We need your support.

[Surfah]

That was my fear too. I'm 31 - supposedly in the prime of my life - and here I was, winded and stuck in the post playing basketball since I had the weight to bang around (when I'm really more of a 3). I was worried about not being able to keep up with my kids when they get older. DDD and others that saw me at peak weight will tell you that I carry it well, but 250 was making my knees and back hurt. I was getting winded going up the dang stairs.

It's wild to have energy again - and I'm still 20 pounds or more away, depending on what I can realistically get to. I feel better than I have in years. Push through that first month and get yourself in a groove - and forgive yourself when you mess up that time or two.

Well I'd be happy at 250 right now. I carry my weight pretty well also. Most people are shocked when they find out how much I weigh. I weighed in at 288 at the doctor's office a few weeks ago. Ouch. When we got married I was 250. 38 lbs in a year and a half. Ouch.

My goal weight is 225. I think that is something where I'd look pretty svelte and be able to maintain. I'll never see 200 or lower again. Just not my body type or structure.

[FN Phat]

Well I'd be happy at 250 right now. I carry my weight pretty well also. Most people are shocked when they find out how much I weigh. I weighed in at 288 at the doctor's office a few weeks ago. Ouch. When we got married I was 250. 38 lbs in a year and a half. Ouch.

My goal weight is 225. I think that is something where I'd look pretty svelte and be able to maintain. I'll never see 200 or lower again. Just not my body type or structure.

I am sure your wife will agree, you are just big boned.

[Pheidippides]

Well I'd be happy at 250 right now. I carry my weight pretty well also. Most people are shocked when they find out how much I weigh. I weighed in at 288 at the doctor's office a few weeks ago. Ouch. When we got married I was 250. 38 lbs in a year and a half. Ouch.

My goal weight is 225. I think that is something where I'd look pretty svelte and be able to maintain. I'll never see 200 or lower again. Just not my body type or structure.

I think this is one of the major failings of the BMI and such measurements. I am shooting for 195, at which point I will reevaluate to see if 185 is feasible. I am reasonably sure I can't hit much lower than 185 unless I am training for something professionally and/or making an unplanned stop on Anorexia Lane. 185 puts me at the very, very upper end of normal BMI. 195 still has me at obese, which is silly.

[Surfah]

I am sure your wife will agree, you are just big boned.

I don't like to brag.

[Surfah]

I think this is one of the major failings of the BMI and such measurements. I am shooting for 195, at which point I will reevaluate to see if 185 is feasible. I am reasonably sure I can't hit much lower than 185 unless I am training for something professionally and/or making an unplanned stop on Anorexia Lane. 185 puts me at the very, very upper end of normal BMI. 195 still has me at obese, which is silly.

Yeah. I'm a big guy. I have big legs. Big arms. Big chest. But a big waist and double chin to boot. I don't care so much about BMI, but even at my goal weight I'll be considered obese.

[happyone]

I don't know if this will help or not, but when I really got serious about losing the weight and getting off to the diabetes meds I basicly counteed carbs. No more that 15 servings a day, normally between 10 -12 ( 1 serving Carb = 15 gms or half an apple, 1/2 cp of Mashed Potatos) They were spaced like this

Breakast 2 or 3
Lunch 2 or 3 ( normally 2 )
afternoon snack 1 - before going on my walk
dinner 3 or 4 ( normally 3 )
bedtime snack 1 or 2

I also basicly followed the food pyramid for the rest of my nutrition guidence
( I probably do eat two much red meat though - I had to give every thing else up so I took a stand )

Also because of the diabetes I'm really consistant with my meal times. I don't know if that makes any difference in weigth loss.

As a side not I've eaten more salad in the last 3 years than in the previous 48 combined

Right now if they took my blood sugar levels I would not be diagnosed as a diabetic so it worked for me

[Pheidippides]

Yeah. I'm a big guy. I have big legs. Big arms. Big chest. But a big waist and double chin to boot. I don't care so much about BMI, but even at my goal weight I'll be considered obese.

But you play volleyball, which is rad. I am a volleyball junkie. My gym has a league I'm about to join.

Unfortunately, the volleyball scene in TX is nowhere near Hawaii, California, or even Utah. I am a superstar.

[Pheidippides]

I don't know if this will help or not, but when I really got serious about losing the weight and getting off to the diabetes meds I basicly counteed carbs. No more that 15 servings a day, normally between 10 -12 ( 1 serving Carb = 15 gms or half an apple, 1/2 cp of Mashed Potatos) They were spaced like this

Breakast 2 or 3
Lunch 2 or 3 ( normally 2 )
afternoon snack 1 - before going on my walk
dinner 3 or 4 ( normally 3 )
bedtime snack 1 or 2

I also basicly followed the food pyramid for the rest of my nutrition guidence
( I probably do eat two much red meat though - I had to give every thing else up so I took a stand )

Also because of the diabetes I'm really consistant with my meal times. I don't know if that makes any difference in weigth loss.

As a side not I've eaten more salad in the last 3 years than in the previous 48 combined

Right now if they took my blood sugar levels I would not be diagnosed as a diabetic so it worked for me

I haven't counted carbs so much as calories (I'm not at risk for diabetes any more than usual). I eat a lot of low-fat, low cal options. I eat tons of veggies now, and low-fat protein, with carbs that come mostly in the form of whole grains (exception for white sticky rice because the Japaner in me won't have it any other way). I also take a vitamin supplement. Once I got a little bit of momentum, the real challenge was making sure I ate enough calories instead of too many.

[happyone]

I haven't counted carbs so much as calories (I'm not at risk for diabetes any more than usual). I eat a lot of low-fat, low cal options. I eat tons of veggies now, and low-fat protein, with carbs that come mostly in the form of whole grains (exception for white sticky rice because the Japaner in me won't have it any other way). I also take a vitamin supplement. Once I got a little bit of momentum, the real challenge was making sure I ate enough calories instead of too many.

I think the basic concept is the same. If you eat less you weigh less. Most naturally low carb foods are also low calorie ie leaf green veggies

I think I also counted carb servings because it easier for me to track. I can count to 15 alot easier that 1800. Also with a carb budget alot of the sweet stuff that I loved, like my Mom's lemon merquine pie, went out the window except for very very special occasions .
Like I meant to say it work for me. I ended up losing about 135 lbs (300 -165).

I also changed to whole grains. I do miss white rice. Brown rice just ain't the same. It also takes too long to cook.

[Pheidippides]

I think the basic concept is the same. If you eat less you weigh less. I also changed to whole grains. I do miss white rice. Brown rice just ain't the same.

My wife makes a ton of brown rice, and I know it's better for me than the "real" stuff, but I can't bring myself to like it. I have cut way back on my white rice, though, which is too bad since I have found a reliable supply of Japanese food.

[Surfah]

I also basicly followed the food pyramid for the rest of my nutrition guidence( I probably do eat two much red meat though - I had to give every thing else up so I took a stand )

Cowboy thanks you.

Also because of the diabetes I'm really consistant with my meal times. I don't know if that makes any difference in weigth loss.

I think so. I remember losing about 20 pounds in the MTC and not for lack of eating. I think a big part of it was the schedule that got my metabolism going and remaining consistent.

[Pheidippides]

I think a big part of it was the schedule that got my metabolism going and remaining consistent.

Eating breakfast was a big deal for me - I hadn't consistently eaten breakfast in years. At first my body was like "what the hell?" but then it got used to it. I'm not as hungry by lunch as I used to be.

[happyone]

Eating breakfast was a big deal for me - I hadn't consistently eaten breakfast in years. At first my body was like "what the hell?" but then it got used to it. I'm not as hungry by lunch as I used to be.

I have to agree with that. I never ate breakfast before and if I did with something like a donut.

I know I don't feel the munchies near as much as I used to.

[Surfah]

But you play volleyball, which is rad. I am a volleyball junkie. My gym has a league I'm about to join.

Unfortunately, the volleyball scene in TX is nowhere near Hawaii, California, or even Utah. I am a superstar.

Playing volleyball is rad. I played on a co-ed indoors YMCA league. The competition wasn't great, but we won the regular season title and then playoffs. It was fun. Another league is supposed to be starting here in the next month or so. I hope to be in a bit more decent shape so I can start bringing out the "kaboom."

[Babs]

any particular brands you would recommend? I am not sure we are loyal to any particular brand of yogurt. Is it ok if it has fruit on the bottom? and corn syrup is a no-no? I can't even name that many brands of yogurt...yoplait, dannon, Go-Gurt, Yo Baby, and that Dora the Explorer stuff that my kids love.

all of them have corn syrup, which is not necessarily a huge deal. But some of them have so much of that and other stuff that they're hardly even yogurt anymore. I don't know how to describe how I discern the difference. I just read the label, but I'm not sure what all factors I'm taking into account when I do.

Anyway, for kids I like those little Dora cups that you mentioned, because they have a lot less sugar and coloring than the others (this is assuming you don't want to go hard core and get the all-natural organic stuff from Whole Foods). Those have a lot of jello in them, though, so I don't think they work as well for dieting.

For grownups, I was telling Gidget that what I used to do was get a big tub of the standard old-fashioned flavored yoplait, and then a big tub of plain lowfat unflavored yogurt. Then you can mix them together and get something that doesn't have as much sugar as the straight-flavored stuff, but that doesn't require you eating plain (blech) yogurt by itself. That's what worked for me, but if you poke around I'm sure you'll find something you like.