I have lost 45 pounds since the last week of May, approximately 20 weeks. That is about 2.25 pounds per week. I started at 211 pounds and now weigh 166 pounds, at 66 inches in height. My initial weight loss goal was 170 pounds or a loss of 41 pounds. When I reached the first goal, around the second week of September, I decided to create a new goal of 165 pounds. Now that I am very close to the second goal, I have decided to push my weight goal to 160 pounds. This new goal will probably do two things: put me closer to an optimal BMI and probably let my ab muscles show through a bit better. My weight loss was not difficult and did not take a long time. I was already exercising and eating the right foods. The problem was that I was eating way too much. Instead of staying within 1500 calories or so, I was shoveling in 4000 or so calories per day. I kept wondering what the hell am I doing wrong!? I was exercising with frequency and intensity, but was only gaining weight and/or hovering around 215.

In the middle of May, the executive director of our department told me about an iPhone app named Lose It. It is a free application that measures calories (expended and consumed), plans weight loss/gain/maintenance, and plots the data over time. I downloaded the app and added a couple of other iPhone apps to aid me in my endeavor. I wanted a good way of keeping track of my running, biking, and weight lifting, so I downloaded Run Keeper and Fitness Builder too. I use/d Run Keeper to keep track of my hiking, biking, and running. I have written before about my struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, so I had to hike and bike before I could start running. Run Keeper was the perfect tool for managing all of my data and helping me to translate that data for Lose It. I use/d Fitness Builder to track all of my resistance training, from free weights to machines to kettlebell workouts. I created 19 custom workouts in the app and kept track of every rep and every set while working out in the man-cave (basement). A great number of my custom workouts were based on information that came out of Dumbbell Training for Strength and Fitness by Matt Brzycki and Fred Fornicola. Again, I would track my time spent lifting and move that data into Lose It for a more accurate calorie count. I also used Google Calendar as a tool for keeping a simple record of workouts, type, and distance (hiking, biking, running) at a glance.

The pictures attached to this post are not doctored. The "before" picture shows me the night before I started tracking calories and the "after" pic was taken today after returning from a short 4.5 mile run out at Ridley Creek State Park with the wife and dog. You might notice that the before pic was taken with my old first-generation iPhone and today's pic was taken with the new 3GS. Run Keeper required GPS to track location when I was hiking, biking, or running.

The reason I picked 170 pounds for my first goal was because the Marine Corps has height/weight standards and 170 was the upper limit for my height. Being a former Marine, I wanted to fit within those standards--even though I have been out of the Corps since 1994. When I reached the 170 pound goal, I realized I could do better and adjusted my goal to meet a more ideal weight. Another motivational aid was to subscribe to magazines, blogs (RSS), and Twitter feeds that focus on exercise. My subscriptions include Runner's World, Men's Health, Yoga Journal, Flex, and various blogs/Twitter feeds from professional figure competitors, runners, and bodybuilders. Whenever I didn't feel like hitting the man-cave at 6 AM, I would open a Flex magazine and leaf through for motivation. When I didn't feel like getting out and running in the rain, I would get on Google Reader and peruse a few blog feeds by athletes. You get the picture. I kept motivated even when I wasn't feeling it.

To be quite honest, losing the weight was not difficult. Yeah, I gave up a lot of sweets for vegetables, but it wasn't terrible. With the three iPhone apps, motivational reading material, and seeing the pounds fall off, it was really easy and happened much faster than I had anticipated. One thing that I did, which I haven't talked about, was visiting the doctor regularly. Because of RA, I was seeing a doctor every few months anyway; but with the weight loss goal, I visited a nurse for well-visits a few times over the past couple of months for added safety. I highly recommend making a well-visit before, during, and after your own program. It makes a difference and will probably keep you from doing something you may regret later.