gigantic primitive gives us a testimonial, with photographs

[franksolich]

http://drmcdougall.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=17697

Oh my.

The gigantic primitive.

Ege Bamyasi
June 20, 2010

Here it is! Time to brave my little gaggle of cyber stalkers over at another website which shall go unnamed -- for now -- and show my results from one year of McDougalling!

I'm now down 145 lbs. in total, including 31 which I lost over a period of a year-and-a-half while eating SAD but attempting to cut my portions. After going McDougall one year ago tomorrow, the improved results became apparent almost immediately. Here is the graph from the weight loss ticker site, which shows my SAD weight loss as the long unbroken line at the left, then my McDougall progress afterwards. The difference is quite dramatic!

after which a chart

Here's the raw data from my weigh-ins during my time McDougalling, as well:

June 21, 2009 - 488 (-31 from Dec. 2007 lifetime high)
June 28 - 488 ( 0 )

July 5 - 485 ( -3 )
July 12 - 478 ( -7 )
July 19 - 476 ( -2 )
July 26 - 475 ( -1 )

August 2 - 456 ( -19 )
August 9 - 449 ( -7 )
August 16 - 454 ( +5 )
August 23 - 444 ( -10 )
August 30 - 449 ( +5 )

September 6 - 443 ( -6 )
September 13 - 442 ( -1 )
September 20 - 441 ( -1 )
September 27 - 440 ( -1 )

October 4 - 441 ( +1 )
October 11 - 435 ( -6 )
October 18 - 437 ( +2 )
October 25 - 436 ( -1 )

November 1 - 433 ( -3 )
November 8 - 439 ( +6 )
November 15 - 434 ( -5 )
November 22 - 434 ( 0 )
November 29 - 435 ( +1 )

December 6 - 437 ( +2 )
December 13 - 436 ( -1 )
December 20 - 437 ( +1 )

December 27 - 432 ( -5 )

January 3, 2010 - 436 ( +4 )
January 10 - 431 ( -5 )
January 17 - 434 ( +3 )
January 24 - 432 ( -2 )
January 31 - 425 ( -7 )

February 7 - DNW
February 14 - DNW
February 21 - DNW
February 28 - DNW

March 7 - DNW
March 14 - 413 ( -12 )
March 21 - DNW
March 28 - 408 ( -5 )

April 4 - 402 ( -6 )
April 11 - DNW
April 18 - 399 ( -3 )
April 25 - DNW

May 2 - DNW
May 9 - 392 ( -7 )
May 16 - DNW
May 23 - DNW
May 30 - DNW

June 6 - 385 ( -7 )
June 13 - 378 ( -7 )
June 20 - 374 ( -4 )

DNW, of course, means Did Not Weigh. Once the plateau in the 440s and 430s I found myself stuck on started to become a major source of anxiety, I just quit worrying about the scale and let the food choices take over.

Here are some "before" and "during" pics from over the past year. I don't have anything from when I was at my lifetime high of 519, but the first pictures are of me at 476 so that's pretty close. So with no further ado....

Me at 476 lbs. shortly after beginning McDougall. These pictures were taken using a computer's built-in webcam, so there was no way to get a full-body shot. The lighting rather sucks as well, but there's no denying that these are pictures of one very big man!

after which a photograph

after which another photograph

A while later, I decided to use a new digital camera we bought to take pictures of me in a doorway, so that it could be used as a frame of reference as my weight declined. This first set was taken when I was at 443. You can see from the side profile that even standing sideways I still took up most of the doorway, both width-wise and height-wise (I'm about 6'3").

after which a photograph

after which another photograph

And here I was this morning, at 374 lbs., before we went by bus to pick up my wife's computer from the service shop.

after which a photograph

after which another photograph

It seems the poor doorway is finally getting a bit of a break.

I also wanted to mention that this week puts me at the lowest weight I've been at since meeting my wife, Jeanette, in 2002. I achieved a low of 378 lbs. with the help of an almost-McDougall diet and lots of exercise, but getting a bit too overzealous with walking one morning gave me a horrible case of plantar fasciitis which made walking almost impossible. Months of different treatments accomplished nothing, and the mounting depression and severely reduced mobility led to very rapid weight gain and my lifetime peak of 519 by the end of 2007.

So, that's one big milestone down. My next one is to get under 300, which I have not been since around the end of 1990! It's possible I can do it this year, but if not then early next year will suffice. I believe that as my mobility improves bit by bit, my increased movement will help the weight fly off. The trend has been accelerating lately, after all.

I still have a lot of health issues to completely resolve, but everything from the most minor to the most life-threatening complications has seen at least some improvement. I'm unable to work and living on a very tight budget and without any insurance other than Medicare Part A, so no doctors for me without a life-threatening condition and rush to the hospital, which -- knock on wood -- isn't going to happen any time soon! Therefore, I don't have any way to provide lab results such as cholesterol, triglycerides, etc....

But, I can say that a leg which looked like it was about ready for amputation has come around quite a bit, though there is still work to be done. I don't need as much sleep for the most part, and I feel a lot more energetic. Getting up and just walking around the house -- or out and about somewhere -- is much easier, and I can go longer periods of time without needing to sit and rest. My shoulders -- likely from working as a casino dealer for 10 years and making millions of the same robotic arm motions all the time -- still suffer from what is called adhesive encapsulitis, or "frozen shoulder", but there has been relief from the worst of the pain.

I still can't sleep on my side, or lift much of anything above waist level, or even sit and type for long periods of time without pain shooting from my shoulders, down my arms, and also at times into my neck, but I no longer have to depend on loads of narcotic pain medication like I had to before. Those pain medications kept me chronically constipated to the point where I was going through a whole large bottle of senna extract tablets (Swiss Kriss brand, in a 250 tablet bottle) every two weeks, and still at least once a month I'd have to have Jeanette run to the corner drug store for a bottle of that evil tasting magnesium citrate just to be able to "go". All of that is gone, which in and of itself is a huge improvement in my quality of life.

I can't wait to see what the future will bring, as I go lower and lower into weight ranges I can barely even remember. I have the good doctor and his sensible, no-nonsense advice to thank for literally saving my life. I'm terribly sorry about not posting in my journal as often as I once did, but many of you are aware of why I felt I had to stop. I'm thinking that before much longer, I won't be quite as easy and satisfying a target to my little fan club of drooling sociopaths on another website as I once was. That would be nice. 8)

As always, thank you Dr. McDougall and the community here for your wisdom and tremendous support. But most importantly, for any lurkers out there who don't see any way out from horrible pain, health problems, and mobility issues related to extreme obesity, let me assure you that if you follow the advice here and stay true to yourself, you can regain your lost health and turn your life around! It is now my life's goal that, once I get to where I need to be, then I can find a way to mentor and assist others to accomplish what I am and will continue to do.

Thanks again for reading about me on my one year McD anniversary!

You know, I'm truly disappointed the gigantic primitive isn't getting some exercise pounding the pavements looking for a job; that'd be a great way to celebrate all this good news.

[thundley4]

Nice to see you are still with us Frank.

[Chris_]

Good to have you back, sir.

So he's finally below 400.  Congratulations.

[franksolich]

So he's finally below 400.  Congratulations.

I dunno why the gigantic primitive thinks he can't work.

He's already thirty pounds lighter than the guy who shovels grain at the grain elevator here five and a half days a week.

[PatriotGame]

Kirk, I know you check in here so I will say this:

GOOD JOB! That is a very noticeable improvement but you must remember a few things. Being honest, brutally honest with yourself and acting appropriately on that honestly is the only thing that will get you to your desired weight, keep yourself there and save your life! Being morbidly obese is no way to go through life. You are only as sick as your secrets.
Oh, the picture of you in the doorway with the chin-up bar overhead? Do you see the irony there? Maybe someday, you can use that bar.

Make use of every single resource available to you, push yourself, and do things (actions, not bullshit words) to increase your self esteem. You cannot think yourself into acting right, you can only ACT yourself into right thinking. Get a job too! Just a part time job selling tickets at the movie theater or at the Qwkie Mart, earning a paycheck, being responsible does wonders for ones self esteem.

[BlueStateSaint]

A couple of things:

1)  Coach!  Nice to see you back.  If it wasn't for Chris updating us from time to time and saying that you'd be back, I'd be really worried. 

2)  PG, you're dead on.  Action is the key.  For example, when I decided that I had to stop drinking, I didn't say anything to my lovely wife that I was going to get help, go to AA, etc.  I just went out and did it, as I felt that my actions would say things a lot louder than my words could.

3)  Kirk, if you're reading my comment, you're truly a brave man.  Add some walking to your regimen.  It'll get you out and about, and you just might experience positive something that you wouldn't at the exercise bike.  The key is to act and not to talk.

[Tucker]

Keep it up and get a job. There's millions on welfare that depend on your taxes for survival.

[terry]

Cause for celebration!  Frank's back.

 

and the big dude is below 400.

[Ballygrl]

Who is this person? and congrats to this person for losing all that weight, it took a lot of willpower.

[franksolich]

Who is this person? and congrats to this person for losing all that weight, it took a lot of willpower.

The gigantic primitive, known as Systematic Chaos on Skins's island, and before that, GentleGiant.

Also the #08 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009.

A description of him's in the DUmping Ground, under "#08 Top Primitive."

[Ballygrl]

The gigantic primitive, known as Systematic Chaos on Skins's island, and before that, GentleGiant.

Also the #08 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009.

A description of him's in the DUmping Ground, under "#08 Top Primitive."

Thanks!

[AllosaursRus]

Wow! never thought I'd see the day he would get under 400! Good Job, Gargantua!

BTW, how's Jeanette? Didn't notice how much he included her in this testimonial as reading it is like watching paint dry!

[Karin]

There was still too much information about the constipation, and having Jeanette go fetch remedies for it. 

Ballygrl, he once announced on the internet that he borrowed his wife's products for a yeast infection to treat some sore or somesuch on his leg.  It burned the crap out of him.  I've never forgiven him for revealing such a personal piece of info about his wife on the webz. 

[franksolich]

There was still too much information about the constipation, and having Jeanette go fetch remedies for it.  

Ballygrl, he once announced on the internet that he borrowed his wife's products for a yeast infection to treat some sore or somesuch on his leg.  It burned the crap out of him.  I've never forgiven him for revealing such a personal piece of info about his wife on the webz.  

I find it hard to forgive the rectal aperture for mentioning poor Jeanette is bright.....and then adding that he himself has a "high IQ," so as to diminish a quality of the woman who supports him.

Not a very caring husband, the gigantic primitive.

[Ballygrl]

WOW! I read the posts mentioned by Frank in the DU primitive of the year thread, I actually felt sorry for the guy and still kind of do, but he ticked me off when he blamed Bush/Cheney in a post which was insane. There has to come a point where people become responsible for themselves. Here's hoping he continues his diet and is on the road to good health, and hoping he can get to a point where he stops blaming others.

[Wineslob]

Looking at the Gigantic Primitives numbers, you'd think we were looking at the times he took a crap.



Welcome back Frank. 

[franksolich]

.....and hoping he can get to a point where he stops blaming others.

Won't ever happen.

You can bet the farm on it.

[USA4ME]

Congrats!



.

[AllosaursRus]

I find it hard to forgive the rectal aperture for mentioning poor Jeanette is bright.....and then adding that he himself has a "high IQ," so as to diminish a quality of the woman who supports him.

Not a very caring husband, the gigantic primitive.

Looks to me like he's lost enough to go back to dealin' Black Jack, at least! I doubt he will. I think since he has Jeanette to wait on him hand and foot, most likely on gubmint freebies, he'll just stay where he is in life.

[franksolich]

Looks to me like he's lost enough to go back to dealin' Black Jack, at least! I doubt he will. I think since he has Jeanette to wait on him hand and foot, most likely on gubmint freebies, he'll just stay where he is in life.

Well, I'm wondering.

Remember, the gigantic primitive got into this mess in the first place, because he was sitting on his ass all day long dealing cards, and bankrupting the casino kitchen.

I'm assuming card dealers get all the chow they want, from the casino kitchen, as one of the fringe benefits.

The gigantic primitive probably put down more than a few cows when he was dealing cards.

Or perhaps there was some, uh, funny business going on, and the gigantic primitive is now banned from working in a casino. 

We'll probably never know, because the gigantic primitive, even though living off our dime, doesn't think it's important to be honest with those people supporting him.

Taxpayer-supported primitives are funny that way--even though they're utterly dependent upon other people, they still think they "deserve" to have a "private life"......but on the other hand, corporations getting tax breaks are supposed to bare all.

Well, I think corporations getting tax breaks should have to bare all, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander too.  As long as he's on our dime, the gigantic primitive should be open and honest.

[AllosaursRus]

Well, I think corporations getting tax breaks should have to bare all, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander too.  As long as he's on our dime, the gigantic primitive should be open and honest and audited, drug tested, etc.

fixord!

[PatriotGame]

WOW! I read the posts mentioned by Frank in the DU primitive of the year thread, I actually felt sorry for the guy and still kind of do, but he ticked me off when he blamed Bush/Cheney in a post which was insane. There has to come a point where people become responsible for themselves. Here's hoping he continues his diet and is on the road to good health, and hoping he can get to a point where he stops blaming others.

Denial ain't a river in Egypt!

As long as Ed stays in denial, he will be obese and his current weight loss will be temporary. Morbid obesity is a self-inflicted prison cell and not because of how the public reacts to you by any means.

[AprilRazz]

Why is he wearing surgical booties?

Welcome back Coach!

[AllosaursRus]

Why is he wearing surgical booties?

Welcome back Coach!

Jeanette can't afford size 14 triple z's!

[PatriotGame]

Congrats!



.

Oh you are ****ing cruel.
For some perverse reason, (me being what I am), I laughed my ass off over that! 

Hang in there Ed, Kirk, whatever...