Hello, hello!

[esperos]

Hello to you all!
This is Menelaos, 33 M, living in Athens (the original one in Greece), former aerobics instructor (yes, athletes can get large too). After a knee surgery I had to stop and change my lifestyle and career. I always liked food and eating out (well, I guess you all have tasted greek food), but being in the gym 8 hours a day made me not to worry about eating. So when I stopped I litterally exploded!!! I went from 82 kilos (164 pounds) to 138 (276 pounds)!!! And that in just less than 6 months! eating disorder you say??? Just a disorder??? Naah...
I started dieting and chose Atkins because it was the diet I myself recommended to people who asked for my opinion as a trainer; massive fat lose and minimum muscle lose. Best thing for people who wanted to work out as well as loose weight.
This is my at 138 kilos


...and this is me now at 111 kilos (222 pounds)





I started dieting on 20th of December and I lost 54 pounds till now. Not gonna send you pics of how I used to look like, untill I'm ate the same weight again (you know, then and now thing). I also decided to return to the floor after almost 5 years of no- exercise, got my medics done, doc says go for it. I expect that exercising will help me loose weight even faster and have my hopes high of even returning as an instructor (was a damn good one). So glad that I find a forum that people can share their experiences and help others. So glad to be a part of it. Just to let you know, I never cared of how people look (if I did I'd never get big) and I do think that being large is OK even now that I'm loosing weight. I'm not loosing weight because of health issues, or out of vanity, I simply had a bet. See that "wonderfull" background I'm in??? It's my best friends place (has a terrible taste- don't ask) and we had a bet; he said I could never look as good as I used! And the only thing to make me going is a good challenge. I have a year and the stake is 100 euros. Will eat 'em all out!!!! Hahahhahahaa
Peace
Menelaos

[LoveIsNoColor]

Menelaos,
Hope things are lovely there in Athens, my father is from Athens originally and is now living there again with that side of my family. I'm 1/2 Greek. Tikanis to you

Now, on to my original intended posting...

First of all, CONGRATS on your weight loss so far! Looking great!! Congrats on making this decision to lose weight. The only thing that concerns me is what you said in your above posting.

Originally Posted by esperos

I'm not loosing weight because of health issues, or out of vanity, I simply had a bet.

While a bet may have been a great reason to jump on the wagon, I am wondering why even after your weight loss success, you are not siting your own health and well being as the reason for continuing, as this is much more valuable than that 100 euros.

This has to be a transformation from the inside out to be ultimately sucessful, and I hope you take this oppurtunity to blossom in both aspects.

Please post often and keep us updated!
Nice to meet you!

[esperos]

I admit that the bet is what had me going. I also made peace with the fact that I enjoy food and that gaining all that weight back on again and even more is not that hard. That doesn't mean I will gain it all back. Not saying I will go back to eating as much as I can and returning to the floor will be the greatest benefit out all of this efford. I'm simply saying that I don't cared about how I looked, how I look now or how will I look when I'm done. It's not something I do to look good. It's making a point; that even if I do enjoy eating I can stop, loose tens of kilos, and making a statmet that enjoying tastes is not about quantity... After all, despite the fact I like eating so much, I really don't care cutting it all out since day 1 of dieting. Besides, now that I've got used to it, got my own recipes and cook and eat normal servings. I was very aware of how much I ate as aware I am of how much I eat now. Yes, I was comfortable being large and I did enjoy that fact that I had no measure. But that doesn't mean I couldn't turn it all around. This is exactly what I'm doing.

[sallyseachange]

Welcome Menelaos! I'm sighing over your lovely classical name... lucky you!

You started for a bet, and I'm sure that by the time you win it, your focus will be to maintain...you'll feel so darn wonderful! As you say, if you go back to working out and even training others again, you'll have a wonderful aid to maintaining easily!

If you have queries about this way of eating, don't hesitate to ask. We're here for you and looking forward to seeing you hit goal.

Happy losing!

[esperos]

Thank you Sally! For my part, I too can provide usefull informations about mild exercising, low impact exercising, cardio and aero exercising. I was a two time national champion, 3th and 5th place in panEuropean championship and a trainer. So I think I can help.
Menelaos

PS Never thought that losing smthng could be happy! Hhahahahahahaa

[sallyseachange]

Oh I'm sure there will be plenty around to 'pick your brains'... or should I say muscles???

Oh... and yes, isn't it funny to be happy to lose something...not to mention being happy to be a big loser!

[sillygirl]

Hi Menelaos! Welcome to the board. It sounds to me like you have great knowledge about the way eating this way works with our bodies. That's a huge head start. Your weight loss so far is great, keep it up!

EDIT

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