| Living My Best Life |
| Me in Fort. Lauderdale, FL in 1999 265 pounds |
| A new me, taken June, 2006 185 pounds |
I have been asked since my weight loss on how I accomplished it and what can I recommend to them.
First off, I must tell you that I am far from being a fitness expert or health nut, but I will share with you
what worked for me and how I am living the life I have always wanted.
My issues with food began as a child. It was like a best friend to me. I was not into sports or anything
that involved excessive sweating. I loved swimming, but had issues with taking my shirt off. When I
hit puberty I often wore a t-shirt to cover my body while I was swimming. That really didn't make much
sense as the water would make the t-shirt stick to my body and make me even more self conscious. I
also loved hiking, riding my bike and getting outside. I lived in a small town and wanted to be an
actor as well, but the school I went to didn't have a theatre program. I had to wait till I went to
community college to begin my work in the theatre.
I discovered that I had feelings for other men when I was 14. I prayed to God to get rid of these
thoughts, but he must had been busy at the time. I thought I had two strikes against me. Being over
weight and gay. And for those of us who are gay know that being over weight in the gay community is
not accepted very well. I never had trouble meeting friends throughout my life as I have a outgoing
and loving personality. I can't tell you the number of times I would stand off to the side in a gay bar
later in life, with a drink in my hand, wishing I would get hit on or someone would notice me.
My parents were not very nice to me growing up and the weight issues was always a problem for
them. I was often made fun of or a hurtful remark was made towards me about my weight. Buying
school clothes when I was a kid was a stressful trip as it was either to Sears...to the husky jean
section or to a big and tall men's store. I hated both stores as my Dad was not too accepting about
buying fat clothes for his son.
My food cravings were for more salt things instead of sweet. Things that I really enjoyed were
Dorritos, Chips & Dip. Pizza, Fried Chicken, Mexican food, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Blue Cheese &
Ranch dressing, mashed potato's and gravy or butter, crackers and Nachos with cheese. All of these
items were staples in my diet all the way through college and after.
I have been on every diet in the book. I have done the Shaklee protein powder, Herb-a-life and once
lost 84 pounds in 5 months through a company called The Diet Center. I looked great when I lost the
84 pounds in 1987 but, I wasn't eating normal food on the diet. Wasa crisps (tasted like the bottom of
a shoe), ground up beef heart and a combination of grapefruit and eggs to name a few of the items I
indulged in. The main problem with all of these things.....they were all diets. That changed for me in
April of 2005
I decided in April of 2005 that I wanted to lose weight, be more healthy and live the life I have always
wanted. I also decided that I was going to do it my way. No diet pills, books or special food. No
processed foods or fast food, I also eliminated sugar, white flour, white rice, saturated, hydrogenated
and trans fat and no corn syrup. I started reading food labels more, eating well without calling it a
diet and portion control. I also decided that I could splurge once in a while and still have my pizza,
chips & salsa and fried fish to name a few. I don't order out for pizza as I live alone. I also don't buy
frozen pizza. The reason being, old habits still haunt me and I would eat the whole pie. I now will
order two slices of pizza from a nearby pizza joint and eat that with a salad. I have to remind myself
all the time about what to eat and keep myself in check.
I did my weight loss slow and by January of 2007 I hit my goal of 185 pounds. I lost 80 pounds. I hate
to work out, but I do that. I love to bike and stay active. I also do many stretching exercises and
walking. It keeps many things in perspective for me. I also find other things to do than eat. Food is
no longer my best friend and I eat to live, not live to eat. I am maintaining well and enjoy my life. I
love that I can buy clothes anywhere. I used to wear size 42/40 pants. I now wear 33/34 pants. My
days of 2XL shirts are over. I now wear medium & large shirts. I still find it hard to believe how far I
have come and that I have reached my goal.
E-mail me and let me know how you are doing if you are on a weight loss program. I'd love to hear
how you are doing and about your goals.
I will update this from time to time. I hope that you enjoyed reading this page and it has inspired you.
Again, you are only on this planet once...make the best of your life now. It took me many years to
figure that out, but I am much happier and a better person for it.
First off, I must tell you that I am far from being a fitness expert or health nut, but I will share with you
what worked for me and how I am living the life I have always wanted.
My issues with food began as a child. It was like a best friend to me. I was not into sports or anything
that involved excessive sweating. I loved swimming, but had issues with taking my shirt off. When I
hit puberty I often wore a t-shirt to cover my body while I was swimming. That really didn't make much
sense as the water would make the t-shirt stick to my body and make me even more self conscious. I
also loved hiking, riding my bike and getting outside. I lived in a small town and wanted to be an
actor as well, but the school I went to didn't have a theatre program. I had to wait till I went to
community college to begin my work in the theatre.
I discovered that I had feelings for other men when I was 14. I prayed to God to get rid of these
thoughts, but he must had been busy at the time. I thought I had two strikes against me. Being over
weight and gay. And for those of us who are gay know that being over weight in the gay community is
not accepted very well. I never had trouble meeting friends throughout my life as I have a outgoing
and loving personality. I can't tell you the number of times I would stand off to the side in a gay bar
later in life, with a drink in my hand, wishing I would get hit on or someone would notice me.
My parents were not very nice to me growing up and the weight issues was always a problem for
them. I was often made fun of or a hurtful remark was made towards me about my weight. Buying
school clothes when I was a kid was a stressful trip as it was either to Sears...to the husky jean
section or to a big and tall men's store. I hated both stores as my Dad was not too accepting about
buying fat clothes for his son.
My food cravings were for more salt things instead of sweet. Things that I really enjoyed were
Dorritos, Chips & Dip. Pizza, Fried Chicken, Mexican food, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Blue Cheese &
Ranch dressing, mashed potato's and gravy or butter, crackers and Nachos with cheese. All of these
items were staples in my diet all the way through college and after.
I have been on every diet in the book. I have done the Shaklee protein powder, Herb-a-life and once
lost 84 pounds in 5 months through a company called The Diet Center. I looked great when I lost the
84 pounds in 1987 but, I wasn't eating normal food on the diet. Wasa crisps (tasted like the bottom of
a shoe), ground up beef heart and a combination of grapefruit and eggs to name a few of the items I
indulged in. The main problem with all of these things.....they were all diets. That changed for me in
April of 2005
I decided in April of 2005 that I wanted to lose weight, be more healthy and live the life I have always
wanted. I also decided that I was going to do it my way. No diet pills, books or special food. No
processed foods or fast food, I also eliminated sugar, white flour, white rice, saturated, hydrogenated
and trans fat and no corn syrup. I started reading food labels more, eating well without calling it a
diet and portion control. I also decided that I could splurge once in a while and still have my pizza,
chips & salsa and fried fish to name a few. I don't order out for pizza as I live alone. I also don't buy
frozen pizza. The reason being, old habits still haunt me and I would eat the whole pie. I now will
order two slices of pizza from a nearby pizza joint and eat that with a salad. I have to remind myself
all the time about what to eat and keep myself in check.
I did my weight loss slow and by January of 2007 I hit my goal of 185 pounds. I lost 80 pounds. I hate
to work out, but I do that. I love to bike and stay active. I also do many stretching exercises and
walking. It keeps many things in perspective for me. I also find other things to do than eat. Food is
no longer my best friend and I eat to live, not live to eat. I am maintaining well and enjoy my life. I
love that I can buy clothes anywhere. I used to wear size 42/40 pants. I now wear 33/34 pants. My
days of 2XL shirts are over. I now wear medium & large shirts. I still find it hard to believe how far I
have come and that I have reached my goal.
E-mail me and let me know how you are doing if you are on a weight loss program. I'd love to hear
how you are doing and about your goals.
I will update this from time to time. I hope that you enjoyed reading this page and it has inspired you.
Again, you are only on this planet once...make the best of your life now. It took me many years to
figure that out, but I am much happier and a better person for it.
| Base: 1/2 cup of water (0 calories) 4 oz plain low fat yogurt (60 calories) 4-5 ice cubes Fruit: 1/2 cup frozen strawberries (30 calories) 1/2 cup frozen blueberries (50 calories) It's one of the best foods for you on the planet. 1/2 Banana (50 calories) Eat the other half for another 50 calories so you get to chew something. Banana's protect against anemia, high fiber and tastes great. (As a side note, I usually only use the blueberries and strawberries combined) Supplements: 1 scoop Whey protein powder (150 calories) I really like the French Vanilla Creme powder. 2 teaspoons Flaxseed (15 calories) Cheap, increases circulation, replenish skin and high fiber. 2 oz Aloe Vera Juice (4 calories) Replenish skin, no taste when mixed with the smoothie, improves digestion. I whip this up all in a blender in the morning and I love it. Your body will like it too! Total calories: 309 (This does not include the banana) Let me know how you like it! |
| Greg's Morning Smoothie |