C-Brats biggest loser

I could win this thing walking away IF I'm not disqualified. To explain: A few years ago, after retirement, quitting smoking, and developing a THING for ice cream, I reached 286, this at 6'0". I lost, regained, and lost, barely holding at 235-240 by early last year.
Then I got lymphoma, a cancer --maybe even from years of overweight and crummy diet. As three GP doctors spent some six weeks taking five wild guesses at what was wrong, I could eat absolutely nothing and lost down to 193.
Treatment is ending, apparently sucessfully, and I refuse to eat ice cream ever again, so after six months am still holding at 195, plus or minus two pounds. I'm pleased, as rough a way to lose as it was. I won even if I don't win. Thanks.
 
Good job Brent.

Barefoot - I have to admit your post stopped me in my tracks - I'm not sure whether I should be sorry or happy for you or both. I'm glad to hear that you lost a ton of weight but I wouldn't wish the method on my worst enemy. You stay as healthy as you can going forward.

The "contest" is designed to rewards those who lose weight AFTER signing up as opposed to those who have already lost it. However, if you show up at the next Seattle Boat Show or any other gathering in the Pacific NW, I'll make sure that you are rewarded for the wight loss.
 
Received this today and it seemed appropriate

Bill Uffelman
Las Vegas NV

[/url]http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-walt-babyboomers-blurb,0,1036393.blurb[/color]
 
Roger-

You can put me on the list at 236.7 lbs. (doctor's scale today).

I won't be able to lose much though, until I get a new hip in about a month and then recooperate. (sp.?)

Still looking forward to Neah Bay in August!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Patty here. Well, Roger, there are no women on the list as far as I can see. I don't believe there's a snowball's chance that any woman will reveal her starting weight---I know I won't!! So if that disqualifies me, so be it. But announcing in this forum that I'm gonna try the challenge may add some incentive for me. The best I can offer is "pounds lost."
 
ok now for the important stuff....will you A: get better fuel mileage for a lighter load in the boat or B: replace the lost weight with more boat stuff?


ryder
 
Seems we're always coming up with more boat stuff we think are must haves, so imagine that's the way it will turn out. Likely either a break even or overall gain in weight on the boat. "B"

Jay
 
Pat Anderson":36g9d9at said:
Patty here. Well, Roger, there are no women on the list as far as I can see.
Click to expand...
Very observant - I noticed that too.
Pat Anderson":36g9d9at said:

I don't believe there's a snowball's chance that any woman will reveal her starting weight---I know I won't!! So if that disqualifies me, so be it. But announcing in this forum that I'm gonna try the challenge may add some incentive for me. The best I can offer is "pounds lost."
Click to expand...

You've probably hit on the reason too. So, to encourage the female C-Brats amongst us to get on the weight loss band wagon, we'll establish a second category of prizes where pounds lost from the date you declare you're in the game is all that counts. Again we'll have a prize for most pounds lost and most lost per unit time. Since females won't have to state their weight or get on a scale, it will be "scouts honor" on the weight loss. However, to claim a prize, you will have to bring a before and after photo to the SBS gathering. Sound fair? I'll make the prize for the female winner a gift certificate for a 1 hr massage at Spa Nordstrom. That should make it worthwhile!
 
Also,

How about a roll call for current weights from the contestants who've posted previously? I've plateaued for awhile - I'm at 183 and haven't really been losing any weight for the past week and a half. I'm up to about 5.5 miles per day running and can do 4 miles in under 40 mins but the weight doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I know that if I stick at it, it will start to come off again though.
 
Roger --
A suggestion -- calculate the weight loss as a percentage from the starting weight. Its a lot easier to lose a pound if you weigh 250 pounds than if you weigh 150.
 
Roger, OK to keep PM'ing my weight once a week -- keeps the message count down for those not really interested? I too have plateaued, I think the body acclimates if the same muscles are always used during exercises, got to vary them.

Percent body weight loss, yes. :thup
 
Dora~Jean":2d6ip7k1 said:
Roger, OK to keep PM'ing my weight once a week -- keeps the message count down for those not really interested? I too have plateaued, I think the body acclimates if the same muscles are always used during exercises, got to vary them.

Percent body weight loss, yes. :thup
Click to expand...

I was thinking a once every 2-weeks post here in the thread might be better. That way everyone can see where everyone is at and perhaps get better motivated to work at it. PM's are fine if that's what you prefer but group psychology is sometimes a useful motivator (at least for me). I'm pretty competitive - one of my major pleasures at the fitness center is to count how many younger people get on the treadmill after me and off before me. Sometimes I'll run an extra 10-15 minutes just to outlast someone. Of course, they have no clue that they became my motivator for the day but deep inside, I'm saying "wimp" when the 20-something guy gets off the treadmill before I do! :twisted:

I'll create yet another set of awards for the percent body weight loss too. Both percent lost total and percent/unit time so the late entrants have a chance. Since I seem to make up a new rule with every post - we'll make yet another one here. You can only win in one category. With the number of awards and categories and the current number of entrants, there's about an award per entrant!
 
Wow...I'm impressed with the competitive spirit.
I few words from a fitness fanatic might be helpful here. Since I'm fifty now and my wife is &* years old we can chime in with a bit of wisdom.

#1 make piece with the floor. Get down there and stretch stretch stretch. Put away your easy chair and get an excercist mat.

#2 Old runners don't anymore. They ride bicycles, walk and use machines. My favorite for a quick 200 cal twenty minutes...the elliptical trainer. It works arms also.

#3 and probably the hardest sell especially for you ladies. Weight does not matter size and proportion do! My wife is in better health at &* lbs as she was 20lbs less! Replacing less dense fat with more dense muscle allows you to change your metabolism. What you look like in the mirror is more important. Pant and dress size works well too. Look up BMI on the WEB for more.

#4 Eat at home. Cook your own food. Start a garden. Eat green...literally.

#5 Be sensible. You don't need drugs or cardboard food bought from a rip off artist.

#6 If you join a Gym make sure it's on your route to work. If not you won't use it.

#7 Everybody has a plateau...for women it seems to be after an 8lb loss. Stick with it. Don't be discouraged. Men appear to loose weight easier. Remember a gallon of water weighs 8lbs. If you tend to retain water apparent weight is gained. It's temporary.

#8 and most important. Change your life style. Don't be a yo yo.

#9 Avoid the reformed cigarette smoker's syndrome...just because you have set a goal the rest of the world needn't be nagged about your perception of their body.

#10 Don't deny yourself. Moderate! An occasional glass of wine or a sorbet isn't going to hurt. No guilt trips. If you blow it today you'll do better tomorrow.

Good luck to you all. Just think of all the extra gear you can bring on the next trip now that you won't take up so much space!

Here's to seeing less of you ;)
 
OK - this might be controversial, but maybe educational, too.

Hypothesis: Exercise is a lousy way to lose weight

OK - fitness guys, jump in.

Exercise is vital to good health. It's great for the cardiovascular system, and a pound of muscle is sure better for us (and our appearance) than a pound of fat. So, nothing against being fit -- quite the opposite, we're strong believers in the value of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

But -- not to lose weight -- unless you plan to walk the Appalachian Trail or run a marathon every week. Look at facts: (from Mayo Clinic)

"The prevailing belief that since a pound of fat (when burned) gives off 3,500 calories and since running or walking a mile burns 100 calories, a person should lose a pound for every 35 miles. In other words, if a previously inactive person starts running or walking five miles a day, that person should lose a pound a week, all other things being equal.

Not so because this estimate fails to subtract the number of calories that a person’s body would have used had it just sat still for those hours. Rather, for a 154-pound person, the net caloric cost would be 54 calories per mile when walking up to 3.5 miles per hour, 97 calories speed-walking at 3.5 to 5 m.p.h., and 107 calories jogging or running."

Here's a chart from Mayo:
Activity and speed -- Body weight 160 pounds 200 pounds 240 pounds

Jogging, 5 mph -Calories burned/hr 584 -------728-------872

Walking, 3.5 mph ----------------------- 277------- 346-------414

So, how does one lose weight? Reduce your caloric intake

When you come home after that one hour of jogging, feeling smug and self-righteous, and 'treat' yourself to a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast (slathered with butter and jam) you've just blown the weight benefit of the exercise. Have a Big Mac meal for lunch, and you'll be jogging all afternoon and into the night to equalize those calories.

The previous post has great ideas, and all we'd add is don't expect the exercise to do the trick for you. If you want to win Roger's contest, we'd suggest you also do the following (from Mayo Clinic):

1. Eat sensible food portions (portion control) Portion control is often underestimated. In fact, the trend toward larger food portions gets much of the blame for the growing number of overweight people.

2. Discourage overeating by placing only the appropriate servings of food on dinner plates (preferably no larger than 8 in. diameter), rather than put serving bowls on the table.

3. Don't eat second helpings.

4. When eating out, ask for a takeout container. Save part of the meal for another time.

5. Split a meal with your spouse or friend.

6. Don't feel as if you have to clean your plate.

These are lifestyle changes for most of us.

The myth (to make some folks rich) is that you must go 'on a diet' -- and how many diets are there? Studies have proven that folks who 'diet' to lose weight, relax after reaching their goal and then proceed to add 10% to their original weight. Go on a diet twice and see what that does to the average person's weight. Follow the ideas above, change your life style, and cut those calories and you'll lose weight.

So, Roger, we applaud your 'contest' but have another suggestion: Double the prize for who keeps off the most weight one year after the end of this year's contest.

We have been taking a nutrition/cooking class from South Denver Cardiology Center (my cardio doc is the cooking instructor!) and it is great to get the scientific take on weight loss. We're not entering Roger's contest because, since staying strictly with a (life-style change) heart healthy diet (and exercise) since last spring, we have (as a side benefit) lost almost 10% of our weight.

This discussion is about weight loss, but perhaps there could be another (if folks are interested) in healthy diet -- and weight loss would probably be a result.
 
Back
Top