My New Lifestyle
Fears about his health motivated Jasonrfink to lose weight and adopt a healthy and balanced diet. Not only has he lost 45lbs, but he’s also found renewed inspiration for favorite past time activities.
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?
I had chest pains and almost passed out after a weekend with friends. The only medical explanation was I needed to change my lifestyle. I owe a great deal to my family physician who pointed me to this site and for lack of a better way to put it - told me how it is.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
None really. I would try crashing on occasion.
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?
The first thing I did was begin counting calories which led to cutting portions severely. The second thing I did was to take up old recreational past times. When I was young I surfed and skated. I recently moved to New England. I began surfing again, took up snowboarding and now Longboard skating as well. There is a ton of hiking and walking thrown in there too. The third thing I did was simply eliminate certain things from my life - period. No more alcohol for instance.
4. Please describe how Calorie Count was instrumental to your weight loss.
It let me see two things. One; that certain foods and portions are just bad period. Two, it helped me see trends. The weight chart versus activity was very illuminating.
5. What difficulties did you experience losing weight?
Remembering to input my calories. Due to my commute to work sometimes I would botch when/what to eat when I started and would be hungry for a few hours.
6. How long did it take you to see results? When did you realize that you were a success?
It took 3 months to notice any results at all. I realized I was a success about a month ago.
7. How do you prevent relapse?
I'm not addicted to food so this has not really been a problem. The problem I have is simply eating when I am hungry when I am home. To avoid this, I carry a smart phone that I can check in with caloriecount.com to make sure I am not making a mistake.
8. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
Immeasurably better. I can high performance board ride, I have done more work on the job more efficiently than ever before, my sex life improved an order of magnitude, blood pressure went down and I no longer have hypertension.
9. How long have you maintained your current weight?
I have maintained my weight about 3 months.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- Find something to do as an activity that is just for you. Don't force anyone else into it but don't let anyone else stop you either. Make it something fun.
- Buy a smartphone that can access caloriecount.com. Being cut off from the data can be devastating. Information is the key to success.
- Don't emotionally isolate. That feeds addiction. While I am not a food addict, I have been addicted. Leverage friends and family who can help. Jettison or spend less time with those who do not.
- Work with your physician if you can.
- Don't worry about flat lining your losing trend. It happens, sometimes for up to 3 months. Stick with it.
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
Your story is so great. Well done on the lifestyle change! You look amazing and about 20 on that skateboard!
I'm so happy for you!!! Every time I read about people changing their lifestyle and getting healthy, it makes me smile!!
Great job! I'm glad that you were successful! How long did it take you to loose the 45#?
Love that you picked up old recreation! Congrats! What a motivator to MOVE! Keep it up!
Chris
I lost 130 - link to blog and story in my profile.
Original Post by: philfan1I'm so happy for you!!! Every time I read about people changing their lifestyle and getting healthy, it makes me smile!!
Thanks! I didn't even know they were posting this. I should have skipped on the hat - my hair stopped thinning too; I have quite the bushy hairdo. I dunno how that works but I'm not complaining.
I have decided to drop all the way to 159 since it is almost at the middle of my real BMI. But I submitted this when I set my initial goal which was, I think, 163.4 (the upper edge of my real healthy BMI).
EXCELLENT advice!! Thank you sooo much. It really helps to read these success stories. Everything you said rang true for me. I am convinced that I need a smart phone, the way to go to help keep track of calories.
Congrats on the weight loss. I've been working on this for a year and down 20 lbs. Reading these stories are inspiring. Thanks for sharing your story!
I love how you have become so active outdoors and doing what you enjoy! It is a common theme in everyone's story but it is so hard to find what that activity is. How did you come up with something like longboard skating? I find that I just get bored too easily and it has been hard to stay active long term. Thank you for sharing your story!
WTG! You look like a rock star on that skateboard. I periodically stare at all the success stories and just stare at the amazing transformations. Yours is definitely one of them.
Original Post by: shelleyann_WTG! You look like a rock star on that skateboard. I periodically stare at all the success stories and just stare at the amazing transformations. Yours is definitely one of them.
I used to surf what are called shortboards up until I was 25. I stopped surfing when I moved inland and was too lazy to find an alternative. When I got back into surfing about a year ago; I wanted to do something when the waves were flat. Which believe it or not is not as often as one might think where I live. I was surfing into late November when even my 5/4mm wetsuit just couldn't stop the cold anymore. So I took up snowboarding. Well, spring came along. So I looked for an alternative. I happened upon this new-ish skateboard style called longboard skating. Some are designed for insanely steep hills etc. I was interested in something that emulated my current surfboard, a short board called a fish. I went to a surf/skate shop and they started me on a 46" Pintail (the one you see in the picture) longboard skate. I am now riding a smaller 31" Surfskateboard which turns tighter and can be used for kicking up, spinning or linking down small hills.
Believe me it is not as hard as it looks. These longboard skateboards are huge and almost anyone can start on one around 48" - I see people my age all the time cruising around on them to commute.
Hope that helps and good luck.
Original Post by: shelleyann_WTG! You look like a rock star on that skateboard. I periodically stare at all the success stories and just stare at the amazing transformations. Yours is definitely one of them.
Why does this forum only quote the last post? My last reply was meant for sjs35...
Original Post by: jasonrfinkOriginal Post by: shelleyann_WTG! You look like a rock star on that skateboard. I periodically stare at all the success stories and just stare at the amazing transformations. Yours is definitely one of them.
Why does this forum only quote the last post? My last reply was meant for sjs35...
I don't know if this answers your question, but click on QUOTE next to sjs35 name and you'll know you're responding to him/her because their original post will appear above your response box.
When you count your calories, do any of you look at how much carbs & fats you are taking in also?
Original Post by: gaby87When you count your calories, do any of you look at how much carbs & fats you are taking in also?
When I started; not so much. As I zeroed in on my target, I have gradually paid more attention. One thing to note; I was already overweight. When I lost weight I simply became healthier. Almost like one followed the other.
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You look great! Awesome work!
I enjoyed your tips as well. Especially the one about activities. If we don't find something we enjoy because we just do, then we probably won't keep it up! Thank you!