Well here's an update.
Down to 245. I guess that makes 120lbs lost. I still maintain a fairly strict diet. High Protein, low carbs, fairly low fat. I have a weakness for Gatorade, watermelon, and about once every two or three weeks, I MAY get a Cheerwine (for the NC peeps) slushy. I try to keep things in the 1000-1100 calorie range until I hit the weight I want to be at, then will adjust from there to maintain.
I havent hammered down a true diet yet, but over the course of a day I may eat a pack of Lance cashews, which is a meal for me now, a boiled egg, maybe a half a chicken breast, or whole one over the course of two meals, and some green vegetables (broccoli is a favorite), or Beans of some sort, and generally some Water and a 32oz Gatorade. I don't necessarily eat those foods every day, especially since eggs add a lot of calories, as do the cashews.
I eat a lot of beans, chicken, cashews, and quinoa. Those are pretty much staples in my diet. I try to shy away from beef, but will occasionally grab something from a chinese place with mixed vegetables as a rare treat about once a month. No bread, no candy, no sweets. Once or twice a month I may grab a sweet tea while at a restaurant, old habit, and I never drink it, and don't know why I order it. Occasionally, at my bi-weekly Men's group before work every other Thursday, I'll get grits, an egg over easy, and add a little butter. I eat maybe 1/4-1/2c cooked grits, and all the egg.
I run occasionally. Can't sit still any more. Hate to sit at home. Have to be doing SOMETHING. Got a couple issues to straighten out post marriage and will join the YMCA. Basically, I don't have a checking account (weird, I know), and need to set one up in order to have my payment drafted from the account to pay the YMCA. They don't take debit card, and I wasn't paying 3 months up front right now with cash, as Im still paying off some of the ex's debts that she miraculously racked up in my name.
As far as weightloss.... I went down 100lbs quick, like 3 months or so, then stopped for a few weeks. I went down another 5 or so, and stopped again for a week or so, and now down another 15, and slowed again. Not worried, it will come off. I haven't really tried pushing it yet. I have 15 pounds until I reach my goal weight. My focus then will be to tighten up what I have and rebuild some muscle, and see where I am. I may try to continue to lose more weight while trying to build. I know adding muscle will add weight so I want to try to even them both out. I also mean by adding muscle I mean not trying to get ripped, but just building some strength back to an acceptable level. I'm not weak, but I have gotten a little weaker through the process, enough to notice, but it may just be because Im active again and doing stuff I haven't done in years.
Goal is 230. Over weight by the charts, but a number my surgeon and nutritionist agreed on since I'm pretty broad in the shoulders and hips. My hip bones stick out as is where I am now.
The start....
And now.... here's a cheesey mirror selfy showing my progress... excuse the dirty mirror. I had all the kids this weekend and havent cleaned the bathroom since they left. Apparently toothpaste is supposed to go elsewhere besides your mouth and the sink.