Men on a Mission: 50 lbs by Thanksgiving

Maybe you should start a Group up?

In the meantime, if you'll allow me to back-date a few weeks, I *had* 50 more pounds to go but lost a few.

Can I play? Currently I have 20.5ish kg to go = 45lbs. If need be I can put a few back on... and that did happen once, a minor blip thankfully. I started needing to lose 100 (45kg) so I'm a little more than half-way to my goal now.

• Name: Mike
• Weight: 195 (88kg)
• Thanksgiving Goal: At my goal weight ~150-155
• Weight Goal: ~150-155 (aiming for my birthday in September but ok as long as trend is in right direction)
• Plan: Continuing with current plan - watching CICO; continuing to run 4 - 5 times a week with increasing mileage (averaging 40-45km/week); need to meet my May goal of 200km and also include more cycling and some time in gym.
• Favourite exercise: For regular cardio, running, by far. Trail running is #1. But I also love cycling and hiking. Dog-friendly is a plus.
• Low calorie snack: small handful of almonds or hazelnuts go a long way for me. With the running I am unafraid of a few more % healthy fats. Medium apple - 50 calories. Blueberries and natural unsweetened Greek yoghurt. Celery / broccoli/cauliflower raw.

I'm in!

David
Start weight (4 weeks ago): 238
Weight today: 223
Goal weight: 189 (not quite 50 pounds, but 49!)
How: 2,000 calories a day
Exercise: Jillian Michaels Burn and Shred
Fave snacks: whatever I fancy but in small portions (always sweet, v rarely savoury)

I dropped 4 pounds this week cutting out Mtn Dew and doing some very light exercise. Going to up the exercise this week and have very specific plans for when I drink something other than water. It's 3 cans this week instead of the 6 cans a day that I used to do.

I like the measurement idea.

Welcome Alec! Before you know it you'll have been at this for weeks and then months. I find the calorie in and out logging here is easy to do and is very helpful to me to stay on track.

Regarding running - my own story as short as possible: 26kg ago I started running last September. More like a run 500 meters, gasp for air, stop, restart. It took me weeks to repair / regain pneumonia related lung restrictions and run 1km straight, then 2km. By Christmas I was up to 5km, not always non stop but certainly I'd say I was more comfortable and felt like a runner. Fast forward: last week I ran 50+km, my long run was 14km, and I'd covered 802km since September, a number that now grows between 150 - 200km per month. My resting + maximum heart rate, BP, and lung function are excellent. Truly a night and day difference. I'm still overweight (I have ~17-20kg to my goal) but I'm already fit and will only get fitter.

I'm 53 and had no overt health problems (aside from weight and inactivity related lack of fitness) but was starting to see BP creep higher (part of my aha moment last year).

The running becomes easier as you drop. Very key in the early going: don't push the speed. 7 or 8 or 9 minutes per km are perfectly fine times. Put the time in and eventually pace will improve. Slower but longer runs will help you build your aerobic capacity while at the same time help protect yourself from injury.

Running is a great aerobic exercise but isn't the only option. However if you do find you like it you'll still need to do some other strength training lest you become lopsided.

Bump

Name: Kevin
Weight: 294 pounds
Goal: 244 by Thanksgiving - 200 in one year
How: 2000 calories a day and exercise
Favorite Exercise: Swimming, Rowing and Weights - Ultimate once I am below 250 starting to train for a triathlon next spring.
Low Calorie Snack: apples and carrots

Logging chest, waist and hip measurements also.

Good luck to you all!

First name-Perry
Current weight-260
Goal weight at Thanksgiving-220
How you plan to accomplish the weight loss-Walking at least 3 miles per day and kettle bells, tracking food intake
Favorite form of exercise-Kettle Bells
Favorite low calorie snack-Banna