Here's how I lost 115 pounds

Thank you for sharing your success! Such an inspiration. You look fantastic! Congrats

Thanks!

How tall are you Cannon_G?

I am 6'5".

Wow, you look fantastic.

Thanks!

Well done and thanks for sharing your amazing success story. I am in similar shape to you when you started and I find it very difficult to get motivated. Your story has really helped though.

Thanks, I am glad to hear you have started your journey. It's a difficult thing to decide to do but you can easily reach your goals with eating healthier and exercising. I am a HUGE fan of the Galloway running method. Essentially it's running for a short interval, I started running for :30 and then walking for another short interval, :45 seconds. You alternate between walking and then running for a specified time. There are 3 run/walks each week. Two are short, 30 minute or shorter and one long run which is roughly 45 minutes. These times are for the Easy 5k program but it's essentially the same concept for the longer 10k and half programs. Some running purists will turn their nose to the Galloway method. They will tell you that you need to run non-stop or that taking walk breaks is cheating. Forget that... the Galloway method will keep you injury free and will slowly build up your endurance. I have found the interval training really helps your conditioning by getting your heart rate up and then slowly lowering it and repeating. Over time you will start to be amazed how your body is able to rebound after the running intervals and have your HR drop quickly. With time I added the stationary old man recumbent bike on my off days but even that was always under an hour. So really I was able to drop about 100 pounds with just a commitment of between 30 minutes to an hour max on my run/workout days.

If there is anything I can do to help you or anyone else I would be happy to. My biggest regret is that it took me so many years of being miserable before I made the decision to drop the weight.

I showed this to my husband in hopes to inspire him. He is currently 280lbs and a size 44 pant at only 27 years old. He's under the impression that a serious transformation requires a ton of money invested in the gym and your post proves (like I have been telling him) that a few simple lifestyle changes and some dedication and accountability will make a HUGE difference.

Congrats!!!! You look awesome!! Such an amazing transformation and an inspiring post.

Yep, 280lbs and a 44 waist was pretty much where I was at 27. I was able to lose about 85 pounds running/walking and riding a recumbent bike in about 4 months. I was getting a little frustrated fighting with others to use the only recumbent bike at our HOA "gym" so we actually joined a gym back in August of 2012. I laughed because I thought I might be the only person to drop 85 pounds and then join a gym. After joining I was able to lose the rest in about 2 or 3 months. Instead of the using the recumbent bike at the real gym I moved on to spin classes and love them. Now a days I will alternate my workout schedule with various group fitness classes and still do my two short runs and one long run each week.

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.