Ignoramus1166 wrote in news:chshdk
:

A year ago I returned to normal weight (BMI under 25), and stayed
under the entire time.

Male, 33 yo, 5'11".

Starting weight, June 1 2003: 223
Weight on Sep 10, 2003: 178
Weight on Sep 10, 2004: 174.8
My weight loss history and photos: http://igor.chudov.com/weightloss/

It is a very major milestone for me symbolically. I will probably get
my wedding ring resized.

I lost weight by dropping sugar and junk food, eating less, and
walking. About 50% of calories from fat (I like fat), 25% from carbs
(150g), 25% from protein. Maintained weight by the same method. I did
not count calories on a regular basis because it is too tedious, but I
ate same portions every day. Maintaining was about as easy as losing
weight, which is to say, I was mildly hungry most of the time. It was
manageable, but irritating. Nothing about it was automatic and I had
to watch very closely what I eat. This was surprising to me as, I was
not too thin by any objective measure, was not really losing weight
substantially, so why should I be hungry most of the time?

Almost 2 months ago I switched to a "paleo diet", which roughly is
eating meat, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetables, and fruits, no grains or
starches or sugar, although I try to go easy on fruits, for now.
What's great about it is that I am not going hungry anymore and think
less about food. I like fat and never liked bread too much.

My blood pressure after the switch is now lower by about 5-7 points,
from 125/75 to about 118/75.

I was not regaining weight until I had a stressful week when I could
not exercise, stopped taking my thyroid medications, drank a lot of
water, and then after that I traveled to CA. That increased my weight
by 2-3 lbs, which is now coming off. The point of this is that I will
wait a few more months to see if this diet really is working.

If it is not working, I may switch back to calorie counting, which
would be upsetting due to hunger, but what else can I do. I expect it
to work, though, but am open minded to the possibility why it
won't.

On this diet, I feel like a "normal" person, eating until not hungry,
and not regaining. My hypothesis (speculation) is that I am insulin
resistant, eating carbs makes me overproduce insulin, and gain
weight. Whereas, getting most calories from fat means more low insulin
levels, and thus no weight gain even if I eat more calories. Again, it
is pure speculation. My second and concurrent speculation is that now,
my blood sugar is rock solid stable, and in fact relatively low
(70-80, rarely 90). Stable sugar means normal appetite, possibly.

I am now more optimistic than at start of my weight maintenance and
think that I will have a few years of normal weight, at least.

I wish I knew what I know now, 5-6 years ago. Losing weight was the
best thing I ever did to myself. I feel good, can now do 50 pushups
and 12 pullups, etc.

Living without sugar and junk food is very easy and I have no interest
in that stuff anymore. My house is full of that -- cookies, ice cream,
candy etc -- but it does not bother me.

I want to thank everyone whose posts I read, for your support,
criticism, keeping me rooted in reality, and useful suggestions.

i
223/174/180

Awsome work Ig! You have lifted my spirits with this post. I am proud of
you bro!!!!! Lets keep on keepin on...

peace

--
start 365
goal 200
maintaining 189-194 range
current 190