Here's how I lost 115 pounds

fredf2112

Congratulations on your phenomenal success! I guess 40 really is the new 20.

nofunforangie

Man, that's great! I wish I'd been taking daily photos over the past few months but I had my driver's licence photo retaken back in Feb '13 and my head looked like a giant meatball, so that's something. I can use that as an example of my starting point (that photo was a big factor in my rock bottom/breaking point). I'm totally going to start the daily photos tonight.

I did my first 5k last month and had to walk a good portion of it due to horrible, horrible instant blisters. I'll definitely do more in the future with the hope of running the entire thing/improving my time. Congrats on it all, it must feel great to be a healthy example for your kids!

scrappermom96

Way to go and thank you for sharing your story!!

ldrosophila

Wow what hard work very impressive. You'll have many more years of being a dad to your kiddos.

Cannon_G

I am SO glad I saw this tonight. I am just now starting my lifestyle change and it really encourages me to read stories like yours! Thanks so much for sharing...it really does help to motivate others!

Thanks for the kind words. I am rooting for your success. It's scary at first but all the hard work is so worth it. My biggest regret is that I didn't make the changes when I was younger. If I can help you in your journey please let me know.

Cannon_G

The only thing I would caution you about is that if your husband is anything like me no amount of suggestions will get him to start with what it takes to make the change. My wife pressured me to lose weight or exercise with her for many years and I came up with all the excuses. Too expensive, my knees were too bad, I would die, etc... She finally just decided to live healthier and do it without me. She didn't pressure me she just made the tough decisions to exercise and eat healthy. Her success is what made me realize I could do it. If it wasn't for her success I would have never tried to do it. She showed me the way and it was up to me to make the decision to start. I will tell you on those tough days the thing that would help me get out the door and exercise was the thought that if I didn't live healthier one day my daughter might be walked down the isle at her wedding by another man. Thankfully I don't live with that worry anymore.

That's what I am trying to do now. I just had our last baby and I am down 49lbs and almost at my goal weight. I cook healthy meals and try to make sure we as a family our being active. So I try not to pressure him and I do what I can to ensure he's eating healthy when he's home.... but I am hoping someday soon he'll hit his breaking point and make a change. I couldnt imagine him not being around to see our babies grow up.

Congratulations on your weight loss.it sounds like you are doing all the right things. It's hard to point to one thing that flipped the switch for me. I remember sitting in bed one night and everything was quiet except for my breathing. I had this wheeze that I never really had noticed before. No matter what I did I wheezed when I took a breath in. Then I started noticing how I would hear my pulse pounding in my ears. I kind of thought that if I didn't make a big deal out of it then it wouldn't be a big deal. As time went on I would have more issues but the bad stuff never went away. Each year seemed to add a new concern. Thankfully the eating healthier and exercise reversed all of the problems.

Cannon_G

Amazing job!!! Kudos to you!:flowerforyou:

Thanks!

Cannon_G

Awesome! I'm definitely going to begin taking photos of myself after workouts from now on. Nice IDEA!! BTW - you look FAB!

Thanks, I still to this day take a photo when I walk thru the door after a workout or run. My favorite pictures are when I exercise on vacation or I take my picture at the finish line of a race.

What's funny though is when you cycle thru the photos from the start when I was over 300 to now it looks like I grew ears.

elisa123gal

hard work and an amazing story of determination. Seems like men just get it done. Damn I am so jealous. You look fab.

Yeller_Sensation

You, Sir, deserve more than 300 standing ovations.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. :flowerforyou:

k150237

Very amazing! You worked very hard for this. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.

KeishaJo

What a PHENOMINAL Post! You go!!!!! You should be SO PROUD OF YOURSELF!

manders376

Amazing! thanks for sharing

CactusF1ower

Amazing! Thanks for sharing

Cannon_G

I salute your journey !! Awesome job. Our 'statistics' (well your beginning stats) are a mirror image of mine with the height exception. I am just into my third week and can only hope that I will have the success you are having.
I might have missed the question if it was asked but what was your daily calorie intake (if you remember) when you were starting off ? Did you go by MFP or did you go by your own rules ? In addition to your cardio did you do any type of strength training ?
Sorry for all the questions but reading about your life change has me quite encouraged !!

Thanks! I never logged my calorie intake when I was dropping the weight. If I were to gues I would think I was right under 2,000 a day. I never did any strength training in the first 4 months. I didn't join a real gym until I was down 80 pounds. Once we joined a gym though I started taking a strength class 1-2 times a week. I recommend combining strength training with what ever other exercise you are doing. The stronger you are the less likely injuries will pop up and slow your progress down. The more muscles you have also helps burn calories throughout the day. I also started doing a protein shake after strength training. There is a misconception that whey protein will make you big and bulky but I found that it helped produce lean muscle and toned me. When I started I was around a 56" chest, today I am right around a "41 chest.

Good luck, if I can help out let me know.

Cannon_G

This is a fantastic post and a truly inspirational story!
(This is an example of the forums at their very best)

Good Work!

Thanks!

FITnFIRM4LIFE

Hats off to you!! Be proud! You look great and healthy! Awesome job! Thanks for sharing:-)

kts1988

i loved reading your story! you are doing a wonderful job and should be proud of taking care of yourself and setting a healthy example for your family.

Cannon_G

Man, that's great! I wish I'd been taking daily photos over the past few months but I had my driver's licence photo retaken back in Feb '13 and my head looked like a giant meatball, so that's something. I can use that as an example of my starting point (that photo was a big factor in my rock bottom/breaking point). I'm totally going to start the daily photos tonight.

I did my first 5k last month and had to walk a good portion of it due to horrible, horrible instant blisters. I'll definitely do more in the future with the hope of running the entire thing/improving my time. Congrats on it all, it must feel great to be a healthy example for your kids!

Thanks, you should look into the Galloway run-walk-run method. By alternating short intervals of walking and running many folks can actually finish faster and fresher than if they run the entire thing. I started with :30 run and then :45 of walking but over time worked up to a 3:1 minute walk/run ratio. After my half I decided to push it back to a :30/:30 ratio and was able to run faster times compared to my 3/1.

As for the blisters you might have luck with a product called body glide. I have used it on my feet for LNG runs on hot days and it works well.

Good luck, you can do it.

Cannon_G

You, Sir, deserve more than 300 standing ovations.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. :flowerforyou:

Thanks for the kind words!

Cannon_G

Very amazing! You worked very hard for this. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.

Thanks!

Cannon_G

What a PHENOMINAL Post! You go!!!!! You should be SO PROUD OF YOURSELF!

Thanks!

Charlesray1943

I cannot imagine how great you feel! Thank you for sharing such a personal and motivating story!

Nenusky

Now this is abso-freaking-lutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing.

mickeyullrich

What an amazing and inspiring story!!! Great job! My 40th birthday is in November and that was what fueled me to start losing weight too...I promised myself that I would be fit for 40... !
Congrats on your success! :flowerforyou:

dixiech1ck

Congratulations!! What an amazing achievement for you. I, too, am running the Disneyland half in August (the Dumbo Double Dare actually). I'll be the one at the half dressed as Timothy Q Mouse

DMicheleC

All I can say is WOW!!! I am having a week of wanting to rebel and eat what I want, but you have given me the willpower to carry one and not cheat. I must admit I am doing a C25K and sometimes I come home with sore calfs, having run in the rain and wind and think I must be mad. But after reading your topic, I know I'm not mad, I just want to be healther and fitter. Well done you are definately an inspiration and I will be trying to take photo's after my running and hopefully I will see the results over the days and weeks and months just as you have.

You are a Star :happy:

Melissa22G

Look how handsome you are Great loss, wonderful pictures! Glad to hear you did it for you.

ajominy

Fantastic job! You should be so proud of yourself. I know first hand how hard work and dedication pay off! Bravo!

TheRealJigsaw

Well done!!