Driven or should I say Obsessed?

z3dreamer

In late 2010, I weighed 317. Started on Nutrisystem and got down to about 265 by mid 2012. Hit a plateau. For 5 years, I have been maintaining in the 245 to 260 range. During this period, I learned a lot about healthy eating and exercise.

Nutrisystem is good for starting, because you don't have to think. It gives you structure. But at some point, you no longer need it.

Along the way, I picked up some used gym equipment - a Concept2 rower and a StairMaster. I kill the cardio on it. First thing this AM, I took my blood pressure. 115/78 with a pulse of 48. I have obsessed on the rower. My times on the rower are competitive. You can log your times at various distances and then compare with your age group (This is on the Concept2 website). I am top 10%. Rower is great because it has zero impact. Have just begun using a SkiErg at the gym.

Went to a gym while on vacation and was talked into personal training. They wanted to get my heart rate up so they put me on a tread stair machine. Got up to 90 after 10 minutes. The trainer thought something was seriously wrong so he called over his boss, a PHD personal trainer kind of body builder guy. He asked me a bunch of questions, then said: "We have just never seen anyone in that kind of cardio shape". So the lungs and heart are kicking. The boss is also a nutritionist. He suggested I go the low carb route. I am shooting for under 100 grams a day. I do not see that I am losing more or less with it as opposed to just counting calories.

Now I come to MFP. My eldest son had been bustin my chops about using MFP to log food. So right after Thanksgiving I weighed in at 253.2. I am 60 years old and 6 feet tall. I began logging meals and snacks and exercise. And almost daily weigh-ins. This AM, I weighed in at 230.4. That's 23 pounds in 11 weeks! Goal #1 is to drop under 230. That WILL be tomorrow morning. Next goal is 221 which will make me Overweight on the BMI scale instead of my current state of Obese.

Next goal is 217 which would put me at a total loss of 100 POUNDS! I used to love running and would enjoy being competitive on those 5k fundraisers. When you weigh 250, pulling a 32 minute is all you can do. I imagine at 217, I will cross that line at about 27.

I am so focused and obsessed about this. It is amazing that Dear Wife puts up with it.

eminater

Haha ... I love "obsessed". The focus and determination on a day in day out basis is the way to go. What a wonderful story. Goes to show that simply MFP and logging is the most effective way, rather than focusing on carbs.

ConnieAGinther

Welcome to MFP!! You are doing an amazing job. Feel free to add me as a friend if you would like