End of Month update

I haven't posted for the last few weeks with regard to how
things are going for me and weight loss.

As some of you are aware I have been moving through
pre-maintenance getting ready for long term maintenance.
And, at the same time, I decided that I needed to put back
on a bit of muscle, or at least not lose any more muscle
than I already have as I have lost so much weight. So, I've
actually increased my daily calorie intake by an average of
about 300-400 calories per day but have kept my carb levels
fairly steady, still at about 50-60 grams/day. At the same
time (actually about two months ago now) I started a fairly
rigorous weight training program. I've had lots of help
from folks here and have been directed to quite a few
websites and books which have proven to be helpful as well.
Lots of squats, deadlifts, various presses and extensions,
pushups, dips...all free weights, both barbells and
dumbbells. Generally 3 weight sessions per week of about 1
hour each with an additional 2 or 3 1 hour cardio sessions
(depending upon my schedule) to fill in the other days.

Where does this put me? I'm down 2 pounds for this month so
far. I may reach my goal of 3 pounds for the month but this
has not been my focus. (Yes Roger, I am teachable.) What
has been most interesting is what is happening physically.
I've visibly lost fat in my upper body and trimmed off more
fat than I realized or thought I still had in my arms and
legs. I am clearly and visibly adding a bit of muscle in my
arms, chest and legs. Nothing huge but definitely
progress...I have pecs and triceps again. Though my weight
hasn't changed appreciably in the last 8 weeks or so, in
that period I have taken an additional 2 inches off my
waist...I actually went out and finally bought two pairs of
size 30 pants today, down from the 32s I've been wearing
since early in the year. I don't expect to lose any more
size in the waist so I think (hope) I am finally to the
point where I will stop having to buy new clothes every two
months.

My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 months of her goal weight (Same as me actually now that I
think about it :-) She is also hitting the gym with the
same intensity and frequency as am I. We bought her a
couple new outfits today as well; size 6. Ladies, this is
down from size 18 when she and I started this together
September 1st of last year. (Yes, she looks very good;-)

We had a garage sale last month where we sold lots of stuff.
I put out all the clothes I still had which had not yet been
given to Goodwill or otherwise donated, including pants that
ranged in size from 42 down to 34, along with a bunch shirts
now much too large for me. Not too many of the shirts sold
but 100% of the pants were purchased. For some reason this
surprised me.

My chuckle for the week: We've long known that there is a
great deal of variability in the actual size of clothing vs.
the size designated on the label. Several years ago I was
given two very nice silk shirts by a friend who purchased
them for me while on a trip to Thailand. They have been
much too small for me, to the point where they were almost
given away on numerous occasions but were not because they
were gifts. I just started wearing them in the last couple
weeks as they now fit me perfectly. Wear will be limited
because I don't have too many occasions which call for a
silk shirt. What is the chuckle you ask? The sizes marked
on the labels for these shirts is XXXXL.

No new pictures this month. I think I'll take another set
and post them when I reach 179. No reason for that weight
other than it is under 180. In the meantime I am feeling
great and I don't think that I'm looking too bad either :-)

Have a wonderful weekend.

--
JJ.
275/181/175 - as of May 12, 2004
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
Looking for 100 pounds.

Excellent work JJ, both you and your wife!

JJ wrote:
:: I haven't posted for the last few weeks with regard to how
:: things are going for me and weight loss.
::

Well, I made a mistake in this posting that radically
changed the meaning of a sentence. I've re-attached my
posting in its entirety to keep this correction in context.

I wrote:

"My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 months of her goal weight"

I intended to write:

"My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 pounds of her goal weight"

My apologies.

JJ.

JJ wrote:
I haven't posted for the last few weeks with regard to how
things are going for me and weight loss.

As some of you are aware I have been moving through
pre-maintenance getting ready for long term maintenance.
And, at the same time, I decided that I needed to put back
on a bit of muscle, or at least not lose any more muscle
than I already have as I have lost so much weight. So,
I've
actually increased my daily calorie intake by an average
of
about 300-400 calories per day but have kept my carb
levels
fairly steady, still at about 50-60 grams/day. At the
same
time (actually about two months ago now) I started a
fairly
rigorous weight training program. I've had lots of help
from folks here and have been directed to quite a few
websites and books which have proven to be helpful as
well.
Lots of squats, deadlifts, various presses and extensions,
pushups, dips...all free weights, both barbells and
dumbbells. Generally 3 weight sessions per week of about
1
hour each with an additional 2 or 3 1 hour cardio sessions
(depending upon my schedule) to fill in the other days.

Where does this put me? I'm down 2 pounds for this month
so
far. I may reach my goal of 3 pounds for the month but
this
has not been my focus. (Yes Roger, I am teachable.)
What
has been most interesting is what is happening physically.
I've visibly lost fat in my upper body and trimmed off
more
fat than I realized or thought I still had in my arms and
legs. I am clearly and visibly adding a bit of muscle in
my
arms, chest and legs. Nothing huge but definitely
progress...I have pecs and triceps again. Though my
weight
hasn't changed appreciably in the last 8 weeks or so, in
that period I have taken an additional 2 inches off my
waist...I actually went out and finally bought two pairs
of
size 30 pants today, down from the 32s I've been wearing
since early in the year. I don't expect to lose any more
size in the waist so I think (hope) I am finally to the
point where I will stop having to buy new clothes every
two
months.

My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now
within
6 months of her goal weight (Same as me actually now that
I
think about it :-) She is also hitting the gym with the
same intensity and frequency as am I. We bought her a
couple new outfits today as well; size 6. Ladies, this is
down from size 18 when she and I started this together
September 1st of last year. (Yes, she looks very good;-)

We had a garage sale last month where we sold lots of
stuff.
I put out all the clothes I still had which had not yet
been
given to Goodwill or otherwise donated, including pants
that
ranged in size from 42 down to 34, along with a bunch
shirts
now much too large for me. Not too many of the shirts
sold
but 100% of the pants were purchased. For some reason
this
surprised me.

My chuckle for the week: We've long known that there is a
great deal of variability in the actual size of clothing
vs.
the size designated on the label. Several years ago I was
given two very nice silk shirts by a friend who purchased
them for me while on a trip to Thailand. They have been
much too small for me, to the point where they were almost
given away on numerous occasions but were not because they
were gifts. I just started wearing them in the last
couple
weeks as they now fit me perfectly. Wear will be limited
because I don't have too many occasions which call for a
silk shirt. What is the chuckle you ask? The sizes
marked
on the labels for these shirts is XXXXL.

No new pictures this month. I think I'll take another set
and post them when I reach 179. No reason for that weight
other than it is under 180. In the meantime I am feeling
great and I don't think that I'm looking too bad either
:-)

Have a wonderful weekend.

JJ wrote:
:: Well, I made a mistake in this posting that radically
:: changed the meaning of a sentence. I've re-attached my
:: posting in its entirety to keep this correction in context.
::
:: I wrote:
::
:: "My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
:: 6 months of her goal weight"
::
:: I intended to write:
::
:: "My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
:: 6 pounds of her goal weight"
::
:: My apologies.

Both are good!

Your progress have really been an inspiration and help to me.
Congratulations on both your and your wife's success!

--
Linda
296/229/160
LC since Oct. 13, 2003
http://home.att.net/~lewis_linda/index.html
"JJ" wrote in message news:_Oauc.15484$eY2.610@attbi_s02...
I haven't posted for the last few weeks with regard to how
things are going for me and weight loss.

As some of you are aware I have been moving through
pre-maintenance getting ready for long term maintenance.
And, at the same time, I decided that I needed to put back
on a bit of muscle, or at least not lose any more muscle
than I already have as I have lost so much weight. So, I've
actually increased my daily calorie intake by an average of
about 300-400 calories per day but have kept my carb levels
fairly steady, still at about 50-60 grams/day. At the same
time (actually about two months ago now) I started a fairly
rigorous weight training program. I've had lots of help
from folks here and have been directed to quite a few
websites and books which have proven to be helpful as well.
Lots of squats, deadlifts, various presses and extensions,
pushups, dips...all free weights, both barbells and
dumbbells. Generally 3 weight sessions per week of about 1
hour each with an additional 2 or 3 1 hour cardio sessions
(depending upon my schedule) to fill in the other days.

Where does this put me? I'm down 2 pounds for this month so
far. I may reach my goal of 3 pounds for the month but this
has not been my focus. (Yes Roger, I am teachable.) What
has been most interesting is what is happening physically.
I've visibly lost fat in my upper body and trimmed off more
fat than I realized or thought I still had in my arms and
legs. I am clearly and visibly adding a bit of muscle in my
arms, chest and legs. Nothing huge but definitely
progress...I have pecs and triceps again. Though my weight
hasn't changed appreciably in the last 8 weeks or so, in
that period I have taken an additional 2 inches off my
waist...I actually went out and finally bought two pairs of
size 30 pants today, down from the 32s I've been wearing
since early in the year. I don't expect to lose any more
size in the waist so I think (hope) I am finally to the
point where I will stop having to buy new clothes every two
months.

My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 months of her goal weight (Same as me actually now that I
think about it :-) She is also hitting the gym with the
same intensity and frequency as am I. We bought her a
couple new outfits today as well; size 6. Ladies, this is
down from size 18 when she and I started this together
September 1st of last year. (Yes, she looks very good;-)

We had a garage sale last month where we sold lots of stuff.
I put out all the clothes I still had which had not yet been
given to Goodwill or otherwise donated, including pants that
ranged in size from 42 down to 34, along with a bunch shirts
now much too large for me. Not too many of the shirts sold
but 100% of the pants were purchased. For some reason this
surprised me.

My chuckle for the week: We've long known that there is a
great deal of variability in the actual size of clothing vs.
the size designated on the label. Several years ago I was
given two very nice silk shirts by a friend who purchased
them for me while on a trip to Thailand. They have been
much too small for me, to the point where they were almost
given away on numerous occasions but were not because they
were gifts. I just started wearing them in the last couple
weeks as they now fit me perfectly. Wear will be limited
because I don't have too many occasions which call for a
silk shirt. What is the chuckle you ask? The sizes marked
on the labels for these shirts is XXXXL.

No new pictures this month. I think I'll take another set
and post them when I reach 179. No reason for that weight
other than it is under 180. In the meantime I am feeling
great and I don't think that I'm looking too bad either :-)

Have a wonderful weekend.

--
JJ.
275/181/175 - as of May 12, 2004
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
Looking for 100 pounds.

"JJ" wrote:

Well, I made a mistake in this posting that radically
changed the meaning of a sentence. I've re-attached my
posting in its entirety to keep this correction in context.

I wrote:

"My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 months of her goal weight"

I intended to write:

"My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 pounds of her goal weight"

That makes a whole lot of difference! Way to go, you two! I'm very
happy for you!

~ ~ ~ ~
Sh0rtcircuit (Deb)
Clean out the junk.

Started LC 04/03/04
Me: 186/156.5/100 5'0"
Gunny: 280/233/180 5'11"
========
"Keep on keepin' on!"
[My Dad, 8/13/10-12/1/94.
His memory lives on.]

JJ,

Do you mind posting your workout routine, with reps and weights? I've
started earnestly trying to work out, and--while having fun--i'm not sure if
I'm pushing myself hard enough or targetting areas properly. Also, you and I
seem to have um...."room for improvement" in the same areas, so advice is
welcome ;-)

Richard
247/204/180


"JJ" wrote in message news:_Oauc.15484$eY2.610@attbi_s02...
I haven't posted for the last few weeks with regard to how
things are going for me and weight loss.

As some of you are aware I have been moving through
pre-maintenance getting ready for long term maintenance.
And, at the same time, I decided that I needed to put back
on a bit of muscle, or at least not lose any more muscle
than I already have as I have lost so much weight. So, I've
actually increased my daily calorie intake by an average of
about 300-400 calories per day but have kept my carb levels
fairly steady, still at about 50-60 grams/day. At the same
time (actually about two months ago now) I started a fairly
rigorous weight training program. I've had lots of help
from folks here and have been directed to quite a few
websites and books which have proven to be helpful as well.
Lots of squats, deadlifts, various presses and extensions,
pushups, dips...all free weights, both barbells and
dumbbells. Generally 3 weight sessions per week of about 1
hour each with an additional 2 or 3 1 hour cardio sessions
(depending upon my schedule) to fill in the other days.

Where does this put me? I'm down 2 pounds for this month so
far. I may reach my goal of 3 pounds for the month but this
has not been my focus. (Yes Roger, I am teachable.) What
has been most interesting is what is happening physically.
I've visibly lost fat in my upper body and trimmed off more
fat than I realized or thought I still had in my arms and
legs. I am clearly and visibly adding a bit of muscle in my
arms, chest and legs. Nothing huge but definitely
progress...I have pecs and triceps again. Though my weight
hasn't changed appreciably in the last 8 weeks or so, in
that period I have taken an additional 2 inches off my
waist...I actually went out and finally bought two pairs of
size 30 pants today, down from the 32s I've been wearing
since early in the year. I don't expect to lose any more
size in the waist so I think (hope) I am finally to the
point where I will stop having to buy new clothes every two
months.

My wife continues to do remarkably well. She is now within
6 months of her goal weight (Same as me actually now that I
think about it :-) She is also hitting the gym with the
same intensity and frequency as am I. We bought her a
couple new outfits today as well; size 6. Ladies, this is
down from size 18 when she and I started this together
September 1st of last year. (Yes, she looks very good;-)

We had a garage sale last month where we sold lots of stuff.
I put out all the clothes I still had which had not yet been
given to Goodwill or otherwise donated, including pants that
ranged in size from 42 down to 34, along with a bunch shirts
now much too large for me. Not too many of the shirts sold
but 100% of the pants were purchased. For some reason this
surprised me.

My chuckle for the week: We've long known that there is a
great deal of variability in the actual size of clothing vs.
the size designated on the label. Several years ago I was
given two very nice silk shirts by a friend who purchased
them for me while on a trip to Thailand. They have been
much too small for me, to the point where they were almost
given away on numerous occasions but were not because they
were gifts. I just started wearing them in the last couple
weeks as they now fit me perfectly. Wear will be limited
because I don't have too many occasions which call for a
silk shirt. What is the chuckle you ask? The sizes marked
on the labels for these shirts is XXXXL.

No new pictures this month. I think I'll take another set
and post them when I reach 179. No reason for that weight
other than it is under 180. In the meantime I am feeling
great and I don't think that I'm looking too bad either :-)

Have a wonderful weekend.

--
JJ.
275/181/175 - as of May 12, 2004
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
Looking for 100 pounds.

RT wrote:
JJ,

Do you mind posting your workout routine, with reps and
weights? I've
started earnestly trying to work out, and--while having
fun--i'm not
sure if I'm pushing myself hard enough or targetting areas
properly.
Also, you and I seem to have um...."room for improvement"
in the same
areas, so advice is welcome ;-)

Richard
247/204/180

Are you using a real e-mail address here. If so I'll e-mail
this info.

--
JJ.

Just remove the "carbs" part from address :-)


"JJ" wrote in message news:vmduc.16306$eY2.828@attbi_s02...
RT wrote:
JJ,

Do you mind posting your workout routine, with reps and
weights? I've
started earnestly trying to work out, and--while having
fun--i'm not
sure if I'm pushing myself hard enough or targetting areas
properly.
Also, you and I seem to have um...."room for improvement"
in the same
areas, so advice is welcome ;-)

Richard
247/204/180

Are you using a real e-mail address here. If so I'll e-mail
this info.

--
JJ.

Congratulations to both of you!

Carol
--
Fasting BG 150
227/223/150 (official weigh-day: Thursday)
Bernstein 5/25/2004
Diabetes Dx 5/15/2001
Diet, Exercise, Oral Medication