LJCBF

Carolina - Work can be a real problematic place with all the food - cakes - candy etc... often it is a place where WLS is a secret which can make it even more challenging for people. Kudo's to you for not allowing it to derail you and keeping priorities in place : ) Keep spreading he hope! Lee

Chris - seize your FREEDOM!! Family or not ... They either are with you or AGAINST you but either way only YOU can make your life all it's meant to be : ) HOPE is your best friend and this forum can provide plenty of it. I applaud your courage. Hope in your Future is POWER in your Present! Lee 280lbs LOST - All diseases reversed

Hi Moon, Looks like you have decided not to go the phen route which I would agree is a wise decision. P90X is a pretty solid program that mixes things up and so I imagine you are pretty frustrated hitting such a tough plateau and working such a tough exercise program. How many calories are you eating daily versus the amount you need to maintain weight ? What % Protein verses simple and complex carbs ? I would also look at how much Fiber you are getting and sleep. Sleep effects cortisol which effects Weightloss as the body will "hold/store" calories when cortisol levels are kicked up. The final thing I would look at it if I were you is intensity level of exercise - a heart rate monitor is a great help here... Lastly maybe start strength program - a benefit of which is you will get additional cal burn while not exercising - especially if you concentrate on the larger muscles like legs. Good luck! Lee 280 lbs Lost all diseases reversed

The juice isn't worth the squeeze ; ) Lee

I hope you some friends step up and do it with you ! For me races aren't really about "running" what I really pay for is the accountability and motivation having a "race" looming affords me... Increasing the intensity level of my training - plus I get a real emotional bump from the event and the accomplishment - it helps me also by re- training myself to look for "reward" in areas other than "food - restaurants etc..." I also love buying new clothes ! Lee

Hi Jenny, Love your question and your focus : ) Calorie "burn" that you are really interested in us your "calorie deficit" As you know every 3500 calorie deficit is approx 1 lb lost (conversely each 3500 cal above is 1 lb gained) Determine the calories you need to maintain current weight use this calculator (enter low exerciser to be safe) http://www.acefitness.org/acefit/healthy_living_tools_content.aspx?id=4#sthash.QdQlu8d8.dpbs This is your base number - lets say its 2400 cal for sake of example - at the end of day your calorie "burn" from FITBIT HR monitor etc... Is 2900 calories and you ate the full 2400 cal then your "Cal DEFICIT" for the day is 500 cal. So do this 7 days in a row and that's 500x7=3500 cal deficit or 1lb lost. This is a GENERAL formula and model and is effected by things like metabolic rate - body seeking homeostasis - quality of the calories (Protein /produce /simple carbs etc..) I have a Fitbit and BodyMedia as well as HR monitors - the Fitbit is very solid especially for the price - HR monitor is always most accurate. I could go on And on AND ON about all this but will spare you LOL You can ping me if you want more info. Lee 279 lbs Lost - All Diseases reversed

This is inspiring and awesome! Thanks for posting this - really cool : ) HR monitor is usually the most accurate on cal count - FYI. Also, sub 11 pace for over 3 miles isn't slow where I come from : ) So when do you SIGN UP FOR A RACE ?? 5K or 10K ? Lee

Oh the excuses ... Crazy right?! I found my workout buddies AT the "gym" via group fitness classes. Surrounding yourself with healthy people already working out will lead to a workout buddy I'm sure ; ) Also you can look at "Meetup" groups for walking etc... Your local running store will have running groups. Good group fitness ideas - Spin, Bootcamp, Boxing, Yoga, Zumba Enjoy, Lee

Core and Ab work will pay HUGE daily dividends from a "Functional Fitness" perspective. It won't really effect extra skin - also you can't "spot workout" for visual - to see the abs requires very low body fat - accept for a few genetic freaks ; ) This is a great Link with safe n specific workouts. http://www.acefitness.org/exerciselibrary/exercises.aspx?bodypart=1 Enjoy!! Lee

20k out of pocket - my insurance would not pay - sold my car to help with the $$ best decision ever

Good Morning AC, Congrats on your CONSISTENT exercise approach ! Good news is I can pretty much guarantee why your loss has ceased - assuming the calories - food is in place correctly. As you may be aware the body is constantly seeking homeostasis and therefore we must MIX up the exercise, "confuse" the body OR it adjusts to the new "norm" and figures out how to keep you at the weight you are. CrossTraining is key. Sooooo get off the elliptical machine - mix up cardio and strength - even within cardio add HIIT or TABATA's to the workout. Additionally - If at all POSSIBLE mix in a group fitness class like Spin, Bootcamp, Boxing, Zumba etc... Do this 10 days and you will see things start to drop. You could get a personal trainer but that can be pricey - you may want to look into online virtual trainer - real person not app or website - they will give you specific plan and train with you via video online usually a whole month is the price of what one or two personal trainer sessions would cost. MAKE SURE they are Certified Trainer though like from ACE or NASM. I have several friends that have had big success with this. Good luck ! Lee 279 lbs Lost all diseases reversed

Fitness Pal friends group is helpful for many people in this area - The Best thing for me was group fitness classes ie... Bootcamp - boxing - spin - Zumba - Power Yoga etc... The bottom line is mental for me - exercise has nothing to do with "like it" and everything to do with its necessary. Like bathing and brushing your teeth it's necessary every day and you do it. A secret ... You will see measurable differences in the exercise realm much faster than the weight loss scale realm. Usually within 7 days of consistent exercise you can see (can walk 15min instead of only 10 for ex) and feel a difference. I have yet to meet a person yet that has lost and kept off significant weight without incorporating exercise - walking - running - etc... Hope in Your Future is Power in Your Present! Lee

Congrats on having the courage to get the surgery before other medical problems occur and as I am sure you know or will find out - its NOT the easy way out. It requires among other things significant planning and choices and EXERCISE. The lap band won't get you up at 5 am and out to walk or to the gym etc... I told family and work but not clients. For me work was very supportive - but being over 450 lbs I didn't face as much criticism as my lap band brothers n sisters with lower BMI's. Regardless of your decision about whom to tell or not - one of the keys to my success was embracing and attitude that I was in a battle for my life and nothing/nobody would Impair my ability to make the best food, sleep and exercise choices. So when "aunt Sally" is offended because I won't have her famous potato salad or pecan pie then she just has to get over it and be supportive. You are either with me or against me in the fight for my life and freedom : ) Hope in Your Future is Power in Your Present! Lee 279 lbs Lost all diseases reversed

Awesome!! Get yourself a tiny baby spoon n fork - it will help. You are on your way to Freedom! Lee

Please eliminate the word "just" from your mind and vocabulary when placed in front of life altering 94 lbs lost please : )

279 lbs Lost

Personally I look at the profiles and what the person has accomplished with the band as well as how long they have been posting to assist me in determining how I much I value their opinion. I'm not in favor of thumbs down or dislike button - stay positive and let the cream rise. Lee

The Pre-op plan I followed is sometimes helpful to get that really "clean" feeling and eliminate all the conversations in my head about what to eat when to eat how much eat - if an extra tb of dressing on salad is Really a Big Deal or not yadda yadda I drink Atkins shakes - almost no net carbs and sugar w/needed Protein. It works like this: Within 30 min of awakening drink a shake Then every two hours no matter what drink a shake until bedtime That should be about 7 or 8 shakes a day - do this for 7 days - nothing else just this. After 3 days you will feel better. It's hard to do - but it will free your mind and jump start you Good luck, Lee 279 lbs Lost all diseases reversed