Arnold Prichep is our Featured Challenger!
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I learned of Dr. Ian and The Challenge thru a newspaper article that I saw a day too late - it was about a meeting of the Pembroke Pines team that was held the day before I read the article.
I had retired from work at the age of 61 due to stress, and unfortunetely I eat from stress. I retired on a Friday, and started a new eating and exercising program the following Monday, which was May 4th. The first week I couldn't get going, still too stressed out, I lost nothing. Then I put it together and by June 25th when I joined this program, I had lost 25 pounds. Three more pounds the next week puts me at 28 pounds overall.
I am probably one of the biggest people doing this, I started at 387 pounds, and am down to 359 at the moment. I am 61 years old, so with my high weight and age I have to be carefull about how I go about this. I am eating approximately 1400 calories a day, and all healthy foods. I walk in malls every other day, and the days I dont walk, I exercise for about 30 minutes with light weights and rubber stretchy bands that fit over a door. I will gradually work into more exercise, but can't stress my body too much at first. I also just did a complete blood test and will see my doctor soon for the results which I expect to be good.
I am out to prove that at 61 years old I CAN lose weight like a young person, and that I CAN do it without the operation that so many have had. I have seen people with the operation put a lot of weight back on after they lost a ton, and their life is also not easy, with food sticking, and throwing up frequently.
I now must battle a tough time - in 1-1/2 weeks my wife and I leave for a trip up north to a few cities as we have two weddings to go to that are 3 weeks apart up there. It will be very hard to be eating out for over three weeks and stay to 1400 calories a day, and exercise will be tough too. I will be tested, and I will do my best, and my goal is not to lose, but to stay the same, however, even if I can keep it to just a small weight gain, I will knock it off as soon as I get home and then continue on my journey.
I think one key to dieting successfully is to eat ONLY things you enjoy, don't be forced into eating foods you do not like. I eat oatmeal, pickled herring, bananas, almonds, peanuts, Lean Cuisine dinners, veggie burgers, frozen fish patties, gefilte fish, crab meat, corn, carrots, bagels & lox, etc. I eat small quantities, but I ENJOY what I eat.
I've successfully kept my weight off by,working out for 35 to 60 minutes,3 to 4 days a week. I've learned dedication pays off. One major thing that has kept me focused is my health. I no longer have symptoms of MS. I believe my life change has played a huge part. Also, diabetes runs in my family. I refused to become a victim to diabetes. 
