I'm Getting Closer!!!

Everyone!! How y'all doing? Yesterday was my 18mo anniversary( Happy Anniversary Tammy!) AND believe it or not- I am not into Onderland yet!! Does that suck or WHAT?? LOL I know Tammy has been posting about the gym- But I didnt have time to post- been busy with work and my son getting settled in his job- then spraining his ankle- on an EMT call and coming home with crutches from the hospital.. ( I swear life is challenging me with stress) LOL!! Feb 1, I joined a new local gym- its fitnessincentive.com - its a real gym and they offer 140 classes a week- in everything from spinning classes to multiple types of yoga- to Kickboxing, Stability training, & my favorite Pump & Jump. Its jumping in step on a Mini Trampoline!! WHO would have thought I'd be doing that - at 50 no less!! I am having FUN and doing this my way. I feel so liberated again!! I decided I wanted to be in the best physical shape this year- so I rededicated myself- and from some of the postings here- I think several of you should join me. While I have not gained any of my weight back- Unlike many of you- I still have not hit my original goal of 150. ( I know) but I never made it into Onderland either!! LOL.. SO since Feb 6- when I met with a trainer- he took my vitals- blood pressure 112/60, resting heart rate is 67- BMI is 42% YUCK!! I am just TOO short for my weight!! To bad I cant have PS to make my legs longer.LOL So everyday I DO CARDIO for 60-90 minutes- + weights . I am proud to day I have lost 6lbs ( as of this morning) and am now 203..FOUR pounds to Onderland!!! I know once my metabolism gets past this SET POINT, I will succeed. I think our bodies have settled at some point that we have not been in our lives or very long time ago. I was this weight- 26yrs ago- So while Im happy with that- I really want to slim my legs & tummy. I also ordered some new DVDs from BodiesInMotion.com - Gilad is a great trainer & motivator and he came out with new DVDS. I recently saw another post op- just a year out- she had a lot of weight to lose- and in the time I havent been able to get past size 14- she went from size 24 to 8. She did a lot of cardio- sometimes twice a day & she did it all in a year!! She looks fabulous & her name is Donna too- and we are both Dr Garber's patients- so we call ourselves the Garber Girls- LOL. I am acknowledging a few things here: Let me know if you agree ~ we all get busy day to day- but we gotta take the time for ourselves~ ~ we lose sight and become complacent- I know I did- and we may have to drag our own butts to the gym to do it. ~ ~ it doesn't have to be a chore- it HAS to be FUN~ That is what keeps me going. ~ You need to set goals- JUST LIKE we first did~ Only its a little harder~ ~ WE ARE WORTH IT~ YES we are more than a NUMBER on a scale. I always said that. We are MORE than our weight- but we also need to be healthy~ ~ If you don't wanna complain- Then don't let yourself REGAIN~ I for one~ am very proud that I have kept off 127lbs- not even gained it back during the holidays.I admit I sometimes make bad choices & prob should eat less carbs & discovered I can tolerate some sugar.. I am actually increasing my protein- very conscientously- like we did at first. Remember how hard we tried to be accurate & follow the rules? You just need to look at your motivation. If your old choice isn't working- MAKE A NEW ONE! I have had to do that~ and now that my scale has jumped 6lbs~ I AM THRILLED! AND for everyone who has stalled and wants to lose again- join me- let**** the next 6mos invigorated. I'm moving ahead ~ how about you?? Hugs Happy Belated Valentine's Day Everybody ~ DONNA ~

Hi Donna, You're enthusiasm is fun to read! You may not have reach Onederland, you have lost 127lbs and like you said, kept it off. I was thinking today while at the gym (just joined the YMCA) that I just passed my year anny of loosing 100lbs and for the first time in my life I've kept if off for an entire year! That's a mile stone to say the least. I have to say I agree with the points you made. Here's to us taking/keeping charge of our lives and success! Dawn

Hi Dawn! Nice to hear from you! I get myelf all revved up- Next thing Its TOM again!! But on a great note- I only missed yesterday-(I think my quads were sore from sculpting) and Im doing the pump & jump on the mini trampoline today..I also got a stability ball at home- what fun just sitting on i****ching TV with my son. My mother always said- if you keep weight off for a year its yours- thats when it hit me- I've NEVER been able to keep ANY WEIGHT LOST- OFF! It always came back- within 6mos or a year- and here I am- still paring down- and in a relatively short time- I can feel my pants looser in the waist & legs again- and I'm about it. But I'm really proud of my cardio. Im at a point- where the more I do- the more I wanna do & keep going- its so liberating. That's how I feel about this surgery- just liberated. Its easy to get discouraged- but I have a picture of me pinned up- on my bedroom wall-(sideview) from where I was a year ago- and its so hard to stop thinking I look like that- cuz when I look in the mirror NOW- Im so much trimmer in the tummy/butt/legs. Its taking me awhile to get where I wanna be- but its important to notice and acknowledge our successes.. so CONGRATS :hand: :hand: to you Dawn- keeping it off- 100lbs and GONE!! LOL!!

OOPS! thats supposed to be CONGRATULATIONS KEEPING IT OFF! HERE'S TO US!!!!!!!!!!! ~ DONNA ~

Hi Donna, Its been a tough month for me. I've been depressed...but your post ha**** me or kicked me in the butt!! Thanks, girlfriend, I needed that! Yeah, I'll join you and get myself back to the gym...I love the place I go to and it is really nice to be with all types of people there! No one is judged for how they perform or how much they weigh. It is an encouraging place and I need to get myself movtivated and back again!! Thanks again for your post!! Lori 293/179.5/150

Hi Lori - Im so happy today- I saw 200 on my scale this morning!!! I am so THRILLED and moving in the right direction. I have lost 9lbs since 2/6. Here is what I've been doing: ~ 64oz+ of water daily ~ no (big) meals after 8pm- yogurt with scoop of protein/ instant oatmeal ok I usually get out of the gym at 9 or so- and thats when Im hungry. ~eating breakfast every day- usually instant oatmeal -Quaker weight control ~ 1-2 protein supplements a day- with yogurt -or mixed in Crystal Light. 40gm min day Our bodies are wired for protein & the more muscle- the more you need to support it. ~women's fatburner from GNC. Its all natural-& 14.99. None of that hydroxycut etc- this has citrine + some kind of hydroxycitrus. NO caffeine. I began using it yesterday ~Kashi GO LEAN ROLL- not the cereal - not crazy about it- but TRY their ROLL bars- choc turtle roll & Caramel peanut roll- 190cals /12g protein + 12g sugar- BUT OPTIMIZED for gylcemic response. THEY are SOO delicious- I bought 12 at Target. ~ AEROBIC EXERCISE~ I know! I was stuck doing 2 days & got into a rut about it. I changed routine and I do a MIN of 60-90mins EVERY day. I try to take a class everytime Im in the gym & then I focus on another 45-60mins. I did the bowflex treadclimber one hour and burned 750cals! after taking a class! LOL!! I also do the elliptical trainer. I'm not killing myself - just about 2-2.5hrs in gym- not like before- and Im sweating a lot more-AND I'm seeing results in 3 wks- so Im doing sumthing right. I do weights 2-3 times wk. ~ Take all your Vitamins~ I feel so healthy and lucky that I haven't been sick all Winter- not since surgery really! Hope that helps ! Donna 325/200/150

Donna, Thanks so much for the encouragement and the advice. I've been drinking more water...got back to my original plan of drinking 25 oz first thing in the a.m. before breakfast. It makes me get it done, because I really enjoy breakfast. Already this morning I've gotten in 37 oz, so hopefully by 2 p.m. I'll have 50 oz in. I also am going to do as you suggest and look at my protein intake. I knew how important it was, but didn't realize that the more I build muscle the more I need to sustain it. Thanks for that tip too! I think I may look into that hydroxycut and see what that's all about too. The price is good and I already take my vitamins, so I'll just add one more. You're great!!! and congrates on 200!!! Lori 293/180.5/150

Hey... WOW...our 18 month came & went... Jeez i don't even remember acknowledging it... I'm hoping a couple more weeks of this "house" stuff & we should close, move & start our new life in our new house.... WOW that'll be nice.. I'll probably be MIA in the mean time, but thinking of you all every day. I'll check in when I can.. You're doing awesome.... I hope I can do all the things you're doing when I'm 50.... You're the best Tammy

Tammy girlfriend- how are you? We have missed each other! Thanks for taking time out of your busy day - to pop in and say hi. SHHHH! WHO the hell is 50? and where is he hiding? I am teetering on 200 today!! YAY!! I remember when you guys were going through that "ONEDERLAND" entry , this time last year..and I recall you working your butt off on the treadmill to get there- NOW I know how that feels! I have been doing cardio 60-90 mins+ every day and have lost 9lbs this month. Ive cut back on everything not healthy- and busting my butt taking classes and working out And I can see some of the difference in only 3 weeks- so it must be good stuff! LOL Congrats on your new house- where should I send the excedrin to? YOU LOOK GREAT!! Hugs Donna