Frangipani

Hey Dave, Congrats on the new "walking partner," sounds promising! Keep us posted! Love and romance is always a good thing to spice up a sweaty, gritty, exercise thread........ WOW! Did I ever have a fun workout today!!!! A friend of mine told me about a secluded beach that I could hike to, and today I set out to find it. With a few wrong turns along the way, I finally found it. The entire hike was a strenuous 2 hours round-trip, but it had gorgeous views the entire way and the beach was absolutely magnificent! I just got home and am really worn out, but I am SO glad that I did this hike today -- it was completely awesome!!!! Have a great night everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 10/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Hi Melissa, I will just throw out a few examples of what I might eat on a typical day -- each line item listed would represent a complete meal: Breakfast: 1 South Beach High Protein Cereal Bar One egg with one piece of toast with butter 1/3 of a ham, cheese, veggie omelette with some fruit and/or a small serving of potatoeslunch or Dinner: salad with 2-4 ounces of chicken or fish, ranch or caesar dressing 4-6 ounces of chicken or fish with 2 ounces of cottage cheese and/or broccoli with Asiago cheese sauce 4 ounces of chicken, small piece of bread with butter, small serving of mashed potatoes, steamed veggies with spices and teriyaki sauce 4 ounce serving of Quiche Lorraine with a small garden salad and ranch dressing. 1/3 of a Cubano sandwich If I need one more small meal to take the edge of my hunger I will have one of the following: 1 ounce of smoked almonds or cashews 1 slice of swiss cheese I slice of turkey breast 2 ounces of cottage cheese 1 ounce serving of string cheese 1-2 ounces of smoked almonds, cashews and raisins mixed.I try to strictly follow my Doctor's post-op instructions to avoid snacking and eating between meals. I feel this is good advice, because I am able to eat small portions of anything I want with no problems at all, and I could easily consume LOTS of calories by grazing all day long. I do eat Breakfast every morning and take my Vitamins at that time as well. I pretty much weigh, measure and count everything to make sure that I am not eating too much each day. Hope this helps! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 9/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Dave -- what is this I see on your weight loss ticker? 102 pounds lost? WOW!!!! Congratulations!!!! I am looking forward to that day -- even though it is a ways off yet. It has been raining on and off all day long, but I finally managed to get a workout in. Have a great evening everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 9/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Pizzicato, I am so sorry to hear about your cat, Marcel. He looks like such a sweetie, and I am sure that his good nature had a lot to do with the fact that he was well loved and taken care of. Take comfort in knowing that you gave your wonderful pet a long and happy life........... Hugs, Frangi

Good Morning Everyone! Becky, I agree with you -- it is fabulous, and thank you for the uplifting post!!! Salsa, you have been working out very hard and doing wonderfully, but it might be time to ease up a bit and give your body a little rest. I often find that when I give myself a little break, I come back even stronger. I got a nice workout in this morning, but I was a bit fatigued -- probably from the weightlifting last night. Tonight I think I will go to bed early and get a good night's sleep. Have a great day everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 8/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Hi Candle, I am definitely thinking about PS a lot lately. Right now I am at the stage of constantly wondering what will shrink back into place (more or less) and what will need to be "nip tucked." I have already identified a spot or two that will definitely need the surgeon's knife, but I am hoping that the rest of it can be exercised back into some sort of passable shape........ Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 7/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Steph_cn and Kaydotrn, Thanks!!! I am sure you will be here shortly, if you haven't already arrived! Karen G, Congrats on getting to Onederland -- and Welcome!!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2: Pattypoo1, Don't worry, you will get there (and way beyond) very soon! Good luck, and have a great night everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 7/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

I had my first serious weight-lifting workout with the new trainer this evening. I like him!!! He seems to understand that I want to be worked hard and he did not disappoint. He was tough and stern and gave me an extremely challenging workout -- which is exactly what I wanted and needed. He ended the session by ordering me to do 300 hundred crunches. I only made it to a hundred, but was completely shocked that I was able to do that many! One thing I learned tonight is that I have absolutely no upper body strength whatsoever......... Well, it can only get better from here -- right? Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 7/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Candle, at the rate you're going, I am sure that you will easily make your goal by April. A few months ago, I thought 100 pounds by "Bandiversary" was a stretch, but things are going much better than I expected. Therefore, I am shooting for goal by my Bandiversary. This will definitely be a stretch, there is no doubt about it, but I am going to try my best to do it. My goal weight is really about 10 pounds higher than my true ideal (and 25 pounds heavier than my college days when my BMI was 19), but I want to keep my goal realistic. And trust me, if I manage to get down into the 23 BMI range, I will be absolutely thrilled!!! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 6/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Hi Salsa, Good luck getting through this rough patch. I keep thinking I want to be super tight, but I think you have completely changed my mind about that now. It sounds very unpleasant, and I am sorry to hear you are going through this. I thought I would share one of my favorite liquid diet recipes with you -- it is very simple quick and good: Campbell's French Onion Soup, 1 can of water, and 1/3 of a Knorr beef bullion cube. Heat and add some shredded Asiago cheese to the pot (or your bowl) just before serving. The cheese is obviously optional, but it usually just about melts completely into the broth so you shouldn't have any problems getting it down. YUM! And when you move to the mushies stage, this broth makes a very nice light gravy for mashed potatoes. Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 6/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Good Morning wonderful workout buddies! Glad to see several more people joining us this month!!! I just returned from workout #6 -- only 24 more to go!:faint: Have a great day everyone!!! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 6/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Hi Pizzicato, Thanks! As for you, with 63 pounds lost, I would say that you are doing wonderfully with your weight loss.:clap2::clap2::clap2: Is it possible that you are being way too hard on yourself? Knowing what I know so far, I would certainly say that this might very well be the case. After all, you don't lose 63 pounds in 5 months without doing something right...... Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 5/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Hi Becky, Thanks for the compliment! However, I must say that you are totally my role model when it comes to exercise. Congrats on your amazing weight loss -- WOW!!!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2: Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 5/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Good Morning! Just returned from workout #5. Dave and Becky, glad to hear that it has warmed up again in your part of the world. Have a great day everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 5/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Thank you Sades!!!!

Thanks PigsRFlying and LadyBugRed!!! PigsRFlying, my workout currently consists of one hour of cardio. When I am out of town and working out at a hotel, I run on the treadmill, and/or do the eliptical machine, stairmaster, bike -- or whatever happens to be handy. My outdoor workout for now is a brisk walk that incorporates several steep hills. I try to keep my heart rate in the 140 - 150 bpm range, and adjust my pace accordingly to maintain this. Eventually I will start running outdoors, but I feel that at my current weight it would be too hard on my joints to run on hard pavement. I plan to start running regularly after I lose another 30 pounds or so. Beginning this week I hope to start lifting weights twice a week and doing yoga at the gym on Wednesdays. Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 4/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Valstar, great job! Pilates and aerobics on the same day is intense! I just returned from session #4. Have a great evening everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 4/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Everyone is doing so great! Congratulations!!!! I made it to Onederland this morning. I am so happy about this!!! I still have a long way to go before I reach goal, and I am sure that the second half will not move along as quickly as the first, but reaching the halfway point is making me feel that the end is in sight. Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 3/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Thank you for the warm and very hearty welcome Momlambert! It feels really good to be here!!!! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 3/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Good Morning Everyone! I just arrived in Onederland this morning, and am so pleased to be joining you -- Woo Hoo!!! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 3/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Congratulations Boo Boo Kitty! You look so beautiful!!!! You are a real inspiration -- especially since you and I share the same Band month (except I was banded one year later). I can tell from your posts that you are an incredibly sweet person and I wish you all the very best!!! Fondly, Frangi Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 3/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Okay Dave, I have to agree with you there -- 36 degrees is cold, and especially for Florida. You have finally earned a little sympathy.......... I got another workout session in today, and Jody (LadyBugRed) I am borrowing your exercise icon for the rest of this month because I think it is adorable!!! Have a great evening everyone! Crazy Ates JANUARY Exercise Challenge 3/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

By the way Candle, with the amount of weight you have lost, I would say that you could teach us a few things about motivation!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2:

I have found this Band to be a self-motivating tool. I am a professional dieter. Basically, I have gone on a major diet every year since my drastic weight gain about 12 years ago. I have managed to lose countless number of pounds over the years, and have dieted myself down to as low as a size 4. Unfortunately every time I dieted, all the weight would go back on plus more. In 2006 I became so discouraged that I just gave up, and in 2007 my weight reached an all-time high. All I was really missing was a tool that would guarantee me long-term success. Once it became apparent to me that this Band was actually going to work (which was after my first fill), I became highly motivated and have stayed that way ever since. As far as the exercise, well... I really can't explain it, but I absolutely love it now. I have no idea what caused this or how it happened, but I am totally hooked on working out, so motivation is not much of an issue for me at this point in time. A rather simple story, but there it is................... Crazy Ates January Exercise Challenge 2/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico

Goodness Salsa -- you are not only exercising, you are turning into a regular jock! What next? Super Bowl Sunday? ;):woot: My workout this morning was considerably less ambitious, but still a good workout nonetheless. Have a great day everyone!!!! Crazy Ates January Exercise Challenge 2/30 Exercise Sessions Banded 8/07/07 Dr. Miguel Zapata, Monterrey Mexico