Moving to Health Pt 2

Monday May 4, 2009 ~ 36 Comments

[Please see Moving to Health Pt 1 before you read this-- it explains why I am a bad source of advice on weight loss.]

As I mentioned in my last post on the subject, I get a lot of questions about weight loss. Since I speak at conferences, people can often see you once a year and they notice a change. (Here is a pic of me speaking at a conference in North Carolina last year just before I started my plan to get healthy.) And, my last post received elicited many emails, comments, and Facebook messages. So, I am writing a bit more about weight loss. But, let me remind you that I am still moving toward health-- I have not achieved it.

One of the more interesting things about losing weight are the comments you receive. They revolve around several themes that I think might be helpful to consider. And, many of them are myths.

Here are three common comments that I believe are myths:

First, fat people are lazy and slothful. Of course, some fat people are lazy and slothful, but so are some skinny people. But, I was not (and am not) overweight because I was lazy. I don't feel it helpful to layout the "I work hard" evidence, but it is there. I was fat because I worked too much and used food as energy that I lacked because I did not get enough rest. And it's pretty simple. If you consume more calories than your body burns = you gain weight.

Second, overweight people can just stop being overweight. I have tried to lose weight one hundred times. I have started fad diets. They did not work. Most overweight people want to lose weight but find they can't. Part of it is genetic (My mother's side of the family are big people - and I take after them). I do not know a single fat person who is excited about being so.

Third, making comments about someone's weight will motivate people to lose weight. You cannot shame people into change. It does not work.

The most common question I am asked is how I lost the weight. Well, here is my strategy. I have lost 110 thus far and would like to lost about 50 more (though I am just planning to eat healthy until I get to a healthy weight... and then continue to eat healthy).

1) I saw a doctor. Before I did anything else, I saw my doctor, did a bunch of tests, and followed his advice.

2) I stopped dieting. That's right; I am not on a diet. I changed my lifestyle. If I was on a diet, I would go off it one day. Now, I just eat differently.

3) I started exercising. That is probably the most significant change. I exercise 5 days a week for an hour each time. Now, it took me a while to get to that point, but I am in the habit now. I will explain my exercise plan in the next post.

4) I created accountability systems. For me, those were public. I announced it at church (9000 members), on Twitter (about 4000 followers at the time), and on Facebook (about 3000 friends at the time). For me, having thousands cheer you on encouraged me-- and at times, fed my ego as I lost the weight and people noticed. But, I am O.K. with that-- I need the encouragement.

5) We worked as a family. When one person starts eating differently, it can be a real pain. So, we talked about it and all made some changes for the better.

6) We encouraged each other. Far too often, Donna and I were like two drunks-- when one was sober, the other would offer a drink. Instead, we decided to encourage one another. Now, Donna has lost over 70lbs and I have lost over 100, so we exhorting each other to health, rather than pulling one another down.

Now, both of us are not done. We have a ways to go, but we are doing it together.

I will write one more post in the coming days...

Feel free to comment below by sharing your ideas, suggestions, or thoughts... and I promise I won't make this into a fitness blog. ;-)

Posted on May 4, 2009 at 5:22 AM ~ 36 Comments

Tagged with: health, personal, weightloss

36 Comments

By Shane Knight on May 4, 2009 11:36 AM

Ed. Outstanding

You said that you eat differently. Can you give me some examples of this? Such as main dishes and healthy snacks, drinks, etc?

By John Mark Harris on May 4, 2009 11:36 AM

1Timothy 4:8 "bodily training is of some value"

By Dan on May 4, 2009 11:40 AM

Awesome Ed! Just curious--about how many calories do you burn on the elliptical in an hour?

By Alex Penduck on May 4, 2009 11:40 AM

Ed, at the start of the year I decided I needed to lose 20 pounds. I didn't look overweight but my Dr told me to and I wanted to get off my blood pressure meds. I didn't diet, just watched my calorie intake. I drank a whole lot of water and started to exercise, about 30 mins a day. My wife joined in with me as well. It took about 2-3 weeks to get in the habit. Once I got in the habit the weight just came off. I have already reached my goal and am feeling so much healthier and have much more energy. The only problem is now my wife and I don;t have any clothes that fit!

By Richard Richter on May 4, 2009 11:42 AM

I have never sat down and written with clarity what I have and am doing to move toward health. Thank you for the clarity and transparency in sharing your journey. I will continue to pray for you as a brother on the same journey.
PEACE,
Richard
www.twitter.com/thephatpastor

By Kjetil on May 4, 2009 11:46 AM

"I was fat because I worked too much and used food as energy that I lacked because I did not get enough rest. And it's pretty simple. If you consume more calories than your body burns = you gain weight."

I totaly recognize this observation in my own life!

But this summer I changed my lifestyle, and have lost about 48lbs...

(From 86 to 62 kg)

Right food, right exercise, right rest is the answer, if you ask me...

God bless!

By josh reich on May 4, 2009 11:46 AM

that's awesome. i recently lost about 70 pounds in the last 10 months eating differently and working out regularly. it feels awesome. your myths about weight are right on. thanks for sharing.

By Terry O'Casey on May 4, 2009 12:04 PM

Your comments months ago on Twitter spurred me on.

I started memorizing the passages from the Books of the Bible I was preaching through while walking-(Short books:) Jonah, Ruth etc. I laminated a copied page from my Bible & walked for a hour. I have lost weight, seen beautiful places and memorized the Word (in context instead of my old way of a verse here and there).

O, and I eat less now too.

By Jason on May 4, 2009 12:08 PM

Way to go, man! Keep up the good work!! This story, YOUR story will definitely inspire many.

By Jeff Wells on May 4, 2009 12:08 PM

Ed -thanks for sharing!
I have been on my own journey to health since February. I have lost a good deal of weight, 44 pounds, and am feeling GREAT! I have a ways to go however as I need to lose another 50 pounds. I am curious about your food choices since you travel so much. I was hitting my stride and then went out of town for a conference three weeks ago. Ever since then, I have had a hard time getting back to the healthy eating choices that I know I need to make and have been making in the past. I love to exercise, that's not a problem, as I run 45 minutes a day and walk an hour a day. I typically do that 5 - 6 days a week. Just need to tackle the eating front again. Anyway, thanks for your encouragement - you're a great example!

By David Slagle on May 4, 2009 12:09 PM

Ed, I'm floored and inspired by the "after" photo. Way to go.

By Dwayne Morris on May 4, 2009 12:15 PM

Way to go Ed!

I've enjoyed following you on Twitter and catching your post here on your site!

Just one word on the weight loss. I dropped 25 pounds recently and everything was going great until about 3 weeks ago. Long story, short: I had a gall bladder attack. While visiting my family doc, I learned that people who lose weight quickly tend to develop stones in their gall bladder. Since that time, I've had surgery to remove the GB and I'm now on the mend.

Keep close tabs with your doc.

Good luck. Hope to connect with you in person some day.

By Dave Miller on May 4, 2009 12:15 PM

I have to do something. I'm 51 years old and about 120 pounds overweight. I have tried every diet in the world. I've even run marathons (at over 300 pounds) and still I gain weight. It is so frustrating.

But, I have realized that if I want to be 55 or 60, if I want to see my gradchildren grow up, I've got to do something.

Your testimony is encouraging to me that it can happen. Most of the time, I just despair about it.

By David Troublefield on May 4, 2009 12:23 PM

Ed:

I recognize you in the top photo, from having spent a week in your sesssions at Sunday School Week in 2007. Who's that good-looking, thin, scholarly guy in the bottom photo??

Congratulations--and keep it up!

By Chad Payne on May 4, 2009 12:44 PM

Awesome, Ed!! Way to go!

Your achievement inspires me so much. I need to lose 30 or 40 pounds myself, and just last week I hired a personal trainer to help me reach that goal.

Watching your journey through your tweets and blog have encouraged me to go after this. So thanks!

By Laura on May 4, 2009 1:23 PM

Thanks for sharing.

I started my lifestyle change last spring and have lost 40 pounds (I'd like to lose 55 more), feel better, move better, and eat what I want (and what I want has changed).

By brad wright on May 4, 2009 1:40 PM

Remarkable... thank you for telling us about it. It's very encouraging.

By Phil on May 4, 2009 1:43 PM

Excellent work!

I would suggest that your life disproves myth #2. You stopped being fat. It takes time for the weight to come off, but it took time for the weight to go on.

As soon as you made the lifestyle changes, it was just a matter of time.

Maybe I'm quibbling too much...

By Ed Stetzer

on May 4, 2009 2:28 PM

Shane,

I eat low fat and low carb meals, so chicken, fish, and vegetables are good... and lots of salads. I can always get a salad on the road.

Dan, just under 1000 calories, I think.

By Tony Merida on May 4, 2009 2:48 PM

Very encouraging Ed~ I just showed your photos to my wife, here in Ukraine. I pray for continued health that you may continue to serve Jesus faithfully.

By Ed Stetzer

on May 4, 2009 4:07 PM

David, good to hear from you. It has been a while.

Tony, it is a little creepy when you show my pic to your wife. ;-)

By Rick Boyne on May 4, 2009 4:19 PM

Ed,

Thanks for being public about this.

God bless you as you endeavor to "get healthy"!

By Jonathan Brink on May 4, 2009 5:42 PM

Nice.

By Mike Edwards on May 4, 2009 5:46 PM

Ed-
Thanks for being willing to be open and sharing about your experience. I wonder, as someone trying to not "diet" but really make a change in diet, how you went about having sweets or "junk food" in your diet or dealt with social environments where you didn't have much choice in the food provided, etc.

Would love to hear more on that.

Mike

By Don Coldwell on May 4, 2009 6:03 PM

I am so encouraged by these posts. I have recently lost 40lbs in the same manner.

When I realized that I was treating the body that God had given me with contempt and idolotry at the same time... I was finally able to repent and allow God to change my heart. I have some more to go but it is for God's glory.

Thank you again for sharing this.

By Kevin on May 4, 2009 7:38 PM

Another great post, Ed!

By Jonathan Herron on May 4, 2009 8:27 PM

It's been more than a year since seeing you in person - - Holy Cow, Ed! My jaw literally dropped when I saw your new pic just now.

WAY TO GO!
Time to change the blog header pic?

By Michael on May 5, 2009 10:27 AM

I can relate to this story. In June of 2008 over worked, over weight, and smoking like a forest fire I attempted to rise out of my Lazy Boy and took a mule kick to the chest. What makes this even worse as a Master in Ken NinJitsu my students use to ask me what it would take for me to turn my life around. My general response was, “when one of you can beat me.” In a short humorous way I beat myself.

I went from 220 pounds to 163 and because I’m a gym rat now I’m back to 175 pounds. The point is this, nothing happens until you have a change in life style. But this lesson goes even further than just the weight…it took an unexpected corner and that was me accepting Christ during Thanksgiving of 08. Life style completely changed.

I’m still fighting the last fight which is the smoking. Granted I’ve reduced but the actual stopping is a daily fight that I don’t give up on. I’ve heard people say, “just give God the problem,” well I’m the one who has the monkey on his back is my normal response and God does not stop the jitters which normally leads the normal to road rage and other anti-social behavior.

Six weeks is what it takes to change…who wants to stay on the island with me while I quit smoking?

By Dan Adams on May 5, 2009 12:10 PM

Hey Ed. Great job! That is exciting stuff to hear about. Proud of you!

By Kevin Higgins on May 6, 2009 6:31 AM

Thanks for the post Ed. My weight has been climbing for a while now, and recently has gone nuts. I have to do something! I appreciate your candidness and for sharing what you did.

By Amy Rainey on May 6, 2009 11:14 AM

Hey Ed,
Thanks for sharing your journey. You do look great, and I know you are feeling the difference as well. I wanted to share a website that has helped me to better understand true health. www.sparkpeople.com There I have learned about healthy portions, appropriate amounts of excercise, and the life changes necessary to lose and then maintain a healthy weight. You can track your success online and learn healthy habits. There is also an online community that is a fabulous way to find other people on the same journey and become accountability to and for them.

By Casper on May 7, 2009 6:04 AM

That's great!!!

I've been waiting hear what the progress is after seeing all your exercise related Twitters.

It's great to see such a dramatic change. Keep going!

By Deam Wa;;ace on May 9, 2009 7:27 PM

Thank you for sharing. After I lost weight I felt sooo good about myself but I still had breathing problems. Then I got sick. They gave me a mega dose of predisone and I gained 27# in two weeks. Still no better they gave me a super mega dose of predisone and I gained over 40# in three weeks. Then I got depressed, quite, and have been in a deep dark hole ever since. It is time to get out of the ditch and do something. I can't just sit here any more. Thank you for the encouragement. I do not know whether to try and find a witchdoctor homepathic or a MD who specializes in weight loss. Probably the latter.

By Pastor on May 15, 2009 10:20 AM

I am proud of you brother!

By Janis McKinney on May 15, 2009 3:28 PM

What brand of elliptical do you have? We're in the market for one and thought I'd see how you like the one you have.

By Terrace Crawford on September 9, 2009 5:01 PM

Awesome. I so agree with your mythbusters too!

--Terrace Crawford
www.terracecrawford.com
www.twitter.com/terracecrawford