Two years ago I was borderline morbidly obese at 5'7" and
219 lbs, incredibly unhealthy, and felt as such. I experienced migraines, severe abdominal cramping, abnormal reproductive issues, exhaustion, asthma, acid reflux, eczema, and general aches and pains that I wouldn't have realized could just simply go away-- with the weight.
Today I'm 5'7" [still! funny how I'm the same height!], and just 145 lbs. I hadn't really known how to express to people what happened since I lost all this weight with absolutely no scheduled work outs, and let us be honest, people wanted to know. Recently my friend Jason gave me the term that he's used to explain it, "Food Enlightenment".
Food Enlightenment is the idea that instead of just looking into this pool of knowledge about food, and admiring it from afar, one jumps in, and absorbs what is there-- and changes, like a sponge-- the only difference is that sponges get fat but Jason and I got skinny, and more importantly-- got healthy!
Now, I say that I didn't schedule a single workout into the two years that it took to get to where I am today-- and while this is true, something else is true-- the less fat I've had to lug around, the easier it is to move, and the more I find myself doing so. This past weekend I went backpacking in Manistee National Forest with Jason-- something that I would have thought possible at my heaviest-- but would never have done. I would have come up with every excuse in the book-- and in many ways, they would have been completely legitimate reasons such as having asthma, or horrible allergies, but all of them still would have been excuses.
Truthfully, when people ask me how I lost the weight, they are looking for a quick fix-- sprinkle some magic crap on your food, take a miracle pill, use the shake weight-- and what I did, honestly, was easy-- but it was only easy because I opened myself up to not just see the pool of knowledge about food, but to actually absorb it, process it, and make slow productive changes towards a better, and much healthier me.
So here I ask, what are some things you've heard about food-- rumor or fact, that concerns you?
True 
Comments (22)
One thing I know is to lay off alcohol and staying away from bread and starches. I hear that all the time. My brother said he lost 6 pounds in 3 days just by eating nothing but chicken and fish, but he was also at the gym everyday too.
~dalfin
You still didn't say what changes you made. And I'm curious...what size body frame do you have?
When people ask me how I lost weight they are surprised when I tell them all I did was work out and eat better. No crazy diets or weight loss supplements. I cut back on booze and a lot of crap food. Replaced soda and sugary drinks with water. Little things like that really make a big difference.
Nice term for it. Thank you for sharing!
We have some similarities. I'm from Grand Rapids; I used to be obese; and I lost the weight over the span of about two years just by doing my own thing, too.
You should try backpacking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the UP. It's absolutely gorgeous. Here are some photos I took while I was there. I love Michigan.
You should have given examples! Anyway, good for you.It's hard to do!
I've never been overweight but I stay thin by eating like a rodent. I eat small portions throughout the day instead of the typical 3 meals, so it is like scavenging for food like a hamster and eating snacks, so I'm never completely full from a single meal, but I have about 6 half meals instead of 3 big meals. different things work for different people, so I've already made this RSL(rodent scavenger lifestyle)-I just made up that name just now has become a habit for me, so I don't feel starved/deprived, but it is normal to me. so I already trained my stomach and mind to feel satisfied with small meal portions.
yes! this!!!
I'm happy for you, but this wasn't very informative.....you should do a part two and elaborate a bit.
I gave up bread and red meat about 4 years ago, and have been in the best shape of my life. I'm still working on my muffin top, but I chalk that up to drinking too much alcohol & the occasional binge eating.
wow congrats to you! i've been trying to put in a summer workout but ugh so lazy and in texas...its freakin hot out
So... what exactly did you understand that helped you lose weight? Good for you, btw.
@wretched_epiphany@xanga - @ShirleyD@xanga -
I'm actually working on writing a series of small posts. :)
i lose weight by having more sex
i lose weight by having more sex
When people ask me how I lost "all that weight", I say, "Well, I started working out & just didn't eat as much as I used to." For some reason that answer never satisfies people.
@petersss02@xanga - Those are some ugly boobies.
@P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga - TEACH ME YOUR WAYS OH WISE ONE! XD
http://thinkpinkpanther.xanga.com/765396962/this-is-why-youre-not-fat-or-rather---why-im-not-anymore/
follow up post #1!
@dalfin@xanga - @wildchildofthebluemoon@xanga - @DarcKleer@xanga - @nov_way@xanga - @ShirleyD@xanga - @soupermodel@xanga - @wretched_epiphany@xanga - @WaitingToShrug@xanga -
DO NOT EAT/DRINK:
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Sugar, Glucose, Lactose, and all of sugars other forms
- Partically Hydrogenated Oils
- Hydrogenated Oils
- Alcohol
- Dairy
- Processed Soy (in protein drinks)
- Gluten
- White Flour
- Corn & Potatoes
@G1G1626@healthkicker - You've got *almost* my entire list--
I also would say to avoid all artificial food coloring, and artificial sweeteners-- and processed foods as a whole. :)
Although I would say that unrefined, unbleached sugar is fine in moderation [although I generally will use maple syrup in it's place].
Oh, and I enjoy sweet potatoes [I generally avoid all other forms of them]. :)
Totally true. The only thing that helps is TRULY UNDERSTANDING what is going into your body. Helped me, too :)
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