Dan's Diary

VtEMT

VtEMT

New member
Ok, here we go...

My name is Dan, I'm 45, live in Vermont, USA. I am married with 3 kids and 4 step-kids for a total of 7! I am an EMT now, though I also hold my degree in Forestry and practiced that for 10+ years.

Oh yeah, I've also gained about 65 lbs. over the last 3 years.

I started this lifestyle change (for real this time) yesterday, July 16th and weighed 283 lbs. I want to lose the 65 lbs. and get down to just under 220 lbs. I'm 6'2" and have a large frame, so I think this is a realistic goal. I wanna get there by Feb. 1, 2006, which works out to just about 2.25 lbs. per week.

My plan for accomplishing this is to eat sensibly, cut out junk foods, join the gym for cardio and weights, and walk 3-4 times a week. I have an addictive personality and when it comes to bingeing...I can't stop once I start. I know some plans say to have what you want, even junk or sweets occassionally in moderation, but for me, there is no moderation, at least not now. So I need to be strict with myself to stay on track. I am also reading Dr. Phil's book and plan on using that as a guideline.

For support...I am counting on you all! I will try my best to be here daily and be supportive of you all too. Together, we can do it! ;)
 
Lol 7 kids have you got any hair left. Good luck with your food plan, I hope to hear of those shedded pounds soon.
 
I weighed in today and was pleased that I dropped 4 lbs. from 283 to 279. I think its a bit dubious however. I mean how the heck could I lose 4 lbs. over like 4 days? I certainly haven't been starving myself. Anyway, it feels good.

Hotter than Hades here the past few days...do we lose weight when it is so hot you sweat just sitting down?? :)
 
Welcome Dan :) 4 lbs is great! sometimes when we start eating right it kinda shocks your body lol and you loose weight a little quicker at first (some say water weight but what ever weight is weight ;) ) You seem to have a good plan set up, and its very realistic. im sure youll reach your goals :)
 
Thanks Smiley, I like that thing about "weight is weight". Yeah, I'll take the 4lbs. and won't complain.

Had a good day today. My boys are both playing in a Little League All Star tournament. Today was the 1st game I attended since getting started on "my plan", and it was kinda tough to pass on the $1.00 hot dogs with all the fixin's. :) But, I was a good boy and brought a tupperware full of low fat stir fried veggies with salmon and brown rice...it was awesome and I felt good about myself. (Not to mention I didn't walk around with mustard stains on my shirt, an unfortunate by-product of when I eat hot dogs.)

Got out and walked today too, a nice long one, taken in the AM before the heat/humidity got too bad.
 
Hey good for you Dan! :) planning ahead and bringing food im impressed way to go! :D your off to a great start :)

(although im not a big fan of hotdogs theres something about the ones they sell at the game that make em hard to pass up lol i know ive had a hard time before:p )
 
Welcome Dan! I'm glad to see you're ready to make a change and good luck with it! :) As Smiley said, you sound like you're really ready and have a good plan. I'm sure you'll meet your goals.

Yep even for us non hot dog lovers, those dogs are hard to pass up!!! :)
 
Hey Dan..Your not too far from me...Im in NH...the lakes region. Welcome aboard... 7 kids! I think someone needs to save you my friend! LOL yikes! God bless you man!
I have 2 boys and w/ all seriousness I love em bunches...dont know who i was w/ out them...maybe saner and I know thinner but hell..I probably was bored at times! Not now!
Im at 251 and strugglin a bit to get motivated again...was at 279 at my highest and Ive really achieved alot..but have so far to go...I want to be 180 by next year at this time which I think is very reasonable.
Good luck! Cant wait to read your posts
 
stoptheexcuses said:
...but have so far to go...
Click to expand...


I know, sometimes it is so hard to look ahead. I guess that's where the saying "One day at a time" came from. I figure each day is just a day. If I made it through today, I can make it through another day, and they add up, right? Keep up the good work!! :)
 
Ok, back again. I suppose I am doing ok although I had a major slip on Friday. My wife seems to think it's ok to buy tons of junk food and stock the shelves...and I had a weak moment. I'm not blaming anyone but myself, but I think it would be easier without the temptation. I'm just glad that I got right back on track the next day and am doing OK now.

Exercise seems to be a bit lacking. I live in a nice rural area where long country walks are a definate possibility, but so far it has only happened a couple times. I start a new job on Monday, and one of the benefits is a membership to a health club. I really want to get that going so I can focus more on weight training and cardio.

So I haven't written much lately, but I do read your posts gang. I gather a lot of support there. I am looking forward to weighing in on Monday. Good luck to everyone! :)
 
Welcome Dan!
Congrats on the 4 lbs. My first week was last week & I lost 3.2....dubious??YES, but, it sure feels good!

Keep up the good work & post your success. We can all help keep each other on track. Rosered & Smiley have been super supportive to me!

:D
Michelle
 
Hey Dan...i had a little slip this weekend too :rolleyes: ...the stuff was in the house and well i just could resist it...damn stuff was calling my name lol
have you tried asking your wife maybe not to get the stuff that gives you a hard time(resisting it lol)mine chips!!!and some sweets lol if they werent here i sure wouldnt eat them!!! :p
Good for you getting right back on track! thats awesome...and the membership to the gym, gosh you lucky man, thats an excellent chance for you to get the cardio and weights going on a regular basis :) cant wait to see your progress!!! :) good work Dan!! your doing great :)




;) thanks Michelle :)
 
Thanks Smiley, Vanity, everyone for the support!! I really need it sometimes. I was happy to see another pound gone when I weighed in today, so things are going good despite the slip.

I started the new job today and it was awesome! We stay busy, so little chance to be tempted to snack inappropriately. Hopefully I'll get that gym membership going this week too.

Ya'll keep up the good work and thanks again for your kind words. Together we can do it!! Yeah! :)
 
You are soo right..I also get the "patience is a virtue" sent my way & I try to remind myself that it took 34 years to get to where im at now..its not going to change overnight. Good for you & congrats on the lbs lost! That is the main motivator I know! Its nice when people start noticing...that makes you feel great too. I know for me its keeping up w/ my kids....I dont want my boys embarrassed by their fat mother ...I want them saying..."mom, slow down and wait for us " Now thats what motivates me.
Keep up the great work Dan!
 
Hey glad you like the new job!!!it feels good when your doing something you like :) big congrats on the lb!!!way to go Dan thats awesome! :) :D
 
I had a good day again yesterday. Ok, that's a bit scary...a couple good days in a row. :) The week is flying by, and lots of good stuff to look forward to this weekend. My folks have just made it back to VT from Arizona and are here for a month or so. We will get together with my kids for a minor league ballgame on Friday night, then at our house for a family barbeque on Sunday. (I love summer.)

Basically I've been too busy at work to pig out, so that aspect is going well. I still haven't gotten to the workouts yet. I am going to get my dumbell set back this week so I can at least do some lifting here. My job is physical too, so that helps.

Keep up the good work everyone!
 
I haven't written in a few days, but things have been going well. I weighed in this morning and was pleased to find that I'd dropped another 4 lbs, for a so-far total of 9. :)

Had a family Bar B Que this weekend and did well, hitting the grilled chicken and fresh veggies and staying away from the hot dogs and macaroni salad. (OK, I HAD to have a piece of my Dad's blueberry/rhubarb pie).

Hope you all are doing well. I apologize that I haven't been posting to your diaries, but my new job keeps me hopping and I just haven't had a lot of time to be online. I'll catch up!
 
Woo hoo Dan that’s another wonderful loss, congratulations. It sounds like you are making all the right choices with your food plan. I hope you have another wonderful week.
 
Another 4 lbs!!!!thats awesome :) you made some great choices at the party too..your doing great!!!! :D
 
I'm back again. I wish I could find the time (ambition?) to write in this journal more often. Things are going good still. I've been at this long enough now that I feel I'm no longer wishy-washy about it...that I am on a course and I will see it through. My weight loss stays consistent, at least as far as losing some every week goes. Another 2 lbs. this week. I'm at 272 now, down from 283 just a few short weeks ago. I've danced between the 280s and the 270s so much, that crossing from 280 to 279 wasn't such a big deal. But I haven't been into the 260s in a long time, so that seems like a psychological barrier for me. If I continue on the path I've been on, I should cross it by next Monday's weigh-in. I will join the health club this week and begin making a concious effort at exercise. A little free-weights, some aerobics, etc. It can be kinda like a snowball. The more I lose, the better I feel, the more I feel like exercising and eating right, which leads to more weight loss. :)

Keep up the good work all!
 
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