100 lbs down 80 to go

I'm down 100lbs from my peak weight in summer of 2010. I was 365 with congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, x, y , and z to boot. I was a motorcycle event with my dad and brother and I couldn't walk 20 feet without stopping. I thought I was going to die. I seriously thought that. I had to leave because of it.

My 100lbs of weight loss isn't new. I had been down 120lbs from my peak weight just a year and a half ago. I have struggled to stay on track. I have tried different people's ideas about cheat meals and IIFMM, low carb, low fat, low calorie diets. They all work until you decide I want to eat pizza today, then some tiramisu, have a burger and fries. I may eat a bag of candy while watching a movie or a bucket of popcorn drowned in movie theater butter. Soda, namely Mountain Dew, was the major contributor to my problems. I could easily drink a case (24) of 12oz cans of the liquid poison.

I think I'm still trying to figure out what works for me. Everyday I think, "Is this the day I throw it all away?" I just want the switch in my mind to do what I want. I tell myself that I hate calorie dense low nutrition foods, but I just don't listen. I guess I'm stubborn that way. When I go to the store and start my perimeter check of healthy foods, the produce section is always in civil war with the pastry-filled bakery, while being flanked by the sodium soldiers of the deli. I have to get my mind right and keep my dead down just to get to the Jazz apples. It's a dance I do. I like to start off my shopping with a challenge I guess.

But I digress... I think I've found a winning combination with a good gym cycle and the acceptance that bread is not devil food. Mmm devil's food cake. That's a thing, right?

If you're curios about what helps a 33 year old man lose 100lbs from a weight of 365lbs, it's quite simple. 2000-2200 calories a day and 30+ minutes of exercise 5 days a week. I'm in stage 3 congestive heart failure, I've had 2 heart surgeries, I have to take medicine to regulate fluid on my body, my blood pressure, and my heart rate and I could do it. It's not about finding time to dedicate to your health, it's about having to will to act on that inclination.

I can tell you from my experience, the biggest threat to your success is yourself. I've sabotaged my progress in the past. I hope to never do it again but that's the thing about free will. You get what you pay for.

Making an effort,
DCD