It has been only 2 weeks of being truly consistent with exercise and i'm seeing results. A routine really is necessary to get back to it though; otherwise I can find excuses/ rationalizations...I didn't start losing weight till I took out the sugar and refined carbs (not the complex ones!) and ate high protein small meals. At this weight, I've read, insulin resistance can fight back - create more insulin in a body and inhibit lipase, an enzyme that allows cells to release bodyfat for energy consumption. Exercise and high protein both inhibit insulin production. With a high protein diet its really important to drink a LOT of water - I drink 12-16 8oz glasses a day and eat lots of veggies for fiber. Each meal includes @ 20 grams of lean protein (4 egg whites, 4 oz of boneless, skinless chicken breast, or 4 oz fish) and 20 grams of complex carbs (1/2 cup brown rice, sweet potato, oatmeal or beans). This is hell on my social life but I've found it's really good to "cheat" one day or 2 meals a week so that my body doesn't adapt by slowing down its metabolism thinking it's starving.
Work outs: 3 days of "lifting" a week with 48 hours in between each; 6 days a week include 1 hour of medium intensity cardio.
I did this program 6 years ago for 1 1/2 years, lost 60 lbs and felt great but now I'm in my 40s and a little nervous that maybe nothing I do will work which might explain my gung-ho approach. I also work for myself and work is really slow right now so this is how I spend my time.
Ya know, it took 2 times of quitting smoking before it stuck...hopefully this time I won't backslide. It's the maintenance that's difficult for me as I don't like games with balls speeding toward my head, I'm not a good swimmer, I hate running and skiing scares the crap outa me. Cycling really is it for me and this last year of not being able to cycle without pain threw me over the edge. I'd forgotten how much I like to weight train, though. It's so much fun watching your body change.