I have always been critical of this show. Not from hating because I applaud the efforts of these contestants. Regardless of how far each of them make it on through the show and the experience. The decision they make to change their lives and put their health first is key to having any success. I've been critical because I know there is no way this show provides adequate aftercare for these constestants once they leave the show. Now there's research to support that not keeping the weight off or better yet the weight returning is possibly medically related.
In reading this article the one thing I didn't see was any reference to how long they are on the ranch. That makes a difference. Losing that much weight in a relatively short amount of time is a recipe for disaster for a lot of people in their situation. Some people it has worked for them and they have been able to keep it off. For a lot and I would submit most their genetics won't allow it. It's a a lifestyle change that is required to have success at losing the weight, losing the inches and improving their overall health. They are on the show about 3-5 months. They exercise multiples a day, almost every day. Their diet is created and managed by professional nutrionists. And they are monitored 24 hours a day. All of this to ensure results for the show. So of course it stands to reason that they would find it difficult to maintain the weight loss once returning to regular life.
I feel for them. It's not easy to lose 200 plus pounds. It's not easy to stay motivated. It's not easy to workout and not feel like you're the biggest thing in the gym and grossing people out. It's not easy not to feel like everyone is watching every thing you're doing and judging. Even though all of that is a psychosis you've created on your own. Making that kind of change requires, planning, time management, patience, dedication, consistency and most importantly a personal committment from you to yourself. So many people want to take a pill and have the body morph into this perfect picture they've envisioned of themselves. Well, this isn't Star Trek: The Next Generation, nor Deep Space Nine or what ever sci-fi fantasy flick. You want the results well you need to put in the work that is required if you're physically able. I took me 6 years of sweat, patience, regularly working out, eating cleaner (my diet never was really an issue. I just was as active as I was when I was a young adult) and getting over my irrational thoughts of people judging--- to go from 515lbs to 251lbs. Well, I would like it if these shows would invest more in providing good after care or at least equip these contestants with intense education and other tools to have once the return to regular life.http://nyti.ms/1O9wvTd
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Thursday, January 21, 2016
New year, same focus.
Greetings,
It has been quite some time since my last post. Life sometimes gets in the way and can throw us off track from agendas we've set. However, on somethings we have to stay the course. Your health should be top priority. Mine is. As I stated I haven't posted lately but, I've still been focused on becoming a better me. A different me aesthetically speaking. This has been a deliberate lifestyle change for me. Going to the gym on a constant basis with a specific goal wasn't easy in the beginning. I had to figure a way to include it in my lifestyle. I had to carve out a schedule that would work for me, based on what I had going on at that time and still meet the criteria needed in order to affect the change in my body wanted. That takes time and patience. I didn't gain all of the weight over night and was not going to lose it overnight. Eventually, I did. Exercise has become a part of my routine. I'm in no way a gym rat nor do I want to be. However, I can spend a good deal of time exercising with deliberate focus on specific goals, i.e.; lose weight, lose inches, gain muscle, tone, improve cardiovascular and so much more. And I have.
I feel so much better. My endurance has improved so much that I have stamina for activities that were once problematic for me. I can walk a distance without experiencing fatigue. My breathing has improved. I'm no longer at risk for stroke because of high blood pressure. My blood pressure is controlled now and without medication. My eating habits were never terrible. I still eat what I want. Being a chef makes it easy. I fell ill a couple of years ago and doctors eventually diagnosed me a heart condition. Medications had severe side effects but after extensive conversations with a team of physicians at Piedmont Hospital here in Buckhead and explaining to them how much exercise, being active plays in my life they agreed. They saw the results themselves and I've all but reversed my condition totally. I told them, I'm not this guy they see before them. I'm not sedentary and a glutton. And I showed them. I've worked hard over these past 7 years to drop a lot of pounds and inches. I've essentially lost in weight and inches the equivalent of an entire adult. That's huge. For me anyway.
Well, as I stated the medications I was on this last couple of years for the condition I was diagnosed had side effects to include retaining fluids which meant I had gained some of that weight back. A great team of doctors who specialize in a certain field and dedicated to finding solutions helped me get back to the me I had become. In addition I'm back on track working towards the me I what to be going forward. People are living longer and looking good doing it. And most of that is directly related to improved lifestyle changes. Eating better, cleaner and exercising. Plus taking care of their skin and reducing stress. It's all connected. This year I have goals of actually going to a beach and taking my shirt off. I've never been to beach before. And I have never been confident about my body to be bare chested in public. I'm visiting two countries and relaunching my personal chef/cook-for-hire business. Also I going to find love this year. I don't know where she is but, I will find her and start a new life as a family unit. I'm excited. It's a whole different world living.......Less Than Heavy
It has been quite some time since my last post. Life sometimes gets in the way and can throw us off track from agendas we've set. However, on somethings we have to stay the course. Your health should be top priority. Mine is. As I stated I haven't posted lately but, I've still been focused on becoming a better me. A different me aesthetically speaking. This has been a deliberate lifestyle change for me. Going to the gym on a constant basis with a specific goal wasn't easy in the beginning. I had to figure a way to include it in my lifestyle. I had to carve out a schedule that would work for me, based on what I had going on at that time and still meet the criteria needed in order to affect the change in my body wanted. That takes time and patience. I didn't gain all of the weight over night and was not going to lose it overnight. Eventually, I did. Exercise has become a part of my routine. I'm in no way a gym rat nor do I want to be. However, I can spend a good deal of time exercising with deliberate focus on specific goals, i.e.; lose weight, lose inches, gain muscle, tone, improve cardiovascular and so much more. And I have.
I feel so much better. My endurance has improved so much that I have stamina for activities that were once problematic for me. I can walk a distance without experiencing fatigue. My breathing has improved. I'm no longer at risk for stroke because of high blood pressure. My blood pressure is controlled now and without medication. My eating habits were never terrible. I still eat what I want. Being a chef makes it easy. I fell ill a couple of years ago and doctors eventually diagnosed me a heart condition. Medications had severe side effects but after extensive conversations with a team of physicians at Piedmont Hospital here in Buckhead and explaining to them how much exercise, being active plays in my life they agreed. They saw the results themselves and I've all but reversed my condition totally. I told them, I'm not this guy they see before them. I'm not sedentary and a glutton. And I showed them. I've worked hard over these past 7 years to drop a lot of pounds and inches. I've essentially lost in weight and inches the equivalent of an entire adult. That's huge. For me anyway.
Well, as I stated the medications I was on this last couple of years for the condition I was diagnosed had side effects to include retaining fluids which meant I had gained some of that weight back. A great team of doctors who specialize in a certain field and dedicated to finding solutions helped me get back to the me I had become. In addition I'm back on track working towards the me I what to be going forward. People are living longer and looking good doing it. And most of that is directly related to improved lifestyle changes. Eating better, cleaner and exercising. Plus taking care of their skin and reducing stress. It's all connected. This year I have goals of actually going to a beach and taking my shirt off. I've never been to beach before. And I have never been confident about my body to be bare chested in public. I'm visiting two countries and relaunching my personal chef/cook-for-hire business. Also I going to find love this year. I don't know where she is but, I will find her and start a new life as a family unit. I'm excited. It's a whole different world living.......Less Than Heavy
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| October 2009 @ 515lbs I joined LA Fitness that November |
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| January 2016. I still work to do. |
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| I haven't tucked my shirt in to my pants in years. Former fat guys know this struggle. |
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| Clam and spinach soup. For the recipe go to Facebook and find my page. 'Figs and Pears Culinary Services'. |
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