The Breaking Point. (My Journey)

[gripnrip]

At the present time my life is basically summed up by a song Garth Brooks sang on his first album.  "I'm Much Too Young To Feel This d**n Old" I am 37 years old and I weigh 272 pounds.  I have early stages of arthritis in my lower back and knees.  I know my weight is not helping me so I begin a weight loss and stretching regimen today.  

 

I reached out to the Elite angler, Brent Chapman, over facebook.  After reading his AOY journey, I caught that he had been dealing with pain in the years prior due to an Elite anglers schedule.  So I messaged him and graciously replied.  He sent me this link. http://www.in-fisherman.com/2012/11/14/egocuse-perret-and-me-an-update/ I will be doing this at a bare minimum, once a day.  I am also going to start eating better and lose some weight.  I just can't take this anymore.

 

I will be reporting back on here from time to time and giving my results.  Any encouragement or brow beating is appreciated.  

Thanks.

Darin 

 

 

 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I feel your pain, and I'm only 29. Gotta work to get it off. Ain't happen over night, aint coming off over night. Realizing its a problem is the first step. Gotta stay focused and make some REALISTIC goals. An example dropping 40 lbs in a month is not realistic. Dropping 20 or less is. Depending on how you go about it. Setting goals is paramount to hard work in changing your body. At least it is in my opinion.

If there is anything I can help you with nutrition or fitness wise let me know.

[slonezp]

I feel your pain. (Pun intended)

In an e-mail on Nov 8, Perret wrote: “My goal is not to actually help the healing of the broken wrist.  That will come with time.  The goal of the exercises is to keep the surrounding area from over compensating and creating future problems.  When a person gets hurt from an acute injury, they are often so focused on the actually injury the other areas are forgotten.

“Once the injury is healed, and it will heal, a person thinks that they are in the all clear.  But the compensation issues of the injury were never addressed, and that is what creates chronic pain, such as tendonitis in the elbow or neck pain and even TMJ.  As the injury heals, we can re-educate the compensations issues to prevent chronic pain.  Addressing those issues now is a lot easier than addressing them several years down the road.”

 

This is very true. I've been in physical therapy for almost a year from a work related injury. This included one surgery and I'm hoping to avoid a second. My current physical therapist, whom I have been seeing for a month, has done more for me than the number of therapist's I saw 8 months prior. He has me doing similar exercises mentioned in the article. Basically, he has told me that during an injury and the following therapy the larger muscles over compensate for the smaller less developed muscles causing the body to be out of alignment so to speak, resulting in the chronic pain. I have been developing the smaller muscles along with receiving epiderals and a nerve block, and possibly "burning" the nerve in the future. Blocking the nerve is supposed to stop the spasming allowing the muscles to redevelop. It's a long tedious process. I wish you the best.   

[gripnrip]

Thanks fellas.  I am not looking for overnight success.  I have learned to deal with the pain and discomfort by just putting my head down and plugging thru the day.  It has now escalated into affecting my family.  I have recently gotten ugly towards my wife and kids.  It is time to do something.  It isn't their fault I feel this way and my quality of life is just plainly starting to suck.  

 

Raider, I may hit you up on the nutritions side of this.  I suck at making good choices.  Another kick in the nuts I received this past week is a high school friend of mine wound up in the hospital with heart failure and 7 stints later he is out.  He d**n near died twice.  It is an eye opener for sure.  I'm not scared of death but I am sure my wife wouldn't want to raise the little one by herself due to my own stubbornness.

[derekxec]

you should lose fat not weight...if you lose the weight but you lose only muscle then its still no good...make sure to eat lots of fiber too it will keep hunger away longer...also eat about 12-16 servings of fruits and veggies a day but watch out cause you will have TONS of energy (vegetables are complex carbohydrates and thats what gives you the lasting energy) and after eating that much fruits and vegetables daily you really wont mind having a small piece of meat or so for dinner lol

 

also make sure you eat healthy because exercise without eating healthy wont help you lose fat...by the way i started eating healthy 6-8 months ago and im down 60lbs but i still have another 50lbs to go to make my 230lb goal

 

but really try the fruits and veggy thing you might not notice at first but after a few days youll notice you are not lazy to do anything at all haha

 

edit: oh and good luck!

[Marty]

I was overweight but didn't have the pain and arthritis that you do. But I decided that all the crap I was eating wasn't doing me any good health-wise, not to mention the overweight aspect. I decided to make a permanent change in my eating habits and to start exercising. The word "permanent" is emphasized because that's what you need to do, as opposed to going on a diet.

 

Over the course of six months I lost 55 pounds and have kept it off for 24 years. Do yourself and your family a big favor by committing to a healthier lifestyle. Your pain might ease, you may feel better and you definitely will reduce your chances of heart disease, diabetes and a host of other obesity-related ailments.

 

Good luck.

 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/obesity-epidemic-astronomical

[Highhawk1948]

Weigh Watchers works!  Congratulations on making a change in your life!

[flyfisher]

It isn't easy but anything is possible.  The thing that helped me out is not htinking of it as a diet at all.  It is just getting healthier.  I don't follow a diet plan but i stick to the basics.  I do my shopping in the perimeter of the grocery store.  This keeps away the majority of the processed high sodium foods which aren't healthy and make you retain water.

 

I go with as many vegetables and fruit servings as i want and all the lean protein i can handle.  Now i do work out so you may need to asjust your caloric intake if your primary goal is losing weight but high protein, low carb and high fruits and vegetables will get you on teh right path.

[gripnrip]

you should lose fat not weight...if you lose the weight but you lose only muscle then its still no good...make sure to eat lots of fiber too it will keep hunger away longer...also eat about 12-16 servings of fruits and veggies a day but watch out cause you will have TONS of energy (vegetables are complex carbohydrates and thats what gives you the lasting energy) and after eating that much fruits and vegetables daily you really wont mind having a small piece of meat or so for dinner lol

 

also make sure you eat healthy because exercise without eating healthy wont help you lose fat...by the way i started eating healthy 6-8 months ago and im down 60lbs but i still have another 50lbs to go to make my 230lb goal

 

but really try the fruits and veggy thing you might not notice at first but after a few days youll notice you are not lazy to do anything at all haha

 

edit: oh and good luck!

Yes yes I know all to well about not enough protein and eating good carbs.  I just have to simply change my lifestyle and make smarter choices.  I owe to my wife and children.

 

 

 

I was overweight but didn't have the pain and arthritis that you do. But I decided that all the crap I was eating wasn't doing me any good health-wise, not to mention the overweight aspect. I decided to make a permanent change in my eating habits and to start exercising. The word "permanent" is emphasized because that's what you need to do, as opposed to going on a diet.

 

Over the course of six months I lost 55 pounds and have kept it off for 24 years. Do yourself and your family a big favor by committing to a healthier lifestyle. Your pain might ease, you may feel better and you definitely will reduce your chances of heart disease, diabetes and a host of other obesity-related ailments.

 

Good luck.

 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/obesity-epidemic-astronomical

My mother and uncle have diabetes.  They were diagnosed later in life.  I do believe I can divert getting it myself.  I have talked to my MD about it and I have also been tested recently just to be safe. 

 

 

 

Weigh Watchers works!  Congratulations on making a change in your life!

Oh I know it works.  I lost a total of 30 pounds on WW before the holidays.  I then went back to my old eating habits.  I am at a breaking point now and I will be doing some form of WW.  I just can't justify the money per month at the present time.  To many medical bills at the time.  The wife has had to have some procedures done and all I can say is thank the good Lord for insurance!

 

 

 

It isn't easy but anything is possible.  The thing that helped me out is not htinking of it as a diet at all.  It is just getting healthier.  I don't follow a diet plan but i stick to the basics.  I do my shopping in the perimeter of the grocery store.  This keeps away the majority of the processed high sodium foods which aren't healthy and make you retain water.

 

I go with as many vegetables and fruit servings as i want and all the lean protein i can handle.  Now i do work out so you may need to asjust your caloric intake if your primary goal is losing weight but high protein, low carb and high fruits and vegetables will get you on teh right path.

Great tips flyfhisher.  Thanks.

[derekxec]

you owe it to yourself too man...both my parents families have a history of diabetes and heart disease so im trying like hell not to have the same lol

 

also when you go on a diet you have to go off a diet and that wont keep the fat away so it has to be lifestyle changes...just every time you look at your wife and kids think about how they would feel without you and im positive that it wont be hard to make the changes...and dont forget to stretch after if you lift weights so you wont get lactic acid 

 

i wish you the best of luck and a long healthy life for you, your wife and your kids 

[Marty]

 I am at a breaking point now and I will be doing some form of WW.  I just can't justify the money per month at the present time.

 

 

I know that WW is a good program because I have friends who are or have been on it. However, you don't have to spend money to lose weight if you have the will to do it. There are tons of free information on how to lose weight healthfully. All that's needed is the will to do it.

 

Good luck and best wishes that your wife's procedures go well.

[gripnrip]

I know that WW is a good program because I have friends who are or have been on it. However, you don't have to spend money to lose weight if you have the will to do it. There are tons of free information on how to lose weight healthfully. All that's needed is the will to do it.

 

Good luck and best wishes that your wife's procedures go well.

Yes sir I totally agree.  About 10 years ago I went thru a divorce.  I was around 292 then and dropped to 234.  That was in my late 20's and much easier to lose the weight.  I have gradually let myself go once again.  I just have the pain now and it is much harder to lose the weight. 

 

I played football in school.  I started in the 3rd grade and played all the way thru my senior year.  In 2005 I started playing recreation league hockey.  I have put my body thru hell and now I am paying for it.  I'll get thru this one way or another.  Rite now my difficulty lies in conditioning myself to eat smaller portions.  That is easier said than done! LOL  

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Yes sir I totally agree.  About 10 years ago I went thru a divorce.  I was around 292 then and dropped to 234.  That was in my late 20's and much easier to lose the weight.  I have gradually let myself go once again.  I just have the pain now and it is much harder to lose the weight. 

 

I played football in school.  I started in the 3rd grade and played all the way thru my senior year.  In 2005 I started playing recreation league hockey.  I have put my body thru hell and now I am paying for it.  I'll get thru this one way or another.  Rite now my difficulty lies in conditioning myself to eat smaller portions.  That is easier said than done! LOL

When you get ready to start lifting and or doing cardio, give me a shout. I can tailor you a program around your goals and any pain you have.

Some of the others may disagree, but supplements can and do make a world of difference in achieving these goals. Especially when you are in your thirties.

[Fish Chris]

Keeper, your taking the right step, in your decision to get fit.

I think you know about my whole fat to fit journey, right ? Anyway, diet and exercise. Burn more cals than you consume. (until you reach your long term goal, then you can maintain, or start cycling, whatever you want)

But as has already been mentioned, this has to be for life, to make differences that last for life.

 

Oh hey, one little thing, I think its safe to say, that like myself, you could, and have, hammered on some food, right  ? LOL Well hey, after having lost most of the fat, and putting on 45 lbs of muscle, I am not only able to eat.... but I should say "need" to eat 4000 cals a day just to break even. Furthermore > and you should really consider this heavily < Look at your carb intake. Your probably tripping over how dinky those serving sizes are, right ? For a big guy like us ? Are you freaking kidding me ? I don't know about you, but I'd never have enough will power and moderation for all that.....

 

Which is why I just completely cut out all bread, pasta, rice, and potatos (and dairy, but not saying you should.... if you can eat an 8 oz cup of ice cream.... a week ! LOL

 

And you should see the mountain of greens, along side my 16-20 ounces of chicken, pork tenderloin, or fish... occasionally red meat.... tons of fruits too, nuts, peanut butter, 10 jumbo egg whites every morning, silk soy milk, etc 

My point is, if you eat the right things, you can eat a lot......

 

So I have worked out a list of foods that are on my list of "Will eat" or "Won't eat". I don't eat out, ever. I make my rocket fuel breakfast And put together my daily intake, for my lunch box, at the same time, 365 days a year, whether I'm working, or playing. This is how I keep track of how much I'm eating. Can't eat it, if I didn't pack it

 

Oh hey ! Look into "macro balances". I try to keep mine pretty close to equal 1/3rds... or 33% lean protein, 33% healthy fats, 33% carbs (the less processed / less condensed, the better

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh Keeper, you mentioned pain from arthritis. I've had those exact same (horrendous) pains, but without any joint damage, due to {life altering} Fibromyalgia. I also had severe IBS for 20+ years. My Fibro is now in 95% remission, and my IBS, 100%

 

Best wishes,

Wish I could bottle up some of my OCD and send it to ya'

 

Fish

 

PS, This is a little larger than normal (16-20oz, more typical), but it's the general layout of my nightly dinner.... 24oz chicken breasts, 24 oz fresh green beans, 3/4 cup oatmeal (my only condensed carb) with silk soy milk, fresh strawberries and bananas, some Molina, and of course > some sucralose ! Whoo Hoo ! 

[SirSnookalot]

Diets don't work, lifestyle changes do.  Just about every weight reducing plan is based around balanced meals and exersize with slow steady weight loss.  It's one thing to be in the gym 5 times a week taking all kinds of supplements if you're planning on putting your body into competition, for all around general fitness I would not put anything in my body that may induce a side effect or not be compatible with a prescribed medication.  No question that obesity can lead to a host of other problems, but your own genetic make up can play an important role.  I haven't gained a pound in 40 years after losing some weight when I was about 25, ate right, stayed active and the weight peeled off, it was pretty easy beacuse I was young.  However I was predisposed for diabetes which surfaced about 3 years, my weight dropped from 140# to 115#, I was a sick puppy.  After being on medication, which is a constant balancing act for me, my weight is back up to 135#, I improved my already good diet to and I'd cut off an arm for a bag of potato chips and a bottle of coke, lol.  My cholesterol dropped from 247 to 118 and holding steady, resting pulse is 70 and bp is 110/68, that varies of course.  Being almost 68 I know something is out there to get me, it's not if but when.

[derekxec]

if you drink a lot of sodas you could switch them out for water and probably drop some fat easily without changing anything else

 

also make small changes and space them out....cause if you make a lot of changes at one time you will be unhappy

 

i noticed you have a boat in your picture also...start land fishing some too haha will get you more exercise without noticing it much

[Scorcher214]

I was 18 and weighed about 280 pounds and realized I needed to change, working out, more water, and generally eating less helped me a TON I now weigh about 170. 

 

I look back at when I was 280lbs and losing over 100lbs now has really changed my life. It's not easy, the reward is well worth the work. Start small at first, eat a little less and make healthier choices. Cut down on the soda that you drink or cut it out completely. You'll see results. Just don't make your goals ridiculous like raider. I'm not sure how bad your pain is, but if you can, lift weights. 

 

This is a picture of me a month ago and a picture of me at last years BR Roadtrip. 170lb(about 15%BF) and about 225lbs(35-40% BF). That's just 225lbs.....imagine 280lbs.....I'm overall just way more happier now.

 

Good luck to you man!

 

Also FIsh Chris......4000  just for maintenance.....HOLY SCHNIKES! Also, 

 

 

 

[Fish Chris]

I was 18 and weighed about 280 pounds and realized I needed to change, working out, more water, and generally eating less helped me a TON I now weigh about 170. 

 

I look back at when I was 280lbs and losing over 100lbs now has really changed my life. It's not easy, the reward is well worth the work. Start small at first, eat a little less and make healthier choices. Cut down on the soda that you drink or cut it out completely. You'll see results. Just don't make your goals ridiculous like raider. I'm not sure how bad your pain is, but if you can, lift weights. 

 

This is a picture of me a month ago and a picture of me at last years BR Roadtrip. 170lb(about 15%BF) and about 225lbs(35-40% BF). That's just 225lbs.....imagine 280lbs.....I'm overall just way more happier now.

 

Good luck to you man!

 

Also FIsh Chris......4000  just for maintenance.....HOLY SCHNIKES! Also, 

 

Scorcher, congrats on your big weight loss, too ! 

 

 I know 4000 cals sounds like a lot, but its actually a pretty big drop from the 6000-8000 cals, of pure garbage, that I ate every day, for most of my life, until 3 1/2 years ago And, I'm just guessing that the OP is the kind of guy that can (and prefers to)  hammer down some serious volume of food, just like I do !

So again, for me anyway, I'm better off just eating "mostly stuff" I can eat a lot of, vs. trying t o eat high density carb stuff, and trying to keep the portion size down to some "dinky" little amount that a pencil neck might prefer LOL

 

Peace,

Fish

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I was 18 and weighed about 280 pounds and realized I needed to change, working out, more water, and generally eating less helped me a TON I now weigh about 170. 

 

I look back at when I was 280lbs and losing over 100lbs now has really changed my life. It's not easy, the reward is well worth the work. Start small at first, eat a little less and make healthier choices. Cut down on the soda that you drink or cut it out completely. You'll see results. Just don't make your goals ridiculous like raider. I'm not sure how bad your pain is, but if you can, lift weights. 

 

This is a picture of me a month ago and a picture of me at last years BR Roadtrip. 170lb(about 15%BF) and about 225lbs(35-40% BF). That's just 225lbs.....imagine 280lbs.....I'm overall just way more happier now.

 

Good luck to you man!

 

Also FIsh Chris......4000  just for maintenance.....HOLY SCHNIKES! Also,

Ain't nothing ridiculous about my goals.

I slam the weights twice a day. By God I'm gonna look like a massive beast when its all said and done in a few months. I'm just different in my weight training then a lot of y'all. I'm of the weight lifting school, that if you ain't puking during plyo and cardio you ain't working out hard enough. Gotta train insane baby! You heard of the beast of the east? Well I'm the beast of the South!!!

[gripnrip]

When you get ready to start lifting and or doing cardio, give me a shout. I can tailor you a program around your goals and any pain you have.

Some of the others may disagree, but supplements can and do make a world of difference in achieving these goals. Especially when you are in your thirties.

Shoot me a PM when you get the time.  My pain has been manageable with the stretching these past few days.  I can pretty much do anything.  I have stiffness in my lower back muscles.  I plan on taking it easy and I have some cyclobenzaprine I plan on taking this weekend to loosen things up. 

 

I love to lift free weights.  As you can see in my avatar I have pretty broad shoulders and a great frame for lifting. As far a supplements go, I would like to start off light on those and work my way into them.  Most of the cash is going to the frickin hospitals due to some of the stuff my wife had to take care of.

[gripnrip]

if you drink a lot of sodas you could switch them out for water and probably drop some fat easily without changing anything else

 

also make small changes and space them out....cause if you make a lot of changes at one time you will be unhappy

 

i noticed you have a boat in your picture also...start land fishing some too haha will get you more exercise without noticing it much

Yup baby steps.  I don't drink much soda.  I used to tho! I might have 3 a week maybe.  I'm more iced tea and water with a splash of sugar free Kool Aid!

 

I was 18 and weighed about 280 pounds and realized I needed to change, working out, more water, and generally eating less helped me a TON I now weigh about 170. 

 

I look back at when I was 280lbs and losing over 100lbs now has really changed my life. It's not easy, the reward is well worth the work. Start small at first, eat a little less and make healthier choices. Cut down on the soda that you drink or cut it out completely. You'll see results. Just don't make your goals ridiculous like raider. I'm not sure how bad your pain is, but if you can, lift weights. 

 

This is a picture of me a month ago and a picture of me at last years BR Roadtrip. 170lb(about 15%BF) and about 225lbs(35-40% BF). That's just 225lbs.....imagine 280lbs.....I'm overall just way more happier now.

 

Good luck to you man!

 

Also FIsh Chris......4000  just for maintenance.....HOLY SCHNIKES! Also, 

Good for you man! I plan on taking my life back.  I refuse to settle with how I am feeling. 

[gripnrip]

Scorcher, congrats on your big weight loss, too ! 

 

 I know 4000 cals sounds like a lot, but its actually a pretty big drop from the 6000-8000 cals, of pure garbage, that I ate every day, for most of my life, until 3 1/2 years ago And, I'm just guessing that the OP is the kind of guy that can (and prefers to)  hammer down some serious volume of food, just like I do !

So again, for me anyway, I'm better off just eating "mostly stuff" I can eat a lot of, vs. trying t o eat high density carb stuff, and trying to keep the portion size down to some "dinky" little amount that a pencil neck might prefer LOL

 

Peace,

Fish

Oh lordy does that nail it!  LOL  I love food.  My mom used to do a lot of catering.  It was chicken, steak, sliced brisket, and what ever else you can think of.  Along with taters! All the time. I was told I would throw fits when I didn't get my taters with my meals! Those are great tips in your other post.  I just have to find some veggies I can tolerate.  I have never liked many vegetables.  Fruits I can hang with!

[Marty]

When I started changing my eating habits almost 25 years ago, carbohydrates wasn't a dirty word. Based on nutritional information available back then I decided to eat a low-fat, high-carb diet, with dinner having 4 oz. of protein and the bulk being carbs, like rice, pasta or potatoes. Carbs are considered bad now by many, but it worked for me.

 

Not that I'm recommending this, but I discovered that I can binge from time without any effect on my weight as long as I stick to my general eating plan on a day-in, day-out basis. I generally pig out (due to lack of will power) and picnics and other gatherings where there's food and I've been able to get away with it.

[Scorcher214]

Ain't nothing ridiculous about my goals.

I slam the weights twice a day. By God I'm gonna look like a massive beast when its all said and done in a few months. I'm just different in my weight training then a lot of y'all. I'm of the weight lifting school, that if you ain't puking during plyo and cardio you ain't working out hard enough. Gotta train insane baby! You heard of the beast of the east? Well I'm the beast of the South!!!

NO i didnt mean to say it like that, i meant to say "like raider said" because you touched on it in your first post. When I would put a goal in my head of...."I wanna lose 100lbs" I'd fall off the wagon awfully fast.

[gripnrip]

Well the baby steps are helping. When I drag my fat carcass out of bed I do at least 5 stretches. The static back relieves a bunch of the pressure in my lower back. I haven't weighed but I've noticed more room in my T-shirt's. Starting back to the gym this weekend.