need to lose some weight

[swampfox]

well ive decided to stave off wearing a kilt till i lose some weight... mostley in my belly lol.
i will still rock out in an xkilt my wife made but for the traditional style thats worn up around the naval i will be holding off... i think i look like a beachball and it dosent do much for my confidence to think that way which affects the way i wear my kilt.

[Larry124]

I have end-of-summer waist kilts -- more active; and end-of-winter waist kilts -- less active.
What worked for me was South Beach diet - very low carbs. And supplemental B vitamins. And fewer sugar(s). And a switch from (too much) beer to (moderate) spirits.
Disclaimer: Consult with your doctor.
Good Luck!

[Tobus]

Good luck, swampfox. It's a big decision, and one that will (or should, anyway) drastically affect your lifestyle if you take dieting seriously. But the payoff is worth it!

Back in 2004, I decided to make a major change too. Over the course of a year, doing a low-carb diet, I went from a hefty (for me) 160 pounds down to my ideal 120 pounds. I lost one quarter of my body weight! Never felt better in my life. And though I'm back up to about 135-ish nowadays, I still absolutely refuse to 'let myself go' again. Hopefully you'll find the measure of success you're looking for that will provide a similar inspiration for staying within an ideal weight range from here on out.

[tinksdad]

I had been fooling myself for quite a while saying that it's just a couple more pounds, I'll get rid of it eventually. Well.... eventually caught up with me early in 2003 when I got on the scale and it read 305 pounds (138 kg). Took me a long time (couple of years) but I got down to 185 pounds (84 kg) briefly. The overall effect on my health and energy levels was terrific. I was able to maintain 200 -205 for a long time; but lately have been slipping upwards again (currently 220) due to a sedentary work style driving for a living and falling back into bad eating habits because of it. I just pulled out the one pair of "fat" jeans that I saved from my heaviest period and hung them on the bedroom wall to remind myself I'm NOT getting that big again. I live alone so nobody to object to my wall art. I need to get back somewhere close to my goal weight and stay there... so I will be rooting for you in your quest for fitness.

Edited.... just came across a "diet in progress" picture while looking for something else. I know the feeling around here that without pics, it didn't happen. So.... here is proof that it is possible.

[Pleater]

Warning - totally biased opinion follows!!!

The reason I began to make and wear kilts was the reduction in waist size doing Atkins - properly, not the media's fad diet of fried food, the one my the good doctor wrote about in Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution. Do what it says - starting with the checking with your own health care provider.

I'm afraid it is all veges with meat, veges with fish, veges with eggs and there is water and exercise too, plus there will be entire lengths of shelving in the supermarkets with not one thing you are suposed to eat.

However - I lost 12 inches off my waist and had to remake kilts smaller and smaller.

On the Atkins' list at Yahoogroups.com there are diabetics in remission.

My lunch yesterday was salmon, peas and mushrooms.

Dinner was roast pork with crackling, Yorkshire pudding and mixed veges.

It beats biscuits and drinks type diets hands down - and as for calorie counting or low fat - ha ha ha .

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Geoff Withnell]

Just to make this at least slightly kilt related, I've had to get new kilts due to losing about 85 lbs on Weight Watchers. It is most emphatically NOT a diet, and there is nothing you cannot eat at least a little of. Michele is also on WW and she is no longer taking any drugs for her diabetes. WW is about portion control and balancing activity and eating. I add my voice to those saying consult your friendly neighborhood physician before starting any weight loss program. And the best one is the one YOU can stay on and works for YOU!

Geoff Withnell

[artificer]

For starters, congratulations on deciding to make a healthy change.

The biggest thing you can do is to simply COUNT your calories.

HERE is a tiny calorie book. I'll see if I can re-locate the one I use.

It's astonishing how easy it is to eat too many calories. Or drink them, cut out soda. It's a HUGE calorie sink. I switched to no-sodium flavored carbonated water. It AIN'T soda, but it's not too bad.

I'm with Pleater (to a degree), VEG VEG VEG.

Changing the focus of your meals from higher calorie processed startches (pasta/bread) and fats (meat/cheese) to vegetables is HUGE.

Last winter I'd finally gotten to the point where I just felt like **** all the time. I vowed to lose a set amount of weight and started both dieting, and COUNTING the actual calories I was eating (along with working out).

After 3 months I'd lost +20 lbs, from 235 down to 208. I've gained a tiny bit back (4lbs) but that takes into account NOT being able to work out all summer and raising my calorie intake to a more normal level (and two major holidays )

Suits that I haven't worn in 6-7 years fit again (including my tux) and the kilt I bought in March is on it's last hole (inner) and is nearly too big. [kilt related ]

It's when you're counting calories that you start making better choices, because you're working on 'a budget'. You can eat anything you like, as long as you moderate the portion size and are prepared to adjust the rest of your day accordingly. Knowing that if you eat the 800 bagel sandwich at breakfast you're going to have to eat tight the rest of the day, you can STILL eat the bagel. The flexibility of knowing is what's nice.

I also find that packaged foods are almost universally worse for you (more salt, more fat, more what-the-hell-is-that?) and less satisfying than cooking at home. I can make a HUGE Chinese dinner and come in okay calorie-wise, where I couldn't eat the same number of calories in a few packaged 'pizza pocket' type items without being hungry again later in the evening.

HERE is another book I just found, but the format isn't too hot.

[Redhawk]

Go for it swampfox!

Dr had a nice long talk with me which lead to a big change in eating habits this year and a result of 40 pounds and 8 inches off the waist so far this year. I feel a lot better and less stressed.

[swampfox]

thank you all for the support... im not too bad off 260 or there abouts and my target weight is around 200-210 mostely just to take inches off my waist size (47) i would like to be back down around 38 to 40 most of it is due to working civil service... we dont much but sit around so ive started walking several miles a night on swing shift around the flightline (one full lap is almost 1 1/2 miles) plus i need to start eating right, with me living by myself and my wife living in another state i dont have anyone to help me regulate what i eat but i have been eating a lot of chicken and rice which is pretty tastey.

[Mikilt]

Swampfox,
Maybe you are already aware of this, but there is a social group/community here on XMarks called the 10% Challenge- Getting Fit so the Kilt will Fit. It might be a good place to find other XMarkers with goals similar to yours.