Sunday, September 20, 2009

My Weight Loss Odyssey

My weight loss odyssey began about 18 months ago. It was then that I realized I was massively over weight. I hit 260 ponds and at 6'3" I had a BMI (body mass index , here is the URL to calculate yours: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bminojs.htm) of 32.5, obese by definition. I started to diet and I did several things I had heard were important. At my wifes urging I stated eating a full breakfast every day (I typically have no breakfast except my supplements {more about that in later post} and my daily dose of fiber with small amount of orange juice {again more about this in later post} , and not eating for last three hours before bed (Oprah's favorite method). Well 6 months and another 15 pounds added so I was 275 with a BMI of 34.4. I realized this wasn't working. So I tried exercise. I began mall walking. The problem was I walked erratically and did not make the commitment to doing it regularly or even everyday. I also did not control my diet. Well nine months after that and 13 more pounds I hit my maximum weight 288 pounds with a BMI of 36, I hit the criteria for Morbidly obese. It was not this landmark weight though that got me motivated (I actually did not weight myself until I decided to get serious). It was a friend of mine who was several months into his successful weight loss that got me motivated. He actually was diabetic and began an exercise and calorie restriction program that essentially cured him of diabetes {more on that in a later post}. So on May 17th of this year I got on the scale, found out I was morbidly obese and began my committed plan to loss 90 pounds with a goal of getting to a BMI of 24. I realized I would need to do three things: 1) reduce calories to 1200-1500 calories per day; 2) exercise one hour per day; and 3) tell everyone I meet that I am working on losing weight. I also realize that you never refer to it as a diet but as a weight loss program. Well today is the 18th week anniversary of starting and I am down to 234 pounds down 54 from my start and only 36 more to go. In this blog I plan to cover many topics some of them are:
  • Why are americans so overweight (at least 4 blogs)
  • My six rules to reducing calorie intake (one blog for each)
  • How to start exercising and how do you do it safely.
  • What exercise should I do
  • It takes a community to loss weight
  • Don't forget to ramp up your exercise as you loss weight
  • Going out, what to do.
  • Supplements: What are they, should I use them?
  • Fiber: Why is it important?
  • Myths about dieting (many blogs)
  • Gastric reduction surgery, is it for me?
  • Diet drugs. 1) Over the Counter 2) prescription
  • I lost the weight now what?
  • Plus many more
So you can see this will be a very complete coverage of weight loss. I hope you stay with me a subscribe to it at this URL: http://weightloss-sketicdoctor.blogspot.com/ That way you will get an e-mail notice when ever I do a new post.