100 Pounds Was My Initial Goal
A year ago, Wade realized he had a hundred pounds to lose. Today he shares his journey. Read on to find out if he pulls it off.
And if you have your own Primal Blueprint success story and you’d like to share it with me and the community please contact me here. Have a wonderful Friday, everyone, and thanks for reading!
Hi Mark,
After a life-long struggle with weight, I began my most recent weight-loss journey in January 2010. At 5’10″, I tipped the scales at a whopping 325, had a BMI of 47, was on three medications for asthma, had severe acid reflux medicated with expensive prescription acid reducers, and suffered from obstructive sleep apnea which necessitated the use of a CPAP machine to breathe when I slept.
With the help of a professional physical therapist trainer and nutritionist, in January 2010, I committed myself feverishly to those things which conventional wisdom dictates: daily torturous battles with my body at the gym, and a low-fat, high-fiber, high-carbohydrate diet.
After two months, I was seeing some modest results, but I could tell that my body needed something different. I had an instinct that I didn’t feel well eating all of these refined carbohydrates. I had a battle with my nutritionist/trainer who swore that my instincts were wrong and that I would be doomed to failure.
In March, I followed my gut and set out full-steam-ahead down my Primal path. I had had success with low-carb diets such as Atkins and South Beach before, but I was never able to maintain the short-term success they offered.
A friend recommended Primal Blueprint to me, and I immediately started changing my life to follow more Primal edicts.
Within a month of ceasing my refined flour and sugar consumption and adopting the Primal Blueprint, I began to see immediate and dramatic results. My lifelong symptoms of severe asthma immediately disappeared, my painful gastric reflux abated, I dropped 15 pounds that first month, and I was able to cease all prescription medication almost immediately.
I was able to reduce the intensity of my workouts and maintained 70 percent of my maximum heart rate comfortably. I follow a three-days-on, one-day off workout schedule. Each workout consists of 35-45 minutes of varied cardio at 70-percent heart rate, followed by varied weight-lifting regimen focusing on lower weights with higher reps. I will probably start “lifting heavy” toward the end of my journey to pack on a few pounds of muscle.
Now, 11 months after beginning my weight loss journey, and 8 months after going “Primal” I see dramatic results. My weight has dropped about 105 pounds to 220, with my average monthly weight loss being between 8 and 12 pounds consistently. My BMI is now teetering around 30, 17 points lower than a year ago. I haven’t taken a single prescription medication in over six months, I have no symptoms of asthma, no gastric reflux, no painful sleep-deprivation headaches, no weakness from chronic workouts, no lethargy from insulin crashes, and I no longer require my CPAP to sleep. And if that weren’t enough, my cholesterol is great at a mere 120.
My life has dramatically changed! I have gone from a 50″ pair of jeans to 34″, a size 54 suit coat to size 44. I am almost NEVER hungry, have no cravings — even when I skip a meal, which I often do!
I probably have another 20 pounds to my ultimate goal, but 100 pounds was my initial goal, and I’m going to relax and enjoy my success!
Wade B. — Portland, Oregon
Update: 07/11/11
I wanted to shoot you a quick update to my progress since you featured me last December.
I have lost a total of 137 pounds following Primal Blueprint. I’m doing great, lifting heavy, working hard with a trainer. My success even convinced my trainer at 24-Hour Fitness to start Primal Blueprint diet himself, and he now recommends it to his clients!
Thanks for everything.
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
So inspirational! Thanks for sharing!
this is an(other) amazing story. way to go, wade!
i’ve been reading this site voraciously and have been doing a (mostly) primal diet for about a week now (yes, i’m a total beginner), minimizing dairy is way hard. i’m fine without the grains and beans.
i do have question with regard to the fitness side of the primal lifestyle. i’m having a hard time imagining giving up my cardio, by that i mean long runs (not that long just 4 miles) and 20-40 minute interval training (which i want to keep by calling it sprinting (?)). do i have to? is it really that bad?
If you enjoy running 4 miles then keep doing it! When people look to lose weight they think they have to run mile after mile or run hard on the treadmill for an hour and they simply stress themselves out because they don’t enjoy it. Go easy and enjoy your workout. If you go hard but LOVE it and FEEL AWSOME all the time then keep doing what you are doing!
Listen to your body – it tells you a lot!
I agree with Primal Toad. I used to LOVE to run also, and even started minimalist running with the 5 Fingers. A soccer knee injury however shut me down (still after 7 months). By completely changing my diet and FEELING better about myself (not so anxious about training and RUNNING) the “obsession” with needing to run has faded a bit. More time now for my family and just BEING. I really think there’s a connection with anxiety and the food we eat. The other thing is I eased off working out during the Holidays (1-2 a week push ups and pull ups). I didn’t fret, just enjoyed myself. Starting to ramp up again now. Happy New year!
One last thing, as Mark says, “I just want to look good naked!” As vein as that sounds, if that’s taken care of (80%+ through what we eat), who gives a shit about the endless running and training! Priorities.
Congratulations to you Wade, you look fabulous!
Awesome, Wade! Great job!
Lookin’ good, Wade! Are you single?! I am Primal in Portland.
Thanks for the story, well done and keep going!
Great job, Wade!
Amazing story and results! Congratulations!
Why more people don’t adopt this lifestyle and reap all the benefits is beyond me. I’ll keep telling anyone who’ll listen.
Very very impressive!
Great job! Keep up the good work.
Congrats on the success of your weight loss. Great job. As a person that also has sleep apnea, the people that say they no longer have it are a real worry to me. I’ve lost about 100lbs myself but am under no illusions that my sleep apnea is gone. The ONLY way to determine that is with another sleep study. If you have had another sleep study and they tell you it has gone then power to you. To decide on your own is to commit suicide on the time plan. OSA is nothing to fool around with, it is a killer. I know, it was a huge contributor to the death of my father who never weighed over 180 lbs his whole life. It is way more how your throat is built than your weight.
Jeff: You’re absolutely right. I should have been clearer to indicate that I have had follow-up sleep studies (2 in fact).
Losing the CPAP was part of my goal for starting the Primal Blueprint, and your story is great inspiration! Congrats! Did you have any difficulties to get your doctor to order the follow up sleep studies?
Congratulations, Wade!
Wow, I love Fridays when I get to sit with a cup of tea and read these stories.
Great job, Wade, very inspiring. Your ‘after’ photo is awesome!
What a fantastic success story, and may I say you look great!
This looks like one of those fake tellsell ads
congrats dude!
Wow! that’s incredible and inspriational! thanks for sharing your successes!
I was going to say also, that you now look exactly like Adam Baldwin!
pardon my french – hell fucking yes!
Seriously, this is a pile of WOW. So inspirational, Wade, way to go!!!
Wade got me to start going primal about two weeks ago and I am already amazed with how much more energy I have. You are my inspiration for being able to resist the urge for carbs while living in the beer and foodie mecha that Portland has become.
Mecca*
Just amazing. You are the picture of health! Thank you so much for sharing your story.
You look younger!! Amazing success story! Congratulations Wade!
Mark, I love these! Keep ‘em comin’!!
Hi, Gillian,
I’ve got another inspiring story coming next week. I’ll keep publishing them as long as they keep coming in.
Mark, do keep them coming as they are so very inspirational.
Wow, that photo on the right could be your dad. You look so much younger! I’m 58 yo, but even for someone my age you’re a hottie! Good job!
I meant the photo on the left — let me get this right. Left, old. Right, young. You’re still a hottie.
Congratulations Wade..! you are beyond inspirational
..And let’s all not forget Mark..
Mr Sisson – please accept our gratitude, you are absolutely – Awesome..!!
Thank you for sharing your story and your pictures. You look amazing, healthy, happy, strong–very attractive (If I were only 20 years younger!!!!!). Congratulations
Great job Wade. Glad to hear how dramatically your health has improved, and I hope you don’t mind me saying – you’re a hottie now!
Fantastic! My hope is that everyone makes their health a priority like Wade.
You look like your own (much) younger brother, and the health is just radiating out of you. I love that I’ve finally found a way that brings both health *and* healthy weight loss or gain (whatever is needed).
Kick Ass story Wade! Congrats!
Wow! 20 years younger
great story to start my weekend.
Congratulations Wade. Yours is a truly inspiring story and shows the success that a primal diet can have. Keep it up.
HA! LOVE your avatar.
Way to go Wade! Congratulations!!
Congrats Wade! Great success story, it makes me happy too that you are able to enjoy your newfound health and not focus too much on the “last few pounds.”
What I really want to know is, Wade did you ever visit that trainer after your transformation and tell him/her how you did it??
Jen, GREAT q