The Oliveloaf Diet Accountability Thread.

[Oliveloaf]

So, last week Sunday I started a diet. This was on my birthday as a gift to myself.

For the record, I have always been a big guy, but for the past 10 years, I've been too big. I was once fairly athletic, but being overweight, I wildly overtaxed by back, knees, and feet.

It's been rough. I work out often, but not quite enough. Getting to the health club during the week is a hassle as I tend to work 10-hour days.

An way...as I said, I started a diet last week. I want, and pretty much need this to work.

No gimmicks this time, just simple calorie control.

To help, I downloaded a diet-tracking app that seems to keep me in check.

If anyone would like to diet with me, please do.

I plan to lose...ugh, 120 pounds. Or, roughly one Sarahfeena.

[Oliveloaf]

Week one: Really? This stupid app only show my entries on a chart, with no numbers? Dumb.

Looks like I lost 4 pounds. I'll take it.

[OneCentStamp]

I guess I always picture you in my head looking like a prime James Garner, so I'm taken aback when you say you want to lose 120 pounds.

Good luck! I'll definitely bump this thread to check in on you.

[Oliveloaf]

I guess I always picture you in my head looking like a prime James Garner, so I'm taken aback when you say you want to lose 120 pounds.

Good luck! I'll definitely bump this thread to check in on you.

Looking like Jim is my goal. Once I've lost the pounds, perhaps I can take a course and learn to drive like him.

[What Exit?]

I'll join you, I started Tuesday as I needed the Superbowl to be over and I had Monday off. Today was one bowl of cereal for breakfast a big salad with only a teaspoon of dressing for lunch and snacking on sourdough pretzels. (Fat free). I have been using air popped popcorn and rice cakes/popcorn cakes for snacks and carrots of course. I never get to the gym and no honestly try but I am trying to bring up my activity level from very little to something at least. I balloon up over 250 and I am only 5'8". So way too fat. I was running around 235 until I threw out my back in September. That really sabotaged me with the Holidays looming.

So now I will set a series of goals. Goal #1 is just to get under 240. Goal 2 should be easy, the first 10% or 25.5 pounds lost. Then the tough goal, to get all the way back under 200 again which is also basically 20%. I was there a few years back. I think it was 2007. My knees will really thank me for this.

I'll weigh in tomorrow and see how I did. My benchmark is 254.5 as of Tuesday.

[Oliveloaf]

I'll join you, I started Tuesday as I needed the Superbowl to be over and I had Monday off. Today was one bowl of cereal for breakfast a big salad with only a teaspoon of dressing for lunch and snacking on sourdough pretzels. (Fat free). I have been using air popped popcorn and rice cakes/popcorn cakes for snacks and carrots of course. I never get to the gym and no honestly try but I am trying to bring up my activity level from very little to something at least. I balloon up over 250 and I am only 5'8". So way too fat. I was running around 235 until I threw out my back in September. That really sabotaged me with the Holidays looming.

So now I will set a series of goals. Goal #1 is just to get under 240. Goal 2 should be easy, the first 10% or 25.5 pounds lost. Then the tough goal, to get all the way back under 200 again which is also basically 20%. I was there a few years back. I think it was 2007. My knees will really thank me for this.

I'll weigh in tomorrow and see how I did. My benchmark is 254.5 as of Tuesday.

Good luck, sir. Let's improve our lives.

[What Exit?]

Good luck to you too.

I need to lose enough to have the energy to exercise more. I did take a 40 minute walk Monday but at this time of year it is tough to get out there. Today is miserable so I did some odd cleaning jobs that involved scrubbing ceiling in a bathroom and the wall border and etc and then I went to my workshop to rebuild my lathe. Now I just need to learn how to properly use the lathe.

[Oliveloaf]

All right, if you fessed up, I will to. I broke 420 pounds last year.

I must get back to 300. I realize 300 sounds crazy, but I am healthiest at that weight. I am 6' 1" and basically linebacker shaped
when in good condition. And on that note...I am off to the gym.

[Sarahfeena]

I'll jump in here and say that Oliveloaf really is a very large man in general...300 just seems stocky on him. But yeah, good luck old friend. I want you to be around for a long, long time.

[Oliveloaf]

Thanks, Coach.

[What Exit?]

Well it isn't much but 253 today. At least it is a start.

[Oliveloaf]

Well it isn't much but 253 today. At least it is a start.

411 this morning. We work from here.

Boogie time.

[Myglaren]

I too always see you (oliveloaf) as being James Garner.
This pounds business is meaningless to me though.
I suppose the same is true of Kilos and Stones to you though.

I weigh about 14 stone, around 2 too many
Bugger diets though - unless it is a Mars Bar and Chocolate Biscuit diet
Likewise with exercise - I get quite enough at work, avoiding doing anything.

[Zuul]

I never replaced my scale after the house fire, so I have no idea how much I weigh these days. Judging by how the pants fit that I just bought, I've been holding steady at about the same size over the past four years or so. Not bad, but I know I can be thinner and I'd like to be in better shape.

Inspired by HongKongFooey over on GB, I've decided to try fasting. No, no, no, not in a creepy anorexic way. Just as a simple way to reduce calories. It's easier for me to do than to try eating small meals. I don't know if it's a blood sugar thing or what, but once I start eating I'll feel lightheaded and sick if I don't keep eating. But one day a week without food? I feel great.

[RabbitMage]

I have that same problem in the mornings, Zuul. If I just don't eat I'm usually okay without lunch. If I eat a breakfast, no matter how big or small, I'm ravenous by lunch. I think it might have to do with that whole metabolism thing. If you feed your body it thinks "Oh hey great, I can have food". If you don't it thinks "oh there's no food". Or something.

I too am trying to lose weight. I've dropped about 10 pounds since Christmas, but at my last weigh-in I gained two back. I can also tell I've gained some muscle though, so I'm okay with that.

[RabbitMage]

I have that same problem in the mornings, Zuul. If I just don't eat I'm usually okay without lunch. If I eat a breakfast, no matter how big or small, I'm ravenous by lunch. I think it might have to do with that whole metabolism thing. If you feed your body it thinks "Oh hey great, I can have food". If you don't it thinks "oh there's no food". Or something.

I too am trying to lose weight. I've dropped about 10 pounds since Christmas, but at my last weigh-in I gained two back. I can also tell I've gained some muscle though, so I'm okay with that.

[What Exit?]

I too always see you (oliveloaf) as being James Garner.
This pounds business is meaningless to me though.
I suppose the same is true of Kilos and Stones to you though.

I weigh about 14 stone, around 2 too many
Bugger diets though - unless it is a Mars Bar and Chocolate Biscuit diet
Likewise with exercise - I get quite enough at work, avoiding doing anything.

Kilos are easy enough though stones requires a lookup for me.

Having looked it up, my major goal is 14 stone it appears.

I actually had no clue stones were still in use. For Kilos, I quickly just multiply 2.2 and it is close enough for most things.

[The Original An Gadaí]

I don't want to tell y'all what I weigh. I'm not far off Loafy's weight although I'm 6 foot 4.

[Oliveloaf]

I kinda blew it today.

I ate too much for breakfast and now only have 650 calories left for dinner.

Bugger.

(Worth noting, the Pesto Cavatappi at Noodles & Company...910 freaking calories! Damn. Should have checked before ordering. Going to be a long night.)

[What Exit?]

I'm not calorie counting but so far I have done pretty well today. A very light lunch and actually a pretty light breakfast. I just had my diet root beer float. A low cal fudgsical in diet root beer. Surprisingly tasty. This might be a tough week though, I just lost an old friend. He died over the weekend. My way of dealing with stress is to eat. On the other had I took a walk this afternoon when I got the news as I had to get out of the office for a bit and collect myself.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Sorry to hear about your loss there Jim.

[What Exit?]

Thanks AG. Funeral is Friday.

[artifex]

When I was doing WW and was running low on points for the day, it was all about 95% fat free popcorn. Another favorite, take some frozen corn, and heat it up with a lot of salsa mixed in. Pickles and hot salsa (not together, unless that floats your boat...) are things that, I don't know, give my palate something to pay attention to, without being calorie-laden.

I am not advocating the use of medications for purposes for which they are not intended, but pseudoephedrine is not a terrible appetite suppressant.

[Sarahfeena]

I'm not calorie counting but so far I have done pretty well today. A very light lunch and actually a pretty light breakfast. I just had my diet root beer float. A low cal fudgsical in diet root beer. Surprisingly tasty. This might be a tough week though, I just lost an old friend. He died over the weekend. My way of dealing with stress is to eat. On the other had I took a walk this afternoon when I got the news as I had to get out of the office for a bit and collect myself.

This happened to me recently, an old friend died unexpectedly. Hit me hard...so sorry you're going through it, as well.

[Zuul]

I am not advocating the use of medications for purposes for which they are not intended, but pseudoephedrine is not a terrible appetite suppressant.

I've got MVP, so any sort of stimulant generally doesn't do me any good, alas.

On the other hand, cutting out all soft drinks and delicious, sugary coffee drinks is good for me.

[Orual]

Inspired by HongKongFooey over on GB, I've decided to try fasting. No, no, no, not in a creepy anorexic way. Just as a simple way to reduce calories. It's easier for me to do than to try eating small meals. I don't know if it's a blood sugar thing or what, but once I start eating I'll feel lightheaded and sick if I don't keep eating. But one day a week without food? I feel great.

I think I might like to try that method too - if I don't eat breakfast I don't really get hungry. And it seems like it might be easier for me than constant calorie counting, which always makes me feel all neurotic and OCD.

I have a magical ability to gain 10-15 pounds without noticing, even though you'd think my pants would stop fitting. So now I have to lost the 12 pounds I just lost last year again.

[Zuul]

I think I might like to try that method too - if I don't eat breakfast I don't really get hungry. And it seems like it might be easier for me than constant calorie counting, which always makes me feel all neurotic and OCD.

Yeah, I'm very much the same way. The problem with any sort of "diet" for me is that I end up thinking about food constantly to keep track of it and thinking about food constantly is taxing on my willpower and exaggerates every little twinge of hunger. A fast once a week is much easier because all of that willpower is just set on one day, when I don't really have to think about food because I'm not having any. I've only done one fast day so far, but it was easy and I felt fine, instead of constantly starving and obsessing.

[Oliveloaf]

I'm not calorie counting but so far I have done pretty well today. A very light lunch and actually a pretty light breakfast. I just had my diet root beer float. A low cal fudgsical in diet root beer. Surprisingly tasty. This might be a tough week though, I just lost an old friend. He died over the weekend. My way of dealing with stress is to eat. On the other had I took a walk this afternoon when I got the news as I had to get out of the office for a bit and collect myself.

Sorry to hear this.

[RabbitMage]

I was up over 240 last year (but I don't remember by how much). Today I'm 232.

How's everyone else doing?

[Orual]

I am at 178, which is my upper-limit, OK-this-nonsense-must-stop number. My goal is 160, so I can at least be within spitting distance of the "normal" category on the BMI chart.

[OneCentStamp]

In a Mello thread two years back, I shared this account of my own weight loss travail.

In the two years since, I've come back up to 240 and stabilized there, while eating and drinking pretty much what I please. Unless my metabolism does something funky when I hit 40, and my weight skyrockets, this is probably just what I'll weigh.

[Oliveloaf]

I will weigh in tomorrow.

[CatInASuit]

Hmm, just checked my weight at a touch under 200, which is fine if not a little overweight.

I'd like to get back down to my happy weight of 170-180.

[RabbitMage]

My current goal is to get under 200. When I started high school I weighed around 180 and while I was still fat I felt so, SO much better.

Edit: I have just been informed we are going to Red Robin tonight. Damn you bottomless steak fries!

[What Exit?]

This morning I hit 250.5 so fair progress over 10 days. I had a light breakfast & lunch and no snacking but I ate a heavy late meal following the funeral and am currently drinking down a Bass Ale. So, I'll see what tomorrow brings. One last note on my friend, he was 65 and the turnout was very large. Everyone had fond memories of this wonderful person. He had in his youth fought for civil rights and then in the 70s embraced the Environmental movement. He gave 35 years to it at least. He was a great story teller, a rabble-rouser and a great friend to have.

[The Original An Gadaí]

I'm hoping to check my weight today but I'm almost certain I've lost a few lbs over the last few weeks.

[Oliveloaf]

Check in number one:

Current Weight: 411.0
Loss since beginning diet: 9 pounds.
Loss this week: About 2 pounds.

[OneCentStamp]

Good going, Oliveloaf! How do you feel about things so far?

[Sarahfeena]

Keep going, Olive, you can do it.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Go for it Olive.

You can get Olive it off if you try.

[Oliveloaf]

Good going, Oliveloaf! How do you feel about things so far?

Pretty good. I had a couple of long days (up early, in bed late) and that can mess up a low-calorie diet because you really want a fourth meal in there somewhere.

But...I am staying under 2600 a day...usually seems rather easy. Keeping track of my eating has proven surprisingly useful.

[What Exit?]

Check in number one:

Current Weight: 411.0
Loss since beginning diet: 9 pounds.
Loss this week: About 2 pounds.

Excellent start. I was 251 this morning. This was after walking around NYC yesterday (maybe 4 miles in all) but having a cannoli which is anything but diet friendly. So I lost 4.5 pounds so far.

I just had a big salad to help fill me up before dinner. Just a little dressing and a dab of BBQ sauce for a little tang.

[Oliveloaf]

Excellent.

I had nothing but salad for lunch to make space for pizza tonight.

[OneCentStamp]

How's it going, Oliveloaf? Is it easier or harder to watch what you eat during the work week?

[Oliveloaf]

How's it going, Oliveloaf? Is it easier or harder to watch what you eat during the work week?

During the week, the busier I am--meetings, travel--the easier it is, as I don't really have time to think about food.

Days when I am busy, but just cranking away alone in my office are more difficult.

Last Saturday I was up very early to do a radio thing down at the Chicago Auto Show. This really messed me up as I ate breakfast at 6:00, and lunch around 11:00, leaving me stupid hungry around 5:00...and I would be up 'till about midnight.

But overall, seems the structure of a work day makes things a little easier. It's at home where I have the potential to break bad.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Good sign, shirt that I bought at christmas that didn't fit then now fits me.

[What Exit?]

I've stalled, I need to increase my exercise though.

[What Exit?]

Still stalled but at least I am not gaining. I was hoping to under 250 by now. I am at 251 this morning.

[Orual]

I skipped my weigh-in last week, but today I am at 176.8.

I can do better.

[What Exit?]

I just took a 3.8 mile ride on my bike and it wiped me out. Also my ears got really cold.

Hopefully next time I can do the 3.8 without being wiped out and then start increasing the distance.