Hello everyone. I've been doing pretty good at hitting my diet and exercise goals. When I set up my goals, I selected 90 minutes of exercise 7 days/week. Little did I know that MFP doesn't count strength training as exercise - LOL! 90 minutes of cardio a day is an unreachable goal for me. So, I just changed my MFP goals to 60 mins of exercise 7 days/week and it only cut my daily calorie intake by 10 - not bad.

Thankfully I'm not struggling with anything, although my body is fighting back a little bit. Before Easter (when I split with my STB ex-wife) I lived a VERY sedentary lifestyle. I've developed a small blister on the bottom of one of my toes (it's almost healed now) and my legs aren't necessarily sore everyday, but I guess they just feel "fatigued". I went through some of my boxes that I've yet to unpack and I found a tool for self-massage (called "The Stick") and I just started using it yesterday. I plan on massaging my legs twice/day (morning and before I go to bed). I know that massaging my legs should help with my legs feeling "fatigued" and I plan to incorporate self-massage into my lifestyle change. I'm also fighting a neuroma on both feet. A neuroma is basically an enlarged nerve between two of your toes. It feels like I'm stepping on a marble - every step. I need to see my podiatrist about this, but since I can't afford the co-pays (it will take about 10 office visits to clear them up) I'm putting off my podiatrist visit. I'm fighting the battle by icing my feet before I walk, the strategy is working pretty good.

V, I like sweet tea myself but I started drinking a generic version of Crystal Light. I know that artificial sweeteners they put in that aren't good for you, but being morbidly obese isn't good for your either. I figure for now artificial is the lesser of two evils. Maybe you can try Crystal Light tea?

Eviebee, sorry you're struggling with meal planning. It sounds like you want to do the right things, so that's a start. I really don't have any pearls of wisdom for meal planning, other than to just do it. I'm sure you'll be able to get to the market and execute your meal planning. Also, it's great that you're starting some strength training! I think just doing what you can (strength training wise) speaks volumes for you, considering your bad shoulder. Hang in there, you're doing great!

Finally to everyone else. This is a VERY tough road that we all must travel. Losing 100+ pounds isn't easy, nobody said this would be fun. I think everyone can do this, and we can all help each other by sticking together! Keep it up, everyone!

Have a great day! - M

Hi guys! It's nice to read that you all doing good. That's great encouragement for me because I want to keep up with you guys and do my training and eating as I planned.
Yesterday was hard for me. My muscles were very sore, especially legs and my butt. I rubbed (I don't think that's the right word for what I'm about to write, but I hope you'll get it)... anyway, I rubbed my butt on my bicycle seat. Well not exactly my butt, but those pointy bones in my butt so now I have problem with sitting anywhere not just on bike seat. That's a minor problem, but everything else is ok. My butt will get used to that.

I wish you all a great day!

Anita

Hey Anita!
Well done u for doing the bike riding! Awesome work! Sorry about ur sore butt! I do remember those days of when I used to ride a bime, and then got back on again after a while. Pointy butt bone pain is how I describe it!
Evie

Hey Anita!
No prob about the frd request, the more people I can get help from and hopfully help back the better!
It is Monday for me! Well tuesday now o guess. Its 1.50am I cant sleep. Stupid sleeping probs
Are never fun even with sleeping meds I still get alot of nights like this where I only get a few hours
If im lucky. Im glad the "pointy butt" is better! Yay for rest days! I agree with u on stationary bikes being worse!
Ive found that too!

Ooo I did a jessica smith the other day, shes cool ae! I like her. Seems nice. Anyway, I should try and sleep
Again. Bok Anita! I think its so cool ur from so far away but we can talk on here!
Evie

Evie, that SUCKS about your sleep problems. It sounds like you're doing what you can to fight the battle. Have you ever asked your family doctor about your sleep issues? My STB ex-wife had sleep disorders - she used a CPAP machine and was on some medication to help keep her awake during the daytime hours (unfortunately she was her own worst enemy - a lot of times she would stay up EXTREMELY late/early watching television and this bothered me to no end). I know how bad sleep disorders can affect you, my heart goes out to you.

Vicki, like Evie said - it's OK to be busy. You have your eye on the prize, and that's the most important thing. And thanks for looking at my diaries, I appreciate it. I'm SO glad that I help inspire you! Believe it or not, that was one of my goals going into this thing. If I can inspire just one person through my consistent effort, then I have another reason to be thankful that I'm undergoing this process/transformation. But the neat thing about my diaries is that while you get inspired about what I'm doing - I get inspired by not wanting to let anyone down. It's weird, I'm accountable to myself and my MFP friends. Just knowing that a MFP friend will be watching my daily activity motivates me. This whole MFP thing is a pretty amazing tool. While it gives you the tools to track your exercise and food, the community side of MFP is something that I didn't count on. I feel blessed to have MFP and in particular - THIS GROUP! Thanks to EVERYONE in the group, all of you inspire me in one way or another!

Overall I feel pretty good about my direction in this journey. But, I have mixed feelings about a lot of things. So far I must say that I'm most disappointed with my walking. I have to push myself and take multiple 30 to 60 second jogs in order to get the the 3 mph pace. It's just discouraging that I have to jog in order to hit that 3 mph mark when I've been capable of so much more in the past. Thankfully I have my trusty heart rate monitor to tell me when I need to slow down, or I can push it again (I wait until my heart rate gets to a good level before I jog again). It's just discouraging that I need to jog multiple times in order to hit that 3 mph pace, I thought I would be progressing faster for some reason. I guess that's what years of inactivity will get you.

Thanks for you kind words, Evie. Ya, I guess I needed to be reminded that consistency is the key and not speed. And your line about injuries sure hit home. If I push too hard, there's a very likely chance I'll get injured and that will slow my progress. I need to practice what I preach - speed will come. Speed is a result of muscle strength, improved cardiovascular health and (as you lose weight) a higher output by our bodies. I have to remind myself that I'm not training for a big race or anything, I'M DOING THIS TO SAVE MY OWN LIFE! I'm still morbidly obese and I need to keep that in mind. You're right - my body will catch up with my mind. There will be a day when I can achieve things that I've done in the past, it's just going to take some time to meet my goals.

I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling and I'm real sorry to hear about your psychological trauma and your shoulder pain re-intensifying. I know your doctor visit is coming up, hopefully it's not much longer. Hopefully you'll get that rope and you'll be able to get your cardio completed without having to move your shoulder very much - that's an outstanding idea for you! I've never been much of a jumper, perhaps I'll add some rope jumping into my regimen down the road. And don't worry about your weigh-in. Everyone will have both good and bad weight loss weeks in this journey. It's always tough when you have a bad week, but just try to pick yourself back up and get at it again.

Everyone has a few heroes, here's a website dedicated to two of my personal heroes:
http://www.teamhoyt.com/
The first time I saw this amazing team, I broke down and cried. I have never seen such a strong bond between a father and son - or a father's love for his son.

Even though the father (**** Hoyt) is getting older, he still gets out there and trains with his son most every day. Believe it or not, pushing his son actually helped **** become a better runner - it perfected his technique. ****'s running technique is quite sound, especially for his age.

But everyone always forgets about what a great athlete that Ricky is. Ricky has to train for these long distance events, too. He need to hydrate and take in calories just like any other athlete. Ricky is quite an inspiration in his own right. He's accomplished SO much more than people ever thought that he would do.

So... the next time anyone is having a bad day and struggling with their exercise, try to remember the challenges that **** and Ricky have overcame. Their long list of accomplishments is absolutely incredible!

Here's a site with their accomplishments: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Hoyt

Hey M, I didnt mean to sound pushy or slow down ur gunna hurt urself btw... I just remembered what u said about pushing urself too fast, and after looking at ur diaries im always so overwhelmed by how much ur doing... seems like an awful lot to me. Espically for someone whose possibly not their smallest. I know for me when I push hard or super hard I can only go for so long before I either lose focus, or hurt too bad and miss a day or get hurt, and then I cant keep doing what im doing... I guess all I was trying to say is in a very non judgy way be careful. I think ut rocking this lifestyle change!

V, omg thats awful. And sounds frustrating. I can kinda sympathise. My bf has RA and doesnt do anything hes supposed too. Drives me nuts. So it often plays up and hes lying there in pain and I look after him and care for him, I do everything round the house normally so that doesnt change, but alot of the time im stressing and biting my tounge to say oi, u kinda caused this. U know what to do and u ignore the advice. I dunno if that relates to how u feel ever... but I never say it cause he is so strong for me... so yeah... I just try to focus on how sore he must be, and fighting the system for him when he will let me. I wish I could call VA and fight for him for u! I dont know who VA are but im sure its something to do with the army after care I assume. Or healthcare. And in both I can totally understand. The only advice I have is breathe, take time to look after u, and dont think abouy4 what could happen. Thats what I do when im stressing and it snow balls in my head and gets wayyyy worse. I so wish I could be there for u!

if yhere is anything anyone ever needs im here off to do some exercise then shower. Take care everyone!