MBL Original Content!

344 Pounds: Below 250 Pounds!

VOL #6, Weeks 21 Through 24, My Weight Loss Journey Continues!

Updated: December 6, 2020
Before and after
By MBL Featured Blogger: Shawn Tyler Weeks
Originally Posted: June 1, 2020

Weeks 21 Through 24

Week 21

June 5

Counting Calories 6/1 – 6/5

I need to stop eating out so much.

Monday (1,355 calories)

6 a.m.: 3 eggs (scrambled), toast w/ jam, two slices of bacon = 385
Noon: turkey sandwich w/ lots of mustard and light mayo = 350
6 p.m.: 3 pancakes w/ two slices of bacon = 620

Tuesday (1,330 calories)

6 a.m.: 3 eggs (scrambled), toast w/ jam = 310
Noon: Ruby Tuesday’s New Orleans Seafood = 400
6 p.m.: beef tips w/ green beans and rice = 620

Wednesday (1,620 calories)

7 a.m.: 2 pieces of toast w/ peanut butter and jelly = 290
Noon: cheeseburger w/ hash browns = 780
6 p.m.: homemade tacos w/ beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, salsa = 550

Thursday (2,170 calories)

7 a.m.: Frosted flakes (2 cups) w/ sliced banana = 36
Noon: BLT w/ hash browns = 660
6 p.m.: 3 pieces of Pizza Hut pizza, two breadsticks = 1,150

Friday (1,380 calories)

7 a.m.: 2 scrambled eggs w/ mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, toast w/ jelly = 330
Noon: TGI Friday’s Sizzlin’ Chicken and Shrimp = 300
6 p.m.: 2 pieces of Pizza Hut pizza, breadstick = 750

There’s nothing wrong with pizza and cheeseburgers every once a while, but it shouldn’t take up several meals a week.

I feel so guilty. I’m going to the gym.

June 8

We’re all trying to lose weight for our own reasons. 

We all have our own motivation for losing weight. Mine is survival.

When it comes to losing weight, many people can’t see the forest for the trees and use the small, overall (in the long run) insignificant benefits of losing weight as motivation to push us to lose weight.  

I’ve discussed these “typical” benefits before, like looking good at the beach/pool, increasing sex appeal, fitting into stylish clothes, etc., you know — the common reasons on the surface level people give for trying to lose weight. 

I approached my previous weight loss attempts with the determination of someone trying to lose 10 pounds for the summer. If I succeed, well, great, I get to look like a rockstar at the beach! If I fail, oh well, I can live with a 4-pack of abs this summer.

Of course, the consequences of not losing weight for me are so much more.

Don’t misinterpret what I’m trying to say. I’m not trying to devalue or be demeaning to someone trying to lose 10 or 20 pounds — an attempt to lose any amount of weight is a respectable and tough journey. 

But really, if someone who needs to lose 5/10 pounds fails to do so — are there drastic consequences?

Probably not, no. At worst, their medium shirt might be a little tight.

On the contrary, what happens when me and the countless other morbidly obese people out there fail to lose our 50, 100, 150, or 200+ pounds?  We die.  

I say this without pause and without dramatic effect — our life ends and we leave this world and everybody we know because of the stupid, selfish, and (usually) countless terrible choices we made consistently throughout our life.

That’s why I’m losing weight.

I’m not trying to lose weight for the summer. I don’t have any clothes I want to fit into, I’m not trying to find a girlfriend, nor am I trying to shed some pounds for a wedding in six months.  

I’m trying to lose weight so I can see my baby girl marry the boy she ends up in love within 25 years.

June 10

Weight 255.8

Five months and the scale wants to stop moving.

Jun 10 weight: 255.8

Jun 03 weight: 256.2

May 27 weight: 262.2

May 20 weight: 264.2

May 13 weight: 267.4

I’ve lost 0.4 pounds in the last week and 88.4 pounds in 20 weeks. Want stats from past weeks? Check out my entire 20 week weight loss progress.

My scale wants to keep me above 250 pounds, but she doesn’t realize who she’s messing with. I don’t care how much rabbit food I have to eat for the time being or how long I have to workout every night at the gym, I’m going to reach 250 pounds and beyond.

She might have won the battle this week, but I’ll win the war.

I still realize I can’t lose 5 pounds every week, but I can at least lose one or two. Let’s tighten up my diet (yet again?) and intensify my workouts — we’ll see if I can’t accomplish that next week.

Until next time.

I’m not trying to lose weight for the summer. I don’t have any clothes I want to fit into, I’m not trying to find a girlfriend, nor am I trying to shed some pounds for a wedding in six months. I’m trying to lose weight so I can see my baby girl marry the boy she ends up in love with in 25 years.

 

Image Gallery

Week 22

June 12

When it comes to receiving weight loss support, my wife has certainly delivered the goods. She listens to my many countless rants, raves and struggles and continuously congratulates and praises me on my weight loss.  

More importantly, she makes sure I don’t deviate from my new, healthy lifestyle.

There are a few ways you can receive (or give) weight loss support.

Limiting Food Temptations

It’s easy to eat healthy if you only have healthy food in your house — much like breaking a nicotine addiction by not having any cigarettes around, right?

If you’re single, you can dictate what food enters your house and make sure the M&Ms stay at the impulse aisle in the grocery store.  

On the flip side, if you’re living with someone who doesn’t want to make the same sacrifices at the dinner table as you, you can find yourself navigating a diet while being surrounded by junk food 24/7.  

This is the case with me. While it would be nice if I had less temptations around the house, I do understand my wife and sister-in-law (currently living with us) not wanting to drastically change their lives as well.  Honestly, I don’t really blame them.

Workout Buddies

Similar to a weight loss accountability partner, workout buddies are simply friends, family members or even total strangers that you work out with on a daily or fairly routine basis.  

Compliments

Compliments are the fuel to this five-month fire. I receive at least one compliment about my “new look” everyday and it makes me feel all giddy inside. 

Do you know someone trying to lose weight? Give them a compliment today.

Even if you can’t provide weight loss support any other way, give them a little bit of praise — it’ll keep them from skipping the gym one day.

Counting Calories 6/8 – 6/12

Monday (1,385 calories)

6 a.m.: 2 cups of shredded wheat cereal, banana = 395
Noon: KFC’s two grilled chicken meal w/ mashed potatoes and corn = 510
5 p.m.: 1 cup of Cracker Jacks = 70
6 p.m.: 3 pancakes w/ syrup = 410

Tuesday (1,750 calories)

6 a.m.: 3 eggs (scrambled), toast w/ jelly and peanut butter = 360
10 a.m.: Banana = 80
Noon: turkey sandwich w/ lots of mustard and light mayo = 350
6 p.m.: Five Guys cheeseburger and cajun fries = 960

Wednesday (1,750 calories)

6 a.m.: Honey nut cheerios w/ banana = 340
Noon: BBQ, white rice with hash,  1/2 cup of coleslaw, 2 hashbrowns = 720
6 p.m.: Boiled pot with sausage, cabbage, and red potatoes = 490

Thursday (1,640 calories)

6 a.m.: 3 eggs (scrambled) and 2 slices of bacon = 310
Noon: Grilled chicken gyros w/ grilled onions, lettuce, tomato on a pita (no sauce) =540
6 p.m.: Grilled catfish w/ corn, mashed potatoes, and hashbrown casserole = 790

Friday (1,925 calories)

6 a.m.: 3 eggs (scrambled), toast w/ jam, two slices of bacon = 385
Noon: Grilled chicken gyros w/ grilled onions, lettuce, tomato on a pita (no sauce) = 540
6 p.m.: 1/2 serving of general tso’s chicken w/ fried rice = 990 est.

Dinner Friday night made me sick — I’m not used to that kind of garbage.  Next time I do go out for junk food, it won’t be that bad.

My diet still needs improvement — I need to introduce more fruits and veggies as snacks between meals.  

I also need smaller dinners and larger breakfasts, but other than that, any other suggestions?  Joy?

June 15

My original weight loss goal was to lose 100 pounds and finish my journey weighing 244 pounds. 

About a month ago, after realizing I’d still have an incredibly large stomach (and two chins) remaining once I hit 244, I revised my goal weight to 225 pounds.

I’m changing my goal weight once again: 200 pounds.

Typing “200 pounds” seems so surreal; I haven’t weighed that much since middle school. I also fully expect to reach my goal weight of 200 pounds later on this year. 

While it might end up being a close race in December, I’m fairly sure I can lose 55 pounds within the next 6 months.

That’ll be just shy of 150 pounds lost in 2009.

Standing at 73 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds I should be lean and devoid of any gut but still feature some pretty big guns.

I know that’s what the ladies (wife) like(s).

June 17

Slow and Steady

Weight 253.8

Jun 17 weight: 253.8

Jun 10 weight: 255.8

Jun 03 weight: 256.2

May 27 weight: 262.2

May 20 weight: 264.2

I’ve lost 2 pounds in the last week and 90.4 pounds in 21 weeks. Want stats from past weeks? Check out my entire 21 week weight loss progress.

I have good news and bad news.

First, the good news. The good news is that I’m less than 10 pounds away from losing a total of 100 pounds! It’s amazing how far we’ve come.  

Now, the bad news. The bad news is that my weight loss has slowed considerably over the last month — I’ve lost only about 11 pounds in the last 4 weeks.

While the gradual decline in my weekly weight loss was to be expected, it’s still hard to deal with.  

I’m still going to the gym 5 days a week and eating healthy, even more so than I was a couple months ago, but I’m losing at a much slower pace than I was in March, April or even May.

It’s hard giving more and receiving less every week, but that’s what I’m prepared to do. I just know that when the ball starts dropping in Times Square this New Year’s Eve, that scale will read 200 pounds.

Week 23

June 19

I’ve been training on the treadmill for a solid two weeks. It’s boring, tiring and painful, and uh, I’m ready to stay on for however long you guys make me!

I’ll follow the four plus one system for the duration of the workout, meaning I’ll walk for four minutes and run for one. I’ll maintain a speed of at least 3.5 3.7 throughout the workout (minus warmup/cooldown) with a slight elevation (2.0+ incline).

But there’s a catch.

Your window of opportunity to add time to my workout is only from now until Saturday, 6 a.m. Eastern — 24 hours. 

I’ll go through with the actual pledge on Saturday. With that being said, you have the opportunity to make me work out for much longer than ever before.

If you’re new to my workout pledges, here’s the lowdown. Basically, I allow my readers (that’s you, big boy!) to determine how long I work.out at the gym.  

It isn’t as simple as you telling me to workout for X minutes (it’s not that easy), you have to complete at least one of the tasks that I set forth.

These tasks are the following:

  1. Post a comment = 30 seconds. If you add a comment to this post, you add 30 seconds to my treadmill workout.  The comment can be as simple as “Go Tyler!” or it can be cliff notes for A Modest Proposal. Your call.
  2. Follow me on twitter = 45 seconds. I like birds.
  3. Subscribe to RSS feed = 1 minute. Sign up to my RSS feed to add a minute to my workout. I’m spreading across the globe, the web, RSS, twitter — next thing you know, you’ll be able to pull up 344Pounds.com on your phone!
  4. Link to 344Pounds.com = 3 minutes. Post a link to 344Pounds.com. You can link from your blog, Facebook, Twitter page, Digg, Slashdot (nerd!), your Match.com profile, whatever… I’m not here to judge you.

I want this first treadmill workout to pledge to surpass 60+ minutes. If it does, I’ll repeat the same workout again on Sunday. And as always, you’ll get photos of the workout(s).

UPDATE (6/10): Thanks for your support! I’ll be on the treadmill for 54 minutes and 25 seconds. I’ll post with pics later on today!

June 20

Counting Calories 6/15 – 6/19

Monday (1,475 calories)

6 a.m.: 3 eggs (scrambled), toast w/ jelly and peanut butter = 360
10 a.m.: green apple = 55
Noon: Grilled chicken gyros w/ onions, lettuce, tomato on a pita =540
6 p.m.: 4 ounces of BBQ w/ chips and salsa = 520

Tuesday (1,905 calories)

7 a.m.: Egg sandwich w/ chips and salsa (craving!) = 410
10 a.m.: green apple = 55
Noon: Grilled chicken gyros w/ onions, lettuce, tomato on a pita =540
6 p.m.: Zaxby’s boneless wing meal = 900

Wednesday (1,790 calories)

6 a.m.: Honey Nut Cheerios w/ 1% milk and toast w/ jelly = 350
10 a.m.: Cup of baby carrots = 60
Noon: Grilled chicken gyros w/ onions, lettuce, tomato on a pita =540
6 p.m.: Chick-Fil-A chicken fingers (4) and fries = 840

Thursday (2,000 calories)

7 a.m.: Nature’s Valley granola bar and scrambled eggs (3) w/ salsa = 390
Noon: BBQ, white rice w/ hash,  1/2 cup of coleslaw, 2 hashbrowns = 720
5 p.m.: Chicken sandwich w/ Cajun fries = 890

Friday (1,720 calories)

7 a.m.: Omelet w/ bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, salsa = 380
Noon: Cup of clam chowder, grilled shrimp, 1/4 grilled chicken breast = 630
5 p.m.: 3/4 (leftover) chicken breast w/ grilled onions/tomatoes, potatoes = 520
6 p.m.: 2 warm chocolate chip cookies = 190

This week is the perfect example of “eating in moderation.” I had some unhealthy meals, but the majority of my meals were fairly healthy.

Treadmill Workout

Proof, you skeptics.

workout machine 57 min

Workout machine calories 851.8

Check out those sweet kicks, Nike Air Zooms!  Great running shoes.

So, I went through with the pledge this morning. The total time was 54 minutes and 25 seconds, but I rounded up. I burned (according to the machine) 650 calories and traveled nearly 3.5 miles on the treadmill.

Great, right?

After finishing my workout, I picked up my iPhone to take a picture of the stats on the treadmill — but my battery literally died in my hands, meaning I wasn’t able to take a picture of the workout results.

With that being said, I’m a man of my word — I always show you proof of me going through with the workout pledges and this time is no exception. I don’t have time to spend another hour at the gym today, but I’ll go back tomorrow (with a fully charged iPhone) and do another 55 minutes on the treadmill.

It looks like you guys made me work out both days after all.

June 22

I’m one of the most competitive people you will ever meet.

You name the game and I’m eager and ready to play and win. If a score can be kept, I’m anxious to compete as many times as it takes to win: ABC games on road trips, board games, sports, trivia, video games, Jeopardy, etc.

Not only do I want to play, but I’m cocky in believing I can win.

With that being said, I’m confident about losing 150 pounds in 2009. Not cocky, but confident. 

While cocky and confident have almost identical definitions (both meaning self-assured), you become cocky when you become “overly” self-assured and confident.

That’s the textbook definition, anyway — it’s fairly relative. I have my own definition.

Being cocky means thinking you’re better than others. While it’s perfectly acceptable to be confident and think you’re able to accomplish anything, being cocky means doubting the ability and resolve of someone else.

Take for example my basketball skills. I think they’re above average. I used to go to shooting contests when I was little and would walk away with the first or second place trophy. I was always the MVP on my teams.  

I was larger than most of the kids (which was good when you were 12) and I didn’t miss often.

I was and still am good at basketball. I’m confident about my basketball skills.

I turn from confident to cocky when I doubt the ambition, determination, and skills of someone else.  

While I can practice all day long and consider myself good at basketball, I become cocky when I think that my skills are better than yours before I step onto the court. I become cocky when I assume that I’ve practiced harder, longer and have a better jump shot than you.

While it’s fine to be confident about my skills, it’s cocky to be doubtful of yours. And normally when I’m cocky, I usually get my butt tore up on the court.

It’s funny how that works.

When it comes to weight loss and setting any sort of goals in life for yourself, there’s no such thing as cockiness. If you’re not 100% confident in your ability to accomplish anything, then you’re filled with at least 1% self-doubt.  

That 1% self-doubt will appear on some random Tuesday on your drive home from work — it’ll tell you to skip the gym and go home and watch Golden Girls.  

Self-doubt is a vicious, poisonous character trait that has to be avoided at all costs.

Personally, I have a lot of goals in my life. They include:

When it comes to weight loss goals, I want to lose 150 pounds in 2009. I don’t really consider that a separate goal though, that’s part of being a good husband/father and being able to provide for my family.

It’s hard to provide for your family when you’re dead at 50 40.

While some may call me cocky for moving weight loss goals I’ve yet to even reach, I call it confidence.  

I’m not competing against anybody. Nobody can stop me from losing weight. Barring some horrible tragedy, I’m the only one who gets to decide whether I reach my goals or not.

I decide with the actions I take today. And tomorrow. And the next day. I’m confident about losing weight. One hundred fifty pounds in 12 months, to be exact.

I know I will — there’s nothing you can do to stop me.

June 23

I’ve learned a lot since my first treadmill workout

The treadmill and running in general has a bigger learning curve than the elliptical. I didn’t think it’d be something I’d need to “get the hang of,” but it’s not as easy as just stepping on the treadmill and pushing the start button.

Here are a few treadmill running tips for beginners.

These tips shouldn’t be a revelation to anybody who has been running for any length of time, but if you’re new to the treadmill (and/or running) you should definitely take them into consideration.

  1. Just breathe. Maintain steady, deep breathing while you’re running. It may seem basic, but sometimes when I’ve been running for more than 30 seconds and I’m concentrating on uh, running, I’ll forget to breathe.
  2. Walk tall. Don’t slouch or curve your back. It’s especially tempting to slouch and lean forward (a lot) when you’re going against an incline.
  3. Keep your feet low. You don’t want to scrape the bottom of your feet against the treadmill every time you take a step, but you also don’t want to take your feet a foot (feet a foot, what?) off the machine. Just keep a low, steady, “piercing stab” so to speak with your feet and make fast, low, quick forward snaps with your feet underneath you.
  4. Swing your arms. Don’t use the handles on the treadmill machine.  By not using handles and swinging your arms you’ll burn more calories, keep your posture upright, and feel more natural. While it’s hard enough transitioning from running on a treadmill to the ground as it is, a handle only creates a larger deficit to overcome later down the road.
  5. Use the restroom first. This blog is all about full transparency, so here’s me living up to that promise. Not only do you need to try to urinate before you step onto the elliptical for an hour, but you also need to try to rid your body of any flatulence. When you start running, it tends to want to make an appearance. Seriously.
  6. Look straight ahead. Sometimes I try to look around the gym while I walk and I start wobbling on the treadmill. I also notice that if I look to the side while I walk, my posture deteriorates.
  7. Bend your knees. Don’t walk/run like you have a pirate leg. Not only is it bad form, but it could cause serious injury depending on the speed you’re running at on the treadmill.
  8. Warm up and cool down. Don’t jump on the treadmill and immediately start running. I stretch for about five minutes before I get on the treadmill. And, once I do step onto the treadmill, I’ll start an extremely slow speed (like 2.0) and gradually warm up to my desired max speed.

The same applies to cooling down.

  1. Long socks. I know you kids these days like those low socks, but be careful – your heel could get eaten up by the back of your shoes in as little as five minutes.
  2. Have a good pair of running shoes. Gump had a good pair. I have a good pair of running shoes. So should you — your ankles, feet, and back will thank you after every workout. That’s all I got to say about that.

June 24

Not yet.

weight 252.4

Jun 24 weight: 252.4

Jun 17 weight: 253.8

Jun 10 weight: 255.8

Jun 03 weight: 256.2

May 27 weight: 262.2

I’ve lost 1.4 pounds in the last week and 91.8 pounds in 22 weeks. Want stats from past weeks? Check out my entire 22 week weight loss progress.

I’m still aiming for at least 2+ pounds lost every week. Come on.

I attribute the slow weight loss this month to initial muscle gain. Much like someone who just starts trying to lose weight loses a lot at first, over the last month I’ve built a lot of muscle and increased my lifts by 30 pounds!

It’s hard to be disappointed about building muscles.

With that being said, I also attribute the slow weight loss this month to a lack of intense cardio. I’m getting into the fairly common practice of setting the bar high in the gym, reaching the bar, then coasting on that level for three weeks.

That’s bad if I want to be under 200 pounds in January.

To get a more accurate measure of my weight loss results, I’m shopping right now to buy a set of calipers to measure my body fat percentage.  

Can we get under 250 pounds by July?

June 25

I’ve used all of the popular cardio machines found in most gyms including the treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, and stairmaster. 

I wanted to share the experience I’ve had with each one over the past several months and hopefully help someone find the best cardio machine that works for them.

Stairmaster Machine

Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of the stairmaster. Logistically speaking, using the machine makes my water bottle bounce out of the cup holder (no fat jokes, please). It doesn’t seem as if the machines (I’ve tried a couple at my gym) are designed “properly.”  

Stationary Bike

Cycling is a low-intensity workout (good for beginners) that burns few calories in comparison to its counterparts like the treadmill and elliptical machine. It probably has to do with the whole sitting thing, but don’t quote me on that.

Treadmill Machine

It’s undeniable that you can lose more calories by walking/running on the treadmill than any other machine. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of “practice” before you’re able to clock in a hard, long workout session on the treadmill.

Elliptical Machine

I’m biased. I used the elliptical machine to help me almost exclusively lose 90 pounds. While I’m glad I eventually switched to the treadmill, the elliptical machine will hold a special place in my heart for a very long time.

Ultimately though, the elliptical machine will only provide resistance for so long. One day, months or maybe years from now, you’ll reach a point of diminished returns, much like I did.

Once that happens, it’s time to get on the treadmill.

I decide with the actions I take today. And tomorrow. And the next day. I’m confident about losing weight. One hundred fifty pounds in 12 months, to be exact.

Image Gallery

Week 24

June 27

Counting Calories 6/22 – 6/26

Monday (1,660 calories)

7 a.m.: 3 scrambled eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of toast w/ jam = 420
10 a.m.: 1/2 cup of carrots = 30
Noon: 1/2 order of chimichanga (leftovers) and red rice = 650 est
6 p.m.: pork chop, mashed potatoes, corn = 560

Tuesday (1,691 calories)

7 a.m.: 2 pancakes w/ syrup = 320
10 a.m.: cup of carrots = 60
Noon: grilled chicken gyros w/ onions, lettuce, tomato on a pita = 540
5 p.m.: Arby’s Fita Flatbed Melt w/ small curly fries = 771

Wednesday (1,640 calories)

6 a.m.: 2 cups of Honey Nut Cheerios, 2 slices of toast = 310
10 a.m.: 15 grapes = 60
Noon: BBQ, white rice w/ hash,  1/2 cup of coleslaw, 2 hush puppies = 720
6 p.m.: homemade tacos w/ beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, salsa = 550

Thursday (1,700 calories)

6 a.m.: Two slices of toast (had to eat on the run) = 120
Noon: BBQ, white rice w/ hash,  1/2 cup of coleslaw, 2 hush puppies = 720
6 p.m.: 2 slices of Pizza Hut pizza, 1 breadstick = 860

Friday (1,950 calories)

7 a.m.: 3 scrambled eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of toast w/ jam = 420
10 a.m.: 1/2 cup of carrots = 30
Noon: Cheeseburger and fries = 850
5 p.m.: 10 sushi rolls, egg drop soup, 1/2 cup of fried rice = 650 est.

I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to count calories. My time could be better spent on the treadmill.

I originally started counting calories to show people that I eat well while losing weight. Now that I’ve done that for a couple of months, I don’t think showing my calorie consumption is useful anymore.

June 29

One of the most common excuses people give for not being able to lose weight is that they’re too busy. They claim they’re either too busy to exercise on a daily basis or too busy to prepare and eat healthy meals — or both.

Bull.

I had the same excuses when I attempted (and failed) to lose weight years ago when I was managing school and a social life. Fact is, I didn’t even begin to know the definition of a busy schedule until the last few months.

Daily Weekday Schedule

My day starts at 5:30 in the morning and ends at around 11 at night.

5:30 a.m. | Wake up
6:30 a.m. | Breakfast
7 – 8 a.m. | Commute to work
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Work, usually lunch at my desk
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Commute back home
6 p.m. | Prepare & cook dinner
7 – 8:45 p.m. | Spend time with the family, reply to emails, blog
8:45 – 9 p.m. | Drive to gym
9 – 10 p.m. | Work out
10:15 – 11 p.m. | Reply to emails, blog

I’m physically and mentally exhausted when I go to sleep at 11. I’m still tired when I wake up in the morning. This schedule is taking a toll on me and unfortunately, I don’t see how it’ll change any time soon.

344 Pounds is taking up a lot of my time. Any free time I get at home (which isn’t much) is spent on the blog. I don’t have the time to reply to comments or emails during the day, which is why I make most replies at night.  

With that being said, 344 Pounds is growing like wildfire and my subpar writing is being read by more and more people everyday.

I wish I had solutions to remove the demands of life (for both of us), but I don’t. If you want to lose weight, you will sacrifice a part of your life to reach your goals.  

Personally, I sacrifice the very small and precious amount of time I do receive to spend with my family to go sit on a treadmill in a cold, empty gym.

It’s a sacrifice.

June 30

My weight loss is completely changing my life.

I was picking up dinner Sunday night and saw a lady I know (or knew) pretty well. While I haven’t seen her since about Christmas, I had seen her pretty consistently the months prior to our hiatus.  

I was the head coach for a youth football team in the fall of 2008 and she was the “team’s mom.” She acted as the liaison between myself and the football league (NCFA), handled the contacting of parents, organized team parties, etc.

I made our team of 10-13 year olds (Go Panthers!) practice for two hours on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with games on Sunday. Naturally, I spent a lot of time with the team mom making sure everything ran smoothly.

When I saw her this weekend, though, she didn’t know who I was.

I stared at her from three feet away and said hello as she looked square back at me, but she just didn’t recognize me. After a few awkward seconds, I told her my name and she replied (stunned):

“You don’t look like the same person.”

I couldn’t do anything but smile. And give out my blog address, of course.

Granted, it could’ve been the shirt I was wearing. The pants, perhaps. Or maybe, it could’ve been the fact I’ve lost 10 inches from my waist in the past six months and the XL shirt I was wearing was loose on me — down from a 4X.

size 48 pants 4xl shirts

July 1

I’m under 250 pounds!

weight 247.6

July 01 weight: 247.6

Jun 24 weight: 252.4

Jun 17 weight: 253.8

Jun 10 weight: 255.8

Jun 03 weight: 256.2

I’ve lost 4.8 pounds in the last week and 96.6 pounds in 23 weeks. Want stats from past weeks? Check out my entire 23 week weight loss progress.

I lost more weight this week than the last three weeks combined.

Until next time, weight loss plateau.

I have 3.4 pounds to go until I’m able to say I’ve lost 100 pounds. Next week will mark exactly six months on my weight loss journey and in a few weeks, on the 26th, I’ll be turning 24 years old.

July is going to be a pretty exciting month.

Here’s to 244 pounds next week.

July 2

Today marks the 28th consecutive day of going to the gym.

I never used to go to the gym every day of the week until about a month ago. It wasn’t a conscious decision to keep going over the weekend — it just gradually happened.  

Instead of taking Saturday and Sunday off as I did for the first 5 months, the gym naturally merged itself into my everyday routine.

Like waking up and breathing.

I almost feel “empty” until I step into the gym at night and go to work. I’m absolutely in love with going to the gym and being pushed to my physical limits. It’s an addiction.  

I know that the more I work out, the more calories I burn, and the more I have to show for it on the scale next Wednesday.

Accountability drives me. This blog drives me. I’ll live another 20 years because of you. You saved my life.

Comment Below
Have you been hitting the gym? How many days a week? Tell us about your routine. 

 

Comments

[anycomment]

Author

Author Details
Shawn Tyler Weeks
MyBigLife.com
Shawn Typer Weeks - creator of 344 Pounds website.

If you like this post, check these out!

World Cancer Day on February 4

 Bariatric surgery can reduce the risk for cancer

Today is World Cancer Day-February 4, 2021 Over time, these comorbidities can evolve into much more serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, and ... Continue Reading

10 weight-loss tips for the New Year.Lady preparing a smoothie

10 Weight-loss Tips for the New Year

Gym membership rates are often at their peak, and you’ll start seeing a trickle of motivated walkers and runners on your way to work. Given ... Continue Reading

woman measuring her weight on a modern smart scales

10 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing the Weight

We’re in very interesting times right now as the coronavirus continues to spread across the world. More people are at home, and surprisingly, more people ... Continue Reading

side view of young woman standing on digital scales in bathroom

The 15 Best Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work

Losing weight isn’t easy for anyone and it can seem overwhelming. Not only do you have to find the balance between eating healthy and still ... Continue Reading

MyBigLife.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition.

If you are having a medical emergency please call 911 immediately!​

SHARE

LIfestyle Blog Search