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Every now and then I get a PM asking me how I have lost so much weight so fast and what do I do for exercise. Let me tell you honestly I have lost a significant amount of weight just by simply doing things that I couldn't do for a very long time. Things that most people do daily. When I was 488lbs I could hardly stay on my feet for 10 minutes at a time without sever muscle cramps in the back of my legs. I couldn't even walk the grocery store with my Wife. I used to sit in the car and wait for her to do it and then I would get out and help her load the car. We would get home and carry the groceries into the house and I would have to sit and catch my breath, rest my legs before helping her put stuff away. It was no way for a 45 year old man to live. So to say I lost a lot of weight with no exercise is not completely accurate but the exercise I was getting is stuff that some folks may take for granted and I never will again. At my heaviest everything but sitting and lying down was a task. I was a home body as much as possible and even going out to a movie was a task. I even reached a sad point where taking a shower was a real chore but I did it every day because not taking one is just unacceptable not mention gross. So as my journey has progressed so has my physical activity but yet I am still having a problem getting in actual exercise and sometimes just a simple walk is hard to get in. Last week I committed to 10 hours of cardio and came up way short not even reaching half. This week same thing I committed to 10 hours of cardio and I didn't get the walk in yesterday. Today I am going and this time no excuses. Exercise needs to become a daily task just like taking a shower is a daily task.... So far my weight loss has not really started to slow down but I am starting to see the signs that it might. I figure as I am inching closer to goal it will only get more difficult/slow. My initial goal that I was shooting for was to weigh 220lbs. That would still put me into the obese BMI but I can accept 220. I am on track to hitting my goal of 250 for Christmas which I set last Christmas. Starting to wonder if 199 is possible. Excess skin is really becoming noticeable but there is not much I can do about that. Insurance is not going to cover plastic surgery. So you choose to live with the excess skin or be fat. I'll take the loose skin just as long as I don't start having problems. Anyway if you read this far then thank you. I hope your day is going well and that your scale is being friendly to you!

Awesome progress Jim! I enjoyed reading your blog, and I agree, as far as our mobility goes, we should never take anything for granted. Going for a brisk walk is something I enjoyed for years, and after my car accident, the road back made me realize that it is often the simple things which mean the most. One thought which struck me as I was reading was perhaps starting out with a more reasonable exercise goal could help. I am determined to get in 5-6 hours of cardio per week. That's just about the max of what my joints can manage. I'm retired now, but if I were still working, 10 hours of cardio would be impossible for me. If you adjusted your goal, you might not admonish yourself if you did not reach your weekly goal. That mindset is so important to keep us focused and motivated to continue with meeting our exercise goal. Also, reassigning exercise to a habit instead of a task does take away some of the interpretation that exercise is just another form of work. Looking forward to exercise because it helps you achieve your weight loss goals is a healthier approach IMO. Keep up your great progress!

Good evening, On Yahoo I was just reading an article that said Tim Gunn thinks it is awful the way designers treat plus size women. Finally someone on our side. He said if he was on the 8th floor at Saks in NY he would jump through the window because the clothes are that bad. I am not in plus size any more but I totally understand what he is talking about. When I wore plus size I wore a lot of Ralph Lauren. The jeans fit the best and lasted forever. Maybe now the designers will listen because Tim has a lot clout!!

I am surprised at how well the first day of the diet went, The hardest part was Dinner when you could eat 3oz of protein. That made me hungry. But I prevailed. It didn't hurt that I registered 1 of my kids for High school & spent 5hrs over there trying to sort out a messed up schedule. I put 2 bottle of water in my bag & drank them slowly. I've had a bit of a headache but I think that is part of detoxing from Sugar & Caffeine. I did pretty good with water. Better than I thought. I just need to try to add 2 more bottles.The whole "dry meal" thing is rough on the water intake. I got 59 grams of Protein so I will take it. I need more but that's a good start. I am thinking why my Dr put his patients on a 2 week diet is to work the bugs out the best you can before hand. rather than after. its a lot of managing your time, & being accountable, I guess this is where all the other diets I have been on come into play. A learning experience. I think the second thoughts are all part of the process too. I have noticed I second guess when I want something not on my diet. I just do my best to remind myself, I have tried numerous things & crashed & burned. now it's time to succeed. move forward & just flat out do the best I can do. some days will be hard some I won't think twice about. this is just a fact of life. That's where this site comes into play. A place to vent with others that can relate. Good Luck to everyone no matter where you are on your Journey!

wonderful blog and GREAT suggestions ......why are they great? they obviously work.....just look at your before/after. all the best love

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Congrats on your amazing success Jim! I read a good article a couple months ago and posted a link to it on here. If I can find it, I'll repost it. It discussed not worrying about some long term fitness goal, but just concentrating on your progress today. If we concentrate on what we do today...the long term goals will come. Heres a quote from it. ""Einstein didn't think he was intelligent, because as his intellect expanded so did his ability to comprehend how much there is to know. Exercise works the same way. As you become fit, you become more aware of higher standards of fitness. Identifying yourself in the scale of being fit can be the cause of depression that will cause you to quit. You must not think about a future state of fitness you want to obtain. You must only think of physical motion in the moment. You must develop sets of physical motion without setting a goal of obtainment. You just do it as a ritual. You don't think about the time involved. You don't become over exhilarated. You just do it." http://drsimpson.net/fitness/aeobics/aerobics.htm

Hey everyone I am new I just created my account. I am 23 years old 5'8 293lbs. at my highest weight I was 315.6lbs and since then I can not get lower than 290lbs its so frustrating .. I feel like if I just look at food I put weight on. I have met a surgeon about 2 years ago, but sadly my insurance didn't cover the VGS and I was WAY TO SCARED to consider anything else. Finally my insurance covers the VGS I have been thinking about it again for a while, but never said anything and a friend contacted me via Facebook telling me that she was sleeved and telling me how happy she is. Come to find out we have the same insurance. I went to my primary yesterday and he gave me the green light to begin the process. I am meeting with his head nurse on Thursday to speak further about the procedure and starting paper work. I have so many mixed emotions, most of all I am excited ! Ideally I would like to have the procedure done March of 2014, that would give me six months to prepare myself. I look forward to getting to know you guys and hearing your amazing stories and soon being able to share mine !

Um, you don't look older that's crazy. You look way more vibrant and full of energy. You look younger and healthier. Great job! Don't let the family bring you down.