Everyday we invite toxins into our bodies, we ingest them from the food we eat, water we drink, breathe in toxins from the air and there are even toxins in the prescription medications. The chemicals, in conjunction with the average 'unhealthy' American diet lead to sluggish digestion, being constipated, weight ...

Sisters Kourtney and Kim Kardashian star in E!'s "Kourtney & Kim Take New York". The sisters expanded their DASH Fashion boutiques in the fall of 2010 but the show really the first look at the Kardashians DASH store in New York City (unless you've been there in person). Just about ...

Our First Muffin-Top Dude!!! Interview with Andrew D. (lost 50lbs)!!!

By Plum Muffin, on January 28th, 2011

According to our site analytics (how freaking nerdy is that, I know) lots of GUYS checkout our website looking for tips on how to shed belly fat. Well, we are proud to introduce our very first Muffin Top Dude. I think a lot of you guys can relate to Andrew D’s story.

1. At what point did you realize you needed to do something about your weight?

Well, I always KNEW I needed to lose weight. I just wasn’t motivated to do it. The real breaking point came last summer, when I was embarrassed to go swimming with my family at our weekly excursion to Grandma’s house (she’s the one with the pool). I was actually sort of worried that I’d scare my young cousins (a shirtless 270 lb. man covered in lush hair isn’t exactly a comforting sight), or even worse, have them stare or ask questions. I don’t want to be the fat hairy guy in the swimming pool. Just plain old hairy guy is much more satisfactory.

2. As our first featured Muffin Top Dude, which term do you prefer -love handles, muffin tops, spare tire?

As much as the honor of being the first Muffin Top dude leads me to want to chose my namesake, I’m going to have to go with love handles, just because they ARE convenient to grab on to in need of an emergency. Not so much for providing transportation in case of a flat.

3. What diet did you use? How much did you spend, what’s included?

I’ve tried a wide variety of diets. I was a long-time Weight Watchers devotee, but after falling off the wagon on two separate occasions, I’ve come to realize that the whole point system is sort of outdated and not as “sticky” as it could be. So, in early-September I started my Nutrisystem journey and haven’t looked back since. (Though I have looked sideways a few times, say, if I passed a slice of chocolate cake on my way to the salad bar.)

The monthly price is around $320, and you get 28-days worth of food, which you supplement with other good stuff such as veggies, carbs, dairy, protein, fruit and a eensy-weensy bit of fat. Several surveys have shown that Nutrisystem, all in all, is one of the cheaper diets on the market. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen that to be the case. But it works! And I’m losing. And I would spend every dollar I have in order to add years to my life.

4. How has losing 50 lbs changed your life? Do you plan on losing more? Think you’ll be able to maintain your weight loss?

Losing 50 pounds is expensive! New clothes don’t come cheap unless you steal them off of unconscious homeless people like I do. I joke, of course… kinda. ANYWAY, on the more serious side of weight loss, my feet used to absolutely kill me by the end of the night working as a stock boy in retail.

That pain has vanished in the last 15 lbs. Even though I’m not at the weight I want to be at quite yet, just the fact that I’ve lost this much has been a huge confidence boost. It’s just like, wow, I really can take control.

As of this morning I was 219. On a 5’7″ frame, that is still WAY to heavy. My initial goal is 180, but I’d like to go as low as 160. To me, that seems totally doable. I absolutely know I’ll be able to maintain it. Nutrisystem has totally changed the way I eat and how I look at what I put into my mouth. And after all of this hard work? Hell, I better not screw it up!