Down 50 Pounds in 5 Months!

Redbeard333

I started my "journey" back in mid-January, when I was very unhappy and angry with myself. I've been overweight for at least 20 years; my doctor had put me on high blood pressure meds 2 years ago, and I've been using a CPAP machine for at least 10 years for severe obstructive sleep apnea. My students would even call me "Peter Griffin" since I was a fat white guy that lived in Rhode Island.

In the middle of January I weighed myself one morning out of curiosity, and instead of being "around 255" as I thought, I was 287.7. What a shocker... and a disappointment! How the heck did I get this big? What am I doing to myself??? I resolved to take control of my weight. I've lost 20 pounds before, but when the challenge I was participating in ended, I gained it all back. This time it was going to have to be a permanent change, one that I could continue for a long time.

I started logging everything I ate on MFP, and stayed within my calorie guidelines. I stopped buying school lunches, and started making my lunches at home, 5 days at a time: pb&j, pretzels, Oreos, and an apple. After losing 20 pounds, I bought a used Fitbit Charge and started trying to be more active by going for late-night walks, parking far away from the entrance to the supermarket, and using my dust-collecting treadmill in the basement. By mid-May, coworkers started to notice my weight loss, and former students who hadn't seen me in a couple months would say "have you lost weight, Mr. K?". I also noticed that as soon as I woke up in the morning, it would pop in my head that I have lost a lot of weight. It wasn't a material possession that was making me happy, but a physical change that was making me smile.

In mid-June, I reached 5 months on MFP, and last week, 5 months and 1 week after starting up with MFP, I'm down 50 pounds. I can't believe I've lost so much weight. The top 2 pictures are from my road trip last summer at the end of August, and the bottom picture was 2 weeks ago comparing what I presently look like and my id photo from the beginning of the school year. I still have a ways to go, however. My long-term goals are that I'd like to reach 200 by my 44th birthday in late October, and see if I can reach the 180's by New Year's.

What's wonderful about this "program" is that it's whatever you want it to be! You don't have to buy expensive bottles of water, or subscribe to a food delivery program, or start going to the gym 5 days/week; just make better choices! Eat less, walk more; it's that simple. I still eat cookies, pasta, and cake, but just not as much as I used to. My morning coffee is now black with no sugar, and I eat as much fruit as I can during the day. The point is, almost anyone can do it; the hardest part is getting started!

I enjoy making new friends on MFP, and love encouraging people at achieving their goals. Feel free to add me, and best of success to everyone on their "journey" as well

TheGoktor

SpaceX tee shirt, Doctor Who lanyard, periodic table tie - you're my kind of geek!

Oh yes, and the weightloss is pretty shiny too! Big, big congratulations

txteacake67

Congrats to you! I'm re-starting today! Happy summer!

get_rucked

Congratulations on great loss and great necktie!!

Diana_GettingFit

Congrats! I got off diabetes meds through losing weight and running. I hope you can get off your bp meds.

charmmeth

Where did you get that tie? I need to buy one for my husband! (And congrulations on the weight loss too!)

momthenurse

Congratulations! So inspiring!

Redbeard333

TheGoktor wrote: »

SpaceX tee shirt, Doctor Who lanyard, periodic table tie - you're my kind of geek!

Oh yes, and the weightloss is pretty shiny too! Big, big congratulations

Thanks!! I'm also the advisor of the "Doctor Who Club" at the school I teach at

Redbeard333

charmmeth wrote: »

Where did you get that tie? I need to buy one for my husband! (And congrulations on the weight loss too!)

I actually got it from a teacher friend who retired. When I was in school to become a teacher, I observed him for a week and was incredibility inspired by his enthusiasm and knowledge. He called me after he retired to give away some of his materials, that tie being one of them. I try to wear a tie every day, and can go about two months without repeating one

BronxBStanfield

Great job!

justrollme

Congrats! And thank you for posting this, it is very motivating for someone like me, who just began some (hopefully) life-changing habits about two weeks ago. Keep up the fantastic focus!

ChiffonLaRue14

Congratulations and keep up the great work! 50 lbs alone is a big difference! Imagine how much younger you'd look at 180! Best of luck!

- Arianna

mmnv79

Congratulations! Well done!

Liftng4Lis

Excellent work!

TinyRaccoon19

Massive congratulations

zuckls

Great job!

mtruitt01

You are inspiring! I'm a teacher also. What were your calorie goals, if I might ask?

Popsicle_Feet

You look great! Good job

FaceTheFears

Ooooooh my goooosh... Doctor Who... *dies*


Oh, and great job!

janisvin

Nicely done!!!!

Redbeard333

mtruitt01 wrote: »

You are inspiring! I'm a teacher also. What were your calorie goals, if I might ask?

I'm just trying to stay below what MFP recommends, which is 2060/day for a 1.5 pound/wk loss. Right now I'm averaging about 2 pounds/week, with two weeks having gained a little.

My worry this summer is having more time around the house, which will lead to more time around food. During the school year I'm there from 6:30 am to 6 pm, so it's WAY EASIER to monitor what I eat.

scojo01

This is exactly what I needed to hear at the time I needed to hear it. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm definitely encouraged.

Toddpbarrett

Well done, sir. Keep it up!

NotThatGirlAnymore

You look so much happier & healthier!! Nice work!!

Virkati

Redbeard333 wrote: »

mtruitt01 wrote: »

You are inspiring! I'm a teacher also. What were your calorie goals, if I might ask?

I'm just trying to stay below what MFP recommends, which is 2060/day for a 1.5 pound/wk loss. Right now I'm averaging about 2 pounds/week, with two weeks having gained a little.

My worry this summer is having more time around the house, which will lead to more time around food. During the school year I'm there from 6:30 am to 6 pm, so it's WAY EASIER to monitor what I eat.

Another way to look at the summer off is that now you have SO MUCH TIME to go out, be active, find a sport/activity to add to your life that brings you some feelings of confidence and pure "hell yeah!" joy
And seriously, dude, you rock!

RodaRose

Awesome! You look great.

Redbeard333

Thanks for all the compliments, everyone! MFP is such a supportive community; you all ROCK!!

heathergetshealthier

Way to go, and what a great role model for you students! You look fabulous!

sbrookes9

Awesome job! Congrats!