OurBodyTransformations

Every year we sit down and think about what we’ve done in the past year, and then we look forward to the new year.  We set resolutions for ourselves.  Many of these resolutions will be forgotten before the end of the year.  I want to help you keep your weight loss goals this year.  All you have to do is commit to the change.

Write down your goal.

Do you want to lose weight?  If so put a specific number down.

Do you want to be healthier?  If so, what measure are you going to use to figure out if you have become healthier?

All you have to do is write down your goal and share it with me.  I’ll do anything it takes to help you make that goal.  That’s what this site is all about.  We all pitch in together to make it to our goals.  We hold each other up when we make it.  We hold each other accountable when we don’t.

You don’t even have to ask us to join.  Just write down your goal here, in the comments, and you’re in!  I’ll start.

I want to run a marathon.  I don’t care how long it takes me.  My goal is to run one.  This year.

How do I plan on getting there?

I’m going to start by running a 5k.  Then I’ll find a 10 k, and then a half-marathon, and then one full marathon.  I’m going to get there.  I have my friends who will help me get there.  In turn I can only hope my goals, and my struggles will work on them, and they’ll use me as inspiration in their goals.

All of our work becomes reinforcing.  Together we will make it, together we can’t fail.

Just write your goals here…we’ll do it together!

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I’ve been off the diet portion of my journey for about eight months now.  I’m at the same weight, same pant size, same everything for all that time.  It’s been a learning curve, honestly.  I’ve had to learn how to re-introduce some foods back into my “normal” eating.

I had to learn how to bring starches back into my diet….I can remember what they do to me if I consume too much starch.

I still feel like I need to go to the gym daily, though I have learned that 3 days a week is enough to make a difference.

I guess the one thing I’d like to share with the world is you can lose weight and keep it off.  I was afraid once the weight came off, it would go back on, but after 6 months, I’m starting to think the change in my lifestyle will stick.  Maybe I don’t have to be so afraid of losing what I’ve accomplished.

Don’t get me wrong, I refuse to get over confident about it.  I’m absolutely positive I could get into a situation where I stop eating right, where I stop exercising, where I do lose it all, but having my friends around me really helps.  I know we’ve all gone through this together, and we’re all there for each other, for both encouragement, and to call each other out when we do something stupid.

I formally swear off chicken cheese-steaks for as long as I live.  One slip was enough!

For those of you who are still on the side lines… what are you waiting for?  A written invitation?

That’s what this site is.  A personal invitation for you to make the change.  You can be healthy!  You can lose weight!  You can do absolutely anything you put your mind to.

We want to be there for you.  We want to help you make the change that we have made (and some are still making).

Are you ready?

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This past Friday, I had the chance to go and visit Dr. Marlowe.  This time I was working with him on understanding how to use his website more effectively.  But we were talking about what he wanted his website to do for him.  We also spoke about this site too.  During that conversation he mentioned he had read studies that indicated that those people who lost weight quickly were actually more likely to keep the weight off.

We both had thought that those who took the “normal” amount of time to lose weight would be more likely to keep it off.  Then he shared some insight as to why this may be.

Those who lose the weight quickly have an easier time of seeing what they can gain from the weight loss.

It’s easier for them to notice gains in energy, mood, romance, etc.

When they see the things they gain, they can then see what they have to lose if they revert to their old, unhealthy relationship with food.  This really seemed to track with what I’ve been feeling.  I really to have a fear of going back.  It’s one of the things that drives me to work out as hard as I can, as often as I can.

I don’t want to lose the ability to do chin-ups and pull-ups.

I don’t want the ability to go rock climbing.

I don’t want to get winded when I go out walking.

I don’t want to lose the way my wife looks at me.

Now, it’s time I asked you a tough question.  Think back to a time in your life when you are healthy, or at least healthier than you are now… What have you lost?

Are you willing to work to get that back?

If you have lost some weight, what have you gained?

Are you willing to lose it?

The fear of losing something, or the realization you have already lost something can be a motivation to get up and make the changes you need to.

I’m here telling you, you have it in you to make that change…do it now!

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I have to say finding the motivation to make a change in your life is way harder than actually making the change.  I know it has been for me.  It’s been just almost a year since I found my original motivation to change.  Seeing the words “morbidly obese” apply to me really struck home.  It may take something more for you to find yours.

It could be you’re a new parent, and you realize you need to take care of yourself so that you’ll be there for your kid as long as possible.  You don’t want your weight to keep you from spending time with him or her.

It could be you notice you get winded when you go up a flight of stairs.

It could be you see your friends making a change, and you think “If they can do it, so can I!”

I don’t know what it will take for you to find your motivation to change, but you must find it.  It may sound like empty words to you now, but once you find that motivation, you can do it! Every contributor on this site has done it.  We will stand behind you and cheer you on.  We will be there when you’re feeling down, we can help lift you back up.

And don’t think that after you hit your goal you can just stop.  After you hit that first goal, make another!  I Hit my first goal after 6 months, so I set another goal: 20% body fat.  20% is the upper limit of “Healthy”.

I hit that this month!  My next goal…. 15%  That will put me into the “Fit” category.  Who would have ever thought I could be called Fit?

If you’re having a hard time making a change, and you haven’t found your motivation.  Talk with me.  We’ll find it together.  I’m ending this post like I end all the posts on my SQL site.

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Another stir fry recipe to enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound soba noodles
• 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup thinly sliced zucchini
• 1 cup thinly sliced yellow squash
• 3 medium portobello mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
• 2 cups sliced green onions (white and pale green parts, about 2 small bunches)
• 3/4 cup diced tomato
• 12 cups loosely packed spinach
• Fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish

In large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Meanwhile in small bowl, mix sauce ingredients, set aside.  When water boils, add noodles and stir to prevent sticking. Cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat large wok over high heat. Add oil, then garlic. Immediately add all other vegetables except spinach. Stir-fry 1 minute. Add Spinach and stir-fry until spinach is wilted and vegetables are crisp-tender.

Drain noodles and add to wok with sauce. Cook, tossing constantly, until sauce is almost absorbed, about 3 minutes. Transfer to serving platter and garnish with cilantro. Serve right away. Makes 4 servings.

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It’s been a while since I’ve added anything motivational.  I know there are at least five of you out there who have started your journey towards getting healthy.  I’ve heard a few of you talk about your progress too!  I’d like to invite you to share your stories here.

You can stay anonymous if you’d like, or you can come right out and introduce yourself.  I’ve seen how my change has affected others to make a change.  Think about it.  Your change could influence even more.

This is your chance to help others by doing something as simple as sharing a story, or commenting on another’s story.

I’d also like to invite you to subscribe to the RSS feed, it’s the orange icon at the end of the address in your web browser.  Subscribing will make our stories come straight to you as soon as they’re published.  No muss, no fuss.  You can also subscribe to the feed via Google reader.  I like using Google to keep up with all my feeds since it automatically downloads all my feeds to one place, and I can check in from work, home, or on the go.  Again, easy!

I look forward to hearing from you!  Let us know how you’re progressing.  Let us know about your struggles!  We’re all in this together!

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Hey guys you all have inspired to begin my own journey toward health…. I began in March after seeing that the scales would not even weigh me!!!! It was so scary to know that at one point in time I was playing college baseball and running upwards of 3-4 miles a day and now I was embarrassed to walk around the beach with no shirt on. I was ashamed for my two little kids to see me even trying to play in the backyard with them without getting winded… I was eating everything in sight, sitting behind a desk and doing nothing. I was constantly sick and tired and aches and pains were never at a loss… I have only begun my journey and a place like this is a good way to surround yourself with others on the same path… My journey began at over 315lbs and morbidly obese…. I am now at 240 lbs and still working toward a goal but its now in sight and doable… But it all began with a decision of ” it can’t be this way”…. Myself and my family deserves more!!!!

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