Gotta brag, hope you don't mind!

I've been on a 1200 calorie eating plan since early February. My surgeon wanted me to lose 10% of my starting weight (which was 530 lbs). As of yesterday, I have lost 71 lbs, which exceeds the 53 lbs the surgeon asked me to lose. YAY! My HMO requires 10 weeks of pre-surgery classes, and I'm only on Week 3, so I don't expect to have surgery until June at the earliest. I am hoping to lose even more weight before then. I think what is helping me along is exercise. I have mobility issues, but I have committed to exercising the equivalent of one mile per day on my arm bike. It's hard work, and there are days when I'm doing this as I'm pedaling away. I always feel better when I'm done, though, so I hope to be able to stick with it. Thanks for letting me brag! Kix

Hey Kix, That is awesome. Keep up the great work!!! Just think, after all those weeks of classes the rewards will pay big like.. Hugs Marge

Hello Kix, Way to go!!! 71 pounds is awesome. That is something to be proud of. Best wishes on your journey. Take care, Diana 379/175/?

Awesome Kix! May I ask, where did you get the arm bike? Huggs, Ruth

Hi, Ruth: It's a tabletop model called an OxyCycle. It's motorized, so it allows for assisted pedaling if you aren't strong, or it can be pedaled without using the motor for a more rigorous workout. I don't use the motor. It measures reps/kms/calories (I don't consider the calories reliable, though), and also has a timer. It can also be used as a leg exerciser by sitting in a chair and pedaling with your feet, but I haven't used it that way because my thighs are so big I figured the friction of them rubbing together would start a forest fire! I bought mine online at Allegro Medical. It was $100, which is kind of expensive, but I think it's well worth the money spent. Kix

Thanks Kix! I totally understand the thighs = forest fire thing! I have a very hard time with exercise due to mobility, and my hips, knees, and lower back hurt most of the time. I do have a treadmill which is okay. I just need to move the rest of me some how. I simply do not have any energy, and it starting to tick me off. I am not comfortable joining a pool or Y, so that is out for now. Thanks again for the info. I will look into it. Huggs, Ruth

Kix, It is so totally appropriate to share your successes here!!!! We are all in this together. You are doing great! Lori 384/2458/168

Kix, Thank you so much for the update. Congrats to you. I would love to find a 1200 calorie diet plan. So if you would like to share your diet I would be so grateful. As for the arm bike, I had never heard of one. Thank you for the info. I think I will be looking to get one. I surely need all the help that I can get to get exercising. I did the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society over the weekend and I walked nonstop for an hour twice (12am-1am and 5am-6am) with my team and I was so happy with myself. I believe that I did about 50-60 laps total. I timed myself at one time and I was doing a lap every two minutes. I even had some of the students comment on how fast I was walking and that I was making them tired!!!!! Again, Congrats on your weight loss success so far. Erica

Hi, Erica: It's actually a modified Optifast plan -- modified because I get 1200 calories per day instead of 800. Each Optifast packet or bar is 160 calories, so eating 1200 calories means eating every two hours. It's like feeding a newborn! Kix

Thank you for the info! Erica