Like title says, I'm down 88 pounds already, from 356 to 268, feels amazing! I have followed my doctors diet to a T, hit the gym 4 days a week to weight train, and walk/jog 8+ miles a week. I feel amazing and would like to thank everyone encouraging words and advice here on this forum. Here's to my upcoming season of semi pro football! Without God and this life altering choice I have made I know it would not be possible. 176 pounds down here I come!!!!

Hey Fat2flat! Thank your for your kind words. I just make sure I do at least 30 minutes of walking/ jogging 5 days a week. I do not miss a beat here. I go to my local stadium and hit the oval track, I run the 100 yards straight always on each side of the football field, and walk the corners. It ends up being about 2 miles in about 32 minutes. I also weight train 4 days a week, I do not miss this either. It is truly been an "iron will" mentality. In fact I'm sitting here at burger king with me wife and daughter, and have not touched a single piece of food, I just won't do it, simple as that. I'm sticking to this 100% and it works:) good luck to you and all who have replied to this:) this is a life changing experience and one I do not regret. God bless. Only 83 pounds more to go!!!

Fat2flat I too have bigger thighs and at first I was losing weight like crazy at the top part of my body. My shirts went from a 4X to XL but my pants went from 26/28 to 22 I started doing rolling hills training on bike hill climb on Mill trainer stair stepping and intervals on treadmill this ends up being a 45-60 min workout and in about a month in half I dropped to size 18 without pants tight on my thighs I hope this helps. Joel is awesome btw keep up the great work

TO: Playboreject & Joel

I am jealous but in a good way lol, Im inspired now but I gotta ask you please be more detailed and tell me EXACTLY what your doing & eating and how often. I work in surgery on my feet ALL day (8-10 hours) so by the time Im off work I'm so exhausted the last thing I wanna do is be off my feet again. I do go to the gym on the weekends & sometimes I do P90x at home or a 30 minute workout on comcast. As far as eating, I eat about 600-800 calories a day, cant do liquids & Water during the day because I'm scrubbed in surgery & have no access plus I can't get people to come relieve me to pee every hour or so. I lost 10 pounds the first 7 days after surgery but thats it, I haven't lost any more weight despite I have almost 6cc's in my 10cc band.

Please help give me some direction because I'm so blah & frustrated not seeing ANY results.

Wow, great post! You are inspiring and keep up the good work. Perhaps I will get to the gym now!

Hey army girl, this is what I do on a daily basis.

I stick to 2 ounces per mini meal and no more. 2 ounces is 4 tablespoons. I eat 3 mini meals per day. My mini meals never have any sugar and low caloric intake. Examples I eat per mini meals are

*turkey chili/2 ounces

*1 egg

*1 packet of no sugar oatmeal

*campbells soups with no sugar and low sodium/2 ounces

*1 small potato

And I have 2 protein shakes a day, my protein intake is about 125 grams. My protein shakes are about 220 calories each. Again no sugar. Sugar in anything you eat inhibits weight loss as your body begins using the sugar as fuel and not the fat. Stay away from it. I during nothing but water. No milk, no juice etc.... Just water. And I excersize a lot, running/ walking and weight training. I'm extremely dedicated to this and no not leave my plan ever. It is working as I have been losing 5-6 pounds a week. I hit one plateu but just changed my workout routine and in a week blasted through it. Any questions let me know!

Ohhh and I have a 10cc band with no restriction yet, I have about 4.5 cc's so far, this weight loss I'm experiencing is all diet and excersize so far. I'm waiting for the band to kick in to help me keep the weight off.

TO: Playboreject & Joel

I am jealous but in a good way lol, Im inspired now but I gotta ask you please be more detailed and tell me EXACTLY what your doing & eating and how often. I work in surgery on my feet ALL day (8-10 hours) so by the time Im off work I'm so exhausted the last thing I wanna do is be off my feet again. I do go to the gym on the weekends & sometimes I do P90x at home or a 30 minute workout on comcast. As far as eating, I eat about 600-800 calories a day, cant do liquids & water during the day because I'm scrubbed in surgery & have no access plus I can't get people to come relieve me to pee every hour or so. I lost 10 pounds the first 7 days after surgery but thats it, I haven't lost any more weight despite I have almost 6cc's in my 10cc band.

Please help give me some direction because I'm so blah & frustrated not seeing ANY results.

Everyone is different. But from my experience, I'd say you are not eating enough calories! I also was doing 600-700 a day for the first couple of months. Then I stopped losing for several weeks! Sooo frustrating!

When I went up to 800-1100, I started losing again. I don't exercise, but eat high protein low calorie stuff. And I started eating breakfast to start my metabolism each a.m.! I used to hit 80 grams protein a day, but now, probably 50-60 day. Super good luck! Don't give up! Sometimes it takes just a little tweeking of good stuff you are already doing.

I agree with oldie, you want your calories to be at or over 1000 at a minimum, but regimen sets me there daily, I'm not supposed to go over 1200. If your only hitting 7-800 to get more calories go with another protein shake, some days I will drink 3 to get me where I need to be. Protein shakes are always my 1st choice.

Congrats to you! You have done an amazing job. Good luck to future losses

Thank you so much. I am 4 weeks in and stuck @ 17 lbs lost. When U hear this my first instinct is ti set sad because I'm no anywhere near on pace for that kind of loss.

I had to re-read this post and let it sink in. Now i feel inspired. Thank you

Beauty.... Keep your head up and stay focused! It just takes time:) and dedication!!

Thanks SO much Joel, odors & all who gave such great advice. It is definitely hard & I'm definitely committed I just can't do such a stricken diet like you Joel lol. I don't have the will power or right job that allows me to drink water all day & actually eat meals lol. I work in surgery taking care of others, go figure.

I will try to increase my calories & see. Oh as for the protein shake, I don't have one every day & when I do it's only about 4 ounces. Did I mention I'm hypoglycemic? Lol

Joel, since I only go to the gym or exercise 2-3 times per week, what is a routine I a can do that will burn a lot of these calories & boost weight loss???