From Eating 10,000 Calories a Day to Ditching Processed Foods - How One Man Lost 216 Pounds

by Mary Kearl (Subscribe to Mary Kearl's posts)
Jul 31st 2009 2:00PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation

Tony Posnanski, chef, father, husband, weight-loss blogger and founder of The Anti-Jared

Tony Posnanski weighing in at 420 pounds

Photo: Courtesy of Tony Posnanski

First he felt numbness in his arms, then his doctor said that weighing 420 pounds at 5 feet 6 inches, he had three months to live if he didn't choose to have a gastric bypass or turn his life around. If Tony Posnanski needed further motivation to lose the weight, he found it in his wife's constant worry that he was going to die of a heart attack. So in February 2008, the self-proclaimed lifetime yo-yo dieter decided to ditch the fads and started his "Anti-Jared" journey. Since then he's lost 216 pounds, to weigh in today at 204. (He dropped just below 200 before, but missed his muscular build.) Now that he's at a weight he feels comfortable with, and his wife and newborn to stay healthy for, he says he would "never put them though the torture of me being that heavy" again. Find out how he lost the weight and just what he's got against (Subway's) Jared.

That's Fit: Can you describe a typical day's worth of meals and any exercises you did when you were at your heaviest, 420 pounds?

Tony Posnanski: My exercises consisted of rolling around in bed, going to the bathroom and cleaning up after my dog because I was way too tired to take her out. I was very inactive. I went to the chiropractor four days a week because of back pain. I would consume close to 10,000 calories a day. On the way home from work, I would stop at three different fast food restaurants. I can remember sitting in my car at 2 a.m. with $40 worth of Taco Bell. I would eat over eight pounds of food at a Chinese Buffet. Believe it or not, I made Michael Phelps look like an Olsen twin.

Photo: Courtesy of Tony Posnanski

That's Fit: What's a typical day like now?

Posnanski: I have changed my diet completely. I cut out all of the processed foods I used to eat. I now eat fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fat-free dairy and some beans. People look at me and say, "That is so boring," but in fact it is awesome! Growing up I used to eat apple pie, now I know what it is like to have a fresh apple! I actually did not realize there were different kinds of apples. I eat squash, mango, peaches! I realized with fruits and vegetables that the fiber in these items keeps me full. I used to cut portions, but realized I would yo-yo for the rest of my life if I did that. I needed to change my life.

I also work out six days a week. When I first started, I [could last] on the treadmill for 48 seconds. Now I go on the StairMaster for 90 minutes at a time. I never thought I would go on a StairMaster. I couple of years back I almost passed out by going up two flights of stairs. Most recently on the machine, I went up 325 [flights]. I also work out with heavy weights. My "diet" was like an athlete's diet, so I thought, "If I work out, I can look like an athlete!"

That's Fit: So what do you have against Jared?

Posnanski: LOL! My brother is one of the top sports writers in America and he has a very successful blog. I am not much of a writer, but I wanted to chronicle my weight loss. I was thinking about a name [to give my blog] and while I was thinking about it I saw a commercial for Subway. At the time I had lost 60 of my 220 pounds and I realized that I was not going to lose the weight by eating subs every day. For some people it works, but not for a [former] 400 pounder.

So I called myself the Anti-Jared. Now that I have done so much, I would like to be known as Tony Posnanski, but I think The Anti-Jared might follow me around for a while.

Comments (22)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

myblogful 8-02-2009 @ 5:59AM

what really matters in losing weight is that we don't do the crash diet thing. deprivation is not the solution. and it will only worsen the situation.

http://www.blogfullife.com/

Lisa 8-04-2009 @ 6:30AM

It is so refreshing to hear someone finally speak out about all the processed foods causing weight gain. Most of our food has MSG which causes weight gain and food cravings for bad for you foods. I have switched to a whole and raw food style of eating and lost 5 pounds in one week. The chemicals in our food is killing us, along with the meat hormones. The answer to obesity is in the food. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and the weight will fall off.

Janet Page 8-04-2009 @ 10:33AM

Losing weight is just not about eating frsh fruits and vegatables. There's more to a diet that that. You need protein, less carbs or vice-versa with a minimal amount of physical activity as well. I'm "HAPPY" for the "anti-jared" man that he was able to accomplish so much. Good for him. GREAT JOB !!!!

Frankie 8-04-2009 @ 8:13AM

Ditching processed foods is good, but losing weight all boils down to simple math. If you use more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. This man was taking in TEN THOUSAND calories a day. I'm sure now he's taking in one fifth or less than those 10,000 calories. And exercise. Exercise, whatever type you choose, wherever you choose to do it (it doesn't have to be in a fancy gym) will make a difference also.

Will 8-04-2009 @ 8:55AM

Short of starvation, not sure much would work for me. I don't eat what I used to, and I gave up a management job for a physical one, which has me on my feet all the time and doing heavy lifting. I have still only gained more weight, though some of that is muscle.

macstresss 8-04-2009 @ 9:25AM

You are no different than anyone else go see a dietician and I assure you that they will let you know what it is in your diet that you are doing wrong that does not allow you to loose the weight it isnt always about what you eat all the time but how and when you eat also. One big meal a day you can gain weight .... 6 small ones a day you can loose it also involves how your body is getting the food. if you eat several small meals a day you stay full all day, and your body knows you are going to feed it again soon so it doesnt store the food as it would if you eat one big one... so more digestion all day each time takes more calories burning to do this... ding ding ding :) So if you are moving more and cutting out the bad food there is something else going on you are either not being honest with yourself or dont know about calories before I lost over 200 lbs I never realized that a trip to mcdonalds for a big mac frys and coke was almost the whole calories i should have in one day. Anyone can loose the weight they just have to have the right info, and motivation. Also the slower you eat the fuller you get it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you are full so eat slow. have a confo while u are eating you will notice you dont want anymore eventually before your plate is even full try also eating off of smaller plates helps look like a bigger meal :)

Check portion sizes too it kills me seeing people eat a 6-9 oz steak OMG lol that is 3 portions of meat right there. meat should be no bigger than a deck of cards and your sides should never be bigger than your fist if that big. Water, water, water... ok i could go on and on imma go now lol :)

joann 8-04-2009 @ 11:48AM

wil.....i also have tried all kinds of diets to only yoyo......i changed my way of eating....i only eat whole grains, fruit , vegetables, legumes and peas....i have eliminated all processed foods...white flour, all fats...including olive oil...sugar and no animals or animal products which includes things like butter, eggs milk and cheese...

i have dropped 23 pounds in 60 days and that is without counting any calories and eating til i am satisfied.....my friend who introduced me to this diet lost 45 pounds.....

i bought the book prevent and reverse heart disease....by dr. caldwell esselstyn, jr.......my friend started this diet after a heart attack and is doing great.....i started it because my diabetic dr. said my triglycerides were too high(making me a candidate for a heart attack or stroke) and wanted to put me on pills and i said let me first try to bring them down by diet....well...i am now in the low normal range on the triglycerides, my cholesterol came down and i am only taking 1/2 of the diabetic p;ills i was on initially....the weight loss came as an extra bonus....and i am going to stick to this for life....i just wish i had this information years ago......i feel so good....

this is a healthy diet....and i heattily recommend it to everyone...

good luck....joann

atherriault6012 8-04-2009 @ 9:45AM

Greek Yogurt people. It's amazing. Stop staying hungry after eating all of those fruity, "healthy" fat free, sugar free, satiation free yogurts and get yourself some Chobani Pomegranite or Cabot Greek Style Chocolate Raspberry (among others). They are rich, decadent and have upwards of 14 grams of protein. FOURTEEN! How much you got in that little Light and Fit there? 6? At best?
Greek yogurt will make you full and keep you there, so you won't be looking for more after.
I started incorporating this into my morning breakfast and have lost over 20 lbs and counting, with little other adjustments other than more mindful eating.
It's not about eating LESS, it's about eating what COUNTS!

Daisy 8-04-2009 @ 1:05PM

atherriault6012.....where do you find this greek yogurt in the fabulous sounding yogurts....and how many do you eat each day for weight loss...did you eat only at breakfast or during the day as meal substitutes....what other things did you do to lose the 20 lbs. I want to get some of this greek yogurt....have not found it at the grocery store!!!
daisy

sharon 8-04-2009 @ 9:58AM

I particularly liked macstresses comments. I have a 14 year old son who has been gradually gaining weight and becoming more inactive over the last few years. In June, he was 225 and 5'4". This concerned me enough as a parent to get off my &*^ and DO MY JOB! I found an amazing "Fit Camp" in New York that has 41 years of significant success stories, has hundreds of campers each year, is reasonably priced and MOST IMPORTANT - teaches the kids a healthy lifestyle including multiple small portion meals, NOT denying any food but teaching limitation and moderation, the 20min full rule, and H2OH2OH2O. All this while providing a day full of fun and energetic programs. Tony is a shining example of sheer determination and sensibility. But let's get to our youth BEFORE puberty with all this "common" sense. Let's fight for reading,'rithmetic and healthy lifestyles! BTW - my son plans to "surprise us" with his weight loss - l better start getting my own family on track before he gets home!

nancy 8-04-2009 @ 10:05AM

Sir: You are my hero. Your description of yourself pre-weight loss is me. Your discipline is astounding and your results are spectacular. Congratulations. I want to be like you. What calorie range did you eat daily? When you first started and could only walk 48 seconds, how many times a day did you do that? Your wife is a lucky woman and your child is blessed.

sam 8-04-2009 @ 10:20AM

This is awesome and an inspiration. Good for him! I know what it's like to try and lose weight. I lost 47 pounds in 6 weeks using the Rapidthin diet at www.rapidthin.com. Good luck to all. Use what works for you.

chally 8-04-2009 @ 10:28AM

the question is are you happy? if you were a happy fatman and an unhappy skinnyman; i mean, think about it. We're all going to die soon anyway. i wanna go with a burger in my face not a spear of broccolli out my a.ss.

honey 8-04-2009 @ 11:01AM

Congrats, Tony!! It's great to be able to read so much about someone who made a commitment, embraced it, stuck to it & is now SO happy in life!! (See his blog, people: http://theantijared.blogspot.com/) You are an inspiration!!

As for the rest of the comments, yey to those who are supportive....and boo to those who are hawking their weightloss product or diet of the day!!

Renee 8-04-2009 @ 11:32AM

Food isn't only about nutrition, it is also about pleasure. It is about presentation, smell, and taste. For some of us our senses are not all that they should be so, even though we are full, our senses are not satisfied. In other words, even though we've had enough and our stomachs are full, our mouths are not satisfied.

When we are full, our stomach sends a signal to our brain that we have had enough. Often, that doesn't happen until AFTER we've overeaten. However, the stomach isn't the only part of the body that sends a signal to our brain that says "You've had enough". Our taste and smell also send signals to the brain that "You've had enough."

Fat, and sugar add flavor so when we eat these sensory rich foods, we feel satisfied sooner. But these foods, in large quatities, result in weight gain, obesity, and place us at risk for disease. Whole foods do not pack the flavor punch that sweet and fatty foods do. So what do we do?

Alan Hirsh MD has spent 25 years researching weight loss and the senses. As we age our hair turns gray and our senses weaken. Some of us are born with weak senses. Simply put, our senses are not sending signals to our brains because we are not tasting and smelling the food we eat to full capacity.

He has developed a weight-loss system called SENSA. SENSA is a patent-pending tastants product that you sprinkle on all of your food. Over time, your senses reach full capacity, and you not only feel full, you feel satisfied.

I am almost done with my first month of using SENSA and I am down over 6 pounds. I have been trying to get to a healthy weight for over fifteen years and nothing has worked like SENSA. I highly recommend this. I don't sell this product but I believe that many of us won't struggle with weight loss/weight gain issues by using this.

Check it our for yourself at www.trysensa.com. It has been seen on Dateline NBC, and other programs. It doesn't cost anything to look.

stone 8-04-2009 @ 1:39PM

Imagine that diet and exercise WOW!! Who knew??

JT 8-04-2009 @ 12:07PM

THAT IS TOO COOL! CONGRADULATIONS.

vholes2heavenv 8-04-2009 @ 12:51PM

That is exactly how I lost all of my weight! I ditched processed foods, I focused on lean protein, low-fat dairy, non-starchy veggies and fruits and also added in cardio and BAM..I was losing 5-7 lbs a week and eating more food than I've ever eaten before! It is all about the processed things--if you eat junk you'll feel like junk. I am very proud of him!

MC 8-04-2009 @ 1:25PM

I had a weight problem that I carried for 12 years. I thought that that extra 130 lbs was going to be the end of me. About 3 years ago I found a miracle cure - divorce.

Jennifer 8-04-2009 @ 1:31PM

That's wonderful that he has lost so much weight! I dropped 44 pounds and I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose that much weight! Talk about freedom. We must stay away from the junk food, pre packaged food.. and the MSG which is highly addictive and causes Obesity. The FDA should be held liable for allowing such crap in our food supply! It is so very sad to see the people who could have had a normal life, be overweight and Obese. Part of my weight loss was like he did, no more junk food, fast food or sodas. Everything fresh food and the weight comes right off. Also Try the Super foods people they work to create energy in the cells as well as to help curb the hunger for sweets. I get mine at Acai-eez and they NEVER auto bill you (http://www.Acai-eez.com)

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