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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Exact same outfit

On the left, Spring of 2013; on the right, Winter of 2014. Exact same shirt, belt & shorts, just a 67lb difference!

2014

On my 48th birthday, 373lbs. Not quite what I once was, on either end of the scale - but I'm on my way back down! I'm currently much less than I was in the 2007 pictures, but not quite yet back down to the late 90's weight...

For a long time, I've hated pictures of myself because I look so horrid. Catching glimpses of my self unexpectedly always shocks me. In group pictures, I always stand in the back. My excuse is that I'm tall, but the reality is that I don't want to show how fat I am.

2007 - 2011

In these pictures I'm 41 to 45, at about 400lbs...

1996 - 1998

In these pictures I'm 30 to 32 years old, weighing about 350lbs

1989

This was what I looked like when I got off Active Duty with the Marine Corps. Please note the bottom right picture, in profile. They were documenting how 'overweight' I was at that time. In that picture I'm 22, 6'1", weighing 220lbs...

Day 120

I never really expected to see this day, or, certainly not with this degree of success. 120 days of no grains, no dairy, no (added) sugar, no booze, no legumes, no processed foods of any sort. Aqua Fit, and LOTS of dog walks for Clyde...

120 days ago, walking the half mile loop around my block was tough - my knees hurt all the time, and that walk would require Advil afterwards. I couldn't walk up my stairs without SERIOUSLY pulling on the rail, and loosing my breath. I was 440lbs at my heaviest, wearing size 62 dress pants. I was on several types of heart medication, I had several rotten headaches every week, and my brain always felt fuzzy & disconnected.

I was a mess.

Previous attempts at Health & Fitness had always failed me. Even ifI had limited success (like with my Atkins experiment in 2009, when I lost 80lbs), I would always backslide, having never made the jump from 'diet' (temporary change), to 'lifestyle change'... I had huge food cravings, sugar crashes, and an incredible draw towards all the terrible food I loved. It was overpowering, and I only had what felt like a tiny reserve of willpower. I couldn't hold back the oceanic-sized cravings, the draw to crappy food ALWAYS won. I beat myself up for having too little willpower, and I built my life around that failure. I was powerless against the food cravings, and after backsliding from Atkins, I hit my record high weight in April of 2013 - 440lbs. That number hit me right in the gut, as I'd been 220lbs when I got off active duty with the Marine Corps in August of 1989.

In 24 years, I literally became TWICE the man I used to be. That number crushed part of me, deep inside.

At that point, I had knee surgery, and a heart issue was found. I was in A-Fib, requiring four days in the Cardiac wing to undergo extensive tests.

Nobody, myself included, would have been surprised if I never made it out of the hospital.

I did, of course, and over the next 16 months I made really good progress. I had a job in downtown Chicago that required a half mile walk twice a day. I had a salad each day at lunch. I watched the movie "Hungry For Change", and discovered juicing. I read "Salt, Sugar, Fat", and "Fat Chance", and I got ANGRY. I realized that I'd gotten addicted to crap that was engineered to entrap me, which it had done marvelously. I wanted to break myself of that 'false hold' just like I'd done with smoking.

I found the Whole 30.

My Sister had done it, trying to break her sugar habit. As an accomplished Triathlete, it had several great benefits for her, and as I read the Whole 30 guidebook "It Starts With Food", I kept feeling like it had been written just for me.

They understood.

I cleaned out my cabinets, ordered food, researched recipes, and tried stuff out. I bought a damn spiralizer!

On September 2nd, 2014, I started my Whole 30. I did daily postings of my meals & how I was feeling, and the change was simply astounding. Within days I felt better. By week two I was seeing the light. By week three I knew I wanted MORE.

I kept going.

One Hundred and Twenty days later, here I am! I feel amazing. I sleep fantastic. My pant size is down from 62 to 50. I've added SIX holes to my belt! I've not had ANY knee pain in two months! I walk more than 1.5 miles a day. I go to Aqua Fit at least twice a week! Every time I go upstairs in my house, I RUN! It's only 13 stairs, but, I RUN STAIRS!

I am down 67lbs since April of 2013. I am down 31lbs just since October 1st!

I am so grateful, I could cry. It feels like the sun has come out after a long grey winter. I feel for the first time since 1989 that I can manage the cravings & beat this food addiction. I feel for the first time as if I'm the one in control of my life. I'm celebrating my Day 120 on my Birthday, filled with joy & gratitude.

...and on January 5th, I recommit, and I'm going for ANOTHER Whole 120! With a few new tricks ;-)

Happy New Year, my friends. Your support has been amazing, and I don't have enough vocabulary to express the depth of my gratitude.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Week 16

Wow!

Sixteen weeks! Just one week away from my 120th day!!!

Let's see...I'm 12 inches down in the waist, 66lbs down in weight, and I've tripled my weekly walking mileage. My energy is fantastic, my knee pain is all but gone, my sleep quality is astounding, and I absolutely LOVE the food I eat!!!

Yes, this feels a lot like success, and at this point it doesn't feel like a ton of work or sacrifice. I may miss pizza, donuts, and soda, but I do NOT miss how I used to feel!

I will have some Bourbon between Christmas, my Birthday & New Year's. I will have a piece of chocolate cake on my birthday. I may even have some pizza & a donut. But I won't eat crap just because it's there, I'll enjoy a special treat because it's SPECIAL, I'll savor it, and on January 5th I'll start my next Whole 30 ... going for another 120!

So - who wants to do a 30 day culinary 'reset' with me in January? If you want to, hit my FaceBook or email, and we'll do it together. I'm no 'expert' by a long shot, but I'll encourage you and share all my tips & tricks! Give it 30 days, and I promise you that you'll feel FANTASTIC if you can stick by it!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone, I can't express deeply enough my appreciation for the support & encouragement I've gotten from all of you!!!!

-Lee

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Day 108

Gosh, who would have thought I'd do more than one HUNDRED days of a very strict, 'squeaky clean' low carb Paleo lifestyle???

Tuesday was my 15 week mark, and I hit 375.2!

That's 2.4lbs lost last week!

That's 29.3lbs lost since Oct 2nd!

That's 65lbs lost overall, since April 2013!

In the picture, you can see I'm still having my daily salad, which believe it or not, I now actually CRAVE! I found a fantastic & totally compliant almond butter that is just runny enough to be great for dipping. It's addicting, and I'll have to watch my intake...

In fact, for my last 12 days, I want to limit my potatoes, bananas, and nut intake; to really 'pump up' my weight loss before I hit Day 120.

In the meantime, check out how baggy my 'interview suit' is in the included picture. Hint - it's not actually double-breasted!!!

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Week 14

26.8 lbs down since October 2nd, 62.4 lbs down since April 2013.

I have learned to eat and LIKE grapefruit! I like to walk 'off path' twice a week.

I continue to eat 'on plan', and my energy & sleep continue to ROCK.

I have yet to work up the intestinal fortitude to return to Cross Fit, but I also am still attending Aqua Fit & doing good walks.

I'm also continuing to read articles & books on this lifestyle, and I even listen to a few podcasts. I continue to learn, and to tweak what I'm doing.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

On the occasion of my Father's birthday

My Dad would have been 68 this year. He's been gone almost 14 years, and it amazes me how much I still think about him, and how much his shadow still looms over my life.

I am now the age he was in this picture. I still have that green canvass coat of his from Orvis, and on my Dad's birthday yesterday, I pulled out this tweed hat.

I'm not 100% sure it's the same one, but either way, it's absolutely in the same spirit. I feel like it makes me look a bit like an old curmudgeon, but my Dad would have only encouraged that, adding a shit-eating grin.

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Day 90

I can hardly believe it.

The difference is nothing short of astounding. My energy level is fantastic, and steady throughout the whole day. I'm in a GREAT mood, and I sleep better than I have in 15 years. It's truly life changing, just for those factors!!!

...but just like a game show winner...THAT'S NOT ALL, FOLKS...!

The weight loss! Oh my goodness ! I'm 10 inches down on my waist size - down 4 pant sizes!!!

My weight loss has been nothing short of dramatic. In April of 2013 I was 440lbs. I'm not sure exactly what I weighed on September 2nd when I started my Whole 30, but on October 2nd I was finally light enough for my scale to read me at 404.4lbs. Today I am 380.4, down exactly 24 measurable pounds in two months! That's 59.6 lbs down from my high point!!!

More importantly, my Heath is dramatically better. I'm well on my path to becoming more Fit, and I can feel myself becoming Stronger.

I still have a VERY long path in front of me, but for the first time in DECADES I feel like food cravings aren't the bane of my existence, and I feel positive about my success, as if I'm finally in charge of my own destiny.

It's nothing short of astounding, and I'm still wrapping my head around the realization that food no longer rules my life.

I could weep with gratitude ... but I'm too busy jumping for joy!!!

Monday, December 01, 2014

Bittersweet

Over the Thanksgiving break I was fortunate enough to get some wrenching time on my '74 Spider.

I was able to wrap up the loose ends associated with the head gasket swap I did earlier this past summer, and although I hit a snag or two, I got everything together & functional.

The car runs MUCH better, though still quite rough. I did not set the timing, clean the carbs, no idle adjustments, no tune up components swapped. It ran better, certainly good enough to get 'er over to the storage unit. So, I left all the final troubleshooting & tuneup stuff for the spring.

I filled both Spider's gas tanks & added Stabil, and then tucked them away under cover.

Can't wait for Spring...