100 LBS down and my 1st Fitversary!!! (w/pics)

So I've been overweight pretty much my whole life (since 2nd grade). I grew up in the South (east Tennessee) and didn't have many healthy habits instilled in me early on (closest I came to liking veggies was kilt lettuce and onions). I've tried many times before to diet and exercise, from elementary to high school to college; one fad diet to another and always eventually getting distracted and giving up or telling myself I was too busy and would eventually get to it later. I finally decided to focus on it about a year and half or two ago, but was pretty wishy washy in it. I was tracking my cals, carbs, fat, protein, sodium, and weight with excel (which I had done a few times before...and is torture). I got the MFP app and the ease with which I could track things was great. And more than that, finally had some people going through the same struggle I was and could see their successes, setbacks, motivation, etc. (Thanks everyone on my friends list!)

Little over a year ago


Bout a week ago


I've learned a tremendous amount, about changing my lifestyle, myself, exercising, dieting (and will continue to learn). Originally I started just reducing the amount I ate, then improving what I ate. Personally I don't think there is a single perfect "diet". Most people will lose some following just about any different diet than the one that got them to where they are. The goal is finding one that's best for you and that you can stick with long term and help change/develop a better lifestyle. So far I've enjoyed the 1) Chris Powell carb cycling diet (turbo cycle) which helped me create better portion sizes, learn more about macros, and gave some consistency early on, 2) Intermittent Fasting (5:2) which helped me enjoy and indulge during hectic periods (holidays, sports, etc) and still keep my weekly caloric goal, and 3) Calorie Counting which really isn't a diet, just eat what fills you up and keeps you below your goal (really just about keeping control and making good decisions).

Few years ago (I'm the gentleman on the right):drinker:


Few weeks ago (After a short hike)


On the exercise side I've done 1)Hiking - I live in east TN and can basically walk around anywhere and have to go up and down a hill/mountain. I've got a route that I do around the house that I've built on as I've gotten quicker (I aim for one hour), 2) Swimming - when the weather's not right for hiking I go to a community center and swim. It's great low impact and a huge calorie burn (esp if I've managed to injury myself). I've been doing 90 mins overall, with a water break, switching between breaststroke and backstroke. I recently got some swim gloves which have been amazing!, 3) Weightlifting - the community center also has a gym that I use when it's not too hot (it doesn't have AC and gets sweltering). I got a basic 3 day split workout from muscleandstrength that I've added to (most of my workouts use dumb bells and/or machines and are usually 1-1.5 hours). I sort of cycle between those 3 depending on how I'm feeling and what the weather's like. I have gotten into doing some local 5K's (just walking them). Just 2 official ones so far, but I did improve my time.

First official 5K in early March


Second official 5K in late May
before


after


I had some other pics from before, but I can't seem to find them (think they're on an ExHD that's a bit wonky). Some other things though. I've been taking measurements once every month. I measure in 9 places - 1)Neck, 2)Left Mid-bicep, 3)Right Mid-bicep, 4)Chest, 5) Horizontal Waist (at the belly button around the love handles), 6) Angled Waist (around the "spare tire"), 7) Butt/Hips, 8) Left Mid-thigh, and 9)Right Mid-thigh. In total I've lost 33.5 inches (mostly from the waists, butt/hips, and chest). And originally with the hiking I was going about 1.2 miles in about 60-75 mins. Now I'm doing 2.1-2.3 miles in 60 mins (and that's with a few new hills to climb up and down).

In closing, I'm very proud of how far I've come. At times I couldn't imagine sticking with it or that it was working (and of course I've had plenty of setbacks). But my motto is "Progress not Perfection". I've still probably got farther to go now than I've come, and it may take longer than I would like, but I definitely feel like now I can handle any setbacks or stumbles that come up and eventually reach my goal! I think we all can, as long as we keep working, find the right way for us, and never give up!