I feel like I am going to die...

This was at the end of 2006.  I don't think I even realized this until I wrote this story, but I was just about to turn 30.  I was the heaviest of my life... 354.  Wow, how does that happen?  Why don't your friends and family tell you you are "scary overweight"?  I think the one thing that really did me in was the way I would breathe... sounded like an animal sometimes, almost a snorting sound.  Oh and my resting heart beat was always over 90.  I literally felt like I was going to die if I didn't do something and do it now.  And of course my blood pressure was high and I was prediabetic for sure.

Having previously enjoyed the low carb diet, I decided to try it again but this time with the understanding that I am changing my lifestyle from now on... NOT a diet.  Now I want to be clear that no one confuses my WOE or lifestyle change with an Atkins type program or anything; I never followed a strict plan or regimen.  I only used these diets for information and basic structure for me eating.  I never counted a carb, a calorie, or anything.  The only thing I did religiously was weigh in several times a week (against popular suggestions).

I worked hard all of 2007 and lost weight but no real change in my clothing size so I didn't really feel like I was doing well.  I was pushing out of a size 48 waist pant and obviously had to purchase most of my clothing from the big and tall section or from the B&T stores.  It was almost embarrassing, but mainly expensive.  At the end of 2007 I had lost and kept off 50 pounds and felt better about myself.  We went to Orlando halfway through 2007 and I was well over 300 still but had no problem walking around the parks and riding all the rides.  I felt better, but still felt like I was dying.

At the end of 2007, some coworkers and I started talking about beginning a "Biggest Loser" type contest on 1/1/08; that must have been all I needed... financial motivation.  So I started at 304 in January and had some good motivation and encouragement from my family and coworkers.  I was still generally wearing the same size clothing, maybe moved down from a 4XL to a 3XL.  It was really easy to stay on track because I felt everyone was watching me and there is no way I could let them down.  I won the competition and the money and also proved that I could do it, proved to myself that I COULD change my lifestyle and make better food choices.  I added in walking as exercise and picked up tennis (my favorite sport to participate in ) and I really think this made a big difference.  By the summer I was doing things I hadn't done in years... wrestling with the kids and not sweating all over them and getting out of breath.  My heart beat was much lower and my blood pressure seems to be out of the danger zone.

I was able to meet one of my own selfish goals this year... being able to walk into a clothing store and pick out some pants and a shirt and have them fit.  This was an amazing feeling!  I bought a size 40 pant and a 2XL shirt.  People are really noticing my weight loss and total transformation.  For some reason they all get a kick out of telling me my pants were falling off all the time and I needed to get some that fit... no one ever offered to buy me any though.  My goal was to lose 75 pounds in 2 years but I was on track to possibly lose 75 all in 2008.  I reset my goal to 75 pounds for the end of December but I ended the year losing 94 pounds; within a mere 6 pounds of losing a hundred and only 10 more pounds to break into "one-derland". 

In 2008 I learned so much about food, so much about cooking, so much about myself.I found so many veggies that I truly enjoy, ones I would have never eaten in the past.  My family loves the new me, my 3 older kids even got a kick out of all piling into an old pair of my shorts.  This really made me cognizant of how far I'd some and how much better I really feel.  144 pounds lost over 2 years is basically like losing a grown adult from your body.  How in the world was I carrying all that weight around for those years?  I guess who cares now, because I will never be that man again, NEVER.  I am going to keep chugging on my WOE and work towards my goal of losing another 25-30 pounds in 2009 as well as packing on some additional muscle weight from working out.  I will focus on bringing these meals to my family so everyone can benefit from my food choices.  I will work on new recipes and trying other's recipes.  I will NOT fall "off the wagon" and revert to my old bad habits.  My body obviously can't tolerate bad carbs very well so I have to treat it like an allergy.

I am now wearing about a 36 inch pant and between an XL and a 2XL shirt just based on the brand/make/style.  There is no way I could have made it through this process without the help and encouragement from my friends, family, and new online friends.  I have met many fellow Low Carb Friends and have been able to learn and share ideas and experiences with them each week.  This helped me feel the accountability of a local support group but with the convenience of the internet.  Those who have helped me know who they are and to each one of them I sincerely say THANKS!  No one has been more supportive of me than my wife... thank you baby.

I DO NOT feel like I am going to die.  Not anytime soon at least!  Mission accomplished.

T.J.'s kids piling into his old shorts!