SparkPoints: (129)
Fitness Minutes: (120)
Posts: 21
12/4/12 3:32 P

Hello, my name is Ken. When I started my weight loss journey roughly 4 months ago, I was 435 pounds (the heaviest that I have ever been) ... I could not stand up without pain, and could not walk 2 minutes without being out of breath.

At one point I decided to make a complete life change in diet. Rather than eating tons of 1/2 gallons of ice cream and fast food, I started eating leafy greens, fruits and veggies. 30% of my total caloric intake protein (whey, tuna, chicken, turkey, beans, seeds), switched from white bread, pasta, potatoes, and flour (high glycemic) to whole grain bread, pasta, rice - and only on occasion. I started eating omlettes with two egg whites/two eggs and veggies, oats, etc.. very little high glycemic food, and limited grains. One "choice" or "cheat" day a week in which I have eaten anything that I wanted.

I started walking slowly, then doing few laps in a small pool, then wrestling with my 13 and 14 yr old in the pool, then around the complex. Soon I was able to walk around a store for 45 min to 1 and 1/2 hours with very little pain (I have lower back pain and knee pain, of course). Now I have been going to the gym - I started with very light weights, and now am able to do significantly more two months down the road. I started doing 5, 10, 20 laps in the pool - and as of a few weeks ago, I hit one goal by swimming 50 laps in one session - 65 laps for the day ,and 160 laps over 4 days ..

Long story short, as of one month ago, I was down from 435 to 365 ... A month ago, I started creatine, which I know makes me retain water in the muscles, and given that when I eat even a slightly high amount of sodium that I gain 7-9 pounds within hours (and take 3-4 days to re-lose it), I understand why for two weeks the scale showed no loss - a bit of gain - yet my waistline and body got smaller.. my upper body became more muscular. Despite the scale not showing it, I made huge progress in my lifting and swimming.

The problem is that 4-5 weeks ago I hurt my upper back (not the same as the persistent lower back pain due to my obesity). . Not sure when it happened as I did not feel it lifting nor swimming.. I still went to the gym sporadically, fighting through extreme pain, but finally rested it a week .. It went away, just to reoccur within days ... As of 2 1/2 weeks ago I had a very sore toe for no apparent reason that ended up being gout, and to top that off, I was out of town for a week, and for the first time really ate like crap for the whole week (staying in a hotel).. Of course I realize that this was choice, and no excuse, but since then rather than being 100% disciplined as I was for three months, I have eaten well but added a few too many bad foods.with it.

I know that this is choice.. I will get back on track, but I could use support and help from the thousands of people that I see here with similar situations. It looks like we are all human here , with strengths and weaknesses, but I also see incredible results.. I have been a member on this sight for a bit, but never took full advantage..

Thank you for your time and advice to help me get back on track. My first goal is to lose 100lbs by 2/23/13 (my birthday, which I am 70% to), and 210 lbs by 12/31/13. I would like to part time body build, though my age and what I have explained here suggest that it is against the odds...I believe that there are no boundaries or limits. Any help would be appreciated

current weight: 344.0

435 382.5 330 277.5

225