Dean's Calorie Counting Success Story
In December 2005, Dean’s GP said to him ‘When you’re singing
Auld Lang Syne with a pint of beer in each hand, what is your
New Year’s Resolution going to be?’ Dean knew enough was enough
and made his New Year’s Resolution to lose weight. He has gone
on to lose 9st 6lbs.
Age: 40
Height: 1.81m (5' 11")
Start Weight: 140kg (22st)
Current Weight: 80kg (12st 8lb)
Goal Weight: 80kg (12st 8lb)
Weight Lost: 60kg (9st 6lb)
Working to Rate of Loss: 2kg (to start) per week (1lb)
Time Taken: 7 months 1 week
Dieting History
I've not tried any such 'known' diet before, however I have
cut down on foods before to lose weight in the past, I didn't
however go to the same regime as to count every calorie.
Have you lost weight before and regained the weight?
Many years ago (1992) I lost 5 stones down from 18½ stones to
13½ stones, however I couldn't stay there as I wasn't
disciplined enough to change my lifestyle at that time and over
the next couple of years I piled it all back on, and then some.
How being overweight has affected you…
To be honest my weight, I thought, hadn't ever effected the
way I have lived, what I have achieved or what I have taken part
in. I have always been extroverted to some degree, confident and
somewhat overpowering sometimes, probably due to my size. My
weight even at 22 stones never stopped me playing my favourite
sport, table tennis, even recently playing up to national league
level. In fact now I've lost weight I have retired from this
sport to undertake alternative pastimes.
Whilst I was losing weight, 'some' thought I was miserable
because I wasn't my 'old' self. That was me just being
disciplined in what I ate or drank.
Since my dramatic change a lot of people who I have known for
a very long time haven't even recognised me. It’s been fun quite
a lot of the time. Most people’s reactions have been favourable.
There are always those few who just don't see any positives in
anything, mainly jealousy I believe, so I just ignore them.
My whole life is now different. I cycle to work every day - a
round trip of 14 miles. I eat healthily every day. Even those at
work accept the way I am now, and bring me in fruit when it’s
their time to buy the doughnuts 'cause its their birthday.
People see me as fit not fat. It takes some getting used to.
Motivation to Diet
It all started with my doctor in December 2005. I had a slight breathing
problem due to a chest infection. He pointed out that if he had 20kg of bricks
in a rucksack on his back all day, he'd be out of breath too. He then proceeded
to enlighten me to my New Year’s Resolution for January 2006. It goes as
follows:-
'When you're singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight with a pint of beer in each
hand, what is you're New Year's Resolution going to be?'
I told him enough was said. He only needed to tell me once.
From that appointment in December I was determined to lose weight as from
January 1st 2006.
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
I spent a week or so thinking about how I was going to do
what I needed to. I knew I could do the exercise side of things
as I had been active all my life. However, the calorie counting
came about by research on the web, looking at different diets
and ideas. In the end my mathematical and logical brain took on
the idea of counting what goes in and counting energy spent. It
seemed the perfect way to solve my weight problem. WLR came
about by a simple search for a calorie counter on the web.
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
From the very first day it was obvious that the only way I
was going to be able to carry on eating was to change the type
of food I had previously been subjecting my body to. First to go
was the alcohol, not just some of it, but all of it! I took no
alcohol at all from January 1st 2006.
Secondly, it didn't take long to work out that pastry,
sausages, packaged foods and treats were going to put me over my
calorie quota before I got out of bed. So in came cereal, fresh
veg and fruit.
My weight loss was electric, it tumbled off and kept going.
The daily log is also good for seeing how good exercise is,
as it gives you that added extra to munch if you feel like it.
In my early days though I didn't do such a thing. I kept to a
strict calorie intake in conjunction with advice from my GP.
Now I am down to weight and maintaining it is an invaluable
tool for keeping an eye on things.
The Best of Weight Loss Resources
I always use the food diary, in fact I'd have been lost
without it. I became and am still addicted to it, healthier I
think than being addicted to food though.
The message boards are a good idea and I have used them on
occasion. However, they can seem to be full of messages from
people making excuses why they haven't lost weight, or stuck to
their calories. So I haven't really paid too much attention.
Dean's Calorie Counting Tips
First of all the site won't cure your weight problem and
believe me it is a problem.
It is not until you're back to 'normal' so to speak that you
realise what a mess you were, and I was. I was fat, unfit,
downright unhealthy, a walking time bomb for a heart attack,
even though I was active.
WLR is a 'tool' and it has shown me what I was eating and
exercising then........ and what I am eating and exercising now.
It has helped me keep me on the straight and narrow. It shows
you what is true, you are what your eat!
I think foremost you need self-discipline. Without it you
cannot achieve anything at all, because no one can do it for
you.
Also the support of your closest ally, be it you're husband /
wife or best friend. It will make all the difference.
Lastly, you need to get fit. If you exercise, you're
metabolism rises making it easier to shed those pounds and stay
there! I started by ditching the car and cycling to work every
day, rain, sun, snow.
I for one intend to stay with the same body measurements I
have now. I lost 15 inches from my waist, 10 inches from my
chest, similar with my hips. I don't intend to go back.
My weight has been stable for a couple of months now and I am
finding it relatively easy to hold it there. My fitness level is
that of when I was eighteen. Again I intend to keep it that way. |
