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From 363.4 to 197.7 lbs: My One-Meal-a-Day Success Story

arguablysamson

There are lots of ways to drop weight. Unfortunately, the way I chose is still viewed as a radical and reckless method that is "unhealthy." Well, blood panels and practical, measurable results don't lie, friends. It's not unhealthy, and it isn't as hard as it seems, and it can offer hope when hope seems altogether gone. The Macedonians, the Greeks, and Romans, our hunter-gatherer ancestors, not to mention the followers of Elijah Muhammad, all ate one meal a day.

-BEFORE-

Age: 39
Height: 6'4
Clothing sizes: 4X shirts, 54' waist pants
Blood pressure: 152/117

-AFTER-

Age: 40
Final clothing sizes: Large and XL shirts, 34' waist pants
Blood pressure: 106/67

234 lbs

These last ten months have changed me in ways that it is hard to begin to describe. Going from a mouth-breathing, weazing, inactive fat guy who was sick all the time to an active guy who can actually live and interact in the world around him WITHOUT having to take 3-hour naps after eating is something that is hard to comprehend (unless you've gone through it). And, well, it makes me think I should pinch myself because it must all be a dream. I can't even imagine how I once managed to consume 9,500+ calories a day!

You start out with "baby steps," eating what you want to minimize discomfort, nursing your stomach to a smaller size all the while. Then, gradually, you make healthier eating choices (not because you have to but because it just feels right). Then, that extra energy and go-ahead power allow you to bring in exercise and see even better improvements. Every little step is a step forward.

To whom it may concern, here is how I did it. You should ignore the haters and armchair dieticians out there and give it a try if you have serious trouble with obesity, are a binger, a psychological eater, or otherwise struggle with serious resistance to other, more lenient programs. Mind you, THIS WILL WORK when everything else has failed...

How to do one meal a day the basics

Once you get your system down and can readily remember WHY you must make the changes and stick with them, it isn't that hard to see them through.

However you choose to knock off your pounds, the key is consistency and doing it for you. When all is said and done, you can only do it for you, not for anyone else. Aside from some loose skin and the need to keep getting rid of old clothes, I am left with incredible energy and gasping reactions from people who knew the fat me and the disbelief they experience in seeing the new me. I figure I'll ride this high for at least a year, as I continue to maintain and "firm up," now with 2,100+ calories a day. It can absolutely be done, folks. It can be done. Food doesn't have to own you.

Feel free to add me if you'd like.

Replies

RaggedyAnnazon

There are lots of ways to drop weight. Unfortunately, the way I chose is still viewed as a radical and reckless method that is "unhealthy." Well, blood panels and practical, measurable results don't lie, friends. It's not unhealthy, and it isn't as hard as it seems and can offer hope when hope seems altogether gone. The Macedonians, the Greeks and Romans, our hunter-gatherer ancestors, not to mention the followers of Elijah Muhammed, all ate one meal a day.

-BEFORE-
Age: 39
Height: 6'4
Clothing sizes: 4X shirts, 54' waist pants
Blood pressure: 152/117

288 lbs, 3X shirts, 42 inch waist pants

-AFTER-
Age: 40
Final clothing sizes: Large and XL shirts, 34' waist pants
Blood pressure: 106/67

234 lbs

These last ten months have changed me in ways that it is hard to begin to describe. Going from a mouth-breathing, weazing, inactive fat guy who was sick all the time to an active guy who can actually live and interact in the world around him WITHOUT having to take 3-hour naps after eating is something that is hard to comprehend (unless you've gone through it). And, well, it makes me think I should pinch myself because it must all be a dream. I can't even imagine how I once managed to consume 9,500+ calories a day!

You start out with "baby steps," eating what you want to minimize discomfort, nursing your stomach to a smaller size all the while. Then, gradually, you make healthier eating choices (not because you have to but because it just feels right). Then, that extra energy and go-ahead power allows you to bring in exercise and see yet better improvements. Every little step is a step forward.

To whom it may concern, here is how I did it. You should ignore the haters and armchair dieticians out there and give it a try if you have serious trouble with obesity, are a binger, a psychological eater, or otherwise struggle with serious resistance to other, more lenient programs. Mind you, THIS WILL WORK when everything else has failed...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1241325-how-to-do-one-meal-a-day-the-basics

Once you get your system down and can readily remember WHY you must make the changes and stick with them, it isn't that hard to see them through.

But however you choose to knock off your pounds, the key is consistency and doing it for you. When all is said and done, you can only do it for you, not for anyone else. Aside from some loose skin and the need to keep getting rid of old clothes, I am left with incredible energy and gasping reactions from people who knew the fat me and the disbelief they experience in seeing the new me. I figure I'll ride this high for at least a year or so as I continue to maintain and "firm up," now with 2,100+ calories a day. It can absolutely be done, folks. It can be done. Food doesn't have to own you.

Feel free to add me if you'd like.

I'm glad you put your height because otherwise I would have been like "i don't see that much weight." It made it much easier to understand the distribution.

I disagree with the one meal a day, but if you had/have all your panels showing no strain and it worked, that's all that matters.

Good job! Very Inspirational : )

fredgiblet

Impressive. Good job!

allotmentgardener

Everybody has their own way that works for them. You have achieved a fantastic result and it shows. Congratulations - I'm sure you will keep up the great work

Velum_cado

I think the biggest key to successful weight loss is finding what works for you - something you can stick to, that keeps you healthy. This is a perfect example of that. You've obviously found what works for you. It's not something I would have done. I do save the majority of my calories for dinner, but I find I get quite lightheaded if I don't have at least *something* during the day as well. But that's what works for *me*.

Congratulations on your weight loss! I bet you feel amazing

Supadoopafly

I think the biggest key to successful weight loss is finding what works for you - something you can stick to, that keeps you healthy. This is a perfect example of that. You've obviously found what works for you. It's not something I would have done. I do save the majority of my calories for dinner, but I find I get quite lightheaded if I don't have at least *something* during the day as well. But that's what works for *me*.

Congratulations on your weight loss! I bet you feel amazing

^^^ what she said!

Good for yo6 & well done.

nehushtan

Welcome to

♥Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥ ♪♪♪ ø¤º°`°º¤ø ONEDERLAND! `°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°` ♪♪♪ ♥Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥

...where birds are singing and bees are buzzing and rainbows streak the sky....
...where (sugar-free) lollipops and lemon drops dot the trees....
...where parades of people pass waving streamers shouting "You're the best!"...
...where magic mirrors reflect beautiful smiling images of yourself...
...where it's truly hard to convey to those who don't understand
the glorious impossible once-unimaginable expansively grand
feeling of dancing leaping trumpeting and doing a hand-stand
because you finally at long last with hard work long-planned
have entered the gold and diamond-sparkled gates of ONEDERLAND!

The MAN with the one-meal PLAN makes it to ONEDERLAND !

Un1qu3

Thanks for posting.
I'm also 6' 4", 38yr, and i'm pushing 300lbs

your post has given me a little added boost.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

Congrats! Ya know...I was thinking, when I was skinny as a rail for years and years and years (until I started having children late in life--that's when the ugly pounds, ounces and flab and fat started piling on as I developed a more lazy...I mean sedentary lifestyle to boot--I used to only eat one or two meals per day myself. I was busy and active and relatively carefree when I was skinny (which I hated being skinny, as much as I hate being fat :grumble: ) Food and eating and lounging around was NEVER a thought to me. I only ate when I was hungry, which was about once or twice per day and I'd eat a boatload during those one or two times.

ANYHOO...

I was wondering about this "bit of loose skin" you speak of--how is it...is it really unsightly, like you may need surgery or something to correct it or not so bad looking/hardly noticeable? That's the only thing about relatively fast weight loss that kinda scares me--loose skin.

Again, way to go dude--thank for post! :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker:

Heirgreat

Good job & congratulations, I hope to be writing a success post someday, one meal a day doesn't work for me but it worked for you!

AnnaPixie

Great post! Good to see something different working around here. Congrats! :flowerforyou:

StacyRenee77

I really like this, thank u for sharing!! Good job

Polishprinsezz

i want to agree with you on the one meal a day weightloss plan. it makes sense too. i had this discussion with my sister. our hunter gather ancestors were lucky to eat once a day too. i eat a piece of fruit for breakfast, lunch time i eat a meal giving several good hours to burn it off and a light healthy snack early eve. so far it works for me great. i have been able to control the urge to binge too. i will be seeing onederland any day now too!

littlelaurie14

Very well worded. I'm very happy for you and your new healthy life and body! It makes me so happy to see these things. I have never heard of this one meal method, I imagine it was a last resort and you had a lot of weight to lose. I don't find it too radical, or nearly as bad as being obese and unhealthy. Way to go for sticking to your weight loss, really amazing! :drinker:

NewLIFEstyle4ME

Bump

FatGuyNL

Congrats! I don't think I would be able to hack the 1 meal a day, but you can't argue with over 160lbs gone and lowered blood pressure!

leeshults

You look awesome! And I don't think anyone can fault your determination......eating only once a day has to have real focus!!

Qwertysaurus

Very inspiring, thanks for sharing

You look brill

arguablysamson

It's not as hard as you'd think, peeps. I'm not some Vulcan with unearthly mind power, nor is anybody else who's done this. But anything worth doing is worth sacrificing for and costs something.

Yes, the first week is really hard, less so the next 3 weeks. After that, if you're still doing it, you're saying: "I can keep doing this!" And that means you've as good as already done it since you know you've adopted it and can do it forever. The reason people fail on so many eating plans is because they can't make peace to live with the changes. This is not that hard to get used to. it requires sacrifice, but the payoff is worth it.

And once you know that you can ONLY EAT ONCE PER DAY, the conviction sits in your mind and you get less hungry because you know when you can eat and that you only have to wait 23 hrs at the most for your meal (which will consist of just about whatever you want). You set a boundary and know you can never cross it for the sake of yourself. Therefore, it gets easier.

Plus, multiple meal portion moderators are doing it the hard way since it's way easier to jinx your efforts by overeating 3 times a day as opposed to 1. The one-plate rule is yet another safeguard. The result is that this works and I'm almost never sick anymore. I have tons of energy and a more full day at my disposal.

“Eat a single meal a day, no matter what anyone says. If your doctor says that you should eat more than one meal a day, ignore him with a smile and eat only once a day. If he tells you he eats three meals a day, tell him that his length of life is about the same as his patients. Then, tell the doctor to try eating one meal a day.”

-Elijah Muhammed, How to Eat to Live, Book 1.

Kevalicious99

The one meal a day thing doesn't bother me at all .. but it would never ever work for me. I hate eating .. I am not a food person. I only do it now to keep me breathing, but if I could I would just avoid it altogether. Well except chocolate .. lets be honest.

How did I get fat .. junk food and pop and endless eating a couple of bad food items.

So .. my only question, how much did you eat in that one meal ? You never did disclose that.

My meals can be 200-300 cal for lunch or supper, so having a to eat 6 times that in one meal would be very very hard.

But you do deserve credit for your progress. Your one meal must have been one **** of a meal though.

CMB1979

The fitness model Greg Plitt says he does something similar with his one meal a day in a certain window of time. You can find articles about it through google search.

arguablysamson

The one meal a day thing doesn't bother me at all .. but it would never ever work for me. I hate eating .. I am not a food person. I only do it now to keep me breathing, but if I could I would just avoid it altogether. Well except chocolate .. lets be honest.

How did I get fat .. junk food and pop and endless eating a couple of bad food items.

So .. my only question, how much did you eat in that one meal ? You never did disclose that.

My meals can be 200-300 cal for lunch or supper, so having a to eat 6 times that in one meal would be very very hard.

But you do deserve credit for your progress. Your one meal must have been one **** of a meal though.

Losing, I started out ridiculously nuts. 700 calories a day. I got smarter and quickly upped this to between 1,100 and 1,400 per day, and later, to 1,400 to 1,600. My loss was consistently fast, especially after getting above 1,100 calories. I had short plateaus and averaged 2.4 lbs per week.

The one-plate rule is for starting out, but yes, you fill up a standard-sized 10-inch plate full as I describe in the article. Everything is on the plate with the exception of one healthy calorie beverage. All others are non-calorie for the rest of the day. And you can't get more than 1,878 calories on one plate. I've tried.

This will work for anyone. But snacking or grazing - on anything - is why and how people get fat.

Now that I'm maintaining, I'm at 2,100 to 2,800 calories a day. That fills two to three plates easy. Tonight was about 3,000 calories, mostly protein. I vary my days and still follow my tastes. Eating is serious work now. For the first time in my life, I have to work to tank up and the only time I think about food is basically when I get ready to prepare it--aside from some occasional phantom cravings from the old days.

"Hunger high" is pretty cool. It feels so good to run on reserves after you're used to it.

starrylioness

You look incredible! So fit and healthy! Such a difference! Congratulations!

deliciousmnm

Congratulations on your weight loss. I agree with the fact that you have to use what works for you, because not everyone has the same body type or body make up. I too have recently started a one meal a day plan, but I have replaced the other meals with a vegetable and fruit smoothie. Today is only day 3 since I have started and so far I am not as hungry as I thought I would be. If I do get hungry I drink water to fill the void. Thank you for sharing and pretty soon I too will be able to share my success story. I am 5' 4" and 191 pounds. Trying to lose 45 pounds, on my way to a heathier me.

BekaBooluvsu

Amazing!!!!!

michele0101

So good to hear of another avenue to weight loss. Congrats on your success!!! May I ask what time of day you eat? Is it the same time everyday?

arguablysamson

I eat between 6pm and 10pm everyday, usually between 7 and 8. It needs to be within the timeframe window everyday. Otherwise, you're not really eating once per day. The idea is to finish the meal well within one hour and be back into fasting after that. See rules #4 and #5...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1241325-how-to-do-one-meal-a-day-the-basics?page=1

Sassymama66_75HARD

First - WOW - Congratulations!

Second - I worked with a guy who was a fitness trainer - he only ate one meal a day at lunch time and was in amazing shape. I am not sure I could do it but if it works for you then go for it!

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I was wondering about this "bit of loose skin" you speak of--how is it...is it really unsightly, like you may need surgery or something to correct it or not so bad looking/hardly noticeable? That's the only thing about relatively fast weight loss that kinda scares me--loose skin.

Again, way to go dude--thank for post! :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker:

Bumping for reply...

croooz

Congrats!

I started OMAD this week. I did it last year but went to visit family and got off the OMAD train after a month. Slowly but surely went right back to my old eating habits and regained all my previous weight loss ~30lbs. Recently I tried the ketogenic diet and while I loved eating the food the cravings for carbs were insane. It seems restrictions just go against my nature. Upon accepting that I decided to go back to what worked, OMAD. Well it was more like OMAD and IIFYM...(let's see how many acronyms I can fit in one post...) Day three of week one and all goes well. Had a craving for some chocolate yesterday so I had a snicker's bar for dessert. It bothers my programming of "clean" eating but once I ate I was good. I ate only once and I included that dessert that popped into my taste buds and while I am technically dieting I didn't feel deprived or restricted. During the day I have a cup of coffee at 6am and at noon, which this time around has eliminated my 4-6pm cravings. I also like feeling light during the day and not having to concern myself with food. I also introduced drinking a liter of water every four hours four times a day and am sure that's helping with the cravings. As I remember and you posted, the cravings begin to go away and the desire for healthier food becomes stronger.

Anyhow just thought I'd creep out of the shadows and let you know that we OMAD's are out here. I enjoyed your article and look forward to reading more from you.

Congrats again! Good job. Are you an OMAD lifer, in other words are you going to continue with this indefinitely?

Cby60

I have started intermittent fasting so far twice twice a week.. From 6 pm to 6 pm and then only 500 calories for supper. I lose 1-2 lbs after each fast so far! I am thrilled and also find it easier to just eat once a day - something I never would have thought possible. The lower weight on the scale each morning is a real incentive! The other days I do a fast from 6 pm until noon the next day and eat no more than 1200 calories. I also do 45 minutes of inline skating (just learnt how) and I am getting so motivated now that the inches are coming off that I've decided to incorporate the "from couch to 5k" program into my life! The latest is that it is good for you to fast and I have not felt this good and energetic in years. So, I agree with you that one meal a day is a great option for some people. I would suggest that this one meal be a healthy one most of the time and that you eat until satisfied but not full. Hunger pangs are not steady but come when you cook or smell food but then go away. I usually drink water or peppermint tea to distract myself. It really works.