I've got to echo Rob's comments about 8 pounds a week being an unsafe goal to try to keep up. I think we're all 100% behind your desire to shed some pounds Kevin, but just want to make sure you're going about it in a safe approach. You'll have an easier time reaching your goal, and probably exceeding it, if you slow down your goal some.
I'm 6'1, and last Thanksgiving I weighed 202 pounds, which was an all time high for me. When I graduated from high school I weighed 154, was the same height, and couldn't add weight no matter what I tried. I ran track and cross-country, and had insanely good metabolism.
Years passed, I exercised less, sat at a desk all day for work, and the pounds started tacking on and not falling off. Finally last Thanksgiving I decided enough was enough and started doing something about it. Started by getting back into running two miles a day, five days a week. Also changed up my diet, nothing too drastic, cut out soda, smaller portions, more veggies, etc.
In 10 weeks I went from 202 down to 170, which was where I wanted to be. Over time I've increased my runs to five miles, four or five times a week, and have gotten as low as 159, which is really lower than I should be. I'm between 161-163 now, and still running about 20 miles a week, but not eating as healthy as I could be.
Good luck, don't get disappointed if you aren't losing weight as fast as you'd like. Take it one pound at a time.
