I started to try to get in shape summer of 2010. I was tired of being a fat-body. My original goal was 40lbs. Started out with just running on an elliptical for about 6 months and lost 20lbs. Added weight training at the beginning of 2011 which kicked up my metabolism and started toning up. I've already surpassed the original 40lb goal and well on my way to 50lbs, and still losing. I'm in the best shape of my life and feel great. I weigh less than I did in middle school, hahaha.

Before- April 2010, 223lbs





After- July 29, 2011, 176lbs









Yes, I have a farmer's tan.

Kick ass.... way to go.

Sweet sword and congratulations.

You need to work on a warface and pose with the sword when taking pictures of yourself.

Congrats, losing weight is hard to do. I need to get my fat ass into shape. Details on your workout?

Good Job OP!

My job allows a little flexibility since PT is a contractual requirement. I spent 3 hrs surfin the web while walking 3mph on the treadmill,onr before lunch, two after, hour and a half break, 30 minutes of free weights, 30 minutes of cardio on the recumbant bike. 4 hours moving today. I'm trying to walk off at least 20 pounds.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Congrats man. Way to stick with it! You look great, and only getting better. Stay strong.

Thanks everyone! It's been freaking hard sometimes when I'd rather be a lazy ass, to get OFF my ass and work out. What I do:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Hundred Pushups I'm on week 5, column 2 now. It takes a LOT longer than 6 weeks to get to 100 pushups without a break. I can do 50 now, and I've been following the plan for about 5 months .

I do the same workout, one column higher, for calf lifts.

Two Hundred Situps I'm on week 5, column 3 for this. Same as the pushups, it's a lot harder than it makes it seem. I can do 100 crunches without a break now.

This is followed by:

3 sets, 10 reps bicep curls
2 sets, 10 reps tricep curls
1 set, 10 reps dumbell lateral raises
2 sets, 10 reps upright rows
3 sets, 10 reps bent over back rows
The above are all done with 27lb dumbells (worked up from 10lbs I started with 6 months ago).

Then
3 sets, 10 reps leg extensions
2 sets, 10 reps leg curls
That's done with 80lbs on the leg doohickey on my weight bench.

Repeat the weights one more time and finish off with
3 more sets, 10 reps bicep curls.

And toss back a frosty glass of chocolatey cheese water! (whey protein, haha)

I'm not going for mass gaining. I'm working for strength and endurance (and weight loss), so that's why the relatively low weight and high reps.

On the Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm not lifting I do 45-50 minutes on the elliptical.

When I hit a plateau I just take a week off from everything. It kicks it back into gear and I've been losing a little less than a pound a week since I started.

So that's what I do. I haven't drastically changed how I eat. I eat pretty healthy already, but I still eat what I want.
It helps that I'm also an awesome cook.

Damn, I killed my own thread with Wall of Text.

Meh; I read it anyway....Nice workout!

Cool, I'm gonna look into those programs. Gotta start walking or biking again too.

Congrats OP, that's an impressive and admirable accomplishment.  Now you've got to apply for CCW permits for those guns attached to your shoulders.

LOL! Already have one, man. I am fully compliant with these gun concealed. You can see they never get carried openly from the tan lines.

good job

Seriously OP, you should be very proud of your weight loss.  Loosing weight and keeping it off is the hardest thing to do, because after all, you do have to eat to survive; retraining the brain is a must.  Stay motivated and don't waiver on your commitment to yourself.

Absolutely it's a complete mind change. The people that yo-yo back and forth haven't made it yet. One day I just woke up and looked in the mirror was like, "Screw this, I'm tired of being fat." And that was that. We already had the elliptical because my wife wanted it. She never uses it, you know how they are . Working out is kind of zen for me now, so I don't mind it so much. The pushups are the worst part, haha!

I may have missed it, but what are you doing diet wise? Paleo? I did paleo without much working out awhile back and lost 20lbs. I felt great and all my normal aches and pains went away. The downside is, its a pain if you get caught without proper planning. Seemed like 1 carb, and I was screwed.
Hooters did it in for me. I told myself, just 10 wings. Ill get back on the wagon tomorrow. Never looked back. :(

I didn't really change my diet much at all. I drink my coffee black now. The cream and sugar was an easy 200 calories I could cut out. Every morning I make a homemade egg McNothin' with the Thomas' high fiber/low cal english muffins, egg beaters, a lunchmeat ham slice and american cheese. It's about 200 calories, tastes way better than McDonald's and keeps me full until lunch.

Usually for lunch I'll have a peanut butter and jelly sammich, with all homemade bread, peanut butter, AND jam. Way better and way cheaper than getting that stuff at the store.

For supper we eat a lot of chicken. Grilled, sauteed, baked, fried, whatever. I've got a whole stack of chicken cookbooks so we don't get bored. We do red meat or fish once in a while to change it up too though. I'm trying to cut back on the carbs now though, smaller pasta portions and whatnot, because my wife's doctor has put her a carb restricted diet. It's not going as easy as hoped though, haha.

I HAVE cut out HFCS as much as I possibly can. I also use real butter or olive oil for cooking.

Nice work. Your 'before' weight is actually lower than my goal weight. Down 40 here and sadly way more to go. Started the couch to 5k program. On the 2nd week and it feels really good to run. Good work on your weight loss.

Why stop at your goal weight? You're going to get there and be like, "Damnit, that guy on arfcom can do it. He can't show me up!"

Seriously though, 40lbs is great. That was my original goal and I've blown past it in the last couple weeks.

Running is not my bag, baby. Whenever I do, I toe run and my calves hurt for a couple days afterward, haha. I don't get shin splints at least.
Last time I ran, was 2 weeks ago I think and did a half mile in 4:03. That was enough, and I went back inside and said screw that heat, haha!

OK, bumping this again.

I just got a pull-up bar. Gah, those are hard, haha. I managed to do 11 total, in three sets of 4, 4, and 3. Actually did better than I figured I would, since I haven't done a pull-up in...10 years?

Good job man. I was once 205 and now weigh 173. I just eat fairly decent and I don't eat dinner, I eat a big breakfast and lunch though. I've become so accustomed to not eating dinner that if I eat anything remotely like dinner after 5pm I have a really hard time sleeping at night. I'm 38 and 6'.

Curious what's your age?

27. My birthday is next month.

For me/ my frame, I know how skinny I was when I was down to 200 lbs.  I don't think I ever want to look like that again.  220-230 would be ideal for me.

good job/



ive dropped 20 since july 5th.





keep it up....

Man this was the thread I needed!

I just got back from the Doc.  Had an A1C and glucose come back high (not quite pre-diabetic but concerning enough).  She told me all  I needed to do was diet.  Low carb high protein but to avoid South Beach & Atkins.  I can't run do to a previous injury so it looks like I'll be using the exercise bike in the bedroom for something other than a coat rack.   So thank  you for providing me with a goal!

this is what my story was.

had a heat related injury that was coupled with sever dehydration.

thought i was having a heart attack, heart burn, panic attacks the whole nine yards due to my electrolytes being so far outta wack.....ekg,blood work came back fine sans a high a1c count. not to high but border line.



two years ago i lost 50lbs for the same reason and a ankle inury plop'd on 15-20 of it,,coupled with drinking, going out to eat,,,etc...it raised my levels enough to concern the Dr.



its the amounts you eat. imho.



im going low carbs..high protien etc.

I avg 1 lb lost a day.

before my injury i was running 2.5 miles each Am....now i ride a recumbent bike and walk. Ill start jogging again prolly next week.



doesnt take much to get ya motivated to drop the lbs ,,,its just sticking to it.