<p>Finally went to doc and got a zpack antibiotic and really truly feeling better. Walked with neighbors 90 mins yesterday. Did some stretches and a little bit of weights. I long for the climate out in AZ! Always feel great there.</p>
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<p>Love to hear about this too. I have been on this plateau for three months now.</p>
<p>I don’t know how helpful this will be with the barrier breakthrough, but I do know how we did it here and it required a very different mindset. Rather than eating and exercising for weightloss, we ate for health, specifically heart health. There was some calorie restricting in the first four months or so, but rather than counting calories, I changed portion sizes. I made recipes from the newest AHA cookbook, and was true to the suggested portion size. I eliminated a ton of salt, which was good for H, but also good in preventing me from reaching for a second helping. Lower salt content makes food taste a little blander, less enticing 
I eliminated all sugared beverages, unless I had squeezed citrus from local trees. I tried to add as many healthful veggies to every dish as I possibly could, to boost the antioxidant possibilities. I did switch our dairy to non-fat, or low fat for the cheeses. This is hard, because I grew up in a cheese making state, and I do love cheese. You know about the whole grain swaps, no butter or other red meats, for the most part. I know this helped in lowering calories, and I’m okay with olive oil, fish, and lots of lean poultry. Really, really, really…eating for health rather than having a weight loss goal was critical for me and for H. Weight loss was an added benefit.</p>
<p>And then there was exercise. Twice a day. And less sitting overall.</p>
<p>That’s all. I’m at college weight, pretty lean. H a bit above. And we continue the same way of eating with an occasional treat now and then.</p>
<p>My DH is having very good success with a diet meal delivery system called Bistro MD. It is a lot of lean protein, minimized fat, and restricted carbs. Very delicious food. It’s devised by a doctor married to a chef. I love it, too, since I’m getting a nice vacation from cooking for him. I’m learning from the dishes they send. Lots of focus on sides like plantains and yams and unusual grains. Lots of chicken and fish cooked in very good spices. Lowish sodium, too. Kind of expensive but he feels strong and is losing so we think worth it.</p>
<p>That program looks interesting, sewhappy; unfortunately it is well beyond my budget. </p>
<p>PlantMom, I hear where you are coming from. I have a family history of diabetes and hypertension so am doing everything possible to avoid developing them. My father was being treated for cancer and while in hospital developed a blood clot which saved his life. How so? Diagnostics revealed that 3 of his coronary arteries were completely blocked. So he stayed in the hospital for bypass surgery. Dad had been a heavy smoker but quit; hadn’t smoked for 20 years. Exercised every day. I’d like to avoid that occurrence if at all possible. </p>
<p>I bought a newer, better food scale yesterday so that will help with portion sizes (no more guesstimating if something is a deck of cards size). I did get a juicer for Christmas so am thinking of trying a few days of just juice to see if that has an impact.</p>
<p>Ran for 30 minutes today. I had to use the treadmill, cause it’s rainy out. I worked on keeping my heart rate around 160, which means I had to run slowwww, so I only got in 2.6 miles. It felt really easy so that was a plus, but my cadence went down to 160, which is a minus. This is probably TMI.</p>
<p>Two months into my exercise/eating plan:
40 minutes on elliptical today for first time. Had been at 30 min for awhile, interim goal is 60 min.</p>
<p>Admit I am disappointed to see that I’m down ‘only’ 4 lbs so far. But I physically feel stronger and fitter and clothes are fitting better so I refuse to let it derail me.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who post here…I learn so much.</p>
<p>@sabaray Same here with the family health problems. Except I also had low blood pressure. I’m still a teen but I’m just adhering to a steady weight-training regimen along with high-protein, high-fiber, low-fat, low-carb diet. It’s amazing how much more energetic you can feel through exercise. I don’t do much cardio except for tennis conditioning but weight-lifting can torch calories if you do it right.</p>
<p>Warmed up to 13 by the start of our run. Up to 20 by the end. 6 sunny, beautiful mikes by the frozen Schuylkill River with 2 good friends. We ran slowly and chatted non-stop. Just what I needed. 6 miles followed by a good breakfast with the 2 running friends and WildChild. 40 mile week which I did NOT think would happen with the weather, trip and work obligations. Can’t wait to get back to Tennessee.</p>
<p>Geezer died hiking in the White Mountains yesterday. Fell on a very steep ravine trail up Mt. Adams (two peaks north of Mt. Washington).</p>
<p>[Hiker</a> dies from fall in King’s Ravine | Local News - WMUR Home](<a href=“http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Hiker-dies-from-fall-in-King-s-Ravine/-/9857858/18293194/-/3k14lfz/-/index.html]Hiker”>http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Hiker-dies-from-fall-in-King-s-Ravine/-/9857858/18293194/-/3k14lfz/-/index.html)</p>
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<p>As cold and windy as it was yesterday, they had to be hiking in near Himalayan conditions. It’s minus 5 with a 67 mph wind and a wind chill of -41 degrees at the weather station on Mt. Washington right now (1pm). That trail is exposed to the wind from the NW. No thank-you.</p>
<p>I’m eating my soup and going out for a more appropriate geezer walk in the woods shortly. Woke up to what I thought were frozen pipes only to figure out that all of the water is out. Apparently a main pumping station nearby is down.</p>
<p>Sleeting here so I hit the gym this morning. Did 60 minutes on the dreadmill and then came home. Roads are very slippery. Bypassed my wine last night to make me feel good about weighing in tomorrow. ;)</p>
<p>sabaray…can’t remember if you are doing a weight program with all of your cardio??? Adding that always seems to break a barrier for me. Also changing my routine and doing more interval work seems to help.</p>
<p>My dad had some trouble with Menieres disease (sp) and cut down on salt. So far it has helped with the symptons and he has lost 15 pounds. </p>
<p>My dad has always been active and not heavy. He was a big eater so he was not thin- he is now thin. He was not trying to lose weight.</p>
<p>Same as NM re the weight program. I try to lift weights twice a week. Sometimes it’s three times, at others, only once. But it helps–I like seeing muscles in the arms, too! I started a regular routine after having worked through a shoulder problem at physical therapy. I was also told (DEXA) that my bones were starting, ever so slightly, to thin. Yikes. Weight lifting and walking/running should help with the bones.</p>
<p>Today, to the gym with H. Treadmill and elliptical machine, and a 12 rep circuit of my usual weights. Added 27 assorted squats and 27 wall pushups. On our way to the gym, H and I discussed that we should have ridden our bikes over to a local park and taken a nice hike, since it’s so gorgeous out today. But we ate lunch outside and enjoyed that instead.</p>
<p>I do not add salt to food, but I am noticing how high in sodium a lot of the foods I’m eating are. I really have to watch fat and cholesterol intake and those have been far too high for comfort. I have not been feeling great eating what I have been the past few weeks. I’ll have to tinker some more. </p>
<p>UMedBro and NM, thanks for the weights reminder. Have to work those in. I really am not a huge fan of the machines; they have TRX at the gym, but I need to schedule time with a trainer to figure those out. With the cardio, NM, I am usually doing intervals on the elliptical (such as the Hill programs). Sabadog has several walking routes which vary in intensity and thankfully he is not one to plant his feet and refuse to budge. We’re going at a pretty brisk pace. </p>
<p>iDad, glad you weren’t that geezer. Very sad all the way around.</p>
<p>Sleet has changed to snow here so I am jealous of those having nice warm weather!</p>
<p>3.25 miles, stretching video, abs x 2, curls, and a bunch of weight machines at the Y. I haven’t done the weight machines in a while and it showed. I was pretty tired afterwards. I need to hit those a bit more often, at least once a week. Running has pushed out most everything lately.</p>
<p>That’s horrible about the death, iDad. I hate that.</p>
<p>“Warming” up here in PA. It’s 33 which feels balmy after 12! I feel like I might have pulled a muscle in my chest with some of the coughing the last few weeks. It hurts when I cough or take a deep breath.</p>
<p>Mowc- to me it sounds like you need some rest. A day off. Is the streak so important? I used to do stuff like that, and all it got me was aches and nagging pains. Just my opinion, hope you feel better.</p>
<p>“Punched the clock” today. Front Squats, TRX Push Ups, Barbell Calf Raises 5x6 each.</p>
<p>Typical stretch/strength routine. 20 minutes rowing.</p>
<p>Thinking of entering an indoor triathlon in late Feb. 10 min swim, 25 minute stationary cycle and 20 min treadmill. I’m not a good swimmer. Would have to make it up on the bike/run</p>