Goal Met: Fat Face Comparison - Pics in Profile

Sorry I don't want to go thru the trouble of learning how to post pics in a topic plus I don't want my ugly mug available for the world to see. I met my goal of 60 lbs lost last week. I am 6 foot 3. See my work head shot photos in my profile. I wish I had taken more body before photos. The fat face is from my work head shot a week before I started and the not so fat pic is from 2 weeks ago. I look different right - I guess it's the tan.

I had gained weight steadily since college 20 years ago with a very poor diet and very limited exercise. I would "diet" and exercise before with limited success. I did Isagenix in 2005 and lost 25 lbs (230 to 205) but added those lbs back on within a year or so. I tried other diet and exercise plans but none really lasted more than a few DAYS. I remember quitting a couple times at lunch on the first day.

I had given up all forms of any meaningful regular exercise for the past 5 years and got into a habit of using food as a reward for working hard. I was 110% focused on my job and would work 730 AM to 730 PM and then eat a carb rich dinner and of course a dessert usually around 8-830. Then it was put the kids to bed and then myself to bed. I would reward myself at the end of the work week by eating out 2-4 meals and having my fair share of beers over the weekend. You do this routine for 5+ years with no exercise and the pounds pile on. At the end of the day my knees and other joints would be sore and getting up the steps was no easy feat. At work, going up 4 half-flights of steps out of the parking garage and I would be out of breath with heavy pulse/throbbing in my neck artery. I couldn't run more than 50 yards with my daughter on her jogs.

I started my "journey" (not sure about that term) on Ash Wednesday (March 5) (a fasting day) this year with a goal of losing 60 lbs in 6 months. To be honest I thought it would turn out like countless other tries before and I would quickly go back to my old ways. Then a switch went off. I was going to try my hardest this time or I was just destined to be a big fat oaf.

Although I was not counting calories, I changed my diet around. Instead of 2-4 daily bowls of sugar cereal for breakfast during the week, I did a GNC total lean shake. On weekend breakfasts', instead of sugar cereal + pancakes, sausage etc, I would do eggs and not as much breakfast meat. For lunches, instead of high carb, high fat take out, I would eat a light (220-250 calorie) breakfast sandwich of eggs, muffin, meat. For business lunches I made smarter choices (most of the time). Dinners, I stopped during the high carb with dessert at 8 pm and either would forgo dinner or do a shake or just make better choices. I did my fair share of cheats, especially on the weekends. I would still enjoy pizza, burgers, fries, beer etc. Just not as often and in smaller amounts.

For exercise, I started by just walking the neighborhood in the evening. I then joined my local YMCA. I was a little embarrassed the first few times as being the fat noob around all these fit regulars. I started with the elliptical and mixing in some jogging on the treadmill until a recurring calf injury put an end to jogging. I then worked my time and resistance up on the elliptical and mixed in some light weights. Increased the frequency and amount of lifting. Added some sauna time (LOVE IT). I would do some limited stuff (body squats, push ups) in the sauna as long as I didn't get caught by Y staff. I then switched to the evil Arc trainer which is a killer in a good way. I was just amazed that the pounds were continuing to fall off by about 2 lbs per week. I will tell you that I was extremely dedicated to my exercise. I worked out 4-6 times per week for at least an hour.

My keys to success:

1. A Switch MUST go off in your head.
2. Eat smarter, eat less
3. Regular dedicated exercise, improving each week.
4. Don't give up with set backs
5. Don't switch to a diet you are going to hate. Find good foods that you enjoy. I am a meat and potato, no seafood, no veggie guy. Find ways to make good healthy food. Allow yourself cheats after good weeks or other accomplishments.

tldr: got fat, switch went off, ate better, exercised almost everyday now not as fat.