Someone once said that if you walk 20 miles into the woods, you have to walk 20 miles out.

I feel great but I have a lot of work to do. I had my first Pilates session today. It was hard but felt great. I used muscles that I haven't used in a long time....maybe ever. It was like working out and stretching at the sale time.

I have severe Spondylosis so I can't do ant lateral work yet. My right leg is numb and painful 70% of the time but I'm working to figure out what I can do. I'm doing Pilates twice a week. I stopped taking pain meds when I went to Duke as to not mask pain. I need to be able to find my limits physically and I couldn't do that on the medicine.

After 55 minutes of Pilates I hit a new machine called a TruStep....think elliptical but done sitting down. I need the back support. I can get a great cardio workout without pain. I'm going to try and do this 5 times a week.

I am also working out in the pool 3 times a week and walking a minimum of 30 minutes a day....15 minutes up the mountain and 15 down. I'll increase this every week as I drop weight.

I have a fitness tracker and my goal is 10,000 steps a day. I did 8,000 yesterday.

I was recently diagnosed at Duke weight and fitness center (spent a week inpatient) with The Beetus so I am on a low carb diet, currently 1500 - 2000 calories a day. I started this last Monday. As of this morning I've lost 14.5 pounds. Today is the first day I haven't been hungry so I'm happy about that. My Beetus doc at Duke is one of the top 5 in the country. He assures me that with weight loss, a good diet and consistent work outs I can get my numbers back into the normal range.

I have more energy and am happier than I've been in a long time. I regret waiting so long to do this but here I am. This is hard work but it beat bariatric surgery and it also beats dying.

Round is a shape

Good luck to you. I am trying to lose 30 pounds by October for my sons wedding. Don't want to look like a slug.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Round is a shape

+1

Yep I am rotund round, dropped 90 pounds, cut out whiskey, wine and sugar... It's leveled off and my sugar dropped big time.

Now I have to move on to that sweaty exercisy thingy.

Have a cruse to Alaska in August so need to drop a few more pounds, ok a lot more...

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Round is a shape

I learn something new every day. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
I have more energy and am happier than I've been in a long time.

A lot of people don't get that, and never will, because they'll never do it. When you work out you get an endorphin release similar to that from eating chocolate or having sex. And you feel better about yourself. And you can do more things, more easily. You'll probably sleep better, too. I know I do. All those effects can actually moderate, or even cure, mild depression.

All without drugs.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
I regret waiting so long to do this but here I am.

Good on you!

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
This is hard work but it beat bariatric surgery and it also beats dying.

Yup

The trick is turning it into a way of life. Once they start feeling good some people begin to forgot how things Used To Be, (some of) their motivation goes missing, they fall back into old habits and, before they know it...

nice work Jeff, keep it up. It can be done! Rootin for ya.

I am amazed at how much exercise impacts my mental health. When working out regularly, I believe that I'm making the necessary enzymes to metabolize fat, and my brain chemistry changes to where I feel more confident and ready for the crazy world we live in.

I get that from tacos. You have to eat them late at night, though.

Jeff thanks for the update,keep up the work.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

The trick is turning it into a way of life. Once they start feeling good some people begin to forgot how things Used To Be, (some of) their motivation goes missing, they fall back into old habits and, before they know it...

Which is where I am. Lost 135 lbs, and turned around one day and had gained 50 back. Now I'm trying to get back to my routine to get those 50 lbs off again, and it's twice as hard, if not more so.
Good job getting started Jeff. The first steps are the hardest.

Good for you brother!

I sleep better and my energy level is way up when I stay in a good groove of around 2,000 calories a day and at least 30 to 45 minutes solid of getting after it walking / running. I feel like a slug when I don't so that motivates me to get my ass in gear in move around.

Hang in there, Jeff.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I get that from tacos. You have to eat them late at night, though.

Guess I should have added the obligatory YMMV. Late-night tacos just give me the farts ...

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Yep I am rotund round, dropped 90 pounds, cut out whiskey, wine and sugar... It's leveled off and my sugar dropped big time.

Now I have to move on to that sweaty exercisy thingy.

Have a cruse to Alaska in August so need to drop a few more pounds, ok a lot more...

Absolutely a must if you're going to be rocking that speedo in Alaska.

Good for you. I hate exercise classes. I have been doing our tread mill. Bout killed me the first 3 weeks. My health just went downhill since I had my gall bladder out.

I have lost 18 lbs. since December just started eating right and smaller amounts , I don't work out it's just a slow steady thing figured it took me a year to put it on it will take a year to take it off by then it wont seam so dramatic.