What works for you?

July 22nd, 2009 marked my 3rd anniversary! On that day in '06 I began a total lifestyle change. I will never forget when I decided to start down the path of torture.... Amanda and I were returning from a great vacation in Satellite Beach (Florida) with her parents and sister. We spent the entire week on the beach and it was my first time to ever go on vacation to the ocean. It was a great experience. Since then I have fallen in love with the beach and I really look forward to going each year. But that year changed my life. We were caught in a storm in Birmingham, Al and Amanda and I were just talking. I mentioned to her that as soon as we got back home I was going on a diet. As she will tell you now, she had heard those words before but had yet to see me really stick to it. This time I was serious. After returning home immediately the next day we started football practice (I was teaching and coaching then), and I knew I was going to have to find a "special" scale to weigh my HUGE self. That spring we had just purchased a BIG DOG scale for the football program and it would weigh up to 425lbs (little did I know I would need almost all of it). So I headed for the scale, the moment of truth, when I stepped on it I was shocked (not really sure why, I mean I was wearing 5-6XL shirts and 54 size pants) and more than that I was SICK at my stomach......the screen read 402lbs!!! That is a number that is etched in my mind and a day that will stick in my mind forever!! HOLY SMOKES, I knew I was a large man, but this was embarrassing!! So now the fun begins....

I made a promise to myself that I would write down every calorie that I put into my mouth at any moment during my waking day. I first set a goal of 2500 calorie allowance for each day. I got a small note pad and kept it with me (as I still do today) all the time writing everything down from a peppermint to a juicy steak!! I did make another huge vow to go with this "diet", I would no longer eat a restaurant prepared burger, and let me tell you they were my absolute favorite!! I have kept that vow until this day!! Well the weight starting flying off and being very competitive this became a game....378 after the first 2 weeks, and I was 355 by Christmas. Then came the plateau....but by the time we moved to Lebanon on July 15th 2007 I was 319lbs!! I was 19lbs away from my first goal!! Two years one month and 5 days later I weigh in at 280lbs, that is a total of 122 lbs lost. I am so glad I did it....I really think I have saved a lot by doing this not counting my life!!

Even though I have lost 122lbs and have not had period of time longer than a month with out losing at least one pound and never gaining, I want more! I would love to get around 260, but as most of you know it gets harder and harder!! I still write down everything I eat and I have started back exercising 6 days a week, walking around 15-18miles a week....but it is not coming off!!

I so wish I could flip my days, I have to force myself to eat breakfast (which should be the biggest meal of the day) and it is usually around 170-230 calories of my now 2000 calorie allowance...then its 400-600 for lunch (usually Subway or a salad)....and a bigger/but healthier meal for supper!! I wish I could flip it!! I think I would be better if I could!! What works for you? Anyone have any tricks? I have tried it all and have a really good system going, but I think I made need a shock!!!

Just Thinking...

Nick