Ahoy, and I'm back again
 

Though I should have never went any where from the start. Its been quit a few months since I've been here on the site. But I am going at it again. Needless to say there has not been any progress of late just failure and setbacks. My doc says because of my extensive health issues I will be no doubt make a candidate for bariatric surgery but I got to put in some more effort. I didnt want to have to go that route at all but I know it may save my life so I gave in and talked to a doc that performs those surgeries. With bad lung issues it will be a risk just getting put under. But I will cross that bridge when I get to it for now I need to make a stronger effort and I really got to work hard. I know it wont be easy because my exercise ability is severly limited and I will have to depend mainly on my control of appetite and my diet to try and drop some more weight. So here I go again, good day to all.

Welcome back! If "one day at a time" sounds too overwhelming, try "one (food) decision at a time." I really encourage you to plan your meals in advance, and to log EVERYTHING! If you're tempted to "throw in the towel", check in to fitday instead.
Best of luck to you!

Ahoy, Cap'n! Good to see you back. I was thinking about folks who've come and gone during the year I've been here recently and wondered about you.

I, too, have flirted with the idea of surgery in the past but I hate doctors, hospitals and all the junk so much that I don't think I'd ever seriously do it.

I know talk is cheap, but really you CAN do this if you stick with it. If I can do it, then anyone can. Let us know how things are going.

Regards,
Michael

thanks for the vote of confidence fellas, I will sure try my darndest to stick it out I am like you Mike I and dodged the surgery talk from my doc for about two years now and I finally said maybe it will benefit, I know I am going to give it one hell of a run before I go there, Nice to hear from you and glad you hanging in there and making progress.

Well, my take on the whole surgery thing (and I've nothing at all against those that choose that route) is that you need to follow a strict pre-op lower cal diet for some time. If you can do that, why not just keep doing it?

And, surgery is not a license to eat whatever you want. I know people who've had it done and wound up fat again. If you don't address the mental aspects of overeating, you CAN end up where you were pre-op (probably even worse off).

Not to mention the side effects and possible complications (death included) I just decided I'd never actually do it. Fortunately for me, tracking a lower calorie but reasonably filling amount of food and modest amount of exercise here on FitDay has worked really well for me.

Of course, I haven't maintained my loss yet so that may be the fly in the ointment. Time will tell!

I'm kinda rambling here, but really, I think we can come up with an eating plan that you can live with.

Regards,
Michael

so true mike everything you say, surgery is not a quick fix and if you have to get strict with it why not just keep up the work. I see it that way also that is the reason why I would not recommend it for any and everyone looking to lose a few quick pounds trust me it took some doing for my convincing I have seen some bad results when it comes to surgery, But my doc helped me to see that just in some cases its absolutely needed I have the will and the desire. Health wise for it is to big a challenged. and as of right now either way it could mean death for me so I am giving it a shot I need to make this last push to be sure. But basically if I dont do I will probably not make it.

Well, you certainly have my best wishes whichever way you decide to go. I hear ya' on the health issue--I have a feeling I was flirting with a trip to the ER and/or morgue myself, a year ago when I started this journey (for the third and final time).

Keep us posted as to how things are going, and don't give up!

Regards,
Michael

new stats
 

Weighed today for first time this month and I am down 17 pounds feels good to see that but I got a long way to.

I have had my doubts about displaying my actual weight and goal here, but I figure we are all working toward the same goal and have the same issues so here it goes. I will have to figure out how to place it permanetly in my post but I will just add it in this one for now.

My Previous and highest weight was 564 not good. Exercise none existent. Health issues diagnosised with a disease of the lungs (Pulmonary Hypertension)- enlarges right heart, damaged blood vessels in the lungs, causing diminished lung capabilites, serious breathing problems, and heavy fluid retention. eventually resulting in heart failure.

Current weight 547 down 17 pounds since my last weigh in April 25. Total diet overhaul. Bread, gone. diary nearly gone, alcohol gone.

My goal I am shooting for 380 under 400 by this time next year. It will be a challenge with little exercise. I am able to do some with the aid of medical oxygen 30 minutes on the stepper every night before bed. Hopefully if prescribed meds continue to improve breathing I can increase the amount of exercise I do, at a certain saturation level I will be able to enter pulmonary rehab, a supervised exercise program through doc office.

and thats my situation

Capn,
You're going the right direction! I know it seems to be a long way off but you have nothing to loose and life and health to gain, so just do not stop on the quest. It is so easy to stray off track and we all do, just dust yourself off and get back on track, it's a lifetime quest. Keep us posted on your progress, we are all your side and want to see you reach your goals and be healthy.

Good luck,
Ed

Capn--good work!

I hear ya' on going "public"--I posted a pic over in the "Success" thread of me "before"--not pretty and I had almost another year of weight gain added to that picture. Let me tell you I had to work up the nerve to post that, but it is what it is (or was).

A year ago it was truly all I could do to walk 100 feet so I have a feel for where you're at. Today I jogged 2 miles in 25 minutes.

Even with minimal/no exercise I think you'll see the weight just peel off if you keep a really big calorie deficit. Just like you, I quit the junk, I quit the daily 6 pack or 8 oz of vodka and just switched to 1500 cals a day of good food.

Don't ever hesitate to post if there's anything I can do to help. You can even email me if you don't care to post here in "public" at [email protected].

Regards,
Michael

Mike I didnt know that it was ever that serious with you, I guess it makes me more confident to hear and see your progress that man that is amazing, All my life I have been up and down with my weight I got to the point were I just thought its never going to be for me to be thin or just smaller I got to do it now thanks to both you guys for the support I am going to continue working at it

Capn, that's good to hear. Yup, I've had a struggle all my life--was probably 300 or so in high school. Got down to 175 by mostly starvation methods at age 21 or so then spent the next bunch of years getting back up over 400. In '01 or thereabouts joined FitDay and got down to 184 in about a years time by doing ultra-low cals/fat (after a 30 day water fast). Of course, spent the next few years putting it all back on, and then some.

Last May I decided that I had to take action--was really getting hard to move, I could barely squeeze into my vehicle, it hurt just to stand up out of my chair. After six weeks of 1500 calories I weighed in at 393 so I figure I was somewhere around 440 or so--perhaps more, perhaps a bit less.

About the only good thing about being really big is that you can lose weight REALLY fast at first. I don't recall how many cals you're doing but 1500-1600 works really well for me. I'm not often overly hungry and have maintained a fairly consistent loss (which is slowing as I get smaller, but that's fine). Health-wise I noticed a difference very quickly but it was quite some time before I did much exercise.

Now the thing that I've never done is to maintain a healthy weight for any long period of time--I've always been either going up or going down. That is going to be my biggest challenge. My plan is to continue to journal food and exercise on FitDay for the foreseeable future, even when I do get to my goal. I know I just can't be trusted without some form of accountability and keeping track--most people probably can, but I know myself and have come to that realization.

Please keep us posted as to your progress and never give up!

Regards,
Michael

Been awhile for me here I know been trying to keep busy and out of the fridge, a lot of doc appointments a seven day stay in the hospital for pneumonia and all kinds of ups and downs bottom line is that since my last post back in May my last weight was at 547 i went down from there to 533 but my last weigh I was back up to 544 so I back tracked that weigh in was at the doc office during my consult with bariatric doc I did have my first sit donw with doc that might being doing a surgery. and now I am looking forward to visit with dietian and getting started on new diet and program cause they wont you to loose weight before they can do any surgery and because of my lung illness it is an maybe still about surgery so I am going to try and up my game at losing some of this weight. I have a regular work out routine but I am limited at what I can do. Just thought I should checkin I hope the regulars are doing well with their programs and the newbies are motivated by the group here and the site it is a good place good folks. Well wishes to all

Cap'n, hoped to hear you were doing better, but I'm glad you're still at it. I wish I could send you some of my weight loss mojo--it really saddens me that so many folks have such trouble losing weight when it comes pretty easy for me (perhaps it's the life-long practice!).

Anyway, I hope you do well on your pre-op diet and so forth. Don't be a stranger!

Regards,
Michael

I know this is the "mens only" forum but I can't help but read posts. I just wanted to offer encouragement to you CapN. I am sure if you talk to people you can find some form of exercise to do. Even if you can't stand periods of time you can sit and work with your arms and some light weights. Any time you move is a calorie burn and just staying still is counter-productive. I say all this with the best of intentions. Keep up your hard work and I know you will get there. :)

Thanks appreciate it really I do and I always welcome any helpful critques, its rough but you are absolutely right it can be done. I got my mini stepper today with the resistance bands attached I can sit on the edge of my bed and use with the O2 so I started that tonight, will try and keep that up and hang around more often here. Thanks again.