Exercise Is the Brother to Your Diet
The title is advice that our this week's featured member, Djredrum714 would like to share with you. He has lost over 137 pounds by ditching the fad diets, logging his foods and incorporating daily exercise.
He contacted us through our Share Your Story feature and provided the following answers to our questionnaire.
1. What prompted you to begin this weight loss journey? Did you have an "Aha!" moment?
When I was in the barber shop I saw a friend from high school and he made a comment that I was almost as big as a rapper who died from obesity (Big Pun). As everyone laughed, I looked in the mirror and really saw how big I was and vowed to myself to never be that big again.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
All the fat burning pills, including the ones with ephedra. I tried the Akins diet and cayenne lemon but couldn't keep them up.
3. Please describe how you reached your weight loss goal. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude? Did you implement any other strategies besides Calorie Count? What was the most important change?
I first started to count calories by getting all the nutritional facts from each place I ate. Whether it was fast food or dining out. At first I kept a manual log, then I found the App on my iPod and it aided me. I used to eat out fast food everyday and went to eating Lean Cuisine's and Healthy Choice meals. I only cheated one day a week on the weekend. The most important change for me was to reduce my intake.
4. Please describe how Calorie Count was instrumental to your weight loss.
Counting calories is the only way I have seen results along with exercise.
5. What difficulties did you experience losing weight?
There were plateaus that seemed to never go away. As well as the cost of eating healthier was more expensive. I never seemed to have enough energy until I began sweating.
6. How long did it take you to see results? When did you realize that you were a success?
I began to see results in my first month I lost 20 lbs. The first time I realized I was really close to my goal was when someone said I needed a new uniform because the one I was wearing was way too big. I went from a XXL to a large. My total time for losing 137lbs was 16 months.
7. How do you prevent relapse?
I continue to follow my diet and exercise 6 days a week.
8. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
Before I never realized all the opportunities I missed just by being overweight. As I lost weight I noticed I was getting discriminated against before when I was big, due to the way people treated me. I help people understand how to lose weight and motivate them to do it. I study nutrition and try and only speak on experience and facts.
9. How long have you maintained your current weight?
About eight months and sometimes I might go up a few pounds, and then come back to my lowest weight.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- Only you can decide how bad YOU want results.
- Cheating doesn't mean you're a failure, it means you're human.
- Constantly change your diet or it will be hard to follow for the long haul.
- Exercise is the brother to your diet.
- Everyone is different, except when it comes to energy aka calories, so know your limit changes as you lose.
If you would like us to feature your success story, you can submit it here. The most insightful stories will be featured on this blog and in the weekly "Success Stories" newsletter.
Comments
You hit it on the head about exercise. I defeated a plateau that I didn't think would ever go away by getting out of the recliner. We all just need to move!
Awesome! I needed the encouragement to start the new year! I lost 74 pounds and have gained 24 of them back...I needed the push to start the new year, thanks!!
Congratulations. Quite a weight loss! How much flak did you get from the Army? I'm impressed by the determination you've shown to lose the weight and keep it off.
Congratulations on your success, Djredrum714! I have also learned that exercise & eating correctly pretty much are a package when it comes to weight loss and healthy living. Thanks for your story. I love your diet tips!
You are incredible. if nobody learns from you then there is no hope! i am trying to lose a mear 25 lbs and thought that was hard. i also exercise regularly but it is my eating habits. i am totaly inspire by you. keep up the good work!
Tremendous ! congratulations. Very motivating thanks for sharing ! Much continued success !
Very inspiring!! I completely agree with you that exercise is crucial. Not only does it help us to burn calories but it does all kinds of things for us within our body strengthening our heart etc. I also believe it helps to keep us from going back to sedentary lifestyle
Congrats on you amazing weight loss. I read these stories to try to help motivate me - yours is fantastic! Best of luck in 2012!
Love your story and great tips! Totally agree regarding the exercise. Since starting my 100 lb weight loss journey in July2010, I change my workout every 3 months to keep it new and challenging.
Keeping going and inspiring others!
Original Post by: greener333Congratulations. Quite a weight loss! How much flak did you get from the Army? I'm impressed by the determination you've shown to lose the weight and keep it off.
congrats! you look so much happier and healthier! :)
I'm also curious, like the above post. how was it in the army? I only ask cuz I'm active AF and if we gain 10 lbs, people notice. gain 20? you basically get put on a fat kid program. gain much more and they start the process to boot you out.
I'm so proud of you for being so determined. and for keeping your career! major congrats and happy new year!
Then, if exercise is my brother, he'd better be a kind guy, not a loud mouthed ruffian. I need a brother who notices when my joints complain and my knees cave and I could fall if I continue on. That said, I am working on an exercise- something physical that makes me forget all the OMGs!! Its dog agility practice- I actually get out of a walk like I did on Saturday, my Sally pup above me, running on a dog walk, the trainer yelling that I'd better keep up with her cause she could fall off- keep moving! keep moving! Funky knee caps be danged. Keep the pudge going. So my motto for exercise: go with your bliss. What floats your boat will keep you coming back for more, even if you do have a crooked spine like me.
We are all so proud of you! The truth is that only you know how great it is to have all that weight off of you. Celebrate your success every day, and every day remember how you used to feel carrying all those extra pounds. You've done a lot to inspire us all!
Original Post by: jennyw1337Original Post by: greener333Congratulations. Quite a weight loss! How much flak did you get from the Army? I'm impressed by the determination you've shown to lose the weight and keep it off.
congrats! you look so much happier and healthier! :)
I'm also curious, like the above post. how was it in the army? I only ask cuz I'm active AF and if we gain 10 lbs, people notice. gain 20? you basically get put on a fat kid program. gain much more and they start the process to boot you out.
I'm so proud of you for being so determined. and for keeping your career! major congrats and happy new year!
well i am in the national guard and i was on the program. I have 3 torn ligaments in my right knee so they had to give me more time but i met the quota for 3 to 8 pounds a month....not to mention about 2 to 4 inches off a month....
Wow, congratulations on your new life
i love this story..its real and shows results cannot not be achieved mid or long term if based on diets only. The fact is that diet is only working if its sensible reduction and dumping of rubbish foods and turning on exercise machine. Well done Dude..keep it up and best of luck
Congratulations. Just the kind of success story I need to hear about at the first of the year. Exercise is not the brother of my diet.....it is my diets Daddy!
I am re-committing to literally, "Exercise my butt off" in 2012!
I'm so inspired by your story - congratulations, you are incredibly AWESOME!
p.s. I also noticed the discrimination from others, both when gaining & losing the weight; it is so amazing to me just how much of a stigma being overweight still is.
Congratulations, Djredrum714! Thanks for providing this very inspirational posting and the great tips.
Amazing, keep it up your an inspiration to anyone 
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That is awesome! I myself have always been XXXL, so I decided to see what exactly was I eating, and why I couldn't lose the weight. I had that AHA moment too, but I do exercise regularly but no weight loss, It is amazing how much crap big business puts into our food, and yes it is more expensive to eat healthy, because the food industry knows that, they don't have hundreds of scientist and nutritionist working for them for nothing. Djredrum714 keep up the great work, it will only improve your life but your mental well being too! Thumbs man! You have made my week!
Fred
was 348lbs
now 329lbs
:]]=
Great job. Brother. I lost about 120lb, but I am really struggling right now and can';t pinpoint why. Wishing you much success in 2012.
Awesome motivational story! Very inspiring! Keep up the good work!
you look fantastic! congrats on a job well done! You look 10 yrs younger and most likely fee 10 yrs younger! Keep up the good fight!
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congratulations Djredrum714! keep going & enjoy your life!