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It's dangerous work chasing spies...
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Success Story: Steve
(alias Steve123 on WLR)
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Age: 46
Height: 5' 8"
Start Weight: 14st 2lb
Current Weight: 11st 13lb
Goal Weight: 11st 7lb
Weight Lost: 2st 3lb
Working to Rate of Loss: 2lb per week and also maintaining on and
off
Weight Loss History
My mother was a serial dieter so
calorie counting and dieting
has been around me for a long time. But I would never join a
"club" like, for example, Weight Watchers, it's just not my
thing. In the past, I have counted calories to lose weight but
have never tried or wanted to try specialised diets.
Have you lost weight before
and regained the weight?
Yes! About 15 years ago, I lost quite a lot of weight and put
it all and more back on again. I would say it's my biggest
"fear" that I will lose weight and put even more back on yet
again. But people close to me say that this time, I won't,
because I have the support of this web site. In the past, I have
counted calories using books/magazines with no on-line support.
I am a computer-type-person and this site suits me fine! I don't
like face-to-face diets; I prefer distance learning!
How being overweight has affected you…
In a nutshell, I feel
better not carrying the extra 2 stone around. I'm one of those
people who are very comfortable in their own skin…..EXCEPT being
overweight. That is my motivation. The way I look at it is that
you should accept everything about yourself that you can't
change. For example, I suppose I'd like to be 6 feet tall
ideally but I'm 5'8 and that's the way it is! But being
overweight is not the same thing. It's self-inflicted. I have
watched American chat shows boasting about "big is beautiful".
Well, I just don't feel the same way. I have no problem about
other people being overweight but it's not what I want for
myself. My Body Mass Index tells me that 11'7 is at the top end
of a sensible weight for me and that's what I'm striving for. If
I succeed, I will be lighter than I've been for 20 years, how
good does that sound?! Friends and colleagues have commented on my
weight loss in a very positive manner but I don't like people
making comments much. I think that THAT part of me is fairly
unusual. I really don't like compliments about my
weight….basically, because it's none of their damned business! I
feel better in myself and that's all that counts. I don't lose
weight for other people. Well, I could write ten more pages on
this question but I'll save you the pain of reading it!
Motivation to Lose Weight
Health is always on my mind, especially now 40 has been and
gone and 50 is looming. But I would say that vanity plays a
large part too… not superficial vanity but just the feel-good
factor of being able to buy some new clothes and not dwelling on
the waist size! I wear 34 inch jeans now and I've thrown out all
my old ones in a cunning attempt to never, ever return to size
38 or even 40. I stay in hotels regularly and they usually have
large mirrors. What I used to see wasn't good but now I'm much
happier. I'm a stubborn person by nature and when I decide to do
something, I do it. It's when I take my foot off the pedal that
worries me!
Discovering Weight Loss Resources
Surprisingly, because I loathe any programmes about
celebrities, I just happened to see the end of Celebrity Fit (or
was it Fat) club and I thought I ought to do something about my
weight, which had recently topped 14 stone. I typed the name of
the programme into a search engine, found WLR and took up the
free trial. I felt immediately that this was the site for me to
lose weight. Not intrusive, that was important to me. I needed
the resources but I didn't need a nanny or a new social life.
How Weight Loss Resources Helps
I would say the food diary is the most help. It focuses the
mind and calculates how many calories you have left daily in
order to lose weight. I think that the way this site encourages
you to exercise by giving you extra calories is an excellent
idea. I have a mathematical type of brain and even if I'm one
calorie over, I exercise to stay within the limit! That's when
I'm counting calories. I ought to add that I'm a great believer
in maintaining some weeks and losing the next. Also, I never
count calories from Friday pm until Sunday am because that's my
"party time!" Like many blokes, my downfall in the past has been
lager! Luckily, I'm not a sweet-toothed person, although I am a
member of the Hotel Chocolate Club! (Don't ask!) I was "normal"
weight until I discovered lager at 17 and then I gradually put
on weight. In fact, the more I think about it, I'm incredibly
impressed with what I've achieved in terms of weight loss and
that is down to my own determination and the support of
weightlossresources.co.uk. But I still need my weekends and,
guys, IT CAN BE DONE! I'm nosey enough to read the message
boards from time to time but I don't post much……somehow, it's a
female domain, which is fine. I use the goals section to remind
myself of what I'm trying to achieve. I set fairly short-term
goals, so that I can succeed rather than "lose 3 stone" type
goals, which are too far in the future. I also message someone
most days, which helps the motivation. (Thanks, Carolouise!)
Steve's Tips for Losing Weight
I would like to encourage blokes to sign up for this site. £9
a month is 4 pints, guys! I also think that it is important to
build in "maintain" times or even expect weight-gain times
during Christmas or a major holiday. I put half a stone on
during the Summer but stayed calm and lost it again and more
during September/October. That's the beauty of this site; it
doesn't give up on you. It's always there as a resource as long
as you need it. Everyone's nice and it serves you, rather than
ranting and raving at you. But you have to have goals…
achievable, realistic goals. Think carefully about your targets,
because those you don't attain will eat away at your willpower.
For example, I have decided to try to maintain during December
and Christmas, because weight loss is unrealistic for me during
that time, so why beat myself up over it?! The important thing
is knowing that you'll get back into the routine (inputting
calories used alongside those recommended to lose or maintain
weight) in the near future.
I think it is a good idea to buy some new clothes when you
are down a size or two. That way, you are reminded of what you
have achieved and not to go back to old sizes. Chuck out the old
stuff or give it away, whatever. Always like yourself, nobody
else will if YOU don't. Always remember that this site is your
friend and servant, not your master. What I mean by that is that
YOU must have the determination and willpower to succeed, this
site cannot do that for you. It will support you in your goals
and dreams, that's all… but it is brilliant at supporting you,
so if you have the will, this site will help you on your way…
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