55 Lbs Down - With pics

I successfully reached my target weight (revised three times ) and have kept the weight off over the past couple of months on maintenance. So, I figured it was time to tell my story and post some pictures.

Two years ago I weighed 270 Lbs +/- and had a cholesterol score of 236 which is borderline high-risk. My daughter was getting married, my son-in-law went into the Air Force, and my son had joined the army as a junior in high school on the delayed entry program. I was determined to look good (well, as good as I can ) for the wedding so I started watching what I ate and logging using another site. I was reasonably successful and lost 35+ lbs in five months. I managed to keep most of the weight off through the end of the year but ended up gaining back 10 to settle out to 245. Earlier this year, the other site changed and I could no longer use it to log my intake so I went "shopping" for a new program and found MFP on my iPhone.

WOW! What a great APP! Soon after, I started logging in on my computer and found out MFP was MUCH MORE than just a food logging phone app. I met some great people and found the support to be just what I needed to get back on the horse as they say and give it another go. between March and the end of July I lost an additional 30+ lbs. It has made such a difference and everyone I know has commented on it. Some of my friends have now joined and are having great success as well.

I hope to continue to inluence those around me to get healthy.

So anyway, I thought I'd post a couple of before and afters. Also, some of my friends have asked to see pictures of my excercise routine. Sounds strange, right? Not so much when you see them. My excercise routine consisted of moving dirt, rocks, boulders, sand, paver stones, and lumber , digging holes, general construction, etc.

Here we go: Building a paver stone patio using pick axe, shovel, wheel barrow, etc. All manual labor. Here's the before:



And here is the after:



Building a 30 X 12 foot attached pergola. Before:



After:



Here a couple of Before/Afters of me:



Notice that these are the same orange swim trunks:







So there you have it. It really is that simple. Eat healthy, in appropriate amounts, logging EVERYTHING so you don't kid yourself, and get up off of your *kitten* and do SOMETHING. ANYTHING!

Have a great weekend everyone and keep at it.

:drinker:

p.s. - I forgot this tidbit. I lowered my cholesterol to 198! Just by diet and excercise, no medication.