344 Pounds » Weigh-in Results

Body Transformation – Update 151

Shawn — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:38:30 +0000

Don’t get discouraged if you’ve never stayed with a New Year’s resolution before. You never know, this time might be the time you stick to it. Look at me — I had never lost a single pound before I started this journey three years ago.

You’re always going to be a failure until one day you just, well — succeed.

Today’s Weight: 198.4 pounds – down 0.8 pound(s) from last Wednesday

Today’s Body Fat Percentage: Still coming.

Average Daily Calories for the Last 7 Days: 2,150

Most Calories in One Meal: My wife and I got Outback Steakhouse to go for dinner New Year’s Eve (that’s what happens when you have a two year old). I ordered the 6 ounce sirloin with sauteed mushrooms and a baked potato with butter on the side.

This meal on New Year’s Eve probably cost me around 600-650 calories.

Most Calories Burned in One Session: 600 last Friday, the day when I lift weights to target my shoulders/legs. My shoulders were still a little sore on Sunday night; I pushed myself hard because I wanted to start 2012 off right.

Yeah, you bet that rhymes.

Most Repeated Workout Song: Ke$ha – Blow (painful to admit)

The last several weeks have been extremely encouraging and motivating. If you can recall, a few weeks ago Under Armour founder Kevin Plank sent me an encouraging e-mail and a bunch of free UA products in the mail. Over the last 48 hours, I’ve had over a thousand people subscribe to get new blog posts via e-mail. And, this upcoming weekend, my first magazine interview (with the Globe) will be in stores.

It’s all humbling and a little silly to be honest. I’m a nobody.

My story isn’t unique. It can be copied and duplicated. I hope everybody is writing their own story this January, just as I started writing mine in January 2009.

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Body Transformation – Update 147

Shawn — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:00:47 +0000

I reckon we’ve got another 20 pounds (of fat) or so to go. Any “goal” weight is simply a guess at this point, but I do have it in the back of my mind.

We all need random goals, don’t we?

Today’s Weight: 199.6 pounds – down 0.2 pound(s) from last Wednesday
Today’s Body Fat Percentage: Still coming.
Average Daily Calories for the Last 7 Days: 2,200

Most Calories in One Meal: Over the weekend, probably the sushi, egg rolls, and fried rice my wife and I had Friday night. Of course, I gave into my soda addiction and had a couple glasses of Coke, as well. Grand total of about 1,500 calories.

Most Calories Burned in One Session: As I posted on Facebook Tuesday morning, I had the absolute best workout of my life yesterday. I did three different ab workouts (three sets each) and got on the CrossRamp for an hour at near max resistance. Even the floor was coated with my sweat when I finished. And yes, I cleaned it up.

Most Repeated Workout Song: Three 6 Mafia – It’s a Fight

Some look at their weight loss progress pictures (take pictures!) and look at how far they have left to go. It’s frustrating to look up at the tall mountain to climb ahead.

I look at my pictures and realize that I’m so far up I can’t see the ground. Motivation is just a matter of perspective. Want to stay motivated to keep losing weight?

Change your mind.

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Body Transformation – Update 146

Shawn — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:19:52 +0000

Sometimes taking a few days off (over Thanksgiving) can really reinvigorate your weight loss efforts, which has absolutely been the case for me so far this week.

Today’s Weight: 199.8 pounds – down 0.2 pound(s) from last Wednesday
Today’s Body Fat Percentage: Still on the way.
Average Daily Calories for the Last 7 Days: 2,250

Most Calories in One Meal: Thanksgiving, of course. I can’t even remember it all. I wasn’t gluttonous, but I grazed from a selection of probably a couple dozen types of food. Probably ate 3,000 calories on Thanksgiving Day.

Most Calories Burned in One Session: Yesterday, which was a “cardio day.” I did an hour on the CrossRamp at max incline and close to max resistance. Machine read 850 calories burned, but I probably burned around 700.

Most Repeated Workout Song: Switchfoot – Dark Horses

I’m really focused this week. I keep looking in the mirror waiting for my big ole’ belly to be gone, but it’s still there every morning. I have a momentary pause (“Why is my progress so slow?!?”), feel frustrated, then I look at my before and after pictures.

All doubt fades away. I’ll get there. One day. It may not be exciting to grind it out at the gym and in the kitchen month after month, but that’s why so many people quit.

I won’t. I’ll endure as long as I need to to reach my goals.

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Body Transformation – Update 145

Shawn — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:16:24 +0000

Lookin’ good.

Weight: 200 pounds | down 1.0 pound(s) since last week
Body Fat Percentage: Coming soon (this is hopefully coming from Santa)

Average Daily Calories: 2,125
Most Calories in One Meal: Nothing special, just a handmade cheeseburger and a few fries Sunday evening with a can of Coke. Probably around 900 calories.
Most Calories Burned in One Session: 800 calories by lifting on Monday as usual (chest/triceps), but for cardio instead of the elliptical I ran around my gym and did weighted walking lunges outside until my legs collapsed. It still hurts today.
Most Repeated Workout Song: Villanova – Straight to the Bottom

My midsection is still greatly lagging behind everything else, but that’s always the last place folks see improvement. It’s taken 145 weeks to get this far, but what’s another 145 weeks? I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get there one day.

And until we do, you better keep going, too.

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Body Transformation – Progress Update 144

Shawn — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:33 +0000

I’m seeing some really good progress. Loose skin still remains, as does plenty of fat, but both are slowly going away.

Weight: 201 pounds | down 0.4 pound(s) since last week
Body Fat Percentage: Coming soon (this still isn’t cheap)

Average Daily Calories: 2,100
Most Calories in One Meal: 975 calories on pizza night! A breadstick, two slices of a medium Supreme pizza, and a small glass of sugar water (soda).
Most Calories Burned in One Session: 800 calories in a grueling hour on the elliptical at the highest resistance level possible. It was like walking through hardening concrete (at 6 in the morning, too). It wasn’t easy.
Most Repeated Workout Song: Smashing Pumpkins – Ava Adore

I love hear stories like mine about people losing large amounts of weight: 50 pounds, 100 pounds, 200+ pounds, etc! I see a picture of them on the news and I go, “Wow, that’s great!” I love seeing success stories and before and after pictures.

Who doesn’t!?

With that said, I’d also like to see them without clothes (underwear/swimwear is acceptable!). I know it’d be tough for most folks to pose shirtless, and it wasn’t easy for me at the beginning, but it’d be good to have everything out in the open. Losing a lot of weight leaves you with loose skin. And, since you’re starting at such a high body fat percentage, it’s going to take longer for you to get your beach and bikini body ready.

With my shirt on, I look great (just sayin’). I look like a buff dude with a few pounds to lose around the midsection. With my shirt off every Wednesday, though, you can see the fat and loose skin. I’ve got no shame, though. Why should I be shamed?

We’re all a work in progress.

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