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Just posting an update here for posterity sake, as I believe strongly this is the final year of my obesity - and at age 50, it's about time.
I am on target to reach a BMI <30 (i.e., merely overweight and no longer obese) by the end of this year. For many years (as my weight history shows), 230 lbs (only 7 lbs below morbid obesity) was a resistance point that I always seemed to hit and start gaining weight. I don't know if this was a "set point" or whether this just coincided with other things going on in my life at the time (stress, depression, etc.), but for the past year except for a handful of days, I've maintained a weight under 230.
I attribute my weight loss quite simply to adhering to a low carb real food diet, and in particular, to incorporating a (quality, low-carb) prepackaged food program that makes it as easy as throwing meat and veg packages into the microwave for 3-4 mins to prepare the majority of my meals.
Of course weight loss is only part of "success" - the far harder part in my opinion is keeping it off. I attribute my success (well, at least success for the past year by staying under 230) as finally and more fully understanding what happens to me when I indulge in a higher and more refined carb diet.
I find I need to eat more frequently and tend to crave crappier, non-real food. Also when I've fallen off the low carb bandwagon, I've experienced episodes of depression, which upon returning to a strict low carb diet miraculously go away within a week or two. Alcohol consumption is another factor for me. While I allow my self a drink or two in the evening, I sometimes have to go on an alcohol "fast" when I start craving more than 2 drinks a night.
It seems that with both refined carbs and alcohol, changes happen to me that are simply not desirable and impact my happiness.
I find that while eating low carb real foods, I feel much better and feel much more in control of my own body and its cravings. I start craving much healthier foods and no longer crappy carby food like chips, pizza and ice cream - which are traditionally the types of foods that throw my body into a tailspin - both physically in terms of weight gain and mentally in terms of depression.
It sounds easy, but it's been a very difficult journey for me - I think much like the journey many people have who've tried to quit smoking or overcome drug or alcohol addiction.
I'll update my progress again once I'm no longer obese.
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209.0 lb
Lost so far: 56.0 lb.
Still to go: 44.0 lb.
Diet followed reasonably well.
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losing 1.3 lb a week
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