This past Winter my weight eased up to 260 pounds (I'm 5' 9") and I decided to
lose weight. At first, I went on a strict diet, eating almost nothing for a few
days, then eating extremely little. I drank a lot of water and took a lot of
vitamins and supplements. I took no diet pills or carb blockers or any such.
Also, I walked about 2 miles each day.

Now after 4 months, I have lost 50 pounds and I weigh 210 pounds. My blood
pressure dropped from 180/100 down to a normal 120/75 and my blood sugar
dropped from borderline diabetic down to normal. I sleep better and I breathe
easier. The minor (what I suppose were) "heart pains" I had been
experiencing....have all gone. I feel very good. But...I know that I am TOO
comfortable with my 210 weight and I realize that I should continue down to the
range of 160-170 pounds.

One thing I noticed was that a lot of weight came off of my external chest:
some flab (the male "breasts" I was beginning to sport) but also I feel that I
lost some muscle off my external chest and the upper arches of my back and
shoulders.

I tried to do some gentle upper-body strengthening exercises to strengthen and
re-add bulk to my upper back and chest, but I began to have distressing heart
pains towards my upper left arm. So, I quit that. I intend to very slowly and
very gently return to trying to strengthen my upper back and chest, but I plan
to be VERY careful in doing it.

Now that I am 50 pounds lighter, I can very easily wipe my rear end (after
going to the restroom). It had truly gotten difficult for me to reach around
there --both in wiping my rump and in bathing myself. It surely is a pleasure
to feel...normal sized again in being able to do some things so basic (to
living) as these.

At this point, at 210 pounds, I can feel that my walking still is putting some
stress on my knees and hips. I do not try to walk very fast. I am a man, age
50. My waist measures 43 and I observe that there still is considerable blubber
around my belly. Also there is fat on my upper legs.

I plan on keeping the weight off and slowly working my weight down to about 170
pounds. And, I encourage others who share this "fight" with me. We're in this
together, brothers and sisters, and we WILL win the war!