Getting into shape

[Fat_Bulldog]

Thanks for the tips.

Fathead pizza looks good. I will try that. Looks like work though. Definitely not as convenient as firing up an app and having a pizza at the door 20 minutes later while a baby is crying and you're getting the other one off to dance rehearsal (Yes - I have an excuse for everything)

[GeddyWrox]

Fathead pizza is definitely work, but if you require something close to pizza dough to satiate your pizza craving, it's the only way to go.

I feel you on the kid thing, man. I gained somewhere around 80 pounds (possibly more) from the time my youngest was born until she turned 12 last year. It's HARD to balance life with work and kids, plus take extra care of ourselves. But here's the thing (sorry, I'm going to speak some hard truths, I apologize in advance).......

I realized that I've been setting a TERRIBLE example for my children by letting myself go. Not only was I risking my own health and their future with a father, but they were following in my footsteps. My oldest is already probably obese and my youngest was on the high end of the spectrum for her age. Luckily she has been quick to pick up my better eating habits and it's showing on her, too. My older kiddo though, it hasn't sunk in yet. Hopefully it will though.

The thing I realize now is that I've always been responsible for what I choose to put in my mouth. Carbs are a drug though. Seriously. That's not hyperbole. Carbs trigger the same pleasure center in the brain that heroin does. But you have the power to break the cycle, man. You just have to commit. I do this without much extra cooking or anything. It is a little more expensive to eat this way as opposed to a high carb diet when dining out, though. So if you are on a budget, you really need to plan ahead. That's definitely a challenge, but it's something you can overcome and do. Read all the people on the reddit /keto forum. There are THOUSANDS of people our age with children that manage to do this. There is also a reddit /ketorecipes group with ALL KINDS of great meals. You just have to do some reading and practicing, and then it becomes second nature. The key is...... you are the one that chooses what you put into your body.

[Michael]

Stay strong Brotha!

I'm coming to the conclusion with these diets I think it's important to not weight yourself everyday. In the Atkins book they suggest once a week or a rolling average of the past 3 days.

Yeah, it varies. A lot of people weigh daily, and a lot weekly. It seems about 50/50. I weigh daily, but I don't get as upset as I used to when I have a stall or a quick spike. I just feel like it would be too easy for me to lose focus if I went weekly. With daily weighing, I can course-correct a lot faster.

Case in point... I probably got too many carbs this weekend. Ate out a couple of times at places I hadn't been, and I got things that I wasn't 100% sure about. Predictably, my weight went up 2 lbs this morning. If I didn't weigh myself for another 5-7 days, I could be up 10 before I knew it.

I had a similar experience with Gyro meat. Most websites show Gyro is very low carb, but I found out the brand mostly used in Chicago adds some breading to it. Opps.

I'm also kinda addicted to the Atkins candy bars. I like to have one in the evening if I get a little hungry. Those bars aren't the best calories and they are full of alcohol sugars. I'm conflicted, but what I'm doing is working so I'm not ready to change, but if I hit a major plateau it'll be the first thing to go.

[GeddyWrox]

Stay strong Brotha!

I'm coming to the conclusion with these diets I think it's important to not weight yourself everyday. In the Atkins book they suggest once a week or a rolling average of the past 3 days.

Yeah, it varies. A lot of people weigh daily, and a lot weekly. It seems about 50/50. I weigh daily, but I don't get as upset as I used to when I have a stall or a quick spike. I just feel like it would be too easy for me to lose focus if I went weekly. With daily weighing, I can course-correct a lot faster.

Case in point... I probably got too many carbs this weekend. Ate out a couple of times at places I hadn't been, and I got things that I wasn't 100% sure about. Predictably, my weight went up 2 lbs this morning. If I didn't weigh myself for another 5-7 days, I could be up 10 before I knew it.

I had a similar experience with Gyro meat. Most websites show it's very low carb, but I found out the brand mostly used in Chicago adds some breading to it. Opps.

I'm also kinda addicted to the Atkins candy bars. I like to have one in the evening if I get a little hungry. Those bars aren't the best calories and they are full of alcohol sugars. I'm conflicted, but what I'm doing is working so I'm not ready to change.

I am a big proponent of "If it ain't broke..." Keep doing what is working, and then when you hit a longer stall, or your body starts telling you it's time to do something different, that's a good time to think about changing it up or ditching those Atkins bars.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Thanks for all of the tips Geddy!

I am down 101 pounds from my highest weight ever. And everything you said is truth.

I am unable to lose any more weight in doing what I'm doing so I need to mix it up. I may go Keto or Adkins here soon.

[Michael]

I am a big proponent of "If it ain't broke..." Keep doing what is working, and then when you hit a longer stall, or your body starts telling you it's time to do something different, that's a good time to think about changing it up or ditching those Atkins bars.

I agree.

I also think slow and steady might be the real key to long term weight loss. When I diet I always feel like it's a sprint which is kind of miserable and easy to fall out of. If I can relax and average .5-1 pounds a week while not making myself completely stressed out I'll easily be at my goal weight in a year. I suspect I'll also have a more sustainable lifestyle for long term weight management.

[GeddyWrox]

Thanks for all of the tips Geddy!

I am down 101 pounds from my highest weight ever. And everything you said is truth.

I am unable to lose any more weight in doing what I'm doing so I need to mix it up. I may go Keto or Adkins here soon.

That's AWESOME!!

You have a huge head start then (obviously!). I mean mentally more than anything. There are a lot of people who come to keto after losing a bunch and then not getting any further. Most people, when they first start keto or Atkins, have a big drop in the first month. See my chart. I managed to lose 20 or so lbs around the holidays. Who does that??? Oh yeah, people just starting a L-C-H-F diet!

One other tip for you guys, and everyone, really.... drink LOTS of water. Like, 3+ liters a day. This helps flush the fat out of your system faster I think. I struggle to remember to get this much water a lot of days, but it really does help.

Also try intermittent fasting where you basically only eat during a certain window. Most people start with 16:8 (which is essentially skipping breakfast) but some do as much as 20:4 or even 22:2. I can't go down to one meal a day though. I would kill people. LOL

[MrCrowesGarden]

Really glad everyone is finding something that's worked for them. I'm going a different route then all of you but getting the results I want. Not gonna lie, getting compliments from all the pretty ladies at work is a nice confidence boost.

I'm gonna get below 250 this week, which I probably haven't been since college. Didn't eat too great this weekend but I was on my feet for a lot of it with packing, and I'm back on track during the weekdays and getting to the gym tonight (both of which are normal.)

[Michael]

Holy crap Fat_Bulldog, over 100 pounds!?! Can we even call you Fat_Bulldog anymore?

[Fat_Bulldog]

Holy crap Fat_Bulldog, over 100 pounds!?! Can we even call you Fat_Bulldog anymore?

Unfortunately, yes. I basically quit drinking every night (only one day a week now) and only drink water, iced tea and coffee otherwise. I'm also able to be much more active now so snowball effect kind of takes place. We have a nice in-ground pool at our new house so I'm active with that cleaning, watering flowers and plants every night and swimming most days as well.

I'm going to try to get some weights for the house and a yoga program. I also live 1 block from a golf course now so I'm trying to play at least 9 holes a week.