Sorry I havent been out here as much as I should have been for the past few months. Between work, travelling lots , getting a show ready and declaring war on being a fat person I havent had much spare time.
I have managed to lose 45 pounds in the past few months with a goal of 75 pounds total when all will be said and done. I have biked over 1000 miles and have been able to get my blood pressure (for which i used to take medication) to a repectable 115/65 with a standing heart rate of 50. Between biking, walking and the gym I manage to burn in excess of 4100 calories daily with some days with 70 mile rides hitting over 5500.
Even when working in San Francisco I manage to get up at 5AM walk up and down Nob Hill several times before and after work and was able to walk over 50 miles in a 4 day window. Here are some shots from SF a couple weeks ago --> here.
My goal is to get to a bodyfat % of about 12-14%. Guess I will wind up looking like Rene's shorter and older brother - hey - on second thought that doesnt sound so good
Way to go Richie!!! You are awesome and a real inspiration
Posted by bill meikle on August 6, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Hey great work Richie, an example to all!
Posted by Kalin Wilson on August 6, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Congrats Richie, great work! Sam Noyes told me he was a little concerned you were wasting away . It takes a lot of will power to lose weight like that!
I love the SF shots, very graphic and really shows your great eye. I'm heading to SF in October and probably won't have a car (hoped I could get out to the redwoods or something) so I'm looking forward to some street walking and these are inspiring.
It's been too long! Let's get together.
Posted by Todd Caudle on August 6, 2008 at 12:29 PM
RichieV, that is AMAZING! Gives me the idea that I could do something about my girth.
No need to apologize! Man you're doing great to have lost so much weight and in a healthy way! Congrats, for me you are an example. Now as I start lugging a heavy TV Video Camera around covering the local news here in El Paso County, I hope with that and my changes in diet habits will get me that 45 lbs loss too! My Goal is to be 165 and I am currently 212. My blood pressure is just a smidge high and i need to make sure i get it under control, not to mention Asthma. Wow, thanks for the inspiration. This 45 y/o piudge needed it!
By the way I know Knob Hill very well having lived in Berkeley from 1990 - 1992. I remember some great Italian Restaurants there!
Posted by Mel Ladewig on August 6, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Congrats Richie. Who's that guy with your bike though?
Hey Rich...long time no see! Congrats on losing the weight....been there :-). I used to weigh 225 lbs in my undergrad days, dropped 40lbs since then....but 75lbs loss is something else! Next time you're in SF, ping me at karbert@hotmail.com. I'm off to Alaska on my dream photo trip in 3 weeks!
Thanks. I feel like I am 41 going on 22. I have energy coming out of my ears. What I have learned is that eating healthy and losing weight are mutually exclusive. For example you can gain weight eating healthy and/also lose weight eating Cheetos (imagine that the 'Frito Lay diet'). For me the key to this and the reason why it is going to be sustainable is that i have only changed my portions. I do try to eat healthy but am not afriad of food anymore. I can eat big Macs if i want to . Just need to record it in a food journal that i religiously keep. The other key is that I wear a device called a Bodybugg - 24 hours a day. It measures how many calories i burn over the course of the day. So if I burn more than i eat. Walla - you lose weight. This is truly the idiot proof way to weight loss.
I cant recommend this method to weight loss enough. I dont feel like I am denying myself anything. I eat only things I like and I lose tons of weight. If anyone wants to learn more shoot me an email.
RichieV
Posted by Rajeev Thomas on August 6, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Richard, awesome post!! You are an inspiration!! 75 pounds??!!! That is amazing!! Great story and your methods is also great!! Keep it up... great to hear from you again here. Looking at your pictures from the link above...you have an excellent sense of composition!!! Great shots!! I am inspired...
Posted by Pam Colander on August 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
What you have accomplished Rich is to be commended. As you know already, nothing but good is the result in many ways and not just the physical. You gain much in self esteem and can relax in the knowledge that food is fuel and a healthy diet is not a punishment. As you also say, you can eat what you want as long as the output is greater than the intake. You have always been a great photographer but now you have healthy engine to keep it running at top capacity. Have you been able to stop the BP meds or does your Dr still recommend them?
Great work, Richie!! Sounds like a life-altering experience. As they say, "it's mind over mass..."
Posted by Laurent Baig on August 6, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Good job, dude! And congratulations!
Posted by Guy Schmickle on August 6, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Hard to believe that anything can take priority over participation in this forum!!! Seriously, congrats on taking control over your life and achieving your goals...and best of luck on those goals you've still set. As far as your SF pics go, I love those shots of the Embarcadero Center. You've got a great eye for architectural shooting.
Wow RichieV, that is an awesome accomplishment!! Congrats!!!
Posted by Jesse Speer on August 8, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Very, very inspiring RichieV!! I can relate to the lack of spare time, but sometimes there are more important things in life to focus on! Keep it up man.
Posted by Chuck Peacock on August 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Way to go RichieV!!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on August 11, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Definitely an inspiration, Richie! I'll have to look into that Bodybugg.
I just lost 5 pounds in 4 days of paddling Grant Collier down the Green River.
And that is after eating 3 VERY big meals every day - they feed you well on those trips!
Thanks for all the encouragement. I feel fantastic and am two pounds shy of 50 pounds lost.
I have finally found the trick to making all of this work. And it isnt eating all carbs, nocarbs or any other nonsense like that. It is merely counting calories in and comparing to calories burned.
I should get a commsion from the Bodybugg folks or at least get them to give me cool bike jersey or something. If anybody is interested in learning more about how to get this started shoot me an email.
Discussion
26 repliesI have managed to lose 45 pounds in the past few months with a goal of 75 pounds total when all will be said and done. I have biked over 1000 miles and have been able to get my blood pressure (for which i used to take medication) to a repectable 115/65 with a standing heart rate of 50. Between biking, walking and the gym I manage to burn in excess of 4100 calories daily with some days with 70 mile rides hitting over 5500.
Even when working in San Francisco I manage to get up at 5AM walk up and down Nob Hill several times before and after work and was able to walk over 50 miles in a 4 day window. Here are some shots from SF a couple weeks ago --> here.
My goal is to get to a bodyfat % of about 12-14%. Guess I will wind up looking like Rene's shorter and older brother - hey - on second thought that doesnt sound so good
RichieV
RichieV
I love the SF shots, very graphic and really shows your great eye. I'm heading to SF in October and probably won't have a car (hoped I could get out to the redwoods or something) so I'm looking forward to some street walking and these are inspiring.
It's been too long! Let's get together.
By the way I know Knob Hill very well having lived in Berkeley from 1990 - 1992. I remember some great Italian Restaurants there!
I cant recommend this method to weight loss enough. I dont feel like I am denying myself anything. I eat only things I like and I lose tons of weight. If anyone wants to learn more shoot me an email.
RichieV
Pam
John
I just lost 5 pounds in 4 days of paddling Grant Collier down the Green River.
And that is after eating 3 VERY big meals every day - they feed you well on those trips!
I have finally found the trick to making all of this work. And it isnt eating all carbs, nocarbs or any other nonsense like that. It is merely counting calories in and comparing to calories burned.
I should get a commsion from the Bodybugg folks or at least get them to give me cool bike jersey or something. If anybody is interested in learning more about how to get this started shoot me an email.
RichieV