I’ll be glad to share what worked for me. Over a year ago I bumped into a friend I hadn’t seen in year. He went from 397 to 230 in a year. About 170 lbs in 12 months! Of course I asked him what he did and as long as it was not stomach surgery I was interested.
The program was a weight loss program that was doctor monitored. This is important to people like him who have various obesity related health problems with the weight. He had diabetes, high blood pressure that required meds, super high cholesterol, two bad knees and a hernia so he needed to be doctor monitored.
Anyway, I enrolled and went from 280 to 210 then I found the products he was selling me online that were cheaper than through him and I now had changed my lifestyle and habits. I must admit, while the doctor visits did cost me money, the accountability factor helped early on.
The program consists of me eating 7 times a day! I eat 5 high protein products (pancakes, bars, mac & cheese, cookies, shakes, puddings, other entrees, deserts, etc). These products are low calorie, high protein, low fat. I also eat 1 healthy meal a day (3-6 oz of lean chicken, beef, pork, a starch like a cup of rice, pasta or medium potato), and I eat a fruit (usually an apple).
My eating schedule was breakfast (pancake or eggs or cereal), mid morning bar or cookie with coffee, lunch (chili or sloppy joe), mid afternoon (bar, pudding, cookie), the healthy dinner, late night snack (cheddar cheese chips - high protein). Somewhere in there I would eat the apple. So I am eating 7 times a day, small portions.
Now exercise. The doctor said that such a lot calorie diet (1200-1300 cal/day) requires exercise to also keep the metabolism going. The body naturally slows down due to the lower calorie intake. He recommended just 30 minutes of aerobics/day for 6 days/week. I forced myself to get up at 5 AM, go to the YMCA and do the elliptical machine for 30 minutes. I probably did it 3-5 times/week.
I could even bring the protein products on trips with me. During meetings, I would just sneak a bar out and eat it.
Anyway after 10 months I went from 280 to 195! My pants went from 46" waiste to now 34" ! My shirt size from 2X to just Large. I am now playing racquetball like I was 23 again (I am 50) and I feel great!
I now buy the products online at
www.dietdirect.com . This is not my site and I don’t sell the products. I just share it to direct you there because that is where I now buy them. If you are very overweight and have other health issues, you should see a doctor. If you just want to lose a few pounds or just want some healthier snacks, check this out.
It took me 20+ years to gain all that weight slowly and now I have learned a new lifestyle, eat better, exercise to maintain and keep it off. My friend has kept it off over a year.
In summary what I learned:
o control portions
o choose healthy foods
o eat many small meals
o get in exercise, whatever works for you
This is not atkins in that you do eat some starches/carbs.
Anyway, it worked for me. Hope that helps some of you. Feel free to ask questions.