310 pounds to 169 pounds

[SarahLou]

SarahLou, I really must apologize on behalf of the blokes for takin over your thread, sometimes they just can't help themselves. The key question we need you to settle is which of the 3 Texans was the most helpful.
Now great egos hang in the balance so we all need you to be precise in your decision. Obviously Celorza with his zillions of rep. power would be the wise choice as he may jus send somadat ur way...

Send what my way? Sorry.. yet again.. not educated when it comes to the forum.. I'm new.

 

[SarahLou]

4 hours in a day is definitely overdoing it in the gym. Roughly how many calories per day do you currently consume?

I maximum consume 1000 calories a day. Today I'm at approx 700-ish today. I work two jobs, workout.. I munch as much as I can in between..ish.

 

[TexasGuy]

Not really. It is a common belief amoung many that doing more cardio somehow leads to more weight loss which is simply not true. Calorie expenditure really doesn't have much of an impact on body composition despite how logical it may sound or come across. The purpose of my post was more of a reminder of this.



Again not really. Fat loss is more of a result of dieting methods and not so much exercise. You exercise to build and maintain muscle, not to loose fat.

Example, you take a group of people and place them all on a caloric deficit diet and then separate them into training vs non training, the difference in weight loss between thebgeoups won't really be anything significent.

Also the aerobic pathway is the only one capable of using or "burning" fat as fuel. The anaerobic pathway relies mainly on glucose not fats. Although as jiggz mentions below resistance training (anaerobic) increases EPOC which raises metabolism slightly but again isn't going to really manifest into a huge difference with regard to body composition.

These are relevant

http://anabolicminds.com/forum/weight-loss/209517-how-much-impact.html

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Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S™II using Tapatalk 2

Ok. Burning 3500 - 6000 calories or more per week while at a specific calorie amount compared to someone not burning additional calories at the same calorie intake amount is most likely what Jiigz was getting at, though I can't speak for him of course.

But yes, a deficit is a deficit and 3,500 fewer calories in a given time frame are 3,500 fewer calories, however it is brought about, you win.

 

[JudoJosh]

I maximum consume 1000 calories a day. Today I'm at approx 700-ish today. I work two jobs, workout.. I munch as much as I can in between..ish.

This is most likely why you plateaued (especially when coupled with the time you spend working out a week) How long have you been at this amount for? If your going to go that low might as well go all out and go PSMF honestly.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S™II using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rodja]

I maximum consume 1000 calories a day. Today I'm at approx 700-ish today. I work two jobs, workout.. I munch as much as I can in between..ish.

Ok. That needs to change. Now. You cannot consume that small amount of calories and expect to not end up in a bad place. You're essentially starving yourself with this low of caloric intake and high activity.

 

[TexasGuy]

Send what my way? Sorry.. yet again.. not educated when it comes to the forum.. I'm new.

Haha, he wants more pictures of you and was complaining that "paper rife" isn't a photo of an attractive woman. It wasn't a serious post.

I'm sure Rodja will handle the calorie and training quantity discussion but you are definitely headed for a crash.


Edit: Look at that, three posts in the time it took to type one. Mentally it will probably be tough to increase food consumption given where you have come from but what these guys are most likely about to tell you should be taken seriously.

There are too many chiefs though and I will most likely agree with most of what they say here so no need to continue reiterating.

 

[LikeClockwork]

I maximum consume 1000 calories a day. Today I'm at approx 700-ish today. I work two jobs, workout.. I munch as much as I can in between..ish.

You are barely eating, working out up to 4 hours a day, and using 100mg/100mcg of clen and t3 per day? I'm surprised you haven't hurt yourself already. You need to eat more and workout less, truthfully.

 

[SarahLou]

Ok. That needs to change. Now. You cannot consume that small amount of calories and expect to not end up in a bad place. You're essentially starving yourself with this low of caloric intake and high activity.

Thats what I'm at for today.. ive been cutting low cal intake for three days now. Thats not counting protein shakes.. ranch dip.. the late night snacks.. my weakness.

 

[TexasGuy]

I'm going to try this "HIIT" tomorrow.. I plan on doing a four hour gym day. Two hours before breakfast and two hours after dinner. Fueled- I take 120 mcgs of t3 and 80-100mcgs of clen.
Loved the workout prior to breakfast- no bloating whatsoever, took nobull for my pre workout, and my clen/t3 three times today with no headache. Now for my diet I had chia seeds with soy milk.. a quarter cucumber and two cups of carrotts, a pear and a teaspoon on power peanut butter.. probably shouldnt of eaten that pear. Too much sugar.
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I will jump in to say that the whole purpose of HIIT, or one of the primary purposes, is to reduce volume. You should never need four hours and especially not while running a HIIT routine. Please read about it and understand the principles behind it before just adding it in. Not being mean, it's important.

 

[SarahLou]

You are barely eating, working out up to 4 hours a day, and using 100mg/100mcg of clen and t3 per day? I'm surprised you haven't hurt yourself already. You need to eat more and workout less, truthfully.

Keep in mind.. this has been going on for three days, no longer. I love food too much, proof of where I came from. But I completely understand. So when cutting, what calorie intake should I be consuming.

 

[JudoJosh]

Keep in mind.. this has been going on for three days, no longer. I love food too much, proof of where I came from. But I completely understand. So when cutting, what calorie intake should I be consuming.

So what was your calorie intake 4 days ago?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S™II using Tapatalk 2

 

[TexasGuy]

Being sharply critical is the definition of snarky, which is what your post exemplified. I just love the irony of you calling others dramatic when you constantly have these kinds of undertones resonating within several of your posts.

There are no undertones, you are imagining them. There was no snark or criticism, only clarification.

 

[LikeClockwork]

Keep in mind.. this has been going on for three days, no longer. I love food too much, proof of where I came from. But I completely understand. So when cutting, what calorie intake should I be consuming.

Find your TDEE (using one of many calculators found online) and subtract ~20% from it. Give it a week and adjust accordingly if you're losing weight too slowly or rapidly.

 

[Rodja]

There are no undertones, you are imagining them. There was no snark or criticism, only clarification.

Dude...this in and of itself is snarky. You subtly call out people and then when they respond, you act as though it was unwarranted. You can't call anyone dramatic when you yourself stir up the pot on a frequent basis.

 

[SarahLou]

So what was your calorie intake 4 days ago?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S(TM)II using Tapatalk 2

Oh ****.. probably easily 1600-2800. Its generally all healthy stuff.. with the odd pizza slice... or two.. maybe three. Guilty.

 

[Jiigzz]

Ok. That needs to change. Now. You cannot consume that small amount of calories and expect to not end up in a bad place. You're essentially starving yourself with this low of caloric intake and high activity.

This. Agreed fully. Research on the female athlete triad for a more detailed analysis but i'll do a little blurb here;

Ok, dropping calrories that low is significantly dangerous; esp. to a female. Consider; your body requires energy to function physiologically known as your BMR (Basale Metabolic Rate) this includes the amount of energy required for your kidneys to function, heart function, brain and so on. Its pretty much the energy required to sustain life. Now while this will vary from person to person, I can safely assume that your BMR would far exceed 1,000kcals and definitely more than 700kcals. And this is just your BMR. This doesnt take into energy consumed while exercsing or undergoing daily activities (walking, gardening, etc.).

Now when BMR + exercise is taken into account the total is referred to as TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). This is the energy required by your body to undertake daily activities while maintaining current mass.

With the terminology understood it is now required to put this into action; consider for example that your TDEE is 2500kcals (example only), a safe drop in calories would be around 250-500kcals per day (equating to a loss of between 1/2lb- 1lb per week) putting total calories between 2250 and 2000. However when you drop calories to the levels you are at (700- 1000) you are not even meeting half of your daily requirement. Ergo your body's energy balance is put out of whack. It must recover some calories in order to attempt to keep physiological functions at optimal levels so this is when your body eneters starvation mode; it will literally start to eat itself. It will target muscle cells and break them down to use as fuel (using the proteins as an additional food source), this process has a double effect; 1) the muscle proteins provide fuel in times of starvation and 2) the loss of muscle mass will decrease your BMR and metabolic rate decreases, thus helping to restore balance.

However, at such a huge deficit (not to mention your exercsing on top of this which could effectively account for half, if not more of your daily intake) the body must resort to a more desperate measure; shutting down energy consuming physiological functions; usually the first to go is your bodies ability to reproduce because at this point, survival of the self is more important than survival of the species. Dependant on serverity and how prolonged the body is in starvation mode, this can become permanent and your body will cease to produce eggs.

In short, you need to re-evaluate this current approach for your own safety.

 

[Jiigzz]

Oh snap, it seems as though you cleared this up already; it just took me so long to write it all haha.

 

[TexasGuy]

Dude...this in and of itself is snarky. You subtly call out people and then when they respond, you act as though it was unwarranted. You can't call anyone dramatic when you yourself stir up the pot on a frequent basis.

There was no call out, only clarification, twice, to avoid semantical confusion. Nothing more or less.

 

[SarahLou]

This. Agreed fully. Research on the female athlete triad for a more detailed analysis but i'll do a little blurb here;

Ok, dropping calrories that low is significantly dangerous; esp. to a female. Consider; your body requires energy to function physiologically known as your BMR (Basale Metabolic Rate) this includes the amount of energy required for your kidneys to function, heart function, brain and so on. Its pretty much the energy required to sustain life. Now while this will vary from person to person, I can safely assume that your BMR would far exceed 1,000kcals and definitely more than 700kcals. And this is just your BMR. This doesnt take into energy consumed while exercsing or undergoing daily activities (walking, gardening, etc.).

Now when BMR + exercise is taken into account the total is referred to as TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). This is the energy required by your body to undertake daily activities while maintaining current mass.

With the terminology understood it is now required to put this into action; consider for example that your TDEE is 2500kcals (example only), a safe drop in calories would be around 250-500kcals per day (equating to a loss of between 1/2lb- 1lb per week) putting total calories between 2250 and 2000. However when you drop calories to the levels you are at (700- 1000) you are not even meeting half of your daily requirement. Ergo your body's energy balance is put out of whack. It must recover some calories in order to attempt to keep physiological functions at optimal levels so this is when your body eneters starvation mode; it will literally start to eat itself. It will target muscle cells and break them down to use as fuel (using the proteins as an additional food source), this process has a double effect; 1) the muscle proteins provide fuel in times of starvation and 2) the loss of muscle mass will decrease your BMR and metabolic rate decreases, thus helping to restore balance.

However, at such a huge deficit (not to mention your exercsing on top of this which could effectively account for half, if not more of your daily intake) the body must resort to a more desperate measure; shutting down energy consuming physiological functions; usually the first to go is your bodies ability to reproduce because at this point, survival of the self is more important than survival of the species. Dependant on serverity and how prolonged the body is in starvation mode, this can become permanent and your body will cease to produce eggs.

In short, you need to re-evaluate this current approach for your own safety.

You can clearly tell I'm new.. how awful. Thank-you for clarifying what I'm doing to my body.. how embarassing. What a sin. So according to the calculator I'm supposed to eat 2500 cals a day, now to drop weight, what should I be consuming? Again.. thank you.

 

[rreppert1]

If that is your maintenance level start by dropping 500 cals from that 2500. And go from there!

 

[fueledpassion]

I'd start at 250 since aerobics are already a daily thing. The only reason I say start at 250 below maintenance is because you dont want to lose weight too fast, lest u might be losing muscle mass with it - and thats not good.

 

[Jiigzz]

You can clearly tell I'm new.. how awful. Thank-you for clarifying what I'm doing to my body.. how embarassing. What a sin. So according to the calculator I'm supposed to eat 2500 cals a day, now to drop weight, what should I be consuming? Again.. thank you.

People make mistakes, so it's nothing to be embarrased about. What I posted is quite drastic but it is a potential outcome from prolonged disruption to energy balance but is avoidable.

TDEE calculators are a rough calculation of how many calories you are required to eat to maintain your current weight, but the number varies amoungst populations so just take it as a starting point. You want to aim for approx. 1/2 - 1 lb of weight loss per week, so around 250-500kcals per day deficit will do (2250-2000); if you havent already, use MyFitnessPal. com to help track calories (and list the exact foods you eat as numbers varies amoungst brands). Weigh in weekly to track progress and as weight loss plateaus incorporate some re-feeds (maybe just over a day or two) and start again (recalculate new TDEE based on new weight after 4 or so months).

 

[SarahLou]

thanks fuelled and jiigzz, greatly appreciated, thanks to all you guys, I'm not in the hospital. Its nice to know I have a base where to start. Again.. Thanks!

 

[superbeast668]

Well Gentlemen, Thank-You for clarifying the muscle mass vs body fat.. Makes sense regarding density wise.Now for a question: I want to continue building muscle but yet I want to lose body fat- Doing more reps at a light weight would result in fat loss, correct? Impossible to gain more muscle on a light weight, for a like to challenge myself to fail when in comes to weight lifting, how would I go about this one?OFF TO SMASH JIM.

I'm naturally a pretty chubby guy. I have been around the 300lb range my self. My weight loss wasnt nearly as impressive, and congrats on that. i find high intensity high volume work best for me. 30-45 second breaks 8-16 reps and upwards of 20 reps for legs works very well when I'm trying to cut down.

As far as diet. I found the same stagnation in weight loss. I don't react well to most stimulants. I got stuck around 220. That back shot was around 205. I started adding junk into my diet for a little while, had one to 2 4-5k cal cheat days a week and bam, another 15lbs fell off. It was something I saw someone else mention in here and it does work great! Just don't lose all will power and add in more and more cheat days. When It stops working clean it up again. I did the opposite and I hate my self for it right now.

Good luck on your endeavors and keep killing it! You definitely don't look like 167, you've got some quality muscle in there.

 

[SarahLou]

I'm naturally a pretty chubby guy. I have been around the 300lb range my self. My weight loss wasnt nearly as impressive, and congrats on that. i find high intensity high volume work best for me. 30-45 second breaks 8-16 reps and upwards of 20 reps for legs works very well when I'm trying to cut down. As far as diet. I found the same stagnation in weight loss. I don't react well to most stimulants. I got stuck around 220. That back shot was around 205. I started adding junk into my diet for a little while, had one to 2 4-5k cal cheat days a week and bam, another 15lbs fell off. It was something I saw someone else mention in here and it does work great! Just don't lose all will power and add in more and more cheat days. When It stops working clean it up again. I did the opposite and I hate my self for it right now. Good luck on your endeavors and keep killing it! You definitely don't look like 167, you've got some quality muscle in there.

Thank-you! Ya, you would know then, it sure as hell a piece of work getting to where your at today. Wasn't easy thats for sure... yea, I definitely need to shock this body, and thanks, i love hearing I don't look like weigh that. Haha but yea, Im all over muscle building, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I shouldn't build some pipes. Thanks again!

 

[superbeast668]

Thank-you! Ya, you would know then, it sure as hell a piece of work getting to where your at today. Wasn't easy thats for sure... yea, I definitely need to shock this body, and thanks, i love hearing I don't look like weigh that. Haha but yea, Im all over muscle building, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I shouldn't build some pipes. Thanks again!

Can't go wrong with a chick with guns. LOL

 

[De Courcy]

Not really. It is a common belief amoung many that doing more cardio somehow leads to more weight loss which is simply not true. Calorie expenditure really doesn't have much of an impact on body composition despite how logical it may sound or come across.

Mr. JJ how much cardio do you do in a given week.

 

[chedapalooza]

Ok. That needs to change. Now. You cannot consume that small amount of calories and expect to not end up in a bad place. You're essentially starving yourself with this low of caloric intake and high activity.

I hacent read to the end yet. And hopefully it gets resolved in the next two pages but YES! please change that and hopefully u have! I lost a ton of weight. The first year was FANTASTIC- but then I wanted more and more . So I ate less and less and worked out harder and harder- I ended up at 94 pounds in intensive care hours away from death- the internal damage was unspeakable- kidneys and liver shutting down, body temp of 88 degrees, no measurable BLood pressure, pulse in the 20's, lost sexual function and reproductive functions for that time. I Shrank an inch, and now have low testosterone and a sluggish thyroid.

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The wrong way-2006 - ~105 pounds



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The right way- 2 weeks ago- 170 pounds

The point is- that low of calories will develop a sickness, mentally and physically. I would hate to see ANYONE develop it, especially under the support of a place like this- the place that helped me break free of harmful thought processes and habits.

Congratulations on your accomplishments to this point, please finish them off with a bang, the right way! We're all behind u!

Edit: looks like they have all steered u in the right path. Hope it's working out. HIIT is great and u only need it 3-4 days a week!!

 

[SarahLou]

I hacent read to the end yet. And hopefully it gets resolved in the next two pages but YES! please change that and hopefully u have! I lost a ton of weight. The first year was FANTASTIC- but then I wanted more and more . So I ate less and less and worked out harder and harder- I ended up at 94 pounds in intensive care hours away from death- the internal damage was unspeakable- kidneys and liver shutting down, body temp of 88 degrees, no measurable BLood pressure, pulse in the 20's, lost sexual function and reproductive functions for that time. I Shrank an inch, and now have low testosterone and a sluggish thyroid.

Invalid Link Removed

The wrong way-2006 - ~105 pounds



Invalid Link Removed

The right way- 2 weeks ago- 170 pounds

The point is- that low of calories will develop a sickness, mentally and physically. I would hate to see ANYONE develop it, especially under the support of a place like this- the place that helped me break free of harmful thought processes and habits.

Congratulations on your accomplishments to this point, please finish them off with a bang, the right way! We're all behind u!

Edit: looks like they have all steered u in the right path. Hope it's working out. HIIT is great and u only need it 3-4 days a week!!

Wow.. thats picture proof, and insane. Yes, everyone here has been great... I wanted to do the whole "cardio before breakfast" but caved.. protein pancakes.. can't pass that off. Well I'll admit, you look much better now... obviously! What made you want to lose a large about of weight in 2006?

 

[fueledpassion]

I think this article is extremely important to muscle building and fat loss and should be taken seriously when trying to do such.

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I have been preaching this for the past 6-12 months trying to help people out of that 1970's approach to fat loss which is to not eat enough calories and to rob the body of it's carbohydrates. This article covers it all, fruits, carbs, insulin response, muscle growth and fat gain/loss.

 

[De Courcy]

I hacent read to the end yet. And hopefully it gets resolved in the next two pages but YES! please change that and hopefully u have! I lost a ton of weight. The first year was FANTASTIC- but then I wanted more and more . So I ate less and less and worked out harder and harder- I ended up at 94 pounds in intensive care hours away from death- the internal damage was unspeakable- kidneys and liver shutting down, body temp of 88 degrees, no measurable BLood pressure, pulse in the 20's, lost sexual function and reproductive functions for that time. I Shrank an inch, and now have low testosterone and a sluggish thyroid.

Invalid Link Removed

The wrong way-2006 - ~105 pounds



Invalid Link Removed

The right way- 2 weeks ago- 170 pounds

The point is- that low of calories will develop a sickness, mentally and physically. I would hate to see ANYONE develop it, especially under the support of a place like this- the place that helped me break free of harmful thought processes and habits.

Congratulations on your accomplishments to this point, please finish them off with a bang, the right way! We're all behind u!

Edit: looks like they have all steered u in the right path. Hope it's working out. HIIT is great and u only need it 3-4 days a week!!

Those pics. are shocking, reminds me of Jordan Rubin GOL founder pics in the book Patient Heal Thyself. Kudos to you for posting those to pehaps help others, many wouldn't...

 

[chedapalooza]

Wow.. thats picture proof, and insane. Yes, everyone here has been great... I wanted to do the whole "cardio before breakfast" but caved.. protein pancakes.. can't pass that off. Well I'll admit, you look much better now... obviously! What made you want to lose a large about of weight in 2006?

Thanks lol yes obviously. I just was always teased and fat as a kid. Started working out and educating myself, then took I too far and became obsessed.

Those pics. are shocking, reminds me of Jordan Rubin GOL founder pics in the book Patient Heal Thyself. Kudos to you for posting those to pehaps help others, many wouldn't...

Im not familiar with him or the book! But yes, I'm not ashamed or embarrassed. I want to use my second chance as an opportunity to help others see that it's Neve too late and is always possible to get healthy again.I actually recently completed a memoir of the whole ordeal spanning 2.5 years and current thoughts/ideals after having been recovered since 2007-8. I started writing it in 2007 and finished it in December 2012 as my thesis for my degree in journalism. I'd love to get it published to help spread awareness and education, and hope for recovery.

 

[MidwestBeast]

Tried to read the entire thread and got a miserable headache around the end of page 2, start of page 3, so I apologize for whatever I may have missed.

Just wanted to say congratulations on your transformation. It's truly awesome and inspiring. Best of luck in all that you continue to do and I hope you can be an inspiration for others to follow down the same path of success.

 

[SarahLou]

Tried to read the entire thread and got a miserable headache around the end of page 2, start of page 3, so I apologize for whatever I may have missed.Just wanted to say congratulations on your transformation. It's truly awesome and inspiring. Best of luck in all that you continue to do and I hope you can be an inspiration for others to follow down the same path of success.

Thank-you so much! Yea, I use to get woman asking me what my secret was, in actuality, clearly there was so secret. Dedication. Living proof the impossible, is more than possible.

 

[bikinidiva]

Good job everyone! Keep up the good work! Seeing it as a challenge makes it easier to achieve your goals!

 

[Able825]

what did you do with all your old huge clothes?

 

[bikinidiva]

When I lost all my weight, I got rid of them immediately and donated them to Goodwill. I never wanted to go back to that size again.

 

[SarahLou]

what did you do with all your old huge clothes?

Hahah, that is a good question.. all my old clothes, were ordered online, because where i'm from? Extended size clothing that is made for someone my age is non-existent. The brands I had, were apple bottoms, baby phat etc. I gave some away to woman that were bigger than the sizes I had given them, for their inspiration. So one day? They would fit in them. One thing I always did was buy clothes I'd wish I would fit in. It felt great once I did. The other clothes? I still have my ginormous sweaters, they make great Pj's. As for pants? Gave em away... I wish I kept a pair to compare how far I came.

 

[bikinidiva]

That was an awesome idea to get others inspired. I have 1 old photo of me. My husband didn't believe iy was me. I have it tucked away somewhere. Ive been healthy since 2002. It's a lifestyle change now.

 

[SarahLou]

That was an awesome idea to get others inspired. I have 1 old photo of me. My husband didn't believe iy was me. I have it tucked away somewhere. Ive been healthy since 2002. It's a lifestyle change now.

I think you need to show me. Haha, and how long were you "bigger" for?

 

[De Courcy]

One thing I always did was buy clothes I'd wish I would fit in. It felt great once I did.

I like that. It shows that dreams are a good thing. Without dreams of where you want to go how will you ever get there...

 

[bikinidiva]

If I can find it, I will for sure. About a year or so. I hit rock bottom fast.

 

[Able825]

great thread.......very inspirational to everyone. congratulations on the dramatic improvements. now, i'd like to ask a few questions that i hope do not come across as offensive. first off, i have never had a problem with my weight so i am asking this purely out of ignorance on my own part.how does someone let themselves get to 310lbs? is it an addiction to food that extremely hard to break? depression? denial?i know there is a lot of very large people in our country and i always wonder to myself, why don't they just stop eating so much?......but it must not be that simple for everyone.

 

[fueledpassion]

great thread.......very inspirational to everyone. congratulations on the dramatic improvements. now, i'd like to ask a few questions that i hope do not come across as offensive. first off, i have never had a problem with my weight so i am asking this purely out of ignorance on my own part.how does someone let themselves get to 310lbs? is it an addiction to food that extremely hard to break? depression? denial?i know there is a lot of very large people in our country and i always wonder to myself, why don't they just stop eating so much?......but it must not be that simple for everyone.

Humans are creatures of habit. Typically, people don't ever find contentment in anything tangible, too. For instance, people who love food continue to love eating. People who go to the gym quickly get into a habitual and addictive routine in there too. I know I have. Fotunately, I have directed my habits toward things that have more positive than negative outcomes. The only difference between me and someone who is 40% BF and 350lbs is that my habits have a positive impact, theirs have a negative impact. Yet, if you were to ask either of us to put on the brakes and go the other way, it would be very difficult. The only thing that is easy to do is to continue down the habitual path we have already been walking on.

This is usually why it takes a strong outside force, whether it be relationships or some humiliating event, to cause us to hit the brakes and go the other direction. Human nature man. I applaud those who have found contentment in being "average" at everything. I have the unstoppable desire to pack on muscle, granted, I have my lines drawn in the sand. Yet if you asked me to quit working out and start being "normal" like everyone else...it would be really difficult for me to do.

This is also why it is key for parents to be good, wholesome parents who are careful not to overlook any aspect of their child's life, because in many cases the crap that people deal with is crap that was established when they were being raised.

 

[SarahLou]

great thread.......very inspirational to everyone. congratulations on the dramatic improvements. now, i'd like to ask a few questions that i hope do not come across as offensive. first off, i have never had a problem with my weight so i am asking this purely out of ignorance on my own part.how does someone let themselves get to 310lbs? is it an addiction to food that extremely hard to break? depression? denial?i know there is a lot of very large people in our country and i always wonder to myself, why don't they just stop eating so much?......but it must not be that simple for everyone.

Soo here comes my life story. I was obese my whole life, from the age three to 22. I loved food, I was a rebel to my parents, I was spoiled rotten, never worked a day in my life and in a depressive state- the depressive state was from being overweight, there is absolutely no reason I should of been depressed, I was selfish. My ex Fiance was cheating on me, with out me letting on I knew.. I engorged in food. I made a change by helping my parents move across country.. when my parents went back to the old house, I told them to ship everything over, I was done and never going back. They had remained at the other house, while I stayed in a new town, a nine bedroom house with my dog for nine months. I threw house parties to make friends, where I met a gym owner. The following day I got a gym membership. Well I didn't actually use that membership till six months later. The first month, i lost thirty pounds, from just cutting out bread. The rest is history. Within approx nine months, I was down 120 pounds. This is disgusting, but from being overweight my whole life, My skin had no memory mass of me being thin. I would literally duct take my stomach up to prevent it from slapping my legs. At that point? I needed skin removal surgery. I fought the health care system on getting it partially covered, and when the media got involved? The health care system covered 16% of a $64,000 surgery. I went under the knife for nine hours, to get reconstruction of my chest and stomach. Complications of my stomach muscles came into play. They grew out with my stomach. It wasn't necessarily the skin sagging? But the muscle inside it. They physically had to take my stomach muscle out trim it. So after surgery, I was to be bed ridden for four months.. but for being so healthy prior? I was back at the gym within two weeks. Opposed to never working a day in my life, now? I work two jobs, and stick strictly to the gym, and I've NEVER been so happy!! Im forty pounds down sense surgery, and have my next appointment next friday for more skin removal.. its been one hell of a year!

 

[Able825]

thank you both for sharing your views.
and congrats again sarahlou for getting your life and health back.

 

[SarahLou]

thank you both for sharing your views.
and congrats again sarahlou for getting your life and health back.

Haha thank-you.. again!

 

[Able825]

i guess i can understand how someone could get caught in this viscous cycle:
fat --> depression --> overeating --> fatter --> more depressed --> more overeating --> repeat

 

[fueledpassion]

That is an incredibly sad, but redeeming story. My heart breaks for you over that, it really does.

With that, I have to say that I would never had known you had skin issues by looking at those photos, especially the one where you are in pink and showing some skin. I realize you were able to pose however you wanted in order to get the right angle...but still! I didn't notice flabby tissue, although I wondered if being that heavy and now this light had an effect on your skin.

Good job! And I hope your ex has learned a regrettable lesson in regards to how he treated you.

 

[SarahLou]

i guess i can understand how someone could get caught in this viscous cycle:fat --> depression --> overeating --> fatter --> more depressed --> more overeating --> repeat

Yes, but what overweight people do not understand, it can all be changed just by train of thought. You don't have to be miserable.. you can be happy.. its all a choice. I can choose to quit right now, and go back. I can choose throw everything away. But my choice? I choose to lead a healthy and active life, and to never up.