How the bloodwork come out joagain?

For those who currently experience knee, hip, and ankle joint pain from walking try using a regular elliptical trainer (level footsteps, not angled).  With my three back surgeries (one of them a lower-lumbar fusion) my back hurts way worse when I walk and the elliptical is virtually pain-free for me.

Also get the fat burning cardio-range for you height/weight/age and stay there until it becomes so easy that you need to increase your pace/resistance to keep your heart up at that pace.  This is also good for those who have higher heart rates due to health issues (I was one of them).

Have a great day guys!

Guy

I'm feeling so much better these days that in addition to my 5x/week morning cardio/resistance training I've been adding another 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer at the Fire Station where I work.  I've been doing this now for two weeks and just weighed myself again last night and lost another 6 lbs.

Let me stress that I have not taken this weight loss as license to augment my diet with additional carbs.  I know myself all too well and I cannot allow myself even one minute of diet-conscience-lapse or I will spiral downward very quickly.  What I am saying is that as we feel better, we can add additional exercise into our regimens and experience not just more weight loss, but more energy, strength, and general well-being.

I also want to say that given my plethora of health problems that if I can do this, anyone can.

Don't let temporary setbacks sidetrack you from your ultimate goals.  I have diet and exercise accountability partners (that's why I go to our community rec center to work out) and that helps keep me on the straight and narrow.  If you find yourself struggling, get some good friends involved in those areas.  Goals are nothing without accountability.

It's been a long time, but I'm still waging the diet/lifestyle war!

I was in Branson, MO for my anniversary and had an emergency gall bladder surgery (not via scope, full incision) and it's been a good recovery.

I don't even remember where I was, but I can tell you this...I'm down to slightly less than a 40" waist, and I'm working out 5 days a week and the thinnest and in the best shape of the last 20 years of my life.

I got down to 245, but since working out I've been putting on muscle.  I'm back up to 255, but visibly much thinner, more toned, and the fat keeps coming off!

I eat far less, have kept to the ultra low carb diet, and have gone to very lean beef, but mostly turkey, chicken, and fish.

This new lifestyle gave me the shortest recovery from surgery ever (I've had a total of 7 abdominal surgeries and 3 back surgeries) and now even my back is in much better shape after just a few months ago hardly being able to walk!

Thank you Doug and all the rest for your support. 

It's still coming off! 3 lbs. in the last week and down to 261 for a total of 14 lbs. in 3 weeks.  People are already noticing the change, I'm feeling so much better, and got into a shirt I bought nearly a year ago that was mis-marked XXL and was only an XL!

Thanks for all the encouragement and support you guys, you're wonderful!

When there's so much documentation and testimony of how a program works how can you not stay the course? Before my back gave out (due to mostly my weight and genetics) I was halfway through a BS in Nursing.  I knew this made sense and now in less than 2 weeks I feel so much better.  The cravings have all gone away.

The truly amazing thing is that I did some simple arithmetic yesterday and even when staying away from the high-carb meal (deadly whites) I was still taking in with a greatly reduced food volume over 200g of carbs a day. Fruits, some veggies, ketchup, alleged low-carb breads, etc.

I find that it's easier to focus mentally and realizing I was eating for comfort (for many different reasons) rather than for physical sustenance was a huge factor as well.

First big test was last night.  My daughter was up for the first time with my granddaughter who is three months old and we had a party for the ladies of the church to see my new granddaughter.  There was a huge spread, with 98% being on the "no way" list. I had my diet (2g) fruit juice with club soda for my drink, I had 6 small slices of summer sausauge, deviled eggs (3 prepared with my carbless spicy mustard, mayo, and salt), and 6 shrimp.  A friend brought homemade toffee (I've had it in the past, she should go into business) and I didn't touch it at all.

You guys are my support group, but seeing the benefits already is my Tier 2 support group!

Have a great weekend and thanks!

Tomorrow it will be one week and I don't know if this is typical but I've lost 7 lbs so far.  I have been absolutely committed to this lifestyle change and have not deviated one iota from the book's advice.  I even went to dinner at a friend's house and only ate the meat (if it didn't have a glaze), veggies, and passed on desert.

I've ordered my GG Crisp Bread and waiting for the Tortillas to get off back order at La Tortilla.  In the meantime I'm using Romaine lettuce in place of the tortillas.

Thanks everybody for your encouraging words.

Guy