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Brandi: I just read the whole thread beginning back in August, and I am very proud of you! I lost 115 pounds in 2004, and I know you can do it. I am a bit concerned, however, about your exercise goals. The issue is sustaining that desire.When I started, I weighed 283 pounds, and the best I could manage was 20 minutes on the treadmill three days a week. Just moving the weight you are carrying is great exercise. The bike can become monotonous, just as the treadmill did for me. Get youself some exercise tapes for variety. Change it up: do the bike one day, and the tapes the next. The important thing is to MOVE. The exercise is offering you two benefits: first (and foremost), the aerobics is good for your cardiovascular system. It gets your blood oxegenated and moving, which will lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Second, you will burn calories. Notice I said "second" for the calorie burning. You are eating a lot less calories, so jumping in and pushing as hard as humanly possible is not necessary to get the "First" job done. Does that make sense? There is time enough to gradually add time to your biking and other exercise sessions. Consistency and variety will help goose up your routine.
I was mostly sedentary when I started at JC in 2004. I had 2 greyhounds at the time, and I wasn't working, so I used them to supplement my planned activity of the treadmill, and I walked them A LOT. They even got where they hated seeing me with the leash! (Just kidding - just put on a fanny pack around a greyhound and they are ready to go!)
I hope my comments help you a bit. I was just concerned if you accelerated things too quickly, you would do what most men end up doing: full bore, all out, followed by nothing. I saw my late husband do that many, many times. Just be consistent. You will be (AND ARE) great!
LOVE, JILL
