Another Guy checking in.

I'm 47 (soon to be 48) During my teens and twenties I was very active. I did a lot of hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. In my thirties I drifted away from backpacking in favor of a camping trailer. Instead of seeking out secluded ponds and streams to fish, I opted for the local lakes and the seat of my boat. For several years now I haven't even gotten a hunting license. Now I find myself overweight (by a lot) and out of shape.

He's where I was on Jan. 11th when I started my program:
Weight: 297 ~ On meds for High Blood Pressure ~ On meds for High Chlorestrol ~ Resting heart rate about 75 ~ Pain in my feet and knees ~ Clothes that don't fit well and I looked like crap.

Time to change my ways, that was for sure.

The plan: A friend of mine gave me one of the old Richard Simmons "Deal-A-Meal" All it is, is the food pyramid laid out in portions. What a clever idea. It has made it so easy for me to plan out my food for the day and as long as I follow it there seems to be nothing that I can't have to eat. The problem that had always plagued me in the past was that I just plain ate too much!!! Now I have some knowledge and control. And it is working! In the two weeks that I been on this new plan I've lost 14 lbs.

Besides losing weight I have to get back into shape. Luckily, I have a Nordic Track. 20 minutes twice a day is doing wonders for my diet as well as my over-all fitness.

Well, that's my story in a nutshell. I'm pulling for you all, I hope you will be pulling for me, as well.

14 lbs gone. 103 lbs to go.

Hey nc although I'm not a guy I would like to welcome you to diettalk... Come and post on the pub forums as well and you will get a lot of great responses there..

Hi ncstargazer... 14 lbs is great... you can do it!

Looks like you started off real good with portion control and exercise.. I hope you will keep us up to date on how you are doing.
*

JoAnne,

Thanks for the welcome * As time allows I have been exploring the Forums and I'm sure that you will find me popping up on the Pub soon.

Thanks for the encouragement, John.

I am REALLY committed to changing my habits and life style and I plan on using these boards as much as possible to keep me focused on the task at hand.

You look like you are on the right track, IMO... I can't wait to hear your progress.

Well, I made it through another weekend without doing too much damage to myself. I have found that it is easier for me to stay focused on diet and exercise during the week than it is on weekends. It must be the routine of work and home during the week that makes it easy to plan out meals and exercise. But then Friday night comes along and I want to take the wife out to dinner. Why does a 3 oz. bit of fish look so much smaller on a restaurant plate than it does on the everyday plates at home? Why does a 3 oz. bit of fish look so much smaller on a restaurant plate than it does on the everyday plates at home? I really wanted a glass of white wine with dinner on Friday night but I passed it up and just drank water instead. Next time we go out I'm planning my daily menu so that I can include a couple ounces of wine.

Saturday didn't bring too many pitfalls. I was able to plan out and stick to my menu and I got more exercise in than I planned. * I even washed my truck in the driveway insted of going to the carwash. Okay, so it wasn't a lot of exercise... but it did involve quite a bit of movement

Sunday was a tough one. My brother-in-law called early and wanted us to meet them for a late breakfast...it was at a buffet place, so I was able to pick out a good low cal breakfast, but the temptation to pig out was enourmous.
In the afternoon I had my first real craving since I started my new lifestyle. Hot wings! Now I don't mean those wimpy "Buffalo Wings" But real mouth burning, butt ripping, what the heck did I put in my mouth wings coated with cayanne and haberno sauce. The kind that can even bring a tear to the eye of a devoted chilihead! I ate 1/2 cup of Diet Jell-o. It wasn't the same but the craving went away.

A few thoughts about some things I have learned so far.

* If you are going to follow a plan that calls for portion control you MUST faithfully use a scale, measuring cups, and measuring spoons. If you are like me, you think you don't need these things to portion out your food. But I was wrong. If you want 3 oz. of meat, you really need to weigh it!

* I can still do sit-ups.

* I didn't know you could get a "Charlie Horse" in your stomach. :eek: I do now!

* I CAN do this!!!

You are doing great ncstargazer.. Yep I don't know why weekends have to make it so hard on us...I basically had the same problems before but I found with preplanning my meals I stick to it pretty good.. My exercise basically involves 1 1/2 miles of walk.. Yep in the snow..>LOL... I wish the snow were gone and we could wash cars right now but it's next to impossible at the moment.....I'm following the weight watchers plan after following 2 years of low carbing so I really have to watch what I eat...Where I cut out breads and potatoes and sugars out of my diets I've added some back in.. Only making sure to eat high fiber breads, baked not fried potatoes and still not eating sugar...So far so good... 1st week into the program and I'm already down 6 1/2 pounds with only 18 1/2 to goal...I previously lost 62 pounds but gained 25 back when my back gave out on me in september...Leaving me with Degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the spine.. I just restarted will all my walking...