"Big Guy" to Big Loser in 1 Year - PICS

I started using MFP about one year ago, but my first official weigh-in wasn't until February 2, 2013 because we didn't own a scale... I guessed at my weight when I first started and was ASTONISHED when I saw the needle spin past 200...250... and all the way around to 350lbs. I knew I was a big guy.. hell... strangers called me "Big-Guy" or "Big-Man".... but I wasn't always a "big-guy"... in fact but was never THIN. My senior year of high school I was 180lbs and fairly active. I would ride my bike or walk everywhere and when I went to college it continued. After earning my associates degree I got my first "real job" and thus started my illustrious career sitting behind a desk and then discovered how AWESOME pizza tastes with an ice cold beer or three!!

Throughout my desk career, I thought I could continue to eat and drink as I did in my 20's... well 15 years of sitting behind a desk has caught up with me and after seeing these "Oh HELL NO" pictures, I knew I had to do something!!







This is back in '06... my wife and I at our wedding shower


I KNEW a diet of salads wasn't for me... I also knew a crash diet or fad diet wasn't going to work for me either. My mom has struggled with her weight for years on the Atkins diet, shake diets, high protein diets... and none of these worked for her... plus... I couldn't find a diet where beer was allowed!! GASP!! My wife started the Curves Complete Program back in January and as a suggestion from a friend of mine, I downloaded the MFP app and thus, it all started there. I logged EVERYTHING and weighed every oz of food. I've since learned what a cup actually looks like and how much 6oz of meat looks.... I've gone from a 4XL size shirt and 52/28 pants (GOOD LUCK finding THAT size anywhere) to a XL/2XL shirt to 42/30 pant.

This is October... down 75ish pounds and holding 75ish pounds...


My wife and I on Christmas Eve - She's down 60lbs and I couldn't be more proud of her!!


New Year's Eve


So here's what I DON'T do:
I don't clean eat
I don't do low carb
I don't do shakes
I don't eat a salad every day with a dressing I hate
I don't stay within my calories... GASP!!!!!... however.. WHEN I do go over... it's not by much.
I DO NOT and WILL NOT set goals. At first I did set goals and would be depressed if I didn't meet them. So I figured, WHY?!
I DO NOT and WILL NOT limit the stuff I love to eat
I don't stress about the scale anymore... I used to... but I've learned that it took me 15 years to become 350lbs... it's not gonna come off in a week!!

Here's what I DO
I eat a regular balanced diet, lots of fruit and veggies, carbs and proteins and generally stay within my daily calories, sodium etc
I log nearly every day however, don't always log everything
I try to exercise regularly but that doesn't mean the gym. I started exercising by walking and timing myself how long it took me to walk a mile. When I first started, it took me nearly half an hour to power walk a mile. My knees are still bad so running is still out of the question, but I enjoy a good fast paced walk and look forward to it now!
I drink half my body weight in water... every day! Lots and LOTS AND LOTS of water!!
I weigh myself every morning but don't record it 'til Friday
I browse the success stories for motivation
I enjoy food as food was meant to be enjoyed... BUT within reason and correct portions
My wife and I share meals if and when we go out... portions at restaurants are out of control

Stuff I Wasn't Expecting
This is EASY!
Plateaus.... that is all.
My *kitten* hurts. All... the... time.... I didn't have much of one before... and now... I'm sitting on bone.
My wedding ring doesn't fit ANY of my fingers. My wife has since stopped wearing hers too.
In NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM am I an inspiration... and yet, people keep telling me I am. I've had people that I barely know come up to me at church and say, "I had to take a double take to see if that was really you... I have to know, what are you doing?!"

Couple guys I want to thank:
First and foremost my wife... without her love and support and her starting Curves, I wouldn't have felt like doing this.
Stingroo - Who suggested I download the app... he's down 200lbs
BillyBeastMode - We joined MFP almost exactly the same time and met up on the forums... dude's BADASS and one hell of a motivator!! - Down 150lbs
CyberEd312 - He may not know me... but I've read his thread so many times... THIS MAN is an inspiration!! - Down 300lbs!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1103164-3-yrs-312lbs-lost-1yr-from-bodylift-and-maintenance
...and ALL my other MFP's!!! You guys who cheer me on daily... THANK YOU!!