I went from morbidly obese to 6 pack abs! Ask me Anything

vismal · May 2014

Hi! You are such an inspiration I have lost 22lbs and have another 100 to go, but I'm confident I can get there! My question is this: my target calories to lose 2lbs/week is 2100 but lately I only get to about 1500 by 8pm (about half of my TDEE and 500 below my BMR) but I'm not starving so should I eat more to get closer to 2100? So far I have good energy but will super low cal (for someone of my size) be detrimental in any way? Thank you so much!

I never like to eat any less then I can get away with while still hitting my goals. You will inevitably have to cut calories further as you go. When you have a long way to go you will want as much buffer room to do that as possible. If you eat 1500 calories now you will have little room to remove calories later. I would reduce calories only if I stalled on weight loss for a few weeks in a row.

You look amazing! congratulations!

My biggest problem is eating things I shouldn't (more because I have IBS and am sensitive, than because of McDonalds- I can't stand fast food). Did you have that problem and (if so) how did you get over it?

For the most part I am fortunate enough to not have any dietary intolerances. I am a big advocate of eating what I want within moderation so I don't really consider there to be any food I "shouldn't eat". Sorry if that isn't much help but I don't really have any experience with needing to totally avoid any particular food.

You look great! Congrats! What an inspiration!

Someone must have asked this, but Im not going through all 18 pages, I was just wondering, how did you deal with urges to binge or cravings for junk early on? I have such a hard time stopping myself from sitting down to a bunch of sweets or other junk foods and pounding it even when im not hungry. Any advice you have would be great.

I was certainly a binge eater before I lost all my weight. Not on any particular food but food in general. Buffet's were my favorite place in the world. It would not be uncommon for me to be in an "all you can eat" setting 5 or more times a week. I simply had to eliminate that completely. I just didn't go to buffets. To this day I still cannot go to a buffet without binge eating. Unless it is a super special occasion (vacation, birthday, etc) I just won't go to them. I went from 5 times a week to less then 5 times a year.

If you find yourself starting to binge eat my advice is usually to just stop the binge as soon as you realize it's happening. It's the mentality of "I've already messed up so I might as well mess up big time" that gets you into trouble. The key is to focus on your goals. You are never pleased with yourself after a binge. It nearly always comes along with guilt and regret. Meeting your goals usually comes along with feelings of accomplishment and self pride. In the long run, the temporary feeling of pleasure you get from eating that something doesn't even come close to being as satisfying as accomplishing your goals. Binge on accomplishment!

vismal · May 2014

I just joined after learning from my doctor that I have high cholesterol, a minor heart issue and vitamin D/B12 deficiencies. I need to make changes and I've started tracking my diet, but..

At 5'6 and 288lbs (female), I am out of breath and having back pain just lightly walking. What do you suggest as far as exercise goes? Should I just keep walking so my body can get accustomed to it or should I join a gym now? I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it.

Take baby steps. Walk up to the point of where you begin to feel bad then stop. Over time you should be able to go further. You can lose weight with no additional exercise if your diet is on point. Exercise helps and is important for other reasons though. As time goes on and as your weight decreases you can add to your exercise little by little. This would seem the safest way to approach things. Also, with any heart condition, ask your doctor about what physical activity is safe for you.

GreatDepression · May 2014

I was certainly a binge eater before I lost all my weight. Not on any particular food but food in general. Buffet's were my favorite place in the world. It would not be uncommon for me to be in an "all you can eat" setting 5 or more times a week. I simply had to eliminate that completely. I just didn't go to buffets. To this day I still cannot go to a buffet without binge eating. Unless it is a super special occasion (vacation, birthday, etc) I just won't go to them. I went from 5 times a week to less then 5 times a year.

It's nice to hear this story and know that you have struggles too. I kept thinking you were perfect. Yes, I have a soft spot for Chinese buffets which are notorious for very fatty, salty and sugary food.

Joshj29 · May 2014

Thanks! But like how do you deal with cravings (or at least how did you do it in the beginning) when sitting at a table loaded with food while everyone is pigging and you cant eat most of what's there?

Nicolee_2014 · May 2014

Wow. You look amazing.

RWTBR · May 2014

I am subscribed to you on youtube, I like your videos. What made you decide to start a youtube channel?

iPlatano · May 2014

Good job brah! I too watch the Jason videos everyday. lol

vismal · May 2014

Thanks! But like how do you deal with cravings (or at least how did you do it in the beginning) when sitting at a table loaded with food while everyone is pigging and you cant eat most of what's there?

When I eat with friends I simply eat what everyone else eats in moderation. If my friends are having me over and I know the menu will consist of pizza, wings, and beer, I'll have a meal before I go over then have 1 piece of pizza and 1 beer. It's just about weighing how good eating food feels to how good accomplishing you goals feels. One of those things is a short lived feeling of pleasure while the other is a long lasting feeling of accomplishment. You have to choose which of those 2 feelings is worth it to you.

I am subscribed to you on youtube, I like your videos. What made you decide to start a youtube channel?

The original reason for starting my YouTube page (youtube.com/feedingfitness for those of you who are interested) was because people both online and IRL kept asking me the same questions over and over. I decided making videos was an easier way to explain things to people. I could simply point them to the videos. People watched them and requested topics and next thing you know I've got 100 videos and 1000 subscribers. As long as people keep watching, I'll keep making them.

healthkick88 · May 2014

Another personal one - if you don't mind answering

Has your new look and lifestyle affected your closest friendships - good and bad?
Do you think some of your male friends resent you because they miss having a 'fat friend'?
And, have you run into an ex or someone who rejected you romantically, what was their reaction to you?
Well done!

anushkilla · May 2014

I went through all the 18 pages and didn't saw the question I want to ask...

How bad is it to eat the same everyday? I've been on my diet for 10 days and I have for breakfast always the same thing... Toast with peanut butter (no sugar added), diced raw apple and honey, (around 272 cal). I love it!

Sometimes I'm like a little kid who enjoys certain food "seasonally" and right now I'm on that lol. Next time is going to be with goat cheese lol.

You are truly an inspiration and thanks for taking time to answer. Thank you in advance

vismal · May 2014

Another personal one - if you don't mind answering

Has your new look and lifestyle affected your closest friendships - good and bad?
Do you think some of your male friends resent you because they miss having a 'fat friend'?
And, have you run into an ex or someone who rejected you romantically, what was their reaction to you?
Well done!

Friends can take your extreme weight loss a number of different ways. I wouldn't say it actually caused me to lose any friends. Some of them became motivated or joined in. Some of them were genuinely happy for me. Some might have resented me to a degree, but people who resent others for achievement aren't the best kind of friends anyways. I had many instances where women who probably never thought of me in a romantic/sexual manner before my weight loss all of a sudden become extremely interested in me. I wouldn't say they were shallow for only showing interest after my change in appearance because my attitude also changed just as much as my looks. I feel that women are, above all other things, attracted to confidence. I can safely say my confidence level is ten fold what it was prior to losing the weight. I think that fact actually outweighs any boost to appearance.

I went through all the 18 pages and didn't saw the question I want to ask...

How bad is it to eat the same everyday? I've been on my diet for 10 days and I have for breakfast always the same thing... Toast with peanut butter (no sugar added), diced raw apple and honey, (around 272 cal). I love it!

Sometimes I'm like a little kid who enjoys certain food "seasonally" and right now I'm on that lol. Next time is going to be with goat cheese lol.

You are truly an inspiration and thanks for taking time to answer. Thank you in advance

You can be repetitive in your eating if you want too. I go through phases. I am currently in a potato phase. Take a peek and my diary and potatoes occur almost every day. Chicken breast shows up more often then not as well. I will sometimes just copy and paste a whole day if it sounds appealing to me. I generally do that if I'm working 2 12's in a row plus going to the gym in between. So long as your diet is balanced that's okay. But that is a far cry from eating the exact same foods, 7 days a week for months on end. That is going to get incredibly boring and could become unhealthy.I tend to be more repetitive when in a fat loss phase. When I have lots more calories to work with when I am bulking, my diet is much more varied.

anushkilla · May 2014

Thanks Vismal!! Indeed I won't be on the same diet for months, yet I'll watch over the macro to keep it balanced. Thanks also for the good literature you have provided. Since quite a while I longed to read serious papers about weight loss from a scientific perspective. I'll also take a peak to your Youtube channel.

And as you said, I won't be recording the calories for every physical activity I realize since I want to keep a deficit, not covering it!! I'm currently writing I burned "1 calorie" just to keep a record of what activity I'm doing and how often.

Another question for you, do you believe in fat cells memory? Or is it the same that happens to addicts (in a brain level) when after a long abstinence time they are exposed again to their specific drug and the risk of falling again for it is high?

Ryderod · May 2014

A bit off topic, but I have been concentrating on lowering my body fat percentage. As we are approaching winter here, it now seems to me that I am a lot less tolerant of the cold, is this normal?

nic632 · May 2014

First of all congratulations, you've done an awesome job, you must be very proud of yourself and especially the way that you answer people's questions in a polite and caring manner is very commendable, as if you were talking to a friend. You certainly are an inspiration to many people out there.

I am a 5'1", 45 yrs and currently weigh 128lbs. I weigh and measure everything (I'm from the UK so don't know what serving size a 'cup' is), even if means going over my cals allowance of 1200, though this is mainly on a Friday or Saturday night (I like my wine) - but not every week.

I sincerely apologise if you have answered these before or maybe even half of them, but I was wondering if you could give me some advice?

Anyway, 12+ months ago I weighed 14lbs less than I do now, did no exercise, and didn't eat as healthily as I do now. Unfortunately the weight gradually crept up due to a lot of stressful situations which caused me to comfort eat, not on chocolate, crisps etc, just larger portion sizes of everything, still with no exercise. I re-joined MFP a month or so ago, started eating healthier and exercising, just about to start 4th week of T25 (tried Insanity but didn't last a week!).

One of my questions is - my weight has stayed the same for 6 wks now, despite eating healthier (and recording it accurately), nearly every day I'm in deficit (sometimes might go over on the odd weekend), drinking more water and exercising (cardio) 5/6 days a week. However despite this I haven't lost a lb and I don't understand why. Some people say up your cals, some say eat back your exercise cals, some say don't etc, etc. What's your opinion of where I could be going wrong?

The other question is - I have lots of loose skin everywhere from previous weight loss/gains which obviously I want to get rid of (I'm aware that you can't spot reduce) and I want to start using weights to help with this. I don't live anywhere near a gym but have at home a kettlebell, 3lb and 2kg dumbells that could help with this, but I don't know what sort of programme I should follow. From what I've read from previous posts, it's seems to be a case of which do you prefer - to lose weight or gain muscle? I've now decided that it's now really the inches I'm more bothered with. Is there any programme you could advise me to follow and which would be more beneficial - dumbells or kettlebell?

Oh and I wish I had your calves - you said yours are 17.5inches - mine are 22inches!

Thanks in advance and apologies for going on a bit - just wasn't sure how much info to give you.

hmg90 · May 2014

Did you drink originally and did you while dieting? If so what/how much?

nic632 · May 2014

I drink a bottle Friday and one on a Saturday - that's my weekly treat. I've always done that, whether dieting or not, but don't drink during the week, so I'm drinking 14 units a week, which is supposed to be the max for women. I also alternate a glass of wine with a glass of water so I don't get dehydrated.

Don't know if this applicable, but I make the bottle last between 3 1/2hrs to about 4hrs, as those are the only 2 nights I stay up late.

Edit: Sorry not sure if the question regarding drinking was aimed at me or not.

CrescentCityGirl · May 2014

Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement.

Ani45 · May 2014

Let me say Well done first

I love the fact that you KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT - From experience and because you have background knowledge. I am sure that being a health care professional has helped you understand many things. For example I am just in my second year of university but I am starting to understand and read actual studies, whereas before I would just read articles written by some random people without any knowledge on the subject, simply expressing their opinions without knowing people might actually read that and believe it !

I love your youtube videos. So informational

liamrose · May 2014

well done, great job!!. can i ask your how much water you drink a day??

kirili3 · May 2014

Well done!

I went from morbidly obese to 6 pack abs! Ask me Anything

Replies

Categories