Rachael, you CAN! You can do it - if I can - anyone can!!



Phil, it's cute. The one thing my boys have said came from my oldest. I asked him what he thought and he said "When we play...you can CATCH us now!!!" They all like it that when we play tag I'll actually play - and am a force to be reckoned with!

I wouldn't say you're making excuses. You're working and you're the mom of two - you're probably TIRED! I had four c's myself (four boys in six years) so I understand! But you will feel Soooooooo much better if you conquer this! Is there something you like to do - fitness wise - that will motivate you to get moving?



One program that is really cool is podfitness, where you mix workouts with your own music and put them on your ipod. That can help make it more fun so that you'll enjoy it more.



What you have to do is make it an addiction. My friend that is staying with me exercised six days in a row last week for the first time in her life...she's starting to get really hooked! After a few weeks of "suffering" through making yourself workout, I promise you'll start to crave it. Combine that with healthy food and the battle is WON!!!

Thank you!! It's been six months since I posted that. I have actually lost a little more (7 or 8 pounds) and gained a LOT of muscle.



And to belatedly answer Jennifer's questions. Yes, I do have loose skin. Being overweight for that long - plus FOUR pregnancies will do that. But it doesn't affect my appearance unless I'm, well, unclothed. Yes, I do weight training - I LOVE it!

Oh - and even when I was losing, I was eating 1700-1800 a day in healthy foods. And I lost 80 pounds in about ten months.

I'm 5'2" and my BMR is around 1300. However, with the amount of exercise I do I need at LEAST 2300 calories a day just to maintain my body weight of 126. (and that's a very muscled 126) I actually lost 2.4 pounds that I didn't want to lose this last week because I've kicked up my fitness regime and didn't manage to eat enough.



If you're not losing what you want, I would suggest increasing your workout intensity over cutting more calories. And make sure every calorie counts nutritionally.

Here's a tip! Help someone else!!



I hit my goal back in May - and although I've kept on with my healthy eating and exercise, things were getting a bit stale. What with the business of life and all, I was mainly exercising just to mentally check that box and I wasn't pushing myself.



Well - now I have a friend from London living with me for the next three months - and one of the reasons for her visit is so I can help her lose weight. Since I can't fairly ask her to push herself without setting the example, I have kicked my workouts UP UP UP!! I dropped 2.4 pounds this week (which I don't really need to lose, actually) and have seen another jump in my fitness level. Plus it's just more fun working out with someone else!!



So look around and see who you can help and encourage!! The web is good - but live and in person is better!

Does anybody know what major surgery and recovery does to the metabolism. I mean, I'm nine days post op - still a long way from being able to exercise or even walk around much - but I'm as hungry as I was pre-surgery when I was doing serious cardio and weights and I've dropped a few pounds. I don't want to gain during my downtime, of course. But neither do I want to short my body on what it needs to heal.



Any words of wisdom out there?

I just found out on Friday that I have a Spigelian hernia. Who knew that one of the benefits of developing rock hard abs would be discovering that?! It's on my side - about 2 inches from my belly button and I'm having surgery next month.



Here's my question - does anyone know how much I should curtail my workout regime BEFORE the surgery? I normally do arm weights three days a week, abs three days a week, leg work about five days a week, and cardio six days a week.



I also dance around the house with my iPod a LOT. With lots of twisting.



Anybody have any input or advice??

One of my favorite subjects!



Now you're not going to believe me, but this first recipe is fan-double-tastic. My husband, who firmly declared, "I HATE Brussels Sprouts" is now converted - as are many other veggie haters on my weight loss site



Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic



And another shocker:



Roasted Radishes with Soy



mmmmm I think I'll make that today!



My favorite asparagus recipe:

Roasted Asparagus with sesame and soy



And here's one I love so much that I can't make it too often. Can you say binge?



Edamame with Scallions and Sesame



and for a junk food kind of taste



Parmesan Zucchini Sticks



Now true, none of these are exactly quick snacky. Though leftovers of the brussels sprouts or edamame do well in the microwave. But personally, I'm a fan of slices of squash, zucchini, and radishes dipped in hummus. Just don't eat too much hummus. It's high fat - though pretty good fat.



YAY veggies!!

Oh trust me - that was not a normal night for me. I generally get about 7 hours. But my hubby was gone and the house alarm went off at 4... Well - I wasn't sure if someone was trying to break in or what - so I just turned on the coffee and stayed up.



Wouldn't you?



Anyway. Back on normal sleeping patterns! Thanks!



And no worries Cindy. I'm a hardcore South Beacher. I haven't touched white flour or white sugar in almost a year!



When I binge, I binge on roasted Brussels Sprouts or some Edamame with scallions and sesame. Mmmmmm.

And get up at 4am...



Do you get extra calories for the day?



I mean seriously, doesn't it seem like there oughta be an extra meal in there somewhere?



Especially if you still do your cardio, hanging onto the treadmill as your eyes droop shut...



$%^$^%$ alarm system.

As many of you may remember from my before and after pics- I've gone from a size 20 (or more) to a size 4/6. I've lost 80 pounds, and gained plenty of muscle. Basically, fitness-wise and looks wise - I'm there. And the numerous compliments I get seem to back me up on this.



BUT my eyeballs still think I'm fat!! I look in the mirror and still see someone who is chunky. No worries- I'm not anorexic. I eat 1600 or more calories a day and enjoy it! But I feel fat.



Those of you who have made this journey...how long did it take before your view of yourself matched what others could see?

Claudia: "Blest... I LOVE that you were in the store dressed to the nines picking out your gear!"



Oh yeah. Since I hit goal I have become quite the fashionista! Besides, I sell jewelry so I have to dress to wear it so hopefully I'll get business! One of the great things about being smaller is that I can find cool stuff to wear at Goodwill!



By the way, I totally understand about how having twins can make it harder to get in shape. I've got four boys myself - nine and under. It's not nearly as easy to make all the right choices when you're responsible for people other than yourself who barely let you eat at all somedays! (let alone get a shower!) But you can do it! I never thought I would do it. But it's DONE! If I can, you can!!!

Imagine this: Short chick in a wine colored sleeveless dress with olive shoes and cool hair (if I say so myself! )...standing in the sports section at Wal Mart with her iPod on doing presses and curls with hand weights at 8something at night...



Yeah. I was getting some funny looks.



But I had to make sure the new weight was right....

It seems counterintuitive, but I agree with Jared. Eating is good. And the more intense your workouts, the more you will need fuel!



We did an exercise on my group site where everyone counted calories for one day. I eat more than anyone on the site (at least when they are following their diets. I don't eat more than someone on a binge of course) - and yet I'm the most consistent loser. Gotta feed the furnace, dontcha know.

Honey, as one mom to another, go to the doctor ASAP. Do it for those babies. They need a healthy mommy and you do NOT want to pass on bad habits to that darling girl in the photo.



Hugs from me to you!

Oh I totally agree with the high-intensity exercise mentality. I firmly believe that constantly pushing myself harder in my workouts has gotten me where I am...of course, it's also gotten me sore knees - but that's another story.



(and it wasn't never your info that got brushed off - t'was your tone)

A kickboxing knitter...Hmmm. Combine the two and you'll invent a whole new (and dangerous) sport. Hey! I bet that would get him out really fast!!

Looks to me like you need more protein. But then, I'm a high protein person by nature - even before I started eating right.

Two super healthy oatmeal cookies (No sugar. Sweetened only with bananas) and a splash of milk in my third cup of coffee before my workout. Two soy sausage links (Morningstar Farms - delish!) and a small Granny Smith apple after my workout.



Most days I start the morning off with one super-yummy oat muffn They make me VERY happy.

Jared - that is the best comment I've seen you write. Balanced. Calm. Not a hint of arrogance or disdain. I agree with all that you said - and how you said it.



I personally LIKE Drill Instructors, though. But then, I am married to a Marine.

I know I've said this before but I highly recommed HOBBIES. I make and sell jewelry. Evenings are my primo time to work because I can put on MY movies and be free from little hands. You can't eat and craft - you'll get stuff on your work!



Plus, a hobby gives you an outlet for the impulse shopping other than food. Instead of going out to buy junk food, you can be shopping for tools or supplies for your new habit.

I was pondering while I worked out today... You know who the best trainers are/would be? People like ME. People who have learned how to work hard, eat right, and get results - but who have been in the valley of obesity and understand the challenges. Knowledge is great. Enthusiasm is great. Confidence (not to be confused with arrogance) is great. But a little humility and compassion goes a long way toward being able to help people.

And not to gang up on ya, Jared, but why would you make abrasiveness a goal? I'm genuinely curious. I mean, trust me, I can be snarky with the best of them...(way more than you actually, cause I'm a hormone-crazed maniac with four small boys who NEVER stop making noise and I don't drink or take tranquilizers... ) but what good does that do? Speaking the truth - or what you perceive as the truth - without rancor takes a whole lot more skill than being harsh.



I don't think you're all that bad, mind you, but you do make me blink on occasion.

Well...really you shouldn't go to the stylist that did the stylist's hair! Actually, they tend to have bad hair because they are always experimenting.



ANYWAY.



Hmmm. I wouldn't want an out-of-shape trainer. A trainer needs to be both able to teach and to motivate. If they can't motivate themselves, I don't see how they can motivate me! But let's face it - the important thing in a Dr. is what they know - not what they do. And many of those in the "caring" professions have a hard time caring for themselves. I'm much more concerned with how well my Doc listens (cause most of 'em don't) than how well he/she eats.

Here is the Asian Meatball Recipe.



You know Jennifer, you could use this for an appetizer as well, just wrap individual meatballs in pieces of lettuce and secure with a toothpick...

Well... don't knock turkey burgers! Here's my hands down fave... Open Faced Turkey Burgers on Portobello Buns



Also, Asian Meatballs in Lettuce Cups is a good one from the new South Beach Summer Cookbook. I'll get it typed up on my website and link it later today.

What a great group! Thanks again everyone!!

Hola from El Paso, neighbor!!

If you can have whole grains, then I highly recommend my Tomato Triscuit Treats .



Otherwise, Parmesan Zucchini Sticks are seriously yummy.