2012 Survival Monkey Fatty Challenge

I got a head start & have dropped over 50# so far. The thing is, I'm eating well and not suffering in the least. But I'm no longer propping up cow/pig/chicken farmers. Sorry, guys. It's all about the tofu these days.

 

It's a lifestyle reboot.

I quit all tobacco products.
No meat from land animals or fowl. I do occasionally partake of seafood.
Lots of legumes. Lots of leafy greens. Lots of fresh fruit. Little in the way of heavy starchy foods like pasta, bread, potatoes.
No more coffee. No more sugar. Hot tea with Stevia is the rule of the day.
Portion control is crucial.
I tend to avoid packaged foods, opting instead for fresh foods. I shop mostly around the perimeter of the supermarket, not much in the aisles for me.
Replaced beer with wine in my diet, and keep it below one or two glasses a day. My blood pressure has improved dramatically.
I have my own chickens, and enjoy their eggs... at least half of them. I separate the whites from the yolks. I cook the whites for me, and I cook the yolks up to feed back to the birds (along with the crushed shells).

When it's nice out, I walk a mile or two. Lately, it's not been quite as nice out, so I have slowed down on weight loss. But haven't stopped.

I'm never "hungry". I don't suffer in the least. I'm eating fantastic foods, and I like what I'm eating better than the "steak & potatoes" lifestyle I had before.

 

I'm in.

I'm hoping to drop 1-2# per week largely through portion control; Forced exercise (e.g., every hour stepping away from my desk to climb the stairs) mainly for bp.

Starting weight: 325#

Key changes in eating habits:
only one helping
replacing dinner a couple nights a week with Cheerios

Off limits:
sweets - candy, cakes, pies, any desserts, sodas
foods after dinner
butter

I will re-evaluate this strategy in April.

 

Cutting out soft drinks is a great step in the right direction. Same for sweets.

No snacking within 2 hours of going to bed.

Fleishmann's has an olive oil spread that has replaced butter for me. Nutritionally, it's much better for you. But most of the time, I cook with extra virgin olive oil when I can. I even use it in lieu of a sauce on many dishes. For example, this morning I had portabello raviolis for breakfast. I bring them to a boil in some water with various Indian spices, and then when I dish them out I drizzle a teaspoon or two of olive oil over them and lightly toss them before grinding some black peppercorns over them.

Absolutely delicious.

The Cheerios thing... I wouldn't do that in my own plan, in part because I'm getting away from packaged foods and have a great mistrust for the preservatives that a product like that would be loaded with. When I cut out soft drinks, I lost a startling amount of weight in the first week or two. Bear in mind, I was drinking diet sodas. I'm pretty sure that something in there, maybe the preservatives, were causing me to retain a lot of water.

Cheerios contain a lot in the way of corn starch (bad), sugar (bad), tripotassium phosphate (if you have to wonder where it comes from, it's probably bad)... The really healthful contribution of Cheerios to your life is the soluble fiber. But I think there are probably much more healthful sources of that which you might really enjoy.

You might get some ideas from Nutrition & Food for Men: Healthy Super Foods to Muscle Building Diets | LIVESTRONG.COM but, again, I tend to avoid the packaged foods loaded with preservatives that this site seems to often have no problem with.

 

I realize in my last post I made passing reference to "various Indian spices" and I think I just did a major disservice to one of my secret weapons.

My spice cabinet is pretty full, but I very often find myself reaching for:
* Curry powder
* Ground cayenne pepper
* Turmeric
* Garam masala

These are especially good with blander starchy base foods like pasta or rice. Just drizzle some extra virgin olive oil when you dish it out and it's done.

I do try to eat more of the pasta type foods around breakfast time, which I find helps carry me through the day. I know they are traditionally eaten for dinner, but it seems backwards to me (nutritionally) to load up on carbs like that when you're winding down for the night. The Indian spices really wake things up and really eliminate the need for a sauce or gravy with most dishes. It is said that they aid in digestion, as well, and I think that's very true once you're acclimated to eating them regularly.

 

IN ... I've dropped 30# over the past 2 years and plan on continuing the loss... portion control and lack of food choices where i work coupled with a desk job/ and old injuries limit my ability to loose weight i need to drop another 50# at least to get back to where i was when i married...

But a quick question... if we loose the weight to we get to go hunting elk with you?

 

IN...
pushing #240 give or take....which is about #40 over my prime weight.
I am hoping to start by small changes, no snacking after supper, a little more exercise
and a change towards fresher foods.
and layin off the bacon
I'll give you a proper weigh in later this week.

 

I think that is a bit drastic, don't you? You should really reconsider. Bacon....mmmm.

 

I, too, have a bit of a head start. I lost 22 pounds in 4 months on Weight Watchers on line. I still have 23 pounds to go. Portion control is a big deal. Gained 2.5 pounds over Christmas (that Peanut is a dilly of a cook) but have since bit the bullet and lost that. I also walk every day rain or shine. Lots of rabbit food and green vegies on this diet, but it also allows for eating out and having desert on occasion. To all of you who are trying to lose, I will support your efforts in any way I can. GO TEAM!!

 

IN
I'm down to 238 from 250 since Labor day. I've been stuck at 236-238 for some time now. Really need to start getting more exercise in. I think part of my problem is stress at work.
I've done the low carb / paleo lifestyle to shed the initial weight.

 

I am 6'3" and weigh 222 lbs. I need to loose two lbs. but it'll keep until spring. I'll be glad to help all you lard-asses get motivated; stop exercising the fork hand and get some blood flowing.

 

That's true. But you should see me in an ass-kicking contest!

 

Ok, so I'm in for one Parrot and one leg, we'll drop 22 pounds. I am thinking that if I hop down to the Bay with my puppies a couple more times a day and boil the shrimps instead of frying them, we'll get there. If my puppies are over-weight, I am not getting enough exercise.