Craig’s Weight Loss Statistics
- Name: Craig
- Age: 25
- Family Status: Single
- Occupation: Psychiatric Technician (troubled youth)
- Location: Syracuse, Utah
- Height: 6’3″
- Starting Weight: 410 pounds
- Current Weight: 230 pounds
- Current Waist Size: 34″
Craig’s Weight Loss Interview
How much did you lose?
I lost 180 pounds and went from a size 54 pant size down to a size 34!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I have always been big ever since I was little. My entire family is large also. I have two sisters that both started dieting really hard and they both lost 100 pounds. I was athletic throughout high school, but I weighed about 285 pounds my senior year. I actually felt pretty healthy at that time and I was going to go play college sports, but was in a car accident which derailed those plans. I started working with troubled youth and started to work with kids who had eating disorders. I was able to relate to them because I have struggled with my body image for a very long time. Then I started hearing things about my size directly from the kids and I told myself that I had to make a change.
What made you decide to lose weight?
My weight slowly creeped up on me! It felt like one day I was 285 pounds playing high school football with college scholarship opportunities waiting for me and then the next day I was 410 pounds! My back hurt every single day after I got off work and I was starting to avoid my friends who would invite me to basketball games or anything active which is something I have never done my whole life because I’ve always been really into sports.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
Being dedicated to a healthy diet and exercise program is the key to success!
What was the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your weight loss journey?
The hardest thing about my weight loss journey was being around people who were not dieting. Also, cutting out soda was very difficult.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
I didn’t start to see results until after losing about 80 pounds. However, everyone else was able to see my progress and they kept motivating me to keep going. I was not able to see how others noticed my results because I saw myself every day.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
It took me 10 months to reach my current weight.
Did you have any issues with loose skin after losing the weight? If so, how did you deal with it?
I currently have lots of extra skin. I just recently started bodybuilding and I’m going to give that a shot for a few months to see if I can tighten things up before I make any other decisions about removing the excess skin.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and what are the most important factors for keeping it off?
I would say the most important factor for keeping the weight off is my dedication since it really is a mind game! I have lost 100 pounds before when I was younger and gained it all back. I think that motivates me even more to not let that happen again because I know how easy the weight can come back on.
What keeps you motivated to continue your weight loss success?
I am looking forward to playing college sports soon.
How has your life changed now that you have lost weight?
I’m not in constant pain any longer and I can go out and do yard work and go to the gym. It’s amazing to be able to do those things now versus thinking about how much pain I would be in when I was heavier! Now when I miss a gym day I’m eager to get back in there and workout as soon as possible!
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to lose weight?
Don’t compare yourself to others! There were so many times when I would see others progress and what helped me the most was focusing just on myself and not on how other people were lifting more than me in the gym or how someone could be in better shape and have more endurance. I gained a lot of motivation from one of my best friends who is into bodybuilding and he kept telling me that I should not compare myself to him. If I’m going to workout with him then I’m going to do it the right way even if that means lifting lighter weights with more reps. When you go grocery shopping, have a plan and write down a list of items to get. Go through your refrigerator and pantry and throw away any junk food in there. Have one day out of the week to treat yourself. Eventually, you will be treating yourself, but doing it by eating the things that are good for you.
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
Reading different weight loss success stories on ShapeFit.com kept me really motivated to one day have the opportunity to be someone who can help others that want to lose weight and get healthy.
Craig’s Weight Loss Tips
Weight Loss Tip #1:
What you put into your body is a huge factor when it comes to weight loss.
Weight Loss Tip #2:
Do not compare yourself to others. You’re in this for yourself and you can’t do it if you’re too worried about what the person next to you is doing!
Weight Loss Tip #3:
Meal preparation is key! Prepare your meals ahead of time and take the guesswork out of eating healthy!
Weight Loss Tip #4:
Throw out all of the bad food in your house. Make it a goal to remind yourself about your diet every single day. Also, make time to look in the mirror and be proud of your progress!
Weight Loss Tip #5:
Weigh yourself once a week and do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Craig’s Weight Loss Eating Plan
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
I usually have a protein shake along with some cut up turkey breast or egg whites.
What do you normally eat for lunch?
I have some chicken or fish with at least 6 ounces of vegetables.
What do you normally eat for dinner?
I usually have at least one thing that has carbs in it and I like to eat chicken and fish at dinner also. I really like sauteing some onions and vegetables in coconut oil too.
What do you normally eat for snacks?
I’ve been snacking on cheese and ham or turkey in snack packs which also has some nuts.
What type of nutritional supplements do you take?
During my weight loss journey, the only supplement I would take was Premiere Protein. It has 30 grams of protein in a shake. I’m just getting started with bodybuilding so I am taking a few pre-workout supplements now also.
Craig’s Weight Loss Workouts
What do you do for weight training?
I workout with weights now since I’ve just started bodybuilding. I make it a goal to drink two shaker cups full of water each time I’m in the gym.
What do you do for cardio training?
I do lots of cardio. I like to run hills, run stairs and do burpees. I also like doing P90X which has a great cardio training workout routine. I also like doing football drills to keep things entertaining. I spend lots of time doing step-ups and I also do the elliptical machine now that I’ve started bodybuilding.
