johnelka - Member

johnelka

Joined October 2011

Posts

662

Following

Followers

Weight History

Start Weight

313.8 lb

Lost so far: 51.1 lb

Current Weight

262.7 lb
Performance: losing 16.8 lb a week

Goal Weight

180.0 lb

Still to go: 82.7 lb

Hi Everyone!

I'm Johnelka and weight has always been an issue in my life. I feel like I was ALWAYS on a diet and with some success but nothing has ever yeilded a permanent result. I always gained back what I had lost and then some!

On August 2, 2011 I went to my doctor for a yearly physical. I got on the scale and it read 313.8 pounds! I can remember feeling disgusted, embarrased, and completely hopeless. I could see the concern in my doctors face when she suggested that I consider gastric bypass surgery. I bursted into tears right there in the office. Serious wake up call!

On that day I went COLD TURKEY from taking in about 8000 calories a day to a strict 1100 a day. I stopped drinking soda, cut out all fast food and I began making healthier choices. This time around, I decided not to diet but to make a permanent lifestyle change. I don't do well with deprivation at all so I don't deprive myself, ever.

Over the last 6 months I have learned a lot about how my body responds to different things. I am not following any particular diet, I just keep my calories to 1100 a day. I experiement A LOT...and I am discovering what works for me through trail and error.

I would be lying if I said it has been a easy... but it has been a wonderful experience so far. I attribute much of my success to this wonderful website and the accountability tools it offers. I still have about 50 pounds to go til I reach my goal weight... and even that may change as I get closer to my ideal size.

I really hope someone is encouraged to get healthy when they read this and my journal entries. It's do do-able when you make up your mind to do it. Life is sooo awesome... and it keeps on getting better!!

TTFN,
J~

johnelka's Weight History

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johnelka's Latest Member Challenges

Run 5k

status:	Completed
ended:	04 Nov 14
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NO Soda (zero or not) or other calorie drinks

status:	Completed
ended:	31 Mar 13
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Following

	Swayneman
	last weighin: losing 0.9 lb a week

	Augusta888
	only visible to followers

	Prynn
	last weighin: losing 0.3 lb a week

	meepersjeepers
	last weighin: losing 0.2 lb a week

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johnelka's Cookbook

cals: 161kcal | fat: 1.97g | carbs: 33.76g | prot: 2.06g

Vinegar and Salt Sweet Potato Wedges

Sweet potato fries with a twist.

cals: 117kcal | fat: 1.01g | carbs: 12.45g | prot: 16.22g

Asian-style Chicken Salad

Simple chicken salad with an Asian twist.

cals: 233kcal | fat: 15.20g | carbs: 1.22g | prot: 21.63g

Turkey Mini Meatballs

Full of flavor mini turkey meatballs with onions, garlic, parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

cals: 80kcal | fat: 6.98g | carbs: 4.32g | prot: 1.36g

Zucchini Noodles

A great pasta substitute.

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johnelka's Latest Posts

Encouragement after "cheating" (a fresh mindset)
Word to live by Heidijoy!! Really inspiring post! This is something I still struggele with too! I began my journey on August 2, 2011 and for the first 9 months I was completely faithful. I mean I stuck to a strict calorie counting diet, no exceptions. I lost 100 pounds and messed around and went on vacation in April and completely lost my mind! In one months time from April to May, I gained 36 pounds. I went on a rampage eating everything in sight and it occured to me that I could not deprive myself of the things I enjoyed. I just had to learn to eat them in moderation or make them over to suit my needs. I was doing exactly what farr2lively described... eating junk and using that as an excuse to go overboard. What I am learning is that every meal is an opportunity to CHOSE to do better. It's a daily battle for me, but I know there has to be a happy medium.

posted 04 Jun 2012, 07:45

RESET!!!
I'm sure this isn't what you want to hear but we are all here to help and support each other. I am no expert but I have to say, I agree 100% with Kingkeld and Sk1nnyfuture. I had to learn this the hard way so I am speaking to you from experience friend.

I totally get how restricting your caloric intake to 900 calories a day would seem reasonable when looking for faster weight loss. I did the same thing and let me tell you, your body WILL react... it just won't be the reaction you are hoping for. I started this journey feeling exactly the same way and I was only taking in about 800-900 calories a day. What ended up happening is my body stalled completely! I could not lose a single ounce for a solid two months. I was literally starving my body! To add insult to injury, I started working out super hard without increasing my calories thinking it would jump start my metabolism again... WRONG!

Bottom line, this is a journey... a lot of trial and error and eventually you will find what works for you and what doesn't BUT, please be advised that consuming only 900 calories a day will send your body into starvation mode and reak havok on your metabolism. At 900 calories, you will plateau, HARD... and recovery from that is even harder. Trust me...

Best of luck to you, I hope you will consider these suggestions!

posted 21 Mar 2012, 08:29

HIIT - I need advice please!
Thanks so much you guys... I'm going to keep pushing and see what happens!

posted 13 Feb 2012, 12:53

HIIT - I need advice please!
Wow, great comments! Thank u so much!! I'm going to tweak my workout and see what happens. Do u think 3 times a week is too much? I just want to see results! Maybe once I adjust the workout based in ur suggestions and see how my body reacts, I can better gauge how many days a week to train. I expect soreness but I usually recover by the next day and its minimal soreness. That's why I thought maybe I was not doing it right. After doing it for 3 days thus week I actually feel really good.

posted 10 Feb 2012, 10:39

Anxiety before gastric sleeve surgery
Hi, I am no expert but I too attended a Gastric bypass consult at the recommendation of my Doctor back in 2008. I had gone through the process of getting approved through my insurance company and had seen the nutritionist and therapist twice. I was all set to have the surgery. I just could not wrap my head around altering my body in order to get healthy and I decided to try again on my own. I totally agree with much of what Angela H said. The feelings you are having are so normal, making the decision to have a major surgery like that is a big one and should be carefully considered from every angle.

I will be honest and tell you that after I decided not to have the surgery I did continue to struggle with my weight. I continued to gain until it became a serious health issue. My blood pressure was throught the roof and I was a borderline diabetic. I found myself right back at the doctor in 2011 with her tell me I needed to go ahead and have the surgery. It was at that point that the light bulb came on for me and I realized that it was up to me to make a positive change for my health. For me, weight loss is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical and once I decided I was in control of it all, the pieces started coming together for me for the first time in my life. Since my last doctor visit in August of 2011 I have lost 91 pounds just by changing my eating habits and recently by exercising regularly. I still have a way to go but I know I can do this.

I am telling you all this to say that I believe you can too! I definitely acknowledge that only YOU know what is best for you. You know your history and what has and has not worked for you in the past. I do believe that you can do it on your own though... and although this site is not a cureall, it has definitely helped me in my journey, definitely!

I wish you the very best in whatever you decide... YOU CAN DO IT!!!

posted 08 Feb 2012, 15:31

johnelka has submitted 5 posts

johnelka's Recent Food & Exercise

	1 serving Newman's Own Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
	1 serving Member's Mark Shredded Parmesan Cheese
	1 cup Lettuce Salad with Assorted Vegetables
	Hanging Laundry
	Watching TV/Computer
	Grocery Shopping

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30's with 100+ lbs to Lose
30 somethings with over 100 pounds to lose.

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