Down 161 lbs since January 2011, feeling great Update

wow what did u do for exercise, you look amazinggggggg!!

Mostly cardio, I started out walking 2 miles around the neighborhood a couple times a week, then did some wii games to break the monotony, then did some walking/jogging and now I do mostly jogging/running. When I started out I was doing about 30 minutes a day, now I do around an hour or so. I have also started within the last month of working with a personal trainer two days a week for an hour plus running 4 to 5 days a week. He wants me to slow down on the cardio a little.

LIsten to your trainer, excess cardio kills. So happy to read about your accomplishments. Thanks for all the pics, very encouraging to those who will soon be where you are. Have you considered using Kettlebells. I heartily recommend using Lauren Brooks DVD Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells. Watching your transition and reading your posts, I would think you'd be very happy with the ROI (return on investment) from Kettlebells at this stage of your journey!

I have some Kettlebells, I am sure the trainer will work them in some how, the bells are actually my wives so I don't know if they are heavy enough for me, I think they are like 10, 15, and 20lbs.

They are a great place to start! I started with a 4 kg/9 lb Kettlebell, rapidly progressed to a 12 kg/26 lb bell (in about a month) which is average for females. Then I grew in strength a little and added a 16 kg/35 lb bell. Looking at your physique, I'd start you on her small bells just to learn excellent technique. When you can perform an exercise safely for 4-8 reps, I'd move up a bell in size. Most guys, even if they can lift crazy amounts in the gym, are happy with a 16 kg/35 lb bell and the very strong go up a little.

I would encourage you to check out Mark's Daily Apple for other couples like the two of you. Now that, like me, morbid obesity is becoming past tense and not present, you may be interested in shifting your nutrition and fitness a little bit to what will give you the most maximizing of your health after all the years of being out of balance.

Losing weight was the 1st and only goal I started with 2 years ago. Now I have a daughter who is almost 6 and I want to stick around a long time while having LOTS of energy for her. About 7 months ago, I thought that everything my trainer and I were doing around food and movement were perfect and had been for awhile (see ticker) but reading other stories of folks with the same health goals I had over at Mark's Daily Apple and Chris Kresser's the Healthy Skeptic gave me a couple of missing pieces of the puzzle that I didn't even know were missing. The results are I'm developing a 6 pack in my kitchen, rather than the gym. I'm using my kettlebell, sprinting and very slow walking to heal my body so that it's natural potential is unleashed. I am not dieting but have a sustainable way of living that builds muscle without my trying and increases every health marker my doc can measure.

I still have 63-83 lbs to shed and can expect to continue to become stronger, younger biologically and more disease proof. The transformation for me will not be complete when the extra fat is gone. Decades of being morbidly obese left my my finances devastated from years of being disabled, on a fixed income and not able to continue a promising college/career path. My goals include returning to college, completing a medical degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and owning my own land and home. Most of all, I want to physically do all the fun things I couldn't when I was too weak to get up out of my recliner. I look forward to my returning vitality every morning when I wake up and cherish each and every NSV as much or more than the reduction in pounds.

Congrats on your accomplishment, you look amazing!

Wow!!! Great job!!!!

Oh my gosh...you and your wife just gave me more motivation!!!!! Good luck losing the rest of those pounds!!

You sir, are the man! :drinker:

You look fantastic!

Unbelievable! I had to call my husband to the room so he could see...

LOL.. I did too. We were both amazed, and without gastric bypass. I am so impressed. This is why I love the success stories, especially with the pics! Thanks for posting it.

wahooo!!! amazing!

Rock on! Very inspirational. Nicely done!