Fat man shrinks rapidly, experiences headaches.

[Hamish McBagpipe]

Bought a set of scales months ago. The thing was eyeing me from the bathroom floor, untouched, like a dead dog.

I'm 37, 6 feet tall, wrestled in University at 157 pounds though, of course, that was over 15 years ago and that was pretty underweight for my frame. Cruised along alright at about 175 through my 20s while still running and visiting the gym regularly. Blah, blah, blah. Then it happened.

For about the last half a dozen years my casual drinking escalated to the point of 6 to 8 pints a night, minimum, and about twice as much on weekends. I had a heavy drinking long time girlfriend and my job has a lot of social drinking as part of the business. Drank everyday solid for that entire time, don't remember having a day off. So when I finally stepped on that piece of crap it spat out the pathetic, nausea-inducing number of 260. Well, what the hell did I expect? Actually, it's a regular, nondigital scale, so I don't think it really gave an accurate reading....at that weight it kind of wavers up and down a few pounds due to the seismic activity.

That was October the first. Quit drinking. Completely dry. Found out I'm not an alcoholic I guess, since it hasn't bothered me at all. Licking my lips a bit while watching football on Sundays, that's it. No greasy food, walking about an hour a day (used to run a few times a week but the impact would now shatter my shins), and starting to lift my weights again.

Lost 40 pounds by Halloween and today it says 215. Sure, still a fat bastard but that was fast as hell, faster than I ever lost weight while training or any other time I decided to lose a few.

I feel much better, lots of energy, old clothes fit again, etc. People starting to notice the weight loss. I can get back to around 180 by the spring I think.

The only thing I've had a problem with is that from day one I've had a persistent low grade headache. I think this is either from the reduction in daily sugars or some side effect of quitting the heavy drinking. I have heard that it may have been better to continue to have a glass of wine or a shot a day but I have no urge to have this nor do I want the calories.

No other point to this, I suppose. Not really bragging about this kind of weight loss since I'm still fat as hell but I thought over 40 pounds would take several months. I guess the lesson I have learned is that imbibing the caloric equivalent of a couple of loaves of bread every night is unwise.

Well, off to have my dinner of half a chiclet on a bed of lettuce.