The Cannonballers Club -recovering phat d00ds get in here!

[Tortuga]

I know there are a bunch of us on the forum (including at least 3 who were just at the SoCal AmpFest last weekend) who are either actively losing weight, have lost a bunch of weight, or are needing to get their asses kicked into gear. Trying to jump into the fitness jock thread is not for me at all - I’m guessing I’m not alone. So, this is the place where we can work together to keep the motivation going, without the judgmental bullshit (please!).

To get this party started, here’s some possible discussion topics:

• What’s your background?
• What causes you to be overweight?
• How long have you been trying to lose weight?
• How much have you lost, and/or how much do you have to lose?
• What are you doing about it?
• What foods/exercise are working for you?
• Teh STRUGGLE!!!!!!
• How the fuck do you maintain after losing it?
• …etc

Go!

[soulsurfer]

Great thread!

Hi! My name is soulsurfer and I'm a recovering beached whale.

I can say that once I ran into some health problems (high blood pressure, intestinal issues, gallbladder/liver inflamed, plus usual shortness of breath just waling around the block) and hitting just shy of 250lbs when my ideal weight (for me) is around 180lb and I was about to go up to the next size in jeans I said fuck it!

I got a hold of an old friend who is a physical trainer for pro athletes and Olympiads etc to see what he could tell me.
I met with him and his now wife and basically they told me to cut a bunch of carbs until I get to my goal weight.
Did a cleansing/reset diet that was protein heavy and carb shy along with about 30 days of hard exercise.

Started all this last August. Took a break thru' the holidays b/c I didn't want to torture myself. (in like two months I only gained 5lbs) but overall lost a net 30lbs.
I lost 10lbs the first week without even exorcising.
and have been loosing a pound or two /week ever since.
I don't even exorcise now except to walk the dogs and the occasional bike ride with the wife around mission bay.

to lose weight I'm simply cutting major sources of carbs/sugars. No sodas. No bread. No potatoes. No desserts. No rice. No pasta. etc.
Fat and Protein is fine for me. Basically a modified Atkins. I do eat carbs just a lot less of them. TBH I now have small amounts of sugar in my coffee...or have a cookie that sort of thing.

I've got about 20lbs to go and want to get there by the end of this year. I actually want it to take me a while - go slow and steady. I want to get used to finding new things to eat and ways to make healthy meals and feel good about it...not just torture myself into losing lbs and then gaining them all back in 6 months.

My wife started doing the same thing and she's lost 40lbs and looks fucking great!

So - I guess I have lots of reasons to keep going. Health. I feel great and certainly look a lot better (subjective I know ) It inspired my wife to do the same thing...and a couple of friends are now doing it too.

[Tortuga]

That's awesome, John. I know you've had a crazy time lately, and it's good to hear that things are on the upswing. I hope it continues to work for you!

While our methods are a bit different (I'm doing a quite a bit of exercise and not cutting carbs as much as you), I agree that the slower approach sure is a hell of a lot easier to deal with. I've always done the crash-plan thing in the past. That's fucking awesome if you can stand it - big results in short timeframes, but it's hard as hell to stick with and maintain for the long-haul. I'm really hoping that I'm onto something that'll get me much further down the road than I've been.

[soulsurfer]

exercise is always good! even just cutting some carbs will return big results for you. Here's to long term success!

[Walt]

Shit sorry guys.
Initially took this thread wrong.
Big edit/delete.

[Tortuga]

What'd I miss, Walt?

[BroSlinger]

I need to drop 34 lbs.

I'm a lazy piece of shit that likes fried food and all alcohols.

I was 41 lbs lighter when I was looking for a girlfriend 9 years ago. Found one, and gained five pounds a year.

Having a child has made this challenge become a bit tougher. Obviously I have lots of excuses.

Fwiw, I used to run. Hurt my knee. Haven't been able to run in 7 years. Sucks. Orthopedic doctor couldn't help. Therapy made it worse. Wearing an orthotic.

The Good news: playing drums has increased my testosterone and strength. Plus, I found a probiotic that makes me feel bloated and full all the time. I'm noticeably less hungry and dropped three lbs effortlessly. I can see it in my face.

[Tortuga]

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view - and you'd be wrong ), the meds I'm on for my sciatica don't mix with alcohol at all. Anything more than 1-2 beers, within 3 hours of taking the shit makes me comatose. Can't fucking stand that feeling

...and I love the taste of beer & whiskey

Gene, I know the kid thing all too well. I was in the shape of my life before my kids came along. Used to spend HOURS every week on the bike. Hard to do when you're thinking more about being a dad than keeping the weight off.

Sounds like I need a drumset - must be a good, low-impact workout. No fucking way I'm gonna get into running. Swimming and elliptical have been great, and I'm really looking forward to getting back into cycling.

I'm down 52 lbs as of this morning. Has taken me 6 months. Got a ways to go, but I can't wait until all I need to lose is 34 pounds

[VTM]

I'm also a lazy piece of shit. I hate lifting weights and pretty much all forms of exercise except walking and walking related stuff like mowing the lawn and snow removal. Starting today I added something to my spring/summer/fall routine. Lots more walking! Maybe!

I've got too many cars and not enough space for them, so I rented a garage today that is approximately 12 blocks from my house. If I want to drive that particular car I have to walk to the garage then back home afterwards. So will that car ever be driven again? That remains to be seen.

I could cheat by driving to the garage and swapping cars but my cars are huge and it's a PITA to get them in and out of the place, especially if other renters are there to access their units.

I've got a fair amount of money invested in the car and have good collector insurance via Hagerty, so I'm looking at it like a gym membership. I'm paying for all this stuff so I might as well use it.

Or just say fuck it and take a nap.

Vroom! I trucks!

[Walt]

What'd I miss, Walt?

Ah shit, Steve. I went all John Goodman for a sec. not important. As you were.

[itchyfingers]

What'd I miss, Walt?

Ah shit, Steve. I went all John Goodman for a sec. not important. As you were.

This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass!

[BroSlinger]

This is what happens when you find a stranger in the alps!!!

[soulsurfer]

I told you this was a great thread.

[BleedingWhiskey]

Long story:

I'm 6'-4" and was just over 300 lbs at the beginning of 2009. I had been this big from my sophomore year in high school (1998) up until this year. We I went into high school, I was 6'-2" and just under 200 lbs. Not skinny, but healthy. Before high school, I was in PE everyday and ran 2 miles a day. I wasn't in sports (music/band took up too much time), but I was at least getting exercise. Cut to high school, I wasn't required to take a PE class. I was in marching band and got an exemption. So my exercising went down to almost nothing. Compound that on to a terrible diet and depression (I was picked on alot and bullied in my elementary/junior high years and developed depression. It stopped in high school, but I still carried it with me), I graduated high school 6'-4' tall, weighing 285 lbs. My diet got better, as I cut candy and snacking out of my diet, but I still ate unhealthy fast food way too much. This pretty much my status quo until 2009.

Fast forward to 2009. I was still dealing with insecurity and poor self esteem and was in a deep depression. Despite graduating college, landing a good job, recording a full length album with my band; I was still at the bottom of an emotional well. It was a dark time in my life. Most of it was attributed by my insecurity of my weight.

I was also dealing with a slight respiratory infection that winter that just didn't seem to go away. I had constant chest congestion. At the advice of a coworker, I tried running to help break up the congestion. He said it always work for him. So I started running and it did help. So I kept doing it and actually started to enjoy the physical activity. Even after the infection went away, I kept doing it. I started to discover that when I ran, I couldn't eat what I usually ate. I couldn't stand the taste of fried or greasy food. It was too heavy after that much activity. So I stated getting salads and other healthier options. After that, it just started to snowball.

I was eating healthier and running at least 3-4 times a week. I could barely run more than a few blocks at a time, but I kept pushing. I had also stopped eating at fast food and started cooking healthy at home. Around this time, I moved in with a buddy of mine. I had moved back home in 2007 to go back to college and then save up after graduation. My mom was selling her house to move in with her new husband that spring, so I figured this was good time to get out on my own again. Anyway, after about 3 months of exercise and eating healthy, I was feeling great. I also wasn't weighing myself. Weight loss wasn't my intent with making these changes. I was just feeling better and kept doing it. One day, I talking to my roommate after work and he noticed that I've lost quite a bit of weight. So I get on the scale to discover I had lost 40 lbs in those 3 months! All I could think was "weight loss is this easy? I was just doing it because it felt great."

So at that point, I ramped it up. I started working on my running endurance and throwing some strength training in there. I also cut my drinking down and cut beer out and stuck to whiskey and rum. By mid summer 2009, I was down to 230 lbs. I could fit in a large t-shirt! Having to buy a new wardrobe because everything was too big on me was the most awesome feeling ever! I also my got my running distance up to 5 miles without stopping. I started the year being only able to run blocks at a time.

By November that year, I was down to 200 lbs. 2/3rds of my starting weight! My confidence was up, my depression was pretty much non-existent, and my love life had exploded! Apparently I was a fairly attractive guy when I lost all that weight and along with the confidence boost, I was very popular with the ladies, lol. In the beginning of 2010, I started being less conservative with my diet. I had gotten down to 190 lbs and felt that was a good stopping point. I still mostly ate healthy, but I would indulge in pizza and beer once in a while. I also kept up running and was doing 6-7 miles every other day. I had to actually make myself eat more than I ever had, even before losing all that weight, lol


TL;DR I'm 6'-4" tall. I was 300 lbs, got into running to help with depression and congestion, started eating healthy, and a year later, I lost 110 lbs.

It didn't feel like hard work to me while doing it, but looking back on it, I worked my ass off to get to that point. I've maintained between 195-210 lbs since 2010 and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon. I still run, bike, and lift weights regularly and enjoy it. Losing that weight was one of my biggest achievements and was a life changer.

[JerEvil]

Y'all know my story. Was at 326 at my heaviest (I am 5'10"). Went through a really rough patch between losing my dad and brother, then my wife and I separating. Took about a year but got down to 182 and hovered between 180-190 for about 2 years after. I have gained about 20 pounds and feel terrible. Currently working to get back down in to about the 185 mark.

It will be a lifelong struggle for me as I know I suffer from food addiction. Folks can laugh at it all they want but this struggle is real. Anyway, Lord willing, I will get back to where I feel comfortable within the next 8 weeks or so.

[VTM]

Y'all know my story. Was at 326 at my heaviest (I am 5'10"). Went through a really rough patch between losing my dad and brother, then my wife and I separating. Took about a year but got down to 182 and hovered between 180-190 for about 2 years after. I have gained about 20 pounds and feel terrible. Currently working to get back down in to about the 185 mark.

It will be a lifelong struggle for me as I know I suffer from food addiction. Folks can laugh at it all they want but this struggle is real. Anyway, Lord willing, I will get back to where I feel comfortable within the next 8 weeks or so.

Same here, and I remember your story and what happened to your brother. If you can go from 326 to 182 in a year you can do pretty much anything, lol. I'm sure you'll be back on track in a few months.

[itchyfingers]

It is really interesting to see a common thread of depression in this thread and realizing its link to our weight issues.

When my dad died in 2005, I ballooned up to 290lbs, my heaviest. I wouldn't say I was clinically depressed, but I definitely found comfort in eating, and didn't really give a shit about the consequences. It wasn't until I saw a picture online from a party, clicked on a thumbnail pic thinking, "I don't remember meeting that fat guy" - oh, turned out the fat guy was me. I went to see a personal trainer, and got things under control in 2006, got as low as 205lbs. Maybe not the healthiest weight for my frame, I was emaciated. Over the course of a decade I slowly put back on weight, and realized it was time for another big change when I hit 250lbs last year.

So I started riding my bike pretty religiously a couple times a week. I joined a race coming up in May and have been training hard, getting over a 100 miles in on certain weeks. I'm down to 222lbs, and should have no problem getting to an ideal 212lbs by next month. The weirdest thing is I am eating like a horse right now, but still burning enough calories to run a deficit. I can now maintain 75% max HR for three hours, not sure I've ever been in that kinda shape...

I got a ways to go, but its a good path to be on. The hardest part is initiating a change in your habit(s). Good luck GABbros!

[VTM]

Having one of my cars parked 12 blocks away is turning out (so far) to be a nice supplement to my regular physical activities. Walked 24 blocks today just to have the pleasure of driving and washing the damn thing.



How's it going Grimes?

[Zozobra]

I was around 220. Now 187. Target 175.

[GuitarBilly]

I went from 275 at my heaviest to 184 now. Didn't do anything too extreme other than just eating less and better, as well as walking and hiking. I don't like gyms and never will so that shit is not for me.

I was never heavy until I hit 35, at that point there was a lot happening in my life, especially with my kid's mom basically killing herself slowly in front of him and I put on weight just from stress eating. I am in a much better place mentally now so the body followed it back to normal and it's all good.

I still want to lose another 7lbs but at this point is no big deal as I am back to a healthy weight for my height (6'0). I plan to lose the last few pounds by having sex twice a day and replacing dinner with beer. Probably won't work, but it's still fun.

[atrox]

TL;DR version:

Was fat. Lost tons of weight. Got divorced (very amicable and still good friends). Heavy depression set in. Heavier than i've ever been currently. More depression. No ambition. Tired all the time. Knees and back suffering. More depression. Just want to sleep all the time.

That about brings us to now.

Music and Design are my only saviors.

[BroSlinger]

TL;DR version:

Was fat. Lost tons of weight. Got divorced (very amicable and still good friends). Heavy depression set in. Heavier than i've ever been currently. More depression. No ambition. Tired all the time. Knees and back suffering. More depression. Just want to sleep all the time.

That about brings us to now.

Music and Design are my only saviors.

Bummer, man.

Good luck! Don't be depressed about getting divorced. Your best days are ahead of you!

[Tom]

I'm 44 and I like beer and food...a lot. My wife is a killer cook!

I need to lose the belly. Most of you have seen my clips and see what I look like. I'm 212, '5-"11 with clothes on.

[Axe]

You know my story.

[bish0p34]

I'm going to be 44 soon. I'm about 178-182 depending on the day, and I'm 5'11". I was close to 250 a while back, and about a year ago I was still struggling to get under 200 again. I absolutely LOVE cheeseburgers, hoagies, and pizza. I'd live on those if I could.

When I moved to the D.C. area, the wife started us on a paleo diet. For the first month you don't eat any processed foods or sugars. That's really hard, as there's hidden sugar in so much food. After the first month we started to cheat with about 4 meals a week (once a week I eat a whole pizza too). Your body no longer processes sugar before fat, and you start to burn fat off immediately. We both lost a lot of weight by doing nothing but that. My wife lost about 50 pounds, I lost over 30. It's so easy, and you can find some incredible recipes that are paleo compliant, including kick-ass Chinese recipes.

The average night I drink 2-4 beers, and they don't really put any weight on at all. I realized that beer by itself doesn't make you fat at all, it's all the other shit you eat that makes beer adds to. The wife and I love to drink it, and on the weekends...look out! We also drink a lot of German beers, and they don't put any shit in them...love the Purity Law!

Sugar however...that shit is the devil. It's absolutely terrible. When you eat healthier, you realize how shit food makes you tired and depressed. It's in everything, and it's killing us.


Oh yeah...most importantly...without all the processes shit in my diet, my hair thinning out has stopped.