Making calories count

That was me in the grey shirt @ 242 pounds Thanksgiving 2006. I hit my high of 255 pounds new years 2007, what a porker. You know I never knew I looked like this nor did I ever feel I was out of shape.That is until I  got sick twice that year of 2007 and spent 20 days in bed. I really don't think I have become a crusader for health addicts, I just want to be here with my family for another 20 years, OK I'm an addict.
You know how I did it? HARD FRACKEN WORK! That doesn't mean I didn't like it every week day for 2 1/2 years, I loved it. Watching the pounds melt away and the muscle tone-up on my body has been a big draw that kept me going back for more. There is lots of help at my gym in all aspects of training including diet. I don't mean going on a diet I mean a daily change for the better and keeping on track .
For me who has struggled all my life with weight and eating right this has been a good journey. The fact that I have  been active most of my life is a real good base line to start with and having a good gene pool to draw from doesn't hurt either. Yes it's taken me 2 1/2 years to lose fifty pounds but doing it slowly means I will keep it off. At each step of the way I have hit a plateau and in doing so did not let the frustration make me binge eat. Instead I allowed my body to get comfortable with the current calorie intake and work produced to keep tone at that level.
I must say it has been hit and miss in the food/calorie intake department though. For example: protein drinks just made me bloated and I felt milk saturated all the time like I had just eaten a half gallon of ice cream. The minute I stopped doing whey or soy protein I lost 12 pounds from my body. Next, all the little things I do to keep my energy level going for a workout or a ride has to be fine tuned for me, what works for someone else doesn't always work for me. Some of the energy drinks have more garbage in them that hurt you in the long run versus the promise of short term gain, read the labels.
But any way this is me at Ave Marie, a favorite ride, weighting 205 pounds. I want to lose 20-25 more pounds but I'm happy with my progress so far and I haven't been at this weight for 17 years! I know I'm at a plateau so I won't complain or get frustrated and binge eat...maybe a Five Guys cheese burger, mmmm.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.