on the shelves and in the dairy cases. In the old days I could easily down a quart of eggnog in about a minute! But these days, I buy the low fat eggnog that Kroger sells and I make a quart of it into about 3 servings. Not perfect--but I've come a long way from my days when I considered a Sara Lee cheesecake an individual serving.
But but but it's not ????? :eek
 
#26 ·
My wife does some baking but she tries her best to "lowfat" the recipes. She uses eggbeaters instead of eggs, and for recipes that call for vegetable oil she will substitute applesauce for almost all of the oil. She examines every item in a recipe trying to find something that will work but that is lower in fat than whatever the recipe calls for.
 
#27 ·
Kd...good for you! I have started up watch what I eat as well and it sounds like you are doing great! Don't be afraid to have a"cheat day" one in a while to satisfy some of those cravings wether they be liquid or fried...Lol... hang in there giterdone your not alone I'm doing it with you
 
#28 ·
Mike, are you suggesting I get fried on selected liquids periodically????? LOL
Seriously, made it through the football weekend without so much as looking at a beer. Another pound snuck out of the house over the weekend. It's slow, but it's all headed in the southerly direction.
 
#30 ·
Rapier, I have been cooking the T'giving meal for a large group of buddies for the past 25 years. This year, I asked to do something different, so we'll hit a sit down at one of the local casinos where I will have a larger than normal meal.....BUT NO EFF'N LEFTOVERS. that's the stuff that kills me every year. And of course, no dishes to wash and put away. Got one of my friend's wives has some connections so we will have a reserved table(s) and no waiting (and a table set with a lot of lo cal stuff, too). There is usually a line out the door and across the parking lot at the place we'll be hitting.
 
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