Validation through Jeremy (et al) ** Massive weight loss in short amounts of time

First and foremost, I gotta hand it to Jeremy, I didn't think anyone would be able to lose like I did.....but you know, I got a couple of emails cursing the "men" who lose so quickly....I have a rebuttal.

Most all of you know that I'm a low carb nazi....yep when I want to pull my trump card, I look to a regimen of low carb lifestyle to pull it off. A few steps that I took made it easy for me.

I primed myself just before surgery to pull the weight on my schedule by low carbing 2 weeks out, then severely dropping the carb counts the last few days before my surgery.

Once surgery was over, I didn't want to eat much, so I didn't.....low carb wasn't a factor in this...   I just wasn't hungry....  water was my best friend....and I ate all of my mushies when it was time.

Then solid foods came....my appetite was a monster....  I learned to control it through looking at a fat picture of myself daily showing myself the reminder of what happens if I mess this opportunity up.

I redeveloped my old Militant low carb diet into something WLS people could use as an additional tool on top of their new tummy.  I had Doc B look it over and said it was perfect.  I never passed it through the Nutritionist since most of my questions were never really answered by her anyway.  So in came the new low carb diet along with redeveloped recipes built for REAL food with real tastes that got me out of the regimen of eating the same old foods and putting me in a rut.  I lost weight through the only method that had ever worked before....militant low carb... and now for those who don't know...  there is a small army that are composed of men and women who follow it both loosely and militant.....all of them lose weight and I talk to most during the weekly updates I require just to measure the results and make sure that if they needed the support, I was there for them.  All of them who stuck with the plan, lost a massive quantity of weight after the first month... (not during the first 2 or 3 weeks)...it's all about starting the engine up and getting it to run at high speed....

Jeremy was the only guy that I knew that was smart enough to work in the same method....he actually develops his own recipes and after talking to him over the previous few months, understands the need to keep it low carb and is amazing at how to tries to make new low carb recipes that are different than mine.  Yet he's so into the goal that he's focused...and I'm sure that he's got his weak moments like I did, but his eye is on the prize.  His goal is so completely within reach that his motivation is dangling in front of him because his method is working so well.
Motivation through results is powerful tool.  I'm lucky that Jerm and I chat about recipes and a few other ideas through mail.  I knew he was gonna be right on track once I saw his recipes and ideas about how to make them a solid choice.  I never twisted Jerm's arm about being a low carb guy since his recipes immediately showed me he was militant enough to make it work on his own and I knew he was serious about how to stay motivated.

I've got 2 particular ladies who asked for my diet from the recipe forum on OH who surpassed my and Jerm's weightloss......they followed everything to a "T".....they were one another's support system and after going through my diet, asked me to change it to hit the stubborn areas of fat that were hanging in there..so I did and now....wow flat tummies...and are able to eat most anything without gaining....

I'm sinful as could be in my food journey now...yes I admit...  but I experiment to know when and what I can do to make sure I never return to the former Thomas that I was so fond of....

I like the new me....flat belly, skinny (a little too skinny still), but the part about me that I like most.....is the same thing I like about Jeremy and the others that chose the path.....inspirational methods that only want to help your fellow human be better....

I'll tell ya, low carb lifestyle isn't for everyone.....but if you want to destroy the fat so you can relax the low carb intake later, I haven't found anything that can compare.  I still churn out about 3 or 4 low carb recipes per week on the recipe forum....  Jeremy remains my favorite "mad scientist" in experimenting with new ideas.....I'm inspired....

Thomas

T,

Thanks for the compliments!  Your support for me and your success has been an inspiration as well.  I have always loved to cook but now that I have had surgery my thought process had to change.  I found that I can still have wonderful foods, full of flavor but still loose weight.  It just takes a little research and understanding.  During my pre-surgery diet I made it simple.  I tried to stay under 20 carbs per day the first two weeks and then added 5 carbs the third week and 5 more carbs the forth week and now try and stay under 30 carbs per day militantly.  Most days I probably stay under 20 but not because I want to but because I am eating the right foods.  Even if you follow what the nut plan eating your protein first you are a militant low carb eater.  It all depends on what flavors you will allow into your protein.  If you are worried about the fat, no worries, I try to go as low fat as possible but I still have problems with the lower fat meats due to dryness so I really don't worry about it too much.  If you think it will stop you weight loss just look at what I have lost, 81 lbs since I started December 1st.  44 of those lbs coming off since surgery less than 7 weeks ago.

I must say though all my friends have molded and shaped me thus far and if it were not for all of your support I wouldn't be as successful as I am.

God bless,

Jerm

Hey, lol, I know that women can lose like the men :P haha.  I was down over 110 lbs in 4 mos after my surgery (from surgery weight) and so I know it can be done.  I've been loosely low-carbing it here lately and I must say, I love the rib recipe that T posted on the recipe forum... yummy!  I'm trying also to experiment and come up with some of my own recipes/ideas to share.  I think we can all benefit from change, even if it's just liberal (not militant).  *hugs*

By the way, great job on the weight loss, Jeremy!  You are looking awesome!

~ Renae

Thomas,  I really do appreciate all the time you take to share with us your diets and recipies.  The one week I actually followed your diet, I lost 5 lbs!  I'm still kicking myself for falling off the wagon. Imagine what I could have done if I would have stuck to it for a month!!!!

Keep doing what you are doing because it helps us so much!! 

T, what you are doing is amazing. I know you have helped me pre op to take off some much needed weight. i know I will be looking to you and your recipes once I can begin eating, to help me out. Thanks for turning me on to Flax Z snacks. That is some awesome cereal.
Emily

I'm not militant anything, but I do know I feel much better if I limit white sugar/corn syrup kinds of sweets...so I'm getting to be a little militant about sugar free stuff.

This isn't carbs, but Jeremy mentioned going low fat.  I haven't done well with fatty foods for years, but I notice if I cut too much out (by not adding back some good fats) I get pretty run down.

I'm glad we have this place to share strategies and philosophies and struggles and stuff. 

OK, T...this is going to make the women in group hate me and Jeremy more!!  You gotta stop before they mob us!  Us guys are a small minority!