A step-by-step journey in weight loss

AP ^ | 11-15-02 | By CHELSEA J. CARTER

[steppenwolffe]

Starting up the steep, narrow staircase, I waited for the effects to kick in - the frighteningly rapid heartbeat, the heavy breathing, the sweat. But I had no choice.

After doing interviews below with crewmembers of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, I had to reach the flight deck, several levels up. I had a big story to cover.

[glorgau]

Godd for her. There are way too many fat Americans.

[fourdeuce82d]

There are way too many fat Americans

I know- I'm one of them. kudos to the author- it's tough to take off once it's on.

[SamAdams76]

Thanks for a great article. My experience almost exactly mirrored that of this woman's. Though I realize it's much tougher for women to lose that much weight.

As a recent member of the "hundred pound" club, I can vouch for the fact that it's one of the greatest feelings I have ever had. It wasn't easy but now I can say the journey was well worth it.

My biggest fear right now is gaining it back. It would be a huge disappointment not only to myself but for all those who cheered me on along the way. Well, maybe some people are secretly hoping I put the weight back on!

[Bubba_Leroy]

It's even tougher to keep it off. A few years ago, I lost 70 pounds. It took 4 months on a strick liquid diet. It took almost that long to gain it all back. I've probably lost, and regained, hundreds of pounds over the years.

Since the beginning of this year I've lost just over 30 pounds the slow way, eating just a little bit less and exercising just a little bit more. It will take another year at this rate to reach my goal, but it is a change of lifestyle that I can hopefully live with.

[patton]

Wow.

I wish you luck.

[glorgau]

Though I realize it's much tougher for women to lose that much weight.

Everything is always "tougher for women". As Yoda said,
"No! Try not! Do, or do not. There is no try."

I remember a friend of mine that was over 300 pounds. He, one day, finally got around to "just doing it" and dropped 100 pound over the next 6 months. He has kept it off to this day.

[Enterprise]

It IS tough to take it off, and it's nature's fault. A physical therapist told me recently that after age 25 you gain a pound a year. After age 35 you lose 1% muscle mass per year. This makes sense to me now why it is easier to lose weight while you are young. If you don't maintain muscle mass through exercise as you get older, the consequences are that you naturally get fatter and weaker.

[cyborg]

Men go through andropause the same way women pack on pounds due to lower estrogen,etc. Men have hormonal issues as much as women, but I guess it's not as fashionable to talk about it. I had to lose weight to get into the Air Force... then when I got sent home I put it back on and then some.

Now I am losing weight again, but slowly eating very healthy and most of all exercising. Nothing burns fat like muscle. I always thought it was hard on women to put on weight,etc. since we're scruntinized and all that but the more men I meet trying to lose weight.. .well I was wrong.

[cyborg]

If it's anything the military taught me, was not to whine. While estrogen may play a role, I don't use that as excuse for why I'm 40 pounds overweight.

One day I just got up off my fata$$ and realized wow I'm going to turn 30, be out of shape and will pack on pounds like crazy unless I work my back out. I lost 25 pounds and like wearing better clothes than what Lane Bryant has to offer.

[Enterprise]

Weight gain is insidious. Understanding what causes it and understanding how to defeat it is key. Next comes willpower and many of us (me) fail at this point.

[steppenwolffe]

It IS tough to take it off, and it's nature's fault.

I don't know about nature, but I know that in the last 50 years our lifestyle has become increasingly sedentary.

Up until then, 80% of America lived on farms. They worked long, hard hours; burned off those calories; and had little recreational diversion.

Today, most of us work at jobs that aren't particularly physically demanding; spend our leisure time in front of the tube; and have to eat on the run, ala, fast food.

And our kids? We bring them up in front of a television screen because we're afraid to let them play outside. Do we think we have a weight problem? We haven't seen anything like what today's children are going to see.

[steppenwolffe]

If it's anything the military taught me, was not to whine.

I read about a father who tried to get his teenaged son to clean his (the son's) bedroom. It was a no win situation.

Then the boy joined the Marines. After he'd been in for awhile, he returned home on leave. The father asked, "Well son, have you learned anything in the marines?" The boy said, "Yes. I learned what now means."

[cyborg]

My sister is living in Japan, and they don't know the meaning of 'low carb diet'. Soba noodles is all carb. My sister was on Atkins before she moved there, and she worried about her diet. She's lost more weight eating fish and noodles and drinking green tea. No cars, no nothing, but she rides a bicycle all day like every other Japanese student.

You're right about Americans and farming. I get many customers from the South in the health food store I work in, from all kinds of backgrounds. Sometimes I hear doctors make racial comparisons about heart disease and all that when it's really lifestyle and eating in comparison to activity. Does anyone break their back sharecropping or farming anymore down South??? I suppose anyone can live on cracklin' and fat back, but what are they doing afterwards?

Plus, fast food is cheap. You can easily down a few thousand calories with a MCD's 99 cent menu. When I see kids on TV who are four and weigh as much as I do, I wonder what's wrong.

[ruoflaw]

Way to go Sam! You have retrained yourself to eat right and to exercise. You took it off slow and by doing it the right way and you can keep it off!

[fourdeuce82d]

a change of lifestyle that I can hopefully live with

Bada-Bing Bada-Boom.

no other solution.

[Salvation]

I lost 60 lbs during the last 18 months. Was never hungry! Exercise was walking 5000 to 100000 steps a day. Included ketosis check each morning and drinking 80 oz. of water daily.

Regular food with protein snacks between meals.

If you want more info FReepmail me.

[Salvation]

**Next comes willpower and many of us (me) fail at this point.**

This is where a good diet is worth its weight in gold. You won't be hungry and fall off your diet!

[Salvation]

A bump to you. It appears you are keeping the weight off too. That is what is so wonderful about the diet I am on. It has a metabolic adjustment period!

[GrandMoM]

BUMP