60 lbs in 3 months

Robertus

I'm a bit of a renegade. I know the philosophy of MFP is 'slow and steady wins the race', but I needed to prove to myself (and my wife) that I could indeed lose more than 10-15 pounds this time so I started with killer work-outs and eating only as much as I need to fuel these killer work-outs. Primarily long-distance swimming. I've worked up to swimming 3 miles continuous (without stopping to rest) with strength training on off-days so that I don't lose too much muscle. As long as my distances keep increasing, my times keep going down, and my weights keep increasing, I figure I am eating enough nutritious food to sustain these work-outs. And I am a big believer in getting the proper amount of rest between killer work-outs. The body needs to repair and restore itself after you tear it down exercising. I don't have any good before and after pics, but I do have a graph of the first 3 months. I still have another 25 lbs to lose before I re-evaluate my goals but thought I would post this to encourage others who might be like-minded. I am aware of the dangers of losing weight quickly and I do intend to focus like a laser beam on learning to maintain my eventual goal weight.

Robertus

PS: Feel free to add me as a friend. It always helps to have good friends.

totaloblivia

Awesome!

thin1dayplease

Well done! You have obviously worked very hard.

Chrysalid2014

That's a fantastic result and very inspiring! And of course you're right, slow and steady isn't the only way to lose weight successfully. No doubt you will get a legion of nay-sayers replying to this thread telling you you're going to gain it all back within a year, but that's nonsense. I know several people who have done used fast weight loss methods and maintained their new weight afterwards. Different strokes and all that.

BuckyArden33

well done

999tigger

So on plenty of days you believe in eating less than 1000 calories. How is that an inspiration for all the young women with poor body image and those desperate to lose weight. I have reservations that losing at 5lb a week is realistic for many people especially when safe suggested rates are 1-2lb a week. Congrats on losing that amount, but I hope people dont get frustrated that they are unable to lose at your rate or follow your example in terms of severe calorie deficit. Rather than inspire id be more concerned that plenty of desperate people try and follow your example.

Robertus

999tigger wrote: »

So on plenty of days you believe in eating less than 1000 calories. How is that an inspiration for all the young women with poor body image and those desperate to lose weight. I have reservations that losing at 5lb a week is realistic for many people especially when safe suggested rates are 1-2lb a week. Congrats on losing that amount, but I hope people dont get frustrated that they are unable to lose at your rate or follow your example in terms of severe calorie deficit. Rather than inspire id be more concerned that plenty of desperate people try and follow your example.

I am not sure exactly what you're asking. If you are referring to young women, or anyone for that matter, with an eating disorder, I am in no way intending to inspire them to engage in dangerous or unhealthy behavior. If they listen to their bodies and make fitness their goal, they will learn what it takes to achieve physical fitness.

By some definitions, I was morbidly obese (BMI 35 with comorbidities of high blood pressure and high cholesterol), and my doctor ordered me to lose weight. He is not concerned by my description of my work-outs as extreme. He has encouraged me to work out even more, saying there are 'no limits' to how far I can go. If people follow my example, they will listen to their bodies and focus on fitness as their goal, not merely or even primarily weight loss. I believe that people can, and should, become physically fit, and let the weight loss be subservient to this goal. I don't have a goal weight, 'though I have had several milestones in mind. When I am no longer overweight according to the BMI, I will begin to determine what my goal weight should be. When I started on this journey, I was barely able to swim three laps in the pool, yet within 3 months I was swimming 3 miles continuous. To achieve this level of endurance, I sometimes exercised once a week in order to ensure that my body got adequate rest (and food) in order to rebuild itself stronger. If I were only interested in losing weight, I would exercise 6-7x/week to burn as many calories as possible. That might achieve more immediate short-term weight loss, but without the proper rest one will not achieve optimal fitness and will not gain the most important benefits of exercise. I did not even start 'dieting' until I had improved my fitness level to swimming .75 miles (not continuous) in a work-out.

I encourage people to find their own baseline level of fitness and endurance and set their own fitness goals based on how quickly they are able to improve their performance at their own rate. Weight loss will help them achieve these fitness goals. Form follows function. What weight, what level of strength and muscle will help you achieve these fitness goals?

As for fasting, I learned a little bit about ketosis years ago and how to encourage the body to live off excess fat stores. This is the system that evolution produced to help us survive in times of stress, famine, and long winters. But rather than wasting away or hibernating in a cave, I eat to fuel my work-outs and fitness goals. When I need more protein, more fat, I go for it. Whatever makes me feel best physically and increase my levels of fitness and endurance and perform well and cheerfully at work. That is not necessarily trying to hit the same target number of calories every day. People who swim English Channel distances sometimes encourage long morning work-outs on an empty stomach in order to train their bodies to more quickly and easily access the stored energy in their fat. In today's society, with fast-food restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, filled with highly processed carbs and diet foods, we've forgotten how to do this, but the body can teach us when we follow its needs and abilities. I'm learning as much as I can about nutrition, but first I'm learning from my own body.

Melvicmurphy

Well done - I agree with you. When you have a bit of age and experience on you, you end up knowing what you need and what you can cope with. We're all on our own joourney

Chrysalid2014

999tigger wrote: »

So on plenty of days you believe in eating less than 1000 calories. How is that an inspiration for all the young women with poor body image and those desperate to lose weight. I have reservations that losing at 5lb a week is realistic for many people especially when safe suggested rates are 1-2lb a week. Congrats on losing that amount, but I hope people dont get frustrated that they are unable to lose at your rate or follow your example in terms of severe calorie deficit. Rather than inspire id be more concerned that plenty of desperate people try and follow your example.

He's not responsible for what young women with poor body image or other desperate people choose to do.

Robertus

Chrysalid2014 wrote: »

999tigger wrote: »

So on plenty of days you believe in eating less than 1000 calories. How is that an inspiration for all the young women with poor body image and those desperate to lose weight. I have reservations that losing at 5lb a week is realistic for many people especially when safe suggested rates are 1-2lb a week. Congrats on losing that amount, but I hope people dont get frustrated that they are unable to lose at your rate or follow your example in terms of severe calorie deficit. Rather than inspire id be more concerned that plenty of desperate people try and follow your example.

He's not responsible for what young women with poor body image or other desperate people choose to do.

Very true. But 999tigger has a good point. I do not want to encourage people to do anything unhealthy. My initial post was rushed when I realized after going to bed that it was three now months since I started watching what I eat and making weight loss goals part of my fitness journey. I left out a lot about my focus on fitness.

crazyjerseygirl

Huzzah! It looks like you did this properly (for you). I am also quite heavy and it bears mentioning that when you are morbidly obese your body will jettison weight quicker than you can say CICO!
So, are you gonna swim the English Channel one day?

999tigger

Thanks for the detailed reply Robertus. Congtaulations on the weight loss, I explained in my PM I wasnt going to post further as its a success thread, not me turning it into a debate. Im not sure everyone could manage such aggressive deficits.

Robertus

crazyjerseygirl wrote: »

Huzzah! It looks like you did this properly (for you). I am also quite heavy and it bears mentioning that when you are morbidly obese your body will jettison weight quicker than you can say CICO!
So, are you gonna swim the English Channel one day?

Maybe, but probably not. My current long-term goal is to swim 10k (6.2 miles) continuous, which is the equivalent of running a 26.2-mile marathon. But I am not yet training to do this. Currently, I am focusing on improving my 3-mile time for a 5k (3.1 mile) Steelman open-water swim in July. In the month of March, I improved my 1-mile time by 10 minutes, from 40 to 30 minutes. Now I am consolidating those gains over the 3-mile distance, ie, 3-miles in 90 minutes. I'm currently at approximately 95 minutes.

Robertus

999tigger wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed reply Robertus. Congtaulations on the weight loss, I explained in my PM I wasnt going to post further as its a success thread, not me turning it into a debate. Im not sure everyone could manage such aggressive deficits.

No problem with a little debate. I think success threads can be very boring with a bunch of people merely saying 'great job', 'amazing', etc. I'm here to learn. Thanks again.

bevjack1

I wouldn't even think of doing this, but my hat's off to you. I do believe it's a personal journey for each of us.
I'm not even greatly overweight, but the difference 20 lbs. makes in my self esteem (and clothing) is worth all
the "work" it takes to get it off. I'm glad you're watching your health. I suspect a physician would be concerned for your well being but I don't know enough about internal workings to take their part and give you the lecture.
I'll bet there is one, just based on the decades of "lose slowly" dogma. Anyway, good luck on the maintenance.
I'm looking forward to it myself!

Robertus

bevjack1 wrote: »

I wouldn't even think of doing this, but my hat's off to you. I do believe it's a personal journey for each of us.
I'm not even greatly overweight, but the difference 20 lbs. makes in my self esteem (and clothing) is worth all
the "work" it takes to get it off. I'm glad you're watching your health. I suspect a physician would be concerned for your well being but I don't know enough about internal workings to take their part and give you the lecture.
I'll bet there is one, just based on the decades of "lose slowly" dogma. Anyway, good luck on the maintenance.
I'm looking forward to it myself!

Thanks. I love my doctor. He's a pulmonologist who eventually became my primary care provider after I nearly died of multiple pulmonary embolisms (PEs) in 2009. He is extremely well respected because of his great skill in diagnosing things that others miss. The nurses and other doctors in the ER and ICU spoke of this doctor in hushed tones because of his legendary reputation for making other doctors look like idiots and saving lives. He's sort of like Dr. House except for the fact that he is incredibly nice to his patients. Whenever I go to see him, we have a great time making jokes about all sorts of stuff, but he takes my health very seriously. The last time I saw him before finally deciding to succeed at getting fit, he stopped the jokes and told me very seriously that if I kept gaining weight I would die of a heart attack.

mpeters1965

Nice work. I'm impressed by the practical way you are looking at this. Sounds like it is as much an intellectual exercise as a physical one. I'm at the opposite end. I wasn't seriously overweight but have been losing at a pace of about .5 lbs a week, so about 8.5 lbs in three months. That works for me. This has worked for you. You may have an adjustment when the weight loss slows or you may not. It's your journey!

By the way, I'm a swimmer, too. Not a three-mile swimmer, but it's great exercise!

Robertus

mpeters1965 wrote: »

Nice work. I'm impressed by the practical way you are looking at this. Sounds like it is as much an intellectual exercise as a physical one. I'm at the opposite end. I wasn't seriously overweight but have been losing at a pace of about .5 lbs a week, so about 8.5 lbs in three months. That works for me. This has worked for you. You may have an adjustment when the weight loss slows or you may not. It's your journey!

By the way, I'm a swimmer, too. Not a three-mile swimmer, but it's great exercise!

Thanks, mpeters. Swimming is fantastic. A little more boring than running outdoors but much better because it is non-impact and uses all major muscle groups. You may want to consider joining our swimming group here. Very nice and encouraging people at all different levels:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/122-swimmers

bigd66218

I thought my 34 pounds in 3 months was good, your weight loss is phenomenal...Combining diet and exercise with your doctor's advice is definitely working..

Smiley_Emi123

I don't mean to be rude but I saw in another post you asking a young women if she would be interest in an older man........ Here you say your married.......

Bugdude54

Smiley_Emi123 wrote: »

I don't mean to be rude but I saw in another post you asking a young women if she would be interest in an older man........ Here you say your married.......

Dun..dun...dunnnnnnn........

Smiley_Emi123

Bugdude54 wrote: »

Smiley_Emi123 wrote: »

I don't mean to be rude but I saw in another post you asking a young women if she would be interest in an older man........ Here you say your married.......

Dun..dun...dunnnnnnn........

Hahahahah

Robertus

Smiley_Emi123 wrote: »

I don't mean to be rude but I saw in another post you asking a young women if she would be interest in an older man........ Here you say your married.......

It was merely intended as a humorous compliment. I do not seriously think that a 21-year-old would be interested in me. Nor would my wife think so. It was a poor attempt at humor.

cmsu64113

How many calories a day are you eating?

Robertus

cmsu64113 wrote: »

How many calories a day are you eating?

I'm not sure, but I probably average about 1,000 per day but it varies a lot depending on my work-outs and other needs, eg, maintaining a cheery disposition at work. And whenever I have an occasion to go out to dinner or a get-together of some kind, I make sure I enjoy all the foods I love: rib-eye steaks, lobster, crab, Eggs Benedict, pizza, peaty single malt Scotch, etc.

angelexperiment

Very inspiring! I am working hard toward my goal and fitness. I want to add swimming too. This may be more beneficial as I have hip issues and the run/jump can aggravate that problem. I am so happy for you.

crazyjerseygirl

Bugdude54 wrote: »

Smiley_Emi123 wrote: »

I don't mean to be rude but I saw in another post you asking a young women if she would be interest in an older man........ Here you say your married.......

Dun..dun...dunnnnnnn........

Dude's a monk, can't you tell by the avatar?!?
/sarcasm

jonnie256

I wanted to do this same type of thing to lose 60lbs in 3 months. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it and to see what a determined and focused mind could do. This what you have done is a great inspiration to me! Ignore all the nay-sayers and just stay focused on your goals and aspirations man.

Robertus

Robertus wrote: »

cmsu64113 wrote: »

How many calories a day are you eating?

I'm not sure, but I probably average about 1,000 per day but it varies a lot depending on my work-outs and other needs, eg, maintaining a cheery disposition at work. And whenever I have an occasion to go out to dinner or a get-together of some kind, I make sure I enjoy all the foods I love: rib-eye steaks, lobster, crab, Eggs Benedict, pizza, peaty single malt Scotch, etc.

Part of the reason I do not know how many calories I eat per day on average is that I do not try to eat the same amount every day. Rather, I try to listen to my body and eat when it feels like I need to, eg, after heavy work-outs when I'm in rebuild phase.

But I should know so I went back and did a quick analysis of the past 84 days since I've been tracking my calories and work-outs. Turns out I've been averaging approximately 1137 calories per day, with an expected very large standard deviation.

I use the default MFP sedentary setting (desk job) and the 2-lbs per week option, which currently recommends 1500 calories per day. Since I generally only eat back my exercise calories when my body seems to be telling me that I need to (or when I want to feast with friends or family), I used the Android phone app to measure my net calories for this period of time and it indicates that, after subtracting my estimated exercise calories, I net out at an average additional 898 calories per day under the 2-lb per week goal. Using the the 3,500 calories/lb of fat number, I calculated that I should have lost approximately 47.5 lbs over these 84 days. Weighing myself at my gym, I had actually lost 46 lbs as of last Saturday (or 45 lbs as of Monday).* I have always believed in CICO, but was nonetheless amazed that all of the estimates involved in this process have proven to be so accurate.

*I admit that I have sometimes cheated by underestimating the calories of a meal at the fancy restaurants I go to, including on Saturday and Easter Sunday!

briannadunn

I know if you fuel your body you can lose quickly..I have seen and know people who have lost 40 pounds in a month and yikes..keep it off..I have also seen and asked my doctor about 20 lb weight losses in a month and mostly guys who are really over weight can do it but women who are grossly over weight should aim for 16 lbs at the fastest..the closer you are to goal the closer less you lose as well..good luck and keep on trucking.