Sue, what happened? I didn't even know you were sick. Hope you are feeling better. I hope you get good results as well on your tests. I go in tomorrow for my physical. I went back to the doctor last week that I used to go to years ago before we moved away. It was funny to see her look at my chart, then look back at me, and then look back at her chart. Then she asked, "did you have gastric bypass surgery?" I just smiled, and said, "no, why do you ask?" LOL Anyway, I do the blood tests tomorrow, so I will be anxious to see where my numbers are as well.

Thanks Andrea! You are doing so great with the running. I am really proud of you. Probably is the extra muscle that you are building! I hope you have a fabulous time on ICE. I am anxious to hear all about it.

You're all awesome!!!!!

I will be sure to let you know my test results...I have a feeling this will be one time I will be happy to share them! ;)

Don see the thread Wes posted last week about my all inclusive hospital stay! I feel I am getting stronger each day - I am anxious to get back to my walking, but it will take some time. :cool:

What a hoot about your doctor visit! :app:

Andrea enjoy your cruise and stay warm!

Glad your feeling better Sue. Hospitals are certainly no fun.

Andrea, that's great about your running. I've never enjoyed running and respect anyone who can do it. It's kind of odd that I can spend hours on a bike, but can't run to the end of the street and back without feeling like my heart is going to explode. Maybe once I get in better shape it won't seem that bad. 1.5 miles is terrific. I'm jealous of your trip on ICE. That trip is high on my list of things to do.

My training is going well. Lost 2 pounds last week. My body is in a state of total confusion. It's trying to react to the changes, even though I'm trying to introduce them slowly. I think the worst part is finding out how bad I really am. We had a group indoor training session last Saturday and I really floundered. The coach was very positve and encouraging, but it was still depressing. I didn't think I was that bad. Lots of reality checks going on inside. We both still think my goal of a century ride on June 1 is attainable.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Dave

Don, they say the last few pounds are the worst. I've not been that close in a very long time so you'll have to let us know what it takes to finally shed them. When you look back at what you've accomplished over the last year or so, you've got to be inspired to finish it off. It's like the last lap at Indy.

I did get my results back from my physical, but I am a little confused about what the doctor said.

I just got the results of my physical this week.

The Results:
Resting Heart Rate 66 (which is really low. It represents that I am getting pretty fit)
Blood Pressure 120/80 (pretty good)
Measured High Ketone levels in my urine. Which meant that I was in ketosis, when they did the physical. The doctor wasn't really concerned. She thought it was because of fasting before the physical, but I also know that my low carb intake also lends itself to higher ketone levels, because I am primarily burning fat for fuel.

Here is the dilema and I am not sure, why this is an issue, but then I am not a doctor.

Triglycerides = 69 (in the optimal range)
LDL (bad cholesterol) = 124 (in the near optimal range)
HDL (good cholesterol) = 85 (in the optimal range)
Total cholesterol = 223 (in the borderline high range)

How do you go from being in the optimal to near optimal range in all categories, but when it is figured together, end up with borderline high cholesterol??? The doctor recommended cutting out red meat, eggs, and limiting saturated fats and to come back and see her in three months to see if the numbers improved, but I am puzzled. I thought these numbers looked great! Am I missing something???

Don I would take your "near optimal" levels any day. I am still waiting for my results. I think you should not worry about it and keep doing what you are doing! :)

Thanks Sue! I hope yours turns out great.
I agree with you, that I just need to continue doing what I am doing. Even if the total number is high, the rest of the numbers do not support making a change in my diet that is working in every other way. Gee, if my total cholesterol is high because my HDL (good cholesterol) is high, isn't that actually a good thing?

OK, this is the High Cholesterol Kid (LOL) reporting in.

Last week I experienced one of those giant whooshies on weight loss. After gaining 1 lb from the week before, I got really serious. I lowered my calories each day to between 1800 and 1900 (which was about 500 calories below what I averaged the week before), I cut my carb intake back to 70 net (trying to get at least 30 grams of fiber in per day), I concentrated on keeping my percentages of fat intake, protein intake, and carb intake at maintenance levels, and I upped my exercise time to 1 hour per day getting in about 15 miles each day on the bike.

Drum roll please.....

I lost a whopping 5 lbs last week and am now only 5 lbs away from my goal weight and have lost a total of 151 lbs!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Don - how wonderful! Next summer you'll be scaling to the top of all the peaks around Vail on foot. No more gondola rides for you. :woh:

You are amazing Don and thanks for taking us along on your journey -

Don that is truly amazing! WAY TO GO!!!! :app:

I got a call from my family doctor today and was flabbergasted and very thankful for what he had to tell me.

Here are my results from Feb. 2007 and now from this past week:

Total cholesterol in Feb 2007 214 - today 168

HDL (good cholesterol) in 2/2007 37 - today 40 (normal is 40 or above)

LDL (bad cholesterol) in 2/2007 I don’t recall exact # but it was the high 100's - today 98 (well within normal)

Triglycerides 2/2007 419 - today 148 (normal is under 190). I lowered my triglycerides almost 300 points in one year!!!

My doc said to keep up what I am doing i.e. eating right, walking the 5 miles/day and taking the supplements my wellness doctor has me on. He said we was so happy for me and also very surprised since I take no Rx meds to lower these things.

I feel like dancing!!! :ch: <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" />

Thanks guys!

Sue, what a fantastic turnaround! Great job!!! Isn't it amazing what eating right and exercise can do?

Thanks Don! Between you, Andrea and my Wellness Doc I have to say THANKS because you two really were an inspiration to me and my doctor never gave up on me - he had faith in me! :)

Sue, you sure know how to make me feel special, but if it weren't for all the support that we have all gotten here, it would have been impossible to do! I appreciate everyones support so much! :lct:

Time for the weekly update. Down another pound this week. Now I have FOUR MORE POUNDS to go! Down a total of 152 pounds since I started (actually 190 lbs from my absolute heaviest weight).

It probably would have been more except for starting back with my weight workouts (adding some muscle), the midweek birthday celebration for Diana (added some wine), and of course an awesome Super Bowl game yesterday (where I added some extra snacking)! ;)

How did everyone else do?

Don that is great! :app: I did ok - stayed the same, but I don't want to take off any more lbs. so I have to just make sure to maintain now! ;)

Pinch me somebody! Is this for real???

I have one more pound to go! I lost another 3 pounds last week and I just can't believe it! I have lost 155 lbs in 1 1/2 years! I am one inch away from wearing the same size pants that I wore in high school and more importantly I didn't have to starve myself to do this. It was just learning what to eat and what to avoid, so now I can maintain without fear of putting it back on.

Last week I went out and bought a new tux for our Valentines Day murder mystery fund raiser that we are sponsoring. I grabbed a jacket off the rack that I thought would fit. Nope! Too big! Then a second, and then a third, and then a fourth, before I found one that was actually small enough! I thought, well the jacket fits, but they will probably have to let out the pants! Nope! They fit perfectly! Only had to hem the pant legs!

I hope that last pound disappears and I am at goal when I actually wear it to the murder mystery this Thursday night! It could be a double celebration! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Wow Don! What a fantastic accomplishment!

Congratulations! :app: :app:

Don that is truly fantastic! I have tears in my eyes reading your post! God Bless You on your accomplishment!!! :hug:

Be sure to post a pic of you and Diana after your murder mystery dinner!!

Thanks Kathy and Sue! I will post a picture sometime this weekend.

I am still holding onto that last pesky pound. Maybe tomorrow will be the day and it will be a doubly Happy Vallentines Day!

I was just thinking of how supportive everyone here has been and how long the journey has been and this song by the Hollies came to mind.

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return (never going back)
While we're on the way to there
Why not share :lct:

(and now my own words)
And the load
No longer weighs me down at all
I ain't heavy, I've lost my blubber!!! :D

I love your version of song, Don - you should be so proud of yourself and thanks for sharing your 18 month journey - :app: :app: :app: :app:

Don great song! :app:

Well, it is official! I hit my targeted GOAL weight this morning!!! :chicken: :chicken: :chicken:

It took 18 months of diligent work to do it, losing 156 lbs in the process, but I am finally there. Now the real work begins. Maintaining this weight for the rest of my life. However, I didn't just learn how to LOSE weight in the past 18 months, I learned how to actually eat and what foods actually made me fat to begin with.

Happy Valentines Day to all. I know for me, that this one will be extra special.

Congrats Don!!!!!

:woh:

Nancy

Oh Don! What a thrill! Guilt has kept me away but something told me to take a look today. Congrats to you, what an accomplishment!
--------------------
Helen

:banana: Way to go Don - what a wonderful gift you gave to yourself and Diana!

Wow Don, congratulations! Your stick-to-itness is amazing, let's hope it rubs off on my poor self soon.

Don, would you care to share some of your strategies? Have you been following a specific plan all these months?

Oh, and a new pic is in order soon, right?!

Don, that is FANTASTIC, I am so happy for you!

Thanks y'all. You have all been so great and supportive. I don't think I could have done it without all your encouragement.

Wendy, I have been doing a low carbohydrate diet. In particular I have cut out refined sugars and easily digestible carbohydrates and any that have lots of starch. Early on I had to really limit the amount in order to break my addiction. Then I gradually added back in certain foods to find out how I reacted. I pretty stick with whole grains, and high fiber veggies, berries, and fruits that are low glycemic. I keep my net carbs at between 50 and 100. I really think that the problem that most people have with weight is related to raising insulin levels which in turn makes us store fat. I just got through reading Gary Taubes book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" and it is a real eye opener.

Anyway, here is the picture of me at my goal weight.

Look at you! That is fantastic
------------
Helen

Don you look 30 yrs old!!!! A true accomplishment :app: :app: :app: :app:

Don,

The photo truly leaves me speechless,
compared to one of the earliest ones!!! It's mind-boggling to me that you've done this. Such discipline - I'm envious!

The word Congratulations is truly inadequate in your case, but I offer it and many to you!!

Don I, too, am at a loss for words! You are a person who has a huge amount of determination and drive to achieve something of this magnitude! :app: :hug:

Absolutely amazing Don.......you should be on a TV or magazine Ad. I've never known anyone to lose as much weight as you. Congratulations!!!!! We're all so proud of you!

Wow Don, I would not have recognized you at all!

I have been low-carbing for years. I don't eat sugar, white flour, high-glycemic fruits. I know the glycemic index intimately. But weight-loss eludes me, and I know why. My portion sizes are too large, I overdo the "good" carbs, and I cheat with alcohol--I often have 2 glasses of wine a night, sometimes more--not good. It's complicated by the fact that my fibre requirements are high, can't do without lots of fibre.

Also, I'm a woman, and I'm convinced it's tougher for us, especially as we get older. And with our move coming up, I haven't been exercising regularly. Once we're settled into our new place, I'm going to take this head-on.

Don you are a real inspiration!

Wendy, It is definately tougher for women. The male metabolism just burns it faster than womens. Exercise is also key. It definately boosts the metabolism. While I didn't pay too much attention to calorie intake, I did keep track and found that I ranged somewhere between 2000 and 2800 calories per day during the time that I lost weight. I started out for the first few weeks keeping my net carb intake under 20 carbs then raised it each week adding 5 additional carbs and gradually got up to about 100. My weight loss then started to slow, so I backed it back down again to about 70 net carbs and it accelerated again. So that is pretty much the range that I know I can stay in without gaining weight.

Also, here is a side by side shot. Kind of a before and after pose.

Wow Don! I met you about halfway through I guess. Just keep up the good work and the exercise, that's all I can say. You look fabulous!

Thanks Wendy! I think when we met on SAND, I had lost about 40 lbs at that point. Of course, that week didn't help my diet any, but we sure had fun!