Iron Willpower
Kryptonian8077 came to the realization that he needed to lose weight and take control of his health problems after seeing an unflattering picture of himself. He has been able to reduce his weight from 300lbs to an amazing 190lbs by using Calorie Count’s tools and adding 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?
Yes, during Christmas 2009 when I was at my parents they took some photos. I hadn't seen myself in pictures for years. When my Dad emailed me the pictures I was shocked at how huge I looked. Plus at this time I was starting to develop a range of health problems like chronic heart burn, sleep apnea, heart palpitations and constant and severe joint pain.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
In the past I have tried the Acai Berry Diet Pills and a wide range of special diet programs that were suppose to change my metabolism.
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?
In summary it was simple but very hard to achieve. Eat healthy, eat less, eat frequent small portions and lots and lots of exercise. I started slowly and steady, too many times in the past I had started to exercise and overdid it which just ended up causing injury. After the first year I lost 50lbs and February of 2011 I went into overdrive with my dieting, exercise coupled with an ironclad willpower I was able to drop the remaining 60lbs in 6 months.
4. Please describe how Calorie Count was instrumental to your weight loss.
Calorie Count was a HUGE help with my diet. If I wasn't sure of the food I would look it up on Calorie Count. I would plan my grocery lists based the results I got from Calorie Count.
5. What difficulties did you experience losing weight?
Staying motivated was so hard and so was staying away from the sweet stuff. I have a massive sweet tooth and I work in an office where sweets are available way too much which made it even harder to stay on my diet.
6. How long did it take you to see results? When did you realize that you were a success?
I started feeling results like less joint pain and more stamina after losing about 30lbs, I started to change my clothes after losing about 50lbs but it wasn't till around 70lbs when I really started to notice a difference from my former self.
7. How do you prevent relapse?
The more weight I lost the easier it became to prevent relapse. When I felt myself slipping I would picture how I used to look and more importantly how I used to feel. Another thing that really helped me was reading success stories on Calorie Count and watching success stories on YouTube. It usually was just what I needed to get back on the elliptical trainer.
8. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
So much I can't really put into words. I have energy and stamina like I have never know before. I run every day now, weight train three times a day and I`m currently training to run the half father's day marathon on June 2012.
9. How long have you maintained your current weight?
I have been maintaining my weight for two months now.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- Read nutrition labels and educate yourself to understand them.
- Record every gram of food you consume for a few days to a week to give you an exact picture of how much you're really consuming. You'll be amazed how quickly things like salad dressing, snacks and coffee creamers add up.
- Don't give up if you don't see results right away, or if you weight loss stops for a while. Just keep at it and your weight WILL DROP. Also find something to keep yourself motivated.
- Document your journey by recording your weight and take pictures.
- Consult a dietitian if you can to make sure you don't become deficient in anything critical.
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
Congrats! That is awesome, don't be lulled into thinking it won't come back, keep at it, be mindful always of what you eat and you won't have a relapse!
WOW! ! ! ! You look GREAT... and sounds like you FEEL great now too :) Hard work, but it is all paying off now, huh?! Keep it up !!
Congratulations! That's an amazing story because it is simple. You followed the basics and stuck with it. Thanks for sharing. It makes it seem do-able!
Wow! Congratulations!!! I am amazed by the difference in those two pictures. What an unbelievable achievements. Very inspirational. Keep it up!!
The other posters have said it all. GREAT JOB!!! I know you must be proud of yourself, as well you should be!! Congratulations on your accomplishments. Your story helps all of us.
Wow, you look so unhappy in your before picture, and so confident and adorable in your after picture! Good for you!! You did it for all the right reasons, and that's why I'm sure you will maintain your weight loss. You GO, K!
Thanks for the story - it gives me hope - I have fallen off the wagon so many times but I know that I have to keep trying and somehow stay motivated - I will read more success stories.
You not only lost a lot of pounds, you lost YEARS! Lookin' good, my friend. Keep at it!
Fantastic results! Way to go! You make it look easy.
Staying focus on the goal is the only way to succeed!
Original Post by: wheeler526You look great! But seriously, you weight train 3 times a WEEK?
Thanks and yes, every Monday, Wednesday & Friday evening. I only do light to moderate training for about 30mins. Currently I'm more focused on running, the plan is after I run the half marathon next June I want to focus heavier on weights for a while.
You look awesome! Congrats! Very inspiring story. :)
That's awesome... I love this site!! I was stuck at 187 lbs and was working out 4/5 times a week and could not lose even one pound in 5 month. I had not changed my diet and knew that was the problem. I was curious to see how many calories were in some of the foods that I was eating and found this site. I wanted to see just how many calories I was eating in a day and was shocked!! I made a decision to count my calories and stay under 1300 a day. It's been 2 months now and I have lost 15 pounds.
You look Great, keep up the good work!!
You have returned to good health--and you look great!
Here's a maintenance tip that's worked for me: I weigh every day. I went for a few months without weighing and the weight started to creep up. Two years ago I started weighing and writing down the results each morning. It's kept my conviction to maintain in the front of my mind. Today there was a beautiful plate of home made sweet bread at a meeting I attended. Knowing what the habit of partaking in those types of treats does to me, and proud of what the scale said this morning, I resisted.
Your story is an inspiration to all of us. All the best to you as you maintain your healthy weight.
I think many people who are trying to lose weight have no idea how hard you must work mentally to resist the many food temptations that none of us really need. I too worked in an environment where sweets and snacks were always readily available. When you are tired or frustrated in your work environment, it is so easy to turn to food to comfort you or just pass the time. That's where your iron willpower came in. You had to have that or you would be looking at another picture of yourself just like your first one. Congratulations on holding the line, and know that you have changed your eating habits forever. You can never go back to your old habits and keep your new body. I know this from many years of doing just that. I have now lost 96 pounds and have only 5 to lose to reach my self-imposed goal. I've kept it off 6 months, and when I've kept it off a year, you'll be reading my success story! You look wonderful in that picture - I hope you have a great life and enjoy every day of it!
I am SOO proud of you. Inspiration which I need today. I have come to realize that food was the one thing that always worked when it came to comfort, stress release. HOWEVER, it really is not a good friend. My DIET is my friend. I know how easy it is to fall off the wagon, I had 11-20 people staying with me at my summer cottage, and the strain was overwhelming!! It feels so good to be tending to only myself now and get back on track. I was relieved to observe myself not totally losing it, I was able to maintain some of my diet habits. So I have forgiven myself, and checked in at CC. and I am glad I did. Congratulations for doing yourself a tremendous favor!
Original Post by: newyorkladyI think many people who are trying to lose weight have no idea how hard you must work mentally to resist the many food temptations that none of us really need. I too worked in an environment where sweets and snacks were always readily available. When you are tired or frustrated in your work environment, it is so easy to turn to food to comfort you or just pass the time. That's where your iron willpower came in. You had to have that or you would be looking at another picture of yourself just like your first one. Congratulations on holding the line, and know that you have changed your eating habits forever. You can never go back to your old habits and keep your new body. I know this from many years of doing just that. I have now lost 96 pounds and have only 5 to lose to reach my self-imposed goal. I've kept it off 6 months, and when I've kept it off a year, you'll be reading my success story! You look wonderful in that picture - I hope you have a great life and enjoy every day of it!
Thank you That we very well put and I look forward to reading your story
Your body language in your before and after photos tell the whole story. I can see myself in your eyes in your before photo. That look makes you driven to make a change, and you did it despite all the obstacles thrown in your path. You now look like a proud and happy teenager. I don't know you, but I'm very proud of you and proud for you. You've made me feel good! CONGRATULATIONS on a successful weight loss journey!!!
Original Post by: shelleyann_Your body language in your before and after photos tell the whole story. I can see myself in your eyes in your before photo. That look makes you driven to make a change, and you did it despite all the obstacles thrown in your path. You now look like a proud and happy teenager. I don't know you, but I'm very proud of you and proud for you. You've made me feel good! CONGRATULATIONS on a successful weight loss journey!!!
Why thank you very much and I would like to reciprocate the congratulations on your even more amazing success story (Beginning My New Life)
Oh, and a Teenager? why that's mighty sweet of you but I haven't been one in over a decade lol
With all that weight gone, you don't look a day older than 18!!!!
You are a true inspiration par excellence.
Congratulations. i reckon i am somewhere along your halfway journey it makes me feel good to know i can get there
Wow! Thats just amazing! AND so inspiring! Working out THREE times a day! You are right! That must take not only Iron Will,but the time out of your day to do it too! I'm afraid that would be one of the two points at which I would get derailed,sadly.I cant take that much time out to exercise,and I live on an income that wont let me choose my foods by their calorie content(as you mentioned above),which is really the best way to go about it. I can only afford these days what is affordable. I DO have time,..just not to work out that much,and I have been trying to eat less,which has somehow been easier these days.I think it is because I have been taking care of my best friend,who has been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer and has to eat nearly nothing.So,in doing so,I have begun to eat a lot less. I've lost 18lbs now,since I must eat only a few handfulls,as she does.I just cant bear to eat in front of her,other than what she has. It was pretty rough at first,but now my tummy has shrunk,and its easier.
Still,..I am soooo very proud of you too as others here are!!! I know beyond all doubt that this is the only way to lose weight the right way.Working out and Dieting. Although it might be a bit hard for those who work every day to take that much time for 3 workouts a day. :)
Original Post by: whiskeyriverzxWow! Thats just amazing! AND so inspiring! Working out THREE times a day! You are right! That must take not only Iron Will,but the time out of your day to do it too! I'm afraid that would be one of the two points at which I would get derailed,sadly.I cant take that much time out to exercise,and I live on an income that wont let me choose my foods by their calorie content(as you mentioned above),which is really the best way to go about it. I can only afford these days what is affordable. I DO have time,..just not to work out that much,and I have been trying to eat less,which has somehow been easier these days.I think it is because I have been taking care of my best friend,who has been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer and has to eat nearly nothing.So,in doing so,I have begun to eat a lot less. I've lost 18lbs now,since I must eat only a few handfulls,as she does.I just cant bear to eat in front of her,other than what she has. It was pretty rough at first,but now my tummy has shrunk,and its easier.
Still,..I am soooo very proud of you too as others here are!!! I know beyond all doubt that this is the only way to lose weight the right way.Working out and Dieting. Although it might be a bit hard for those who work every day to take that much time for 3 workouts a day. :)
Haha I didn't notice it until now but the "weight train 3 times a day" is a typo. I do it 3 times a weeks.
Original Post by: shelleyann_Your body language in your before and after photos tell the whole story. I can see myself in your eyes in your before photo. That look makes you driven to make a change, and you did it despite all the obstacles thrown in your path. You now look like a proud and happy teenager. I don't know you, but I'm very proud of you and proud for you. You've made me feel good! CONGRATULATIONS on a successful weight loss journey!!!
i agree, you look 15 yrs younger. great job! keep up the good work.
Congratulations!!! You are an inspiration now... wish to do the same...lot's of exercise and less food... keep it up!
You look awesome, I cannot wait for my before, and after pics when i reach my goals, definately something to look forward to and to motivate me. Thank you!!!
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Great job dude..I am just about to start again..at 126kg and targeting the final countdown to a reasonable weight..from reading your blog, seems exercise was a big compoment
Calling you an inspiration would be an understatement. Excellent job, terrific BLOG, and I can't wait until I see my own "success story" right here!
Could you tell me in brief your calorie number you put yourself on? Did you use the calorie calculator here? Any other food parameters?
Could you give me the specifics of your exercise program when you say you put your workout into overdrive?
I sure would appreciate your input. Your accomplishment is impressive. I want to do the same thing. My weight is breaking my feet. Thanks.
Hi Thinner,
Unfortunately I didn’t discover this wonderful website until I was close to done with my weight loss.
My “overdrive” period lasted for about four months. During this period I lost about 50lbs and I put myself on a slim fast type diet which was about 1800 calories a day.
For breakfast I had a shake which consisted of: slim fast, low fat or fat free soy milk & whey protein (sometimes I swapped between slim fast and carnation instant breakfast)
For lunch I had a small bowl of cereal which consisted of: Fiber 1, a banana and again soy milk
For supper I had the same thing as breakfast. And throughout the day I snacked on fruit, veggies, egg whites, fat free cottage cheese and usually added either a serving of fish or chicken breast in.
For exercise it was about an hour of fairly intense cardio on my elliptical a day. I tried a treadmill but found it too painful on my joints. The elliptical trainer worked awesome because of its very low impact on my joints. I also did about 3 hours of weight training during the week.
And finally I drank lots of water and took daily multi vitamins.
My diet was very low in fat and sodium and by the end of the four months I crashed hard, It took about two weeks of a modified diet to recover so I would recommend that you use calorie counter to log your food and make sure your fat, iron and sodium stay within your green zones.
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Well done! I dont have so much to lose but am confident this website is definitely the way to do it. Your story is inspiring.
I have tried all sorts of different ways to lose weight, but never achieved any long term change and certainly not lost enough weight but having a structure to record everything is addictive for me and is definitely working.
I hope to be sharing my long term success story in a few months time!
Cheers
2PhatPhil