Hey, has anybody heard about this guy? I stumbled across an article about this guy, and was intrigued by the 'statement' he is trying to make. I wish I lived in one of the states he will be walking through. By the way, he is NOT low-carbing (to my knowledge), but is merely a big guy trying to lose weight and get his life back...

www.thefatmanwalking.com

Very admirable, what he's doing. I wish I had the where-with-all to make a similar journey or dedicate 6 months straight to just myself and my own weight loss quest. Unfortunately, I just don't have the financial resources to be able to leave my job for that (or any!) amount of time. Still, I do admire his determination and tenacity and I pray that he will be successful in completing his journey and reaching both his goal to cross the country and to lose the weight!

What is he eating?




Sometimes Steve gets a lot of grief for eating biscuits and gravy or a burger in some restaurant. Due to the fact that he has no consistsent support out there, he is normally resigned to 'rations', mashed potato flakes, beef jerky, nutri-bars, or some other dehydrated food. There is no standard at this stage. How could there be? We would love for him to eat like a normal healthy person, but he can't carry anything heavy or perishable around in his pack in the middle of the desert. He splurges sometimes when he gets into the cities, but that is his choice. It is his journey. As soon as we can get a permanent support vehicle out there, he will have a more consistent diet. I would be happy to post those details when that has happened.



Now don't get me wrong, it is very impressive what this man has undertaken for himself.
However, as a means for weight loss... I am not hopeful for his long term success. He has to learn how to eat. He can't just keep on eating whatever. It's just a simple fact that what you're eating ultimately controls weight. Near complete indifference to this crucial factor, when attempting to lower weight and keep it low, is not going to functionally work. It sounds like he's not really preparing to THINK about what he puts in his mouth and this is an essential measure to control morbid obesity.

He does admit that he must change his ways .......the reasons and things that made him fat.!

I say go for it

he should of just went on atkins. Must be a great life experience though to walk all over the place

I really think that since he has so much time to think while he is walking, eventually he will deal with the food issue. If he is like most of us who are overweight, he is already an expert on what and how to eat. It does however, take a certain type of mentality to put proper eating into action (if it was easy we would all be thin and healthy). I think that he will eventually gain that mentality if he keeps going. At this point, I'm sure he is just struggling to keep going everyday, his feet hurt, his body hurts. Once he gets past the physical struggle, he will be forced to deal with the mental part of it also. By the way, he has lost close to 60 lbs already.

I have lost large amounts of weight several times in my life, it didn't stop me from gaining it back. Losing it and keeping it off are 2 very different things, one does not teach the other, either he walks for the rest of his life or he gains it back unless he learns how to keep it off. Nyah Levi

I guess it all boils down to this, it is his life, his choice.

Like has been said here already, it sounds like there has been a little thought into this quest. But apparently without experienced advice, though he seems to be getting some, on the fly, as it were.

And I wonder why start out on such a mission with no "permanent support vehicle"?

I have been reading the journal on his site and hope to gain more insight into this. I cannot put myself in his shoes, nor would I want to. But these are some questions that came to mind as I read along.

It might be nice if the man comes near any of us, that we stop out and see if we can replenish water etc...maybe an e mail to his family 1st?

Also, let's say a prayer and wish him well that he does not do any long term physical damage (knees, joints etc..) or die in the effort.

Good luck in your wayward quest, whatever it is.

I am all for someone trying to get healthy, but he said he will lose his property and car by the time he is done, isn't this his wife and kids property and car as well ? He seems so against spending money to lose weight, but isn't losing a lot of money, (and losing all your income for six months is more than you would pay for ANY weight loss venture,)pretty much the same thing as spending a lot of money. I think leaving your wife and kids for that long and leaving them in financial ruin is fairly irresponsible. I do not think he has thought this out and I agree that unless he learns to eat properly, this is not going to be a permanant fix either.
I feel very badly for his family, and I personally do not understand this venture at all, unless it is to get attention for himself. Maybe he thinks he will get money from this at some point, I do not know. I just do not get it at all. I would be devestated if my husband did this to me. I can't imagine his wife and kids could be all that happy either . This is just my opinion, but he could have picked a much more effiecent way to lose weight that would not be so destructive to his families finacial future. Stephie

From the website: Steve did consult his family and got their blessings before starting this expedition.

From my own personal experience, for some people it is actually easier to lose weight / become healthier / transform themselves by concentrating on the output [ exercise ] side first, then look at their diet.

- ldcowboy

Don't misunderstand what I'm about to say because I do agree with you, but...

Think of the publicity from this. At the very least the guy is going to get offered a book deal, if not commercial deal for some diet company ("I walked across the US to lose weight, but now you don't have to! Just take this miracle diet pill...")

The way america loves people who do crazy stunts, I have a hunch he'll make all that money back and then some with the commercialism.

And while I know the stories are different... the probable commercial success of this reminds me a lot of Subway's Jared.

I agree that has to be in the back of his head, but what a gamble. I just feel for his family I think asking them to give up thier house and car so he can give this a try is a lot to ask. I hope something comes of it, don't get me wrong. I just thought it was a bit selfish when there are so many other things you can try first. I thought of Jared too. I think every since Jared there have been people trying to duplicate his success. He has a great contract now that is for sure. I have no idea if he was trying for that or honestly just decided maybe eating a sub for his meals would work. I have never heard that part of the story. Stephie

He just got a book deal, so they aren't going to have to lose the house or car.

I'm thinking he was gambling, but gambling on people being interested in the story, and they are.

I think that for this guy, part of the walk is getting his head straight about his car accident that killed two people. I think he probably sees that as the most significant action of his life, and he's trying to do something to reclaim his life away from the guilt and create something more positive, something new to be the largest thing in his psyche. So a huge part of his effort is in his brain.

I wish him the best in healing that and heading for better health too.

When I was working out constantly and eating "normal" food, I would be HIDEOUSLY RAVENOUS after a workout, totally undoing whatever good I may have achieved during my workout in a free for all pasta or pizza orgy. I believe food is the biggest factor in losing weight, excercise comes in second, especially at 40.

I hope he loses weight, but find it odd that there is no weight loss progress chart on his website.

Other than the the weight loss thing, I do admire him. This is something I would LOVE to do, nevermind the weight loss issue.

I just hope he's not suffering hypoglycemic whiplash from Power Bars.

I think he already has the book deal....

I totally agree he is thinking about $$$

people are always interested in a new way of losing weight.