Weight is still gone...Thank you MFP and Friends

Don't Forget!!!!!!!!!! It is not a race it is a Journey

MFP tracker does not show it but I started my journey in March of 2011 (approx. 1082 days ago) I just want to remind everyone that you should try to change your lifestyle and don't think of it as a diet (diets never last).

When this all began in March of 2011 I weighed at least 280 lbs. I honestly think that I was closer to 290 lbs. I was embarrassed to look at the scale. I was a fat guy who was coaching my kids to play soccer. I felt like a hypocrite, telling the kids to hustle and expecting them to run, when I couldn’t. Looking back I can't believe that I was that person. I decided that something had to change. When I looked at my health and eating habits, I wasn’t being fair to my kids. Kids only know what they are taught and I was not setting a good example.
In the beginning, I was very naive to what I was eating. I thought that it did not matter what I ate as long as I was working out. I became discouraged when I noticed that nothing was changing. I realized, with the help of my wife, how important it was to eat the right types of foods and the right portion size of those foods. I started logging my food on My Fitness Pal. I learned how many calories I need to eat to maintain my weight (~3000 calories) and that I need to eat less than that if I want to lose. So my wife and I changed our lifestyle. We are not on a diet; There aren't any forbidden foods, we just try to make healthy food choices, get regular exercise and stay within our daily calorie goals (mine is ~ 2100 calories). I lost most of my weight making changes to my diet, running and cycling. Remember sometimes in order to continue to see changes you need to change your routine. That is when I discovered CrossFit. CrossFit has helped me maintain a level of fitness that is far superior to anything I have ever experienced. It has helped me find confidence in myself and the ability to push my personal limits. I can do things that I never thought that I could do before. For the first time in my life I actually look forward to lifting weights and enjoy going to the gym (box). My typical routine is Cross Fit on Monday thru-Friday. Saturdays are either spent at the box or I run/ride a bike. Sunday is my recovery day. I continue to push myself by setting new fitness goals. I started with timed 5K runs and last June I completed my first ½ marathon. I have since competed in 4 competetions. Just recently I competed one called "The Juggernaut 2.0”. I finished 6th out of 12 and got a new Personal Record of 500 lbs on my deadlift, 345 lbs on my back squat. It felt pretty awesome.
My goals have changed a lot during the past 2 almost 3 years. My current goal is to lose body fat and get stronger overall. I currently weigh 206 lbs. yes it is more than my lowest weight but it is actual muscle. I know that while I still have a long way to go, I am on the right track. I have some of my highlights listed below.

Running
Date Weight Longest distance Total time(min/mile)
March 2011 272 lbs 1.84 miles 22min 56 sec. 12:28 min mile
October 2012 197.6 lbs 5.74 miles 48 min 19 sec.8:25 min mile

Races and official times

5K Hot Chocolate race 22min 14 sec (7:11 min mile)
10K Turkey Trot 49min 34 sec (7:59 min mile)
½ Marathon Northshore 1 hr 56 min 24 sec (8:44 min mile)

Started Crossfit in September of 2012

Movement Original PR Current
Back Squat 185 lbs 345 lbs
Front Squat 95 lbs 260 lbs
Clean 55 lbs 200 lbs
Snatch 35 lbs 145 lbs
Deadlift 275 lbs 500 lbs
Bench Press 105 lbs 175 lbs