I found a diet that hits the nail right on the head!

michaeladharris · July 7

I really never tried weight loss in all my 67 years but when I was told to expect type 2 diabetes in my future I took the plunge. I was 232 lbs, 6-2 male, 67 years old. I decided to go all in over night. I went low carb, 80 or less gms daily and started a IF schedule of 14/10. Also stoped drinking, no junk food at all, all organic, grass fed, finished. Cut out sugar. All at once! That was Feb 13 and today I’m at 187 lbs. I tried Omad for two weeks and it was ok but couldn’t get enough food in an hour. I’m 16:8 daily now and went 24 hours today. I’m around 1400 calories a day. When I started I was hoping to hit 200. Then I thought 185 would be my target per the bmi calculations. I’m just now seeing a decrease in visceral fat so it looks like 183 is my current target weight. I was just winging it until I got this app. A big upgrade knowing what I’m doing now. Are you lowering your target weight as you get better at the weight loss game? I also average 8500 steps a day now!

RaeBeeBaby · July 7

Absolutely wonderful and inspiring! For myself, I have set incremental goals. So when I reach first one, then set a new goal. It works better for me because it feels more attainable.
How are you getting 8500 steps a day? Is that intentional walking or on a treadmill?

AnnPT77 · July 7

Congratulations, that's great progress!

I have to admit, I'm a little concerned, though: 1400 calories is a very low goal for a 6'2" male. (I lost most of the weight from class 1 obese to a healthy weight at 1400-1600 plus all carefully estimated exercise calories, when I was a 59-60 y/o 5'5" female.) And 45 pounds in around 5 months is quite fast loss.

Fast loss feels rewarding, but it can result in losing unnecessarily much lean tissue (like muscle) alongside fat loss. That's particularly important at our age (I'm 68), because muscle is more difficult and slow to rebuild as we age. Muscle is an important part of keeping us healthy, strong and independent in the coming decades.

I did lower my weight goal as I got closer to goal, and decided that people were wrong who told me it was good to be heavier as we age.

I have arthritis, among other joint issues, and being at a lighter weight makes that less of a problem. A lighter weight is also seen as favorable for avoiding recurrence of a cancer I first had in my 40s.

After the first year or so of maintenance, I adjusted goal weight upward a little again. Over the last 8 years of maintenance, my weight has meandered up and down. Usually the "up" meanders just happened, and the "down" meanders were slow and intentional: That's what maintenance looks like for me. As long as I'm at a healthy weight, with good blood tests and other health markers, I don't get excited about meanders within the same jeans size. (I hate to clothes shop!

)

I'm not a big step-counter, given the joint issues, averaged only 5,686 steps over the past year. But I'm athletically active, mostly rowing (boats when I can, machines when I must) and cycling (ditto, with paved trails and stationary bike). I also don't IF/TRE, limit carbs, or completely omit sugar (though I don't eat lots of it routinely).

A big deal in all of this is staying at a healthy weight long term, which many people find more difficult than losing in the first place. (Witness all the "I'm Back" posts in the introductions part of the Community.) That puts a premium on finding new routine habits that are pretty easy, practical, and ideally even enjoyable - habits that can continue almost on autopilot when other parts of life get challenging, because they will. When getting close to goal weight is a good time to be figuring out what those habits are, and grooving them in, if it hasn't happened already.

Good job: Wishing you continuing success! The rewards are worth the effort!

michaeladharris · July 10

I’m walking after meals which are generally two a day. Lunch at noon and dinner at 6. And I walk early at like 8 am. I got 6 miles today which is above average.

michaeladharris · July 10

I’m upping my calories now that I’m seeing visceral fat burning off in anticipation of leveling off in the next two weeks. But I definitely agree that 1400 calories a day is not enough. I’m not getting hunger signals much anymore. I got stuck in a work situation on Saturday and went 26.5 hours with no food and really felt fine. Its amazing how my metabolism has changed over 5 months

ninerbuff · July 10

If your calorie intake is too low, understand that losing any additional fat will MUCH HARDER because the body tries to hover around homeostasis. And having low body fat requires that you supply enough nutrients and calories to the body to keep it going.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 40 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

michaeladharris · July 13

Just a few lbs to go. What an experience the last 5 months have been! The one thing I’m not giving up is IF. Currently 16/8 makes me feel great! Improved mood, improved cognition including memory. I’ll raise my carb target to 100 grams a day from 81. Starting to work out at home too.

Corina1143 · July 14

I am excited for you! That's great! I'll bet your numbers are great and your Dr. will be shocked and happy.
I'm also concerned for you. Please feed your body. It needs food to fuel ⛽️ its needs.

michaeladharris · July 20

Starting to dial back some elements. Going to 14/10 on the fasting from 16-8.
Going to 1800 cal a day. It’s getting warmish here in la so walking will be morning and after dinner. Starting to work out at home for now. It’s been a long while! But it feels good to be a little sore again at the same time.

BarbMessimer · July 22

@michaeladharris

You're doing great! Keep up the good work. I'm maintaining a 60 pound weight loss and over the past 3 years, I've reversed ALL my chronic diseases as a result of IF and a whole foods/low carb/high protein diet. Reversed diabetes, kidney disease, IBS and Coronary Artery Disease. My skin is moist and glowing, with very few wrinkles, and my nails and hair are strong. I feel great and have tons of energy. I'm 77 years old. I used to be bed bound and could hardly walk due to back pain. My doctor can't believe it.

I don't consider that I'm on a diet. It's simply that I've adopted a way of eating that's healthy for me and I can follow consistently without "suffering". I usually do 18:6 but mix it up depending on circumstances. I hate sweets now.

My body craves raw vegetables and I break my fast with a big salad almost every day. I put everything in it... Different greens, low cal veggies, tomato, HB eggs, avocados, cheese, nuts and chicken, pork or beef chunks. Oil & Vinegar dressing, if any. It's so big that I often save half for later. I also make vegetable soups. Love having soup and salad.

But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, am I? You're doing brilliantly! Way to go, Michael!

michaeladharris · July 23

Very inspirational! And i share your enthusiasm for the low carb, IF synergistic effects! I’m qualifying for a metabolic study of fat cell senescence at Ceders Sinai on Friday. Many benefits to participating in the form of analytics. Full body dexascan, robust bloodwork, gut biome evaluation etc. recently I’ve had good results in skin elasticity combining collagen and whey in a breakfast smoothie to break my fast. I’m 14-16 hours fasting daily. All the best to you thanks for sharing

BarbMessimer · July 23

@michaeladharris
How exciting to be participating in that study! Please share your results.

michaeladharris · July 25

I hope I get in. I have to give a couple of biopsies at the end. And I am a total chicken lol

BarbMessimer · July 25

@michaeladharris I hope you do too. Keep us posted.

michaeladharris · July 29

I didn’t qualify for the trials now because I have lost too high a percentage of body fat in the last two months. We rescheduled me to apply again in 2 months. I should get in then since I’m super close to my goal. Oh well it’s something to look forward too.

BarbMessimer · July 29

@michaeladharris
That's too bad. Hope you get in later. Sounds like an interesting study and a great way to measure your success

michaeladharris · September 18

I’m going back to cedars sainai on Friday to get qualified for a 4 week clinical trial on fat cell senescence. Washed out the first time but pretty confident I’ll get in this time. I get lots of valuable testing like a dexa some genetic evaluation and some bloodwork plus I get to contribute to the common good supplying a couple of biopsies 😁

neanderthin · September 18

michaeladharris wrote: »

I’m going back to cedars sainai on Friday to get qualified for a 4 week clinical trial on fat cell senescence. Washed out the first time but pretty confident I’ll get in this time. I get lots of valuable testing like a dexa some genetic evaluation and some bloodwork plus I get to contribute to the common good supplying a couple of biopsies 😁

Keep us posted. I lost 65 lbs on a ketogenic diet dozen years ago after fumbling around for a few years and have maintained since, not always low carb but mostly and lately strictly. The only fasting I do which I only started about 18 month ago is a 3 day fast every 3-4 months. My eating schedule drops me pretty close and around 14:10 to 16:8 but it's not something on purpose.

xbowhunter · September 18

Congratulants food knowledge is a powerful thing.

Sadly, most put stuff in their mouth and don't even stop to think about it...

BarbMessimer · September 20

@michaeladharris I hope you get in this time too. I'd like to know what your testing shows. I've been practicing IF with a high protein, whole foods diet for 2 years and my health has vastly improved. My skin is smooth and clear. I never use moisturizers as it's naturally moisturized. Skin tags gone. Hair and nails strong. Diabetes, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease all reversed. BP under good control. Lots of energy. I could go on-and-on, and oh yes, I'll soon be 78.

I found a diet that hits the nail right on the head!

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