Just a lurker here on the boards since I only collect the Hard Rock Hotel chips and like to keep an eye out for what's going on.

Could'nt help but read your post concerning your weight loss. Congratulations to you......No one here really knows me or has ever met me but I changed my life around a little over a year ago as well. Im a 44 year old male with the history of having had 2 heart attacks, one misdiagnosed at the age of 32 which has left me with a major artery closed and the second attack at the age of 34. I have 2 stents in the circumflex artery. The most I probably weighed was around 240 or so at 5'7. Ok, a little over a year ago I decided I had had enough of problems with breathing at times after eating like a pig, heart burn and indigestion, and waking at night cause of those problems. One day I turned to my girlfriend, put my hands up and said "That's it, I can't do this anymore". I literally stopped there on the spot all the cookies, cake and candy. Coming from NY originally and now living in San Diego I havent had one slice of pizza in over a year. Very little pasta and if I do its whole grain pasta and very little. No more white bread, only wheat bread. I make sure I eat breakfast everyday and its the same thing all the time, either a slimfast shake or eggbeaters, some whole wheat toast or a piece of a ham steak. Lunches are either lean cuisines or hot pockets or lean pockets. I eat mostly chicked, turkey, salmon, chicked salads. I visit Carl's Junior for chicked salads, (dont laugh, it keeps me out of trouble. No more french fries, ok, maybe once in awhile but very rare and not often at all. Sometimes monthes without them. I eat a ton of fruit, it helps. I drink basically water or powdered sugar free drinks. I do allow myself nasty treats once in a while, mostly when I go on a trip somewhere out of San Diego. I dont allow anything bad in the house, I have lost a little over 70 pounds and have kept it off. I am now down to about 167 and wear a 34" pants, WOW, I havent done that since high school over 20 years ago.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing I dont want to leave out is that I also started walking at the same time. I walk between 4 to 6 miles a day, 5-6 days a week and recently started visiting the gym now too. Im no expert on this nor am I looking to become Mr Universe but I am living proof that it can be done.

Some amazing news. In losing the weight I have been taken OFF of diabetes medication, lowered my lipitor (Cholestorol) medication and have had my heart meds lowered as well.

The only thing that concerns me with what you said is that it seems you are not giving yourself enough and to lose about 30 pounds in a month is way too much too quick. I think I lost about 8 pounds a month, maybe a pound or so more or less. I have been basically maintaining my weight the last few monthes.

I do congratulate you on your efforts and desires to change and welcome you or anyone else that you might want or need some support thru emails to continue on this path. It is rewarding but very very difficult. Best of luck to you.

Charlie
San Diego