18 years ago, I went from a shop job to a desk job, and after a year my metabolism started slowing way down. A year later I was up to 275lbs. I did what is today called the "strict Keto diet" for about 9 months, and got down to 195. After stopping, I went back to what I consider my "normal" weight of 230lbs over about 2 years. I am 5'10" and I can honestly say nobody ever believes me when I say I am 230 lbs. I dropped to 190 in the year after my divorce and people thought I had cancer or something. Anyway, since the beginning of the year, with all the changes in my life (sold family business, new position with the new company, sold my house, building a new one, youngest daughter graduated HS, grandkid on the way from oldest son, etc.), I gained 10 lbs and my health declined significantly. I finally decided to take action a few weeks ago, and declared it is time to go low carb again.
I weighed in at 239lbs on Sept 13. This morning I was 224. I was traveling for the last week, which makes it hard to stick to the diet, so I only lost 1 lb that week, but otherwise it has been steady loss. On top of this, each morning I force myself to do some basic exercises. Nothing crazy, but enough to get muscles stretched out and joints moving better. I am quite certain that the little bit of arthritis that has plagued my back is spreading to more joints, and lately I have had a tendency toward some wickedly painful tendinitis (wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee, and feet). The basic calisthenic workout has improved all that noticeably, and I feel myself getting stronger each day. Not carrying the extra 15 lbs has helped too. Each day I can do more, and actually want to do more. I have some big projects coming up once my house is done, and need to be able to do carpentry work. In a week I will be wiring my new house for all the low voltage stuff, that will be my first challenge, up and down a lot of ladders.
Aside from just feeling better, I want to get down about another 10 lbs, maybe 15. I know it will spring back once I start eating "normal" again, so I just want to use this to get a little healthier and see how long I can maintain.
Congrats to the others here losing weight. When you sit all day in front of a computer and don't have a super active lifestyle out of the office, it can be incredibly difficult to do, so my hat is off to you.