I'm beginning to enter a realm of disbelief (sore, muscle, lifting)

[VTHokieFan]

I know that weight isn't the whole story and I generally try to keep weigh-ins at once per week, but this past friday I weighed in at 188.4 pounds. Being at 225 at one time and then averaging 220 over the last three years, this is just a phenominal feeling. I hadn't weighed-in this low in like 5 years. All this does is just create more motivation for me.

I started personal training sessions with the old tax refund yesterday. I am very sore today but we all know what that means: work-out well done. I'm also beginning to mix up cardio work outs: I discovered a new stair stepper machine that works like an escalator of sorts and its kind of fun almost. I know that the best way to do cardio is to mix things up and always keep your body "guessing" so I'm going to be rotating between the stairs, elliptical, treadmill and the spinning classes.

Anyway, goals are 180 by April 15th. I want to lose 13 pounds of fat (may be a bit out of reach) and gain 3 pounds of lean muscle (probably very doable).

[springfieldva]

Congratulations on your successful weight loss! 180 by April 15th should be very doable for you.

[Davachka]

Best of luck!! With how dedicated you sound, you can definitely do it!

[VTHokieFan]

After lifting for 3 weeks, I'm gaining weight, but lost 1.5% of body fat....guess I'll take it.

[hooligan]

Throw the scale away and judge your progress by your workouts, the way you look, how your clothes fit and how you feel.

You're on the right track, just keep putting in the work! Good job!

[Ulysses61]

I completely agree with Holligan. Now that you are much thinner, it will be harder each week to lose the weight, since there's a lot less of it to lose. I would not weigh again for a month or so and just judge you weight loss by your clothes.... that is the best barometer for weight gain or loss.

And congrats to you!!