Weight Loss Stories – David Lost 70 Pounds in 12 Months

Name: David
Age: 36
Family Status: Single
Occupation: Telecommunications
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Height: 5’6″
Waist: 42″
Starting Weight: 280 pounds
Current Weight: 210 pounds
Pounds or Inches Lost: I’ve lost 70 pounds and 10 inches so far!

David’s Weight Loss Story!

Everyone is always asking me why I started changing my lifestyle, dieting and putting all my focus into that. On July 17th, 2013 I got a call from my doctor saying she wanted to see me ASAP because my A1C levels were high. I went in and she said since I was 280 pounds, I was a high diabetic risk and my cholesterol levels were high and I also had an enlarged liver. I had let myself go and I was drinking alcohol like water, eating late at night with a lot of diet sodas, juices, candy and other junk food. I ended up getting a few medications from my doctor and started on them.

I told myself, “Screw this, it’s over!” It was nothing against the people and friends I love or hang out with but I needed to get this under control right away because I had heard about way too many diabetic horror stories and I did not want be a statistic or be on different medications for my whole life. So I started with my diet and cut out all diet soda and stopped drinking my calories and I also gave up drinking alcohol for 3 months.

For exercise, I started riding my bike outside for a few miles and walking on the treadmill in my basement for 20 minutes. It was nothing major for a beginner but after a few weeks I started losing and the weight started coming off. I was like, “OMG this is awesome!” All of the compliments felt great so I drove harder and harder. I do have my slip ups with alcohol but I try to keep it to once every 2 weeks but for the most part I’m doing pretty well with it since I’m not perfect.

I’m making all these changes to feel better about myself inside and out. Today marks my 1 year anniversary with a total weight loss of 70 pounds and I’m down to 210 pounds! My diabetes is reversed for the most part and my cholesterol is normal and my liver levels are improving. I’m happy and disappointed at the same time. I think I would’ve done a lot better since I’m not on a special diet or pills or doing any surgeries.

My advice to others is just get off your ass and work it out! I know it doesn’t happen overnight. I have 35 pounds more to go until I reach my goal. This year is all about staying focused and tweaking my diet along with meal prepping, proper portion control and switching up my exercise routine as the walls and plateaus keep coming. It’s a little frustrating but I’m not stopping!

I love all my friends and family and I hope they all understand and support me during this time. I can’t really go out since I’m not strong enough to say no to alcohol yet. I just can’t have a few drinks and call it a night because it’s all or nothing with me. That’s why at this time in my life I need to keep that to a minimum to reach my goals. The struggle of weight loss, burning fat and building muscle mass is a challenge and it’s probably one of the hardest things along with trying to stay as sober as much as possible through all the mind games our brain plays on us.

I want everyone to know that if I can do it, you can do it too as long as you want it bad enough and sacrifice some things to get it! Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it can help and inspire others who have the same struggles as I do and we can work on it together. I’m willing to help so feel free to contact me anytime ([email protected]).

David’s Weight Loss Interview!

When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I’ve been overweight all my life and I was sick of living like that.

What made you decide to lose weight?
Health reasons.

What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Lifestyle changes and dieting.

What was most challenging about losing weight?
Staying on my program and having patience.

How long did it take you to start to see results?
1 month.

How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
1 year.

How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
A little over 1 year. I maintain by staying motivated and hungry to reach my goals.

What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
Looking at old photos.

How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
My self-esteem went up! I was able to reverse my health issues and I can move around better now.

Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
You can do it if you put your mind to it. Don’t let the scale bring you down. Keep pushing! We didn’t put the weight on overnight so it’s not going to come off overnight.

How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
ShapeFit.com has great articles and weight loss success stories. I love ShapeFit!

David’s Weight Loss Tips!

Weight loss tip #1:
Diet is key.

Weight loss tip #2:
Get moving.

Weight loss tip #3:
Motivation is important.

Weight loss tip #4:
Have a support group.

Weight loss tip #5:
Get rest.

David’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!

Breakfast:
Oatmeal with a piece of fruit or protein shake.

Lunch:
Chicken breast, baked broccoli.

Dinner:
Chicken breast, baked veggies and a sweet potato.

Snacks or Mini Meals:
Quest bar, grapes, Greek yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese and blueberries.

Nutritional Supplements:
Multivitamin, wheat grass, protein shakes, amino acids.

David’s Weight Loss Workouts!

Weight Training:
I do full body circuits.

Cardiovascular:
I walk on an incline, jog, Focus T25 workout DVD, jump rope, swim, bike, elliptical and stairs.

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