Hello! My name is Mikey. I've been called Big Mike,Big Guy,etc. Truth is at one time, I was 147 lbs over weight. I'm six feet tall and my ideal body weight is around 195-200.

When you tip the scales at 347, obviously you are doing something wrong. In fact, it would be safe to say,that your are doing many things wrong. I found myslef in that category.

I'm 51 years old, and I smoke a pack of cigs a day on average. I went to my annual check up at the Veteran's Hospital and learned that at the way I was currently headed, I would be dead in less than 10years. 10 years!! I knew right then, something has to change.

It wasn't a question of how I looked, or if I could get a date, it was my life the doc was talking about!

 What a wake up call! I was doing many things to keep the weight on. Parking as close to the store as possible. Letting my wife go out and get the mail. Not picking up after myself. In fact, I was becoming a slob. A lazy slob.

 It's a fact that the larger you become, the less you want to do. This is becuase I became so heavy, I did not want to get up and lift that weight. My ankles became swollen. My feet and back ached. It got harder to weld or work on automobiles. (My passion.) So.. I had to figure something out and fast. Eating less was a good start. I cut out the eggs,bacon,hash browns and toast for a bowl of cheerios. That helped right there. Next, I learned I was salting my food. This added water weight gain to me. The swollen ankles was called Adema and it was later learned that my ankles had water in them.I was given medicine known as Lacex and Potassium to combat the water weight in my body. It made me go to the bathroom a lot. Next, I found I was drinking way to much soda per day. I was drinking maybe 2 sixpacks a day. I switched to water. This helped a lot. I am also on my Bowflew 3 times a day for 20 minutes per session.

I guess what it has come down to learning is this. If you take the easy way out, you will pay for it. The human body needs to work a little. I'm not 200 lbs yet, but I'm below 300 so far. Do what I did. Change your habits. Obviously I was  doing things wrong.  Good Luck, Big Mike