I'm looking to get down to a "fighting weight" of around 185. I'm currently around 215--I was at 235 last April, got all the way down to 205 around August '08, but have "backslid" as it were. When I graduated from high school I was 145--I don't want to be that skinny any more, but when I graduated from college I was around 180 or so and want to get near that. In the 10 years since I've graduated from college, I've gotten as heavy as 235 and as low as 190. My wife Ginnie introduced me to ...

I'm looking to get down to a "fighting weight" of around 185. I'm currently around 215--I was at 235 last April, got all the way down to 205 around August '08, but have "backslid" as it were. When I graduated from high school I was 145--I don't want to be that skinny any more, but when I graduated from college I was around 180 or so and want to get near that. In the 10 years since I've graduated from college, I've gotten as heavy as 235 and as low as 190. My wife Ginnie introduced me to Sparkpeople, as she has similar weight loss goals. I'm trying to eat smart, eat right, and get enough exercise, but I want to be feasible about it.

Edit (8/27/10): I got down to 180 in 2009, and have since leveled off at around 190, adding some more muscle along the way. Currently in training to run the Chicago Marathon in October, which will be my first.

Edit (1/13/12): Have since ran a couple marathons and a few half-marathons, taken up weightlifting and put on more muscle than I have in my life, running and exercising pretty much every day, but have also fallen back into some bad eating/drinking habits, so I'm spending a bit more time here as of late to curb my calories and take in my nutrition more effectively. Right around 200, hoping to get back down to 185-190.

Read More About JOELR2009 (Updated January 13)