Hi Chris,

Okay, first off ....you are not pushing us too hard.  The forum is like a book lying on a shelf.  It's always there waiting to be picked up and read whenever we are in the mood.  Nobody has to read all your posts at one time or feel compelled to do everything you suggest at one time because it's always still there to refer to when we are ready to move to the next step.

You have already left a legacy and helped at least me tremendously because I truly believe you care...in a world where most people don't, you actually care...and that is one of the greatest gifts one can give a person.

All of us who are partaking in this need to be motivated, whether we are older people like me who have been overweight the majority of their lifetime who are saying to themselves, "what in God's name are you doing to yourself" and want to find out what life would be like without the excess, or somebody young who is out of weight, out of shape, deconditioned who one day will be me and needs to realize that and do something about it now before they end up like me at my stage of life with the multiplicity of health problems that come from not stopping the process at the get go. 

You on the one constant on this thread.  The rest of us post when we feel we have some input, but you are the glue that holds this together, that keeps it from fading away like so many exercise plans and diet plans before.  I am assuming (maybe wrongfully so) that most of the people participating are closer to my end of the game then the really young because the really young still feel invincible and don't think they will end up where I am.  That being said, most of us have tried lots of diets, etc without success.  The trick is to not diet, but make lifestyle changes and that is easier said than done.  Old habits are hard to break, sometimes simply because they are old habits and have become so routine for us that we do not recognize them anymore.  Portion distortion is a big big problem for most of us.  Being too busy partially by the choices we have made in life and the priorities we have set that also need to be altered, leads to grabbing that quick fast food sandwich for lunch instead of taking time to make a balanced, healthy meal.  We need to get to know ourselves better.  We can't totally suspend our lives like they do on the Biggest Loser, but we can make some wiser choices on what we do with our day.  We can wake up in the morning and say "what can I do for myself today" and if we even just one thing it will be a step in the right direction.   And like a toddler learning to walk, I think taking those steps will get easier.   We will have more energy to do the things we need to do to make it work, one step at a time. 

But I digress...as I was saying, you are the one constant.  So do not worry about overloading us, we can handle it because we are not doing it alone.  And also do not worry if you get busy and can't make a post.  We are in this for the long haul, and will stick by you as long as you stick by us.   YOU BE STUCK WITH US BABY  

Now for the most important part of this little discertation.  Please, please, please stay safe.  That bunker business gives me shivers just thinking about it.  I will continue to keep you and your buddies in my prayers as I am sure all the members of our little group will.  Drop those milk cartons full of sand and run like hell to that bunker Chris.  We love you!

Rosemary  

no1dunn:

IF you can push your self harder during your workouts... you SHOULD push your self harder. BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR BODY AND YOUR LIMITS... that is what makes a FORUM Trainner not the greatest thing around. I am not there to watch you for signs of trouble. SO YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND.

 Hi Chris,

 I had to smile when I read this part because I totally see myself there.  I work out in a Physcial Therapy place - I've had to have therapy for my knee.  When I first went there for the therapy, I found that I had no flexibility, no balance ("stand on one foot"  "if I do that I'll fall over") and I was in awful shape.  As I worked with the therapists, they had me riding the stationary bike.  I started at 5 minutes and by the time I finished the therapy I could ride for an hour.  There were times that they would make me stop because they could see me pushing through the pain.  Apparently, they are allowed to make me hurt, but I cannot make myself hurt (unless it's a good pain and I have learned the difference - they still keep tabs on me to make sure).  So I have learned to challenge myself, but stopping short of doing damage to my body.

 As for now, I had fallen away from working out and your posts have given me the push I needed to get back into healthy habits and hopefully drop some weight.  When I started back, I was challenged to do a half hour on the bike.  I didn't think I was going to make it through the first 10 minutes, but I did.  Then I pushed to do just 5 minutes more, and then 5 minutes more.  That's when I started counting down.  Only 9 more minutes, only 8 more minutes.... Well, it got me through that first half hour and that was the worst one.  It gets a little bit easier each time.

 As for how much you post, please don't stop.  I look forward to the encouragment that you give.  I may not be ready to do everything right away, but I know your encouraging words are there when I want them.  I hope it's okay, but I have printed out some of things you've written so I can easily read them whenever I need that push or the pat on the back saying "you can do it."

Thanks so much for helping us all.  I'm praying for your continued safety.

 Donna

Rosepeddles and Donna, and anyone else that feels the same way out there THAT IS WHY I STARTED WRITING. I just want to help any one I can. I appreciate you all for your thoughts.... your prayers..... your kind words.... your caring hearts! And as long as you all know you have to go at your pace... you need to be careful..... you should have a checkup...... you should you should you should JUST DO IT!!

I am going to keep this short... but sweet. A little song I wrote some time ago!

SHE’S LEAVING ME TODAY

1986

Thank

Rosepeddles and Donna, and anyone else that feels the same way out there THAT IS WHY I STARTED WRITING. I just want to help any one I can. I appreciate you all for your thoughts.... your prayers..... your kind words.... your caring hearts! And as long as you all know you have to go at your pace... you need to be careful..... you should have a checkup...... you should you should you should JUST DO IT!!

I am going to keep this short... but sweet. A little song I wrote some time ago!

SHE’S LEAVING ME TODAY

And I'll never see                                                                                                                                                  

What I want to know is this                                                                                                                                   

1986                                                                                                                                                            

I give up trying to figure this thing out?>??

Hi Chris and everyone!

Thought I would come out from my hidey-hole and say hello!

 Okay, so Chris is encouraging me to share...LOL Actually I think it is a great idea! LOL

Let me tell you about myself...I am 39...yes, really! LOL I am a very happily married housewife living just outside of Charleston SC with my husband, five cats and two guinea pigs. I'll skip the long story about how a native Charlestonian grew up in the midwest, met and married a Yankee and brought him back to SC...LOL My dad and his family live in IA and my mother's family live here in SC. My husband's family are in IL.

I am currently on disability because of a weight problem and the subsequent health problems. Okay, weight problem is putting it mildly...I am morbidly obese. I have no idea how much I weigh but I know it is over 400. Fortunately, my health problems are not typical of someone my size. I do not have diabetes nor do I have a heart condition...knock on wood...I just got approved for disability a few months ago and now that I have, I can get the gastric bypass surgery that I need! I have taken the first step and attended a class about weight loss surgery and I have filled out my application. I just got my Medicare card in the mail the other day so all I need now is my program fee and a week's worth of journal entries for the surgeon to see so I can be approved by the hospital for the surgery.

For now, I am preparing myself for my new life. That is how I look at it. I am not dieting and I am not exercising. What I am doing is changing my lifestyle, becoming healthier. Between now and my surgery, I am training my mind and body to accept this new lifestyle. It is not easy! Okay, skipping soda has been easier than I thought it would. I have three two liter bottles of soda in my kitchen that I have had no inclination to even touch. For the last couple of weeks, when I have been in a restaurant, I order water. Okay, so the other day I also had a margarita but it was a special occasion...One thing I learned is to not beat myself up over stuff like that. So I had one alcoholic drink. I also had a full glass of water with it. And I didn't drink any more alcohol! No I am not an alcoholic but it does run in my family!

As for exercise, in all honesty, for me, just getting me out of the house and getting me into a store is exercise. Normally I sit in the truck and my husband does the shopping. This past week, I have been going in with him more often. Side effect of that is I am in more pain than normal but I have meds to help me deal with it. We have been doing that nearly every day so I don't have to go walk around my mobile home yet. It's coming to that though. I will be lucky to do just once around during the height of summer in SC.

Well, I think I have rambled enough for now. Hubby just got up and we have some errands we have to run. I promise to be more active on this forum!

Robyn

Robyn I sent you a PM.

Rosemary

how cool to find this thread I thought I was the only one giving up the soda? Man was it hard but I am sure that in the end it will be worth it I got through the caffeine headaches and I am getting much better about drinking water.....now if I could just get myself to eat breakfast.....I just cant get myself to do it in the morning....and it is the most important meal of the day! Oh... someday when my kids are in school.... for now I wear myself out running after them, running errands and taking care of my husband....cant wait to weight 140 pounds again.. I havent been that weight since I was 20 and before the fertility problems and birth of my children!  oh well... soon...

ALittleIrishFairy:

how cool to find this thread I thought I was the only one giving up the soda? Man was it hard but I am sure that in the end it will be worth it I got through the caffeine headaches and I am getting much better about drinking water.....now if I could just get myself to eat breakfast.....I just cant get myself to do it in the morning....and it is the most important meal of the day! Oh... someday when my kids are in school.... for now I wear myself out running after them, running errands and taking care of my husband....cant wait to weight 140 pounds again.. I havent been that weight since I was 20 and before the fertility problems and birth of my children!  oh well... soon...

 Actually, I found it pretty easy to quit drinking soda. I was surprised. My husband and I had a talk about it and agreed that I would finish what soda I have here at home and that would be it. At restaurants, I would order a soda AND a water but only did that once or twice.  I agree with you on the breakfast though! My husband never eats it and I never seem to have time. By the time I am ready to eat after getting up for my day, it is lunch time! I am going to have to figure out this meal schedule of mine! LOL

Robyn

Got it, thanks! Sent you a reply pm! Thanks!

Hello Everybody!!

Well I did it... I used to work out to Power 90 from Beachbody.com. I truly loved it and tailored the PT program that I ran while over my group in West Virginia when I was deployed there. They send me emails now and then (advertisements... it's all about the money) and I click on one the other day and liked the looks of the new Power 90 Xplus... which is THIRD generation to the Power 90. Well I decided I should get the second generation before the third so I backed up and ordered it but at the checkout stand (lol) they hooked me with a good deal (suppliments and a pull up bar for a door) so I bought it all. It sould be here in a week or so. I have three months before going home on leave and this will be the thing to get that tight body I used to be so proud of!!

The reason I mention all this to you is their contests. Blah blah blah and take a picture of yourself. YES!!! Take a picture of yourself NOW all of you... I am not kidding. You have started and probably already are making changes. Take a picture now so you can compare it to the new you every month. Take a new picture every month so you can keep documenting your progress. AND I CHALLENGE YOU... to POSTING your picture in one month here on the website. NOW I KNOW... you will NOT be where you WANT to be in just a month.... but at least I am not asking you to put your picture up there NOW!!! So, Take your picture now. WORK OUT GOOD AND HARD for a month then take your picture then.... and post that one as your avitar (little picture for you sign in) and renew it with the NEWER you each month!!!

Go ahead, say it....."Chris! YOU... are DREADFUL!" I know but you do need a record to see your progress. You do need an incentive to keep you going. You do need proof of where you came from. You do need proof of what your accomplishing. You do need to take this challenge and RUN WITH IT!!!

I will make a deal with you.... Take this challenge and When enough of you post your picture next month I will post my shirtless picture the month after.... NOT to show off or to excite ANYONE... but to PUSH myself to make a difference... I don't even drink beer (well of course I don't NO ONE does here!) but it looks like I have a beer gut at present! I know I am asking a lot of you... but I want you to be that committed to your self for a new YOU!!

See you in a month!!! Oh... and while you are worrying about posting your picture... take a look on this site... there are quite a few ladies were willing to post their pictures even though they were not happy with how they look. ALL of you are trying to improve yourselves. So, Don't be Shy, Don't be bashful, Don't be hateful or what ever... remember what you are in a month will be less then what you are now and more then what you will be in the months to come. SO... post a picture next month and then up date it every month with a new and improved YOU!!!

God bless you all and one big HUG from me!!!

A hundred years ago BEFORE I got OLD... I took an online course to be a Fitness Trainner. Yes, I have mentioned it before... BUT I mention it again for what I am about to show you. I wrote an article of my idea then of a workout routine. This is DOWN THE ROAD ideas, but you might find it an interesting read and anything you pick up and use now... is just that much better and sooner you are starting!! If you have to come and go several times before reading the whole thing... I understand an apologize! I call it the....