Here are some hints how you can do it:
The good news is I lost 11 pounds in 2 Weeks without starving. After a great trip on the Alaska Highway I decided I needed to kick my health and weight loss back into full gear. So I took all that I learned over the past few years, I lost 50 pounds, then regained 20 of those pounds and basically yo-yo'ed gaining and losing the "same" 20 lbs several times.
Here's what happened:
I weighed in on day one and restarted my old habit of eating 6 small meals per day. A couple of protein shakes with fiber, low calorie protein bars, nuts, dates, oatmeal, and a low calorie evening meal from Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine, between 1200 -1500 calories per day. I drink more water because I believe when we think we are hungry we are actually thirsty. I try for eight 16 once glasses per day. We get all of the food from grocery stores or Costco.
I stay away from my wife Jeannie when she cooks or eats since she's a great chef and needs high calorie meals due to a fast metabolism, as well as her status as a cancer survivor. We do not have ice cream or cookies in the house right now. I take one day per week to go off this nutrition program and eat some of my favorite foods without regard to calories.
For exercise I use an elliptical machine for aerobics for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times per week. I do my physical therapist routine learned recently by doctors orders for stretching my back 3-4 times per week. I also try to golf 2-3 times a week. I am feeling better every day. My stamina is improving. My Rheumatologist has me on a new medication that has my body feeling better than it has for years.
So all is well and I am losing weight again with gusto. I realize it will slow to a 2-3 pounds per week pace, but I am getting closer daily to my ultimate goal of 199 having peaked at 280 pounds several years ago.
I still advocate a commercial weight loss nutrition program to help anyone who is new to losing serious weight. I used Take Shape For Life and loved it for months while losing 50 pounds. Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem have worked for some friends of mine.
I finally decided I could go it alone and became my own weight loss coach. by providing my own food. I admit it was a struggle for a year while we moved from Alaska to Idaho but once settled it was time to finish the course and head toward 199 again.
I'll keep you posted on my progress so hopefully it inspires others who need to lose weight. Besides it helps me to know I have friends I am reporting back too. Thanks so much for your encouragement.
