As a bonus to my blog, I want to do a little series of how I have lost the weight. Here is part one... THE FOOD!
Have you heard about this guy who lost 200 pounds by eating only apples and broccoli?
Yeah, his name is Jared!
Oh...well, who is that Tony guy?
That is me, let me tell you how I lost 200 pounds!
My name is Tony P. I live in Florida, have a wonderful wife, a pup, and a baby on the way.
I am generally a good person, but have always had an eating problem. I just never could control my eating. It is still tough to this day, and will always be.
Working in a restaurant for 14 hours a day can wear on you. It can also make for horrible eating habits!
Fast Food and Chinese Food were the way of life! At 400 plus pounds, I was consuming over 8000 calories a day. The problem with that was I was not a Olympic swimmer! My breathing was rough, my life was bad. The doctor told me I needed to make a decision in life. Gastric Bypass was the best way to go.......
WAIT WAIT!!!!!
That is when I decided to skip surgery and change the way I eat!
Change the way I live!
On a warm day in February, I looked at my beautiful wife and said "It's time!"
I started to control my portions. At first, I would eat frozen dinners, and 100 calorie snacks. I was on Weight Watchers, and I was given a lot of points (Calories) a day. I was given 44 points, which is like 2400 calories.
Going from 8000 calories to 2400 calories made the weight come off quick. I was losing more than 2 pounds a week. I guess I had a better metabolism than I thought! I lost most of my weight within the first four months. It made me nervous!
I was losing, yet, I felt hungry.
When I really started to get into Weight Watchers, I learned about a program called Core. Core is similar to South Beach. Basically, it is a "more bang for your buck" mentality. There are certain foods on the list you eat, and you eat until you are hungry.
The foods were fruits, vegetables, beans, lean meats, starches (One a day), etc. It sounded interesting. I mean, I have eaten apple pie, but never an apple. I have had a mango smoothie, but never a mango. I have had chicken and broccoli, but never steamed broccoli.
What did I have to lose?
Then I read a book about fiber that also helped me with my eating decisions. It showed me how 35grams of fiber a day will help your metabolism and keep your cholesterol down.Mine was over 300 at the time. Again...
What did I have to lose?
So I started Weight Watchers Core/South Beach phase two. That is what changed my life!
I eat a variety of foods. I do not get bored at all. There are so many now to choose from. In fact, when I was morbidly obese, I thought there were two kinds of apples. Red and Green!
Nope, there are tons:
Golden Delicious
Fuji
Honeycrisp
Rome
McIntosh
Ambrosia
Grapple
Granny Smith
Cameo
But apples and broccoli were not the only thing I ate.
Raspberries, Strawberries, Mango, Broccoli, Cabbage, Onions, Mushrooms, Salmon, Sea bass, Chicken, Asparagus, Cottage Cheese, Soy milk, FIBER ONE!!!, All-Bran, Oatmeal, High Fiber Crackers, Salsa, Fat Free Cheese, Black beans, Lentils, Barley, Beef Jerky,Eggs, Cauliflower, Egg Beaters, Soups Galore!, Pears, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Grouper, Ground Chicken,Turkey, Green Beans, Spinach, Lettuce, Oysters, Crab Legs, Lobster......
The list goes on and on.......
The funny thing about this is that I am a Chef. I recently got promoted at work, but I will always be a Chef. When I first started this journey, I looked around my kitchen at work, and saw so many unhealthy things, but i also saw a lot of healthy things as well. I realized that I needed to make different choices. Sure, it is not easy, but I do realize it was well worth it in the long run.
So part one of my transformation was changing the way I ate. I did it, and it was HARD! Then I asked myself...
What did I have to lose?
Oh yeah, 200 plus pounds!
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25 comments:
Great post. It is good to hear about the early stages of your diet. I'm also glad to see I am not the only one who really knows there are more apples than red and green. Honeycrisps are so good!
It's so true once you learn about all the fresh things you can eat the list is endless. I absolutely love a plate full of all kinds of fresh veggies(sugar snap peas right now are a favorite) some hummus and some fresh fruit and yogurt!! I can't think of a nicer lunch :) It really opens your eyes when you get pass all the processed foods!
Pink lady apples are the best! Pick some up if you see them!
Hey Tony. I love the hybrids like fuji and pink ladies (are ambrosia hybrids? I've never seen em), but I cannot stand any green varieties. :(
I've been meaning to ask you a couple questions. First off, is it possible you mixed up your 239 and 229lb pics? Maybe it's just me, but it looks like it should be the other way around. Also, since you've moved up at the restaurant AND adopted a healthy lifestyle in the past year, have you added new, healthier additions to your menu?
Take it easy. Later, dude!
I answered your questions via email
I love apples! Fujis and pink ladies are my favorite. Everyone raves about honeycrisps but I think they're just okay.
Great post... what was the name of the book if you don't mind me asking?
All apples are not created equal. I like a hard, crisp one, but don't want to pay the price for a honeycrisp. I do like the pink ladies and lately I've been doing the braeburns.
Wow! I just discovered your blog and can't believe how much you've lost! You must be so proud! And congrats on the promotion at work!
I love apples, all kinds. I love the Honeycrisps the best!
Anyway, I'll be back often to read all about your journey!
Awesome post Tony. Its good to share the fact that you dont have to be bored with food or eat just one certain thing to lose weight!
I'm one of those who was wondering about the amazing apple and broccoli diet. Thanks for clarifying & congrats on your promotion!
Never heard of honeycrisp apples before.
Here's something I've been wondering:
Have you changed the way you cook at work?
I lurves McGuyver and my new favorite apple is Pink Lady. Mmmm.
The early days are good to remember. It's nice to see how far you've gotten besides with the weight.
That's exactly where i am at right now. figuring out what foods i should eat and what i should'nt, thanks for the advice man.
True! I've found that the more variety I eat the better my scale victory. :)
Thanks for posting the nuts and bolts! It's pretty much what I'm doing and it works for me...
Honeycrip picked at the local orchard are divine. Alas, they are gone all too soon.
Thanks for putting this out there. I never understand people assuming success equals "cheating" by doing dumb stuff like eating only apples...DUH.
I'm curious, do you ever eat anything that's not completely healthy? Like a treat, maybe a Skinny Cow ice cream or a glass of wine or a piece of dark chocolate? Something from you old life, just a taste?
I'm wondering because although I agree with you on the foods you eat, I eat pretty much the same thing, what about a treat now and then?
From everything I've read and been told (by my Weight Watcher leader), you should really allow yourself to occasionally indulge in food that you love, in a small quantity. Because if you don't, one day you're not going to be able to stand it and might overindulge. At least that's what I've heard and have experienced on my own.
I realize you have superhuman willpower to have accomplished what you have in eleven months, but do you ever eat something that's not a Core food? Thanks.
I'm sure you've already answered this somewhere, but I've got to ask: what's up with the Fiber One. Why do you love it so????
Thanks:-)
You left out the Gala apples - my favorite! :)
You know, I have really opened my eyes just by weighing what I eat...particularly meat portions. I absolutely HATE fish, and c'mon -- we raise all our own meat - it's not like I don't have a freezer full of home grown pork, lamb, and beef outside - plus all the venison and elk. I'm certainly going to eat it! The kicker is I'm not eating a pound of it at a time anymore.
Another great post. Thanks. Fuji are my favorite apples and I have really started liking them again. Even have the hubby hooked on them!!
Gala, Pink Ladies...Fuji...think it's time for an apple!!! I eat so many of them. Between apples and grapes if I run out I freak out! You are the bomb!!!
You are an inspiration!! Congrats on your new way of eating and your new life,Job,baby!!! Thanks for motivating me!!
You left out Pippin! My personal fave.
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