dwbotti

Thanks! I appreciate it. I'm living life and loving life!

I'm Derek Botti. I've kept off 65 lbs since July of 2005. I had quadruple bypass open heart surgery in 2013 and am still living with acute premature coronary artery disease. I'm a fitness zealot and a clean eating apprentice.

I doubt they're deliberately holding your program because you didn't buy Shakeology. I have a friend that bought Focus T25 from the infomercial and while they put the full court press onto him he didn't have to buy Shakeology and has his program currently collecting dust on a shelf. What did you buy? Was it one of their…

AMEN! The first mile is the hardest, mostly because the mind tells you running is not a good idea. :) But, I can usually settle in and enjoy the next 4 or 5 and have really come to love my chance to lace them up. There are still those days when just the climb up the stairs mentally feels like "good workout, you're done"…

So you should restart, yes. It sounds like you aren't working with a coach? Are you seeking one? A coach would help you navigate these waters. There wouldn't be a HUGE drop off, but to maximize your results, you should start with the Day 1 fit test, measure and crank it back up.

Most diets suggest 5-6 meals a day if they're structured correctly. The idea is to keep the body in a constant metabolic burn. There are an awful lot of chemicals and artificial ingredients in Slim Fast so be aware that can also impact your weight loss. What kind of exercise can you do? What kind do you like? You can find…

Generically given your height and weight and activity level the target calories seems a little low. I'd have suggested something in the 1300 calorie range, and that extra 100 can make the difference between losing and getting stuck. The 21g of fat not saturated fat might be OK, it would depend on what type of fat it is. 1…

Is heart disease a major chronic illness? I had quadruple bypass surgery in July of 2013 and am still living with one blocked coronary artery after going back into the hospital a mere 13 weeks after the surgery to learn that 3 of my 4 bypasses had partially closed. I don't have chronic fatigue issues, but I am actively…

MFP as a tool will show you your current ratio. That's the beauty of tracking is it takes the guess work out of all these measurements. Low calories, high density nutrient foods tend to have VERY high volumes, which make one feel full. Raw vegetables, leafy greens, fruits are all high in fiber, vitamins and minerals that…

Those are great reasons! Your why is your strongest motivation. Will power doesn't really get you there, it's your why power that will make your goal something you'll fight for without compromise. Sounds like you're definitely on your way!

While it is possible, given your water consumption, to have held onto some, it's unlikely that's the only reason for the 4 lbs. If one goes by the formula of 1/2 ounce per lb of body weight, you're consumption is actually slightly low (assuming your number is 200 lbs as mentioned.) There needs to be some additional…

You likely do need to add calories. Your weight alone suggests you are consuming too few calories and your metabolism is likely very low right now, which would make it even harder to lose some weight. Then, you've got to pay attention to the macros. What is your ratio of carbs, proteins, fats? Then, what is your type of…

Sounds like you're making the most of the situation. Good luck!

One can do thousands of crunches, planks, burpees, oblique exercises, bosu ball, etc. and still not be eating right to expose the abdominal wall. The muscles can be rock solid and still hold a pouch on top. There is NO such thing as an exercise that can target fat in any area.

Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. There are a lot of factors, probably easier served in some one on one discussions.

There are many factors that would influence it, especially given your regimen. Send me a friend request and we can definitely talk.

I've kept 60+ pounds off since I started my own path. I know tracking and using this site is a great first step! It was tracking that really helped me keep control of it. I gained my own freshman 25 (it was not 10) a while ago, but it's gone for good now. :)

You can, but as suggested I would not. I have a Flex as well, and when I tried doing both it got chaotic. I also, though, chose to turn on the FitBit negative calorie option in my settings here, so if it didn't think I was moving enough it took calories away from the lack of exercise which also likely was a challenge. :)

What's your at home program? How long are the workouts? I love working out at home, I finally fired my gym. :D

An interesting story. As someone who has stopped and started so many times in my own wellness, I can totally relate.

Hey Bill, good to meet you. I was at 230 at my largest and have kept 60+ off for a while now. I am glad to hear you've made the first positive steps. Look forward to talking more. Send me a friend request if you like!

Where did you get your P90X? Are you working with a Beachbody coach? I personally am inside the first year after a quadruple bypass. I can definitely understand how it takes some effort to ease back in and to stick with something. Send me a friend request and we can talk?

Believe it or not, I'm eating about 1200 calories a day. It definitely takes some creative eating. Look forward to speaking to you.

Your statement hits the mark. Quality food by volume is so much more food. I have had to start doing my prep on Sunday to help me make it easier. If I don't have to spend a ton of time at the point of the meal chopping veggies, weighing my portions, I'm more likely to eat healthy. If I have to do all that work, I'm likely…

Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. I didn't look at the picture itself, but I know that I've got my own load of laundry on top of my washboard abs and it's because I cannot out work out a bad diet. Are you making the right strides to clean up your eating?

Glad to see you've made the first step on this journey. Tracking has been proven to help you get your fitness and wellness goals on track. What beyond tracking will you be doing? Good to meet you!