suejersey

You can do it. And YOU are the one who will do it. So don't let anyone discourage you. This is hard work as well but you have a far greater chance of success with this tool if YOU work the program. It's all up to YOU! And as we can all attest it is so worth it! God bless.

You look awesome!!!!!

Also look at what you DID do better. You dumped that shake down the sink after only one sip. You only ate half the bun and one fry. Before that wouldn't have been the case, right? So you slipped up, but you have improved and you will CONTINUE to improve. As the saying goes....doesn't matter how slow you go, you're still lapping those on the couch! It's all part of the process.

I am glad I am not the only one! What drives me the most nuts though is the complaining about the instructors and putting them down. I had one woman walk out all in a huff in the middle of the class making it very clear that she was not impressed with the class. Give me a break, then YOU become the instructor if you are such an expert. Laura - are you serious or joking? Good for you on the Porsche if you are serious. My mini-van is so beat up you won't even be able to tell someone scratched it if they did LOL! I was really just commenting on the "whole package" There are literally 3 different women that do all of the above and then so many others that are a bit of each. I just go to the gym, sweat like a pig, work hard and get out.

Aliekat55 When I first started working out I was noticing how sluggish I was, as well. I upped my calories and Protein and that really helped. When I talked with the fitness trainers you should have seen their faces when I said I was only getting 600 or so calories a day, mostly protein. I am up to about 1000 calories a day now (10 months out). Once I started working out vigorously I tried upping calories. Now I get at least 80 grams of protein but average 90 - 100. If you are only 5 weeks out from surgery it is going to be hard for you to get many more calories. So my suggestion would be to perhaps take it a bit easier on your workouts. See if you can add half a Protein Bar (Quest is great) or another Protein shake into the mix. burning all the calories is great, but you need to have something to fuel your body.

I have to vent about the gym. I can.not.stand the: super tan 50 year old ladies (I am 47 by the way) who park their convertible BMW in the corner of the park lot so they don't get scratched wearing full make up when they show up at the gym with matching headbands sneakers and outfits who come into class and complain about the instructors and the routines and how the old instructor was so much better UGGGGHHHHHH! We are here to stinkin' workout, get or maintain health and get stronger. Please, I can't stand it. Thank you, now back to your regularly scheduled programs. And I hope I didn't offend anybody.

You cannot sustain at only 700 calories forever, or you will disappear So it's okay and expected that you will increase your calories. As an example I am 10 months out am between 900 - 1000 calories a day. I work out 4 days per week (burning average 500 calories) and am still losing about 2 pounds per week. I am trying to get to 1200 in the next 2 months. If you are working out you need the calories to sustain your workout. It's okay and more than okay, important to increase your calories - increase them FIRST with Protein and then good carbs and good fats. You're doing great!

Body Combat is a mix of martial arts. I burn almost 700 calories in a 55 minute class. Muy Tai, Karate, boxing, taikwondo. Serious rock music (not my favorite to listen to but it gets me into combat mode). I did the Turbo Kick class today. LOVED it! Something for every part of the body - burned almost as many calories as body combat (moves faster so I have to get used to the moves and that should help) I want to start building more muscle so I think I may change things up with more weight training in the coming month. In the 4 months since I joined the gym I lost 27 pounds and gained 10 pounds of muscle. I went from 46.9% body fat to 32%. My ultimate body fat would be 25 - 27 percent. I want some more muscles

I work out 4 days per week - usually take off Tuesday and Saturday/Sunday or Sunday and another day during the week. Monday - Body Combat class Wednesday - Either Tabata or Zumba Thursday - Burn and Firm Class If I am heavier on the cardio then I will do weights on my fourth day. If I am heavier on a class with weights then I will do a cardio class (like Zumba on my fourth day). I do almost exclusively classes. they keep me interested and motivated. But this week I did 30 minutes elliiptical, 10 minutes star climber, 20 minutes upper body weights. I am 10 months out. This coming week I want to try the Turbo Kick class.

I am 10 months out and I have averaged about 10 pounds per month. The further out you go it will slow down, but now I have added intense (for me) exercise 4 days per week so have still been losing about 8 pounds per month.

I am 10 months out and have lost 84% of my excess weight and I am still losing consistently. If you work the program and exercise you will lose what you desire and work for!

LauraAnn is exactly right - join MFP, log food, high Protein, low carb, drink lots of Water and exercise. You can do it. You will do it when you follow the rules. That is what we all need to do to be healthy and to maintain our health. A little indulgence is okay, but right back to the rules after. You have an awesome tool, the sleeve, that will help you so start to day and begin your journey. My favorite saying is "Fit is hard. Fat is hard. Pick your hard."

Wow, awesome job!!!

The first two are me 3 weeks or so before surgery September, 2012 at 278 pounds The second two are me now August 2013 at 173 pounds

Oh sheesh I don't know how to load pictures. sorry.

Oops duplicate

What is worse....saggy boobs or morbid obesity? I will take my saggy slinkies any day of the week! Yes, it's a bummer that I need a size "long" in bra now but with a bra and clothes on, if I say so myself, I look pretty cute and I feel great! So don't let a down side stop you from what could be a huge upgrade in your quality of health and quality of living!

Anyone? Anyone using the Polar?

Woo-hoo!!!!! Congratulations. It's a great feeling and a GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT that YOU DID!!!

Yeah, you are right in that notorious "stall" time that a lot of people have. Just do what you can with exercise, track your food and follow your plan.

That's right...work the sleeve! And those three pounds can be the time of the month, excess Fluid, who knows. So next week be prepared for a nice loss, that has been my experience. It's gonna work!!!!

You will! Don't let the scale overwhelm you. Remember this is a life long journey and change in lifestyle/eating behaviors. So everything you are doing is bettering yourself for the long term! I am no "special" person, in fact I thought "I" would be the "one person" who this wouldn't work for and guess what.....it is working! Try to enjoy life while on the journey as well, don't let the scale and the weight loss overshadow all the other wonderful things going on in your life. It helped for me to just live and start to "really live" so that I didn't put life on hold while I was losing. Before you know it you'll be a few months out and then the clothes start getting to big and then people start noticing and then you get even more excited about getting healthy and fit and all the while you are learning new healthy habits. The sleeve is a beautiful thing and you are beautiful working your sleeve!

Which Polar HRM would you recommend? I am thinking about the FT40 or the FT7, but am open to suggestions. I work out 4 days a week - zumba, HIIT, Body Pump, Warrior Workout, Step My goal is that I would like to know how many calories I am trying burning when I work out. I am ONLY interested in workout calories burned, not necessarily calories burned for the day (steps taken, et cetera)

I just have to say bravo and ditto to everything said here. I still have about 20 - 25 pounds to MY goal weight but I can totally relate to all the things said here as I have thought them as well and fear them as well and hope them as well!

Woo-hoo! I bet you feel great. You can tell by that smile!