Six years ago today. Man......doesn't seem that long ago.
Before I launch into my yearly post, I want to get the statistics out of the way.
This morning, I weighed 273 pounds. That's about seven pounds below my average weight and eight pounds above my lowest weight. I like to hover around 278 to 280. I didn't like the way I felt and looked at 265 so I put a little back on and I love the results. The most I've weighed since reaching goal is 300. So, in case you didn't know it, you can regain your weight if you don't exercise some discipline. I'm thinking it took me about three months to gain that weight and it took me two weeks to take it back off. If you have a plan, it will always come off faster than you put it on. My highest weight was 530 lbs the day I got the sleeve and it took me about 14 months to drop 265 lbs. I really didn't lose fast until I broke an ugly ass stall that had lasted a couple of months. Once I learned how to bust stalls, I never got another one and I dropped more weight in 6 months than I did in 8.
If you are interested in how I did it, I have pages upon pages of posts concerning my methods.
Now, on to the good stuff. I don't post on here nearly as much as I used to, but, I do come here three to four times a week and take a look at what's up. If I feel compelled to reply to a post, I do. But mostly, I pm those that pm me and those I think I can help and mentor like that. It took me a couple of years to learn something very simple. If you dwell on the fact that you have a sleeve, let it rule your world, and constantly arrange your life to accommodate your sleeve, you will be miserable. I learned that in order to be happy ever after, you must learn how to live like a sleeved person in a non sleeved world. No one, not even your family or S/O will willingly make accommodations for you for the rest of your relationship.
It is incumbent upon you to adapt to them. Not the other way around.
So, what does it mean to live like a sleeved person in a non sleeved world? Well, for me, it means I eat what I want, when I want, and made just the way I like it with a side order of margarita. What I never do is over eat. Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever overeat.....ever. Since I live my life like that, I can eat where I want when ever I want. I don't deny myself anything, ever. I just plain old don't over eat.
Since I live my life like that, I can do the things my skinny brothers do and enjoy just like they do. I just don't over indulge. I don't ask them to make choices of restaurants or clubs in order to accommodate me. I make the adjustments. Most of my friends have forgotten how big I used to be and when I remind them, they just laugh. They haven't thought about me being that size in years. I guess that's one of those NSV thingies I read about on here. My favorite NSV is when I run into old friends out of town who haven't seen me since I've lost my weight. They flat just don't recognize me. They recognize my voice, but not my appearance. I love that.
So, what's my plan for losing weight. I'll keep it simple even though it's pretty complex. I eat foods rich in protein, carbs and fats. The science behind my plan is solid and there have been quite a few folks on here who have successfully lost their weight by eating like I do. I don't eat veggies, but, I take a bucket full of supplements every day to make up for that lost nutrition. Veggies take up room in my sleeve and I want every bite I take to pack a mule kick of protein, fat, and carbs. I don't count anything except protein and hydration. I call it the 80/64.
I also pay attention to my four pillars of weight loss. Exercise. Nutrition, Supplements, Hydration. If you ignore any of these, you will stall, stall often, and stay stalled for long periods of time. Eventually, you will get over your stall and lose again, but, you will have subjected yourself to needless anxiety and wasted time. It doesn't need to be like that.
Have there been sacrifices. Yes. I love beer and haven't had one in six years. Why? My sleeve doesn't like the bubbles. Nothing carbonated. So, I don't drink them. Snacks. I don't eat a lot of junk. I don't keep it in the house and I don't buy them when I'm out and about. Now, having said that, if I feel like a candy bar during the day, I go get one. I just don't get one or two a day. It's gotten to the point with me that I don't even think about snacks and junk food anymore. One of my indulgences is popcorn. I will make a bowl of popcorn with lemon pepper, butter, and garlic on it before kickoff every Sunday. Football season is the only time I allow myself to eat the popcorn. I'm really looking forward to Sept. 9th......lol. On a side note, I eat as much as I want of popcorn, but, I don't eat the whole bowl. Popcorn is a slider food and I could eat the entire bowl, but I make myself stop. Again, just a little discipline.
A lot of you are going to ask what a food day looks like for me. Here we go, briefly.
Breakfast is what ever I had for dinner with a fried egg.
Snack is usually a piece of fruit or some cheese and nuts.
Lunch is my indulgence meal. What ever I am craving I eat. I try to make it full of protein, carbs, and fat. But I don't dwell on it. My go to lunch is Hooters wings. Love dem wings. Child's plate is four wings and tots. I will three wings and some of the tots, or all four wings and none of the tots. Not because I make myself. Because that how much I can eat.
Snack is what ever I didn't have for the morning snack.
Dinner is a huge protein meal. Ribeye steak. Chicken fried steak with gravy. Any fish I can lay my hands on. I cook with lots of butter and eat what I can.
The next day....same as the day before.
How many calories a day to I consume? I have no idea and I could care less. I'm not going to obsessively count things. I know some on here do and if it works for you, then please keep it up. That's part of your plan and not counting is part of mine.
I'm going to close by urging the newbies to look into my mantra. If you want the full mantra, go to my page and search for tinman's mantra. I've probably posted it 50 times.
So, in closing, I will say what I always say. My way is my way. It works for me. The only constant in losing, and maintaining while sleeved, is that you have to have a plan. Each of us needs to find the combination of the four pillars that works best for them and then game the hell out of it. Without a tailor made plan, you will lose slow. Will you lose? Yes. But painfully slow.
Make a plan. Work your plan. Own your results. Change as necessary.
Remember, you will be sleeved the rest of your life. Don't be in a hurry. Contrary to popular belief, there isn't an expiration date on your sleeve. So, be patient, try different methods and combinations, and find what works for you and you alone.
As always, I am available by pm for those who want to reach out that way.
Peace until next year.
Robert
Bookmarks