Any ERs who've overdone it on diet & health?

[Oldbabe]

Originally Posted by Danny

There's a local guy had his story written up in the paper.
He weighed 500 and decided to do a Forest Gump with his bike and a new diet. It's an interesting story. He mentioned a book Eat To Live.
I just read it. It has inspired me to start eating a lot more vegs, fruit & nuts and cut back on the animals and processed foods I've been eating.

Yes, this is the way I'm trying to eat now. More vegetarian, egg whites, a cup of skim milk every day. But no meat.

Frugal, your achievement is inspiring! I'm curious, if you don't mind sharing, how are your cholesterol numbers, considering all the protein you eat?

[Caroline]

I don't know anyone who retired and became a triathelete with a BMI in the teens.

I do. My old manager and his wife do triathalons together and don't have an ounce of fat between them. We're going to get together with them in a couple of weeks to tour Alcatraz. We're taking the boat -- they're swimming over!

But seriously, I'll ask them what motivated them and report back on their reply.

[Linney]

Originally Posted by Oldbabe

Hi frugal,
Very cool! Would you mind sharing what sort of diet/exercise plan you used? Did you have to go hungry? I've been trying to lose weight forever but can't seem to get past the hungry stage.

Originally Posted by toofrugalformycat

I went hungry for much of my life and was overweight or obese to boot. Now I don't let myself get hungry because I know it causes my metabolism to slow down and then I gain weight.

Like toofrugal I don't let myself get hungry either. If I get more than a little hungry I start making bad eating choices. I eat the traditional 3 meals plus small snacks between each meal. For example breakfast will be a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with raisins and then mid-morning snack will be a banana or a 12 oz non-fat mocha. By lunchtime I'm a little hungry but not too hungry so I will eat a small lunch. etc.

If I get hungry before my next meal or snack time, it might be stress so I have a cup of tea instead. If I still think I'm hungry after having the tea, then I go ahead and have another healthy snack. But more often the feeling goes away with a cup of tea.

I also work out a lot to support my love of eating. I'd rather work out every day than live permanently on a low-calorie eating plan. Strength training twice a week, cardio 5-6 times a week, sometimes substitute cardio for a long brisk walk or bike ride outdoors.

Good luck! I lost 50 pounds this way and have kept it off for about 4 years.

--Linney