Cedarhurst man loses 52 pounds using Android app

His Story

Bruce Lipsky says his weight was in the 220- to 230-pound range for most of his adult life and that he was pretty much OK with it. But during the Jewish holidays in the fall of 2014, Lipsky discovered his weight was up to 250 pounds. “I was grossed out by what I saw in the mirror,” he says. The next day he made changes. He stopped eating junk food, cake, cookies, and candy and started reducing portion sizes. He was stunned to learn that his normal bowl of breakfast cereal was actually three portions. Lipsky downloaded and started using the Android app S Health, which tracks physical activity and food consumption. He started going to the gym three times a week and seeing results. He lost 16 pounds the first month. Lipsky says he’s happy with his weight now although BMI (body mass index) charts indicate he should lose another 15 pounds. “I enjoy the way I look and feel. My jacket size was a 48 portly, now it’s a 44 slim.”

His Diet

Breakfast is a cup of Cheerios, Life or Corn Chex with a cup of 2 percent milk, a sliced banana and coffee. Lunch is generally a salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, canned tuna and some salad dressing. For dinner he’ll have what the family eats, either pasta (he eyeballs a one cup portion), chicken or beef and always a vegetable. He snacks three times a day. Two are either a Nature Valley granola bar, cheese stick or yogurt. The third is always a piece of fruit.

His Exercise

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Lipsky does circuit strength training. Tuesdays, he hits the elliptical for about 50 minutes. Thursdays, he’s on a treadmill, varying the incline and speed. He runs 6.5 miles on Sundays. In March 2015 Lipsky started the Couch to 5K program, which professes to get users from their couch to their first 5K in 8 weeks. He has completed several 5Ks and is now training for a 10K.

His Advice

“Nothing happens overnight. It took me 16 months and I still feel like I’m working at it. Exercise together with portion control is necessary. You have to go slow, maybe 1 to 2 pounds a week. I plateaued for 6 months and am back to losing 1-1 1⁄2 pounds a month.”