Butterfly Swimmer, Wow, thank you for all the effort and time that you put into your reply for me! It means a lot to me that you would expend that kind of energy to help me out!! Thanks, too, for the bumps, I did check out both of the threads that you referred me too. I especially appreciated the MEtabolism thread, and I even looked up and found a bariatrician in my area. I need to find out, though, if he takes my insurance. :) The total riding time yesterday was about 35 minutes, and though I never took my heart rate, I'm certain that it was above the minimum for a workout (I didn't have a heart attack or anything, but it was definitely pumping away!!). I will be more careful in double-checking my rate so I don't overdo. Your post was full of really great input!! Thank you so much. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 86 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,593 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $258 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28

Sammi, From a former physical trainer, let me say that the biggest thing I hear in your posts is your self doubt that what you are doing isn't as good as what others may be doing. That line of thinking can hurt you a lot. What I see from your post is that you quit smoking, are getting in shape, are riding your bike 4 miles up and down hills, are eating right and it definitely sounds like you are on the right track to a new, healthier you! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?! Please, don't worry about how fast you're going or that you can only go 4 miles... 4 miles is AMAZING!!! Personally, I'd rather SWIM 4 miles than bike it (I don't do well on 2 wheels... I barely function on 4 - i.e. my car! LOL!) So even to me, 4 miles is great! And everybody has to start somewhere, and what's important is that you ARE starting! Just remember that each time you ride your bike, it should take at least 20 minutes... 30 is better. I used to teach water aerobics and some ladies in my class couldn't exercise for even 15 minutes without feeling out of breath and miserable. So, I started them off at 10 minutes and worked up from there. So, if you're still at a point where you are having a hard time with a whole 30 minutes, that's OK... but it's important to work up to that point soon. Also, when you exercise, you want to stay within your target heart rate range. I don't know if you know these things already... if you do, then great! If not, here's some help. Take 180 minus your age. Then multiply that by .8 That's the top of your range. You don't want your heart rate to go above that. Then, multiply that same number (180 minus your age) by .6 That's the bottom of your range. You don't want your heart rate to go below that number when exercising (except in the beginning, you might not be able to get there right away, and if that's the case, that's OK... but work up to getting your heart rate to that number as soon as you can). When you take your heartbeat, clock it for 6 seconds and multiply by 10. If you went back several months and read various posts, just out of curiosity, did you read the "ME" tabalism post? I'll bump it for you. It talks about how to eat for your metabolism... oftentimes, just cutting caloric intake isn't enough. You have to cut the RI

Thanks Audrey. :) My husband just came in a few minutes ago from the other room and said, "Wanna go out and put in a few more miles?" I said, "Um, sure, but... not tonight!" I'm still pretty jazzed about having done something that I could not POSSIBLY have done four weeks ago, but my legs are telling me I had enough for one day!! Ter, I got knocked off or something. I had to completely close my browser and when I came back on you weren't on my buddy list anymore. Catch you another time!

By the way Sammi, 4 miles is huge! Keep up the great attitude lady :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/16/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 70 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,418 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $196 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

Lost ya... [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/28/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 180 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,714 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $640.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 50

I am now. :)

Sammyjo.. are you signed in to IM? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/28/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 180 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,714 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $640.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 12 [B]Seconds:[/B] 42

Audrey - Thanks, and that's great advice. Yes, my quit does come first and always will. I just LOVE not smoking! I know I know I KNOW that this is IT, this is the final, the real, the ultimate quit for me, because I have never before felt so HAPPY to be not smoking! Breathing is such a blessing. :) Lookingglass - Thank you. Very much. Your post made me feel really good and not-so-alone. And really good! Did I mention that it made me feel really good?! :p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 85 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,578 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $255 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 5 [B]Seconds:[/B] 48

Bravo, Sammijo!! Clearly you have a unique challenge, compared to most of the people who would be posting at SSC... but believe it or not, I do identify! I'm probably 30 lbs overweight. I was 20 lbs overweight when I came in here, and I've been eating like a horse since I quit smoking... but that doesn't compare with your challenge. But I do know what it's like to start on the road to 'normalcy' from a serious deficit. As a recovering alcoholic and drug-addict who used to live on the street or in extremely modest circumstances... I know what it's like to be so low that down looked like up. But it sounds like you know where you stand and what has to be done... little by little until you develop the resources to do more. And obviously you're doing that. I'm impressed. I'm very impressed. And I'm in your corner. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 21 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 547 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $194.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 15

SammiJo, Just don't smoke! Keep your focus. You're doing great! If you don't smoke you'll stay more healthy-minded and the exercise and weight control will follow it naturally, in its own time. But the leader of the "Healthy You" parade should be quitting smoking. Protect it first, the rest will follow by an increased respect for health in general. You're a sweetie. Keep the faith. Audrey ;) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/16/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 70 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,418 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $196 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6