Hi, I'm looking to begin a new fitness and weight loss journey and begin a healthy lifestyle. I've elected to not undergo bariatric surgery and instead lose the weight on my own. I am looking at connecting with individuals on a similar journey or those that have been on the road to success and can offer support and encourage to help me along my way. 

My name is Roberto, I'm a single man living in Toronto. I am a non-smoker and have no injuries that would prevent me from working out. I do have some mild osteo-arthritis in my knee and hip but that's weight-related. I have lost plenty of weight in the past but always seem to fall back into old habits and gain it back. My main goals are weight loss and to build lean muscle mass and be more cardio fit. 

It would be amazing if I could connect with others willing to help me on my journey as it is much easier to stay motivated that way. Sharing advice, team support, occasional meet-ups, and group work-outs are all good options. If you are on a similar personal health rejuvenation journey and would like to be part of a supportive team would or you can offer your help and support, then please leave me a message and we will take it from there.

Thank you,

Roberto in Toronto

Thankyou so much for sharing your story. I'm in the process heading towards roux n y surgery and the further I get in the program the more convinced I am that I don't need surgery. I really appreciate you sharing your struggles. Good luck with your weightloss

I did Optifast program about 4 years ago with a clinic (since closed) lost 58 lbs but alas put it and more back on. I found it a good program for loss, but difficult to maintain the loss, although I would do it again; once I got used to the program shakes, it was 3 mos. of loss, lots of activity on my part (building cottage), and very quick, steady loss. Also found Dr. Goldfarb very helpful when I went there, (a different time, different clinic & separately, for after-follow up and further loss.)  Just costly for the shakes. Think if I did it again, I would transition more carefully and keep it off. Worthwhile overall and learned a lot about managing weight from the full-program. It's been one of the few methods which worked fast and relatively easily for me.

I'm on Optifast here in the States. I'm actually on 1100 calories a day, due to a starting weight of 351. I lost about 18 pounds in the first 4 weeks, and they did a body composition study so I know it wasn't all muscle mass or water weight. It was 17 pounds of fat, 1 pound of muscle. And I have a LOT of muscle mass, so that's fine.

You said they call every week, do you have to go to the clinic weekly? Well, I guess you have to pick up your food, or maybe they mail it to you? My program is through a hospital, and you have to go in every week not just to pick up food, but to either meet with a doctor of have blood work done, it alternates by the week. Then about once a month they do a body composition check, to make sure you aren't losing too much muscle mass. And you see a dietitian every 6-8 weeks. Then every week there's a group session for an hour, where they talk about a 'healthy eating and exercise' topic for 15 minutes, and then we go around the room and people talk about their weeks, any struggles they're having, any victories they've had, etc. It's pretty good, even though it does take a lot of time out of my work week and I've had to juggle my work schedule around to accommodate it.

WTG Jess! 

Keep up the great work!! 

Peaceful Blessed days to you !