MelAnne

Just Do It !!!! It's hard. There are days I get there, and then while I am on the eliptical machine I wanna get off. Seriously. That's when I talk myself into just 10 more mins. I too thought I could not take the time out of my day, but I started to take the time. And I just make it as important as my getting out of bed in the morning, feeding the kids every day, etc. You know what I am saying? Only the best to you!! -Melanie

Whoo hooo!! Hang in there I hope your feeling better soon!

Thanks Jacqui! I used to look in the mirror and was disgusted at what I saw. Today I looked in the mirrow and said, "eh, disgusting, but doin somthin about it dadgumit !!!!"

Hi Angela! Welcome to LBT!! It's not just a journey, it's a new fresh start to rest of your life!!! Only the best to you!!! -Mel

I cut FAT, CARBS and Sugar. I exercise 6 days a week, burn 500 callories each session. April 17th I weighed 245 June 1st I weighed 221 June 12th I was attempting to platue at 217 (cut carbs and fat more, and saw a serious loss!!!) June 30th I weighed 208 I am now officially down 33 pounds!!! Monday July 3rd, I will be 11 weeks out from surgery. My husband will be having surgery Monday July 3rd.

I am not on this list, but thought I could post mine anyway? I will be 10 weeks out Monday June 26th. I am officially down 34 pounds. Congrats to everyone on their success and journies!!!!

I decided to watch my intake ever so much more closely. I cut out carbs. OMGosh !!!!! (was 217 two weeks ago, and am now a happy 211) Well, here is the weird issue: I went to dinner and decided to enjoy my dinner in the order they serve it - salad then fried rice then chicken then veggies (we went to a japanese steak house where they cook the food in front of you) I could not eat more then 3 bites of salad and two bites of rice and I was DONE - I mean things coulda gotten UGLY done. I went from eating close to if not a 1000 plus calories a day to 500 - 600 a day. Do you think my band/stomach tightened? We went back to that same resturant today (our families favorite and my InLaws came into town) and I had Soup no salad. I had 3 bites of the AWSOME rice, and then I ate my chicken and then a few bites of the veggies (bamboo shoots zuchini and onions). Dinner was MUCH more enjoyable today, as I held off and focused on my Protein. DH and I think I just ate too fast yesterday. But I still seem to have really good restriction!

The very reason (aside from gas/tolls) I joined a VAN POOL !!!! I have to leave work, as I won't have a ride home!! :confused: So many benefits!!

I wear Nike's FREE shoes - they move with your foot as if you were barefoot. I just bought a second pair this morning - they can be as much as $90 a pair - and I got my first pair at the Nike outlet store $60 - then I a second pair today at 24 Hour Fitness, for $25 !!!!!!!!! I am happy with them. They are light weight and like I said, the soles are split so that your feet feel barefoot.

With medical nessecc. United Health Care I have been taking pictures of rashes and shoulder redness etc. So that I will have some documentation. I understand they also want medical records where I saw a doctor and they prescribed creams etc..

Short term goal: Make it through today. >Eat the best way I know how, and can. >Exercise Short term goal for this week: Loose 2 pounds. (And not the same two pounds I lost last week, and thuys now have to loose again!!!!) Otherwise I can not handle any more - this is about my limit. But I am OCD. :

Whoo Hooo !!!! I wish you only the best - and a super fast recovery !!!

Maryland - You go girl !!!! I have always been told to just be sure I can talk during a work out and that I can breath thru my nose - taking deep breaths each breath. But I still worry, am I not getting the optimal use of my work out and thus not burning as much fat as I could be, if I just slow it down? Meaning, do I want to exercise slower and burn more over a shorter period of time, or do I want to exercise harder/faster and have to work out for a longer period of time to get the same weight loss as if I had done it the other way? One thing I have learned about EVERYTHING since this surgery is that NOTHING is 100% accurate. Too many opinions, too many variables and too much information!!!

Did you download something from there? -Mel

craigslist is another web site where you can find such info! I sold a treadmill within 24 hours! And of course they have a 'if you come get it, it's yours for free' - you can click on your specific area/location.

I am supposed to be keeping my heart rate between 119 and 153 when I workout on the eliptical or treadmill. Yeah right?!?!?! I stay between 167 and 179. I know, that is high. To burn fat - I am supposed to stay in the low numbers - but man that makes for a REALLY long workout !!! I feel like I have accomplished something when I pound it out. I make sure I can talk while I am working out, and breath breath breath - through my nose! And of course drink drink drink Water. Anyone else have any thoughts on this? Success/failure due to staying in the zone?

I agree - the "your gaining muscle, and loosing fat" comments make me NUTZ - its takes a very long time to gain muscle in respect to being able to see the scale move due to muscle gain. I am toning my muscles and making my body use itself more efficiently in loosing and burning fat. I do the cardio (eliptical and treadmill) as well as weight machines. Right now I am concentrating on the thing where I pull the rope straight down in front of me so I can stop the fat arm junk goin on on the underside of my upper arm. (the flapping fat that nestles in your arm pit) I totally believe in strength training, but hate it as it is not as high a workout as I like, I need to work on that.

Does anyone else feel this way? This is my new motto. I have to work out in the evenings after work - as I catch the vanpool at 5:40 AM. So I find myself all day - I can't wait to get to the gym.... Maybe it's a good thing, it keeps me eating right thru the day so I can endure my workout with strength!? I am in the best mood after a workout!!

TO LOVE THEM !!!!!!!!! Thank you for this forum !!!!! It seems like this is the only thing I can feel good about regarding my surgery, I feel some sort of control in this whole process when I exercise! THANK YOU !! THANK YOU !! THANK YOU !! -mel

I LOVED it - used it with the eliptical machine and plan on using it to break up my routine, as I tend to over use the eliptical machine!!! (who me?!?!) I stumbled twice, when I looked at my feet and when I didn't pick my feet up and was getting lazy and the machine had switched inclines on me! It was a GREAT workout. I don't care for the treadmill anymore b/c its just not the workout that I can get from the eliptical - this one was challenging and different and we all like that in our workouts! Today I get to do the eliptical for an hour !!! Whoo Hooo !!!! 500 calories is what I shoot to burn in a workout everyday. -mel

Thank you! I am accepting your comments (and hug!) in spirit that they were offered. In support and friendship. I am this side of crazy, and this is not the good side. I am dealing with all of this, and all the pressure that surrounds me regarding this, as best I can. Thank you again, I appreciate your words of experience and wisdom.

Pfunkem - thank you!!! As I read labels, and avoid carbs, oh my gosh! Just about everything has a carb or two (or more) in it!!! You subtract the fiber but not the sugar. This is the part that I get confused or my brain shuts down. Kinda like science class, I could not see or feel the atom, and had trouble 'knowing' it breaks in two. So how do I know this subtracting anything means anything? LOL I think we have all come to know I am OCD and Nutz to boot....

There is a new machine at the gym!!!! It is a treadmill that is split down the center and while the tread rolls and allows you to adjust the speed, each side go up and down at an incline - which you can control how much of an incline as well. It is TWICE the workout! Burned 200 calories in 20 mins on this machine alone.

WOW! Great info on the carbs! I really think that may have been what was sabbotaging me last week. I can deal with numbers. I can watch and count and know - Whoops, had my count for the day! I am having a chicken breast on my Foreman grill, and a side tossed salad with Fat Free dressing, carrots, califlower, and broccoli on it.

THANK YOU BABS What a wonderful post!!! I appreciate your insight and your experience very much. Yes, I am in this for the long haul. I am seeing the mistakes, and correcting them immediately. One theme I seem to be picking up on, and could be wrong - low low low calories and Low Low Carbs. So a diet high in protein, and water. ? Nutrisionist had me up my carbs. For working out mainly. I am a workout freak. I love it and can not stand a day where I do not go to the gym. It makes me feel like I am at least doing something about my fat ugly body. Am I off base with the carbs thing? I have already cut sugar and fat from my diet as much as I can. I am looking pretty much as a protein rich diet with a lot of water right? Numbers I can do something with - so when I read labels - it has to have only 3 grams of fat per 100 calories. Anything less then 9 carbs and anything less then 9 (preferably 7) grams of sugar. I push to get in a 1000 calories a day. 700 to 900 a day and I feel good emotionally about it. How many carbs a day is good?