Random weight loss yammering about kilts.

[Grant MacKenzie]

I'm in the same boat. I've lost over 3 stone so far and can now wear my two kilts from ten years ago (and to think I nearly sold them on eBay, but just couldn't do it because of their quality!) It means I've had to put away two kilts which are too big now, but I'm going up to Scotland next year so will have to find a good kilt maker who'll do alterations for me, or get measured up for a new one as a 60th birthday present!

Impressive losing 3 stone - though obviously less fortunate for your kilts. Sounds like a good 60th present from the family...? perhaps start dropping not so obvious hints now.

[Blupiper]

I started about five years ago and, to date, have lost 150 pounds. The price is a plan and eternal vigilance. Exercise is important, as well as proper diet. I found that sticking to a calorie intake total and sticking toward the protein side of things, with complex carbs, worked for me. Lots of water, too. It's sometimes a bore and occasionally I get off track, but keeping an overall positive attitude and getting back with it helps to continue the progress. Look at it this way: I have turned over my kilt collection three times and have found a lot of bargains here on X-Marks that seem like rewards to me. Starting out at a 52 waist and coming in now at a 36--I will call that progress. Good luck to all and keep at it.

JMB

[Alan H]

I have a little 5-week competition going with a former co-worker who is a friend. The goal was to drop 20 pounds in five weeks, which is pretty tough. Final weigh-in is October 7th.

My strategy is to just eliminate carbohydrates as much as I possibly can. I'm not exercising right now because I've pronged up my knee and I'm trying to let it heal. I'm also not obsessive about this. The Pleasanton Highland Games were this past weekend and there were lots of friends in town. I figure, I can have a beer or two with my friends.

Anyway, I absolutely abhor discussions where people go on and on and on about their specific plan and what supplement you MUST have and whether they eat worms on Sunday as a special treat or what-EVER. I'm laying off the carbs.

I started at 304 about 3 weeks ago.
Two weeks ago at 299.8 I started the "competition" with my friend.
I weighed in at 294 on weigh-in-Friday after one week.
The next weigh-in-Friday I was at 290
I was actually 288.8 after the Pleasanton Games, but that was probably dehydration, and I was 292 this morning. My *actual* body weight right now is probably around 290.

That means that I'm down 14 pounds from my highest, which is where I'd been for a very long time. The goal is 265, hopefully by the end of the year. An intermediate goal is to be able to wear my Gray Stewart kilt to my 40th HS reunion in about three weeks. That probably won't happen. I'll be able to get it on, but it won't really be right. However, who knows? If ten pounds and another inch and a half come off of my butt and gutt, it could happen. It would be very nice to fit into that kilt again.

[The Q]

"They" have forever told you to do more exercise, what they don't tell you is the damage you gather over the years caused by that exercise.

My total is:

Broken right big toe that hurts and clicks as I walk..... sailing, about 5 years ago,
Worn out knees..... Volleyball, 30 years ago,
Damaged left elbow.... sailing, 15 years ago,
Damaged back.... Baseball, 33 years ago, re-awoken by sailing 5 years ago,
I also used to cycle to work and do a lot of walking, had to stop the cycling after the volleyball..

I'm sure there are those on here with a bigger total.

Also I became diabetic at 50 but that runs in the family whether you are over weight or not, I've found that since being on Metformin, I've lost a lot of strength and tire easily, although that may also be the restricted diet.

So I have to reserve my main physical efforts to trying to keep the garden under control and my only sailing, once the boat is restored, is of the sitting down all the time variety.

This means that controlling my weight can only be done by Diet, I know tomorrow it's salad for my main meal, it is every other day.
Hence at the moment, I just have the single PV kilt until my weight settles. I'm aiming for around 13 stone (182 pounds), down from around, after giving up sport, 21 stone (294 pounds), currently 17 stone (238 pounds).