How I lost 30 pounds in 2010. A simple guide for overweight hackers like me

It's really simple to lose weight. It's really simple to be in shape. It's really simple, but it isn't free.<p>2010 was a year for me that saw rapid weight gain - something I never had in my life. My gut was getting big - almost certainly a result of too much beer. I decided to do something about it in November.<p>For all the skeptics out there, please don't shoot me down on this! It works, and it's amazing to me.<p>I started P90X in early November. 5'11, 183/4 lbs. Within two weeks, I was down to 175 or so, at end of 30 days, I was sitting at 169/170. Now, over 50 days into it, I'm still at that weight, but I have substantially changed my appearance. I'm highly confident my fat percentage has dropped substantially and my muscle gain is impossible to ignore (for anyone who has seen pics).<p>P90X takes all the elements found in the article posted, but makes it very simple to do.<p>You get the diet (which, fwiw, I do not follow). You get the stretching (and yoga, which is amazing). You get the weight training (you need dumbbells and a pull-up bar) You get it fed to you a day at a time. All you have to do is show up.<p>I've taken before pictures - and taken pictures at the end of every week. I was going to wait until I completed the program and then post something here on HN about it - not only for the physical changes, mental changes, etc... but mostly for the benefit of doing something, with intense focus, for an hour or so every day, and watch the results - be it physical fitness, or more appropriately for this audience, starting or improving a business. I think the principles apply across the board.<p>I'm confident if a person went to the gym 6 or 7 days a week, cut out the bad crap from their diet then they would see the same or better results than what I've received with P90X. But P90X makes it stupid-simple to do. You are guided every step of the way. You just do it and don't have to waste any time thinking about what to do today or the next day. It's not rocket science - it's good hard work that anyone without underlying physical issues can ease into. To me, it is almost instant gratification; the results come quickly.

This actually flys in the face of my recent published research, which recommends low-glycemic impact diets that do not count calories. I largely agree with you that aerobic exercise is overrated for weight loss, but we should be explicit in that the goal is not to lose any kind of body mass, but to lose fat. The best ways to maintain muscle mass while losing body weight is to lift weights and and eat adequite protein (also backed by up by research, though I don't have the links handy). One of the nice features of low-glycemic diets, like the Atkins diet, is that you get a lot of protein and thus maintain more muscle mass.

I can echo a lot of this, having lost 30 pounds as well, though that was through the Ideal Protein diet. But the info about how to maintain weight after the initial fat burn portion is invaluable. Cut back carbs and sugars (it's amazing how many things have sugar...), processed grains, etc. For this diet, lots of veggies, lots of protein (un-fried).<p>Absolutely agree about the energeticness, focus, and confidence. Went from 215 to 180, and it's a huge difference.<p>Good post!

The Shangri-La Diet has worked wonders for me. I lost 24.5 pounds in 2010. I used oil. It's like instant willpower.

What about skinny ... umm... wannabe hackers like me? I am not underweight, my weight is fine according to my height. But I just look too skinny. Any of you have faced that problem? Any suggestions as to what I can do to gain some respectable muscle.