Author Topic: Lost: Have you seen 65 pounds lying around anywhere? If so...do NOT return!  (Read 4584 times)

Offline Operadragon

  • The Thundering Voice of Ages
  • Moderator
  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 128
  • Gender: Male
  • The voice is a truly powerful tool...use it well.
Well, folks...I know it doesn't have anything to do with the work...but I felt it was time to share...

I have been working on changing my lifestyle from an unhealthily-eating, sedentary life, to a healthy-eating, active lifestyle...

And it's paying off!
I decided to embark on this undertaking around the middle of March, after I was through with my college's production of Little Shop of Horrors. I saw the pictures of myself from media night for our principal photography, and I was completely disgusted with how I looked, and decided to do something about it then.  (for those wondering, I was originally the Voice of the Plant, but had to take Mr. Mushnik because of some casting issues....)

SO...

My plans were to start March 1, as we were finishing up Little Shop, but, surprise surprise, I was cast in the April show, and so my plans to start hitting the gym in the evenings kinda had to be put on hold...So now my plans were bumped back to about May 1st.

I got through with the show on April 30th, and set to work turning my lifestyle a complete 180 degrees, and started by changing my eating habits, eating lots of fruit and vegetables, adding a lot of fiber, supplementing my protein with shakes, and cutting out all soda and fried foods. It was beginning to feel much easier to eat this way through the month of May, and I realinzed that I should do this first, because a total change would be too much for me to handle all at once.

I started June by hitting the gym to start a workout regime.  My eating was very much under control, but my weight wasn't significantly dropping, although I was feeling much better about myself.  I started lifting weights on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
I hit them VERY hard, and I started walking on my off-days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday). I started feeling AMAZING almost immediately, except for the major soreness involved.

I saw that from July 1 to August 27 my gym was going to start the "Summer Slimmer Challenge." I really wanted to kick it up a notch and do very well, as I was already on my way.  To start the contest, I weighed in for the first time in nearly two years, and was surprised that I had already lost around 25 pounds. I was very encouraged and decided to go all out for the contest.

So I increased my weight and my repetitions, and I increased my distance I walked from 2 miles to 5 miles. So I was hiiting it hard at the gym three days a week, and walking 20+ miles a week. So I went to weigh in every two to three weeks over July and August, and I am proud to report that today (well early for the contest) that I now weigh about 42 pounds less than when I weighed on July 1st.  AND I STILL HAVE 3 DAYS TO GO!!!

SO I'm gonna hit it hard for 3 more days, and maybe I can get to 45!

I'm not disclosing my weight, but you can probably guess it was BAD to begin with...but I know that most would think it's unhealthy to lose at the clip that I have, but the truth is this: Like I mentioned before, I have completely turned my eating habits and activity level around 180 degrees...it was such a shock to my system that I dropped the excess weight like a snake shedding its old skin, and that's what it feels like...muscles toning up and body shrinking up (not where I want it yet, but well on my way), and now it's going to be even more challenging...because I have tried to turn things around before, and getting happy at my progess and becoming complacent has always been a problem for me...so the challenge is now.  My hope is to have dropped 100 pounds total by the new year.  If I do, it will be the lightest I have been in nearly 4 years. Everybody send positive vibes my way and I think I can do it...All I have to do is stay the course.

Now, I hope that if any of you out there are trying to get in shape or struggling with your weight, I want to emphasize something that is VERY important.  Your eating habits are so important, and I know how crazy people are about fad diets, so I have to say this:

FAD DIETS DO NOT WORK IN THE LONG RUN!!!!

I must emphasize that I got where I am by balancing my diet with lots of Carbs, lots of Protein, and very few Fats, PERIOD.
Here's some things I try to accomplish every day:
Eat 5-7 pieces of fruit a day (juices included)
Eat lean meats (Turkey, Chicken, Sushi, regular fish, Egg Beaters)
Drink half of my body weight in ounces of water a day (e.g. if you weigh 200 lbs, you should drink 100 oz of H20)
Eat a big breakfast (this is key), a good lunch, and smaller dinner, and no food for 2 hours before you go to bed.
Park further away when you go out (every step counts)

And I have some other stuff, but that's ALL...no counting calories, fat grams, or carbs.

I know that this might not work for everybody, but eating right doesn't mean giving up the stuff you like.

I'm very sorry for getting on a soapbox here, but I am VERY proud of myself for sticking with it, and hope I can reach my goal.

Like a cliched athlete, I just take it one day at a time...and that's all you can do.
Live right for the moment, so there are more tomorrows to have.

Thanks for listening, and so you know, dialoge recording is going WONDERFULLY!

(thanks Kis and St. Jo...you girls are the bestest!)

Cheers to all,
Operadragon (Brad Venable)
Operadragon

Voice For Hire, LLC

<Operadragon> I think you're cute.
<St. Josephine> I think you're drunk.

Offline Stoplight Red

  • Infectious. Literally.
  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 190
  • Gender: Female
  • I swear that there's really only one of me.
    • The Last Stoplight
Don't feel sorry! That's so incredibly awesome. Congratulations, rock on!
<StoplightRed> right, right. but see, most of my friends really aren't bastards.
*** Corvis has joined channel #ppgmod
<jcompton> Right on cue!

Offline Evaine Dian

  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 565
  • Gender: Female
Quote
I am VERY proud of myself for sticking with it

You can be proud of such a success, that's for sure. I wish I had only half of your will- and staying power.

Congratulations!
"Show me how you do that trick! The one that makes me scream", she said,
"the one that makes me laugh!" she said and threw her arms around my neck.
"Show me how you do it and I promise you, I promise that
I'll run away with you, I'll run away with you..."

Offline Operadragon

  • The Thundering Voice of Ages
  • Moderator
  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 128
  • Gender: Male
  • The voice is a truly powerful tool...use it well.
Thanks for the support, ladies...
I reread this post this morning and I feel like a fitness guru...which is certainly not the case!

But thanks to all of you who get something out of it!

Gotta go now...
Operadragon
Operadragon

Voice For Hire, LLC

<Operadragon> I think you're cute.
<St. Josephine> I think you're drunk.

Offline jester

  • Here be dragons...
  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 2416
  • If you fail, fail gloriously.
Shouldn't this be someplace else??? Congrats by the way. :)
People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

Why spend all your day surfing for porn?




Balance in all things
I haven't had this much fun since... the last time.

Offline glain

  • Got Shirt?
  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 350
  • Gender: Female
  • "Comptonette #1" and Resident Neurosurgeon
Yes, congrats, Opera!
Beware the evil behind the smiling eyes...

Offline BigRob

  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 78
  • Cruel and unusual trousers.
    • Aklon's Homepage
Aye, well done sir, keep it up.  :)
Come on down to the Gibberlings Three! Home of Delainy, The Haer'Dalis Romance, Aklon, the Lands of Intrigue, the Tiefling Sisters, Tabiya and more! A veritable cornucopoeia of Modding goodness!

Offline irenicus

  • irenicus
  • Planewalker
  • *****
  • Posts: 827
  • Gender: Female
*claps*

 

With Quick-Reply you can write a post when viewing a topic without loading a new page. You can still use bulletin board code and smileys as you would in a normal post.

Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.

Name: Email:
Verification:
Type the letters shown in the picture
Listen to the letters / Request another image
Type the letters shown in the picture:
What color is grass?:
What is the seventh word in this sentence?:
What is five minus two (use the full word)?: