My Husband's 200 lb. Weight Loss Story!

Check out his blog @
http://www.thislittlepiggywenttothegym.com/
for some Before & After Pics!

Many of you know Dave and knew him as a 300 lb. man...and some knew him as a 425 lb. man.

Sharing Dave's story is heavy on my heart. Perhaps it's to discourage the HOLIDAY BULGE. Perhaps it's to discourage the PROCRASTINATION.

Or maybe it's to ENCOURAGE YOU

that no matter how much weight loss you have, it's possible!!!

I'm going to start from the season I met Dave and our friendship days. The days that he was doing that dreaded Atkins, fat & protein/low-carb diet. The meals we shared: salad w/ ranch, fried chicken & NO FRUITS, little veggies.

I'm going to recap what happened the season we got married, when I got pregnant and how a 285 lb. Dave went to 425 lbs. w/in a 9 MONTH PERIOD.

Then I'm going to share the year that things changed when our first son was born. How the desire in Dave's heart was for Daniel to NOT know him as an OBESE DAD was so strong & was his motivation.

I will share the journey from Weight Watchers, thru Trainer Tom...and up to now. We are going to be transparent on the struggles...and how people who told Dave he was getting 'too skinny' had adverse affects on his motivation.

One thing I've learned is that for the obese person - FOOD is the drug. They have an addiction. They have overcome it...yet it still wants to haunt them and creep back in and take over. But if you have the mindset that you are NEVER going back, and you let people help you - YOU DON'T EVER HAVE TO BE BIG AGAIN!!!!

I'm excited to share this info! As a wife, the role I played will be shared as well. When a man & woman get married, the 2 become 1 - And I had an active position as Dave's helpmate to help him reach his goals. I am going to share how I continue to be that voice of reason, truth, and encouragement in Dave's life. We're in this together - join me as I share!

I hope you join me as share this story of a real weight loss struggle and the truth of what food can do to a life, a marriage, and a family! Join me in this journey, as it is my hope that you will receive truth to motivate you to lose weight, yet give you the hope that it is possible!

Do you count the calories in your drinks?

Frequent Friday
Hangout

Do you work out hard throughout the week, or when you can? Diet all week long? And then what is your fave activity on the weekends?

I myself, frequented Bar & Grills, restuarants, and clubs on the weekends many years ago. I did this routine...gym Monday thru Friday, parties Friday & Saturdays...hangover on Sunday...only to beat myself up at the gym the following week with no real progress. Totally counterproductive for my goals of weight loss.

With a little help from some bartender friends, I've come up with a list of common alcoholic drinks & their calorie content.

• Bud/Coors Light Beers: 99-110 cals.
• Bud Select 55: 55 cals.
• Glass of Red Wine (3.5 oz = 1 glass) 120 cals.
• Glass of sweet/dessert wine(3.5 oz. = 1 glass) (ex: Moscato): 165 cals.
• Chardonnay: 120 cals.

• Martini: 150 cals.
• Appletini: 160 cals.
• Sangria: 190 cals.
• Hard Lemon Zima: 231 cals.
• Bloody Mary: 140 cals.
• Bicardi Breezer (Berry):  220 cals.
• Margaritas (depending on flavor/on the rocks): 300-520 cals.
• Pina Colada: 320 cals.
• Jigger (1.5 oz) of Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whiskey (before adding juice/soda): 97 cals.

Now, looking at the calorie count, 1 drink ever so often is not going to send you over the edge of calorie counts. However, I remember, when I went out to dinner I had at least 2 margaritas at Que Pasa (that's anywhere from 600-1000 cals.) What about when you meet people for a drink after work? A couple glasses of wine: 300 cals. And what about a big BBQ where there is an ice chest of Coors lights & you have at least 3 (300 cals.), but more like 4-6 right? That's 400-600 calories of beer & this is before you started eating the chips, dips, ribs, macaroni salad, chili beans, etc.

No wonder we struggle with our weight, huh?

Here's where it gets scientific. There are words like 'lipid oxidation' and 'acetate' used in the explanation of how your body's ability to burn fat is slowed down/decreased/hindered by alcohol consumption.

Check this out if you want the whole story: http://www.fitnessquestonline.com/EffectsofAlcoholonFatMetabolism.pdf. Basically, ALCOHOL SLOWS DOWN YOUR METABOLISM!!!! You can't burn fat efficiently!

Infamous for Beer Belly!
Do you have Homer's Physique?

So in addition to dumping in 300-1000 calories or more into your body of stuff that blocks your body's ability to use needed vitamins & minerals...it slows down the body to burn fat!

No wonder people get a 'beer belly', huh? Remember Homer Simpson? He loved his beer!

With this info, you have to do something about your consumption. Some reading this have no goals to lose weight and may not see the point of limiting their intake of alcohol...google 'effects of alcohol on liver'...that's a sobering thing.

If you feel you 'just gotta have something to relax'...limit it to one. If you have a problem, seek help. I have someone dear to me who got help through AA. There are resources for you if you have a problem.

If you need motivation, think about how much money you will save each day/week/month/year if you kicked the habit all together. And then think how productive all that sweat & labor at the gym, working out would be! Some of you are trying to figure out what to give up to drop that last 10 lbs.

Voila - here's your answer!

Do yourself a favor & give up the alcohol...

your body, your liver, your family

will greatly benefit from it!

You can do it!!!!!