Cutting weight, living on less, etc.

[Lowdown3]

195 and hopefully still dropping. Next weight class down is 189 which would likely be my extreme low end. I would likely be a BIIIGG person in that weight class.

[monkeybird]

We need a before and after picture!

[Lowdown3]

Been sitting at 191 for a week and half or so. Wife said I probably hit a "plateau." Have been eating out more on the weekends, Christmas get together's, etc. Gonna train pretty much all week next week, so hopefully I can beat this invisible barrier LOL I've adjusted it down twice already (210 and then 195) but my new goal is to see 189 by the end of the year.

The "cravings" for a large amount of food have pretty much ended, still averaging around 1,500 calories a day, including training days. Some days it's around 1,200 and sometimes it's over 1,500 Any less than about 500 by dinner time and I can tell a difference- slightly tired but still able to do work. Resting pulse remains between 50 and 55, BP rates have gone down slightly more though I only check that once or twice a week.

I saw an old video we did in 07, that was further motivation to continue down, WOW! I had to be 50 lbs. heavier than what I am now. Ouch....

I'm thinking that in a couple months I will get a complete physical and blood work. This ought to show any hidden complications with keeping calories around 1,500 a day.

Now more than ever I believe people could live off of 1,500 calories a day if they had to. While we probably shouldn't PLAN that way, it does mean in a pinch with some determination you could stretch your food storage a little further if need be.

[biathlon]

Get this book and then rid your house of all the dogffod, crap and s@#t most Americans try to live on.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS404&&sa=X&ei=LosLTbSrKcX7lwf5p6zADA&sqi=2&ved=0CBIQBSgA&q=ori+hofmekler&spell=1&fp=7b989c6c17f79c85

I'm 55 and ski circles around folks half my age. Flesh is DOGFOOD! You don't need it! Game meats will certainly be a large part of my TEOTWAKI diet but right now I do not eat anything with a face on it. Most Americans believe they will die if they don't eat meat 3 times a day. The crap sold in supermarkets is so full of fats, chemicals and dyes it doesn't even come close to what our ancestors ate.


Grain and beef production in this country has absolutly NOTHING to do with feeding people. The entire system is designed to make the commodities brokers rich! Commerciall factory farmed poultry, pork, beef and lamb are death food.

[Lowdown3]

Couldn't agree more Biathlon. We eat very little meat to begin with. Certainly not the common "one big slab o' meat" per meal. One rabbit feeds our family of three 2-3 meals.

Broke my "plateau" this morning and tipped the scales at 189.2 Other than being sore from training a little too much this week, I feel great.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Broke my "plateau" this morning and tipped the scales at 189.2 Other than being sore from training a little too much this week, I feel great.

CONGRATS!!!

[Lowdown3]

Made it to where I needed to be at- 179. Other than being sick this last week and at the campout (flu going around up here bigtime, the whole family had it), I feel great.

Folks if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. It doesn't really "hurt" like you might think it does. I really only "craved" more food early on and then about once a week I'd crave a "big meal." Still averaging 1,300 to 1,500 calories a day and still doing the same workout, fight training, etc.

[Spock]

Made it to where I needed to be at- 179. Other than being sick this last week and at the campout (flu going around up here bigtime, the whole family had it), I feel great.

Folks if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. It doesn't really "hurt" like you might think it does. I really only "craved" more food early on and then about once a week I'd crave a "big meal." Still averaging 1,300 to 1,500 calories a day and still doing the same workout, fight training, etc.

11 days ago i virtually quit drinking soda. I've only had soda 4 times in the last 11 days and only on one of those days did I drink it to the amount I had in the past. I have found a plethora of no calorie and low calorie (10-20 cal per 8 ounce serving) drinks and drink mixes that are too my liking. municipal tap water tastes like the hind of a skunk around here.

4C makes 2 lemonades, a tea, and a fruit punch that are zero calorie and zero aspartame (i;m allergic to aspartame)
http://www.4cstore.com/products/powder_drink_tubs

they run about $3 each at walmart taste like they are sweeted with sugar and are zero cal. 7 tubs to a container and each tub make 1/2 gallon. its cheaper than even the cheapest soda.

another one I've been drinking is light Hawaiian fruit punch. just 10 calories a serving

Gatorade's glacier freeze is now available in low cal too. its 80 calories for a 32 ounce bottle thats just 1/4 of the normal Gatorade.

i had been down last year to the 206-209 area working a job that had me on my feet all and running about alot. since then I ballooned back up to 222 and now with couch to 5k and these low cal drinks I'm down to 218 in 3 weeks.

I'd like to get down to 185-195 range. that was where I was happiest with my weight.

[kilowhiskey]

1,200 calories? Sure, it can be done. People all over the world survive on that every day, year after year, all while working every day too. We Americans are overfed and can do well (probably better) on much less than "recommended."

I've been thinking about doing something like this for a while now. With the way things are going, there may be no other choice. Besides getting healthier, eating less means that I have more money available for preps. My stored food lasts longer too!

I actually cut my intake of food and drinks on May 20, eating much healthier and drinking lots of water. Result: 5lb loss in 10 days. While I'm not monitoring my caloric intake, I know I'm eating less. Now to get back to training and we'll see where it goes.

-KW

[trkarl]

Well i never thought I would be trying to lose weight. I was skinny 95 lb runt in HS. I remember lift weights and drinking lots of weight gainer to get bigger. I ran varsity cross country and could do the 3.1 miles in between 17 - 18 minutes. Fast forward to last year and tipping the scale at 189 - 190. I never thought that would happen. Well high bp runs in both my parents and mine started creeping up.

I had figured I got enough exercise because I run a lawn service and cut between 60 - 70 lawns a week by myself. Apparently that is not enough. I have run off and on over the years with no problems until about 2 months ago when I started again to get in shape. The tendons on the inside of my knees decided running is no longer for me LOL!!

So I told DW we are going to get real mountain bikes and exercise with them. I found out I love riding the bike. I also drink almost nothing but water with a little lemon anymore. I have virtually cut out all sweets and most red meat. Also anything with transfats is avoided like the plague and cook most everything at home anymore. I have also cut my portion sizes way down. We definitely eat way too much.

I am now tipping the scale in my birthday suit at about 162. Being thin boned and 6 feet tall that is pretty good. At least my 33-34 inch pants now fit loosely and need a belt.For me it's all a part of self discipline. It is just so easy grab a couple of cookies before bed or sit and munch while at the computer but no more.

I also bought a light pair of dumbbells to do exercises with. No more heavy lifting. Just lots of slow steady reps to build up endurance.

One of my favorite things to eat anymore is to take 2 tbs yogurt and mix in 2 or 3 tbs rolled oats and 1 tbs of either Barlean's flax seed oil or Udo's 3-6-9 oil for the omega 3s. It's not much but it kills the hunger and food cravings for a long time.

[trkarl]

Do any of you jump rope a lot for training? If so is it considered a high impact exercise like running?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Do any of you jump rope a lot for training? If so is it considered a high impact exercise like running?

High impact on the knees if thats an issue

[Sunshine]

I jump rope daily. It's a great way to get your heart rate up. It depends on how you jump rope if its high impact or not. Let me explain: If you jump rope like a school girl (no offense to anyone who jumps like this) it's high impact, your feet come up higher and slam to the ground. Which is hard on the knees and ankles. I jump rope like a boxer. Your feet stay closer to the ground so less impact. I have patella alta, a genetic knee disorder so I have bad knees. I also dislocated my knee a few months ago (doing a round house kick on a bag) and am still recovering. The 'boxer' style of jumping is tricky. When you begin learning how to do it, start off without a rope. Just go through the motions. Otherwise you'll probably score some nice big whelps on your arms from the rope. Also, if your worried about your ankles or have arch problems in your feet, wear shoes when jump roping. If you can, jump rope on a cushion surface. I do most of my exercises in the karate studio and my home dojo which has padded floors, less impact.
If an exercise is too hard on your body, remember to modify. Just keep exercising!!! It's good for the mind and body!!!!!!!

[Spock]

i was 217 this morning. not bad since i went on a calorie binge last weekend.

[barfife]

Made it to where I needed to be at- 179. Other than being sick this last week and at the campout (flu going around up here bigtime, the whole family had it), I feel great.

Folks if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. It doesn't really "hurt" like you might think it does. I really only "craved" more food early on and then about once a week I'd crave a "big meal." Still averaging 1,300 to 1,500 calories a day and still doing the same workout, fight training, etc.

In 2009, I was able to lose 52 lbs in 7.5 months on 1500 calories/day plus daily exercise. Two years later, I have put on 11 pounds (I eat when stressed) and are now working to get it back off.