[donise25]

why did you decide to get off it?
how long where you on it?
sorry for all the questions!

[spice2621]

I was on it for about 2 and 1/2 months...and I wanted to see what I can do without it...so like I lost 12 on my own..then another 15 w/phen...now trying to see what I can do without. So if I do good without it this month and next month then I may not get back on it...trying to see what I can do on my own. I haven't weighed myself in like 2 weeks..but I am going to weigh myself the end of this month...and I will be happy with 1-2lbs per week..cause I have learned the slower it comes off the harder it will be to come back on. How has your progress been? Phen is a good way to start your weight loss..and I have read some have took it there entire journey..which I understand everybody is different. Then some doctors don't want to give the meds that long..my doc said I can take it as long as needed and look at bp and everything else is fine. Have a great day! Oh and I don't mind questions...

[spice2621]

Good Morning!!! How is everyone doing today?? Great I hope..I had a pretty good weekend...about to start my day...plan on going to they gym and doing a good cardio workout..have a great day all!!

[deetimes]

Good Morning Spice!
Well as you know I am no longer on the Phen and feel great without it actually. I will continue to take the b12 shots but not the phen.
After the shocking allergic reactions to the phen, my first instinct was my health and I just discontinued taking them but forturnately I have also noticed that the soda and salt cravings have not returned and yesterday I started TOM. I am feeling really proud of how far I have come but I know that I have an even longer ways to go in reaching my ideal weight.

Saturday evening I went to a nice restaurant called Firebirds and I had some steak fries and they were marvelous, but I made sure to eat the healthy turkey club w/o the jalapeno cheese slices and 6 glasses of water... I just asked the waiter to just leave the pitcher on my table and he nicely submitted to my request....no sweet tea or soda which are several favorites of mine while eating out. Spice, I made sure not to even have desserts.
Then I went over my friend's house and jumped on the elliptical and did several crunches and other abdominals exercises.

Thanks to you and others with focused based journals, I feel that Phen was just the catalyst I needed to help me continue my healthy lifestyle change. Water has become a staple in my weight loss journey along with exercise and healthy eating.

[deetimes]

HITT or high intensity interval training is an easy way to burn all those fat and calories in your body without exerting yourself much. This mode of interval training with much higher and intense cardio level has become a rage in bodybuilding industry, for its benefit of helping a body burn fat to a greater extent.

The major benefit of HITT or high intensity interval training is that it lets you lose all the fat. HITT is also known as conventional form cardio vascular exercise, with better and efficient outcome for every workout lover or bodybuilder.

The very old form of cardiovascular workouts talked about losing weight by exercising at low intensity or low interval for a longer period of time, but high intensity interval training is a modern form of cardio that depends on the technique of working out intensely at an interval ranging from light to moderate level.

This very fact that HITT works opposite to conventional cardiovascular technique, makes it as the upgraded version of the latter form of exercise.

Since, high intensity interval training technique is based on intense workouts with low and medium pace in alteration, rather than a continuous pace, therefore it also tends to burn more fat and that too in less time span.

The major benefit of HITT or high intensity interval training is the fact that on a normal exercise routine your body gets accustomed to the pace and exertion and thus does not lose the amount of calories you wished for.

Also by becoming accustomed to the intensity of normal cardio exercise your body also starts conserving some calories, as it goes in a steady or stable mode. So when working with alternate and intense level of exercise, your body is not able to go into a steady or stable state and thus keeps on losing or burning fat and calories without getting a chance to store them.

HITT also has its cons which makes it 'not-suitable' for a particular category of people involved in workouts or cardio trainings. The very reason is the level of intensity involved in it, which makes it risky for people having medical constraints like those having heart or cardiovascular difficulties.

Another reason that makes some people stay away from benefits of HITT is the fact that not every one is capable enough to workout at the requirement of this high intensity interval training program, for it requires a greater physical input.

This form of cardio may sound tough and little too unreasonable, but there are techniques to make yourself accustomed to the intensity and level of HITT. The trick here is to begin at a low pace for 5 to 6 minutes, increasing the pace to high speed and then again coming back to 4 to 6 minutes of low pace workout, finally moving on to 2 to 3 minutes of low pace along with high paced workout.

The basic idea behind the high intensity interval training is of doing a cardiovascular exercise (ranging from cycling, brisk walking, running, and treadmill walking or elliptical training) with alternate level of pace including a half or full minute interval or break before change of pace from low to high or high to low. All this is based on the aim of progressive fat burn result in much quicker and faster way, therefore for every bodybuilder HITT or high intensity interval training makes a sense when indulge in a strict fat burn or weight loss regime.

You can always reduce your gym time by introducing high intensity interval training in your weekly exercise routine, as with HITT you need not spend regular amount of hours you do on normal level of training, also with HITT you need to workout only 4 to 5 times a week or may be even 3 to 4 times depending upon the level of intensity you are involved in.

HITT is easily disguised with the amount of huffing and puffing it brings to a person, so if you are sweating and breathing good then you are burning all your fat with high intensity interval training version of modern exercise.

General HIIT Guidelines which everyone should follow as they start practicing the HIIT regime regularly:

Prior to starting with HIIT training, always make sure you have the potential to work out for at least 20 to 30 minutes at no less than 70-85% of your expected maximum heart rate, without draining yourself to a limit.

Also, it is very important to warm up and cool down for 5 minutes, every time, before and after each HIIT session.

While recovery intervals, if your heart rate does not go down back to nearly 70% of your maximum heart rate, it means that you need to cut down your intense work intervals and extend your recovery intervals.

Always keep in mind that HIIT is designed for people whose key interests are enhancing their cardiovascular fitness, stamina and fat loss, on the whole, without losing the muscle mass they already retain.

Since it is an intense mode of workout, you are required to give your complete effort and intense level of output before you switch your pace level from high to medium or low. In simple words, exercise as hard and as intensely as you can and then go back to a 2 or 3 minute of low pace workout to recover. This is the very reason that makes HITT a faster and quicker form of workout.

For those involved in a routine high intensity interval training program, it is advised that do not ignore the importance of taking a minute or 30 second interval when changing the pace. Also, stop and calm down when feeling chest pain or having trouble in breathing. This is also why even those who are new to the muscle building routine tend to ignore HITT. Thus, the intense level of program in HITT is not recommended for any person who comes in the category of either having a health problem or being a newcomer, unless the physician or the doctor has given them a go for performing such level of cardiovascular activities


What is the optimum time to exercise? There are some times that are better than
others to obtain the best results. Of course, the most important part of any exercise
regimen it to simply do it. The truth is that no matter when you exercise you will
burn fat, assuming it is a good workout. In order to obtain the most benefit you
should consider exercising in the morning. As a matter of fact, you should exercise
before breakfast.

There a three benefits to working out early in the morning before breakfast.

The first is that your levels of stored carbohydrates and muscle are at a low when you
first get up (it helps to not eat before bed). You'll wake up with lower carb levels which
the best environment for burning fat instead of carbs. The reason for this is that
carbohydrates are your body's primary energy source. When this is in short supply your
system taps into its secondary resource, which is body fat.

On the other hand, when you workout after eating, the only thing that you accomplish is
burning the carbohydrates that you have just consumed. It will take longer to get to the
fat that you desire to burn.

The second benefit is the afterburn effect. Not only will you be burning fat during your
workout, that fat will continue to burn when the workout is through. What happens is
that an intense workout will keep your metabolism elevated for hours.

The third reason for early morning exercise is biochemical. You will release endorphins
when you workout. It will elevate you mood and will likely stay with you all day.

Exercise can be an unwelcome chore. Most of us tend to procrastinate and try to put
if off until later in the day. Choosing an activity that we enjoy, such a walking or riding
a bicycle, is different. When you commit to this morning activity, you will gotten it out
of the way. At the same time you free your mind from having to perform this activity
later in the day. It is also true that by putting it off until later that you will feel to
tired and blow it off altogether.

It goes with saying that many of us do not like to get up in the morning. Not everyone
is a morning person. What is it that you have to do to get up early and motivate yourself
to get going.

Well, keep in mind that you are changing your habits and that your goal is to lose weight.
This should be in the front of your mind. Simply stay focused on your goal. This goal
of losing weight and thus improving your health is a challenge. Completing this challenge
will give you a sense of satisfaction.

This satisfaction is both psychological and physiological. Psychological due to the sense
of accomplishment. Physical because your body releases endorphins into your system.
Endorphins create a natural high that create a genuine sense of well being.

You'll find that endorphins will reduce stress, improve your mood and your outlook on life.
By getting up early and get your exercise done you'll feel a sense of completion and
accomplishment that will stay with you throughout the entire day. Remember, exercise is
essential to any weight loss program

[sari1515]

Hello Spice,
Just stopped by to see how you're doing. Have a great day and keep up the great work. Take care.

[onyxlibra]

Hi Spice!!! Hope all is well. Just wanted to stop by and say hi. I look forward to not having to take phen...I know I don't have to now, but I I need a jumpstarter. Till later *SMOOCHES*

[cmomof2kids]

Hey long time no see! Well Im starting over. ANd Im ashamed. I went through a horrible depression. I get my Phen Monday. I have already been counting calories today. A little over 1100 so far. I am working on my 3rd 20 oz water bottle too. I think Im doing pretty darn good without Phen but I need it to jump start me. I read my journal all the way through 2day and cried. Man I just dont know why I ever let this happen.