BTW, unless those overweight professional athletes change their lifestyles after they retire, they will very quickly blow up into a fattie. There are many retired NFL linebackers who die in their 40s and 50s and weigh over 300 pounds.
From April 2003 to January 2004, I went from 304 pounds with a size 48 waist to 197 pounds with a size 34 waist. That was the easy part. When you are losing weight and people around you are noticing, you are motivated to stick to the plan.
It has been far more difficult keeping the weight off than I ever imagined. While I was losing weight, I was able to exercise it off and still eat a lot of food (though I avoided processed foods and foods high in sugar/carbs). But after a while, my metabolism adjusted to the exercise and even as I walked 7-10 miles a day, I found that I could still easily gain the weight back if I didn't stick to a strict diet.
During the past year and a half, I went back up as high as 230 pounds and a size 36 waist but now I'm back on a stricter low-carb/exercise regimen and I am on my way back to about 200 pounds, which is about right for my 6'3" frame.
I am now resigned to the fact that I will need to watch what I eat for the rest of my life, regardless of how much exercise I get (and fortunately, I love to hike and still walk at least 5-7 miles a day).
Sam I resent your linebacker ploy. I played linebacker at 210 lbs. and 6'2". I weigh 208 now at the age of 75. Not to say tho that at one time I did balloon up to 260 lbs. but preferred good health over obesity.
Per order of my Cardiologist a few years ago,I lost about 35 pounds over about 5 months,thanks to Atkins and lots of "power walking".
But then one of my hips went bad...I got discouraged... couldn't walk...regained about 40 pounds.I just had hip surgery a few weeks ago and am expected to recover to my previous status.
Once I start my walking again,I hope to repeat the process.
"From April 2003 to January 2004, I went from 304 pounds with a size 48 waist to 197 pounds with a size 34 waist."
Well done, indeed.
"It has been far more difficult keeping the weight off than I ever imagined...even as I walked 7-10 miles a day, I found that I could still easily gain the weight back if I didn't stick to a strict diet."
Okay, right there the "all obesity is due solely to overeating" theory falls flat on its face.
A person who exercises should be able to maintain his weight without sticking to "a strict diet." Some people can; some people can even overeat without getting fat. For others, a strict diet *and* exercise are both necessary.
Clearly, there is another factor at work. The sooner medical science stops patting itself on the back and gets to work finding that other factor, the sooner the "epidemic" of obesity will be brought under control.
It's amazing, isn't it, how hard it is to get it off and how easily it will come back on! I've been battling on a smaller scale, but I notice the same thing. The older I get, the less food I need. On one hand, it's kind of neat to realize that your body gets tougher and tougher, till you can run 4 miles a day, eat practically nothing, and still not starve. But it's a bummer for weight control.