re:

I agree wholeheartedly. A year and a half ago I was 211. I joined a health
club, started exercising regularly, modified my diet and dropped my weight
to a low of 186. My exercises include cardio and strength, so I lost
significantly more than 25 lbs of fat given the increase in muscle mass.
Learning I had PCa was the ultimate downer. I was feeling so good about
myself. I liked the way I looked. Now, when I look in the mirror, I see the
scar from the Lymph Node disection and wonder if I'm growing boobs.
Enough self pitty. I'm concentrating hard on keeping up my exercises though
I don't seem to manage the same levels as I did and I'm back to the low
190's.
BTW - my diet modification consisted of eliminating dairy (substituting soy
products) - except for the occasional pizza, eliminating all read meat -
except for the occasional steak reserved for business trips. I went to whole
grain breads and cereals found in the health food section. I also increased
my portions of fruits and vegetables. I totally eliminated greasy fast food
which never played much of a part in my diet anyway - except for the
occasional KFC or Egg McMuffin. They're totally gone now.

Consume fewer caleries than you burn. It really is as simple as that. Get
out and exercise - even if it's just a walk around the block. I'm
backsliding a little now with my weight but I know what the problem is and
intend to keep working at it.

Best of luck in whatever works for you.
Larry

   The thing to remember about all this is that people with a weight
problem, usually cannot follow a low calorie and exercise routine. Sure it's
a way to lose weight and stay in shape, but there are other ways that work
as well. There are many skinny guys out there that can eat whatever they
want, and stay thin forever.  Not me. I like to eat huge portions. Eating
low carb, I can eat twice as many calories without gaining weight, because
my body burns fat for fuel, not carbs. Excess carbs are turned into fat
cells, excess dietary fat is excreted by the body. This is a simple fact.
The old calories/weight formulas don't apply universally if you strictly
limit fat producing carbs. There are documented cases of people that ate
4000-5000 daily calories of ONLY meat and fat, (I'm not recommending this),
and lost weight. For myself I eat lots of salads and veggies with my
protein, and nuts. It's been 5 years of a strong heart and great blood work,
so you can't knock success.

Congrats on the weight loss, Joe.  My wife and I both went on Atkins a year
ago..... and lost the weight we wanted.... about 20 lbs for each of us.
Since then, we eat what we want, in small portions.... and occasionally cut
out carbs again for a few days in a row.  We've been able to maintain where
we are.... and not go back up again!  Take care!
MikeH

 Joe:
    Is losing that much in so short a time healthy?  I have always
heard to shoot for one or two pounds a week at most.
    Congratulations though on the weight loss and especially the
BP down 10 pts.  I am fighting the blood pressure right now, and
cannot seem to get off any pounds.  Maybe I will look into Atkins
myself.
    Take care.
    Thank you.
David S.

   You're funny. You say how much weight you've lost and your BP is down,
but you think it's hokim?  It makes lots of sense to me after 5 years of
doing it. What you may be missing is actually reading the book? I got mine
for a $1 in a used bookstore originally. He explains why it works, and sites
many case histories.
    That quick a weight loss is a danger sign to me, unless you started out
over 300 lbs.   If you're not following the plan, and exercising and
starving yourself, you're heading for a big fall. You need to understand
what your body is doing and eat lots of food. A loss of 2-3 lbs a week,
while always feeling full and satisfied, is the way to really make a
permanent change in your life. The original book is now about 35 years old.
What I love about it, is that I don't need to count calories or be concerned
about portion sizes. If I want a 2 lb steak with buttered mushrooms, and
strawberries and whipped heavy cream for dessert, I have it with no guilt or
effect on my diet.  For those interested check out alt.suport.diet.low-carb
..... read it and post for a few days. Peoples sigs show what they weighed
then and now. Some have lost and kept off 100 lbs over 30 years!