Need to share this with my P&S family

[RuddeDogg]

I haven't shared this with anyone except one person here, but I have to share this with the rest of my P&S family.

As like others here, I have my own personal demon.

Mine is my weight.

There are two major factors that effect my weight. One is genetics. My mother was Polynesian, so ALL of the males are big and tall. I am big but not tall, (Only 5'9). The second is my job. As many of you know I have been a 9-1-1 operator for 20yrs. When I started we worked 8 hr shifts. For the past 10 years we have been working 12 hour shifts. as you can tell the problem is I sit in a room for 12 hrs a day.

For quite some time, Boss Dogg, friends and especially my daughter have done everything from scream and yell, to beg, to cry to get me to do something about it. I heard what they said but I didn't listen. It wasn't until the last spring fling that I finally hit bottom. I backed out of the Spring Fling becuase I said I had to teach and work. That was a lie. I lied because I was too embarassed becuase due to my weight at that time I could not walk without my lower back cramping up due to the weight I was carrying. For lying I apologize to my P&S family becuase that is NOT me. I finally realized that I am 40 years old, fat and over weight, it's not healthy and most importantly I AM TIRED OF IT!!!!!!

So, what did I do? Well, at the beginning of last year I went to my doctor to get put back on my blood pressure medicine as I had stopped taking it, (yeah I know, STUPID). Anyway, he put me back on my med whihc is Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) at 25 mg. It's a BP med plus a water pill. I stated watching what I ate and how much I ate and I was off on the long slow road with batteling my deamon. Moving forward to Good Friday and Easter. I went back to my doctor for a follow up and he said that while the HCTZ was doing good my bp was still a little high for his tastes so he put me on another one, Vasotec to work with the HCTZ. I asked him about what he thought of the over the counter diet aids that were out there. He said that he didn't like and that if I wanted something he would percribe something for me. I agreed. He put me on Phentermine at 37.5 mg. The highest mg due to my size. Phentermine is an appetite suppressent. They don't how it effects the body as to how it works. Either afftecing the brain, stomach or digestive system. Anyway with in a week of taking this I saw a huge change. I love McDonalds. When I would go I would get a 20 pc mcnugget, quarter pounder, large fry and large coke. The last time I went to Mcdonalds which was after Easter I may add I had a McChicken sandwich, small fry and a diet coke plus and I was full. I cut out the regular soda, and have cut way down on the diet soda as that is not good either. I eat fesh fruit, salad and drink power aide and fruit juice and the occassional diet coke. I had a regular coke a while back just for the hell of it and I could not drink it. I gave me a head ache. So, for the past 5 months I have been fighting my demon. I had bought a scale rated up to 400lbs. When I started taking these meds I could not get a reading so I know I was well over 400lbs. As I have said for the past 5 months I have been duking it out with my demon in the Dogg Pound. I happy and proud to say that I have dropped 2 pants sizes, the belt I wear I could not get past the first hole, it has 5, and I am on the last hole and just had to add another one. Boss Dogg wants to buy me a new belt and I told her no because I want to keep it because as the (TAG) end gets longer from me adding new holes it serves as a reminder to me where I started.

[BigBlueFord]

Good luck with it bro...I wish you the best, and keep taking your BP meds...

[cobiadude33]

Sounds like you are on the right track, best wishes to you.

[surfchunker]

You decided to take control of it and that's the biggest step and for that congrats ... now for the hard part ... Sticking with it .... But You Can Do It ... and you have lots of support here ... I would say Good Luck but luck has nothing to do with it ... so I'll say Have Faith and work Hard

[PEEWEE]

I also would like to say good luck with that.. My father in law is going thru the same thing along with sugar diabeties.. He's finally got a hold on it tho.. Best wishes..

[RuddeDogg]

here are some pics. I want to tell ANY ONE who has their own private demons. YOU CAN do it. I hope to see everyone at the fling in October.

[sprtsracer]

I haven't shared this with anyone except one person here, but I have to share this with the rest of my P&S family.

As like others here, I have my own personal demon.

Mine is my weight.

There are two major factors that effect my weight. One is genetics. My mother was Polynesian, so ALL of the males are big and tall. I am big but not tall, (Only 5'9). The second is my job. As many of you know I have been a 9-1-1 operator for 20yrs. When I started we worked 8 hr shifts. For the past 10 years we have been working 12 hour shifts. as you can tell the problem is I sit in a room for 12 hrs a day.

For quite some time, Boss Dogg, friends and especially my daughter have done everything from scream and yell, to beg, to cry to get me to do something about it. I heard what they said but I didn't listen. It wasn't until the last spring fling that I finally hit bottom. I backed out of the Spring Fling becuase I said I had to teach and work. That was a lie. I lied because I was too embarassed becuase due to my weight at that time I could not walk without my lower back cramping up due to the weight I was carrying. For lying I apologize to my P&S family becuase that is NOT me. I finally realized that I am 40 years old, fat and over weight, it's not healthy and most importantly I AM TIRED OF IT!!!!!!

So, what did I do? Well, at the beginning of last year I went to my doctor to get put back on my blood pressure medicine as I had stopped taking it, (yeah I know, STUPID). Anyway, he put me back on my med whihc is Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) at 25 mg. It's a BP med plus a water pill. I stated watching what I ate and how much I ate and I was off on the long slow road with batteling my deamon. Moving forward to Good Friday and Easter. I went back to my doctor for a follow up and he said that while the HCTZ was doing good my bp was still a little high for his tastes so he put me on another one, Vasotec to work with the HCTZ. I asked him about what he thought of the over the counter diet aids that were out there. he said that he didn't like and that if I wanted something he would percribe something for me. I agreed. He put me on Phentermine at 37.5 mg. The highest mg due to my size. Phentermine is an appetite suppressent. They don't how it effects the body as to how it works. Either afftecing the brain, stomach or digestive system. Anyway with in a week of taking this I saw a huge change. I love McDonalds. When I would go I would get a 20 pc mcnugget, quarter pounder, large fry and large coke. The last time I went to Mcdonalds which was after Easter I may add I had a McChicken sandwich, small fry and a diet coke plus and I was full.

Hang in there Dogg...I'm pulling for you. Fortunately, I've been blessed with good genetics when it comes to weight, but cursed with bad genetics when it comes to High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol...hence my recent tripple bypass surgery. I'm 5' 10 1/2" tall and weight 168, so I'm not overweight by any means. I am currently on one baby aspirin, 25 mg. of "Crestor" and 75 mg of "Metoperol" (for Blood Pressure) daily. Check with your Doc about the Baby Aspirin!!! It's a good thing to prevent strokes. The other thing you need to do is get a "stress test" if you haven't already, along with an "echocardiogram" and a PAD Test (Periferal Artery Disease). These tests will determine if any damage has been done from previous abuse of the McDonalds' menu. I have had two different points of view on diet. One from the cardiologist and the hospital said to limit fat, salt, etc., and to eat fruits and whole grains. My primary care physician said he didn't care what the cardiologist said, I should eat lean meat and veggies and limit sweets (including fruit and fruit juice), starch (such as "whole grains!!!), alcohol, etc. to avoid high "Tri-glyceride" levels. The "Crestor" and the diet (a combination of the two above) has cut my cholesterol level to 176 from the 340's!!! Fortunately, I was a "Pre-Med" major, and I have a degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, so I could sit down with the Docs and discuss a lot of things that most patients can't. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions!!! Think about how much that doctor is getting paid for talking to you, and make sure you understand everything they are telling you or explaining to you.

As far as the weight...my youngest daughter has been struggling with it since Junior High. She takes after her mother (my Ex) from that standpoint...so although I haven't experienced it myself, I have a close loved one who is going through it. Don't get involved in the "Fad Diets"!!! The only thing that will help is two things...a proper diet and plenty of exercise!!! Just make sure you talk to your Doc first to set up a routine. Before you know it, you'll be "humpin" all your gear out with no problems at all, and you'll feel better for it too!!! Besides, we want to keep you around for a while!!! Let me know if I can help in any way!!! Larry

[drawinout]

Good luck Dogg. Hope you keep losing the weight.

[steve grossman]

You are a really nice guy. You know, we are always being tested, thats what makes us stronger. We all have THINGS going on, godd and bad--thats life. You will be fine. You have always been great with your threads on P and S, and I am sure, in time you will achieve your goals.

YOU REALLY DESERVE THE BEST. Always remember, that patience is a virtue. It took a lifetime to put you where you are, so just remember--day by day, inch by inch.

I have lost 20 pounds this year, and have another 20 to go, I am border diabetic, and love to eat like a frigging pig, junk..

Lst thing, it takes time to make the coffee percolate, it takes time. Good luck with everything--STeve

[Shooter]

Good job bud and keep up the hard work and yes it is hard work cause I had put on a bunch of weight when my back went out. I am watching what I eat and when I eat and so far I have droped 20 + lbs and it ain't easy.

When folks pat me on the belly I just tell them I maybe fat but your fugly and I can loose my fat :D

[Jesse Lockowitz]

When folks pat me on the belly I just tell them I maybe fat but your fugly and I can loose my fat :D

damn right, i use to say that alot.

i was my heaviest, last fall/winter, a lil over 265

im down to 230 down, and i can tell a big difference. most of the weight loss is from working, kayaking, basically just keeping active..ive been tryin to cut down on soda as much as i can, and snack food too, although its hard, because i like to eat alot...:redface: as some of my friends know :D

soda is a biatch to quit , i have been drinkin atleast 5-6 bottles of water a day.




awesome work dogg! keep it up!


Jesse

[BubbaHoTep]

Hang in there, RuddeDogg!

I have always battled this myself. I have let it go for years, but I have diabetes in my family. Like you, I have been in that situation where my family (mom and wife especially) yelling and crying about it. At 41, I've been really lucky - my sugar and blood pressure are in the "safe range," but most of my first cousins are on the insulin needle by the time they're 50. Back in the spring, I started cutting back "gradually" on what I eat and I gave up drinks with sugar in them altogether - I was a "twelve pack of Dews a day" guy, no kidding. Sofar, I have lost about 25 lbs and am down to about 260, enough that folks at work are starting to ask me if I'm losing weight. That gives me encouragement, also.

I'd hang on to that belt, too, to remind you how far you've come in your struggle! :-)

Great job sofar!! Keep up the good work!! We're pulling for you!!

Sincerely,
AJ

[Cdog]

Congrats on taking charge of your life Dogg, keep up the good work and I wish the best for you.

[BubbaHoTep]

When folks pat me on the belly I just tell them I maybe fat but your fugly and I can loose my fat :D

I've used that one alot myself! :-)

Of course, when I was single, I'd tell women to rub the belly enough and you might get lucky! Ha Ha

[Newsjeff]

When folks pat me on the belly I just tell them I maybe fat but your fugly and I can loose my fat :D
It's too bad you can't get any smarter. :p

Good luck, Dogg. I wish you the best.

[SALTSHAKER]

Hang in there "bruddah" I know I just be a "hoali" but have had the same problem, and like you are getting a grip on it. Keep going with it, and hopefully, maybe, one sweet day I will be able to take a ride down south and check ya out! I know you be getting skinny, but dayum, you still be bad looking ugly!! salt

[Hurricane44]

Congrats on losing the weight Dogg, like you said its a long process, keep working and you'll get to your ultimate goal. My pops was also a law enforcement officer (retired dispatcher). You didn't mention stress as being part of it, but I think its one of the reasons my dad is so big. He's 6'5" 330-340 or so, he's got height but eats like he's starving about every 3 hours. I get alot of excuses about going fishing when I try to get him out - too hot, his shoulder hurts, etc. I'm glad to see you're doing the right thing brother! Keep it up

[lil red jeep]

Keep up the good work Dogg! I know I started in this profession at 210 lbs and have gained another 100 over the years. My genetics are a bit different. My wife tells me I have no ARSE, but all my weight forms around my gut. I could understand it if I was still guzzling beer but I'm not.

Be careful with the phentermine. Back in the day that was one of the Fens in Fen-Fen. Lots of folks lost weight on it, and my Dr. put me on Redux for weight loss. I went from 280 to 215 in no time. Of course I've gained it all back. The fen-fen and Redux were pulled off the market because alleged heart complications. I was given a series of echocardiograms to determine if I had developed valve issues and I only had a very slight blip. There was no way to know if I had it before the meds or because of the meds so I never pursued it.

Weight is truly a DEMON and I've battled it a long time too (also working 12 hour shifts). I couldn't honestly tell you what I weigh right now. If I were to guess, I'd say give or take 5lbs, 300. Fortunately no blood pressure issues, or diabetes.

Make a deal with you if you want to. Lets do a "Biggest loser" on P&S! We already have some who would win the "Biggest Liar" (:rolleyes:), so why not a biggest loser? Have a weigh in in the company of our spouses, post a weight each week to 10 days, and go for 6 months. Heck, we could encourage each other and get other "Real Men" sized guys involved! Whatcha say?

Additional thought: All entries submit $20.00 to Greg's bait shack and after 6 months, winner take all in the form of a baitshack gift certificate! Do it on percentage of starting weight lost overall!

[emanuel]

I like that idea.

[RuddeDogg]

Thanks guys it means alot. It truly does. I greatly appreciate the kind words. I like that idea as well.

[Hurricane44]

I like that idea.

I'm sitting at 6'1" 240, could stand to lose 20-40, I'd be in for the challenge... how many other folks?

[1fishinmusician]

Best wishes to ya dogg! Jr's gone from 305 to 230. I'll be across the bay from ya most of this week, I'll give ya a shout and let know what's up....

[RuddeDogg]

yeah man give me a shout. I'm off monday and tuesday and the week end. 609-886-2215.

[Dr. Bubba]

Good luck to you Dogg!
Just saw an old dear friend who has recently lost 60 lbs since march, pretty much through change in diet.

You're gonna do great!

[saltandsand]

Guess I've gotta speak up here. But first, RD, thanks for you genuine and straight shooting talk.

I've been very consummed with what is going on with my Dad. He is 6'4" and weighs in the low 300's. He used to be extremely fit and started letting things go when life became challenging (well before his cancer diagnosis and surgery.) His condition, post surgery, is very much complicated by his weight and height. He's required to sit in a chair as part of his physical therapy and it take 4 or 5 people to manuver him into the chair. There's other complications.

My mother is about 5 and half feet. And she about 300 pounds. As a child I never knew my maternal grandfather, he wasn't part of my Mother's life. I've recently come to know that he was no more than 5 and a half feet and pushing 400 pounds.

I'm over 6 ft, always laugh at the weight charts. I was 200 pounds in high school, back when I lifted weights daily. I've struggled with weight as my activity level decreases. Week end warrior with home improvement, hiking and keeping active with hunting and fishing has helped but it seems the desk job is taking its toll as of recent.

Throughout my 20s, 30s, and into my 40s, I've been able to maintain between 220 and 240. I will say that genetics may not be on my side with weight, but I've somewhat been blessed with what others may consider a curse. Herniation runs common in my genes and, in the past, as I gained weight approaching 250 I would enounter extreme discomfort with the downward pressure on my abdomen. But I justed weighed myself and I'm 257, the usual pain and discomfort seems to have gone away and it's probably because I am consummed with other matters...I don't know and it's funny that now I pray that the pain and discomfort comes back as it seems to be the throttle to my gaining weight.

Best of luck to any and all who face a personal demon and work to overcome. Thanks for the post RD, I've got to get back on the weight management track.

[saltandsand]

Here's some techniques that have worked for me. I've used them interchangeably but none of them at the same time. In order for any technique to work my experience was that I'd have to apply it for at least 2-3 months:

GIVE UP SODA. ALL TYPES INCLUDING DIET. DRINK ICED TEA, USE HONEY IF NECESSARY. LEMON IS ESSENTIAL.

1.) Eat one meal a day. Eat all you want at that meal. No snacks, nothing, just that one glorious meal. But don't fall prey to thinking buffets work for this plan, they don't... a buffet is the devil of all devils, packed with extremely poor calories (although tasty!!).

2.) Limit yourself almost exclusively to one type of food. I've lost weight on a steak and hamburger diet. No bread, very very limited starch, almost all steak. Steak and burger for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is not for the weak of heart, and you will begin to hate steak (although it doesn't last in my case.) I've also done this with a variety of beans. Vitamins are essential for this approach.

3.) The all so hated salad only diet. This one I've been able to get a maximum of 6 weeks. Salads with low to no calorie dressing, oil and vinegar is best. Absolutely no meat, but those bacon bits made from veggies are okay. No eggs, no form of protein except from veggies. I'm thinking this is the one I need now...man I hate diet.

4.) Ice cream for breakfast diet. Yes, I know it sounds like it won't work. Eat a two scoop breakfast every morning, and eat it as soon as you wake up. Something about it changes what you want for the rest of the day. Now, the kicker is, it's not just any old ice cream... it's the low to no fat ice cream. This diet is not as easy as it seems.

5.) The "no white" diet. This is more like a tip than a technique. Avoid processed foods of all varieties but especially those that are white (white bread, white rice, mashed potatoes...) and yes this include milk. Drinking soy instead of milk changes they way you crave things, it's not my favorite.

6.) Drink water, lots of water. But this one I haven't quite gotten the hang of completely. I've heard that warm water is better, I've heard variations. Seems to me though that it stretches my stomach, then after the H2O voids I'm even hungrier and can eat more and more.

I'd be very interested in hearing techniques and tips that others have found beneficial.

RD... thanks again, the suggestion of what I'd like to ignore is on target.

[Al Kai]

Braddah Dog, Good job.

[sudshunter]

keep up the good work, you can do whatever you put your mind to! tight lines...

[SmoothLures]

I wish you the best of luck bud.

1.) Eat one meal a day. Eat all you want at that meal. No snacks, nothing, just that one glorious meal. But don't fall prey to thinking buffets work for this plan, they don't... a buffet is the devil of all devils, packed with extremely poor calories (although tasty!!).

Among other things, it's generally a bad idea to eat 1 meal a day. This keeps your metabolism low and when you do eat your body says store this as fat because you're not getting food. You should eat 4-6 small meals a day to keep your metabolism high.

Google calorie calculator, put in your info, then you'll get a good estimation of how many calories you need to sustain the weight you're at now. Take about 500 calories off of that and that's your target calorie intake a day. And eat that amount of calories of healthy food...

Sorry I got long winded, not trying to tell anyone how to do anything, just saying. ;)

[lil red jeep]

Don't be sorry Smooth, cause you're absolutly right. When I've had any success at weight loss it's been by eating more meals, but smaller/ smarter portions. Guys who I know that have competed in bodybuilding events would actually set their alarm clocks for crazy hours just to take in food to keep fueling the furnace! Seemed to work for them.

[saltandsand]

In the days of lifting I ate constantly. I agree that the EAT ONCE A DAY approach has its limits, especially if a person eats late in the 24 hour period of activity. I've done the one-a-day meal and maintained or lost weight and been happy doing it. Other diets I've not been happy doing, ironically the steak diet is one of them.

My genes are something I cannot change. I've listened to my mother about not striving for something you can never be (uhh, 6'1" and 180 pounds ain't happening here...unless I am very sick for an extended time.)

Food choice is paramount. McDees, potatoe chips, soda, cheese dip, and a host of others. Instead of focusing on what I cannot eat with regularity, how about a list of things that are good to eat and a balance of those things for a wholesome diet. I've read many a diet, done a few, I'm always open to hear another person's idea. Can we start with a list of twenty items that are good to eat for a person who seeks to loose weight?

1. Salad (watch the dressing and some of the veggies pack on the weight...carrots as an example)
2. Beans (depends on the bean but a good source of protein)
3. Steak (rib eye and porterhouse excluded)
4. Low/No-fat ice cream
5. Yogurt (also works well with making lean steak)
6. Most things that are "white"
7....

September 1 is my date to get back on track. Portion control is a small part since small portions of the wrong things several times a day pack on the weight...only my experience...

My recent weight gain started with not eating breakfast at the cafeteria (price escalation caused me to not be able to eat there anymore.) So I ate at home, then the usual of I'm always late set in and so I started skipping breakfast. IMHO breakfast is the most important meal. When I ate the crap at the cafeteria, which was about a half hour after I awoke, that was a good thing (even though the food itself was not that good.)

[Puppy Mullet]

RuddeDogg
GOOD FOR YOU...


Drop them meds and have ice cream for breakfast, An then huge steak meal before bed.
You doctor will like that.

Ignore anyone that mentions himself 65 times. And you one time.

I owed you one SanS :p

[Thrifty Angler]

Hang in there. What's happening now may seem like a diet thing to you....but perhaps look at it as a lifestyle change.

Cutting back on carbs....including the sports drinks...even the artificially sweetened ones. Some sugar substitutes trick the body into thinking it's getting the real thing.

Also, cut back on carbs. They may be playing roll in weight issues as well.

As we age, we naturally need fewer calories as each year passes by. Making the healthier choices that you are now making will help in the process. Several smaller meals versus fewer larger ones is a good strategy as well. Never allow yourself to get famished. That can be worse than the after effects of smoking a joint.....at least that's what I have heard. :rolleyes:

As for the meds....the Hydrochlorothiazide, it'll help with the blood pressure as well as fluid retention. Cutting back on sodium may help. Drink plenty of plain water to keep hydrated.

I currently take that med as well. A trick I use is to drink plenty of water. Only drawback.....I get up every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the night to potty. In turn, I feel fatigued thru out the day....week...month. But I have been thru several trials of meds to get just the right combo for my hypertension issue. I keep my soduim intake way down.....hoping my body is requiring less water intake than if I were piling in the sodium.
I'm on Atenolol for hypertension with that. Another reason why I feel so lethargic thru out the day...week...month. Add the Meclizine....which keeps the vertigo in check and me walking upright thru the streets of va beach with it's underground cables and what not....and I'm totally zombied out. Would have been a good high in my younger days...but it's a real physical downer for someone pushing 50. Positive thing is.....Nothing seems to pizz me off these days. :D I sure miss the old me. :rolleyes:
I have to be extremely careful of what I consume. Low carbs, no red meat, and definitely no sugary drinks. I did have a thing for green tea....til one day I went fishing and didn't take any with me. As a matter of fact I didn't consume any the next day either. And the headache that followed was out of this world. Ibupropen, Tylenol, nor aspirin could get it under control. Longest week of my life. So for now...I'm back to drinking ice cold water only. It burns more calories than room temp water too.

Now the appetite suppressant...well....that one I have no personal knowledge of. If it's something that is meant to give you a jump start...then it'll accomplish that. As for prolonged use....making the conscious decision to do it "for you" may win out in the long term. Don't want to see ya end up the typical overmedicated middle age person. You may find that as weight drops....the med dosages may lower over time with you.

Mind over matter. Don't beat yourself up about the small stuff. A step at a time is best. Making continued substitutions in what you consume may be the best way to attack this long term. After all...it's definitely a permanent "life style change"...not just a temp fix.

And since sugar should be out of your reach...I won't sugar coat this: You can't go back to way you were eating. You have to go forward. What progress you make can easily be wiped out. Find acceptable things you love and include them often. Drink a glass full or two of water before your meals. That'll help take the edge off.

Ok....I know I said I was nice these days. But I haven't taken my next dosage of meds yet. ;)

Wishing you all the best Dogg. !!!!You Can DoThis!!!! :)

[saltandsand]

RuddeDogg
GOOD FOR YOU...


Drop them meds and have ice cream for breakfast, An then huge steak meal before bed. Go back and read my comment before you criticize, nowhere did I say eat a steak before going to bed.
You doctor will like that.

Ignore anyone that mentions himself 65 times. Uhh...get lost. I've offerred my life's experience with weight management and all you want to do is complain... And you one time.

I owed you one SanS Glad you feel that you own me one, I've never asked for it...but so be it if that's how you feel. :p

Once again someone breaks the level of civility. If "I" cannot speak as an "I" then "YOU" tell me what to say... balderdash is the equivalent...

I'm not Rudde Dogg's doctor, never professed to be so, but I am a person who shares similar genetic propensity and am struggling with weight gain continuosly. ... a constant fight of caloric intake to move and produce yet balance against addition of mass.

Balancing the addition of fat and muscle is not a question as both cause strain upon a body, in many ways including cardio-vascular, tendon and bone, etc. Without speaking of muscle and tendon ailments, one may think that gaining mass through muscle is of no consequence.

Life is short, and let's not argue about the challenges that face us. Recent posts about alcholosim are but another challenge faced daily.

[saltandsand]

I wish you the best of luck bud.


Among other things, it's generally a bad idea to eat 1 meal a day. This keeps your metabolism low and when you do eat your body says store this as fat because you're not getting food. You should eat 4-6 small meals a day to keep your metabolism high.

Google calorie calculator, put in your info, then you'll get a good estimation of how many calories you need to sustain the weight you're at now. Take about 500 calories off of that and that's your target calorie intake a day. And eat that amount of calories of healthy food...

Sorry I got long winded, not trying to tell anyone how to do anything, just saying. ;)

Don't be sorry Smooth, cause you're absolutly right. When I've had any success at weight loss it's been by eating more meals, but smaller/ smarter portions. Guys who I know that have competed in bodybuilding events would actually set their alarm clocks for crazy hours just to take in food to keep fueling the furnace! Seemed to work for them.


A Marine friend on mine has weight issues for years, he's in his late 50's/early 60's when he took on the one-meal-a-day diet. He's aten one meal a day for years now and he lost incredible weight. He also does not drink soda, no coffee, small amounts of bread or other "white" stuff (won't touch a donut without a grenade). He is 5 8 and was about 270 and has maintained 190 for 5 years.

I tried the one-meal-a-day diet and it was part of keeping my weight in check. It worked for me for a period of time. I'm not suggesting any answers but merely providing an option

Older I get the harder it is... maybe a hike tomorrow... a two or three mile hike...

[Puppy Mullet]

I have a Parrot, His name is Fred. I feed him cheese.

[RuddeDogg]

When I posted this thread I wasn't looking for any acalades or to start a my problem is bigger than your or my demon is worse than yours. I certainly didn't do it ti start a pissin match. This was something that I needed ti get rid of as I have been carrying this with me for a while.

To those who have offered words of encouragement and kindess......I am TRULY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU.

For those who wish to turn this into a blatent pissin match.........I say step the "F" off. It's not needed or wanted.

To the MODS, if this thread should spiral down and out of control and turn into the ever popular pissin match, I would ask that this thread NOT BE LOCKED DOWN but REMOVED ALTOGETHER.

Thank you.

[Puppy Mullet]

I owe everyone on Pierandsurf an apology. Especially RuddeDog
I have never donated a dime to this site.
I posted something I regretted but could not edit because I am not a supporter.
This is not a tackle shop or pier forum.. I forgot that.
Check is in the mail.

Piece and chicken grease..

[TopsailSurf]

I'm pulling for you Dogg! Good luck with your plan.

[mountainsalt]

Good for you RD, I am battling the same demon and it can be a mutha. One tip that I haven't seen is check the sodium level on those Power Aides you mentioned.
I was doing the same and checked the sodium, very high and the Doc told me counter productive to the high blood pressure meds.
Any way dude good luck and great job.

[jcreamer]

I know the feeling.
I am 5ft 8 inches and weigh 205 and am diabetic. I have to cut back 30 to 40 lbs according to doctor. It is hard but I will make it.

I wish you luck and can see that you have a lot of support.

JC

[Lipyourown]

More power to you Dogg. It is a tough fight but I know you can do it.

[sprtsracer]

Good for you RD, I am battling the same demon and it can be a mutha. One tip that I haven't seen is check the sodium level on those Power Aides you mentioned.
I was doing the same and checked the sodium, very high and the Doc told me counter productive to the high blood pressure meds.
Any way dude good luck and great job.

Salt is probably one of the hardest habits to break. Tried the "No Salt" which is made of primarily Potassium Chloride rather than Sodium Chloride...it just plain sucks!!! Cannot stand the taste of it. The best I've found is McKormack's "Garlic and Herb" salt free seasoning. Also, anything that has lemon juice in it (dehydrated) seems to be "OK". Read the lables on canned goods also and look for Sodium content. Some of the canned soups will really surprise you. You also have to compare the content to the number of servings. For instance, a can of "Campbells" "98% Fat Free" cream of celery soup says it has 2 1/2 servings per can! the Sodium content is 580 mg. per serving, or 24% of your recommended max daily intake based on a 2000 calorie per day diet for a healthy person. If you eat a whole can of soup (which I used to do), you are therefore getting 60% of your daily sodium intake in just that one item. A lot of times, things that are supposedly healthy are not so healthy after all. I am now a firm believer in reading lables in the supermarket. It takes me longer to shop (I do all the grocery shopping) but it's worth it in the long run. Same is true of canned veggies...they are all preserved with salt. I always look for the "No Salt Added" if I buy canned. I've found that my "taste" for salt has heightened as I weened myself off of it, and I tried regular canned green beans when I first started and found them to taste too salty adding no seasoning at all! That was an eye opener to say the least. That's not to say I don't treat myself once in a while. Don't feel guilty if you do the same. I eat egg beaters instead of eggs, will now only eat Fat Free beef Hot Dogs, switched from ice cream to sherbet, use non-fat Mayo, non-fat sour cream, and sometimes use plain non-fat yogurt combined with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil with some seasonings such as ground cayenne pepper, Old Bay (watch the salt) dill, etc., depending on what I'm using it for. Once a week, for one meal only, I will splurge and maybe have pizza, or something deep-fried, or something else that I'm not supposed to have. I find that maintains my sanity. If I go to a movie with the wife, we'll have some of the movie popcorn, but if I do, that's my "treat" meal for the week. I also only buy VERY lean cuts of meat, such as round steak, center cut pork loin boneless chops, london broil, and other cuts that are normally considered the "tougher" cuts, but I will slow cook them in the crock pot after trimming off whatever fat is on them, or bake or broil them. If I buy hamburger, it's at leat 93% lean, and while I'm cooking it, I'll press on it to get even more fat out of it and drain the fat occasionally while it's cooking. My goal is to get a meat grinder to grind my own, and I figure I can get the ground beef down to about 98% fat free that way, and also same money by getting the tougher cuts on sale and grinding them myself. I figure I can use "egg beaters" as a binder rather than the "fat" that normally holds burgers together. It's going to be a very slow and long process of "learning while you go", but again...it's worth it. Just try to work your way into it. Here's a web site you may want to look at as well: http://www.startmakingchoices.com/myBalancedLife/myBalancedLife/index.jsp
Check with your Doc about an exercise program, but if you do nothing else, go out and walk to start with...a little at a time. Obviously, you want to run all these suggestions by your doctor, and also see if he can't refer you to a dietician that your insurance will cover. I've developed quite a list of healthy substitutes for normally unhealthy foods (i.e. the non-fat yogurt for sour cream, lemon juice and vinegar for salt, etc.) so feel free to contact me anytime for suggestions and hints. Keep it up!!!

[Outrigger]

Hey RD i got lots of docs in the family…my recently retired dad was one of the directors over at the National Cancer Institutes here in Bethesda...for better or for worse i’ve kinda been surrounded by healthy living types all of my life…there’s not a day go by without my dad insisting..Outrigger have you had your day’s fill of fresh fruits?

For folks struggling to lose weight it seems that a yo-yo diet of self-deprivation is irreversibly doomed to failure…yeah we’ve all known/heard of someone who has successfully gone cold turkey from smokes/booze or whatever, but they’re in the infinitesimally small minority… for the rest of us this hard-line approach just won’t suffice or is otherwise undoable…dieters it seems are waging a battle with a three-pronged everyday adversary…minding what they eat, portion control and exercise…you’ve definitely got to dial down on the fast-foods..eat a little bit less when you do eat..and take up some type of cardiovascular exercise like walking or jogging whenever possible…you’re ultimate goal is trying to burn a few more calories than you take in throughout the day and over the course of the coming month(s)…some days are better than others and Rome wasn’t built in a day.

On a side note one of my brothers is in a pressure-laden financial field entrusted with helping Forbes 500 types climb up that hallowed listing…well his grueling, away from home hours finally took an unhealthy toll on him and he wound up in the doctor’s office with not so good news…if he kept this up his stress-induced anxiety was gonna put him on the slab in short order…so he recommended a nutritionist to get his weight/blood pressure under control and the rest is history…he and his wife have shed those belt-busting pounds and they look remarkably better each time chance across them…among the nutritionist’s recommendations was eliminating as much as possible high-fructose corn syrup from their grocery store shopping list.

I hope this helps out a bit and good luck to yah.

[Big Rad]

You know the rest I too was past the 400lb mark. With the bum wheels the weight spiraled up and up...I was starting to resemble jabba the hutt:rolleyes:

Talked to a nutritionist who explained the carb thing to me and the sugar thing.

I now have eleven holes in my trophy belt. the tag end is now at my waist:p:p During my recovery from knee replacement I actually lost 10 more pounds requiring me to put in that eleventh hole. I still can't believe I was that massive.....that is the size past big:D:D:D

Keep putting holes in da belt dude and when we meet we'll compare them;););)

Talked to a nutritionist. They can get you past a whole buch of misconceptions and design a plan just for da DOGG

[DarkSkies]

Cutting back on carbs....including the sports drinks...even the artificially sweetened ones. Some sugar substitutes trick the body into thinking it's getting the real thing.


As we age, we naturally need fewer calories as each year passes by. Making the healthier choices that you are now making will help in the process. Several smaller meals versus fewer larger ones is a good strategy as well. Never allow yourself to get famished. That can be worse than the after effects of smoking a joint.....at least that's what I have heard. :rolleyes:

Mind over matter. Don't beat yourself up about the small stuff. A step at a time is best. Making continued substitutions in what you consume may be the best way to attack this long term. After all...it's definitely a permanent "life style change"...not just a temp fix.

And since sugar should be out of your reach...I won't sugar coat this: You can't go back to way you were eating. You have to go forward. What progress you make can easily be wiped out. Find acceptable things you love and include them often. Drink a glass full or two of water before your meals. That'll help take the edge off.

Ok....I know I said I was nice these days. But I haven't taken my next dosage of meds yet. ;)

Wishing you all the best Dogg. !!!!You Can DoThis!!!! :)

Not much I can add to this except agree with it all. Too many carbs are bad for you once you get older than 25. If diabetes and HBP runs in your family, pay attention, because you are likely to develop related problems.

I have struggled with my weight, was athletic in high school. But when you are not burning 2000 calories a day, you can't take in that many. Simple equations.

Also found that those sugar substitutes help to satisfy the cravings. I frink a half gallon of the sugar free Walmart drink mix every day, helps satisfy that sugar urge. I also stopped keeping sugar and snacks in my house.

In high school I had a friend who was over 400 lbs, He tried to control the weight, but his personality was addictive, and he ruined his heart before he could stop. Dead at 18, some sad chit, moreso because it didn't need to happen.

Much respect for the work you have done so far. Keep it up, man, you can do it! :cool:

[AL SEARS]

Dogg, i worked with Lot of Big Guys from Soma.Guam,Fiji ( Hawaii) and can picture your size vividly, our daughter had problem gaining weight and it was her thyroid glands problems , no doubt they have checked this for your problems, I quit smoking 3 years ago after a hard 50years of puffing away, so same as you it can be done, No one said it was going to be easy or that life was fair that your big and others guys small.

You have taken some Giant steps and are to be commended,you also got some people (FAMILY) that loves you other wise they wouldnt have said a damm thing.

Got a lot of good sound advise here from what i read, Go for it and take all them Guys Money > Best to you Al

[TreednNC]

Congratulations to you RuddeDogg....you tha man.