So since April or May, i've been in a weight loss journey. I am anemic and my hematologist wanted me to get an endoscopy. I got one and they found out that I have a hiatal hernia which basically means that my stomach and diaphragm are out of alignment and it was causing bleeding ulcers in my esophagus. I met with a surgeon and he said that i had to lose 15 pounds for him to do the surgery. I did, but I kept going. I had the surgery 3 weeks ago. Here's the best part, my wife made me a deal that if i get to my goal weight, she will get me the batman cosplay I want since my green arrow cosplay wont fit anymore. I started the year at 200 pounds, and as of this morning i am at 172 pounds. 2 pounds away from my goal, but I honestly think I am going to try for another 5 after that. So next year for NYCC i will be batman and i've been practicing my Kevin Conroy voice

 

What a great & inspirational story.

Are you able to share your practical tips on shedding body weight? I've been on a weight loss journey this year too, but only managed to gain a bit of weight.

 

Well done! Consistency is key, as you're finding out.

(context, I lost 130lb about ten yeas ago - went from 330lb to 200lb, now currently at about 210lb but I lift weights for fun and have visible abs so I submit that the classic excuse of 'its muscle weight' applies)

Whatever you're going to change it can't just be for a month or two. If you want to see results, you've got to slowly change stuff over time and incorporate it into your every day routine. The other part of this is not trying to do too much at once. That can be overwhelming.

For me it began with half an hour on a dusty exercise bike in my parents garage every day.

Then after a month or two I began to reign in portion size.

Then a while after that I began to 'informally' cut sugar (ie I wouldn't eat sweets or use sugary salad dressings, but I wasn't hawkishly watching for sugar content in like, water crackers).

After about a year I started using MyFitnessPal most days to get a better understanding of the amount of calories in the food I was eating.

Mentally creating a routine takes 3 weeks - 3 months. Once you're over that hump it becomes stranger to your mind not to do whatever it is that you're doing. Keep at it for the early stages and everything else falls into place thereafter.

 

I didn't realize you were on a "battle"   (I envisioned you as a skinny guy due to what I perceived was the job  )
In any event, losing/gaining weight is easy and it starts with the choice. Then it's the kitchen, ie, your eating habits.
Then yada yada...do we have a diet post? I guess we should have one?  

I'll start...cut out sugar. Sugar is carbs...carbs are sugar...not all carbs taste sweet. Avg Joe gets confused with the terms. Just the sheer act of trying to cut and reduce sugar brings you into the realm of a healthier lifestyle. Excess carbs are everywhere, and people over consume it.
Although I'm getting way old, I still am able to hold onto my muscles I built...from youth...perennial gym rat. And still able to impress some with my old man muscles  
I hope everyone starts and keeps their fit journey, make it a lifestyle and not just a quick fix that's temporary.

 

I try to get 5000-8000 steps in a day. I drink A LOT of water. I try to eat pretty clean. Almost everything i eat i cook myself. I allow myself one cheat day a week. But the last 9 pounds came off in the last 2 1/2 weeks because of my surgery that I am on a liquid diet. Without being regimented, it is hard for me to lose weight because I am bipolar and my most important medication both slows my metabolism and increases my appetite. But I dont let it bring me down. My wife hates me because she is gaining weight as I lose it

 

Getting enough sleep (8 hours per day) helps with weight-loss.

Too little sleep triggers a cortisol spike. This stress hormone signals your body to conserve energy to fuel your waking hours.

Plus the more tired you are due to poor sleep, the more likely you are to crave unhealthy foods/drinks. And end up feeling way too tired to go want to exercise. I definitely relate to this.

Within just 4 days of insufficient ZZZs, your body’s ability to process the insulin hormone needed to change sugar, starches, and other food into energy gets messed up.

For me, I have a terrible habit of wasting time staring at my phone during nighttime on my bed. I need to just get the phone away from me. I like to go to sleep with slow calm music playing in the background, at the lowest volume setting. The PS4 home music is my favorite.

Too much stress can also make it harder to lose weight. Every time you're stressed, your adrenal glands release adrenaline and cortisol, and as a result, glucose (your primary source of energy) is released into your bloodstream. Fight or Flight mode.

Cue the sugar cravings. Because sugar supplies your body with the quick energy it thinks it needs, it's often the first thing you reach for when you're stressed.

The downside to consuming so much sugar is that your body tends to store sugar, especially after stressful situations. This energy is stored mainly in the form of abdominal fat, which can be particularly hard to shed.

The cortisol also slows down your metabolism, making it difficult to lose weight.

 

I'm no beached blue whale. More a beached orca.

I was skinny kid growing up. Not because of vanity but rather dirt poor. Skipping meals was not uncommon. These days I'm a pen pusher (office job). It doesn't help my job is in the food industry. I taste every batch made the day before. Sometimes that means up to 50 samples across a range of products. I could 'taste' the sample & spit it out but I feel I don't truly do the sensory evaluation justice. The saving grace at the moment is I'm on a hybrid work arrangement so I'm in the office to sample the products only a few days a week.

Weather permitting each week I run/jog 50km & exercise bike approx 200km. Started home gym a few months ago plus ample exercising my backside sitting at my desk.

 

I just weighed myself and I hit the goal! 170 pounds. Down from 200 and at my heaviest I was 225. Now I have to maintain it for a week or two then I buy the batman costume. I deadicate the last 10 pounds to my surgeon and Kevin Conroy

 

@DocSeth81 wt...FUDGE...buying a Batman costume...after Halloween? That means costume time isn't just in October? That must be a fun life  

 

Congratulations on achieving your goal weight buddy. That's almost 25% reduction in body weight based on your heaviest.  

 

there are a few comic shows I plan to go to and a costume party at my temple

 

So not only did i hit the goal, i am 2 pounds ligher than the goal. As of today, i am 168. My doctor said because of my age (i am 41) it would be near impossible to hit 165. I am going to try to hit it just to spite him. BTW my doctor is amazing . I am teh lightest i've been since 2006

 

@DocSeth81 wah!!??? I take contention with what your doc said re: "it would be near impossible to hit 165"
As humans, we have to make effort to get fat...as we age we shrivel up. There may be times when we get fat, as our bodies ebb and flow...but it's inevitable we turn into raisins. I have to try and maintain weight for my job else I blow away in the wind  
The above statement is coming from a gym rat so don't hate me too much  

 

when my doctor told me that I was a lot less active than I am now. Also I am bipolar and my meds both increase appetite and decrease metabolism. That is why he made that statement

 

Another amazing achievement.
What's your height? It's ok if you don't want to disclose.

 

5 foot 6

 

Thanks. For some crazy unexplained reason, I thought you were much taller. Puts the weight in perspective. I'm of similar height, perhaps slightly shorter.

I'm hitting the reboot button tomorrow, after I smashed though a jumbo pizza & choc brownie today. It served 8.  

 

height shmeight my bros   I have 5'8" stamped on my DL and I'm taller than 99% of 5'9" guys, it's quite hilarious. My bro who is 5'11" is most ppl's 6'2"....height is a funny thing for us humans  

 

one time in college (before i was on meds and my metabolism was a lot hogher) i ate 100 mcnuggets. I was soooo sick for like 2 days.

So I am at 167 now. I think once I hit 165 i am going to take a respite from weight loss and see how i feel and my snoring/sleepwalking/sleep talking goes. When I had the surgery 5 weeks ago, they found a cyst the size of a twinkie and removed it. Since then i barely snore and since i am getting into a different level of sleep i'm not sleep walking or talking. I feel good, I look good but theres always another few pounds I can do. For my height, I should be between 140 and 150 i think. My waist is only 2 inches bigger than it was in high school. What does suck though is i got my wedding band when I was 190 or so and now I am 167 and it doesnt fit anymore so I have to bring it to a jeweler.

Here's a pic of me at my heaviest (

this is me a few days ago