What moment or event started your weight loss journey?

There was no real specific moment or event, and I think that really helped me actually keep going. I lost 2 kgs (4.4 lbs) over a period of 2 months without me checking my weight, and without me doing anything significant, just making a couple slight (and by slight, I mean almost negligible) changes to my diet. I don’t know why that made me want to keep going, but it did. Even when I gained back those 2 kgs the very next week

What was your starting weight? What weight are you at now?

I count my highest weight as my starting weight, and that was 229 kgs (504.8 lbs). At my last weigh-in, I was 181 kgs (399 lbs).

What would you say is the most important factor in your weight loss?

For me, it was definitely a change in my thinking. I was suffering from depression, and going to therapy helped me see that my life did have value, that I could trust myself, and have confidence in myself, and I wasn’t a failure. A close second was eating habits. I was basically doing no exercise when I began to lose weight.

Fitness:

What is your current fitness or exercise goal?
Well, I’ve recently starting playing sports with my mates over the weekend, usually touch football (American). I’m not quite up to their pace, but I do my best to keep up. So I suppose my immediate fitness goal is to be able to play a full game without getting too puffed out. I’d also like to catch a touchdown pass

What methods are you using to achieve your goal?

Walking has been my primary form of exercise. Just recently I’ve started adding short spurts of jogging, from telephone-pole to telephone-pole, and finishing up with a short sprint up the driveway. I like to do short sprints to practise my takeoffs when running routes. I practise running routes and catching balls. And also practice throwing the ball as well.

Are there any obstacles you had to overcome to begin exercising / keep exercising?

Well, being the weight I was and am, it takes a lot of effort to do even the most mundane things. When I started walking, my back would ache so bad. It’s gotten better, and it takes a lot more intensity to do that now (like playing a game of touch football :D). Also, there was an emotional barrier I had to exercising outside. I didn’t want people to look at me and judge me, so at the beginning I exercised by walking back and forth in the living room at night.

What’s your favorite exercise?

Push ups. Not so much because I enjoy the exercise, but it’s the way I keep progress over my arm strength, and weight in general. I usually do them against the wall, but lately I’ve been able to manage 1 against the back of the couch, so that’s how I measure my progress My favourite exercise to actually perform is dumbell lateral raises. No idea why, I just think it looks cool, and it feels great.

How do you deal with boredom in your exercise program?

Seeing as I’ve started focussing on things to do with playing football, I haven’t had much boredom. For me, it’s all about doing what I like doing. If I don’t like it, I’ll move on to something else.

Food:

Describe the diet or healthy eating plan you’re following. What is the main focus of the plan?

The main focus of the plan is cutting calories. The way to lose weight is to eat less calories than you burn. It’s the basis of all weight loss diets. With that said, it’s not something I obsess over. I came up with my own plan that works for me. I checked out my BMR (basal metabolic rate), used the Harris Benedict equation to get an idea of the calories I expend in the day, found out the calories of different foods I like to eat, and built a diet around eating those foods so I at the end of the day it’s less calories than I expend.

What is one cardinal rule of nutrition you have learned that you always follow or never break?

Not all calories are created equal. For example, an average slice of white bread generally has less calories than an average slice of wholegrain bread, but we all know which is better for you. But all rules are meant to be broken every now and then

Are there any foods you outright avoid and DO NOT eat?

Nope. For me, I’ve found restricting foods “just because” makes me want to rebel and eat them anyway, which then causes me to feel guilty, feel like I’ve ruined my efforts, and give up completely.

If you diet, do you allow for a regular reward meal?

Definitely. The last couple Mondays I’ve had a reward meal, though some weekends I’ll have a chicken kebab and chips. My daily treat is diet coke. And occasionally I’ll have a cookie or a popsicle, just because

What about supplements? Which if any supplements do you add to your diet?

I don’t take any supplements, though I’m not against them. I probably should take a multi-vitamin, I’m just not good with taking pills everyday.

Is eating healthy expensive for you? How much do you spend on food in a given week / month?

I’m lucky living with my family, pretty much all my meals are paid for I really couldn’t estimate how much I personally spend on food a week or month. But food prices have been rising, especially on out of season food/stuff that’s imported. Fresh veggies have been taking a big hit over here.

What are 3 of your best eating or dieting tips you would like to share?

1. Do what works for you

2. Be as balanced as possible

3. Research, and be your own guide

Blogging:

How did you first become interested in blogging and can you tell us a little bit about your blog?

I first started blogging on an online forum. There was a specific section where people created their own threads and treated them like blogs. It was mainly just a place to have discussions with friends I’d made on the forum. I became interested in “real” blogging by coming across Waiter Rant. I was taken in by his writing, and the way he was able to draw people in to follow his posts and actually interact with them.

Has your weight loss blog helped you with losing weight?

Oh it has definitely helped. It’s been a great outlet for me, working out thoughts, and being a constant reminder of my progress. But more than that, it’s been the people, the readers/commenters that have helped the most. It was a comment from Chris Maples who opened my eyes to the possibility that I might be depressed. Kim Ayres’ has consistantly been a voice of wisdom since I started blogging. I really appreciate the relationships I’ve been able to make, and every single person who has left a comment has made me want to keep coming back and reporting good news.

What are your top 5 favorite weight loss/fitness blogs?

Haha, well that’s a really hard one.

Inspiration:

Do you have any favorite sayings, quotes, or anything that inspires you to be better, train harder or be more diligent with your eating?
When it comes to working out, the first thing I say before I start is “Do work, son!” Chris “Big Black” Boykin is one of my heroes

If you were to give advice to anyone considering starting a weight loss journey, what would you say?

Take your time, do some research, look for credible sources of information, and ultimately do something that is healthy and works for you.

What tips would you offer someone trying to lose a significant amount of weight?

There are often underlying emotional issues that cause someone to become morbidly obese, and sometimes you need help (therapy) to work them out. For me, going to a few therapy sessions early in my journey helped to keep me work out some of the reasons I overate.