I'm obsessed with getting healthy

[Droopy]

I guess that's what happens when you give up 3 addictions and then throw all that energy into working out and dieting.

I've lost 7 pounds so far, and I think it all came out of my ass. And that's bad news because I didn't have much of an ass to begin with. I noticed tonight that my pants felt really loose in the seat. I don't even have enough left back there to hold up my pants. Oh well. I guess I'll have to start working out on the butt machine at the gym.

I've got a long way to go to get down to where I am healthy. Or at least not obese. But when I go into the gym and see these guys in there that are built like football players doing the same exercises that I'm doing it makes me feel like all hope is not lost.

I think getting down to a reasonable weight is going to be the hardest thing that I've ever done in my life. And I've quit smoking so that ought to give you a good measure on how difficult this is for me. I have been overweight since I was a small child. I've never known what it's like to be in shape and at a healthy weight.

Here's to all of you who are trying to lose weight. :toast: <---That's diet ginger ale in those smilie's glasses.

[Systematic Chaos]

1. You are going to drop inches like mad, before you lose a lot of weight.

As you tone up, you will find that your body is shrinking, yet you may be puzzled that weight will just stop coming off. Just remember that muscle tissue is several times denser than fat tissue. Just keep working out, in moderation, and give yourself rest days. It will continue to have an effect on you in terms of weight and/or body mass.

As for me, I have been an absolute "Baby Huey" all my life. When I was 5 and being screened for the start of kindergarten, I was already over 4 feet tall and pushing 120 pounds! No joke! It took me until I was 13 to hit 200, only because I was more prone to physical activity in the intervening years, but when I left Florida and moved here to Vegas I spent most of my time on the Strip playing video games and eating buffets and fast food while my mother pissed away as much money as she possibly could, as quickly as possible, in what were then the new quarter draw poker machines. I sped into the high 200's by the time I was 15, but then I said "enough is enough" and started riding a bike and taking 3 hour walks in the mornings before school. I was at 235 when I graduated in 1986 and didn't flinch at a 15-mile bike jaunt. One way.

Serious depression has caused me to not care enough about myself to stop stuffing myself full of "comfort food" much of the time. I'm really pushing to overcome that now. And having a newfound dedication to exercise will help out a lot.

We can do this, Droop. Keep checking in here and letting us know if it's getting tough to go on. We'll give you all the support we can. It's already clearly evident that many of you here will do the same in return for me, and that is all I could ever hope for.

A big :toast: to you, too! (Except, right now I'm drinking diet Sunkist, although ginger ale does sound pretty good too....)

Edited to correct cat-induced typos.

[Droopy]

2. I've been out to Las Vegas a number of times

I'm a trucker and I used to travel cross country. I now have a cushy short haul run that gets me home every night. I loved Vegas when I was a gambler and I've thought of going out there for a vacation since I got my short haul job 5 years ago. Then I discovered a river boat casino near where I live and I spent a lot of time down there. Gambling was one of the addictions that I had to give up. It was sucking me dry. But man did I like to play cards. Especially black jack.

I am motivated this time as far as my weight loss goes. But I will check in here if I'm in need of support and I will also check in here to be supportive. My whole outlook on life has changed since I started on my weight loss program and gave up smoking, drinking, and gambling. I feel like a new person. Not at all the same as when I signed up as Droopy.

[Systematic Chaos]

4. It's good you've given up gambling. This town has become TIGHT!!

They have taken every possible step to make the games in this town completely unbeatable, regardless of your level of skill. I know for a fact that a person could make money playing blackjack in this town as recently as the mid 90's because I did it to a small degree from the time I turned 21 in 1990 and learned how to count cards well.

Now, if you can even find a single deck blackjack game, it will pay 6:5 (and in places like the Palms, even freaking money for your blackjack instead of the customary 3:2. That renders card counting nearly useless. Barring that, they'll put you up against these pieces of utter shit called Shuffle King machines. These monsters have 5 decks inside them like a regular shoe, but the dealer puts the discards back into the shuffler after every hand so that the cards you just saw could come back in 5 hands or 50. You just don't know. Wanna clock a roulette wheel to try and predict where the ball will land based on dealer habits? Forget it, Mac! The "frets", or spaces between each number on the wheel used to be half the height of the ball. Now some wheels just have little oval-shaped depressions where the ball can settle when it finally stops bouncing a week later. No more slamming into a tall fret and landing in a predictable spot +/- a few spaces.

My gambling habit consists of $10 or $20 weekly stabs at a video poker progressive. I shouldn't even do that much, but a royal flush = a second computer, and that would be nice.

My point is: Staying the hell out of Vegas is a good idea. :)

[lavenderdiva]

3. Congratulations Droopy on your 7lb weight loss!

That is quite an accomplishment! I have to believe that your body is going to go through many changes while you are on your way to a healthy body weight. There's going to be a lot of shifting in places you wouldn't have imagined! One of them will be your butt. Working out on the butt machine at the gym will help, if you want to add some definition.

Are you feeling like you have more energy? How is it going with the no-smoking? Are you feeling like you can breathe a little easier now?

You have made some tremendously positive changes for yourself, and it sounds like you are starting to see some great results! Keep up the good work, you are inspiring!!!

I love Canada Dry Diet Ginger Ale!! I got this recipe for Diet Canada Dry Ginger Strawberry Frappe from their website:


Break out the champagne glasses and indulge in the sweet flavor of a Ginger Strawberry Frappe.

8 ounces ice cold Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale
1/2 cup quartered fresh strawberries
3 ice cubes
Additional strawberry for garnish

In a blender, combine Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale, strawberries and ice. Blend until smooth, pour into a 12-ounce glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry.

[Droopy]

5. Thank you

I feel wonderful. I've been a non-smoker for a little over 3 weeks now. A non-drinker for 3.5 weeks, and a non-gambler for about a month. Just making those changes alone has given me a better outlook on life. Then you add the fact that I've been working out and dieting and I feel wonderful. I've done so much bad stuff to my body and my well being that finally doing something good for it has turned me into Mr. Super Health.

[MissMillie]

6. Droopy, I admire your dedication

I think what you're doing is fantastic. I have a lot of faith that you will exceed the goals that you set for yourself.

Keep up the good work!

[Droopy]

7. Thank you

I'm glad that we have the support groups here. You all have really helped me to stay motivated. I post regularly in the addiction group, exercise group, smoking cessation group, and the weight loss group. I owe everybody who posts in those forums.