Over a quarter less of the man I used to be (losing 4.75st and keeping it off)

[Tom|Nbk]

Thought I'd make a thread purely to show the difference and explain why I did it and maybe it can inspire someone else.

Basically I'd started Uni after a breif spell of unemployment where I had let myself go quite a bit, reaching a whooping 16.2st at 6ft 1. This put me in the overweight range and I was really not far off the obese level.

I then landed a job working in a warehouse, this involved a lot of night shift work and physically demanding work. After a month of doing this I noticed I'd dropped nearly a stone, I then decided I would shift the rest, so took up cycling 3 days a week and cut out all of my takeaways, sugar, and high fat snacky foods.

Eventually I decided to join the local swimming club, going swimming became a regime, I'd be there almost every night watching my fitness levels and stamina improve. As I upped the intensity of the stroke and number of lengths *snigger*

Forward to Xmas where I'm at around 13.5 stone, I am shocked by how quick I had managed to lose the weight. I decide to take up running.

Running 3 times a week I'd stuggle to do a 10 minute mile at first, eventually after watching my fitness improve even more I'd managed a 7 minute mile within 2 months.

Forward to today where I weigh in at 11.45st at 6ft 1 making it almost 5 stone of weight loss.

That is 30KG and 66.5 Pounds of weight loss within 7 months. Makes me shudder at how unfit and how much excess I was carrying for no bloody reason at all, diet is well in shape now (I only take natural sugars in, no sugary drinks, no crisps, biscuits, I fill out most of my meals with lots of vegtables because they're a good filler, I try not to eat too much bread (always wholegrain)

Anyway I found a pic of me topping out at my max weight and one I took two weeks ago. They are not the best comparison pictures but I gues you get the idea

16.2St (Cira July/August 09)

11.45St (End of Feb 2010)

Forgot to add, jean size down from 38 to 30 Waist which meant a lot of new clothes

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Well done mate.

You didn't seem that fat when I first met you last year.

I'm still a skinny runt but i'm 6ft2 and 12.5 stone

Thanks Pete, yea people do seem shocked when I say how much I'd actually lost, they can't believe I was carrying that much. I guess I managed to hide it well!

This wasn't the case when I took the first picture though

I just wish I'd managed proper comparison shots

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I'm still a skinny runt but i'm 6ft2 and 12.5 stone

I've just actually thought about this and yea

 

[Tom|Nbk]

You should be dead proud mate real testament to your determination. Complete lifestyle change.

I've been bragging about my 1 stone loss to a few friends. Waaaaay to shame me

Thanks benny it's been good to chat to you over the past month about various bits and pieces.

I am very very proud of myself and I guess it shows mental determination to stick it out and lose so much so I appreciate anyone that manages to lose weight now for whatever reasons!

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Welldone.
Thats a hell of an effort.

Just reached a year of hitting the gym myself.
Down from 15st 2 to 11st 8.

Did get down to 11st 10 just before christmas and then did a bit of a bulk.
Put on about a stone in 3 months (probably far too much) and then cut again to get it down to what it is now.

Not quite got my fat down to your level, but hoping to be there soon.
Then its time to slowly and carfully get the calories up and get as much muscle on as I can over the next 2 years.
Hopefully hit my 30th Bday looking much better than I am now.

Interesting what you said about people being shocked when you tell them how much weight youve lost.
Most people find it hard to believe I was as heavy as I was, but think being tall helped.
Probably the same with you.

Measured my waist from my bely button around, which I think was my widest part and Ive gone from 39 inches down to 31.

Well happy, but need a LOT of new clothes

Again, well done and keep up the good work!

Thanks man. I think it would have taken a lot longer for me if I'd been in a full time job.

I have quite a few spare days so I can just blitz the exercise and that's what I'd been doing for the past few months.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Wow, thats exceptional, congratulations.

I'm in a similar situation to how you were, i'm 6ft 3 but probably on the verge of 17 stone, just down to bad diet and lack of exercise. I seem to carry it very well though just like you did but I quite clearly have a beer belly and moobs.

Did you have a set diet or any big diet changes or was it just as simple as cutting out the crap food and exercising?

Thanks a lot, it's a simple equation let the body have less of what it needs or create a deficit and fat burning is induced.

I cut out all snack foods, crisps, sweets, desserts, and replaced with decent sack foods like peanuts, fat free yoghurt, fruit, veg etc cut down on the bread intake as well!

Breakfast is :

3-4 eggs scrambled
40g porridge
Small helping of fat free yoghurt

Snacks :

Peanuts maybe another bowl of oats.

Lunch

Sometimes sandwich if at Uni (wholemeal though, freshly made, no mayo or butter)

Final Meal

Two steam bags veg (as much as I want, I love it)
2 x Chicken breast
Potatoes

Snacks

Sometimes a few more eggs scrambled before bed if I'm really hungry or some more oats and a bit of yoghurt.

All in all a low cal day and I don't ever feel cravings for food apart from proper meal times.


Tbh I wouldn't mind getting down to 11st but I'm 99% happy now, it gets addictive though when you see it melt off you

Go shopping, avoid the rubbish junk aisles get some low fat foods in and watch it become routine and laugh at everyone elses trolleys loaded with pure junk

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Last January I was around the same weight as you but at only 5"7' I didnt really have the joy of being able to carry it any other way than being a little fatty, much happier now crusing my way down just about to pass the 14st mark.

I can't tell anyone how much it improved my confidence and self esteem. More to it than the smaller clothes

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Thanks Joe.

Indeed it's a permanent change now my mind is in a healthy living mindset and when you see how much improvements can be made it sticks with you. It's a shame I had to get properly overweight to change my ways though :/

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I am so envious

Would love to drop that amount of weight. Just can never be arsed to go the gym. Have started cutting back on the food and alcohol which is helping I suppose.

Well done Tom.

I ended up shelling out quite a bit on a treadmill, best. purchase. ever. It's all you need for the fat loss stage imo

Thanks though!

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Thanks for ALL the good words it makes me smile everytime I read.

Lot of hard work went into it and it did require quite a big level of obsession I'm just about getting over and learning to maintain the weight now because I'm at under my ideal weight now so don't want to get too skinny ofc

 

[Tom|Nbk]

EDIT:
Re Running can I ask how you started? I'd love to start but find my joints are impacted.. wonder if shoes make the difference (did you buy £100 running shoes?) or did you find a good method to get running? (assuming at the beginning you was poor at running, as I am now)

I just bought a pair of Reebok running trainers from my local sports shop were 30 quid at first I found running hard on my joints but my body adapted nicely in no time at all, I take Glucosamine when I'm running aswell

Very impressed! I start at the gym tonight at 6 ft, 15 stone 10 lbs and around 30% bodyfat :/

If i can get anywhere near where you are by this time NEXT year, I will be very happy.

Did you lift any weights at all?

Cheers, nah not really just cardio based activities really!

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Stop thinking that it's this foreign world and completely impossible for you and instead, get up off your backside and go for a run. It hurts at first but pretty soon, you'll be aching to get back on your days off. Screw junk food, drugs and what have you. If you want to feel amazing, exercise often and eat better (you don't have to be ridicliously strict, just sensible).

Straight to the point, sums it up really.