4/24/2017 Update

2 more weeks gone and I'm down another 7 pounds! The weight is melting off right now and I wish I could put a finger on exactly what I'm doing. All I can say is, I feel terrific. I have no inclination to cheat or eat off plan for even one day. And every time I step on the scale it is good news. Right now I am losing a pound every other day. I don't know how long this will continue, so I am taking advantage for as long as I can. I still have a long way to go to get to my goal, but the goal gets smaller by the week. When I started out I had a daunting 172 pounds to lose. now I have 95 to go. It's so nice to say I have less than a hundred pounds to lose. On the other hand it is hard having come so far to still look ahead of me and think I am not even half way there yet. this process is nearly 99% mental. For example, this weekend in my household we had 3 birthdays, which meant 3 cakes and so much garbage food everywhere I looked there were cookies and candy bars and ice cream and cheetos and you name it. We had a funeral of a sweet lady from church this week and they even had extra cake from the funeral they decided to drop off as well. It's like the entire world wanted to send me cake. I didn't touch any of it, but there were moments this weekend that I realized that the me of just a few months ago would have caved. I have thought long and hard about how a person can survive all of the pitfalls of this process to finally get to the mindset needed to get where I'm at. I'll be giving this more thought as I move forward. I have been kicking around the idea for a book if I can get this weight off so I can help others do what I am doing. At this point though, I need to concentrate on ensuring my own success. But if I can get there, and help others in the process, then this whole journey will have been worth it.

Yesterday on Facebook there was a video of my daughter's wedding day since this was her 1 year anniversary. In the video I am there hugging her at the biggest weight I've ever been. It was so hard to concentrate on my daughter when all I could see was my huge self bursting at every seam. That was 77 pounds ago. It's hard to believe I ever let myself get that bad. If I ever feel weak again I just need to dig up that video and watch it over and over again. I will say this. Once I said say no to eating off plan on those special occasions that were derailing me before, it becomes easier and easier. I look at food in a much more healthy way. I don't see chocolate double fudge cake as fun, I see it as poison that will taste good for a few fleeting moments and then will make me sick. With all of the substitutes I have found, If I really need cake I am sure there is a low carb substitute anyway. Before I close this post I will repeat that the most important component of this lifestyle is the mentality. You have to go from the place where you say, "I can't have that," to a place where you say, "I don't want that!" Until you get there you have to hang on by your fingernails every day and get a good support system in place. Someday I hope to be a part of that support system for people. But for now, I just hope anyone reading this and struggling as I have knows, you can do it!"

Weight - 290 lbs, started 367lbs

Chest - 51 Inches, started 60 inches

Stomach - 51.0 inches, started 64 inches

Waist - 44 inches, started 54 inches

Mid Thigh - 23 inches, started 25 inches

Total pounds lost - 77 lbs, Total inches lost - 34 inches

Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 97 pounds

4/10/2017 Update

It's been a few weeks since my last update and things are really going well. I lost 7 pounds since my last update! That puts me into some fun territory. First, I am now down below 300 pounds for the first time this decade! How cool is that? Second, I have now lost 70 pounds! I keep looking down at my belly and it is getting smaller and smaller. I love this feeling. The smaller I get, the more motivated it makes me. I continue to find wonderful new foods to add to my growing buffet of available low carb options. I can't believe all of the things I can eat now. I have this amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe that is so good, I really can't believe it's legal. This week we made egg fritatta's in muffin pans for breakfast and they were so good we made them three more times. I even froze a few to see how they would survive, and they were perfect after just 2 minutes in the microwave. Several of my non low carbers in the house had them and wanted more. We also found a wonderful chocolate zucchini brownie recipe with frosting as well as a cinnamon roll recipe. Keep in mind, all of those treats were during a two week period where I lost 7 pounds! How is that for dieting? As always it is so important to understand this is not a diet. I am not doing this to lose weight so I can return to eating 'normal' at the end. This is my new lifestyle. I am now eating this way for the rest of my life and I am excited about that. I hate the way I feel when I eat off the plan. And I'm not just talking about the extra pounds that fly back onto my waist. I hate the lethargic, drugged feeling I get when I am loaded down with carbs. The food industry is poisoning the American people with processed grains and sugars. I am wearing that poison around my waist to this day. But 7 more pounds of it is gone now!

Weight - 297 lbs, started 367lbs

Chest - 51 Inches, started 60 inches

Stomach - 52.0 inches, started 64 inches

Waist - 46 inches, started 54 inches

Mid Thigh - 23 inches, started 25 inches

Total pounds lost - 70 lbs, Total inches lost - 31 inches

Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 102 pounds

I have some fun numbers coming up. First, once I lose 3 more pounds I will have less than a hundred pounds to go! Of course I want to lose 30 more pounds and be down 100 total. Then it's on to other marks. My 1 year mark will be June 6th. I'll see where I am then and make a new set of goals at that time. My initial goal was to lose 100 pounds my first year. I don't think I will get all the way there but I am pushing to lose as much as I can and get as close as possible. Right now my immediate goal is never to go above 300 again. I thought it would be fun to do a before and after picture this week to see how far I've come after reaching this milestone. Let me know what you think in the comments.

3/29/2017 Update

It's been almost a month since my last update so I thought I would get on here and type this thing out. It has been a very busy month for me so taking the few moments to do this has been tough to find. I finished the first draft of the my third book, which has been my all consuming project the last 6 weeks. I haven't gotten in much exercise during that time, but it still has been a good month. I have stayed on plan for the most part. I had a nasty sickness over a weekend and ate off plan for two days because I simply didn't have the energy to cook for myself, but other than that things are good and the weight is coming off. I can see it now, as well as feel it. I usually like to look at my before picture next to my after picture to see the difference. Now, I just see it in my current pictures. I am smaller and looking better. I can't wait to get another 30 or 40 pounds off to see what I look and feel like then. I continue to find many new and exciting recipes that I really enjoy, especially as substitutes so old favorites. I made another pan of zucchini lasagna this week. My wife made me some amazing low carb chocolate chip cookies. There just isn't anything you can't have if you are creative and look for replacements. I am down 5 pounds since my last post a month ago, which includes my cheat weekend where I ballooned up 5 pounds when I went off plan, then lost those 5 and another 5. I didn't measure this morning but hopefully I can post again next week and give measurements then. I do feel I am smaller. I am so close to seeing a 2 in front of my number on the scale. Hopefully the next 4 weeks will see that goal reached. Considering I eventually want to see a 1, I still have a long way to go. But for right now, I am thrilled to be getting so close to my first big goal. I am down a total of 63 pounds now since I started last June. I think losing another 17 pounds before my 1 year mark is doable. That would mean 80 pounds down my first year, or close to half of my total goal. That will be my focus between now and June 6th, which is my 1 year mark. If I can stay away from any cheat days, I know I can make it!

Weight - 304 lbs, started 367lbs

Chest - 51 Inches, started 60 inches

Stomach - 53.0 inches, started 64 inches

Waist - 46 inches, started 54 inches

Mid Thigh - 23 inches, started 25 inches

Total pounds lost - 63 lbs, Total inches lost - 30 inches

Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 109 pounds

2/27/2017 Update

It's weigh in day and the results are in. I loved my scale this morning. I am now in a new decade, or at least that's what I call it. I weighed in at 309 pounds this morning. Very exciting to see the needle on a new spot. I stepped on and off and moved the scale all over the floor just to make sure it wasn't kidding. This keeps happening though, so I shouldn't be surprised. I go for days without losing, then whoosh, 3 or 4 pounds come off in 1 day. I love having my frozen lasagna and frozen Italian chicken in the freezer for those times when I just don't feel like preparing a meal. I have my stand-by's that I have settled into as well. Spaghetti with squash, pizza with low carb crust, flautas with low carb tortillas. I found a great low carb bread recipe this week and did pretty well with it for my first try. I coated it in eggs and had french toast the next morning. That was yummy as well. At work we had a celebration day and they bought donuts they took around the office. Everyone but me had a cheat day. I simply didn't want any. I could have had some, I just didn't want them. Big difference. So here are the numbers:

Weight - 309 lbs, started 367lbs

Chest - 51 Inches, started 60 inches

Stomach - 53.0 inches, started 64 inches

Waist - 46 inches, started 54 inches

Mid Thigh - 23 inches, started 25 inches

Total pounds lost - 58 lbs, Total inches lost - 30 inches

Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 114 pounds

I have now lost 30 inches off this body! I am down several sizes and feel so much better. I can't believe when I look at my before picture how big I was. I can't wait to look back at my pictures of right now and say the same thing!

February 13, 2017 Update

I have crossed into my 8th month on Atkins and I continue to feel terrific every day about the way I eat, what I eat, and my progress going forward. It was a weird week for weight loss. I basically sat still for the whole week until this morning, then stepped on the scale and I'd lost 3 pounds. That seems to be how it goes for me. My weight comes off in whooshes. I've documented the whoosh effect in other posts. You can also google it. I tried a new strategy this week in food preparation. I made a large batch of two of my favorite meals, one was lasagna with zucchini instead of noodles, the other Italian chicken over shredded zucchini. I then portioned it out and froze them for later use. I now have about 20 meals in my freezer for those days when I just don't feel like cooking.

I continue to find wonderful substitutes for my favorite meals and this week was no different. I did a yummy meat loaf with crushed pork rinds as the bread substitute and low carb ketchup. I wasn't as pleased with it hot out of the oven, but when I let it sit a day in the fridge, then cut a slice and crisped it up on my griddle, it was really good. In fact, that's what I'm having for lunch today and I can't wait. I haven't been taking my measurements of late but I will on next week's weigh in. I'm excited to see what my progress is. I have to believe my numbers have improved, considering the weight I've lost.

Weight - 313 lbs, started 367lbs

Chest - 51 Inches, started 60 inches

Stomach - 54.0 inches, started 64 inches

Waist - 48 inches, started 54 inches

Mid Thigh - 24 inches, started 25 inches

Total pounds lost - 54 lbs, Total inches lost - 26 inches

Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 118 pounds

February 6th 2017 Update

I am now in my 8th month of Atkins and things are back on track for me. I haven't updated since the holidays for a reason. I got derailed by all the trips, gatherings and food. I have not gone off plan for weeks at a time, just a day or two here and there and then right back on. The good news is I came out of December 4 pounds heavier. Believe it or not, that is good news. The bad news, I came out of December 4 pounds heavier and didn't lose anything from November to February. So I wasted 3 months of the calendar on riotous living. What can I say? I'm human. The really good news is I am back on plan. The holiday weight is gone and, I am down to 316 pounds as of this morning! I have now lost 51 pounds since I started this journey and that's precisely what it is, a journey. I feel smaller, more energetic and healthier everyday.

One thing that may be a side benefit of all this as well. Over the past several months my family has had no less than 4 major sicknesses rampage through our home and I haven't caught one of them. The flu hit my family so hard during Christmas that every single person had it except for me. That is such a change from the past. I have always been the one to get sick first in my home and when I get it, boy do I get it. I have tried to be extra careful around the sick kids for sure, but I think there is more to it than that. I think cutting out all processed carbs from my diet has strengthened my immune system. I don't have any data to back this up, just my experience over the last three months.

I have been trying a new strategy of late that I think is going to really help me achieve my goals. I cooked up a huge batch of my favorite meal, portioned it out into freezer bags and froze it so I would have easy meals on hand for those days when I don't feel like making anything. I did this on Saturday with Italian chicken, a wonderful recipe with slow cooked chicken breasts, italian seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic powder slow cooked for about 4 hours. Then I shred the chicken and add a healthy amount of cream cheese and let it melt and simmer together on low heat for another hour. I then spread this over shredded, steamed zucchini and it is delicious. In fact, it is my favorite meal. I put a whole bag of frozen chicken in on Saturday and now have 11 bags of individual helpings to eat in the coming weeks. Tonight, I make zucchini lasagna and I'm talking a large pan of it. Then I'll freeze individual helpings and I'll have that as an option as well. The other two ideas I had are meatloaf with crushed pork rinds substituting for bread filling and also shredded roast taco meat I can use for lettuce wrap tacos, low carb tortilla tacos and deep-fried flautas. Once I have all four of these in my freezer I can still make other meals but I'll always have these easy options in the freezer for when I'm tired or in a rush. If I think of any other good freezer options I'll share it here soon. Speaking of recipes. My wife made me a wonderful Lemon bar recipe on Saturday. She used macadamia nuts crushed, with almond flour and splenda as the crust, cream cheese with splenda and lemon juice as the filling and then almond flour with lemon juice for a crumble on top. For having no recipe I really loved these.

I began a new regime two weeks ago I am pretty excited about. I participated in a weight loss study 6 or 7 years ago for a drug that combined 2 approved drugs already on the market and had great success the year I was in the study. No side effects and lost 55 pounds. I was told to eat normal, no extreme dieting either. So that drug is now approved and I was finally able to get a Dr. who would give me a subscription for it. It is called Qsymia. I began it 2 weeks ago and have already lost 6 pounds since. I don't have any side effects either, which I love. Hopefully this will give my system that extra boost it needs to start moving a little faster down this road. I'm not sure if I'll still hit my 100 pounds lost by June mark as I am just half way there with only 4 months left, but I will get as close as I can. If I lose 75 pounds this year I will still call it a huge success as that will mean I am under 300 pounds for the first time this decade.

5 Months 2 weeks Weigh In

Another good week on the plan. I lost only 1 pound this week but that's okay after a better than average week last week. I am now sitting at 321 pounds and very close to the threshold of being in 310's. It is always motivating to see a new number on the scale unless it is a bigger number. I have been eating a few more veggies this week which is good. Lots of zucchini and cucumbers and spaghetti squash although I did overcook the squash quite a bit and ended up with spaghetti mush. It tasted okay but the texture was a bit gross. I have been doing a good job of not cheating even though at times it can be hard. I went to a church function last night that included cupcakes from a very talented baker, but I simply smelled one and that was enough. I do find myself bemoaning the fact that all the skinny people around me are indulging but if I eat one it will kill me. It doesn't seem fair sometimes but I know that if I keep on plan I'll not only lose weight but I am healthier as a result. I have many clothes that are starting to feel loose on me which is nice. It won't be long and I'll be back in most of my old clothes that I couldn't bear to throw away. In a way I am looking forward to the end of the holidays, which really hasn't begun, because there are so many sweets around that it is hard to be good. I think this time of year more than any other it is important to have sweet substitutes on hand and ready. Even if you go a little overboard on them that's still better than cheating. I do have off-days scheduled for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Other than that no cheating! I have a goal to get to somehow in the midst of all this holiday craziness. I am now 4 pounds from my first mini-goal of losing 50 pounds by December 6th. Then another 50 pounds by June 6th of 2017 and I will be down 100 pounds. Still a ways to go after that but right now my only thought is losing 4 more pounds. Then I can worry about the next goal and the next.

Weight - 321 lbs, started 367lbs

Chest - 51 Inches, started 60 inches

Stomach - 54.0 inches, started 64 inches

Waist - 48 inches, started 54 inches

Mid Thigh - 24 inches, started 25 inches

Total pounds lost - 46 lbs, Total inches lost - 26 inches

Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 126 pounds