Have you also noticed an increase in fuel economy?

Anyways, that's a fantastic achievement! Way to stick with a plan and get stuff done!

quote Originally posted by MordacP: Have you also noticed an increase in fuel economy? Anyways, that's a fantastic achievement! Way to stick with a plan and get stuff done!

I don't track mileage close enough to notice a difference there. Thanks for the compliment!

Great job Christian!

Time to get to the track now, the swap will be even faster now.

Yeah, I am really looking forward to warmer weather!

Down over 190 now, btw.

Congrats man!

Like a Super Hero to all of us that know we are holding unhealthy weight.
So, have you had a doctor involved?

Thank you for the compliments, guys.

No, I have not really involved a doctor. Just a sensible diet (Weight Watchers, specifically) and exercise. I will probably see one soon to determine my goal weight.

That is an incredible change!! You're a real life inspiration to many. (let's face it random strangers on TV, or muscle mags aren't very inspiring)

I want to put my hand on my heart, and say 'you are incredible..'. Because you really are. People with weight problems nearly always trot out the inevitable 'I am big-boned-, or 'it is hereditary'. And it often is, in that overweight people usually come from overweight families. But it is not in the genes, as a rule it is in the mentality and attitude of parents, I have found. Not a nice comment to use at all, but..'a fat person never came out of Belsen, but plenty went in..'. is so true. Sorry to say that
You have taken my breath away with your success story, and you did it for all the right reasons. You WANTED to do it, and you had faith in yourself to achieve your ambition to shed weight. Tons of it. Congratulations. That is one of the finest personal achievements I have ever witnessed.
:
Nick

First time I seen this Thread .I have to say to you Bravo Looking good well done ..

Rob

Great Job.........I have put on around 40 pounds extra the last couple of years since I retired from a very physical demanding job Hopefully you will be my inspiration to lose a few pounds.....Thanks for sharing your success.

Congratulations Christian!!!!! We have to get together. I would love to see the Fiero....got myself a 3800 SC (not installed yet). I have the 3.4 Turbo in for now. Good work and get going....People laugh at my work but I consistently parks over one mile away and run the stair in the building every day. Just make it part of your lifestyle.....Fieros too!!!

Thanks a lot everyone!

Dave, give me a call some time in April.

Updated picture, 15 months in, down 206 lbs.

[This message has been edited by Bigfieroman (edited 04-22-2009).]

congratulations

you are doing a great job, keep going

Friggin' AWESOME!!!



Keep it up!

P.S. Notice in the pictures how much less weight your knees are carrying!

[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 04-22-2009).]

Absolutely awesome! I cannot emphasis how much I admire you for being able to do what you have done sir!

I need to lose some weight but I'm in the 40 pound range and I can't even manage it (working college student schedule and college drink and food don't help but now I'm just making excuses).

A big congrats on your progress!

~ Derek

I only met you once,in the park in Pittsburgh.If I were to meet you now without the benefit of this thread I wouldn't recognize you.Congratulations on a very hard undertaking,done very well.I admire you for what you have achieved,life will be easier for you now (and more fun too) .


Edit to add:I'm about 30# overweight and you lost more than I weigh.After reading this post ,seeing your pictures and seeing what Darlene(Fierogirlsmom) accomplished my wife Joan and I will be trying with the help of one of the weight loss business's programs to lose some weight.

Dar,We might need some help. Love you and I will call you and Tom before this weekend.

[This message has been edited by hugh (edited 04-23-2009).]

Congrats man! You should be proud of your acomplishment!

By how much did you reduce your daily calorie intake?

Obviously Photoshopped. just kidding

Congratulations, it's an incredible change and your commitment to a healthier lifestyle is something to be very proud of.

What has been your biggest challenge in doing this???

HOLY ****

You might want to find out if there is anything you can do to 'help' your skin heal a little, such as wearing someting to lessen the gravity 'pull' on your "clam" ...a buddy of mine did the gastric bypass surgery and lost about 220 - he wore "underarmor" during the time, and you would NEVER know he was so large....

Congrats again on doing this without surgery or drugs!

Congrats!!! amazing...inspirational...incredible...awesome...

[This message has been edited by Joe Torma (edited 04-23-2009).]

Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement.

Regarding the reduction in calories, I cannot tell for sure because I never worried about how much I ate, but I would sat in some cases, I eat 10% of the calories I used to in a day. At my heaviest, my McDonalds lunch would be: 2 X 20 piece McNugget, 8X Hot Mustard, 3X Super Fry, 2X Double Cheeseburger, 2X McChicken, and 2X Sweet Tea. For Lunch.

My biggest challenge has been my losing streak. I lost weight consistently so easily in the beginning, I decided I never wanted to gain. I never let myself cheat much because I insist on posting a loss at every Wednesday weigh-in. While it is unrealistic for most people to lose EVERY week, I have kept the streak alive for 66 weeks and intend to keep rolling until I am at my goal weight. It has really been a great, if kinda crazy, motivator.

Regarding the skin, it REALLY bothers me. I am going to ask my doctor about it at my appt in May, but my research shows that surgery is the only real option, which I don't think I want to do.

[This message has been edited by Bigfieroman (edited 04-23-2009).]

let me say it again...
HOLY ****

I'm wanting to drop 20 pounds
and this guy drops... well... a lot.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 04-24-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Bigfieroman: Regarding the skin, it REALLY bothers me. I am going to ask my doctor about it at my appt in May, but my research shows that surgery is the only real option, which I don't think I want to do.

Yeah, well, if you decide to keep it, think of it as a badge of honor AND a riminder of where you were.

Again, great job!

I also want to say I think it took a lot of courage to share it here, with pictures.
But I want to let you know that it motivates me to do better.
So thank you.

Congratulations on the weight loss. Not many people have the dedication, discipline and will power to keep that going. That is a great accomplishment!

------------------

quote Originally posted by Bigfieroman: Regarding the skin, it REALLY bothers me. I am going to ask my doctor about it at my appt in May, but my research shows that surgery is the only real option, which I don't think I want to do.

I'm glad I clicked on this thread again. It is genuinely inspirational what you have accomplished, and is a challenge to us all. Because it doesn't just have to be about weight loss. I can be about ANYthing that someone needs to change in their life. It CAN be done.

Personally, I LOVE the "squared out" eyes and the comments. In the medical field, you never want to be one of the people with the photos where your eyes (or other parts) are "squared out"! But in this case, it is great.


Regarding the skin, skin is a FABRIC. In this case a LIVING fabric. But a fabric, none the less. When a fabric gets stretched, it is stretched. It doesn't snap back. Old underwear. Old socks. Any stretched out elastic is stretched out. Someone with wider feet borrows your leather shoes? When they give them back, they are now not going to fit you. They are stretched out.

Fat isn't a fabric. The fat behind your stretched skin is GONE! Hallelujah! To the tune of about 190 POUNDS of gone!

So...when you go in to see your doctor in May, if the guy isn't amazed and thrilled for you, he probably doesn't have a pulse. But regarding the skin issue, if you want there to be less of it sagging, then a portion of it has to be surgically removed. There is no other way.

I'm sorry if that isn't what you WANTED to hear. But I think you deserve to hear the truth.

But I hope you will also hear what a fantastic accomplishment you have made, not just in losing weight but in also keeping it up.

Completion: 16.5 months, 225 lbs lost, averaged 3.1 lbs (about 1%/body mass) lost per week, 4.5 ring sizes smaller, 3.5 shoe sizes smaller, 18 inches off the waist, 4XL to Medium shirts, 83 to 39 resting HR, 143/97 to 112/69 BP, 170 to 70 triglycerides, 197 to 130 cholesterol.



And still no damn girlfriend! Is anorexia the answer? J/K!

[This message has been edited by Bigfieroman (edited 07-19-2009).]

WOW!!!! Incredible..just incredible!! I cannot praise enough your fortitude, dedication, and sheer determination to achieve your goal. You should forget about women for now!! Concentrate upon becoming the next POTUS!!! With your character and will-power, you have most of the qualities most Leaders lack!! And I am only half joking about that!!
WOWOWOWOWOW!!!
Nick

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 07-19-2009).]

WOW!!! You really are the man. You are incredible. Great job. (Insert jaw dropping smilie here)

Jim

quote Originally posted by Bigfieroman:

Wow, Amazing! Wish I could go on a diet and lose 50lbs, I see theres a scar on your left side, knife fight for taking someones girl?

Congrats!

Thanks for the support guys.

The mark on my side is a bruise from a wayward hockey blade. It felt terrific. The bruise is all healed up now, however. Another interesting observation: without the natural padding, I actually bruise. Before, I wouldn't have had a mark from that slash.

quote Originally posted by Bigfieroman: Completion: 16.5 months, 225 lbs lost, averaged 3.1 lbs (about 1%/body mass) lost per week, 4.5 ring sizes smaller, 3.5 shoe sizes smaller, 18 inches off the waist, 4XL to Medium shirts, 83 to 39 resting HR, 143/97 to 112/69 BP, 170 to 70 triglycerides, 197 to 130 cholesterol. And still no damn girlfriend!

Dude, you totally missed the point. It may actually have something to do with driving a Fiero.

Also reference

...and the Ray Ray song "Tell 'em what they wanna hear"

You are the MAN!! That is great, I am proud of you. That is one hell of a transformation. Your face even looks like a totally different person. I bet people that have not seen you in awhile will not recognize you.

wow,




How is the loose skin responding?

You know you are going to have to change your user name pretty soon...
I vote for Beefcakefieroman

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 07-20-2009).]

Simply amazing!

I see a guest appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show in the making.

Geez, if you don't contact her producers, one of us will.

Dude, you rock!!! Great job and determination.....AWESOME!!!!!!

diet + exercise + determination. Without the last part, all is lost. Now its time to keep weight off, which i don't think you'll have a problem with since you exercise.
oh and...

Thanks again guys.

The skin may be tightening up EVER SO SLIGHTLY, but I cannot say for sure. It still really bothers me. Because of the skin, when I look in the mirror, I think it looks like I have more weight to lose. I still have a gut "overhang", but when I lay on my back, I am flat as a board. I also think it looks like I have "junk in the trunk", but it is really excess skin folds from my back/butt. I am not sure that losing more weight would really be productive as far as the skin goes. I think I would just lose more all-over fat...but the muscled, veins-popping-out look is not something I want. So I am indecisive; I don't think more weight loss would help with the skin and I already have more than enough definition and veins for me, but I think I still look fat. I guess it will just take time to accept that this is how I will look until I get surgery...which may be never. I don't have several thousand dollars sitting around and insurance won't cover it.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the loss was completely worth it, and I recommend losing weight to anyone who has some to lose, but it is made out to be this fairytale where all of your problems are solved by putting down the fork; and that wasn't entirely the case.