I am a meatatarian for sure.
Food/weight??
- Thread starter Carmine
- Start date
409envy
Well Known Member
Hey Carmine, most of us have been there. I am 6'2" and have been hovering around 250-260 for most of the last 10 years. I didn't eat healthy and did not exercise at all. That all changed when I went down to the Hot Rod Reunion at Bowling Green in 2016. My buddy and I drove straight through from Connecticut only stopping for food and coffee, It was a long trip and we ate only fast food. About 4 hours outside of Bowling Green I was driving and my buddy was sleeping, it was about 1am. I had a sharp shooting pain in my left arm and chest and then a flop sweat! I started freaking out thinking I was having a heart attack. Bear in mind that I am only 36 years old at this point. So I didnt say anything to my buddy (Stupid I Know!!!) and just kept driving as the pain subsided but the anxiety didnt go away and my heart was pounding. Finally made it to the hotel at 4 am and went to bed thinking I might not get up again the next morning.
Well I did make it through the night and things normalized a little, no more sharp pain and my heart rate was a little better. So I decided to go to the show. We drove to the track and walked around for a little while and I actually felt a little better. It was very hot, like mid 90's and high humidity which doesn't normally get to me but this day it did. I was drinking water all day, no beer or booze. I had a light breakfast (not fast food) and no lunch. I had been at the event for about 4 hours and we just sat down to watch the 409 cars and it happened again. Same shooting pain and same elevated heart rate and sweating. This time I said something to my buddy and we went and found an EMT. They took me to the ambulance and took my blood pressure, it was 160/99!!! That is way high for me, I was usually 120/75 or lower. They also checked my O2 levels and they were normal but the symptoms were not going away. At this point I decided to go to the ER and have a doctor look me over just to be sure. I went in and they ran the usual blood test for heart attack and clot and everything came back negative. Luckily I hadn't had a heart attack! After getting back home to Connecticut the same thing happened to me 2 more times!!! At this point my doctor back home refered me to a cardiologist and he made me wear a halter monitor for 30 days and get a stress test.
Long story short, this whole episode really woke me up and made me realize how fast things can go south with your health. I am especially aware of heart issues since both my Grandfathers and one of my Grandmothers had multiple heart attacks and bypass surgery. My Dad's father had 4 heart attacks and the last one killed him. Since then I have really changed my life style. I only eat when I am hungry and I avoid fat and fried foods like the plauge. I haven't eaten at a McDonalds since that trip to Bowling Green and I don't think I ever will again. That food will literally kill you! I have also started working out for an hour a day 4-5 days a week and have lost almost 40 pounds. I am lighter and in better shape that I was in High School when I played football. I guess what I am trying to say in a long roundabout way is sometimes all it takes is a scare to make you realize that you only have one chance at this. I don't know if this will help you in your struggles with food and weight but hopefully it gives you some perspective that you are not alone.
-Evan
Well I did make it through the night and things normalized a little, no more sharp pain and my heart rate was a little better. So I decided to go to the show. We drove to the track and walked around for a little while and I actually felt a little better. It was very hot, like mid 90's and high humidity which doesn't normally get to me but this day it did. I was drinking water all day, no beer or booze. I had a light breakfast (not fast food) and no lunch. I had been at the event for about 4 hours and we just sat down to watch the 409 cars and it happened again. Same shooting pain and same elevated heart rate and sweating. This time I said something to my buddy and we went and found an EMT. They took me to the ambulance and took my blood pressure, it was 160/99!!! That is way high for me, I was usually 120/75 or lower. They also checked my O2 levels and they were normal but the symptoms were not going away. At this point I decided to go to the ER and have a doctor look me over just to be sure. I went in and they ran the usual blood test for heart attack and clot and everything came back negative. Luckily I hadn't had a heart attack! After getting back home to Connecticut the same thing happened to me 2 more times!!! At this point my doctor back home refered me to a cardiologist and he made me wear a halter monitor for 30 days and get a stress test.
Long story short, this whole episode really woke me up and made me realize how fast things can go south with your health. I am especially aware of heart issues since both my Grandfathers and one of my Grandmothers had multiple heart attacks and bypass surgery. My Dad's father had 4 heart attacks and the last one killed him. Since then I have really changed my life style. I only eat when I am hungry and I avoid fat and fried foods like the plauge. I haven't eaten at a McDonalds since that trip to Bowling Green and I don't think I ever will again. That food will literally kill you! I have also started working out for an hour a day 4-5 days a week and have lost almost 40 pounds. I am lighter and in better shape that I was in High School when I played football. I guess what I am trying to say in a long roundabout way is sometimes all it takes is a scare to make you realize that you only have one chance at this. I don't know if this will help you in your struggles with food and weight but hopefully it gives you some perspective that you are not alone.
-Evan
Wow Evan. That is some story. Certainly can wake you up. I'm glad you are doing better. Thanks for sharing. Yes, I know fast food is bad. I just have to convince myself of it. I was just on line looking at some vegetarian casserole dishes to replace bread, pasta and potatoes, to supplement my meat choice. Some interesting stuff out there, Carmine.
Yeah this is a page out of my play book. I'm 6'1" and probably since about 1971 I've weighed around 240. Well in 2007 I was going to a gun show and when I was walking out of my friends house I slipped on the ice and bounced down 4 concrete steps. When I finally stopped moving I knew I seriously screwed up my left arm I thought I broke it, but we went to the gun show anyway. Got in to seem my doctor the following Monday sent me out for a MRI and discovered I screwed up my left Rotator Cuff pretty bad. Had to send me up to the Cleveland Clinic because my injury was to much for any of the local doctors and hospitals. The surgery they did on me was experimental the doctor told me he hasn't seen many that was tore up so bad and after the surgery he only gave the surgery a 50/50 percent chance of being successful ( and in the end the surgery didn't fix it) and they put me in one of those slings that had your arm sticking straight out to the left side so I couldn't drive, stupid sling cost like $750. Well it laid me up for about a year and in that time of healing up I developed that worst eating habits and when you lay around and you can't do much eating was how I spent my time. So as of a couple of weeks ago I weighed a whopping 309 lbs at the doctors office they did a Ultra sound on my heart and said everything looked good. I don't do much fast food maybe some pizza and every ounce in a great while the Golden Corral . I eat once a day most of the time and this is at late evening which also puts on the weight. But just like Carmine I need to buckle down and start behaving when it comes to food because I'm not getting any younger and I'm getting tired of carrying the extra weigh around. I quit riding my Buell motorcycle because I have this life size picture in my head that I would probably look like a fat Garbanzo Bean riding down the road on it so I just ride the V-Rod where a fat gut looks common place.
Mark
You guys should have taken better care of yourselves when you were younger like I did.....
Look on the bright side Mark, if you had both arms stuck out in cast's you might have starved to death!!! 
Thanks for sharing that story Mark. I'm the last to criticize anyone's weight, but that 309 really got my attention. That is a lot of weight. Sometimes when I carry heavier things around, like a W engine head which I believe weighs about 65 lbs., I think about that weight. This is the extra that I carry around everyday, all day. If that's not a wake up call, what is?? That 65 lbs. and then some, would be a nice goal for me. I was in the park 5:30AM this morning. I walk 2 miles, 6-7 times a week depending on the weather, doing 18 minute miles. It's a good pace for me. Many, many years ago, I would run a 10k race. I would like to jog again, but can't. Too much weight/compression on my knees and ankles. So, for time being, I'm satisfied with just the walking. Today, I'm starting to make a conscious effort on cutting back on carbs. and sweets. Not cutting them out altogether, but being much more reasonable with portions and how often they are served. Guess I'll see where this takes me. Best wishes to everyone who is trying to drop a few pounds, Carmine.
I have been reading this with some interest. I am 47, and 240 pounds. At 5 foot 10that makes me a lard ass. After reading this, I have made my mind up to cut out sweets, treats, and any unnecessary sugars. Dont know if it will help, but it cant hurt. I cant jog because of my back, but i do have a stair stepper machine. I may try that out as well. Willpower is my strong suit, I just have to tell myself now is the time. We shall see. Yes, I know Dave, eat more lettuce!
Drink lots of water.
Good for you. Best wishes with your attempt. Maybe we can all learn, be an inspiration to each other, by sharing, Carmine.
Look on the bright side Mark, if you had both arms stuck out in cast's you might have starved to death!!!
Would have made a swell scare crow or at least hang my laundry on them to dry them.
Mark
Budweiser has less........ so I have to drink more. 
I think you are one of those guys that can eat like a horse and not gain an ounce!!! I had a uncle like that!!!! LolBudweiser has less........ so I have to drink more.
I might be a little late to the conversation, but I have some thoughts to share.
I was having stomach problems years ago regarding heart burn/re-flux and indigestion. Almost everything I ate or drank, even oatmeal and water would cause re-flux at any time of day. I went to a gastro specialist and after ruling out big problems, they implanted a disposable PH meter in my esophagus to measure the PH of my reflux. My re-flux was measuring from 0.8 to 8.8 on the PH scale. My doctor put me on Nexium for a while to cut out the strength of the acid.
Turns out what was happening was I was overfilling my stomach. In doing so, I would re-flux the strong stomach acid (0.8) because my stomach was too full. Then, while digesting, I would re-flux the neutralizing fluid (8.8) in my duodenum. My doctor said the sphincters/muscles for closing the entrances to my stomach and intestines were weak. We had a variety of discussions but the one I bothered to listen to was her telling me to eat less. Not to watch what I eat, just eat less of it. Not that I have the same weight problems as others, but 180 on a 5'9" frame is considered overweight. For example, eat two slices of pizza instead of three. The other thing I did which we didn't discuss was, I slowed down the speed I eat. I didn't have to treat every meal like I was still in basic training.
After three months or so, I was down 10 pounds or so. Now, I still eat until I feel full, but eating slower, I'm actually listening to myself/body and I don't over do it as much.
I guess the point I want to make is, not all change has to be big or dramatic. We can work our to big changes through smaller actions. For me, I slowly ate less.
Good luck with keeping to the changes you want to make, you'll get there!
I was having stomach problems years ago regarding heart burn/re-flux and indigestion. Almost everything I ate or drank, even oatmeal and water would cause re-flux at any time of day. I went to a gastro specialist and after ruling out big problems, they implanted a disposable PH meter in my esophagus to measure the PH of my reflux. My re-flux was measuring from 0.8 to 8.8 on the PH scale. My doctor put me on Nexium for a while to cut out the strength of the acid.
Turns out what was happening was I was overfilling my stomach. In doing so, I would re-flux the strong stomach acid (0.8) because my stomach was too full. Then, while digesting, I would re-flux the neutralizing fluid (8.8) in my duodenum. My doctor said the sphincters/muscles for closing the entrances to my stomach and intestines were weak. We had a variety of discussions but the one I bothered to listen to was her telling me to eat less. Not to watch what I eat, just eat less of it. Not that I have the same weight problems as others, but 180 on a 5'9" frame is considered overweight. For example, eat two slices of pizza instead of three. The other thing I did which we didn't discuss was, I slowed down the speed I eat. I didn't have to treat every meal like I was still in basic training.
After three months or so, I was down 10 pounds or so. Now, I still eat until I feel full, but eating slower, I'm actually listening to myself/body and I don't over do it as much.
I guess the point I want to make is, not all change has to be big or dramatic. We can work our to big changes through smaller actions. For me, I slowly ate less.
Good luck with keeping to the changes you want to make, you'll get there!
I used to eat just like that. When I was on Active Duty, four of us went to an all you can eat buffet and got kicked out for eating too much. This is when I weighed 150. Damn, I was active.
A couple of years after that, I was bike riding a lot and could eat either a pint of ice cream and a three pound burrito or two three pound burritos (Chipotle or QDoba). It used to be real expensive to feed myself.
Then I stopped being as active. Once that happened, the weight came on. Thankfully, my appetite started to slow as well.
95 more pounds and you'll pick up a tenth Brian.