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way to go man!!!
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way to go man!!!
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Wow man... 5lbs a week is a ton. Way to go.
Don't get discouraged if your metabolism figures out what you're doing and puts on the breaks. You might start to plateu, but you won't stop losing all together.
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@WiglyWorm: I am at a plateu right now myself. I gave up soda and all sugary drinks with HFCS in them. I only drink water and this really good lemonade made with pure cane sugar. No exercise and I have lost over 30lbs. I am working on cutting out junk food except for 1-2 times a month as a treat. I already try to avoid fried foods. I am trying to actually excercise but its not easy going to school full time and working full time with a wife and baby. No time ..
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@Nemesis_Enforcer: \"...lemonade made with pure cane sugar...\".
I hope you realize that cane sugar vs. HFCS is a false choice. Cane sugar is primarily sucrose, which is just a fructose molecule and a glucose molecule stuck together in a disaccharride. i.e., cane sugar is 50% fructose when it breaks down in your body. This composition is similar to HFCS, which in most consumer products is 42%-55% fructose and the remainder is glucose.
You have to cut down on all sugars, not just the fructose.
@WiglyWorm: Very true, I hit a plateau after losing almost 80pounds, have been at 192 for about 3 months. But in that time, along with my cardio, I have been lifting weights. So, while I figure I am still losing fat, I am gaining muscle, hell I was able to do some pull ups.
Way to go dude! One word of advice I will pass along after losing like 80 lbs myself is that it comes off quick at the beginning, but then you sort of level out, and it's not as much, which is OK. Stick with it. Don't let it get you down. It means your body's getting with the program and more than likely building more muscle,rather than losing pure fat.
This reminds me that I should start walking more often, like I used to do....
@KeyboardPillow_GitEmSteveDave: Yes...I've been about the same weight for almost 2 weeks on my plan, and the bam, stepped on the scale this morning, 3 lbs lighter...my body was just holding onto it
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@KeyboardPillow_GitEmSteveDave: It's called plateauing.
I've been in a weight plateau for about, 10 years or so. Damn my big bones.
@verucalise: I blame big bones as well. Well, that and the pork/beef attached to them that I rip off.
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Good going, Tyler! And your little girl is absolutely beautiful. Which I'm sure you already knew :).
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Nice! Way to go!! You can't ask for better motivation than being around to watch your baby girl get bigger.
The power of the internet is great for weight loss. I managed to lose 20lbs over the last year and i would like to thank the consumerist readers for talking so much about the fact that HFCS is really bad for you. I am still continuously losing weight. I wouldn't have known it was bad for you if I didn't read it here. Imagine how many American's don't even realize it. Part of my diet was eliminating or significantly reducing my intake of corn syrup and yes it does help, a lot. Unfortunately its impossible to totally eliminate it but you can come pretty close. Another thing I did was cut out the processed foods and start eating fruits and veggies. Strawberries are tasty!
@Outrun1986: I try to sut way back on anything with HFCS as well, and I have noticed a big difference in how I feel. If I eat something with HFCS in it now I can actually feel that I am off. Sugar is my arch-villan I love sweet stuff. I crave sugar like crazy, I got checked out just to make sure I wasn't becoming diabetic and my sugar was fine. I just have a massive sweet tooth..
I used to get low blood sugar about twice a day, I would get shaky and irritable. I have been tested over and over for diabetes and I don't have it. Since I cut out HFCS, especially in beverages, those low blood sugar incidents are few and far between and when they do start it is not a crash situation, they are easy to curb, no big fast drops, I can get from breakfast to lunch without the shakes now.
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Awesome!! Good for you!
I'm trying to eat better (I slipped today..oh well, I'm sick :P) and I just signed up for Body by Glamour. The exercises look not too hard and I can do them while I'm waiting for the damn weather to warm up so I can do my 20-minute walks around the block. Weee haaaa!
Congrats! I think that the difference is eating \"real food\" I have also all but eliminated HFCS, and eat very few processed foods.
I am getting healthier every day and i feel better.
@baquwards: The difference is definitely eating real food. Not only that but it makes you feel better too, you don't feel sluggish you actually want to get out and move. I didn't even make that many changes. I also try to cut down on my sugar intake, its helpful that I lost the weight because I do have diabetes in my family, not immediate parents but one grandparent has it. I do occasionally eat bad things but in very close moderation and I try to keep it confined to small amounts, so no I am not perfect. I have a taste for sweets but if you don't let yourself have a little here and there you will binge and that is worse.
I am also trying to avoid restaurants, it may sound silly but I want to go a whole year without eating at a restaurant. That doesn't count small portions of ok foods from places like Subway and Taco bell where you can eat healthy if you are careful (and look up the nutritional information to avoid the hidden calories before you eat it).
I could have written that first paragraph, it is exactly my philosophy. These \"diets\" where people deprive themselves of anything that tastes good are just doomed for failure plain and simple. Eat what you know is bad in moderation and figure out what are sometimes type foods and what are anytime kind of foods.
Feeling guilty because you ate something unhealthy is the fastest way to get off the track to better eating.
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@Outrun1986: i didn't eat mcdonald's for over a year - stopped there the other day to see if i was missing anything. i wasn't. it's amazing how easy it is to stop eating junk once you get past that initial shock period of OMG!!I NEED SOME [insert fast food joint]!!! *DROOL*
i don't know if i could go a full year without eating at any restaurant altogether - that's quite an ambitious goal! good luck to you.
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@Outrun1986: That's awesome. Congratulations on your weight loss. Don't give Consumerist all the credit - the site may have told you about HFCS, but you busted your ass and did all the hard work. You should be very proud of yourself.
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Who needs reality TV shows when you can enlist the aid of your \"Consumerist\" friends. I bet his blog has a metric ton of posts before the weekend is out.
Great work Tyler! And *_GetEmSteveDave, get back to work! Don't be one of those guys who \"used to\" do stuff. If walking helped you lose weight make walking a part of your daily life. It's the lifestyle changes that really keep you fit.
Way to go!
Tell the diet pill and crazy weight loss gimmick people to kiss your rear! All it takes is hard work to loose weight. If you lost 5 pounds, you can loose 5 more. Just take it in steps.
I actually saw a woman on the news once who was told that she had to loose 25 pounds before she could get bariatric surgery. She lost the 25 pounds and figured that if she lost that 25 pounds she could loose 25 more and decided not to get the surgery. She ended up loosing 200 lbs on her own. Pretty good story.
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@Megan Squier: Bingo. Notice how EVERY diet pill, etc always includes \"along with a workout program\" and such. There's no secret. Eat right and work out. Simple as that.
Of course, a small child can induce lots of exercise once they start crawling.
@SacraBos: Yes. Diet and exercise are the only truly safe, reasonable ways to lose weight. Crazy fad diets, pills and gimmicky machines are shite, and those companies know it, which is why they're shaking in their boots over the FTC ruling about showing REALISTIC weight loss in ads now.
I lost 20 pounds in the last 6 months, not because I starved myself or took pills, but just through exercise and carefully monitoring my diet. I use FitDay.com to keep track of what I eat and how many calories I burn - it's a free online food and exercise calculator.
It's funny - I use the internet all of the time and it's not helping ME lose weight.
Ha.
...
Now I feel fat. Time to get the bike out.
a consumerist link! now he's going to be on the elliptical for like 300 minutes. hydrate, bro!
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FUCK YEAH MAN! FIGHT THE FAT!
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Here is a comment to keep you on the elliptical for another minute. I will eat a Jolly Rancher as a sign of encouragement. You'll be thin, and, I'll be semi-overweight and toothless. Seems like a deal to me... ;-)
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Congratulations, Tyler! You Rock! Great work.
I was trying to find a reason to avoid the gym, but not now. It's off to they gym, the elliptical, and better health. You are my inspiration today.
Thanks!
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Tyler, way to go, but 5.4 pounds a week is a lot - please talk to your doctor to make sure you're losing it safely. Sustainable weight loss is something like 2 pounds a week for most folks. Good on you for exercising and eating right though!
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@mythago: If you read his blog, you'd see that he worked up to that amount of time and he takes breaks as he needs to. It's also not that unusual for people who are morbidly obese to initially take weight off very rapidly.
But I do agree it would be good for him to check in with his doc every so often, just to be safe.
@mythago: Yeah I have to agree here, its great that he lost the weight but please lose it safely. I also hope that he did not do 92 min on the machine at once because that could be very dangerous for someone who is not used to that type of exercise, especially someone that large to begin with. With exercise you are never supposed to jump in with a whole bunch of very intense exercise right away.
The 92 minutes at once could have been dangerous but he may have separated a bit. I can't imagine him being able to do that much at once, no matter how motivated.
I also heard somewhere (maybe on one of those medical shows about obese people) that when the morbidly obese start losing, they tend to lose a lot at once. I don't know why or where I heard that.
@HogwartsAlum: The reason (as far as I'm aware) is because since you have so much weight on you, your body works much much harder to keep up momentum when you're 300+ lbs vs say 180. So it's burning more to keep up with all that weight.
I know it first hand. When I started on elliptical at 269, I'd hit 500 calories (yes, it's not accurate but an indicator of how well I'm pushing) well within 25-30 minutes at a good pace. Now if I want to try and reach 500 calories, I have to go 40 minutes or so at a higher level which I don't mind. That's much better then before.
@Jonbo298:
That makes sense. And when you jump start it, it goes nuts.
I bet you can go longer to reach the 500 than when you started, too. That's awesome.
@mythago: You're pretty much right on. He's not going to be able to sustain this and he's kinda doing it wrong. I really wish people would actually research before making life-changing decisions. You think people would be smarter, but mostly they arbitrarily cut calories and start running on a treadmill. I guess any progress for someone this morbidly obese is good, but spending 8 hours in a library reading something like Starting Strength could've benefited him infinitely.
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@mythago:
I was thinking the same thing. The outcome is fantastic, no doubt, but hopefully Tyler keeps an eye on his overall health! The journey to being physically fit is a marathon, not a sprint.
But, great work nonetheless, Tyler. It is truly an inspiration to many!
Way to go but I wonder how he got his wife pregnant at 344 pounds, Geez!
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@PLATTWORX: Well sweetie, when a mommy and daddy love each other very much, they share a special hug...
@PLATTWORX: It happens, but after losing weight it gets better, much much better. and um, there are other benefits he will be seeing soon.
/knows from experience too.
@PLATTWORX: I won't go into graphic detail, but after some trial and error, fat-sex can be scorching.
/knows from experience
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You can do it Tyler!
I got myself a big dog - husky/shephard mix and started walking him an hour each night. I've lost 25 lbs since December. The exercise is good for both of us. I haven't had to change my eating either, but the more I lose, the less I want to eat.
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Pardon, but, just because someone is over weight that does not mean that they are necessarily out of shape and cannot physically exert themselves.
There are plenty of \"in shape\" yet over-weight people in the world. Over weight does not automatically equal sedentary, with the dynamics between caloric intake versus calories burned, matched with metabolism, and physical fitness versus physical appearance it is quite a simple minded assumption to make.
\"You can't play catch with your kid when you get winded running to the end of the driveway, right?\"
All I'm saying is extra fat does not absolutely equate to poor health. I knew a man who was at least 300lbs and he also had a massive amount of muscle tone. It would take him more work do what a person weighing less would do, but his body makes up for it.
In fact people who have been over weight for much of their lives have a lot more muscle tone than a person of average weight. As a result of that, when they exercise they burn calories faster.
@wildhare11: The guy did mention on his blog that when he started this journey, he got winded trying to walk to the end of the driveway. ;)
That's very true, but someone who is that large is going to have difficulty, especially at first. They are carrying the equivalent of another person! Try exercising with someone else on your back, squeezing your lungs, etc.
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i've never heard of losing weight by sitting on the desk surfing the net, but this guy has totally turned it upside down and helped himself out
way to freaking go man! stick to it and keep on loosing those pounds! you surely have some kick ass will power!
If you are reading this and are suddenly inspired to lose weight yourself, PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GO TO THE LIBRARY. Read books on weight training, calorie intake, etc... Do not make life-changing decisions without knowing what you're doing. If you just start exercising and don't understand what's happening you will plateau, you will stop losing weight, you will get frustrated, and you will stop. That's if you're lucky enough not to injure yourself while you're doing it all wrong.
That much weight loss in that short period of time can be dangerous without the proper supervision. If you're going to be active physically, don't be lazy intellectually.
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Way to go, Tyler!!!! Very inspriring. I've never used an elliptical (nearest gym is 20 miles away) so I walk instead and follow a low-carb diet. Down 35 so far, still a long way to go, but day by day, pound by pound, I'll get there and so will you!! Looking forward to following you on your weight loss journey!
May I need to invest in that laptop finally and mount it onto a treadmill. Then I can do both :-)
*May I? Geez, brain needs caffeine.
That's a little too fast. Weight watchers is a good way to lose it and keep it off. I've lost 18.8 in 8 weeks so far. Alot of what he lost is water weight however. But at least he is trying. Just hope he gets smart and does it the right way.
my channel pika23 on youtube, I have a weight loss journal video that I do most every day except this week since my cam is wonky.
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Nice work, man! I have to recommend a little reading I did once I was about 25 pounds into my 80lb (and still going) weight loss - The Hacker's Diet. Really breaks weight loss down into a math problem and explains in fairly straightforward terms why your weight can fluctuate a bit in the process of weight loss.
The use of the elliptical will probably help in terms of being relatively low-impact, but please, do be careful. If you go from no exercise to lots and lots very suddenly, it's possible to screw up your tendons something awful (and having screwed up my post-tibial tendon in an unrelated fashion, I definitely do not recommend screwing up your tendons).
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Tyler, That's freaking amazing.
You have to eat a lot of food to maintain 344 pounds. Cutting back some, adding some exercise and no wonder the guy lost some weight.
@kwsventures: Aw come on! Yes, in the beginning, if one has a LOT of weight to lose, small changes reap very large benefits.
But you have to hand it to him--he's out there doing it!
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@kwsventures: And sometimes seeing a rapid physical change like that is all the confidence boost a person needs to make a lifestyle change.
Go Tyler!
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@CFinWV: This is very true. I'm not anywhere near 344 pounds, but I need to lose some weight, and the toughest part is that while I know I'm making progress (at least according to family who say I look like I've dropped some weight), the results haven't been obvious to me.
That said, my jeans are definitely looser lately, so I must be doing something right. The Daily Plate app for my iPhone has totally changed the way I consume food- my calorie intake is way, way down just because I can punch something in and instantly see how much it'll cost me (and whether it's really worth it). I haven't even had much time to exercise lately, because I'm in an intensive training program for work- I'm looking forward to getting back home and getting back to a regular routine at the gym or signing up for a martial arts class or something.
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Wait,
I lost 45 pounds in 6 weeks, but for me it was 20% of my weight.
What do I get?
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Great work Tyler! I hope you teach your daughter how to eat healthy (when she's past the apple sauce)!
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You da Man! Way to go!
Awesome and inspiring story.
Good job Tyler! Keep up the awesome job! :-)
WTF?! This guy managed to convince a girl to go out with him, marry him, AND have sex with him. Sure I could lose a few ellbees but come on! The only conclusion I can come to is the guy was always in decent shape and never had to work at it up until somewhere between the marry part and now, totally let himself go and then his natural genetic body metabolic rate came back into play. My life is a travesty ([www.fmylife.com])
Yeah. Who does that fat guy think he is, having a family and falling in love? Doesn't he know that fat people are repulsive and don't deserve healthy adult lives? Its like looks aren't even that important! Crazy town!
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54.6 Pounds In 10 Weeks
54.6 pounds / 70 days (10 weeks) = 0.78 pounds per day.
.78 * 3500 (calories per pound of fat) => 2730 calorie deficit per day.
That's a mighty big calorie deficit to create, so pardon my slight skepticism.
/some of the weight lost was probably water weight.
@lordargent: He estimates he was drinking up to 100 ounces of soda a day before he began paying more attention to his diet and exercising, so there is half the calorie deficit right there. Just from soda!
And yes, everyone loses water along with fat. If you still eat poorly and don't exercise, you'll lose muscle as well.
You gotta hand it to him--he's doing something, and he's seeing results. Sure, he'll have to tweak things here and there as he gets closer to his goal. But gradual modification is a lot more sustainable than crash dieting and then giving up. Can't you even give him some props before you start the naysaying?
Meh... I've lost 32 pounds in four weeks. I guess he's gotta start somewhere though...
I've been checking this guy's blog from time to time, as someone trying to lose weight himself, Tyler acts as an inspiration. Rock on.
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Weight loss of more than 2 lbs per week is not considered healthy -- it can lead to things as nasty as gallstones, among other problems. Worse, rapid weight loss is unlikely to work in the long term, as it messes with the body's idea of what \"normal\" is.
Long term weight loss is best done by slowly changing diet (if needed) and setting an exercise regimen that is sustainable over the long term. Once you convince your body that it only needs N calories a day and must get Y minutes of exercise a week, it's going to keep demanding pretty much forever.
baquwards. What you probably have is called insulin resistance, aka \"pre-diabetes.\" I had the same symptoms. Guess what? Turned into a full-on case of Type 2 diabetes and now things are totally different (in a good/bad way. Good: finally got with the program and feel great and lost a ton; Bad: no more pasta, rice, pizza, etc). Ask your doc to check you specifically for insulin resistance.
Been there done that, I was 529lb when my daugther was born. Today I am 229lbs (give or take).
Diet and exercise alone made you lose weight? You didn't have to take pills and drink mass marketed death cocktails to lose weight? How is this possible?
/sarcasm
Anyway man, big props. That takes a lot of work to keep at it but sounds like you're doing great. Keep it up and enjoy the new life your taking on. Congrats!
I think I'm getting inspired.
(Doc just told me to lose 35 pounds by August; that's pretty \"inspiring,\" too.)
Bravo for Tyler! Heading over to the blog now....
Kickass, man. Great job on the weight loss and doing it the old fashioned way - that magical combination of eat less and exercise more... and congrats on your daughter. :)
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I lost 70 lbs in a year and a half. I suppose going from 250 to 180 is a lot different than his weight.
Still, some girl checked me out in Barnes and Noble last night and started chatting to me. Never used to happen when I was fat. :)
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Wow...when I was at my peak (2 hour gym sessions), 45 minutes was all I could muster on an elliptical.
What is this \"Diet\" and \"Exercise\" this guy is talking about? I thought you lost weight eating berries or tons or red meat.
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AWESOME TYLER. Rock the FUCK ON.
92 MINUTES?!!? Those elliptical machines can make a grown man drop to his knees, ball up into the fetal position, and cry for their mommy.... Talk about your ass spontaneously combusting into flames.
Oh wait, that was me, last time I went to the gym.
@verucalise: Slow cardio is probably one of the most inefficient ways to cut weight. If you really want to drop weight and save time while doing it, look into weight training (due to the calories burned even post-workout) and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
@verucalise:
I love the ellipticals because they are so low impact compared to treadmills and stair climbers. My knees ache just thinking about those machines. I can go and go on one of those for a very long time. 90 minutes though!? That's a VERY long time, especially for someone at his weight. Excellent job sir, keep up the good work and you'll be running laps around your kid!
@verucalise: Well, I read that \"Caffeine eases the muscle pains of exercising, new research shows, suggesting coffee might literally be a brew that promotes health.\" So maybe drinking some more of that burnt stuff in your avatar could help. ;)
@verucalise: I know, right? Those machines are HARD WORK. I can't imagine doing it that long.