Men trying to drop the weight!!

I know there have to be some men out there.  This site works well for us too!!

here are my stats:

Height: 6'

SW: 298 (10/12/2008)

CW: 285.2 

GW: 220

Hope to get some discussions started with other guys trying to drop the wieght on CC.

It is great to see so many guys that have lost significant pounds!!  It helps keep me motivated.  

I laugh at how CC has changed the way I eat.  This morning my wife made a package of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls.  I would normally eat the whole package (8 Rolls!!).  I had two this morning and feel a little guilty.  (They are 150 calories each.)  I never realized how bad I used to binge eat.  I would eat okay most days, usually around 2500 caloires, but then once or twice a week I would eat something huge.  A package of rolls, a large pizza, a large fried rice, chinese buffet, 24 hotwings and french fries...  I need to stop I am getting hungry.  

The challenge today will be not snacking while waiting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship fight tonight.  Should be a great fight.  

Age 29

Height 5'10.5"

SW: 230

CW: 180

GW: 173 would put me at about 15% BF, I have a medium/large frame.

I was 180 when I met my wife 11 years ago (pretty fit), but gained weight during her pregnancy.  Then got a desk job and stopped doing anything active.  As of March 08, I was between 225 to 230 .  Started loosing weight unintentionally when my wife went on weight watchers.  I also got braces and couldn't eat much for a week.  These things combined started my weight loss.  Lost the first 35 lbs without really trying over 5 months, then decided to take it further and make an effort to loose the rest.  Started on cc in Sept and logged everything I ate for about 7 weeks.  Also read 'Burn the fat, feed the muscle' which is an excellent read on the subject.  Haven't had to work out so far, but looking for a gym so that I can tone up before my 30th birthday in 6 weeks.  

Currently averaging 1600 cals Mon-Thurs and 2200 cals (maintenance) Fri-Sun.

Height: 6'1

SW: 228 (4 June '08)

CW: 196

GW: 176

I got started when my four year asked about my boobs.

I have always eaten pretty healthily but big portions and very sedentary lifestyle (I haven't really played sport or done anything since I left school 18 years ago).  Now I'm gym five days a week (no excuses), running 10kms on Sundays.

Adding in plenty of activity has meant I have been able to keep a pretty good lifestyle - I haven't given up my beer (although mainly low-cal now) or good nosh (smaller portions, no seconds).

I'm into setting myself challenges - six week weight period, now I'm doing the 100 push up program, I want to get my 5km time down about the 22-23min mark and do 15 pull ups.

Its been the best thing I've done for myself in a long time.

Original Post by michaelduff:

I got started when my four year asked about my boobs.

LOL.

Height:  5'9"

SW:  194

CW:  Avoiding the scale.  Prob about the same.

GW:  157 (top end of "normal" body weight)

I've been lurking this site for about 2 years now.  I do well for a month or two, then fall off the wagon. I need to get back on and stay on it.  I'll be 30 next month.  I have 2.5 yr old twin boys and a daughter due in march.

I find it difficult to stick with exercise, because my schedule is fairly tight.  I work about 75 hours a week and with baby on the way have to bump that up to cover expenses.  As such finding time to eat right and exercise is a challenge.  I take the stairs at work, but really need to get back to regular exercise.  I tend to overeat, so trimming back on calories is important too.

I have enjoyed running in the past, but get horrible patello-femoral syndrome pain and have to let it rest.  Have an elliptical in the basement than will be great if I can wake up early enough to use it.

I also love good beer (brew my own), which for the calories I thnk I'm going to have to cut out until I get my body reprogrammed to a better lifestyle.  Good thing I need to wait another month for this batch of homebrew to be ready.

Anyone else in similar situation?

I too love a good beer.  Unfortunately, I love it too much.  Gave up drinking about 6 weeks ago.  i don't knw if it will be forever or not, but I feel great and going out is a lot cheaper.  

I am also sure that the drop in calories has helped me to stay on track with my calorie count each day.  

Cmon guys!!  

How does everyone control the snacking while watching football on the weekends?  It is the hardest thing for me.  

Right now I have been getting fat free pretzel sticks.  They are only 100 calories/50 pretzels so you can munch on them for a while without killing your diet.  What does everyone else do?

I joined a year ago at 235lbs, I'm 6'2" and have bounced around on weight for years. I tried all kinds of ways to lose. Now I just watch the daily calories and have adjusted some of the types of food I eat...got rid of the real bad stuff and stopped late night snacks. It has worked easily and now, a year later, I'm very comfortable with selecting foods and controlling the calories. This also allows me an occasional splurge on the "good stuff" like burgers, pizza, fancy beers, etc. I also do basic exercises and walk 3-4 times a week. At 55 I feel good and have gotten down to 214.

 On snacking....I drink water when I get the urge....and eat stuff that requires work such as....unsalted peanuts in the shells. I take a handful on a commercial and open one at a time. Eat fewer when you have to work at it. I also have deli american cheese sliced very thin--and only take one slice at a time so it takes a while to get an ounce in me. Sounds silly but it works.

Original Post by trueg:

   "Also read 'Burn the fat, feed the muscle' which is an excellent read on the subject."  

 Hey Trueq.....where is the article you referenced above? Is it on CC here somewhere?

I have the Sunday ticket and two crappy tv's so the minute football starts on Sunday I am done for the entire day and well into the night.  Football days have become much easier because I do these several things.

1. Wake up and eat as much protein as possible (with in reason).  Generally this means a 4 egg white omelet with 3 ounces of 96% lean ham, some onions, and some red peppers.  I also use a full teaspoon of Olive oil.  This meal usually has around 240 calories.  If I think I am going to suck at eating right that day I throw in a apple or a banana to keep me full.

2.  Right when the games start (11:00 here) I eat a cliff bar.  That way i am keeping my metabolism going strong.  I also should already have 60 ounces of water in me by 11:00

3.  I drink ungodly amounts of water.  On a normal day i drink about 120 to 140 ounces of water.  on Sundays I try and push that to 150 to 160 ounces of water.  I am generally hung over anyway so that helps but I really drink the water to keep me full and because it is a natural diuretic.

4. At about 3:00 i go one of two ways.  I either say eff it and go to Taco Bell and get so much food that it makes me sick.  This works well because I eat the fresca menu stuff (no Cheese) and 9 times out of ten I am done eating for the day because I stuff my self full.  The things I get at Taco Bell really are not too bad and in the end if the last thing I eat for the day is Taco Bell I end up with about 2000 calories for the day.  If I want to eater healthier and with less calories I eat two cups of black beans and a chicken breast at about 3:00.  Follow that up with a piece of fruit around 5:00.  I then have chicken stir fry with no rice, or spaghetti squash with tomato sauce and lean ground turkey.  If I go that route i end up at about 1800 calories for the day with 30% protein, 18%fat and 52% carbs ratios.

The key to Sunday's for me is not letting myself get hungry.  If I eat one cliff bar and I am still hungry at 11:00 i will eat another one, or eat some fruit.  If I am still hungry after the black beans I will eat more chicken, or some fruit.  I literally make sure I eat every couple of hours and that has helped me skip any and all snacking.  Also I love to drink on Sunday but I have only done that once this season.  in that case, i wake up and eat egg white omlett, eat just chicken at 11:00, eat just chicken again at 2:00, and make Chili from Ground Turkey for dinner.  If I drink 1200 calories of light beer i can get nice and drunk and finish the day at around 2500 calories.  I also make sure to drink one beer and one water to keep my self hydrated so i am not hung over for work the next day. 

I have been doing these kind of things for 12 months and literally lost 1/3rd of my body weight.  Sometimes I blow it on Sunday and drink 20 beers for old time sakes and end up hammered and eating crap all night.  if that happens I just get my work boots on and take down only 1500 protein filled calories on Monday and Tuesday and go about my business.  I have had so many bad 3000 plus calorie days over the past year but as long as I keep to it on all other days I still lose at least 1.5 lbs per week.  Zig-zagging is the way to go, it is so easy to make this eating right thing work when you zig zag every day.

This weight loss stuff is easy so far, I am dreading when it gets hard.

Oh the days of 20 beers.  I gave up drinking almost two months ago.  I couldn't even imagine drinking 20 beers now, but I used to do that about once per month.  

the truth is that if you are drinking 20 beers in a day you have a drinking problem.  I did.  I know you will deny it by saying that you don't "have" to have a beer or you aren't "dependant" on it.  the truth is that there are all types of alcoholism and severe binge drinking like I did and like you are doing are one of those types.  

Sorry for the lecture and maybe you are just one of those people that can drink 20 beers and have no negative consequences.  if so great, drink one for me.  bu tif not, then take the time to think about why you are really drinking that much and do something to fix that issue.