North reporting here ----

I wish I could do some jogging but I find it painful now. I used to jog and that was my favourite form of exercising until a few years ago when I had a back problem and since then, I'm in pain when I run or jog.

After reading your post this morning, I decided to start going to the gym and today, as my first day, I think I did OK. I spent 25 minutes on the elliptical machine (I kept my heart rate at a low density level so that I burn some fat). I also went to the clinic for a weight in and I'm happy I keep losing weight steady.

As mentioned before, I started the Dr. Bernstein diet last week and I have lost 11 pounds in a week. I want to keep going with the same enthusiasm I have right now and hopefully, I'll keep on track until I reach my goal.

I wish I could be like you guessing my HR when doing cardio as I never guess the correct figure. I need to put my hands down on the sensor!!!

Keep the good work up. Hasta la vista.

Where are you guys? Well, I hope you're having a great week. I'm having a great one myself. I've been good with the diet the past couple of days and I get to see the Doctor tomorrow morning so Im looking forward to that. He's going to talk to me about my blood test results (the ones I had the first day of the diet).

I planned on exercising yesterday but I was so busy with work that I couldn't and my back was also hurting .. I know they're excuses but the realit is that I dont get motivated to exercise. Because of that, I'll keep with the diet and hopefully, I'll get energy to exercise soon!

I'm here ... yesterday something surprising happened. I was feeling good so I decided to increase my bench and to my shock I was able to push up another 5 lbs. 220x6 which is a new PR.

This tells me I can lower caloires. My weight loss is going a little slower than I would like at this point so I'll lower calories a bit.

I've decided to go full boat weight loss for a couple weeks. I'm not sure how long I can keep it up because for me the easiest way to restrict calories is to go very low carb. Unfortunately this also makes me very cranky not to mention hungry. We'll see how long I can last. Usually it only 2-3 days but this time my wife is going out of town ... so if I'm cranky there will be limited damage.

220x6? wow!!! Good for you. As for getting cranky when on low carbs, I can understand. I hope you do well with it.

I went to the clinic Friday morning and I'm happy with the progress so far. I have to go back Monday morning for a weight in and a B6-B12 injection and in the afternoon, I'll get to see the specialist (I think they get you to see an specialist a couple of weeks after you start the dieting to see how things are going.

Last night was a challenge for me as I went to a friends' house party and of course, there was a lot of food and drinks to choose from. I was good in the sense that I didnt eat anything out of my diet and I didnt have to say anything about it. My fav drink is vodka tonic and when I came to the gathering, I had a bottle of vodka but instead of tonic water, I took a bottle of soda water with me. I didn't drink alcohol but since they are used to see me with my 'clear' drink, they assumed I was drinking vodka/tonic.

I'm still having a hard time to get the motivation to exercise but since my calories intake is under control, I don't feel too bad, but I hope to get the motivation soon. A combination of diet and exercise will help me achieve my goal in a better way.

Have a great week and remember you have a ciber friend checking up to see how you're doing and to keep you motivated. Try the low-carb thing for the next couple of weeks and keep me informed on how it goes. Ciao.

It's not a lot of weight by any means but if you consider I was unable to do 10 pushups when I started back in March 2009 I have come a long ways.

The nice thing about going low carb is the big reward the scale gives you the first couple of days. Even though I know most of it is water I was looking at 233 on the scale this morning.

Yesterday I cooked up some hamburger helper without the noodles and 93% lean turkey. I then used it as a meat sauce over grilled chicken breasts.

19 oz of chicken breast + 16 oz of lean turkey + 1 cup of skim milk =

Calories 1,246
fat 44.1
Carbs 12.1
protein 205.5

Granted this is loaded with sodium but I'm not salt sensative. Makes it much easier to choke down all that low fat meat. I had a protein shake on top of that + fish oil and called it a day at about 1450 calories.

I'm officially on a diet break. Wife got really sick. I never get sick but guess what? Now I'm sick.

I might be able to recover while dieting but past experience has told me the best thing to do when I'm sick is to let my body rest as I have gotten extremely ill in the past by trying to push through. A couple days means nothing in the long term.

I'm feeling like tomorrow I'll be better. If so I'm going to lift. Weird to say but I am missing the gym. Never thought I would feel that way.

I hope you're feeling better. You're missing the gym eh? Good for you. That is something I don't miss and I hope one of these days I get the energy to go. I've been good with my diet although today, I was hungry!!!!! I had to be in meetings all morning so I didnt drink enough water during the day and I found myself to be starving in the middle of the afternoon. I'm back at the clinic tomorrow for a urine test and a check-up with the doctor. Keep up the good work JohnP and have a good night.

Workout didn't go great. Didn't go horrible. Still sick ... hoping this isn't a stage five clinger.

Look at it as being 'on a brake'. Don't get discouraged! You know you can do it. I went to the clinic today and I've had a great day! Diet is still going well and I'm surprised I have had the motivation to continue! I have a busy weekend ahead with work. Have a nice one!

Are they giving you some happy drugs? I have to admit I am ejoying your enthusiasm!

Happy drugs? hahahaha - I kow it's not easy but I challenge myself to have a positive outlook on life regardless of the situation and the thing is that I actually am a positive person (at least I try!!). Ciao

well, even with the vegas trip i lost a few lbs and i am down to 259.2 after eating; i guess i didn't need the extra week. i have been letting up on the diet but increasing my activity level. last night i ran in place for about 20 minutes while carrying/lifting a decorative ox yoke. it was kind of silly, but i can be satisfied with pretty much any form of activity as long as i am distracted by something -- i was watching the bulls game.

i am still wary of posting a body pic until there is some noticeable change, but expect that in the coming weeks

one thing i am definitely satisfied with is my ability to not pig out, even when i eat less than healthy foods. for instance, i was out with friends and we stopped by a charhouse type place, and instead of getting a gyro/fries/coke i got a plain mini gyros/soup/water.

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1899/week8i.jpg

i've reached the 2 month mark, and over that span i have lost approximately 12-13 lbs. if you count the 10 days before i officially started the challenge (i was up to 278) i have lost 19 lbs. i am a bit disappointed in the pace, but i am on track to lose my 40 lb goal about 3-4 months before the year end deadline. from a mathematical standpoint i could count on losing the 40 lbs sooner, but i wanted to factor in the likelihood of the weight loss slowing down -- those 30th-40th lbs will be harder to lose than the first 10. i could certainly speed up the weight loss, because my activity level has been pitifully low throughout (on the whole, at least), but i am satisfied with my overall progress.

Hi! I hate to intrude but I was reading the first few posts of this and I have to say that I'm super happy to see that someone else fasts. :]

I'm currently on a water fast for the Lenten season and I just wanted to give my support to you guys. ♥ Keep up the great work.