The Incredible Shrinking Man

[soberups]

After being diagnosed with a stress fracture in my foot a month ago, I was finally forced to confront the reality that I could not continue to do this job unless I lost some weight.

I dont use tobacco, I dont gamble or look at porn, and I have been clean and sober for over 13 years....but I was still hanging on to food as a vice.

I went to my doctor and stepped onto the scale. 300 pounds!

Now I am 6-2 with broad shoulders so I will always be way over 200 pounds...but 300 is about 60 or 70 too many.

I am proud to announce that, after one month of a commitment to healthy eating and following my doctors advice, I have dropped 18 pounds and I am still going strong!

Once the foot heals, I can get serious about exercising. Right now, its everything I can do to survive getting in and out of a package car 200 times a day. I regard the pain in my foot as a blessing, because every time I step out onto it and wince it reminds me of why I need to drop the weight.

My goal is to lose a pound a week over the next year or so. Nothing drastic, no crazy starvation diets, just a gradual and healthy weight loss to get me down to around 230 or so.

I am letting my friends and family know so that they can help hold me accountable. Wish me luck!

 

[upsgrunt]

More power to you Sober- I'm 6' 3" and 230 and I feel that is too much! I wish you luck and hope I can do the same.

 

[fxdwg]

Sober..
No Pain....No Gain.......
Dig down deep whenever you are working out!!! DEEP!!!
One more push-up! Ten more sit-ups!
I'm the first to give you accolades here, but not the last!!
Eat wisely and think about cutting fats, sugars and calories.

Best wishes.

 

[gmann3000]

hi i have a interview tomorrow for a unloader i took the tour with about 25 other people 3 days ago and this is the first interview with the hr. can any one give me any idea on what they will ask me and possibly how long will it take for them to hire me i really want this job thanx im so nervous

 

[dilligaf]

Sober, that is awesome! Way to go.

 

[SWORDFISH]

After being diagnosed with a stress fracture in my foot a month ago, I was finally forced to confront the reality that I could not continue to do this job unless I lost some weight.

I dont use tobacco, I dont gamble or look at porn, and I have been clean and sober for over 13 years....but I was still hanging on to food as a vice.

I went to my doctor and stepped onto the scale. 300 pounds!

Now I am 6-2 with broad shoulders so I will always be way over 200 pounds...but 300 is about 60 or 70 too many.

I am proud to announce that, after one month of a commitment to healthy eating and following my doctors advice, I have dropped 18 pounds and I am still going strong!

Once the foot heals, I can get serious about exercising. Right now, its everything I can do to survive getting in and out of a package car 200 times a day. I regard the pain in my foot as a blessing, because every time I step out onto it and wince it reminds me of why I need to drop the weight.

My goal is to lose a pound a week over the next year or so. Nothing drastic, no crazy starvation diets, just a gradual and healthy weight loss to get me down to around 230 or so.

I am letting my friends and family know so that they can help hold me accountable. Wish me luck!

EXCELLENT!!!!!!! Just pick a restaraunt and eat there everyday as you lose the weight so you can be the next Jared.

No seriously thats awesome man. Im w/ you I gained 45lbs in a year so Im 6"2 247. Im getting married soon though so I need to get the weight off also. If you ever want any tips I study alot in health, nutrition, and naturpathic stuff. The key is diet though the fuel you put in. Im betting you will weigh 240 by the end of the year.

 

[Jones]

Sounds like you're on the right track Sober. Exercise will help but diet really is the key for sustained weight loss. Go get'em!

 

[bigbrownhen]

I am cheering you on as well Sober. You are very dedicated once you put your mind to something, i.e. your sobriety. You can do this.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Good luck, Sober.

 

[stevetheupsguy]

Sober, I'm 5'9" and used to weigh 240lbs. I have a theory called the input/output theory. I try to make my output equal or slightly exceed my input, to stay at the weight I want to maintain. Right now you're above that level, so your output has to exceed your input by a bit more till you get to where you can balance it out pretty well. Right now I'm down to about 160-163lbs, which is optimum for ME. Please be careful with your exercise, because your heart and body need to get used to doing what it hasn't done in awhile, and though at times it will hurt, you'll get used to it all. Just remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS! Here's me in 2002 and current. You can do this!

 

[over9five]

My wifey has lost a bunch of weight. All you gotta do is not eat breakfast or lunch.

I don't know how she does it, but it works!

 

[bigbrownhen]

Like you Sober, I don't drink, smoke or go out partying. Im a rather boring person. My eating habits and weight have always been a issue for me. I am trying to live a heathier lifestyle, but old habbits die hard. Instead of skippin meals, I have tried to cut out the starches. I am eating more fruit and veggies. My downfall is the late night snack before bed. I try to have yougert instead of ice cream, but sometimes ice cream wins out...its a daily struggle. When it comes to food, I don't have much will power. We have cut out alot of the sugars as well, and some of the no sugar added or sugar free stuff are pretty good.

Keep up the good fight. Wishing you strength and fortitude in reaching your goal.

 

[cheryl]

I too really want to lose weight. Low carb seems to really help to control my appetite.

Have you ever tried shirataki noodles? They've got 0 calories / carbs because they are all fiber. If you have a good imagination you can pretend that you're eating pasta, but it's 0 calories. We've got some great Asian markets here in Orange County that sell those noodles very inexpensively...

The noodles sold at the local markets here can sometimes have a weird texture compared to italian style dried pasta. If you are looking for something closer to traditional pasta I recommend checking out the noodles that are a tofu - shirataki hybrid. Their texture is a lot better than the regular shirataki but they are still very low calorie / low carb and very high fiber. We buy them at Henry's market. Not sure if Henry's mkt is nationwide. I used to buy them online but my daughter recently discovered that Henry's sells the exact same noodles for a lot less $.

Costco also sells some tasty super healthy low fat spinach pancakes: 80 calories. They are not expensive and actually taste pretty good, at least to me.

Artichokes with 0 calorie butter spray are a good diet meal too.

0% fat greek yogurt can be used like sour cream and is very low calorie. It is pretty expensive at our local grocery store but Costco sells Fage greek yogurt in big tubs for the same price that the grocery store wants for a single serving. For a healthy 0% fat food it's really yummy...

 

[toonertoo]

Good luck, I wish you the best. We all seem to be fighting the same evil fight

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I am almost embarassed to say that I have the opposite problem--I simply cannot gain weight. I am just over 6' tall and weigh between 160 and 165 lbs. I can eat anything and everything and not worry about it. My ex hopes it catches up to me as I get older but I will be 50 next year and so far...

 

[dilligaf]

I am almost embarassed to say that I have the opposite problem--I simply cannot gain weight. I am just over 6' tall and weigh between 160 and 165 lbs. I can eat anything and everything and not worry about it. My ex hopes it catches up to me as I get older but I will be 50 next year and so far...

That is soooo not fair.

 

[bigbrownhen]

My Grandpa was the same way. He worked very hard as a farmer,grew most of his own food and didn't drink much or smoke, lived a rather healthy lifestyle.Grandpa was tall and thin and very active, he loved to go dancing on Friday nights. He passed away from massive heart attack at 77. It was such a shock as most of his family lived well into thier 90s. Due to his experience in WWII , he didn't go to the doctor much, and didn't know he had blockage in his arteries. I am sure the stress of war took several years off his life.

So, its not always what you eat, but life experiences that affect our health as well.

We as UPSers don't have to worry about stress though. We just drive around all day and enjoy the scenery.

 

[Shifting Contents]

Upstate, I hope you are kidding oryou just got a little meaner in my book.

I had a weight problem when I was kid. Went away in the military came back when I got out. Joined UPS at 220lbs, lost 20 on preload and another 10 driving. I recently lost another 15 by excersising and watching what I eat. I drink no calorie soda when I want a soda and mostly water and diet green tea othere wise. I found that if you just turn over what you are eating and look at the calories it will make a big difference. I found that a serving of peanut butter is a table spoon and has something like 80 calories. I was putting 4 or 5 table spoons on each sandwhich and discovered a half was more than enough. I basically get to eat the same thing, I just eat less of it. Also, I started running. Good to get out of my mad house and good for staying around as long as possible to enjoy my mad house.

 

[Catatonic]

I am almost embarassed to say that I have the opposite problem--I simply cannot gain weight. I am just over 6' tall and weigh between 160 and 165 lbs. I can eat anything and everything and not worry about it. My ex hopes it catches up to me as I get older but I will be 50 next year and so far...

That is soooo not fair.

100% agree with you Dilli!!!

 

[moreluck]

You gotta stoke the furnace.....'.portions' is the secret !!